IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS OR DECOCTIONS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS OR DECOCTIONS." A communication
from abroad by Jean Baptiste Toselli, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 6th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
DECOCTIONS." [A communication from abroad by Jean
France.]
the County of Middlesex,
OBTAINING INFUSIONS OR
Baptiste Toselli, of Paris,
This Invention relates to tea and coffee pots, in which the water used in making
the decoction is caused to circulate as hereafter described. I have illustrated the
Invention in the annexed Drawings, which represent three arrangements, viz., a pot
for household use, a pot for refreshment bars and other public establishments, and a
canteen pot for military use. These, although differing somewhat in construction
are all based on the same principle.
Figure 1 is an external view, and Figure 2 a vertical section of the pot for house-
hold use; it is provided with a cover A, having an aperture at a, and provided with
a distributor b, c, by which the liquid arriving by the tube L is equally distributed
over the ten or coffee contained in the upper part B of the pot. D, E, is a grating
or percolator on which the tea or coffee rests; it is made of glass, porcelain, o
metal. The receptacle for the decoction comprises two compartments 1, G, separated
by a plug H. The boiling water passes from the lower compartment G through the
tube 1, L, and after percolating through the tea or coffee on grating D, E, falls into
compartment F, and thence descends into G again-through holes O in a tube m, n
which traverses the plug. This tube is open at bottom only, and the water descend
by it as fast as it rises by tube I, L.
Figure 3 shows a pot for use in public establishments; it is similar to that above
described, except that a tap R is used in lieu of a spout for drawing off the beverage
The pot is surrounded by an outer casing P, Q, of sheet iron or copper, lined with
a sheet of asbestos to protect the casing from the flame. This arrangement has for
its object to heat the liquid quickly and economically. The outer casing is pierced
at its upper part with holes for the outlet of the heated air, or a flue may be pro-
CD 077

page_text: vided when the pot is placed directly on a stove which has no chimney. The tube
I, L, may be made of glass, to enable the contents of the pot and the height of the
liquid to be seen.
Figuro 4 shows a vertical section of the canteen pot for military uso. In this
arrangement the pot rests in a second receptacle h, i, which can be used alone as a
saucepan. In this case the plug may fit tightly in place or not. The boiling liquid
from the lower compartment G rises through the tube T, and is discharged beneath
the cap c on an outer tube or cone b, rising from the percolator or grating, and falls
in a shower on the tea or coffee. The liquid percolatos through the latter, and thon
descends through three small tubes a, (and also around the plug if it does not fit
tightly) to the lower compartment G.
The circulation may also be obtained by a tightly fitting plug, like that in
Figures 2 and 3, the tube being pierced at O, and passing down beneath the plug,
so that the liquid will rise in the tubo T, and descend alternately therein, as the
level of the liquid in compartment G varies.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Soal Patent Offico on the
4th July 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS OR
DECOCTIONS." A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Toselli, of Paris,
Franco.
This Invention relates to ten and coffee pots, in which a circulation of the water
used in making the decoction is produced as hereafter described. I have illustrated
the Invention in the annexed Drawings, which represent three arrangements, viz., n
pot for household use, an urn for refreshment bars and other public establishments,
and a canteen pot for military use. These, although differing somewhat in con-
struction, are all based on the same principle.
Figure 1 is an external view, and Figure 2a vertical section of the pot for house-
huld use.
It is furnished with a lid A, having an aperture at a, and is provided
with a perforated plate b, c, just beneath the lid, by which the liquid arriving by
the tube L is distributed over the tea or coffee contained in the upper part B of the
pot. There may be a second perforated plate beneath this one, in order to more
equally distribute the boiling liquid. D, E, is a grating or percolator on which the
tea or coffee rests; it is made of glass, porcelain, or metal, and forms the bottom of
the upper part of the pot. The receptacle for the decoction comprises two com-
partments F, G, separated by a plug H, which, although removable, should fit tightly
in its seat. From the lower compartment G a tube I, I, extends upwards to a point
just above the aperture a in the lid. The boiling water rises from compartment G
through this tube, and is discharged through aperturo a on to the distributor b, c,
whereby it is distributed over tho tea or coffee on the percolator D, E, through
which it passes and falls into the compartment F; thence it descends into G again,
through holes o in a central tube m, n, which traverses the plug H. This tubo is
closed at the upper end, and carries a horizontal disc at about on a level with the
surface of the liquid. The tube is open at bottom, and the water descends by it as
fast as it ascends by tube I, L.
Figure 3 shows a tea or coffee urn for use in public establishments. It differs
from that above described by a tap R being used in lieu of a spout for drawing off
the beverage, and by being surrounded with an outer jacket P, Q, of sheet iron or
copper to prevent waste of heat, tho said jacket being lined interiorly with a sheet
of asbestos to protect it from the flame. Holes are provided around the circum-
ference of the jacket at the upper part for tho outlet of the heated air, or a flue may
be provided when the urn is placed directly on a stove that has no chimney. The
ascension tubo I, L, may be made of glass, to enable the contents of the urn and the
level of the liquid to be seen. Internally it is similar to the pot before described,
except that the plug H is of sheet metal, perforated for the downward passage of the
liquid; in this case the central tube need not be perforated, and would serve merely
as a handle for the removal of the plug.
Figure 4 shows a vertical section of the canteen pot for military use. In this
arrangement the lower part of the pot rests in a second receptacle h, i, which can
be used alone for cooking purposes, thus forming a circulating coffee pot and camp
kettle combined, without being either costly or bulky. It will be understood that
only one of these is placed on the fire at a time, as both the camp kettle and the
coffee pot will fit the outer jacket, and the lid will serve for either. The circula-
tion of the liquid is produced by a slightly different arrangement to that above
described. In this case the plag may either fit tightly in its seat or not. If it fits
tightly the plug is provided with three small tubular thoroughfares, descending into
the lower compartment G, and serving as legs, and the boiling liquid rises from the
lower compartment G through the central tube T, which in this pot is open through-

page_text: out, and projects upwards through the percolator or grating, and into an outer tnbe
or cone brising therefrom. This outer tube or cone b is furnished with a cap c,
beneath which the boiling liquid is discharged in a shower on the tea or coffee.
After percolating through the same, it descends by the tubes a to the lower con-
partment G. If the plug does not fit tightly in its sent, the liquid would ascend by
tube T, and descend to the compartment G by passing around the edge of the plag.
The circulation may also be obtained in a third way by using a tightly fitting plug
like that in Figure 2, the tube being in this case perforated nt o and passing down
beneath the plug, so that the liquid will rise and descend alternately through the
tube T, as the level of the liquid in compartment G varies.
The external circulating tube is avoided in this canteen coffee pot, and the tap is
dispensed with, the coffee being ladled out instead, as it is undesirable to have any
external appendages liable to be broken, and to take up room when packed for
transport. Instead of a lamp, the pot would be set on a firo made on the ground,
as shown.
Having described the nature of tho said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the horein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. In a circulating tea or coffee pot the arrangement of the ascension tube rising
outside the pot to a point above a distributor, upon which the boiling liquid is
discharged from the tnbe, and by which it is uniformly distributed over the tea or
coffee, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. Making the percolators of metal tea and coffee pots of porcelain, glass, or
other inoxidisable material, substantially as specified.
3rd. The use in a circulating coffee pot of a simple diaphragm, which does not fit
tightly into its sent, but allows the liquid to circulate past its circumference, without
the use of any return tube, likewise the use of a tightly fitting plug, having instead
of the return tube of the ordinary circulation coffee pots a downward prolongation
of the pipe on which the said plug is fixed, with holes in tho said pipo abovo the
plug, substantially as herein shown and described.
4tb. Surrounding a circulating coffee urn with a jacket of sheet metal lined with
asbestos to prevent loss of heat, and also protect tho jacket from the flame.
5th. The combination with a coffee pot for army use of a camp kettle, in which
the coffee pot fits in a compact manner, as described.
6th. The application of a second perforated pluto beneath the lid, for more
effectually distributing the boiling water, and obtaining a more rapid and thorough
infusion.
7th. The several combinations and arrangements of parts shown in Figures 2, 3,
and 4 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my band and seal, this First day of July, in the year of cur Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)