IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF KITCHEN RANGES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Captain Thomas Edward Clarke, of Minehead, in the
County of Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF KITCHEN RANGES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Clarke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1878.
Captain THOMAS EDWARD CLARKE, of Minehead, in the County of Somerset.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN RANGES."
The principal object of my Invention is to heat the oven of an open fire kitchen
range in a more effectual and economical manner than in open fire ranges of the
ordinary construction. To this end I construct by the side of the ordinary open
fire-place of the range a close tire-box, against which is placed the oven, which is
covered in at top by a hot plate, and is arranged in such a manner that the hot
gases from the fire-box may pass over the top of the oven down by its other side,
and under the same to the flue.
In this arrangement the hot gases will part with their heat to the oven, and only.
air or gas of a moderately low temperature will be allowed to pass away.
The top of the fire-box is covered in by a moveable plate, in which is made a
hole for the convenience of supplying the fire-place with fuel. This hole is pro-
vided with a moveablé cover so that the fuel can be thrown in without removing
the whole of the top plate. A hole, about 1 inches in diameter, is made in the
front of the fire-box for the purpose of stirring and stoking the fire, and is provided
with a sliding cover to close the same when not in use.
The bottom of the fire-box is constructed on an inclination toward the open
'fire-place, and a lateral opening is made at the bottom of the fire-box at that side
nearest the open fire-place, so that the latter is inade to communicate with the fire-
box, and the flames from the fire will ignite the fuel contained in the fire-box.
•

page_text: The door of the oven is provided with a ventilator, and an open pipe from the
interior of the oven is carried up behind to some part of the flue above the damper,
so as to carry off any fumes or vapours from the oven.
If the moveable cover of the fire-box be taken off, a gridiron may be put in its
place over the fire, and the fumes will pass off therefrom immediately under the hot
plate above the oven.
A boiler may be placed on the other side of the open fire-place, and made also
to extend behind the latter as in ordinary ranges. By this arrangement a great
economy in the quantity of fuel burnt will be effected as the cinders which accumu-
late so rapidly can be used for the fire-box, and only a small fire in the 'open range
kept up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Edward Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
March 1879.
Captain THOMAS EDWARD CLARKE, of Minehead, in the County of Somerset.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN RANGES."
The principal object of my Invention is to heat the oven of an open fire kitchen
range in a more effectual and economical manner than in open fire ranges of the
ordinary construction. To this end I provide between the open fire-place and the
oven a close fire-box for giving off flame and heated gases, which will circulate
around and heat the oven.'
The mode of carrying out my Invention is clearly set out in the accompanying
Drawing, where-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an open kitchen range modified according to my
improvements; Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the range.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a
similar section taken in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 1.
A is the ordinary open fire-place; B, the boiler on one side thereof; and C, the
oven on the opposite side of the fire-place.
Between the fire-place and the oven is the close fire-box D, which is provided
with a grate d, a loose cover d' fitted with a removable piece d², and a covered
stoking hole ds.
The oven (see Fig. 3), is surrounded by a flue, which, leading from the fire-box D
passes over the top of the oven down the side thereof, and returns below the bottom
of the oven to enter a vertical flue F, Fig. 2.
A communication is made between the open fire-place A and the close fire-box D
at the level of their. respective grates to allow of ignited fuel being supplied to the
fire-box D from the fire-place A when the latter is required to be used.
The attendant will, after having prepared a bed of ignited fuel in the fire-box D,

page_text: supply the box with coke or other fuel through the cover d' by the temporary
removal therefrom of the loose piece d. The heat in this fire-box will be regulated
by means of the door d leading to the ash-pit.
To provide for the ventilating of the oven, a tube may be inserted therein as
shewn at c, such tube leading into the flue F above the damper F, as shewn at
Fig. 3.
When baking is not required the heat of the close chamber D may be utilized for
cooking upon a gridiron, which may be temporarily substituted for the cover d',
and will then be placed over a clear fire. The fumes from the cooked meat will be
drawn into the oven flue, and will thus be prevented from escaping into the
kitchen.
From the foregoing explanation it will be understood that a great economy of
fuel will be effected in this range, as the cinders which accumulate so rapidly in
the fire-place A can be used to supply the fire-box D with fuel, and only a
small fire in the open fire-place need therefore be kept up except when roasting is
required.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Kitchen Ranges," and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim, adapting to kitchen ranges a close fire-box between the open fire-
place and oven, in the manner and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Clarke, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.