Apparatus for Heating Food and Maintaining the same Hot.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Heating Food and Maintaining the same Hot.
I, JOSEPH BOHENSKY of Eger, Bohemia, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an apparatus for heating food, or for maintaining the
same hot in which such heating is effected by means of steam produced in the
apparatus itself, and which is caused by its pressure to penetrate into the food, thus.
heating the same uniformly. The apparatus consists mainly of a cooking vessel.
with cover, preferably domed, and of a perforated or sieve-like plate introduced into
the vessel and supported therein at a certain distance from the bottom; such plate
divides the vessel into two compartments, of which the lower one serves to receive
the water to be evaporated while the upper space contains ta food to be cooked
which is placed upon the perforated plate, and which is heated by the steam rising
through the perforated plate and penetrating into the food in consequence of its.
pressure.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn an apparatus constructed as above
described, Fig. 1 shews a vertical section through the same, and Figure 2 a part.
section in perspective to an enlarged scale.
The cooking vessel a, which can be tightly closed by a cover b, preferably
domed, contains a perforated or sieve-like plate c, situated at a certain distance.
from the bottom.
On this plate is fixed, at a certain distance from the edge an annular rim the
downward projecting part d of which serves to support the plate while the upward
projecting part d' surrounds the part of the plate, serving as dish for the reception
of the food to be heated or maintained hot, and preventing the water formed by
condensation and running down the sides of the vessel, from coming in contact with
the food.
The part of the rim d serving as support to the perforated plate, has at its lower
edge notches or slots d² which establish the communication between the annular
space situated outside the rim d with the space enclosed by this. The perforated
plate c has at its middle a flat button c for facilitating its introduction into and
removal from the vessel a.
When using the apparatus, the space below the plate c is partly filled with water -
and the food to be heated or maintained hot is placed upon the part of the plate
contained within the rim d¹, and the cover having been fitted on, the apparatus is
heated. The steam generated flows through the holes of the plate into the upper
space of the cooking vessel and penetrates into the food in proportion as the steam
pressure rises, thereby heating the same uniformly.
The water of condensation forining on the cover b and on the sides of the vessel
runs down these parts on to the part of the perforated plate situated outside-
the rim d', and passes through the perforations back into the water space of the
vessel.
From what has been above stated it will be seen that a small quantity of water
introduced into the vessel will be sufficient for the purpose, as a continued.
circulation of the steam and water of condensation will take place in the vessel.
The described perforated plate c with rims d d can also be used separately as a
collander in which case the deeper part d of the rim is turned upward so as to form
the sides of the collander.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for heating and maintaining hot food by means of steam generated
in the vessel itself, consisting of a tightly closable cooking vessel a and a perforated
or sieve-like plate c introduced into the same and held at a certain distance from
the bottom, which plate divides the vessel a into two spaces, of which the lower one
serves for the reception of water to be evaporated while the upper one contains the
food to be heated and receives the steam produced in the lower space and rising
through the perforations, which steam, in consequence of its pressure penetrates
into the food and heats the same uniformly, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, constructing the
perforated or sieve-like plate c with a projecting double rim d d¹ the lower part d
of which serves to support the plate c, and has notches or openings d, while the
part d¹ projecting up from the upper side of the plate serves to prevent the contact
of the food contained on the plate within the rim with the water of condensation
running down the sides of the vessel, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of March 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.