IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS, THE HEAT BEING DERIVED FROM THE USE OF HYDROCARBON OIL, ALSO IN THE VESSELS CONTAINING THE SAID OIL FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF THE SAME, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENT IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OIL VESSELS FOR LAMPS, LANTERNS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."AL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Pitcairn Wright, of the Firm of Wright and Butler,
Lamp Manufacturers, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS,
THE HEAT BEING DERIVED FROM THE USE OF HYDROCARBON OIL, ALSO IN
THE VESSELS CONTAINING THE SAID OIL FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF
THE SAME, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENT IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OIL
VESSELS FOR LAMPS, LANTERNS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Pitcairn Wright at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1876.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT, of the Firm of Wright and Butler, Lamp Manufac-
turers, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE
COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS, THE HEAT BEING DERIVED FROM THE USE
OF HYDROCARBON OIL, ALSO IN THE VESSELS CONTAINING THE SAID OIL FOR
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF THE SAME, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENT IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OIL VESSELS FOR LAMPS, LANTERNS, AND OTHER LIKE PUR-
POSES."
My Invention consists of an iron case, say, adapted for one, two, or if necessary
more lamps, but will limit my description to the use of two, which would give an
average size of the case, varying from eight inches square to sixteen inches long by
eight inches in width, and of eight or more inches deep, notwithstanding it may be
increased in length or proportion according to requirement for additional lamps, and
special arrangements in the top for additional culinary vessels; but, as above stated,
I will limit my description to an apparatus adapted for two lamps of the size above
given, and consequently arranged for two cookings, either stewing, boiling, or
otherwise.
This rectangular case may be supported on ornamental feet, or by other con-
venient means, and fitted with a flueway or other opening near the top for ventilation
or draught, which by preference I place at one end. Orifices may be cut in the
front of the rectangular case centrally over the burners, which orifices I cover
over with talc or glass for affording light, and to expose the condition of the
lamps within, the burners of which are surrounded on three sides by a rectan-

page_text: gular or other shaped contraction, forming the chimney for each lamp, the said
contractions being formed by the internal construction of the case, these contractions
or chimneys being regulated in size according to the length and the number of
burners that are used in each lamp or stove; but as the contraction so described
only comprehends the sides and back of the chimney, which remains incomplete
untill the lamps are placed in position; for, in order to make room for the cones
and burners of the lamps to pass in, a portion of the front of the stove for each
lamp is removed from the case, but this part of the chimney is made complete by a
shield attached to the front portion of the lamps, so that when in position the
shields cover over the parts removed from the front case, and thereby makes the
front end or part of the chimneys complete.
The general construction of the said lamps arranged for two burners will be
understood.
The oil vessel is at the base, and may be of one-half the size of the rectangular
or other shaped case, according to the heat required, and constructed as follows:-
To the top of the oil vessels flat tubes for receiving the wicks, which constitute
the burners, are attached with toothed wheels secured to axis that come through
the front, terminating with knobs for raising and lowering the said wicks, which
should be about four inches wide, according to the size of the apparatus. Secured
below the said burners is a shield or plate of tin, or other metal, that fills up
that part of the bottom of the rectangular case, as the lamp is advanced into
position, and attached to the said burners is further secured a perforated plate
with deflected edges, which, when the lamp plate is in place, closes the bottom of
the internal contraction formning the chimney of the lamps. At the front of the
lamps a shield or cover (herein-before referred to) is applied, so that when the lamp
is in position this part covers over the corresponding opening in the front of the
rectangular frame for the lamp to slide in, and thus complete the chimney, as before
stated. The top of the rectangular case has one, two, or more circular or other
shaped orifices to receive cullinary vessels when cooking is to be performed.
Between the two said orifices of the top, and beneath its surface, is a small rectan-
gular door for the purpose of allowing or preventing at pleasure the rarified air to
escape from the lamp farthest from the external flueway.
And by way of extending the utility of my cooking stove or apparatus I con-
struct a vertical, square, or other formed oven, so constructed that the heat that
escapes through the flueway before described, may enter a recess beneath the lower
plate of the oven, and ascend to the interior by passing up through perforations
in the said bottom, or between an inner casing of the said oven, as may be
prefered.
The lower vacant part of the oven, from the ground to its connection with the
flue way, may be conveniently adapted for warming plates, so that by these simple
combined apparatus, occupying comparatively a small space, a dinner may be cooked
by boiling and baking for a considerable number of individuals at trifling cost.
To the oil vessels I apply a self-regulating indicator for regulating the supply of
oil, which indicator consists of a short length of tube or otherwise, in which a cork
or hollow metal case or other suitable float is placed. A small wire attached to the
float passes through a small concentric hole in the otherwise closed top end of the
tube, and this being fixed in the top of the oil vessel, it is evident that when the
vessel is filled the float will rise and indicate that the vessel is sufficiently full,
thus regulating the supply, and preventing the disagreeable consequences of over-
filling and wasting the oil; and this same simple arrangement for regulating the
supply of oil to lamps, where the oil vessel is below the point of combustion, will
be found highly useful and beneficial to other lamp vessels for indicating the duc
supply of oil when such vessels are being filled.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor by the said David Pitcairn Wright in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th August 1876.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT, of the Firm of Wright and Butler, Lamp Manufac-
turers, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE
COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS, THE HEAT BEING DERIVED FROM THE USE
OF HYDROCARBON OIL, ALSO IN THE VESSELS CONTAINING THE SAID OIL FOR
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF THE SAME, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENT IS
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OIL VESSELS FOR LAMPS, LANTERNS, AND OTHER LIKE PUR-
POSES."
My Invention consists of an iron case, say, adapted for one, two, or if necessary
more lamps, but will limit my description to the use of two, which would give an
average size of the case, varying from eight inches square to sixteen inches long by
eight inches in width, and of eight or more inches deep, notwithstanding it may be
increased in length or proportion, according to requirement for additional lamps, and
special arrangements in the top for additional culinary vessels; but, as above stated,
I will limit my description to an apparatus adapted for two lamps of the sizo
above given, and consequently arranged for two cookings, cither stewing, boiling,
or otherwise.
This rectangular case may be supported on ornamental feet, or by other con-
venient means, and fitted with a flueway or other opening near the top for ventilation
or draught, which by preference I place at one end. Orifices may be cut in tho
front of the rectangular case centrally over the lamp burners, which orifices I cover
over with tale or glass for affording light, and to expose the condition of the flames
of the lamps within, the burners of which are surrounded on three sides by a
rectangular or other shaped contraction forming the chimney for cach lamp, the
said contraction being formed by the internal construction of the case, these con-
tractions or chimneys being regulated in size, according to the length and the
number of burners that are used in each lamp or stove; but as the contraction so
described only comprehends the sides and back of the chimney, which remaines
incomplete until the lamps are placed in position; for, in order to make room for
the cones and burners of the lamps to pass in, a portion of the front of the stove
for each lamp is removed from the case, but this part of the chimney is made
complete by a shield attached to the front portions of the lamps, so that when in
position the shields cover over the parts removed from the front case, and thereby
make the front ends or parts of the chimneys complete.
The general construction of the said lamps arranged for two burners will be
thus understood.
The oil vessel is at the base, and may be of one-half the size of the rectangular
or other shaped case, according to the heat required, and constructed as follows:-
To the top of the oil vessels flat tubes for receiving the wicks, which constitute the
burners, are attached with toothed wheels secured to the axis that comes through
the front, terminating with knobs for raising and lowering the said wicks, which
should be about four inches wide, according to the size of the apparatus. Secured
below the said burners is a shield or plate of tin or other metal that fills up that
part of the bottom of the rectangular case, as the lamp is advanced into position,
and attached to the said burners is further secured a perforated plate with deflected
edges, which when the lamp plate is in place closes the bottom of the internal
contraction forming the chimney of the lamps. At the front of the lamps a shield
or cover (horein-before referred to) is applied, so that when the lamps is in position
this part covers over the corresponding opening in the front of the rectangular
frame for the lamp to slide in, and thus complete the chimney, as before stated.
The top of the rectangular case has one, two, or more circular or other shaped
orifices to receive culinary vessels when cooking is to be performed. Between the
two said orifices of the top and beneath its surface is a small rectangular door for

page_text: the purpose of allowing or preventing at pleasure the rarified air to escape from
the lamp farthest from the external flueway.
And by way of extending the utility of my cooking stove or apparatus I con-
struct a vertical, square, or other formed oven, so constructed that the heat that
escapes through the flueway before described may enter a recess beneath the lower
plate of the oven, and ascend to the interior by passing up through perforations
in the said bottom, or between an inner casing of the said oven, as may be
preferred.
The lower vacant part of the oven from the ground to its connection with
the flueway may be conveniently adapted for warming plates, so that by these
simple combined apparatus, occupying comparatively a small space, a dinner
may be cooked by boiling and baking for a considerable number of individuals
at trifling cost.
To each oil vessel I apply a self-regulating indicator for regulating the supply
of oil, which indicator consists of a short length of tube, or otherwise, in which a
cork or hollow metal case or other suitable float is placed. A small wire attached
to the float passes through a small concentric hole in the otherwise closed top end
of the tube, and this being fixed in the top of the oil vessel it is evident that
when the vessel is filled the float will rise and indicate that the vessel is sufficiently
full, thus regulating the supply and preventing the disagreeable consequences of
overfilling and wasting the oil, and this same simple arrangement for regulating
the supply of oil to lamps, where the oil vessel is below the point of combustion,
will be found highly useful and benificial to other lamp vessels for indicating the
due supply of oil when such vessels are being filled.
But with a view of being more explicit and clear as to the nature of my In-
vention, I will further illustrate the same by aid of the Drawings hereunto annexed,
which I will now describe.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved duplex cooking and heating apparatus,
that is to say, arranged for two separate cookings, deriving the heat from two
separate lamps, notwithstanding the same arrangement may be extended for addi-
tional lamps for increasing the means of cooking or heating as required.
The front plate A is partly broken away for the purpose of exhibiting the
internal contraction marked B, C, and J, which forms the sides and back of the
chimney necessary for perfect combustion, as the duplex burner of each lamp is
placed centrally, as here shown marked a and b, beneath the duplex cone shown
with the other parts appertaining thereto in section. D, D, is the oil vessel to
which the screen plate c, d, is attached by being soldered or otherwise secured to
the flat tubes carrying the cotton wicks marked a and b, which form the burners.
The duplex rectangular cone rests on a corresponding perforated plate secured to a
strengthening plate marked e, f, with deflected flanges on each side for sliding on
corresponding flanges contracted inwards and upward from the lower terminal
edges of the plates forming the chimney marked B and C, or by other equivalent
The boxes that carries the toothed wheels for regulating the wicks are
marked and h. Above the chimney is an enlarged space marked E for receiving
the lower part of the vessels used in cooking, as also to form the flueway for the
escape of heat and smoke marked F in the direction of the arrow to be conducted
to an oven or other special heating apparatus.
means.
And in order that this apparatus may be used singly an hinged fence is placed
from back to front, as shown at k, but when the apparatus is in full use with
both lamps the fence k is pressed down flat in the direction, as shown in dotted
lines.
In order to make room in the front plate A for applying and withdrawing the
lamp with its elevated burners and duplex cone a part of the front plate is removed,
as shown in dotted lines at 1, 1, 1; and as this portion of the front plate forms a
part of the chimney it becomes necessary for perfect combustion that this should

page_text: be made good, and which I effect by soldering or otherwise securing to the top
perforated plate of the lamp defined at e, f, a fence plate marked m, m, here shown,
of a semicircular form, but any other form may be adopted, provides it makes good
or seals over the parts removed, as before referred to, marked i, l, L; G is an handle for
drawing out the lamp, through which the axis of the toothed wheels for regulating
the wick protrudes for receiving two terminal finger knobs marked n, n, by which
the toothed wheels are actuated; H, H, are feet for the apparatus to stand on,
which may be of any shape or supported by any other equivalent means.
Fig. 2 is simply a top view of Figure 1 with the kettle removed, but showing
the circular orifices for receiving it, which is formed through the top plate I, I,
broken off for the purpose of showing the hanging fence k, l, as also the rectangular
contractions forming the lamp chimneys marked B, C, and J; the front plact A
as before stated completing their rectangular form. F is the escape or flucway, as
shown in Figure 1, marked with the same letter. In use the cooking utensils or
vessels may be variously formed either for resting on the top plate over the circular
orifice or to partly sink in, as here shown at Figure 1, but as the heat is fairly
distributed, and the size of the apparatus permitting, several openings may be
formed for receiving more than one cooking vessel; and when heating is required
elevated domed covers, or otherwise, may be placed over such orifices or openings,
so as to retain and confine the heat within the apparatus.
In using petroleum or other volatile oil it has been found essential for perfect
combustion to regulate the supply of wick with care and judgment; and as the
means for effecting this by the finger knobs that protrudes in front of the oil
vessel, it becomes necessary for providing means for examining the state of the
flame also from the outside. To meet this a circular part marked p, Figure 1, is
formed for receiving a piece of glass or transparent talc, so that the attendant can
rise or lower the wick or wicks of the lamp to the desired position, whether the
apparatus be used for cooking or heating purposes, as in the latter case the heat may
bc regulated accordingly.
An important feature of my improvements in cooking and heating apparatus (the
heat being derived from the combustion of hydrocarbon oil) is the application to
the oil vessels of such apparatus of a float indicator herein-before referred to, and
which indicator is exhibited in connection with the oil vessels D, D, Figure 1,
marked and r, the latter being shown partly in section for the purpose of exhi-
biting the float marked 8.
This simple contrivance is of importance when filling the oil vessels by removing
the cap of the feeder, for as soon as the vessel is full the float s will rise and elevate
a small button, as at u, thereby indicating that sufficient oil is supplied, and that to
add more is only to cause an objectionable overflow and waste of material.
This supply regulator I have exhibited distinct in top and side views at Fig. 3,
the latter being partly in section; it is simply made of thin tube, perforated by
preference around the bottom part to freely admit the oil around the float. The top of
the tube is closed with a small concentric hole for a small wire to come through,
terminating by its being spread and flattened down, like the head of a wire nail,
or a small washer rivetted thereon, whilst the lower end of the said wire is passed
concentrically through a small bit of cork or other equivalent light material, or
attached to a small length of light metal tube made secure top and bottom, so as
to readily float that when the oil is placed in the vessel, as before stated, the float
will be buoyed up, and with it the upper end of the concentric wire, thereby giving
the needful information of the sufficiency of the supply of oil poured into the lamp
vessel.
Having now particularly described and illustrated the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe that what I wish to protect and claim as of my Invention under
these my in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction of cooking and heating stoves, herein described

page_text: and set forth, or any mere modification of the same, the heat being derived from the
combustion of hydrocarbon oil.
Secondly. The use of the fence plate m, m, for making good or scaling the
opening in the front plate forming the chimney or chimneys of the lamp or lamps
for insuring perfect combustion.
Lastly. The application to the oil vessels of such cooking or heating apparatus of
a regulating float for indicating the sufficient supply of oil to the oil vessel, as
herein described, or any equivalent contrivance answering the same purpose, that
by its timely indication excessive supply and consequent overflow is prevented.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Pitcairn Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
GEORGE GRIFFIN,
Clerk to Mr. J. S. Cockings,
17, Ann St.,
Birmingham.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT. (L.S.)