Apparatus for Laundry and household use
Year: 1897

page_text: I ROBERT GILL THWAITES of 59 Brudenell Grove Hyde Park Leeds Gas Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an Apparatus for Laundry and
household use for the pressing of clothing or any other material, the same being
heated by Gas without Chimney.
In carrying out my said object I construct a box or body of iron the shape of an
ordinary smoothing iron with an opening on each side for ventilation. The top
being made separate from the body is hollow, which is filled with any nonconducting
material, the handle being secured to the top in the usual way. The burner is an
atmospheric one running lengthways inside the body of the iron, with a series of
perforated plates over and above the same.
1. ROBERT GILL THWAITES of 59 Brudenell Grove Hyde Park in the City of Leeds
Gas Engineer 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus for laundry and household
use for the pressing of clothing or other material, the same being heated by gas
without a chimney.
In carrying out my said invention I construct a hollow body or box of iron, having
the same shape as an ordinary smoothing iron, with an opening or rather openings
on each side for ventilation, i.e. inlet and outlet openings on each side for the
admission of air and the escape of the products of combustion. The top or cover
is made separate from the body, and is dished or made hollow on the underside; the
space thus formed being filled with some nonconducting material. The handle is
secured in the usual way. An atmospheric burner is provided in the lower part of
the box running lengthways therein; and a series or set of perforated plates are
Price 8d1

page_text: loosely fitted in the box above the burner to assist in abstracting and retaining the
heat given off from the burner.
This invention is also applicable to the smoothing and pressing irons of tailors and
manufacturing clothiers.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed may be more readily and clearly understood, I have annexed hereto the
accompanying sheet of drawings; in which
Fig 1 is a perspective view of the body or box iron with the burner attached, but
with the cover and perforated plates removed.
Figs 2 and 3 are perspective views of a set of two perforated plates; though it is
to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular number of plates.
Fig 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the top hollow cover, and to which the
handle is attached.
A indicates the body or box iron.
b is the atmospheric burner attached thereto; the india rubber tubing from a gas
pipe being attached to the end of the bent branch b¹.
CC are inlet holes through the sides near the bottom, for the admission of air to
and
or
support, carry off the products of, combustion.
The upper part of the sides from i to is slightly less in height than the front
and two back corners, so that when the cover is placed thereon and fastened down
by screws fitting in the tapped holes in the corners, a horizontal slit extending
from to is formed on each side near the top of the iron; through which slits the
products of combustion escape.
m and h, Figs 2, and 3, are a set of two perforated plates fitting within the box
above the burner, and these serve to abstract and retain heat froin the hot gases and
flame, which pass upward through the perforations ?. ?. Where only two perforated
plates are used, I prefer to make them respectively of the shapes shewn in Figs 2 and 3;
m being the lower plate and h the upper plate. The back end of the lower plate m
is curved upwards to form a seat or ridge s s; for carrying the back end of the upper
plate h, and is provided with a vertical part t to block the admission of air at this
end. The recess vis formed to fit over the burner connection to the box.
The ledges d serve to carry the upper plate.
The perforations are preferably so formed, that those of the one plate do not come
opposite those of the other plate.
7 is the cover to which the base and arm piece carrying the handle, (not shewn) is
attached by screws. y. The cover g is dished or formed hollow on the underside, and
the hollow is filled with non-conducting material, such as silica wool; which is kept
in place by the thin sheet iron plate e. The plate e is secured by nuts fitting over
the bottom ends of the screws y.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In smoothing and pressing irons for laundry and other purposes, the combination
of a hollow box iron having inlet and outlet openings with a gas burner, perforated
plates and hollow cover filled with nonconducting material all substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
2. The combination of hollow box iron having inlet and outlet openings with a
gas burner and perforated plates substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
3. The combination of hollow box iron with a removable dished or hollow cover
filled on the underside with non-conducting material substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
4. The combination of hollow box and cover constructed as described and
shewn for providing access for air and escape openings for the products of
combustion.

page_text: 5 The construction of smoothing and pressing irons for laundry and other
purposes substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 91ot day of October 1897.
J. CLARK
JEFFERSON
30 Park Row Leeds Agent.