IMPROVEMENTS IN COOKING STOVES OR RANGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smith and Stephen Wellstood, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Stove and Range Manufacturers,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Smith and Stephen
Wellstood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 9th January 1862.
We, JAMES SMITH and STEPHEN WELLSTOOD, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Stove and Range Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN COOKING STOVES OR
RANGES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates principally to apparatus of the kind commonly known
as "American cooking stoves," but the improvements are also more or less
applicable to other kinds of cooking stoves or ranges. The improvements
are designed to prevent the external radiation of the heat, to concentrate the
heat more effectually upon the various cooking operations, and generally to
economise the fuel required for the stove.
In a modification of cooking stove or range embodying the improvements,
the oven doors or oven sides not covered by flues are fitted with an internal
lining, having a heat reflecting or non-conducting surface directed towards the
interior of the oven. Bright sheet metal, such as tinned plate is suitable for
such lining; and it may be fitted so as to enclose an air space, to further
assist in preventing radiation through the doors or sides. In the case of all or
any of the flues, which are partly formed by the external casing of the stove,
an outside lining or casing is applied of bright sheet metal, such as tinned

page_text: plate or other non-conducting material having, however, by preference, its
inside surface bright, or capable of reflecting back to the flue the heat radiated
upon it. If this outer casing or shell is applied so as to enclose a small air
space, it will more effectually obstruct the radiation of heat away from the
flues. To prevent loss of heat from the top of the stove a light cover or hood,
by preference, of tinned plate, or other bright sheet metal is provided to
entirely cover the top of the stove, and to enclose the pans or cooking vessels
thereon. By these means not only will the objectionable overheating of the
kitchen or apartment be avoided, but the heat so obstructed will be made to
act on the hitherto exposed sides of the cooking vessels.
Another improvement consists in providing for the smaller sizes of pots or
pans supports which fit into the top plate or cover of the stove or range, and
which are formed with sunk sides, or sides projecting down into the fire box with
a supporting flange at the bottom, upon which the pot or pan may rest; this
will permit of heating or boiling in a small pan when the fire may be low,
and save the making-up of the fire that would otherwise be requisite. In
cooking stoves of the kind to which the present improvements chiefly relate,
it has been usual to form in the top plate immediately covering the fire box
a large oval opening to receive one fish pan or other large vessel, and to
provide moveable pieces by which this opening may be converted into two
circular openings for pans of moderate size. By this Invention additional
separate moveable pieces are provided for converting the large oval opening
into one smaller circular opening in the centre, so that when only one vessel
has to be heated advantage may be taken of the more effective central posi-
tion, and the extra making up of the fire to one side or the other necessary
with the two-hole arrangement be thereby saved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES 3
SMITH and STEPHEN WELLSTOOD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Stove and Range Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of 3.
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: us, the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood, Ier special licence that we,
the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COOKING
STOVES OR RANGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
James Smith and Stephen Wellstood, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our said Invention relates principally to apparatus of the kind commonly
known as "American cooking stoves," but the improvements are also more or
less applicable to other kinds of cooking stoves or ranges. The improvements
are designed to prevent the external radiation of the heat, to concentrate the
heat more effectually upon the various cooking operations, and generally to
economise the fuel required for the stove.
And in order that the nature of our said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended a
Sheet of explanatory Drawings representing a cooking stove as constructed
and fitted with the improvements.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the stove complete, and Figure 2 is a plau
with the hood removed, and with the back part in horizontal section. The
same reference letters mark the same parts in both Figures.
In this stove the oven A has its front side against the back of the fire
box B whilst it is surrounded by flues over its top, back, and bottom. The
two lateral sides are fitted with doors C, which are represented as open, and
it is these parts only which, in this modification are exposed to loss of heat
by radiation outwards. To prevent or greatly lessen such loss these doors C
are each fitted with an internal lining D, having a heat-reflecting or non-

page_text: conducting surface directed towards the interior of the oven. Bright sheet
metal, such as tinned plate is suitable for such lining; and it is, by preference,
fitted so as to enclose an air space d, which further assists in preventing radia-
tion through the doors. In cases where the oven is formed with other parts
besides the doors, not covered by flues, the lining may be similarly applied to
such unprotected parts. In the case of all or any of the flues, which are
partly formed by the external casing of the stove, as, for example, the back
flues E, F, G, and the flues running under the oven (and which are behind
the cover or plate H, Figure 1), an outside jacket or casing is applied of
bright sheet metal, such as tinned plate or other non-conducting material,
having, however, by preference, its inside surface bright or capable of reflecting
back to the flue the heat radiated upon it. The application of such outer
casing or shell to the back flues E, F, G, is shown at I, in Figure 2, and its
application to the bottom flues is indicated by the dotted line at J, in Figure 1.
This outer casing or shell is, by preference, applied so as to enclose a small
air space, which causes it to more effectually obstruct the radiation of heat
away from the flues. To prevent loss of heat from the top of the stove, a
light cover or hood K, by preference, of tinned plate, or other bright sheet
metal is provided to entirely cover the top of the stove, and to enclose the
pans or cooking vessels (L) thereon, as shown in Figure 1. By these means
not only will the objectionable overheating of the kitchen or apartment be
.avoided, but the heat so obstructed will be made to act on the hitherto
exposed sides of the cooking vessels. In the top of the hood K; near the
back there is fitted a tube and cap -M, which may be opened to allow steam
and vapour from the cooking operations to escape up the chimney. The hood
is also formed with doors N at the front; it can, however, at any time be
easily lifted off, being quite light.
Another improvement consists in providing for the smaller sizes of pots or
pans, supports, or "contractors," which fit into the top plate or cover of the
stove or range, and which are formed with sunk sides projecting down into
the fire box with a supporting flange at the bottom, upon which the pot or pan
may rest. This improved "sunk contractor" is represented in position at P,
in Figure 2, and separately in section in Figure 3; it may, however, be placed
in any of the circular openings. This improvement permits of heating or
boiling in a small pan when the fire may be low, and saves the making-up of
the fire that would otherwise be requisite.
In cooking stoves of the kind to which the present improvements chiefly
relate, it has been usual to form in the top plate, immediately over the fire
box B, a large oval opening Q, to receive one fish pan or other large vessel,

page_text: and to provide a movable centre piece, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2,
by which this opening is converted into two circular openings at the sides for
pans of moderate size. By the present Invention additional separate movable
contracting pieces R are provided for converting the large oval or oblong
opening into a single circular one in the centre. In Figure 2, this central
opening is represented as occupied by the "sunk contractor" P, herein-before
described. By these means, when only one vessel has to be heated, advantage
may be taken of the more effective central position, and the extra making-up
of the fire to one side or the other, necessary with the two-hole arrangement,
be thereby saved.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, we have to state that we do not
restrict ourselves to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that
what we consider to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
1. The fitting of the doors and other unprotected sides or surfaces of ovens
or cooking chambers with internally reflecting non-conducting linings, with or
without air spaces, substantially as herein-before described.
2. The fitting of the external unprotected sides or surfaces of stove or range
Blues with internally reflecting non-radiating jackets or casings, substantially
as herein-before described.
3. The fitting or providing of cooking stoves or ranges with light movable
hoods or covers, substantially as herein-before described.
4. The fitting or providing of cooking stoves or ranges with "sunk con-
tractors" substantially such as and for the purpose herein-before described.
5. The fitting or providing of cooking stoves or ranges having oblong
openings in the top or hot plate with contracting pieces suitable for converting
such oblong opening, either into one smaller central opening or into two side
openings, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Smith and Stephen Wellstood,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES SMITH.
(L.S.)
STEPHEN WELLSTOOD. (L.S.)