IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN RANGES AND OTHER COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Howard Matravers Ashley, of Knottingley, in the County
of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
KITCHEN RANGES AND OTHER COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Howard Matravers Ashley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1882.
HOWARD MATRAVERS ASHLEY of Knottingley in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN RANGES AND OTHER
COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to improvements in Kitchen Ranges parts of which
improvements are also applicable to other cooking and heating apparatus.
The objects of my invention are to increase the durability of certain parts which
are subject to the action of the fire, to improve the cooking qualities of such
apparatus, to bring the action of the fire more under control, and to regulate the
admission of pure air to the underside of the fire, or to the interior of the
apartment. And it consists in the first place in making the bottom and one or
more of the sides of the oven (when applying the improvements to a Kitchen or
cooking stove) of a waved form so as to allow of contraction and expansion of the
metal without fracture, and also to prevent the scorching of food placed therein.
Secondly, in the arrangement of a sliding door or doors between the fire and the
chimney and below the outlet of the oven flue, for the purpose of inducing the
draught to pass under the oven when required, and for regulating the same.
Thirdly in the arrangement of a sliding blower under the fire grate by which
pure air may be admitted either directly to the underside of the fire, or into the
room as desired.
In carrying out these objects, I prefer in the first place to make the body of the
oven tubular with a loose or removeable back plate, and with the bottom and the side
first subjected to the heat or if necessary all the sides; of the waved section or
shape, the waves running in lines from front to back, I use by preference inside the
oven a bottom plate to rest on the edges of the waved bottom, and provided with
D

page_text: a series of serrated ribs or gills on its underside corresponding with and fitting into
the hollows of the waves. I thus obtain a large heating surface from corrugated
bottoin of oven, and from gilled plate, and the parts of the corrugated bottom in
contact with the loose plate are not subject to the direct action of the flame.
The back and front plate having each a suitable flange to keep the tubular body
of the oven in position may be secured to each other (the body of the oven being
suspended between them) by means of long countersunk headed bolts or cotters
passing through the front plate and oven and secured at the back by split cotters
or similar means.
To regulate the draught I attach to the back of the arch plate over the fire
suitable guides carrying one or more sliding doors which can be opened or closed
by the hand so as to shut off the draught to the chimney and induce the heat and
flame to pass up the oven flue, the outlet of which is above the said sliding doors.
I make the sliding blower with a closed front and arranged to draw out from
under the fire grate. A flue or pipe from the outside of house or apartment or
other convenient place and fitted with damper or valve conveys the air through
suitable outlets, or perforated hearth under the blower in front of the fire, and
which is also provided with corresponding apertures which when the blower is
opened or drawn out are over the air apertures, and convey the air to the underside
of the fire grate thus blowing the fire, but when closed, the air apertures being
uncovered allow the air to ascend in front of the fire, where it is wanted and is
diffused into the apartment. I make the catch for retaining the fall down bars,
and for other similar purposes-consisting of a case or cover with a lug at one
end a hollow bolt or catch, the elongated opening of which passes over the before-
named lug which acts as a stop. A spring made of flat steel bent in a zigzag
form is placed in the elongated opening between--the-lug and the end of the bolt
and forces back the bolt after it has been drawn out.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Howard Matravers Ashley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st July 1882.
HOWARD MATRAVERS ASHLEY of Knottingley in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITCHEN RANGES AND OTHER
HEATING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to improvements in Kitchen ranges and other cooking and
heating apparatus parts of which improvements are also applicable to other cooking
and heating apparatus.
The objects of my invention are, to increase the durability of certain parts which
are subject to the direct action of the fire; to improve the cooking capabilities of
such apparatus, to control and direct the action of the fire, and to regulate the
admission of pure air either to the underside of the fire, or to the interior of the
apartment.
I accomplish the first object by providing for the contraction and expansion of
the various parts due to the great variations in the degrees of heat to which such
apparatus are subject, the remaining objects are accomplished by means of the
various improved appliances for controlling and directing the action of the .fire
and for admitting pure air as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention in the construction of a Kitchen range (for
example) which I have illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings-
Fig 1 being an elevation of a Kitchen Range. Fig: 2, a sectional side view of
same.
Fig 3, a plan of the Hearth plate, with air grates and sliding plate.
Fig: 4, Section of Oven with the supporting flange.
Fig: 5, Oven bottom plate—and to which I will presently refer, premising that
the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. 1 make
the body of the Oven A, fig: 4 of a tubular form with a removeable back plate B,
and with the bottom C, and one or more of the sides as may be desirable, of a
waved section or shape, the "waves" running in lines from the front to the back.
I find in practice that the bottom alone, or the bottom in combination with side D,
first subjected to the action of the heat, when made of the waved form or section
is generally sufficient to accomplish the desired object. I use inside the oven, a
bottom plate E fig: 5 provided on its underside with a series of serrated ribs or
gills F, corresponding with and fitting into the hollows G between the waves of the
oven bottom; and I thus obtain a large heating surface from the waved bottom of
oven and from the ribbed plate.
The back and front plates B and H have each a suitable flange I to retain the
body of the oven A in its proper position, and the parts described are secured
together by means of long bolts J, Fig: 2-passing through the front plates, the
oven, and the back plate. I provide such bolts or cotterpins with spring washers K
or their equivalents, to allow for expansion.
To control and regulate the draught T attach to the back of the arch plate L
over the fire suitable guides M to carry two sliding doors N. Fig: 2 which can
be opened or closed so as to shut off the draught to the chimney, either partially
or altogether, and thereby induce the heat and flame to pass through either one or
all of the various flues as required, the outlet of the Bues being open to the chimney,
above the sliding doors N.
To regulate the admission of air from the outside of the building for the different
purpose of blowing up the fire, heating the room, etc. I construct a metal hearth

page_text: plate P, Figs: 2 and 3, having a flat upper surface and provided with two openings
(by preference oblong shaped) one Q, situated under the fire grate, the other R
considerably in front of the fire bars, this opening being provided with a grating.
On the underside of the hearth plate P, a sliding plate S, is fixed, having a stud T,
working in a slot so that it can be operated from the top side of the hearth plate,
the sliding plate can be moved so as to cover either of the above named openings,
and a flue Ü, made under the floor to the outside of the building, is provided with
a sliding grate or valve so that the air can be partially or wholly shut off from
the flue. A division plate V, is fixed in a line with, and under the fire bars-to
determine the course of the air-either to front of bars, or to underneath of bottom
grate.
When the sliding plate S, is drawn backward so as to cover the grated opening R,
in front of the fire, the air is directed through the opening Q under the fire and
inust of necessity pass through the body of the fire, blowing it up and throwing
the beat out from the bars into the apartment which constitutes a "roasting
fire when the sliding plate S, is pushed forward so as to cover the opening Q
under the fire, and leave the grated opening R clear, the air is directed through
the grate to the front of the fire, part of the air being warmed by the fire ascends
and is diffused into the apartment, and part passes to the fire, If the sliding
door N, over the fire is now closed (or partially closed) and the oven damper W
opened the flame and heat of the fire is drawn under the oven A and away from
the front fire bars-this constitutes a "baking" fire-if the fire is not required
either for roasting or baking, then by subdueing the chimney and flue draughts
and allowing the air to enter through the grated opening R, the room is supplied
with a constant stream of pure air from the outside, which is warmed while
ascending in front of the fire, and not as in hot air Stoves (as usually constructed)
by contact with heated metal plates, which drys or burns the air and renders it
deleterious to health.
I have described my invention as applied only to a Kitchen or Cooking range,
but it is obvious that the arrangement for admitting air either to the underside of
the fire, or to the front of the fire, as desired, may be applied to other heating grates
or apparatus.
Having now described and fully ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and the inanner in which it is or may be carried into effect, I would observo in
conclusion that what I consider to bo novel and original and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is:-
1st. The general construction, and combination of the various parts of a Kitchen
range substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
2nd. The construction of ovens of a tubular or open end shape with the bottom
only, or the bottom and one or more of its sides of a waved form, for the purpose
and substantially as described and illustrated.
3rd. The construction of Ovens for cooking Apparatus, of a tubular or open end
shape supported between loose front and back plates, held together with bolts
provided with spring washers or equivalents passing through the interior of the
oven, and having the bottom only, or the bottom and one or more sides of a waved
form, for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs: 2 and 4.
4th. The use of bolts or cotters with spring washers or their equivalents as
before described passing through the interior of ovens which are not of my
improved waved form, for the purpose of securing the oven to the front and back
plates, and to allow for contraction and expansion.
5th. The combination in Kitchen ranges of the waved oven, the sliding doors at
the back of the arch plate, and the hearth plate with the arrangements for directing
the current of air, substantially as described and illustrated.
Gth. The employment of a hearth plate in any kind of cooking or heating
apparatus, provided with the means of directing the current of air (which is

page_text: preferably brought from the outside of the building) either to the front of the bars,
or to the underside of the fire grate substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated or any mere modification thereof.
7th. The arrangement of the double slide, or sliding doors above the fire, and
below the outlet of the oven or boiler flues in Kitchen ranges or other cooking
apparatus, for the purpose and substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Howard Matravers Ashley have hereunto set
any hand and seal this Nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HOWARD MATRAVERS ASHLEY. (L.S.)