A NEW OR IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF COOKING RANGES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wilson, of St. Andrew's, in the County of Fife,
North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OR
CONSTRUCTION OF COOKING RANGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wilson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1876.
A
JOHN WILSON, of St. Andrew's, in the County of Fife, North Britain.
NEW OR IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF COOKING RANGES."
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved arrangement or construction
of cooking ranges, has for its object to enable a range to be used either as a close or
open range, or partly as a close and partly as an open range.
The improved range constituting this Invention is constructed with that portion
of the hob immediately above the fire capable of sliding horizontally and to either
side beneath those portions of the hob which are above the boiler or oven, as the
case may be, and this sliding portion may always be situated at a lower level than
the fixed portions of the hob, or after being slid in its place to close over the fire it
may be raised to the same level as that of the other portions of the hob by means of
one or more notches or inclined planes acting upon upright bars, which lift the
sliding plate after it is drawn over the fire, or the plate may be raised to the level
of the hob by means of an eccentric or the mechanical equivalent thereof.
For the purpose of opening or closing the lower part of the chimney or vent, and
in order to enable that opening to be made as large as possible when working as
an open range, two or more overlapping and sliding plates are arranged on either
side, which when thrown back to the sides overlap one another, and thereby occupy
but a narrow space horizontally, so that the opening into the chimney is made as
wide as possible; these sliding plates constitute a vent damper. When working
as a close range these sliding doors are drawn together to the centre until they
meet, thereby altering the range to a completely close state.
For the purpose of preventing as much as possible the ascent of cold air from the
sides of the range when it is working as a close range the upper corners of the

page_text: closed in portion may be filled up by a portion of the casting which as the stove is
in operation becomes heated, and imparting that heat to the air causes it to ascend
the chimney as warm air.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th February
1877.
JOHN WILSON, of St. Andrew's, in the County of Fife, North Britain. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF COOKING RANGES."
My said Invention, which relates to a new or improved arrangement or construc-
tion of cooking ranges, has for its object to enable a range to be used either as a
close or opeu fire-range, or partly as a close and partly as an open fire-range.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which 'the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan partly in section of the new or improved cooking range constructed
in accordance with my said Invention whilst being used with an open fire.
The mechanism constituting this Invention consists, as seen at Figure 1, of a
sliding or movable hob A, carried on two lever bars B, which are centred or pivoted
on pins or studs a carried in plates C, extending across the oven of the range, and
parallel with the lever bars B. At the extremities of these lever bars furthest from
the fire-place and at right angles to them a rod or shaft b passes through the plates C,
and on it are secured eccentric discs c, whose peripheries bear or act upon the lever
bars B. The shaft b is secured at its inner end by means of a washer and nut d,
whilst the front end is terminated by a handle e to enable the attendant to rotate
the shaft when required.
At the top part of the range are situated a series of overlapping and sliding
plates D, which are drawn together into the positions X and Y, Figure 1, at each
side of the range when it is being used with an open fire. The space V between
the two series of overlapping plates forms an opening of sufficient area to allow the
smoke or vapours to pass up into the chimney.
In order to prevent as much as possible the ascent of cold air from the sides of
the range when it is working with an open fire there are placed immediately under-
neath the plates D the inclined plates m, which become heated whilst the range is
in operation, and the cold air striking against the said plates m becomes heated, and
passes into the chimney as warm air.
When it is desired to change the range from an open to a close fire-range the
sliding hob A is drawn out from the position seen at Figure 1 into the position seen
at Figure 3, the hob being slid upon strips g, Figure 2, formed at the front and
back end of the fire-place. When the hob A has been so drawn out over the fire-
place the attendant turns the handle e so as to bring the eccentric discs c into the
position shewn at Figure 3, and this having the effect of depressing one end of each
Jever bar B, thereby causes the other end thereof to move through an arc upwards,
and firmly fix the sliding hob A against the fixed hobs E of the range. The over-
lapping plates D are then drawn towards the centre of the range, as seen at Figure 3,
whereby the entrance to the chimney at that part is closed, the products of com-
bustion passing through openings or flues to the right or left under the hobs E,
from whence they circulate round the oven or boiler, and thereafter escape into the
chimney through the continuations P of these flues, and which are situate at the
back of the range, as seen at Figures 2 and 4

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan showing the plates in their close position; and Figure 5, an
end clevation, showing the means employed for carrying the plates D.
Instead of the hob A being arranged to slide underneath the fixed hob on the
oven side of the range, it may with equal advantage be made to move to the opposite
or boiler side, or it may be constructed in such a manner that it can be slid to
either side.
In lieu of using eccentric discs, as herein-before referred to, for raising the sliding
hob (after it has been drawn into the position shown at Figure 3) to the level of the
fixed hobs E, notches or inclined planes may be made to act upon upright bars,
which lift the sliding hob A. into its position, or other equivalent means may be
substituted for that purpose.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recitod Letters Patent is, the new or
improved arrangement or construction of cooking ranges herein-before described and
shewn on the appended Sheet of Drawings, or any mere modification thereof, wherein
by means of a sliding hob and sliding and overlapping damper plates cooking ranges
are rendered capable of being converted from close fire to open fire cooking ranges,
and vice versa, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wilson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of February One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
JOHN WILSON. (L.S.)