Basting Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept, 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Basting Apparatus.
I, MILES WALKER of Hampden House, Phoenix Street London N.W. Solicitor
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to afford a simple and effective apparatus for
automatically basting meat or other eatables whilst cooking either in the oven, before
the fire or otherwise.
My invention consists in the application to a basting appliance of the principle
involved in the following arrangement:-A receptacle or well is provided with an
opening through which the gravy or other substances used in basting may pass, and
this opening is automatically closed by means of a valve or other device serving the
same function as a valve when a suitable quantity has run in. A tube or other
conduit having its opening at or near to the bottom of the well leads to a point to
which it is desired to raise the gravy. When the valve is closed the gravy is forced
up the tube by the direct pressure of steam produced either by the boiling of the
gravy itself or produced in another vessel and conveyed to the well by suitable
conduits. I distribute the gravy thus raised, by means of a "distributor" consisting
of tubes, troughs or other conduits riade to lengthen or shorten like a telescope and
pivoted so that they may be turned in convenient directions.
Doted thin 5th day of Dasambar 1880
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Basting Apparatus.
I MILES WALKER of Hampden House Phoenix Street London, N.W. Solicitor
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 my invention is to afford a simple and effective apparatus for
automatically basting meat or other eatables whilst cooking either in the oven or
before the fire.
.
In order to explain the nature of my invention and the way it is worked I will
describe by means of drawings the apparatus as now constructed by me for use in an
oven. But it will be seen hereafter that my claim is for the application to a baster
of the principle involved in the working of the apparatus described below as well as
for the particular mode of constructing it.
Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus with the distributor removed. Figure 2 is a
section through the line X Y showing also in fine lines certain parts not in section.
Figure 3 is the distributor. Figure 4 is a section of the well D on a larger scale.
Figure 5 is a plan of the float and guides.
A is an ordinary dripping tin and in it is fixed a false bottom B a short distance
above the real bottom. This false bottom is not parallel with the real bottom but
slopes down to one corner. In this corner an elliptical hole c is cut in the false
bottom (say 2 inches by 24 inches).
Under this hole a square well D of suitable depth (say 1 inch) is fixed to the under
side of false bottom.
A vertical tube E (say inch in diameter) is inserted through the false bottom into

page_text: one of the corners of the well D as shewn in the drawings and has its lower end
a short distance (say inch) from the bottom of the well D. Inside the well D is a
float F (say inch high). The float has a flat top W. Z. of the same shape as the
hole but slightly larger (say 6 inch longer and broader than the hole). The
body of the float is made as small as possible but it must be of sufficient bulk to float
(I make the float of very thin tin plate and solder it with pure tin).
There are guides S. S. fixed inside the well to keep the float in position so that its
long axis is parallel to the long axis of the hole C but allowing it to rise and fall
freely. These guides work in recesses shown in the plan but by a strong twist the
float can be freed from the guides and when turned until its short axis is parallel to
the long axis of the hole C it can be lifted through the hole and removed from the
well. A small light handle is fixed to the top of the float for this purpose.
To the top of the tube E (say 7 inches above the false bottom) is fixed a distributor.
(I describe below the form of distributor used by me and also certain additions which
I make to the apparatus.)
The apparatus is used as follows, the meat is placed on the false bottom B. The
apparatus is then placed in a hot oven. The gravy which runs from the meat flows
down the sloping false bottom and collects in the well D and in time lifts the float F
until it stops up the hole C. The heat of the oven boils the water in the gravy and
the steam produced forces the gravy up the tube E from whence it passes to the
distributor and is discharged over the meat. When the well D is thus emptied or
nearly emptied of gravy the steam blows up the tube and the pressure inside the box
decreasing the float which meanwhile has been supported by the pressure of the
steam drops and allows the gravy to run into the well again. The operation is then
repeated and goes on repeating until the apparatus is taken from the oven.
In order to get the gravy out of the well the float is taken out in the manner above
described. The distributor consists of a box G as shown in the Figure 3 having
a hole in its base which fits onto the top of the tube E and having several other
holes H. I. J. from which run troughs K. L..M. in a horizontal direction. These
troughs are connected to the box by pivots and can be moved about in the same
manner as an ordinary gas bracket. They may also be lengthened and shortened by
means of the sliding pieces N and O.
After the meat is placed on the apparatus the troughs are adjusted so that the ends
are over the highest parts. The gravy from the tube E enters the box G and is
discharged through the holes H. I. J. along the troughs and over the meat.
The tube E may be made adjustable in. the same manner as a telescope.
A useful variation may be made in the apparatus by connecting the well D with
the space under the false bottom by means of the tube P. An opening which can
be closed by a steam tight lid is made for the introduction of water into the space
below the false bottom. The apparatus with this addition is worked in the same way
as without it the only difference being that the boiling of the water in the said space
supplies a larger quantity of steam than is generated from the gravy itself and the
discharge of gravy takes place more frequently.
The presence of water under the false bottom also prevents the gravy from being
burnt.
In the place of the oval hole C a steam tight lid can be inserted on the top of the
well D and a round hole answering the purpose of the hole C can be cut in
the lid.
If it is wished to apply my invention in roasting meat before the fire a well similar
in construction to the well D with a float inside it is affixed to a Dutch oven under
the meat and a tube conveys the gravy to a point suitable for distribution over the
The steam necessary to force the gravy up can be generated in a small vessel
heated by the fire or by a spirit lamp.
meat.
The word gravy where used above includes any liquid or semi liquid used in
basting and the word steam means any gaseous substance which would answer the
same purpose.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The employment in a basting appliance of the following contrivance. A well or
receptacle having an opening through which the gravy enters and capable of being
closed by a float valve or otherwise when a suitable quantity has run in so that the
gravy is forced up a tube or other conduit communicating with the well to the
required level by means of the direct pressure of steam upon it, the steam being
generated either by the boiling of the gravy itself in the well or by the boiling of
a liquid in a vessel communicating with the well.
2. The raising of gravy in a basting appliance by collecting it in a well or
receptacle as above described and subjecting it to the direct pressure of steam
so that it is forced up a tube or other conduit communicating with the said well.
3. A basting appliance having the well G with opening and the float F substantially
as described.
A basting appliance having the distributor G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. snh-
t. A basting appliance having the distributor G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. snh-
any as described.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1890.
MILES WALKER.