IMPROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN RANGES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Redmayne, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN RANGES."
Sealed the 25th September 1874, and dated the 31st March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Redmayne at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on-
the 31st March 1874.
I, THOMAS REDMAYNE, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do hercby'
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KITCHEN
RANGES," to be as follows:
"
My Invention relates to improvements in kitchen ranges used for:
cooking and heating purposes in which a fire is employed, which; may:
either be used closed for the purpose of heating the several parts of the:
range, or may at pleasure be converted into an open one such as is:
ordinarily used in fire-places; and it has for its objects a novel arrange- ·
ment of hot plates on which the processes of boiling or stewing may be,
conducted, and a novel method of constructing and arranging the:

page_text: dampers or moveable plates by which the fire is converted from an open
to a close one, as described; and a novel combination with such hot
plates so arranged of an arrangement of one or more ovens for tho
purpose of roasting or baking.
For the purpose of carrying out my Invention I arrange near the
ground a fire-place of the kind ordinarily constructed and used in such
kitchen ranges at or near the centre of the space or opening in which
the kitchen range is to be fixed, and above this fire-place I arrange a
horizontal hot plate having suitable openings in it to receive pans or
other culinary utensils when desired, which openings may be closed by
moveable plates or covers. Upon this hot plate at one or both of its
ends I arrange an oven, and I make lateral flues pass from the sides of
the upper part of the fire-place underneath the hot plate or ovens to the
ends of the range, and I then make these flues pass up vertically
between the ends of the space in which the range is fixed and the outer
ends of the ovens (if two ovens are used), or of the oven at one end and
of a vertical plate forming the inner side of the flue at the other end (if
only one oven is used). I make the flues then pass laterally towards
the centre of the range over the top of the oven or ovens, or of a
horizontal plate fixed across the range and underneath a second hot
plate which I arrange so as to extend from side to side of the range, and
which may also be fitted with suitable openings to receive cooking
utensils closed by moveable plates or covers. The space above the upper
hot plate formed by the upper part and top of the range may be closed
in either by metal plates or by the brickwork or masonry in which the
range is fitted, and may be provided with an opening giving access when
required to the chimney. The inner sides and backs of the oven (or
ovens) are formed of hollow spaces open to the flues below but closed
above so that they are constantly filled with heated air. The flues
which pass underneath the upper hot plate are afterwards conducted
through a suitable opening or openings into a chimney, and'I arrange in
the flues where necessary suitable dampers (of the kind ordinarily con-
structed or used) for the purpose of regulating the passage of the flame:
and heated air in any direction that may be required, and I also provide
suitable moveable soot doors for the purpose of cleaning the several flues.
when required. The upper hot plate may also have an oven arranged at
one or both ends round which the flues are conducted in the same way.
as was described with those on the lower hot plate. At one or both

page_text: sides of the fire-place an oven or hot chamber may be arranged if
desired.
When it is desired that the close fire should be converted into an open'
one I raise a plate which forms the centre of the lower hot plate above
the fire, and which turns upon a hinge or centre at or near the back of
the fire, and I turn it up until it rests against the back of the range,'
and immediately above the fire I make an opening in the bottom of the
lateral flue underneath the upper hot plate, and I close this opening by
means of a sliding plate which can be opened or closed by a lever, the
lower end of which hangs down so as to be struck by. the hinged plate,.
above described, when the latter is turned up, and the sliding plate is.
thus opened and free access allowed for the smoke from the fire into the
lateral flue and thence to the chimney. When the hinged plate is
turned down again the lever is released, and the sliding plate is either
closed by a handle provided for the purpose, or by a weight upon the
lever. A boiler is provided in the usual way.
}
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,'
filed by the said Thomas Redmayne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th September 1874.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
REDMAYNE, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year.
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-..
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Redmayne, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Redmayne, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Redmayne,;
my 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 KITCHEN RANGES," upon the condition (amongst others),

page_text: .
that I, the said Thomas Redmayne, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six. 5
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Redmayne, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to
say):
My Invention relates to improvements in kitclien ranges used for
cooking and heating purposes in which a fire is employed, which may
either be used closed for the purpose of heating the several parts of the
range, or may when desired be converted into an open fire such as is
ordinarily used in fire-places; and it has for its objects a novel arrange-
ment of hot plates on which the several processes of cooking may be
conducted (and a novel arrangement of one or more ovens in combination
with hot plates so arranged), and novel arrangements of moveable"
plates by which the fire can be converted from an open to a close onc,
or from a close to an open one when desired!
-
In order to carry my Invention into operation. I arrange near the
ground, at or near the centro of the opening in which the range is to be
fixed, a fire-place of the kind ordinarily constructed and used in such
kitchen ranges, and above this fire-place I arrange a horizontal hot plate
having suitable openings in it of the usual kind to receive pans or other
culinary utensils when desired, which openings may be closed by
moveable plates or covers in the ordinary way when desired. Upon this
hot plate, at one or both of its ends, I arrange an oven, and I make
lateral flues pass from the upper part of the fire-place at cach side
underneath the hot plate or the bottom of the oven or ovens to the ends
of the range, and I then make the flues rise vertically between the ends
of the space or opening in which the range is fixed and tlic outer ends
of the ovens (if an oven is used at each end) or of the oven at one end
and of a vertical plate forming the inner side of the fluc at the other
end (if only one oven is used). I make the flues pass laterally towards

page_text: the centre of the range over a horizontal plate fixed across the range
and resting upon or forming the top of the oven or ovens, and under-
neath a second hot plate arranged at a suitable distance above the
plate last described, and extending from side to side of the range. This
second hot plate may also be provided with suitable openings (to receive
cooking utensils) closed by moveable plates. The space above this
second hot plate formed by the top and upper part of the sides of the
range may be closed in either by metal plates or by the brickwork or
masonry in which the range is fixed, and may be provided with a
suitable opening closed by a door and giving access to the chimney
when required. The inner sides and the backs of the oven or ovens may
be formed of hollow spaces open to the flues below but closed above, so
that they remain constantly filled with heated air. The flues which
pass underneath the second (or upper) hot plate, as described, are
afterwards conducted through a suitable opening or openings into a
chimney, and I arrange in the flues, where necessary, adjustable dampers
(which may be of any of the kinds ordinarily constructed and used) for
the purpose of regulating the passage of the heated air and flame in any
direction that may be required, and suitable moveable doors may also be
provided for the purpose of cleaning the several flues when required.
At one or both sides of the fire-place, at or near the ground, an oven or
hot chamber may be provided if desired, and a boiler for the supply of
hot water may be arranged in the usual way.
When it is desired that the close fire operating as described should be
converted into an open one I raise a plate, which forms the centre of the
lower hot plate, above the fire, and which may turn upon a hinge or
centre at or near the back of the fire, and I turn it up until it rests
against the back of the range, and immediately above the fire I make an
opening into the bottom of the horizontal flue beneath the second hot
plate, and I close this opening by means of a sliding plate which can be
opened or closed by a lever, the lower end of which hangs down so as
as to
be struck by the hinged plate already described. When the latter is
turned up, as above described, and the sliding plate is thus opened and
free access is allowed for the smoke from the fire into the horizontal flue
underneath the second hot plate and thence to the chimney, when the
hinged plate is turned down again the lever is released and the sliding
plate is cither closed by a handle provided for the purpose or by a weight
fixed upon the lever.

page_text: Sometimes instead of making the plate slide as described, I make it
capable of rising vertically upon a horizontal hinge at or near its front
edge, and I raise or close it when required by means of a cam or lever
moveable by a handle arranged in a suitable position in front of the
range. In this arrangement the plate or cover is not struck and opened
by the lower plate when the latter is turned up, as above described, but
each can be adjusted independently of the other.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a kitchen range constructed according
to my Invention, and having two hot plates and one oven; Figure 2 is
a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a transverse section; and Figure 4, a
horizontal section of the same. The samo letters of referenco indicate
the same parts in the several Figures.
a is the fire-place; b, the hot plate above the fire, and c, the oven;
d, d, are horizontal flues passing from the. fire underneath the hot
plate and the oven c respectively. These flues are continued vertically,
as shewn at e, e, and thence again horizontally underneath the second
hot plate g, as shewn at f,f. A door is shewn in the top of the range
above the hot plate g by which access may be had to the chimney. i is
a hollow space open below but closed above at the inner side of the
oven c; k, k, are adjustable dampers in the flues; is a plate which
covers an opening in the hot plate b above the fire, and can be removed
when it is desired to convert. the fire to an open one, and m is a door
moveable on its front edge so that it can be raised by the cam and
handlen (as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 4) to allow access for the
smoke to the chimney when the plate is removed, as already described.
o is a boiler provided with a tap in the usual way.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to
be performed, I do not claim the precise form and arrangement of the
apparatus as shown in the Drawing, which may be varied and modified
to suit varying circumstances, but I claim the novel arrangement of the
upper hot plate or plates underneath which the hot air is admitted from
the flues on each side so as to form a continuous hot plate in addition to
the hot plate immediately over the fire..
Also the combination with hot plates so arranged, of one or more
1

page_text: Also the methods of converting the fire from an open to a close one,
r vice versa, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Redmayne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
THOMAS REDMAYNE. (L.S.)