Improvements in and Relating to Apparatus for Supporting and Heating Dishes, Plates, or similar Articles.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in and Relating to Apparatus for Supporting and
Heating Dishes, Plates, or similar Articles.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR SUPPORTING AND HEATING DISHES, PLATES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES to be as
follows:-
"
This invention relates to an improved chafing-dish or apparatus for supporting
and heating dishes plates or other articles.
This chafing-dish is to a certain extent similar to dish-stands heretofore manu-
factured, but is provided with a special arrangement enabling the dishes or plates
placed thereon to be kept hot.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawing will
render the device and its constituent parts easily understood.
Figure 1 is a plan of this heating dish-stand.
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof on line O P.
Figure 3 is an underside view shewing the internal parts of the said apparatus
and
Figure 4 is a view of a detail thereof.
This apparatus is composed of a rectangular tile of earthenware or any other
material, the surface of which is provided with a central cavity B from which
radiate in the direction of the diagonals of the said tile four grooves or furrows b
the bottoms of which as they rise to the level of the surface of the tile are rounded
off so as to form but one surface. The said tile is hollowed out in its centre and
provided thereat with a perforation C through which passes a flame for heating the
dish or plate placed upon the said tile. This tile is moreover provided with four
external apertures c formed opposite a series of internal perforations o¹ which com-
municate with the central cavity B nearly at a level with the perforations C. The
above mentioned tile is fixed upon a frame of wood, cast iron or the like according
to requirements, or the tile may be formed integrally with the said frame and made
of the same material. When the tile and frame are made of two separate pieces,

page_text: these pieces are joined by means of small hooks nailed or screwed upon the frame
and fitting into corresponding apertures formed in the under surface of the tile.
A metal plate E provided with a large perforation F is fixed upon the lower part
of the frame D and a lamp is introduced into the said perforation; the plate E is
supported by a small iron plate g which is curved and oscillates upon a fixed point
A stirrup ffitted upon the plate E and provided with a small perforation f¹ receives
the wick of the lamp G and serves to regulate the intensity of its flame. The said
lamp G is thus held between the support, the lever or stirrup f and the edges of
the perforation F. By causing the wick to project more or less from the per-
foration F, that is to say, by raising or lowering the said wick, the intensity of the
flame is increased or decreased. This movement is effected by means of a small
plate which is made accordingly of a peculiar shape shewn in Figures 2-3 similar
to that of the protruding portion K of the lamp.
Inside the said device I place a suitable bell J fixed upon the plate E, L being
the hammer which strikes the said bell and which is provided with a spring M.
N is a musical apparatus which is also placed inside the said device.
The above described chafing-dish operates in the following manner, that is to
say: The lamp being filled with spirit, alcohol or other suitable liquid, the free
end of the lever g is drawn to the left hand side; the perforation F is thus dis-
engaged and the lamp can then be placed therein; the lever is then drawn to the
right hand side. The protuberance K slides upon the inclined portion of the notch g¹¹
of the said lever and rests upon the plane and projecting portion of the support g.
The lamp is thus raised into its position. The maximum of intensity of the flame
corresponds to the right hand side position of the lever, the minimum of intensity
corresponding to a central position of the said lever when the protuberance K is
opposite the notch g¹¹.and the lamp is lowered.
The apertures c serve for ventilating purposes, the air entering through the
perforations c¹ reaches the flame and thus increases the combustion.
A dish or plate being placed upon the tile the grooves or furrows serve as flues
for the escape of the heated products of combustion which pass in every direction
under the said dish or plate and heat the latter uniformly.
This device is completed by the arrangement of lugs n oscillating at: m and
which are withdrawn when the cover is placed.
When it is intended to use this device simply as a dish-stand, the cavity B is
closed by means of a cork H, shewn separately in Figure 4, the lamp being thus
extinguished whilst the wick belonging to the same is located in the recess or
cavity o formed in the cork, the evaporation is arrested and moisture does not
settle upon the said wick. I may construct two different types of the said dish-
stands, each being applied to a special use, the first type being the largest for use
on dining tables and the second type being smaller for the convenience of invalida.
I may moreover vary the dimensions and arrangement of the different parts of
the device, as also the material of which it is manufactured, without departing
from the nature of the said invention.
Date L 1
SML 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: and
Figure 4 is a view of a detail.
This apparatus comprises a square plate A of earthenware or any other suitable
material, the surface of which is provided with a central cavity B from which
radiate in the direction of the diagonals four grooves or furrows b.
In the centre of the square plate is a hole C through which passes the flame for
heating the dish or other article placed upon the said plate A. In addition to this
central hole the square plate is provided with four external apertures c formed
opposite a series of internal perforations o' which terminate in the central cavity B
nearly on a level with the hole C. The square plate is fixed upon a frame of wood,
cast iron or the like according to requirements, or the plate and frame may be
made of the same material and in one piece.
When the square plate and frame are separate pieces, they are joined by means
of small hooks e nailed or screwed to the frame and fitting into corresponding
apertures formed in the under surface of the plate. A metal plate E provided with
a large perforation F is fixed upon the lower part of the frame D, and a lamp is
introduced into the said perforation. The lamp G is supported by a lever g which
is curved and oscillates upon a fixed point p. A cap f fitted upon the plate E and
provided with a small perforation f¹ receives the wick of the lamp G and serves to
regulate the intensity of the flame. The lamp G is thus held between the lever g,
the cap and the edges of the perforation F in the plate E. By causing the wick
to project more or less from the perforation f¹, that is to say, by raising or lowering
the lamp, the intensity of the flame is increased or decreased. This movement is
effected by means of the lever g, which is made accordingly of a peculiar shape as
shewn in Figures 2-3, and by the bulge K. of the lamp.
Inside the said apparatus I place a suitable call bell J, Figure 3, fixed upon the
plate E which bell serves for calling a servant during a meal. L'is the hammer
which strikes the said bell and which is provided with a spring M.
N is a musical device of any suitable construction which may, if desired, be
placed inside the said apparatus.
The above described chafing dish operates in the following manner, that is to say,
The lamp being filled with spirit alcohol or other suitable liquid, the free end of
the lever g is drawn to the left hand side, the perforation F is thus uncovered and
the lamp can then be placed therein; the lever g is then drawn to the right hand
Bide. The bulge K slides over the slightly inclined portion of the depression g

page_text: formed in the said lever and rests upon the plane and higher portion of the same;
the lamp is thus raised in its position. The maximum of intensity of the flame
corresponds to the right-hand side position of the lever, the minimum of intensity
corresponding to a mean position of the said lever when the protuberance or bulge K
is opposite the depression 911 and the lamp lowered.
The apertures c c¹ serve for the supply of the air to the flame to support
combustion.
A dish or plate being placed upon the square plate, the grooves or furrows serve
as flues for the escape of the heated products of combustion which pass in every
direction under the said dish or plate and heat the latter uniformly.
This apparatus is provided with four lugs n movably fastened at m and which
are drawn out when the dish is in its place.
When it is intended to use this apparatus simply as a dish-stand the cavity B is
closed by means of a stopper H shewn separately in Figure 4, the lamp not being
alight whilst the wick of the same is located in the recess or cavity o formed in
the stopper; the evaporation is thus arrested and moisture does not settle upon the
wick. I may construct two types of this apparatus each being applied to a special
use; the first and largest type is used on dining tables and the second smaller type
is designed for the convenience of invalids.
I may moreover vary the dimensions and arrangement of the various parts of
the apparatus and also the material of which it is manufactured without departing
from the nature of the said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First The combination of a dish-stand formed of a square plate or upper portion A
having a central cavity B, channels 6 which terminate in the said cavity, and holes c
and c¹ for the passage of air, with a lamp Gas described above, and for the specified
purpose.
Second In an apparatus for supporting and heating dishes and similar articles,
the lower plate E perforated for the insertion of the lamp, the cap f pierced for the
passage of the wick of the lamp and for regulating the intensity of the flame and
the lever g g g for supporting the lamp, combined with a bulge or projection K
provided at the base of the latter for enabling it to be raised or lowered according
to the required intensity of the flame, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing.
Third In an apparatus for supporting and heating dishes and similar articles, the
combination of a lamp G, the musical box N and the call bell J substantially as
described above with reference to Figure 3 of the drawing.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.