Improvements in Cooking Ovens and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cooking Ovens and the like.
I, LOUIS JOSEPH QUÉNOT, of 29, Avenue de la Republique, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements are designed to provide ovens in which all kinds of food can
be efficiently cooked without contact with the fire, and without the necessity of
opening the oven and thus lowering the temperature.
My improved oven has a door with a large glass panel, permitting one to inspect
the food when being cooked.
Inside this oven rotates a metal frame of oblong shape, mounted on a spindle
revolving on suitable bearings. One end of this spindle projects through the oven
and is rotated by a motor of some suitable kind. One end of the frame is furnished
with spikes and at the other end is a sliding bar also fitted with spikes. The
meat to be cooked is placed within the frame and held by the spikes. My improved
oven has a double exterior casing with an air chamber on all sides and on top and
bottom, the door only excepted.
Beneath the revolving spit or spiked frame before described is a circular metal
plate on which dishes can be placed. This plate or disc is also caused to revolve
when required by means of a light gearing which is operated from the spindle of
the spit.
Any suitable motor can be employed, the most convenient being one containing
a coiled spring, such as the well known vernvolver or bottle-jack.
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1
1007
I, LOUIS JOSEPH QUÉNOT, of 29, Avenue de la Republique, Paris, France,
Engineer, 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 :-
My improvements supply a want in the kitchen domain for when a joint is to be
cooked for example in the oven of a kitchener it is usually found that the part
which is turned towards the fire is burned whilst the opposite portion is still
undone, or, if the meat to be baked is often turned by the hand, the oven has to
be opened every time which makes the oven cooler and therefore greatly interferes
[Price 871

page_text: with the cooking and with the quality of the roast-meat or other food which is in
the oven.
In order to remedy this defect I have conceived the idea of causing the article to
be cooked to rotate either in a horizontal, or vertical or other direction according
to its nature whether meat or cake or the like so that the baking may be uniform
on all sides. The power necessary for turning may be supplied by a weight or a
spring, or in any well known way.
In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in
order more clearly to show the nature of my improvements.
In the following drawings I have paid my attention chiefly to my improvements,
leaving on one side the construction of the kitchener or stove which admits of an
unlimited variety of pattern according to the requirements and preferences of the
owners.
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation partly in section of an oven to which my invention
is applied.
Fig. 2 shows a sectional plan of same.
Fig. 3 shows a modification.
abcd are the four sides of a rigid metal frame forming a spit. On the bar a
are formed one or more spikes to hold the joint at one end, while its other end is
Eupported by spikes formed on a sliding bar e. The bar slides on the sides bd of
the spit frame and is fixed in any desired position by means of the tightening
screws ff. The spit is provided at either end with journals g h which rotate in
suitable bearings. The journal g rests in a bearing formed on a transverse bar i,
while the journal h rests in a boss k.
The spit is rotated in the following manner. The journal h is squared or angular
at its end, and projects into a corresponding recessed boss k which passes through
one side of the oven.
This boss is rotated by any suitable form of motor, such as for instance the spring
jack, and bevel gear m.
The oven is also provided with a horizontal rotatable plate n on which viands can
be placed.
The plate n is provided with a central shaft n¹ which may be rotated as shown
by similar mechanism to that by which the spit is rotated or in any other suitable
way.
o is the door of the oven, provided with a transparent panel p by which the
viands can be watched while being cooked. q is a wire netting or grating to
protect the panel p from injury.
z is a hollow space between the inner and outer walls of the oven.
The mechanism is controlled by a centrifugal regulator r. This regulator is so
constructed that when the revolving balls r¹ descend showing that the movement
is about to stop two cams come in contact with the lever of a hammer which
strikes the bells thereby indicating that the spring must be wound up again.
The revolving plate n has also a removable arched wire frame t connected with a
pivotted hook t¹ which may be used for suspending certain articles of food.
It will be understood that the revolving plate n is rather intended for turning
dishes or cakes than for turning large joints such as legs of mutton.
When preferred I arrange a plain horizontal bar instead of the spit frame before
described, which can be operated by the spring jack already mentioned. This
simple form of spit can be thrust through the joint in the usual way.
The fire being placed on the side marked x it will be seen that the article of food
will be thoroughly done on both sides.
It will be understood that the revolving plate and the turnspit are never used a
the same time, for the two parts are detachable and either the rotating plate or the
turnspit can be used as preferred.
Referring to the door o which permits the baking of the food to be watched
without the oven having to be opened. The transparency of this door can be
obtained either by constructing the door entirely of a transparent material, or with a

page_text: frame enclosing a panel p of glass or mica or any other suitable substance. This
pane or window may be placed at any spot from which it is possible to ascertain
the progress of the cooking without the necessity of opening the oven.
I do not confine myself to any precise dimensions or modes of construction of
parts described in the present specification for these are capable of much variation
without departing from my system of preventing the article from remaining at rest
in the oven. It is possible to construct and adapt its various parts in greatly
enlarged sizes and in different styles to suit the requirements of the public.
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 :-
1. In a cooking oven the system of rotating the articles to be cooked this
rotation being effected either in a horizontal, vertical or other direction provided
that the article is not left at rest, so that it may be done equally on all sides. The
power necessary for this may be supplied by a weight or spring or in any other
manner as herein described and set forth.
2. In a cooking oven the arrangement of one or more openings closed by a pane
of transparent material permitting the process of the cooking of the article of food
being ascertained from outside without having to open the door of the oven and
thereby reducing the heat therein. The whole door may be made of transparent
material or the opening may be formed by a pane of a transparent material as herein
described and set forth.
3. In a cooking oven a net work or grating to protect the windows from injury, as
herein described and set forth.
Dated this 22nd der of March 1908
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.