Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd S pt., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1 th June, 1896-Accepted, 23rd Sept.. 1896
ALEXANDER MARSHALL AMOS 64 Garfield Road, Radford Notts or Buffalo
New York, U.S. Manufacturer of Tinware, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
To cook by steam under steam pressure.
To regulate the steam pressure by a self-feeding water valve.
To give warning by a low water signal when a fresh supply of water is needed.
To replenish without taking off cover or taking out stopper, or allowing escape
of steam.
To protect the bottom from injury when water has boiled away by means of a
triangular trough surrounding the water space.
The object of my invention is to cook vegetables, puddings, meats and other
things by steam under a uniform pressure, so as to economise fuel & cook
rapidly.
It relates to a self regulating and self-feeding water valve for maintaining a
uniform pressure of steam.
It also relates to a stationary low water signal for the purpose of giving notice
when a fresh supply of water is needed.
The novelty also consists of a replenishing tube for pouring water into the
cooker, and is so arranged that no stopper is needed to prevent the escape 'of
steam through the tube when the water is low and needs replenishing.
And it further consists of a trough in the water compartment that will retain a
supply of water, and prevent the tubes and seams from being injured by the heat
of the fire in case the cooker should boil dry.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my steam cooker, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary
longitudinal sectional elevations of the same.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the tubes, and
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the gutter or trough showing the lower part of
the whistle tube.
The letter A represents the body of the cooker, preferably of a cylinder form,
made of tin plate, or any suitable material. a a are ribs for the support of 'the
plates B B and form compartments C, C¹, C". The lower part forms the water
space for generating the steam.
The cover D has a tapering rim that is made sufficiently deep to enter the top
of the cooker and bind at the centre, sufficient space being left for the fulcrum
to pass between the top of the cooker and the edge of the cover.
'
EF H and G are seperate tubes joined together in such a way as to form a
combination for accomplishing certain new and useful improvements that will be
hereafter more fully described.
E is a tube extending preferably to the extreme lower end of the cooker and
having a spout g at the upper end of any 'suitable 'size or shape for pouring in
water.
To simplify the construction the tube E might be continued to the extreme
upper end and a suitable perforation made to receive the tea kettle spout 'for
pouring in water.
:
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page_text: An aperture is made in the shell of the cooker near the bottom, and is covered.
by the tube E. It is also covered from the inside by the trough N, formed in the
compartment C in any suitable way, and tapering from the bottom to the top
extends preferably to a line near the rib a and forms a trough h¹ that is wider at
the top and terminates almost at a point at the bottom as shown.
When the water is poured into the tube E it will pass through the aperture h
into the trough N and overflow into the compartment C³. The trough N is
intended to serve as a water seal to prevent the steam and odor from escaping
through the spout g when the water in compartment C is below the aperture h.
By this arrangement there will be no necessity of closing the spout g to prevent
the escape of steam.
1
The tube F is made preferably of about the same length as the tube E, having
an aperture ¹ at the extreme lower end communicating with the trough N in
compartment C³ and also having an aperture J above the aperture 4¹ but a little
below the upper end of the trough N.
The aperture will serve as an outlet for the water in the tube F when the
cooker is to be emptied & put away.
The tubes F and H are similar in length and form a combination for the outlet
of surplus steam into the fire.
.
The tube F communicates preferably with the tube H at the upper end through
the passage o as shown Fig. 6, and the lower end of the tube H is turned under
and a passage n is formed in the bottom n' as shown Fig. 5. G is a tube of about
the same length and preferably joined to the tube H in any suitable way. The
tube G covers an aperture m that opens into the compartment C near the lower
end, and has a stationary whistle K at the upper end.
The whistle K is made tapering and the extreme upper end extends above the
top of the cooker, and formis a suitable fulcrum to pry up the cover with the stove
cover lifter J, or any suitable device as shown, Fig. 3.
The shell of the cooker forms the back of the whistle K. The lip b in the
whistle is formed in such a way as to leave a passage v that terminates at the
lower end of the aperture w and is in a direct line with the upper edge, so that
the steam as it escapes will strike the edge of the aperture to and give warning
that more water is needed.
In the construction of a safety valve in a steam cooker it is very desirable to
maintain a uniform pressure of steam. I find a water valve the best adapted for
the purpose.
To construct such a valve I form a gutter or trough N of any suitable size or
shape inside the cooker and preferably at the base, and 1 extend the top a little
higher that the aperture J, causing the water in the trough N and the tube F to
rise higher than the aperture J, thus making a water seal that will serve as a
valve as shown in Fig. 4 & will be more fully described.
If the trough N were intended to serve as a water valve only it would answer
every purpose if made to cover the tube F. It would then be necessary to
connect the tube E with the tube F by means of a passage at the lower end of
the tube E and F corresponding with the passage o at the upper end of the
tube F'as shown in Fig. 6. But I find the trough N equally important to use as
a water seal for the tube E to prevent the escape of steam through the spout g
when the water is low in compartment C³. And I also find it useful as a means
of protecting the entire base of the cooker from injury as will be hereafter more
fully described.
Instead of making a seperate trough N to enclose the tubes E & FI extend it
around the entire base of the cooker by means of a ring L, except that portion
where the aperture m communicates with the tube G as shown.
As the water is poured into the tube E it will pass through the apertures h
and until the tubes E and F are filled to the level of the top of the ring L. It
will then overflow into the compartiment C, and the trough N when filled with
water will answer the purpose of a water seal in the tube E to prevent the escape

page_text: of steam through the spout g, and also of a water valve in the tube F to regulate
the escape of steam through the outlet n.
When the cooker is in use on the fire sufficient water must be poured through
the tube E to fill the compartment C above the aperture m so as to prevent the
steam passing through the whistle K. The cover D being tight, the pressure of
steam will force through the water that is in the trough N and the tube F above
the aperture J, as shown by the dotted lines and the arrow and follow
through the passage o in Fig. 6, and the outlet n in Fig. 5. As the aperture h
in tube E is much lower than the aperture J in tube F, no steam or odor from
cooking will escape through the spout g, and no stopper of any kind will be
required. But when the aperture m is not covered the steam will escape freely
through the tube G; the steam pressure will then be automatically changed, and
the weight of the water in the trough N and the tube F above the aperture J will
stop the outlet of steam in that direction and force it through the whistle K, thus
securing a louder whistle.
The volume of sound in the whistle K will depend upon the strength of the
valve. To make the valve stronger the aperture J must be lowered, or the
ring L must be raised. If the steam pressure is increased beyond a certain point
there will be a tendency to force the water up the tube F until it will overflow the
spout. To prevent this I construct an additional tube P inside the ring L
covering the aperture at the lower end and extending above the ring L'any
iesired length as shown in Fig. 2.
By opening a communication between the tubes E and F at the lower end,
these tubes could be made to terminate at the bottom at the compartment Ci
above the rib a. The trough N could be made to enclose them and raised
proportionately, and the aperture J made to correspond with this arrangement.
The advantage would be that in case the cooker should boil dry the bottom of
the tubes would be so far away from the intense heat of the fire as to be less
liable to be injured and become unsoldered and spoiled for further use. But
I desire to use the trough N in the base of the cooker for another purpose in
addition to forming a water valve and a water seal.
The aperture m is made near the bottom of the cooker so the whistle does not
give warning until the water is nearly exhausted. But if for any reason the
signal is not heard, and the water in compartment C should boil away entirely,
the tubes E, F H and G, and the seam around the bottom n' would burn and
become unsoldered, and the cooker spoiled.
To prevent this I extend the trough N around the entire base of the cooker,
except a portion of the space covered by the tube G. The bottom of the ring L
forms a complete circle, but the top of it seperates, leaving a triangular space
uncovered, so the steam will pass freely through the tube G and whistle K when
the water is below the aperture m as shown in Fig. 4.
The ring L is made to flare inward and the shell of the cooker flaring outward
the trough N is very much smaller at the bottom than the top, and very little
surface is exposed to the heat of the fire; consequently the water in the trough
will not evaporate as rapidly as in the compartment C, and as the condensed
steam from the plates B B and the cover D flows down the inner wall of the
cooker, the trough N will be constantly replenished, and will contain sufficient
water to protect the tubes and the bottom seam of the cooker from injury for a
considerable time after the water in compartment C has entirely boiled away.
To prevent the whistle K from filling with condensed steam below the
aperture w an outlet is provided by means of an opening w', and for the purpose
of preventing the water that collects in the whistle K from flowing down the
outside of the cooker and falling on the stove a similar opening 2011 is made in the
side of the upper end of the tube E, and a connection is formed between
the opening wand well by means of a tube or gutter u as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.
An outlet is thus made for the condensed steam from the whistle K into the

page_text: tube E and compartment C. By this arrangement no water is allowed to collect
in the whistle and a clearer and louder sound is secured.
Having thus described my invention I claim as new
1. In a steam cooker the replenishing tube E having a suitable spout or
opening at the upper end, in combination with the aperture and the trough N,
or the tube P forming a water seal. substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In a steam cooker the tube F having an aperture J, and the trough N
covering the tube F, and extending above the aperture J, in combination with
the tube H and the outlet o and n substantially as set forth and described.
3. The combination in a steam cooker of the tube F having an aperture J
above the aperture h', in combination with the tube H and the outlets o & n:
the tube E having an aperture, and the trough N enclosing the tubes all as
described & set forth.
4. In a steam cooker the tube G having a whistle K at upper end, and an
aperture m at the lower end in combination with the tube F having au
aperture J and the trough N forming a water valve as shown and for the purpose
described.
5. The combination of the stationary whistle K having an outlet w' and the
tube E having an aperture w" in combination with the tube or gutter u sub-
stantially as shown and described.
6. In a steam cooker the flaring ring L forming a triangular trough N in
combination with the water space c substantially as shown and set forth.
7. In a steam cooker the flaring ring L forming a gutter N, but having a
triangular seperation at the tube G: in combination with the tube G, aperture m,
substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of September 1895.
ALEXANDER MARSHALL AMOS.
A. Steam Cooker.
ALEXANDER MARSHALL AMOS Manufacturer of Tinware Buffalo New York,
U.S. and 64 Garfield Road, Radford, Notts 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 cook vegetables, puddings meats and other
things by steam under steam pressure, so as to economise fuel and cook rapidly.
It relates to a self-regulating valve for maintaining a uniform pressure of
steam.
It also relates to a low water signal for the purpose of giving notice or indicating
when a fresh supply of water is needed.
The novelty consists of a replenishing tube for the purpose of pouring in water
into the cooker, and is so arranged that no stopper is needed to prevent the escape
of steam through the tube when the water needs replenishing.
And it further consists of a trough in the water compartment that will retain a
supply of water, and prevent the tubes and the bottom of the cooker from injury
by the heat of the fire in case the water compartment should boil dry.
In the drawings
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevations of my stea:n cooker.
Figure 3 is a fracomment
*

page_text: Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the cooker showing the conduit or tube
onnecting the whistle with the water tube, as will be more fully described.
The letter A represents the body of the cooker preferably of a cylinder form,
nade of tin plate, or any suitable material.
B B B are perforated plates resting loosely on the ribs a a¹ all and forming
eperate compartments C, C1, C2 C3, the lower part C³ forms the water chamber for
generating the steam.
The cover D has a tapering rim that fits tightly on the top of the cooker as
hown in Figures 1 and 2.
E is a tube extending to the lower end of the cooker and having a spout e¹ at
the upper end for pouring in water. An aperture e is made in the shell of the
cooker as shown. A spout Fencloses the aperture e and the tube E in the
steam generating chamber C³. This spout F' may be made of any suitable size or
shape for the purpose of making a water seal to prevent the escape of steam
through the aperture e when the water level is below that point. This arrange-
ment will obviate the necessity of closing the spout e¹ to prevent the escape of
steam and odor while cooking.
The tube G is made similar to the tube E having an aperture g at the lower
end communicating with the steam generating chamber C³, and having a whistle K¹
at the upper end. The whistle K may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably
three sided, the shell of the cooker forming the back. The lip i is formed in such
a way as to leave a passage J that terminates at the lower end of the aperture i,
and is in a direct line with the upper edge of said aperture, so that the steam as
it escapes through the aperture 9 will strike the edge of the aperture i and give
warning that more water is needed.
K is a steam vent tube arranged on one side of the cooker and extending down-
ward to the lower end is bent under for the purpose of allowing the surplus steam
to escape into the fire as shown in Figure 2.
M is an upright valve case attached to the cooker and formed within the upper
part of the vent tube K, and is open at the upper end having an horizontal valve
seat preferably round and communicating with the interior of the cooker by means
of the aperture Z.
m is the weighted valve consisting of a flat piece of metal resting loosely on the
top of the valve case M and having a stem n that is preferably round and fitting
into the valve seat n¹ so as to keep the valve in position when operated by the
escaping steam. o is the steam passage between the valve case M and the tube K.
When the cooker is in use on the fire sufficient water must be put in compartment C
to fill the spout F1 and cover the aperture g, so as to prevent the steam passing
through the whistle K¹. When the cover is pressed down tight it will bind at
the centre of the rim and prevent the escape of any steam except through the steam
vent K. The pressure of steam will lift the valve m and escape through the
tube K and the outlet d at the bend underneath the bottom of the cooker.
When the water level is below the aperture g the steam will escape freely
through the tube G and the whistle K, and the steam escape will be changed.
The weighted valve m will check the outlet through the steam vent K and force
it through the aperture 9 the whistle K¹ thus securing a louder signal.
g
The aperture g is made near the bottom of the cooker so the whistle will not
give warning until the water is nearly exhausted, but if the signal is not heard, and
the water in the steam generating chamber should be allowed to boil away entirely,
0 the tubes E, K and G, and the seam around the bottom would burn and become
unsoldered.
To prevent this I continue the spout F¹ around the base of the cooker, except a
portion of the space covered by the tube G, thus forming a ring F.
The bottom of the ring F forms a complete circle except where it seperates at
5 the aperture g, leaving a space h that is uncovered, so the steam will pass freely
through the tube G and the whistle K¹ when the water is below the aperture g

page_text: The trough F¹ is closed on each side of the space by the wall, the ring F
being bent and attached to the side of the cooker as shown.
The ring F is made preferably to flare inward, and the body of the cooker
flaring outward, the trough F¹ is smaller at the bottom thau the top, and very
little surface is exposed to the heat of the fire: consequently the water in the
trough will not evaporate as rapidly as in the steam generating chamber C³, as the
condensed steam from the plates B B B and the cover D flows down the inner
wall of the cooker, the trough F¹ will be constantly replenished, and will contain
sufficient water to protect the bottom of the cooker from injury for a considerable
time after the water in chamber C3 has boiled away.
To prevent the whistle K¹ from filling with condensed steam below the aperture i
an aperture is made at the extreme lower end of the whistle, and for the purpose
of preventing the condensed steam that escapes from this opening from flowing
down the outside of the cooker and falling on the stove, a similar aperture is
made in the side of the upper end of the tube E, and a connection is formed
between the opening and by means of a tube or conduit J as shown in
Figure 4. An outlet is thus made for the condensed steam from the whistle K¹
into the tube E and the steam generating chamber C³. By this arrangement
no water is allowed to collect in the whistle and a clearer and louder sound is
secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I
claim is ;
1. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating
chamber in its bottom, of an imperforated wall or dam extending upward from the
bottom of the steam generating chamber and arranged in proximity to the
surrounding main wall thereof and forming with the latter a seperate water trough
from which water is supplied to the steam generating chamber only by overflowing
said dam, and an inlet or filling tube connected with said water trough substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating
chamber provided with a water inlet, of a signal tube communicating with said
chamber, an imperforated water trough or receptacle arranged in said chamber,
communicating with said inlet, and having its wall extended above the inlet,
whereby the water supplied to the said trough cannot escape into the steam
generating chamber except by overflowing said trough and whereby the water in
the trough forms a seal or closure which prevents the escape of steam through the
inlet substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating
chamber, provided at or near the bottom with a water inlet and a steam escape
aperture, of a filling tube leading to said water inlet, an annular water trough
arranged in the bottom of said chamber adjacent to the wall thereof, and provided
opposite said steam escape aperture with a recess, whereby steam is free to escape
through said aperture when the water level in the cooker falls below the same, and
a signal or whistle tube communicating with said steam escape aperture substantially
as set forth.
4. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating
chamber, of a signal tube communicating with said chamber, a whistle communicating
with said tube, and having a deflecting lip arranged below the whistle aperture,
and an outlet opening for the water of condensation arranged adjacent to said lip
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating
chamber provided with a filling tube, of a signal tube communicating with said
generating chamber, and provided with an alarm whistle, and a drain conduit or
tube leading from said whistle to said filling tube, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 6. The combination with the body of a steam cooker of a steam vent tube
arranged on one side of the cooker body, and extending downwardly from a point
near the upper end of the body, an upright valve case arranged in the upper
portion of the said tube, communicating with the interior of the cooker and having
an open upper end forming a substantially horizontal valve seat, a gravity valve
consisting of a flat plate resting loosely on said valve seat, means whereby said
valve plate is held against displacement on its seat, and a signal tube communicating
with the steam generating chamber of the 'cooker, and provided with a whistle
substantially as set forth.
Did thin 17th day of June 1896.
ALEXANDER MARSHALL AMOS.