GB605905A - Improvements in steam-heated oven installations - Google Patents

Abstract

605,905. Steam-heated receptacle chambers &c. BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION, and SAUNDERS, F. S. Jan. 7, 1947, No. 581/46. [Class 28(i)] A steam heated chamber for receptacles specially designed for aircraft comprises a thermally insulated heating system including a boiler, the rising steam from which circulates through an oven supporting therein a number of food containers, most of the condensed steam being collected to flow by gravity to a sump before entering the boiler through an opening below the normal liquid level in the boiler. The apparatus may also be used for warming frozen foodstuffs. The boiler 49 heated by an electric immersion heater supplies steam through pipes 58 to the jackets 65 holding the food containers 45. The boiler also supplies steam to a storage tank 67 providing hot water for washing up. Boiling water for tea may be drawn from the boiler through a cock 81 which can be swivelled up and enclosed behind the doors 53 which close a recess for warming plates. Condensed steam from the outside of the food containers trickles through holes 90 into a trough 47 leading to the boiler sump 48. The boiler is about six pints capacity but normally holds only two pints to allow room for generation and escape of steam. The steam supply is controlled by hand operated gate valves 61. The apparatus is surrounded by a lagged casing 43 having a lagged hinged lid 46. The food containers are suspended by their flanges on cork gaskets 50 in the cover plate 44 and have covers 55 and side handles. A pipe 72 heats the storage tank by steam which when condensed runs out of the ends of the pipes 72 through holes 90 and trough 47 to the sump 48. The bottom of the sump opens into the boiler so that condensate may return to the boiler to complete the circulatory system. A temperature gauge 82 is connected to a thermal responsive element 83 in the boiler. A pipe 84 connected to the sump leads to a water level gauge. The storage tank 67 and the boiler 49 may be replenished from a leader tank (not shown) one connector leading directly to the storage tank, the other arranged to discharge water into the trough 47. A small blow off valve is fitted in the top of the oven.