US463499A - Fruit or vegetable steamer - Google Patents

Description

vUNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

EDVARD P. ERIOSON, OF CLERMONT, IOVA.

FRU IT OR VEG ETABLE ST EAM ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,499, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed October 2, 1890. Serial No. 366,842. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD P. ERIcsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clermont, in the county of Fayette, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit or Vegetable Steamers, of which the following is a specication, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steamer attachments for boilers and the like, designed more particularly for use in the canning or preserving of fruits or vegetables.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap attachment which may be readily inserted in a common Wash-boiler, and

v upon which the jars or cans are designed to be supported by the attachment, which is perforated upon its upper face, and is formed with a depression over which the bottoms of the cans or jarsare placed, so as to leave a space under the bottoms of all of the cans or jars, so as to more readily heat the contents of the jars and prevent their breakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The. invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan of the attachment removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through a Wash-boiler with the attachment in position therein, and showing also in dotted lines the cans or jars supported upon the attachment. Fig. 3 isa vertical cross-section through the attachment, showing also in dotted lines portions of two jars thereon. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the boiler provided With blocks or supports, upon which the steamer attachment, with flange omitted, rests when in place.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawA ings by letter, A designates my improvement. It is shown in the present instance as of a shape and size adapted for use in connection with an ordinary Wash-boiler5 but in practice Vstrength thereto.

it is proposed to make it of different shapes and sizes, according to the form of boiler with which it is desired to be used. It consists of a perforated metal plate corresponding to but slightly smaller in size than the bottom of the boiler in connection with which itis to be used. It is provided with a supporting-flange a, so as to elevate it a short distance above the bottom of the boiler. It is preferably stamped or pressed out of one piece of material, and, if desired, may be swaged to give The upper face of the steamer is provided with a depression b, Whicli forms a continuous channel around the upper face of the attachment, extendinga short distance from the edge thereof, as seen bestin Figs. 2 and 3. The perforations in the upper face extend centrally through this channel and also upon both sides thereof, as clearly seen in Figs. l and 3.

The device is used as follows: It is placed Within the boiler, as seen in Fig. 2, with about one and one-half inches of water. The jars or cans filled with the fruit or the vegetables are then placed upon it. The boiler is then covered with its lid and heated until steam is generated. Vhen the fruitor vegetables are sufficiently cooked, the jars are taken out, the

contents of one or two of them are used to reted, and the plate may rest upon blocks or supports in or attached to the inner sides or bottom of the boiler, as shown in Fig. '4, where the letters f f f represent blocks or supports, on which the steam-heater rests when in use.

Importance is attached to the surrounding continuous depression or channel, as by its presence a steam-space is provided beneath the bottoms of the cans or jars, whereby the jars are evenly heated and breakage avoided and the contents of the jars at this point subj ected to direct influence of the steam, which it would not be if the metal were in close contact with the bottoms of the cans or jars.

XVhat I claim as new is l. As an improved article of manufacture, a steamer attachment consisting of a plate having means of support and having its upper IOO face provided with a continuous annular depressed portion or Channel, substantially as specified.

2. The steamer attachment described, oonsisting of a plate having a supportiugliange and 'having its upper lface perforated and provided With a marginal and a central supporting portion, and an intermediate annular de pressed portion, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-doseribed steamer attaolinient, Consisting of a single'pieee of material and having a supporting-flange, and a' perforated top having a continuous depression or channel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiixmysignature in I 5 presence of two Witnesses.

EDWTARD l. ERICSON. lVitnesses:

',l. E. CLARK, W. A. fiom-IAM.

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