US948149A - Steam-cooker. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 1, 1910. l

H. A. STODDARD.

STEAM GOOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZL 1909.

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HATI-IERLEY A. STODDARD, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-COOKER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed. July 24, 1909. .Serial No. 509,296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HATHERLEY A. S'ron- Dann, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Cookers, of which the following is a speciiication.

rfhis invention relates to a steam-cooker and consists of an apparatus of that kind wherein provisions are made for drying steam or revaporizing the condensed steam by means of closed metallic conduits adapted to hold and conduct heated gases from the sources l'of heat employed to make the steam employed, or from an independent source of heat.

The same symbols of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

Figure l represents a front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the arrangement of doors for the several compartments. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the construction and arrangement of the interior of the apparatus, the steam-forming compartment,

the superimposed cooking` compartments, and the means for drying the steam, or revaporizmg the condensed steam by the hot gases or products of combustion. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing pipes for conducting the gases through the cooking compartment, and the grid formed at the bottom of the several compartments. Fig.' et is a cross-sectional view on line teli of Fig. 2, showing the grid bottom of one of the cooking compartments resting upon the metallic conduits, here shown as pipes. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, showing the construction for effective heat insulation.

rIhe apparatus consists of a box or casing l having its side, top and bottom walls constructed so as to prevent radiation of heat to as great a degree as possible. In some forms of the apparatus the walls may be made of wood, and in other forms they may consist of double walls having a heat-insulating filling, such as mineral wool or equivalent insulating material. In the embodi ment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the box has a heat-resisting lining 2 of asbestos. In the upper part of the box or casing is aninner linin 3 of metal, preferably copper, the space lnclosed by this metallic lining constituting the cooking chamber. At the lower chamber wardly, forming a bottom 4e, which is open at 5, andfrom the edges of the opening are depending ribs or flanges 6. The space inclosed by the flanges 6 may be considered as the open bottom which is reduced in area.

Below the cooking chamber is a tank 7 adapted to contain water and mounted upon a supporting frame 8, the sides of the tank 7 tting snugly against the flanges 6. 'Ihis tank is partially filled with water, the level of which is brought above the bottom edges of the flanges 6 so that the surface of the water is contained within the walls of the cooking chamber and is exposed within the interior thereof. Beneath the tank are heat ing means 9, ducting the combustible gas or vapor, and having numerous openings from which jets of flame may issue and impinge upon the bottom of the tank. The heat of the flames causes steam to be generated from the water and to fill the cooking' chamber. Within the latter are a number of pipes l0 having their lower or inlet-ends Il extending through the bottom portion el. of the lining which incloscs the cooking chamber, this inlet end being open and lying beside the tank above the heater. These pipes pursue sinuous courses through the cooking chamber, and their outward ends 12 pass through the top wall of the box or casing. Viithin the box each pipe passes back and forth at different levels, there being at each level a horizontal section of the pipe, while the sections of dierent levels are connected by upright sections 10a. The horizontal portions of the several pipes constitute supports for shelves or racks 13 consisting of wooden slats upon which the goods let` to be cooked, such as loaves of bread, are placed.

In one or more of the walls of the box are inlets 15 near the bottom which admit air for supporting thc combustion of the fuel issuing from the burners. This air becomes part of the cooking heated in the chamber at the bottom of the box below the tank and the bottom of the cooking chamber, and, rising with the products of combustion given olf by the flame, enters the inlets ll. of the pipes l0 and passes through the pipes, finally issuing from the outlets l2. The hot air and products of combustion being thus conducted by of the cooking chamber which ,are preferably pipes conthe metallic lining is offset in-' the pipes through all parts of the cooking l chamber, serve to maintain the temperature of the steam at a high enough point for cooking purposes without being brought into direct contact with the goods being cooked.

The particles of steam generated from the water vin the tank penetrate to all parts of the cooking chamber and carry the heat necessary for cooking into all parts ofthe chamber. The condensed steam collects upon the walls of the lining 3 and drips back into the tank. The arrangement of the tank relative to the cooking chamber according to which the bottom of the lining 3 which incloses the cooking chamber dips into the water in the tank, furnishes a direct connection between the tank and the chamber, 'which conducts the steam into the latter.

In one of the side walls of the box are doors 16 hung upon hinges 17, which doors are spaced to correspond with the shelves 13 and are coextensive with the spaces between the shelves.V These doors are independent and give access to the goods placed on any and each shelf. The tops of these doors 16 are formed with inclined faces 16a, adapted to engage complemental inclines 1Gb on the walls of the box (see Fig. 2). Vhen the doors are made of wood escaping steam or moisture about the doors causes them to swell and prevent further escape of steam.

ln Fig. is shown a heat-insulating construction, which may be provided in some forms of the cooker. This consists in making the box with double sheet-iron walls a., between which is packed a layer of mineral wool c, or equivalent non-conducting material.

I claim l. A steam-cooker consisting of an inclosed cooking chamber, a water container at the bottom of said chamber adapted to hold water with the surface thereof exposed to the interior of said chamber whereby vapor generated from the water may enter said chamber, means for heating said water, and metallic conduits arranged in said chamber for holding and conducting heated gases through said chamber, the surface of said conduits being adapted to receive and revaporize condensed steam and to reheat or dry uncondensed steam.

2. A steam cooker' consisting of an inclosed cooking chamber, a non-conducting lining arranged upon the walls of said chamber, a water container at the bottom of said chamber adapted to hold water with the surface thereof exposed to the interior of said chamber whereby vapor generated from the water may enter said chamber, means for heating said water, and metallic conduits arranged in said chamber for holding` and i conducting heated gases through said chamber, the surface of said conduits being adapted to receive and revaporize condensed steam and to reheat or dry uncondensed steam.

3. A steam cooker consisting of an inclosed cooking chamber, one or more openings formed in the sides of said chamber, each opening being provided with a steam tight door, a water container at the bottom of said chamber adapted to hold water with the surface thereof exposed to the interior of said chamber whereby vapor generated from the water may enter said chamber, means for heating said water, and metallic conduits ar anged in said chamber for holding and conducting heated gases through said chamber, the surface of said conduits being adapted to receive and revaporizcc condensed steam and tov reheat or dry uncondensed steam.

4f. A steam cooker consisting of an inclosed cooking chamber adapted to contain the goods to be cooked, a water container at the bottom of said chamber adapted to hold a body of water with the surface thereof exposed to the interior of the chamber, whereby steam generated from the water may lill the chamber, a heater beneath said water container, and means for conducting heated air and the products of combustion from said heater into heat-transferring relation with the steam within the cooking chamber to maintain the steam in a vaporous celulition and revaporate water condensed therefrom.

5. A steam cooker consisting of an inclosed cooking chamber adapted to contain the goods to be cooked, a water container at the bottom of said chamber adapted to hold a body of water with the surface thereof exposed to the interior of the chamber, whereby steam generated from the water may lill the chamber, a heater beneath said water container, a pipe passing in a sinuous course through the cooking chamber, portions thereof being approximately horizontal, having an inlet located so as to receive heated air and the products from said heater, and discharging the same outside of the chamber, and shelves for holding the goods to be cooked supported by the horizontal portions of said pipes.

A steam cooker' consisting of a cooking chamber having an opening in its bottom surrounded by a depending flange or lip, a tank adapted to contain water located beneath said chamber and inclosing said dcpending fiange or lip so that the latter may dip into the water contained therein, and a heater below the tank.

7. A steam cooker consisting of a box, a lining contained in the upper part of said box and terminating in an open contracted portion above the bottom of the box, the space inclosed by said lining constituting a cooking chamber, a tank adapted to contain water arranged in the box below the lining so that the edges thereof are inclosed by the walls of the tank and extend below lOO Maia@ the normal level of water in the heater beneath the tank.

8. A steam cooker consisting of a box, a lining contained in the upper part of said box and terminating in an open contracted portion above the bottom of the box, the space inclosed by said lining constituting a cooking chamber, a tank adapted to contain water arranged in the box below the lining so that the edges thereof are nclosed by the walls of the tank and extend below the normal level of water in the tank, a heater beneath the tank, and a pipe extending' from the space below the cooking chamber, through the same in a sinuous path, and out through the top thereof, for conducting the gases and air heated by the heater' through the chamber out of direct contact with the contents thereof.

9. A steam cooker consisting of a box, a lining contained in the upper part of said box and terminating in an open contracted portion above the bottom of the box, the space inclosed by said lining constituting a cooking chamber, a tank adapted to contain water arranged in the box below the lining so that the edges thereof are inclosed by the walls of the tank and extend below the normal level of water in the tank, a heater beneath the tank, a pipe extending from the space below the cooking chamber, through the same in a sinuous path, and out through the top thereof, for conducting the gases tank, and a and air heated by the heater through the chamber out of direct contact with the contents thereof, and shelves or racks for holding the goods to be cooked, supported on horizontal lengths of said pipe.

l0. A steam cooker consisting of a box, a lining contained in the upper part of said box and terminating' in an open contracted portion above the bottom of the box, the space inclosed by said lining constituting a cooking chamber, a tank adapted to contain water arranged in the box below the lining so that the edges thereof are inclosed by the walls of the tank and extend below the normal level of water in the tank, a heater' beneath the tank, a pipe extending from the space below the cooking chamber, through the same 1n a sinuous path, and out through the top thereof, for conducting the gases and air heated by the heater through the chamber out of direct contact with the content-s thereof, shelves or racks for holding the goods to be cooked, supported on horizontal lengths of said pipe, and doors in one of the side walls of the box coextensive with the spaces between adjacent shelves.

ln testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HATHERLEY A. sroDDARD. [1.. 5.]

liVitnesses ALBERT I. RIGHARDsoN, ANNIE M. ALLIs.

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