Steam′er.
1. A steam-vessel.
See steamboat.
2. A steam fire-engine.
See fire-engine.
3. (
Domestic.) A culinary vessel with a perforated bottom, placed upon a cook-pot and having a lid to keep in the steam.
In
Fig. 5670, the steam passes up through a central channel
[
2344]
composed of frusto-conical sections of pipe, one of which is attached to each steamer.
The lower smaller end of each section enters the top of the one below, and the drip which flows from the close bottoms of the steamers into the pipe is carried off without contaminating any matters in the steamer beneath.
 |
|
Parallel-motion indicator. |
 |
|
Steamer for cooking. |
A primitive mode of cooking in use among several savage nations is called “stone-boiling,” and is as follows: A hole is dug in the earth, dry wood is placed in it, and on that a number of stones.
When the stones become red-hot the unconsumed fuel is removed, wet, green leaves placed upon the stones, and upon the leaves the food to be cooked.
More leaves are placed on the food, and a mat over all. Then some water is poured on the mat, and finally earth as an outside coating; thus the food is cooked by a combined baking and steaming process.
But a simpler method of stoneboiling than this of the New-Zealanders was probably practiced by the pit-dwellers.
Stones made red-hot in the fire were thrown one after another into a vessel of water containing the food to be cooked.
This is the plan adopted by certain
North-American Indians.
and traces of it still survive on the Continent of
Europe.
 |
|
Coffee and tea steamer. |
Fig. 5671 is a tea and coffee steamer for hotel purposes, with double walls extending nearly to the bottom, placed in the boiler so as to allow the water to pass all around them, while upon them set vessels with perforated bottoms and containing each a strainer in which the coffee is placed.
4.
a. An apparatus in which wood (for instance) is placed within a chamber, in order to expel the natural juices, inject preservative compositions, or merely soften the wood so that it may be readily bent.
b. A vessel in which paper stock or other fiber is treated in order to soften it, to facilitate the removal of siliceous matters.
Fig. 5672 is an apparatus for steaming paper-stock.
See also pulp-digester.
5. (
Milling.) An apparatus for steaming wheat preparatory to grinding.
Fig. 5673 shows
Hunt's apparatus for steaming wheat.
The grain flows from the hopper
a down through the passage
b, which is larger at the bottom than at the top; in its progress downward steam is admitted to it from the perforated chamber
c, which receives steam from the pipe
d, and it is then dried by coming in contact with the walls of the chamber
e, supplied with steam by the pipe
f. By means of the cock
g the steam may be shut off from the upper chamber if the grain does not require steaming; or it can be cut off entirely by the
globe-valve h. The water of condensation is drawn off by the pipe
i.
