Improvements in the Construction of Domestic Fire-places and Hearths.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL
ION.
Improvements in the Construction of Domestic Fire-places and
Hearths.
I JOSHUA WILLIAM TAYLOR, of 102 Bury New Road, Haulgh, Bolton, in
the County of Lancaster, Builder and Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to domestic fire places or hearths and consists in
certain structural improvements in the same. At that portion of the hearth which
is to contain the fire or where the fire is situated I form a sloping recess constructed
from fire-clay bricks or blocks. The sloping bottom of this recess is or may be
faced or lined with a slab or slabs of fire-clay or metal. Above the recess and
resting on a ledge or support 1 place the fire-grid or fire bars which may lie
horizontally or at a backward slope. Into the sloping recess beneath the grid or
firebars I slide an ashpan to receive the ashes falling through the grid or fire bars.
The back of the recess may be so formed as to divert the falling ashes into the pan
and prevent them from getting behind the pan. The upper and outer end of the
ashpan constitutes a front which lies level with the hearth, the projecting edges of
the front resting on the front of the fire-grid and either on the hearth tiles or on an
edging or the curb of metal or fire-clay placed in front of the said tiles. The lips
or ledges upon which the projecting edges of the front lie are or may be furnished
with asbestos or other suitable packing to prevent the passage of air into the recess
when the ashpan is in situ. The front of the ashpan lies flush with the hearth and
about level with the front of the grate. As I make the hearth level with the floor
of the apartment the sweepings from the floor may be brushed right over the
hearth and over the ashpan front into the fireplace without any obstruction. The
ashpan front may be of polished metal or of tiles and is furnished with a handle or
handles whereby it can be drawn upwards from the sloping recess and emptied.
This withdrawal of the ashpan being effected close to the grate and on the inner
side of the hearth obviates the possibility of scattering ashes over the floor, carpet
or hearth rug.
The sloping space containing the pan constitutes a closed hot chamber there
being no positive air supply admitted beneath the grate under ordinary working
conditions. Should it however be desired at any time to admit air directly into
the hot chamber and beneath the firebars, this may be done by withdrawing the
ash pan to some extent. I so construct the pan or the recess containing the pan
that there shall be an air space surrounding the pan, thus preventing the pan and
recess from overheating and creating an equable temperature in the recess. In my
improved fire place there are no front bars to absorb or prevent the radiation of
heat towards the floor of the apartment.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Domestic Fire-places and
Hearths.
I JOSHUA WILLIAM TAYLOR, of 102 Bury New Road, Haulgh, Bolton, in
the County of Lancaster, Builder and Timber Merchant, 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 and
accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to domestic fire places or hearths and consists in
certain structural improvements in the same. To render my invention clearly
understood I will now proceed to describe it fully and with reference to the
annexed sheet of illustrative drawings.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved fire place.
Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section.
At that portion of the hearth which is to contain the fire or where the fire is
situated, I form a sloping recess a, the sides and back being formed from fireclay
slabs b, c and d, while the sloping floor consists of a metal plate e placed on a
concrete or other suitable non-combustible backing f, the plate e having flanges or
feet cast on the bottom side and embedded in the concrete or other backing f
Instead of making the floor of the sloping recess a of metal it might be composed
of fire clay or other suitable substance or of a combination of metal and fireclay or
other suitable material.
Above the recess a and resting in grooves or between studs or supports in or on
the fireclay sides and back b c and d I place the fire-grid g or fire bars which may
lie horizontally, or as shown in Fig. 1 at a slight backward slope. The front
portion of the fire-grid g is hinged at g' to the grid, so that although when
turned down as shown in full lines at Fig. 1. it practically forms a portion of the
grid g, nevertheless it can be turned up when desired into the position shown in
dotted lines so as to give free way for the withdrawal of the ash pan h. Recesses
are formed in the fireclay slabs b, d, as shown in Fig. 2 to allow of the folding
back of the grid front g². The said ash pan h is slid into the sloping recess a
beneath the grid or firebars g to receive the ashes falling through the grid g or
fire bars.
The upper ends of the ash pan are cut down a little to allow the hinged portion g¹
to turn down, but curved upwards so as to raise the hinged portion gl as the ash pan
is drawn out. The unperforated back of the grid g extends over the back of the
pan, or the back of the recess may be so formed as to divert the falling ashes into
the pan and prevent them from getting behind the pan.
A division about the centre of the pan prevents the ashes from all falling
towards the foot. The upper and outer end of the ash pan constitutes a closed
front which lies level with the hearth i the projecting edges of the front resting
in a recess in an edging or curb ; of metal placed in front of the said tiles. The
said edging or curb i rests on the upper end of the sloping plate e and is furnished
with toes (see Fig. 3) which preserve it in position on the said plate.
Fig. 3 shows the curbj with the toes j¹.
The lips or ledges upon which the projecting edges of the ash pan front lie, are
or may be furnished with asbestos or other suitable packing to prevent the passage
of air into the inclined recess when the ash pan is in situ. The front of ash pan
lies flush with the hearth i and about level with or preferably above the front of
the grate. As I make the hearth i level with the floor of the apartment, the
sweepings from the floor may be brushed right over the hearth and over the ash
pan front into the fireplace without any obstruction.
The ash pan front has a cover of polished metal or of tiles and is furnished

page_text: with handles m m whereby the pan can be drawn upwards from the sloping recess
and emptied without disturbing the grid g, although in the process of being drawn
up it raises the hinged portion g' of the grid. This withdrawal of the ash pan
being effected close to the grate and on the inner side of the hearth, obviates the
possibility of scattering ashes over the floor, carpet or hearth rug.
When the ash pan is withdrawn the hinged portion g' of the grid may be raised
so as to constitute a front bar keeping the fuel from falling over the forward edge
of the grid g into the recess.
A sloping chamber such as a with removable inclined ash pan might be
constructed in conjunction with a grid without a hinged front such as g¹, but I
prefer the hinged front.
The sloping space a containing the pan / constitutes a closed hot chamber there
being no positive air supply admitted beneath the grate under ordinary working
conditions. Should it however be desired at any time to admit air directly into the
hot chamber and beneath the firebars, this may be done by withdrawing the ash
pan to some extent. I so construct the pan or the recess containing the pan that
there shall be an air space surrounding the pan, thus preventing the pan and recess
from overheating and creating an equable temperature in the recess. A simple
mode of doing this is to furnish the bottom of the pan with feet h which raise the
pan sufficiently from the plate e to leave an air space. Distance pieces at the sides
may create air spaces at the sides. The air space at the back of the pan is formed
by prolonging the sides of the pan a little past the end as appears in Fig. 1.
my improved fireplace there are no front bars to absorb or prevent the radiation of
heat towards the floor of the apartment.
In
The heat of the fire is absorbed by the fireclay casing or slabs surrounding the
grid 9 and by the sloping floor e and backing f and is given out in equable volume,
the hollow chamber a and the air cushion surrounding the pan constituting
regulating means which prevent overheating and destruction of the parts of the fire
place contiguous to the heat. The heated or regenerated air from the chamber a
keeps the fire bright and clear without promoting combustion too strongly.
A salient advantage of my improved fireplace is that the ash pan and ashes can
be removed at any time whilst the fire is burning and without drawing out the pan
upon the hearth rug or flooring. This facility for the removal of the ashes is of
material advantage in a sick room where the temperature requires to be maintained
for a prolonged period.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts comprising
my improved fireplace, substantially as herein before described and shown.
2. In a slow combustion fireplace of the indicated nature, the sloping chamber a
beneath the fire grid or bars in combination with a contained inclined ash pan
surrounded by an air space and formed with a closed frout level with the hearth,
the said ash pan being capable of removal or insertion without removing the fuel
and without drawing the pan over the hearth, rug or flooring, substantially as
described and illustrated.
3. In a slow combustion fireplace of the indicated nature and in combination
with an inclined sliding ash pan h, the fire grid g having a hinged front portion g'
for facilitating the insertion and withdrawal of the inclined ash pan, substantially
as described and shown.
Dated this 1st day of April 1897.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.