IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND IN FEEDING THEM WITH FUEL
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Vitale Domenico de Michele, of No. 5, Westminster
Chambers, in the City of Westminster, County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND IN FEEDING THEM WITH FUEL."
ed the 15th March 1878, and dated the 19th September 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Vitale Domenico de Michele
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1877.
VITALE DOMENICO DE MICHELE, of No. 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City
of Westminster, County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND IN
FEEDING THEM WITH FUEL."
The object is to fit the bottom plate of a grate in such a manner that it can be
drawn out, and, by a turn-over action, scoop coal from a receptacle arranged imme-
diately beneath, and force the fresh fuel up under the burning fuel for the con-
sumption of smoke, the bottom plate being temporarily locked in position.
The bottom plate is moved or drawn out to the front by pinions working in end-
less racks, or it may be drawn out by a hooked bar. The bottom plate is supported
by the pinion spindle, one of whose ends carries the ratchet wheel, a stop paul in
which holds the bottom in the desired position. It may however be supported by
& square transverse bar as a spindle, the outer end of which has a ratchet wheel
affixed, so that by moving a lever and paul in a circular direction the bottom plate
can be forced downwards in a circular direction and then up again towards the
back, the bottom plate scooping up in its travel a supply of fuel from a receptacle
fitted beneath the fire-place for the purpose of temporarily holding sufficient to feed
the fire with. The fresh fuel is thus furnished to the grate by the bottom, the
burning fuel above being lifted and thereby loosened by it. By this means the
smoke arising from the fresh or green fuel (which is at the bottom), has to pass
through the burning fuel, and is thereby consumed, effecting great economy of fuel
and cleanliness about the grate. When the bottom is brought into position again it
may be locked by a catch at the back and is thereby prevented shifting until drawn
out again.

page_text: The bottom plate or grating of the stove is double, so that when turned under
and up into position again the face that was underneath during the burning of the
last feed of coal now becomes the upper face with the fresh feed upon it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Vitale Domenico de Michele in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th March 1878.
VITALE DOMENICO DE MICHELE, of No. 5, Westminster Chambers, in the City
of Westminster, County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND IN
FEEDING THEM WITH FUEL."
The object of this Invention is to obtain the better consumption of fuel in grates,
the smoke being at the same time more thoroughly consumed.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into practical effect will be under-
stood by reference to the annexed Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a section through a grate from back to front; Figure 2, a front eleva-
tion; and Figure 3, a plan.
To obtain this end the bottom bars A of the grate are made movable, and a
receptacle for fuel of segmental form is placed below the bars.
When it is desired to introduce a first supply of coal the scoop or receptacle B is
filled, the bars A are drawn forward into the position shown in the dotted lines, and
part or the whole of the fire in the grate falls on to the new fuel which has been
placed in the scoop; the bars are then turned over, so that what was before the
upper face now becomes the lower face by any suitable arrangement attached to or
acting through the square ends C of the pinion shaft D, shown in Figures 2 and 3,
and the burning coals and fresh fuel are forced upwards into the grate, the green or
fresh fuel being underneath. When this becomes ignited the smoke or gas arising
from it must pass through the incandescent mass above and is consumed, thereby
effecting economy of fuel and reducing the fouling of the flue.
The bottom or movable bars A. of the grate are made double with a space between
them, and a rack E runs round the inner edge on each side, and motion is given to
the bars by two pinions F, F, coupled on the shaft D actuated by any suitable
mechanical means; or the racks and pinions may be omitted and the bars guided on
a square boss on the shaft, drawn forward with a hook, and turned over and again
returned to their place by means of the same hook, which would in this stage be
used for rotating the shaft and bosses. The bars are obliged to maintain their full
sweep by suitable stops I, the pawl G taking into the ratchet wheel H, as shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, preventing the pinion turning the wrong way.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
improvements in fire-grates, as herein-before described, and substantially as shown
in the Drawings,
Secondly. I claim the method of feeding fire-grates with fuel by the combination

page_text: of the turn-over bars A with the scoop receptacle B, acting as and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Vitale Domenico de Michele, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
VITALE DOMENICO DE MICHELE. (L.s.)