Improvements in Fire Grates or Fire Places.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Grates or Fire Places.
I JOHN WATSON SPENCER of Newburn, Newcastle on Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland, Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
The present invention has reference to the construction and arrangement of
parts of fire places, grates or open stoves as they are variously denominated.
In carrying out my invention I dispense with the usual opening into the chimney
above the fuel space either wholly, or mainly, at most only utilizing it on occasion.
The improved fuel space is so arranged that the draught to support combustion
is led downwards through the fuel and thence into the chimney from the bottom or
near the bottom of the grate or fire place. The surface at the rear above the fuel
space may be polished, or otherwise, ou its upper portion, and so formed or shaped
as to aid in causing the heat rays from the fire to be reflected out into the room to
the best advantage.
The passage from the fire box to the flue is controlled by a door or damper which
may be operated by a rod from the front of the ash space or otherwise.
The space under the grate bars in front can be closed either by means of a
moveable or removable door or tray, which thereby serves the purpose of a
regulator of the draught to the chimney in conjunction with a main damper in the
flue which need only be set at intervals; and if desired may also serve as a
collector for ashes or dust from the combustion of fuel.
By these means are attained a general absence of thick smoke owing to the gas
from the distillation of coal at first produced being drawn through the incandescent
fuel and thereby converted into combustible gas which gas is either consumed with
the air entering through the open fire bars; or, the unconsumed gas, as may be the
case in thick deep fires, can be consumed by means of the further admission of air
on its exit from the grate to or in the flue and the heat evolved utilized by various
arrangements as for instance the heating of ovens and water in kitchen ranges.
Complete control of draught of fire can be secured. The use of small or inferior
coal is facilitated whereby a considerable saving will be effected and a steady
bright incandescent body of fuel maintained. A cleanly hearth is ensured as all the
ashes and dust fall into the tray, or closed hearth.
The utilization of the reflected heat above the grate which usually goes into the
chimney is also promoted.
The production of thick smoke and its access into the room is prevented as
owing to the closing of the usual open space above the fire box or grate and the
concentration of the flue the draught in the chimney will be greatly promoted.
By these means I am enabled in an improved manner to utilize the principle of
the down draught in its application to ordinary stoves and firegrates in the
manner substantially set forth and with the facility and small cost at which
ordinary fire grates can be altered and secured the advantages of the down
draught.
Dated the 8th day December 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Grates or Fire Places.
I JOHN WATSON SPENCER of Newburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland, Steel Manufacturer 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 :-
The present invention has reference to the construction and arrangement of parts
of fire places, grates, or open stoves as they are variously denominated.
In carrying out my invention I dispense with the usual opening into the chimney
above the fuel space either wholly, or mainly, at most only utilizing it on occasion.
The improved fuel space is so arranged that the draught to support combustion
is led downwards through the fuel and thence into the chimney from the bottom or
near the bottom of the grate or fire place.
The surface at the rear above the fuel space may be polished or otherwise, on its
upper portion and so formed or shaped as to aid in causing the heat rays from the
fire to be reflected out into the room to the best advantage.
The passage from the fire box to the flue is controlled by .a door or damper
which may be operated by a rod from the front of the ash space or otherwise.
The space under the grate bars in front can be closed either by means of a
moveable or removable door or tray which thereby serves the purpose of a
regulator of the draught to the chimney in conjunction with a main damper in the
flue which need only be set at intervals; and if desired may also serve as a
collector for ashes or dust from the combustion of fuel.
By these means are attained a general absence of thick smoke owing to the gas
from the distillation of coal at first produced being drawn through the incandescent
fuel and thereby converted into combustible gas, which gas is either consumed with
the air entering through the open fire bars; or, the unconsumed gas, as may be the
case in thick deep fires, can be consumed by means of the further admission of air
on its exit from the grate to or in the flue and the heat evolved utilized by various
arrangements as for instance the heating of ovens and water in kitchen ranges.
Complete control of draught of fire can be secured. The use of small or inferior
coal is facilitated whereby a considerable saving will be effected, and a steady
bright incandescent body of fuel maintained.
A cleanly hearth is ensured as all the ashes and dust fall into the tray or closed
hearth.
The utilization of the reflected heat above the grate which usually goes into the
chimney is also promoted.
By these means I am enabled in an improved manner to utilize the principle of
the down draught in its application to ordinary stoves and fire-grates in the
manner substantially set forth; and with the facility and small cost at which
ordinary fire grates can be altered and secured the advantages of the down
draught.
Having described the nature of my invention I will now proceed to show how
the same is to be carried into effect by the aid of the following drawings Figs. 1
to 7.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a cross sectional elevation of an ordinary
fireplace constructed in the manner herein before described, while
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 shew the application of the same principles of
construction to ordinary heating stoves and kitchen ranges respectively.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew my improved fireplace with the opening into the chimney at a
above the fuel space & closed by means of a door so arranged as to be used only
when the fire is being lighted or when sweeping the chimney or as occasion may
require.
The draught to support combustion is led downwards through the fuel at c, c',

page_text: and thence into the chimney from the bottom or near the bottom of the grate
at d, d'; the fire bars e, e, ff being arranged at both back and front of the fuel
space and placed at such an angle as to direct the draught into the fuel space while
at the same time the opening between the bars e, e, and the back of the fuel space g
admits of the passage of a small quantity of air through the aperture c to ensure
perfect combustion at d.
h
The passage from the fire box or fuel space to the flue is controlled by a door or
damper pivoted at and which may be operated by a rod from the front of the
ash space or otherwise and by which it may be fixed in any suitable position as
shewn by the dotted lines, h, j. By moving this door or damper nearer to or
further from the fire bars the draught of the fire may be augmented or decreased as
desired.
The space under the grate bars can be closed by means of a moveable or
removeable door or tray above which may be fixed a suitable grate j, k, to serve
as a cinder sifter;-the ashes falling through between the bars of this grate, into
the tray while the cinders remain on the upper surface of the grate from which
they can be readily removed and placed in the fuel space.
Independent of its use as a collector of ashes or dust from the combustion of the
fuel, the moveable tray by being moved slightly in or out may be used in
conjunction with the door or damper h to regulate the draught to the chimney.
In order to utilize the heat generated by combustion at the back of the fire place
to the best advantage, a series of tubes m m may be placed in the main flue or
combustion chamber, and so arranged that their lower ends communicate with the
outer air near the bottom of the fire place at an and their upper ends again
communicate with the outer air near the top of the stove at o, p, as shewn by Figs. 4
and 5 or with a special hot air box under the mantel piece and thence into the outer
air at p p as shewn by Figs. 1 and 2.
Or if desired the upper end of the tubes m m may be made to communicate with
the outer air at or near the top of the room as shewn at q Fig. 2.
In the stove represented by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and the fire place represented by
Figs. 6 and 7 the same principles of working apply as in the case of Figs. 1 and 2
hereinbefore described, with the exception that in the case of Figs. 6 and 7 the hot
gases from the combustion chambers are utilized to heat cooking utensils placed
upon the hot plate t or may be constrained by the dampers r, r, r to pass from the
combustion chamber under the oven or water boiler as desired.
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. A firegrate or fire-place so arranged that the draught to support combustion
is led downwards through the fuel both at the back and front of the fire and thence
into the chimney substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 1
to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement of fire bars e, e, ff both at the back and front of the fire-
grate placed at such an angle as to direct the draught into the fuel; in combination
with the main damper and the moveable tray 1 for augmenting or decreasing the
draught substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The application of air tubes m m to a fire-place in which the draught to
support combustion is led downwards through the fuel for the purpose and in the
manner herein before described.
1
Show 1002
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.