Improvements in and connected with Fire Places and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fire Places and the like.
I, FREDERIC HUGHES of 20, Paget Road, West Dulwich, Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved methods of and means for perfecting the
combustion of the fuel used in the fire-place, whereby is obtained a steadier glow
than is possible under present conditions. This result I bring about by conveying,
preferably from the back, sides and bottom of the fire-place a series of streams or
currents of air into the midst of the fuel. In practically carrying out my invention
I proceed in or in about the following manner, that is to say, I provide in the fire-
clay portion or portions of the ordinary fire-place, a number of perforations into
which I insert small metallic tubes. One of the ends of each tube projects into the
fire and is carefully protected by fireclay points or bosses, and where needful I form
this boss into a hood or cowl to prevent cinders or the like choking these air
outlets. The. other ends of the tubes communicate with tubes, grooves, cavities or
the like provided in the fireclay portions and which form continuing air-ways or
passages opening below the grate and forming inlets for the air.
When the conditions require them, I connect the inlet extremities of the tubes
with a larger tube or cavity in any convenient position by which means any. excess of
air supply can be readily regulated.
My invention is applicable to all existing forms of fireplaces but whenever a new
grate is demanded I adopt by preference tubular vertical bars of triangular or other
cross section as giving out the largest amount of radiant heat with increased economy.
These tubular bars may have attached to, or formed on them, nozzles or pipes
projecting therefrom and towards the fire, so that air will be drawn in from the
grate end of the bars and pass out into the fire by the nozzles already mentioned.
With all existing forms of applying air tubes the application is made entirely to
the front of the fireplace which considerably interrupts the emission of heat, besides
being very unsightly and impracticable with the average domestic servant, but with
my system the air outlets into the fire do not in any way interfere with the front
of the fire, require no attention whatever, are permanent, serviceable and reliable
and moreover being out of sight do not offend the eye.
Dated the 19th day of May 1896
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fire Places and the like.
I, FREDERIC HUGHES, of 20, Paget Road, West Dulwich, Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improved methods of and means for perfecting the
combustion of the fuel used in the fire-place, whereby is obtained a steadier glow
than is possible under present conditions.
In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the following

page_text: manner. I convey currents of air into the burning fuel by means of pipes, nozzles,
or equivalents. This can be effected in many ways, and the precise form would of
course depend on the kind of grate, and whether the invention is used in connection
with existing grates, or with new ones made to embody the principle of the
invention. In adapting the invention to existing grates, an arrangement of air
tubes and nozzles may be placed in the grate, or the fire-clay portions may be
provided with air channels, terminating or not in metallic or other nozzles. In
constructing new grates, the bars may form the air tubes, and be provided with
nozzles. These tubular bars I prefer to make vertical, and in cross section, they
may be round, oval, square, lozenge, triangular, or of other shapes, but I prefer to
have them triangular. With new grates, channelled grooved or other fire-clay
parts forming air passages may be used alone, or, in conjunction with tubular bars,
preferably provided with nozzles. Although I prefer to have vertical bars wherever
possible, nevertheless, horizontal ones may be used if desired. The air tubes may
be of iron cast in one piece, or they may be made of cast iron or wrought parts
suitably connected together. The bars, air pipes nozzles and other parts may be used
in their ordinary condition, but I prefer to cover them with a coating of some fire
resisting material, which may be applied by dipping or otherwise. In order that my
invention may be the more readily understood, I make reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1. is a plan, and Fig. 2. a section through A. B. of Fig. 1. of an arrangement
of air pipes and nozzles for use in ordinary grates.
Fig. 3. is a section shewing the fire-clay part of an ordinary grate formed with
air channels terminating in nozzles preferably of metal.
Fig. 4. is a front view, and Fig. 5. a section of a grate made specially to embody
the principle of my invention.
Fig. 6. is the plan of a valve for regulating the ingress of the air.
Fig. 7. shews some of the cross section possible to be used for the hollow bars
or air tubes.
Similar letters denote the same parts wherever they occur.
Referring to Figs. 1. and 2. a are the vertical air tubes. the nozzles. c the
horizontal air passages. The tubes a are open at d, and closed at e, the direction of
the air current is indicated by the arrows. The nozzles in this arrangement and in
any others, may be provided with some protection such as a sloping portion as shewn
at to prevent the entrance of dust into the air tubes. Referring to Fig. 3. g are
the front bars of an ordinary grate. h the fire-clay back. i are channels therein,
provided with metal nozzles j. The channels may communicate with an air
chamber k, open below or at the end. The fire-clay parts at the sides may be
similarly channelled. In Figs. 4. and 5. a are the air tubes, the front ones forming
also the bars. c the horizontal connecting air tubes, the entrance to which may
be provided with a regulating valve, such as is shewn in Fig. 6. where two
plates m and n each having a hole o therein can be siid across one another (thus
closing the hole) by means of the handle p working on a fixed pin at 9 and being
connected to m and n by pins and slotted holes at r and s. t are slides for m and n
to run on. Fig. 5. also shews how the back row of air tubes may be replaced by
fire-clay having therein air channels, grooves, or equivalents i, and nozzles j, the
channels i communicating with c, having the air entrance at as before mentioned.
The invention is applicable to all kinds of fire-grates and the like.
My invention being capable of considerable variation in details, I do not restrict
myself to the precise shapes, relative proportions, or disposition of the various parts,
described in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is;
CLAIMS.
Convering into the burning fual of all kinds of fira arates and the like

page_text: current, or currents of air, the conveyance of the said current or currents being
effected by means substantially such as described in the above specification, and
exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the carrying into practice of the above Claim 1. an arrangement of parts
substantially such as is described in the above specification with reference to Figs. 1.
and 2. of the accompanying drawings.
3. In the carrying into practice of the above Claim 1. an arrangement of parts
substantially such as is described in the above specification with reference to Fig. 3.
of the accompanying drawings.
4. In the carrying into practice of the above Claim 1. an arrangement of parts
substantially as described in the above specification, with reference to Figs. 4. and 5.
of the accompanying drawings.
5. In the carrying into practice of the above Claim 1. the use of hollow vertical
or horizontal bars of any cross section, and forming air pipes for conveying air to the
burning fuel, the said bars or pipes being provided with suitable inlets and exits or
nozzles, for the current or currents of air, the whole substantially as described in the
above specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
6. In the carrying into practice of the above Claim 1. forming the fire-clay
portions of the grate with air channels, grooves, cavities, or equivalents, terminating
or not in suitable exit nozzles for the current or currents of air, the whole
substantially as described in the above specification, and exemplified in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of February 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.