IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATESHETHERPEN OR ENCLOS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Harrison, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Wine Merchant, and William Clements, also of Birmingham,
aforesaid, Distiller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES
Sealed the 20th October 1864, and dated the 20th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Harrison and
William Clements at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 20th April 1864.
We, SAMUEL HARRISON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Wine
Merchant, and WILLIAM CLEMENTS, also of Birmingham, aforesaid, Distiller,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-GRATES WHETHER OPEN OR ENCLOSED," to be as follows (that is to say) -
Our improvements mainly consist in the form and position of the fuel
holder, which we purpose, constructing of a cylindrical, octagonal, or other
suitable form, fitted or arranged over an enclosed stand that permits of its
being turned around or rotated when required, the stand being provided in
some cases with three or more suitable rollers, so as to be capable of being
pulled forward or retired at pleasure, and is so enclosed as to hold and con-
centrate the air to pass through the open bottom bars of the fuel holder, and
to be conducted through the burning mass, or to pass through a hollow cone
of fire-clay or other suitable material placed concentrically within it, and from
the apex of this a suitable connection or meeting may be formed with a pipe

page_text: to conduct the air (thus heated within the cone) away in any desired direc-
tion above or below for affording heat. With this construction of fuel holder
we purpose arranging the part behind, that a sufficient space shall be allowed
for the air to pass freely up between the back and the fire-grate, which rarefied
and heated air may be allowed to pass through the necessary opening to
ascend with the smoke, or to be first gathered in over the fire to become
further heated, or to impinge the flame, and so quicken the draught which
may be essential in chimneys that have a tendency to smoke from slow
draught, and that portion above the fuel holder or grate we purpose so
arranging either of metal, fire-clay, or other suitable material, as to reflect the
heat into the room.
In the application of this grate or fuel holder to enclosed fire-places, such
as stoves for heating churches, chapels, or other such like places, we simply
purpose enclosing the revolving grate in a suitable case either of cast or sheet
iron, terra cotta, or other suitable material, either causing the draught to
ascend or descend according to position or requirements, and to connect and
conduct such pipe or pipes from the internal cone as may be necessary, or to
omit them when not required. This arrangement will be found to produce
the most perfect combustion, and less amount of refuse than any other con-
struction of grate hitherto manufactured, and at the same time producing the
largest amount of heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Harrison and William Clements in the Great Seal
⚫ Patent Office on the 20th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAMUEL
HARRISON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Wine Merchant, and
WILLIAM CLEMENTS, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Distiller, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said Samuel Harrison and William Clements, Her special license that
we, the said Samuel Harrison and William Clements, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Samuel Harrison and
William Clements, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
us,

page_text: during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Chanuel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-GRATES WHETHER OPEN OR ENCLOSED," upon the condition. (amongst
others) that we, the said Samuel Harrison and William Clements, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after, the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Samuel Harrison and William Cle-
ments, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
Our improvements mainly consist in the form and position of the fuel
holder, which we purpose constructing of a cylindrical, octagonal, or other
suitable form, fitted or arranged over an enclosed stand that permits of its
being turned around or rotated when required, the stand being provided..in
some cases with three or more suitable rollers underneath, so as to be capable
of being pulled forward or retired at pleasure, and is so enclosed as to hold
and concentrate the air to pass through the open bottom bars of the fuel holder,
and to be conducted through the burning mass, or to pass through a hollow
cone of fire-clay or other suitable material placed concentrically within it,
and from the apex of this a suitable connection or meeting may be formed
with a pipe to conduct the air (thus heated within the cone) away in any
desired direction above or below, for affording heat to other apartments. With
this construction of fuel holder we purpose arranging the part behind, that a
sufficient space shall be allowed for the air to pass freely up between the back
and the fire-grate, which rarefied and heated air may be allowed to pass
through the necessary opening to ascend with the smoke, or to be first gathered
in over the fire to become further heated, or to impinge the flame, and so
quicken the draught, which may be essential in chimneys that have a tendency
to smoke from slow draught, and that portion above the fuel holder or grate
we purpose so arranging either of metal, fire-clay, or other suitable material,
as 'to reflect the beat into the room. . ;
In the application of this grate or fuel holder to enclosed fire-places, such
as stoves for heating churches, chapels, or other such like places, we simply
purpose enclosing the revolving grate in a suitable case either of cast or sheet

page_text: iron, terra cotta; or other suitable material, either causing the draught to
ascend or descend according to position or requirements, and to connect. and
conduct such pipe or pipes from the internal cone as may be necessary, or to
omit them when not required. This arrangement will be found to produce
the most perfect 'combustion, and less amount of refuse than any other. con-
struction of grate hitherto manufactured, and at the same time producing
the largest amount of heat.
But in order that we may be clearly and definitely understood as .to.the
nature, extent, and general object of our Invention, we will proceed to
describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the figures
and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front view of a grate and its attendant parts constructed
according to our improvements. The part marked A may be of cast iron or
steel, and ornamented in any desirable way or of any other approved shape and
size, or the same may be formed of brick, stone, marble, or other suitable
material, but we have adopted in this example the ordinary material, cast iron,
and form the front part A, the inclined part B, as also the concave part. C,. aś
well the contraction D, D, of one piece of metal, the flue way E being fitted
with a door of the curve or flat form in the ordinary, in which grates
technically called "registered grates" are made. The grate proper or fuel
holder marked F, F, is represented of a circular form, but which may be of
an octagonal or other suitable shape if preferred, and in this case we have
represented the fuel holder composed of vertical bars, which may be cast
together or united to the top moulding or circular rim, and to a suitable base
with a perforated bottom or small bars, we say small, because we prefer to
divide the airway surrounding the fire as much as possible. In the bottom
underneath the base of the fuel holder F an annular groove is provided of
any desired form, but by preference we adopt a V-shape, and a corresponding
annular projection'or seat is formed on the base G which we have fitted with
a drawer H for receiving the ashes, and this base part may be fitted with
small rollers to admit of its being pulled forward with the fuel holder or retired
at pleasure. The parts of the base G, each side of the drawer, are open for
the ready admission of air to pass in under its bottom edge to ascend through
the open bars at its bottom to 'the fuel, while the supply of air is admitted
continuously and entirely through the vertical bars of the fuel holder by its
being free and isolated from the back; and as the space marked.I, I, which
we prefer to surround, as will be hereafter seen, with bricks formed of fire-clay,
will form the means of heating. the air before, its coming in contact with the
material of combustion, it will be more sudden in its action and effects, and

page_text: the fire will be. more. brilliant, and intense behind than in front ;-and- as the
effect thus produced may.be: desirable for heating the room in which such
grate may be applied, the fuel holder may be turned around and rotated as
and when desired.
And. in order that. the effect of this heated air may be further utilized we
gather in and contract the metal portion of the back, as.at D, so as to contract
the space at that part and direct .the current. of hot air, as indicated by the
arrows,
in over the smoke and gases that may be, evolved, and which are by
means of the hot air ignited and consumed before escaping to the flue; and
thus we obtain perfect combustion, the diffusion of heat, the means of regulating
the draught, and the prevention of smoke escaping to the apartment, insuring
economy,, heat, and comfort to a degree, that has never yet been effected in
this important part of our domestic economy. Fig. 2 is a transverse.section
of Figure 1 taken through the dotted line J, J, in which we have represented
how this form of grate is susceptible.of receiving an elegant appendage in.the
shape of a front pan of the same curvature or form of the front of the grate,
fitted with radial polished steel convexed bars marked a, a, some of which are
removed with the bottom of the same marked.b,-for the purpose of exhibiting
the circular base G. and the corresponding form of the brickwork behind it
marked K, and Fig. 3. is. a central vertical section of Figures 1 and 2 as
taken through the dotted line L, L, with the exception of the ash-pan.as
exhibited broken off at M, M, Figure 2, which is as at Figure 1 omitted. In
this view we have represented also in section, placed, concentrically. on. the
bottom of the fuel holder, a hollow, conical perforated fire-clay brick, which
may be used or not at pleasure, and renewed occasionally at trifling, cost,
notwithstanding we consider its use important as it retains the heat when in
use for a long time, and in case of fresh fuel being applied is in a condition to
heat the air that passes through the bottom of the holder and through the
perforations to the coals, and in an economical point of view diminishes the
size of the grate or fuel holder, and yet affords means of distributing heat as
well as quickening the draught and burning the smoke... And in cases where
it may be desirable for economy or convenience to heat. other.. apartments
from the same fire we purpose partially covering this cone, with a thin one of
cast or other metal connected with a pipe which may be carried up or down
or through the back to apartments above, below, or on the same level with the
grate, and when a grate so constructed is in active use, a stream of highly
heated air will pass through the cone and escape. through. the tube for the
purpose stated, and we have shown this in dotted outline at c, c, with the tube
conducted back and then formed at right angles taking a downward course,

page_text: thus utilizing the heat to the greatest extreme, but without in any way
inter-
fering with the rotary motion that may be imparted to the grate when desired.
The arrows in this view show the course and direction of the heated air
between the back of the fire and the fire-bricks that surround it, escaping
upwards over the impingement D, passing to the flue way E. In this view the
annular V groove (mentioned at Figure 1) in the bottom fuel holder is seen
marked d resting on the corresponding part markede of the base. Fig.4 is a front
elevation, partly in section, of a stove embodying the principal improvements
herein-before described as applicable to open grates, and although we have
represented this stove as of a circular form it will be evident that any other
shape or design:may be adapted. Within the metal case we purpose using a
lining formed of fire-clay bricks moulded to the shape, preferring to use a
circular form on the interior, adapting the exterior surface of the fire-clay
lining to the design or form of the external metal shell; or the top part or top
and bottom external part, as marked N, N, and O, O, may be made wholly of
terra cotta, or the top part of terra cotta and the bottom a metal shell, or vice
versa, as taste and design or position may require, but we strongly recommend
the use of a lining of considerable substance and thickness of fire-clay, as it
efficiently holds, regulates, and diffuses the heat. Or in connection with this
mode of construction the part partly shown in section marked f, as also the
parts g, g, and h, h, may be of metal as well as the base 1, l, which is scalloped
on its bottom edge for the admission of air, or this part may be cast in open-
work for the same object, and on the top side of this part we form the
annular ring or projection for receiving the corresponding part in the fuel
holder, as described at d and e, Figure 3; and we have also in this view
illustrated the application of the hollow perforated cone marked P, as well as
the impingement S around the fire of the fire which in this case we have
formed of the fire-clay lining for the purpose of absorbing the heat. Stoves
thus constructed may be formed with an opening, as here shown, that the fire
may be exposed, and which part may be fitted with a sliding door bent to the
same curvature as the outer case, and which door we have exhibited in dotted
lines at m, m, protected by a projecting flange on the lower edge of the parts f
and 7, as exhibited in the section at n, or the said door may be hung on hinges
or fixed in any other way; thus the fire may be partially or wholly enclosed as
desired, and in like manner an opening may be formed at the top part
marked Qfitted with a cover in the same way as described below or otherwise.
Thus when the fire is required to be regulated both doors may be opened, or
the lower one opened and the top one closed for drawing up the fire, or the
lower one may be closed and the upper one opened to reduce its intensity,

page_text: and in like manner as herein-before described the grate or fuel holder may be
revolved when desired. The arrows indicating the active current of the air
passing up around the grate to escape over the projecting impinging part.
And further, we will observe that a stove thus constructed, whether for heating
churches, chapels, or other public buildings, shops, lobbies, or other places,
the same means may be applied for utilizing the surplus hot air passing
through the cone P to a pipe or hot air tube connected with the stove for that
purpose, or the principal flue way R may be used for that purpose with much
better effect than stoves ordinarily constructed will admit of, as combustion is
rendered so perfect by our improved arrangement that none or very little soot
will be deposited in the flue way. Fig. 5 is simply a transverse section of
Figure 4 taken through the dotted line p, p, of that Figure.
Having now fully described our Invention, and the manner in which the
same may be carried into effect, we wish it clearly understood that we do not
purpose limiting or confining ourselves to the exact details herein described
and exhibited as much diversification and elaboration of design and adap-
tation may be used without departing from the spirit of our Invention, nor do
we claim as of our Invention the construction of fire-grates, or that part that
holds the fuel, that they may rotate or that the fuel holder may be removed
bodily and replaced at convenience, as that has already formed the subject
of a Patent, but in that case the fuel holder terminated in a centre pin or
socket for the above purposes; but what we claim and wish to protect by
these our in part recited Letters Patent is, the general arrangement herein
described and exhibited.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Harrison and William
Clements, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL HARRISON.
WILLIAM CLEMENTS. (L.S.)