Year: 1888

page_text: 1, EZRA LOFTS, of Bassingbourne House, Union Terrace Mill Road, Cambridge,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention while applicable to other stoves &c. of a similar character is
especially designed to improve my own well known stoves ranges &c. and I will describe
it in reference to these. I find by experience that the combustion is sometimes
so rapid-especially with a chimney having a naturally strong draught-that the
back plate of the stove is apt to get burnt out with the additional disadvantages of
consuming the fuel too quickly and not sufficiently heating the incoming fresh air.
I get over these difficulties and improve the construction of the stove &c. in the
following manner.
In my former stoves the back plate was made with a number of vertical slots or
openings through which the flames passed to the combustion chamber and hot
plate this back plate was made thin about three quarters of an inch. I now make
this plate thick preferably 3 or 4 inches and place the slots or openings horizontally
by which I get a better sheet of flame and so more effectually consume the smoke.
The former plates were made of cast iron or fire clay in one piece so that when
part of it was spoiled the whole plate required to be renewed. I now generally
make it of a number of slabs or pieces preferably of the same materials as before,
recessing the edge or face of such as may be necessary so as to produce the slots or
openings, which may be half in each of two contiguous pieces or entirely in one of
them. If part of a back thus formed be spoiled it can be easily replaced the
remaining pieces being still fit for use. I find a back thus formed will last far
longer than those formerly used by me but it is necessary to still further control
the draught or the enormous heat generated will melt or destroy even these backs.
To accomplish this I place in the upper part of the back plate what I may term a
ventilator preferably of the hit and miss description; by opening this the draught
may be controlled to a considerable extent and an opening the size of which can
be varied in the top or upper back of the stove may also be used.

page_text: In my former pattern I employed in the hot chamber at the bottom of the stove
or range a movable plate which in one position caused the flame and heated gases
to pass to the front of the chamber, but when moved to another position allowed the
gases to pass direct to the chimney. This latter position caused one of the troubles
am now endeavouring to avoid for it so increased the draught that it was to a
large extent responsible for burning out the backs as above described. I therefore
now dispense with the movable plate in the hot chamber and instead so form it that
the gases pass centrally to the front of the chamber and then back by side passages
to two side vertical flues which if necessary may be controlled by dampers should
the ventilator in the back plate and the extended travel given to the gases not be
sufficient to control the draught.
In applying this improved construction to the kitchen ranges I can if desirable
place the oven on one side of the fire and the boiler on the other, or the oven
may be at the back and the boiler at one or both sides of the fire.

page_text: Improvements in Stoves, Ranges, and the like.
I, EZRA LOFTS, of Bassingbourne House, Union Terrace Mill Road, Cambridge,
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:-
This invention while applicable to other stoves &c. of a similar character is
especially designed to improve my own well known stoves ranges &c. and I will
describe it in reference to these. I find by experience that the combustion is
sometimes so rapid-especially with a chimney having a naturally strong draught-
that the back plate of the stove is apt to get burnt out with the additional
disadvantages of consuming the fuel too quickly and not sufficiently heating the
incoming fresh air. I get over these difficulties and improve the construction of the
stove &c. in the following manner.
In my former stoves the back plate was made with a number of vertical slots or
openings through which the flames passed to the combustion chamber and hot plate:
this back plate was made thin about three quarters of an inch. I now make this
plate thick preferably 3 or 4 inches and place the slots or openings horizontally by
which I get a better sheet of flame and so more effectually consume the smoke.
The former plates were made of cast iron or fire clay in one piece so that when part
of it was spoiled the whole plate required to be renewed. I now generally make it
of a number of slabs or pieces preferably of the same materials as before, recessing
the edge or face of such as may be necessary so as to produce the slots or openings,
which may be half in each of two contiguous pieces or entirely in one of them. If
part of a back thus formed be spoiled it can be easily replaced the remaining pieces
being still fit for use. I find a back thus formed will last far longer than those
formerly used by me but it is necessary to still further control the draught or the
enormous heat generated will melt or destroy even these backs. To accomplish this
I place in the upper part of the back plate what I may term a ventilator preferably
of the hit and miss description; by opening this the draught may be controlled to
a considerable extent and an opening the size of which can he varied in the top or
upper back of the stove may also be used.
In my former pattern I employed in the hot chamber at the bottom of the stove
or range a movable plate which in one position caused the flame and heated gases
to pass to the front of the chamber, but when moved to another position allowed the
gases to
pass direct to the chimney. This latter position caused one of the
troubles I am now endeavouring to avoid for it so increased the draught that it was
to a large extent responsible for burning out the backs as above described. I
therefore now dispense with the movable plate in the hot chamber and instead so
form it that the gases pass centrally to the front of the chamber and then back
by side passages to two side vertical flues which if necessary may be controlled by
dampers should the ventilator in the back plate and the extended travel given to
the gases not be sufficient to control the draught.

page_text: In applying this improved construction to the kitchen ranges I can if desirable
place the oven on one side of the fire and the boiler on the other; or the oven may
be at the back and the boiler at one or both sides of the fire.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an open fire-place or range constructed according
to my present invention and of which fig. 2 is a central vertical section and
figs. 3 and 4 horizontal sections taken respectively on the lines a-b and c-d of
fig. 1, figs. 5 and 6 being views of a detached portion of the same; figs. 7, 8 and 9
are respectively a front elevation a side elevation and a plan of an independent or
self-contained cooking range constructed according to my invention and of which
figs. 10, 11 and 12 are vertical sections taken respectively on the lines e-of
fig. 7 and g- and i- of fig. 8, and figs. 13, 14 and 15 horizontal sections taken
respectively on the lines k-l, m-n and o-p of fig. 8; figs. 16 and 17 are
respectively a front elevation and a plan of one of my improved cooking ranges
adapted to be built into a wall recess although the construction is such that it
may be worked as an independent and self-contained range, and of which figs. 18
and 19 are vertical sections and figs. 20 and 21 horizontal sections all taken
respectively on the lines -, s-t, u-v and w-x of fig. 16.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference to figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings A is the fire-place which as shown
is provided with ordinary fire-bars B and grate C. D is the back plate which in
accordance with this invention I construct of a number of parts each having
formed in it either a complete horizontal opening E or as shown in the drawings one
or two recesses which together with similar recesses of other parts will form one or
two such openings E such a construction admitting of those portions of the back
which may have become burnt or otherwise destroyed being removed and other whole
portions substituted therefor. The upper part D2 of the back plate is preferably of
cast iron and has formed in it slits D which, with corresponding slits in the sliding
plate D fig. 2 constitutes a hit-and-miss ventilator by regulating which the draught
hrough the fire may to a considerable extent be controlled. F is a plate inclining upwards
towards the back and an opening F in which is made to connect with the chimney G
by a connecting piece G. A valve or damper G2 provided with a handle G³ is
arranged so that it may be caused to expose more or less of the opening F¹ for
regulating the draught through the fire, the said valve or damper engaging with
racks G¹ (only one of which is shown) which will retain it in any position to which it
may be moved. Sufficient space is left between the upper edge of the back plate D³
and the damper G2 or top of the grate or stove to admit of the escape of any of the
gases which may happen to rise from the fire instead of passing through the openings E
as indicated by the arrows. H is the combustion chamber between the back plate D
and fire brick slab H¹ which is supported by the stove back I which closes in the
whole of the stove at its rear side. The combustion chamber H extends down behind
the hearth or bottom of the ash-pit J and connects with the horizontal chamber K
which at the part where the flames or gases will first strike is lined with fire-clay K'
and the front of which is made removable for cleaning purposes. As shown in fig. 4
the chamber K is constructed with partitions K2 (which extend vertically from top to
bottom thereof) and is connected with the chimney G by the two flues L fig. 3 at tho
outer sides of the walls M of the stove. N, figs. 2, 5 and 6 is a soot door one
similar to which is fitted to each flue L for cleaning purposes. In some cases I
find it necessary to reduce the draught through the chambers H and K and side
flues Land for this purpose secure a check plate or damper N¹ to each of the
soot doors N a ready means of doing which is by a screw N which will easily
admit of its removal; figs. 5 and 6 represent in back and edge view one of the
soot doors N with such a plate or damper N. K³ is a hit-and-miss ventilator by
which cold air may be admitted into the chamber K when too much heat is being
given off. The front plate 0 which for ornamental purposes may be constructed
partly of tiles as shown in the drawings, is formed at its lower part with gratings O¹
and at its upper part with a grating 0 at the back of which is hinged a flap or

page_text: valve 03 which may be regulated so that more or less heated air will be allowed
to pass into the apartment warmed by the fire-place. The whole arrangement is
supported on feet P and when fitted into a recess in a wall as shown in the drawings
space is left so that air can freely circulate around it and become heated by contact
with its heated surfaces before it passes through the grating 02 into the apartment.
If desired a supply of heated fresh air may be admitted to the apartment by
employing a pipe such as P' which passes through the exterior wall of the building
and through the floor and introduces cool air to the underside of the hot chamber K
by contact with which and the other heated surfaces it becomes heated before finally
passing through the grating 02 into the apartment.
It will be understood as the flues of the stove proper are all closed in or complete
in themselves and in no way benefitted by being built into a wall or chimney recess
that if the said stove is enclosed in or surrounded by an open-work casing and the
outlet-flue G connected to a suitable chimney or the like the said stove will be
admirably adapted for use in halls and other such places where it will preferably stand
out from the wall.
When a fire is kindled and until it is well alight in the before described grate the
damper G2 is pulled into and left in its most forward position and the ventilator D³ is
or may be opened so that the gases and other products of combustion are drawn
directly up the chimney G. When however the fire is sufficiently advanced the
damper G and ventilator D³ are closed and the gases are drawn through the
openings E into the combustion chamber H thence into the chamber K in which
they divide some as indicated by the arrows passing around one and some around
the other of the plates K2 on their way to the two side flues L whence they escape
to the chimney G.
If desired I can introduce a supply of hot air into the upper part of the combustion
chamber so as to render the combustion of the fuel more complete in a manner
analogous to that hereinafter described in reference to the cooking range.
In reference to the cooking range shown in figs. 7 to 15 of the drawings A is the
fire-place B the fire-bars and C the grate. The back plate Das in the preceding
example is formed of a number of parts D₁ and provided with openings E which
communicate with the combustion chamber H situated between the said back and the
oven QR is the boiler which is constructed in two parts arranged at different sides
of the fire-place as shown and connected together at the lower parts by the pipe R¹
which for cleaning purposes is preferably provided with a removable plug R² to
which access is had by the removal of the cap R³ fastened on the range casing. Sis
a damper shaped like an inverted shovel which in this construction of range I prefer
to employ in the front part of the chamber M' and which is capable of being moved
by means of the handle S' from the inner position in which it is indicated in fig. 10
in full lines into that shown by dot-and-dash lines; in fig. 15 these positions are
indicated in the reverse manner the dot-and-dash lines indicating its inner position and
the full lines its outer position. It will be seen more clearly by reference to fig. 12
that the hearth plate J the inner walls of the two parts of the boiler R and the damper S
(when in its inner position) form a flue which leads from the lower part of the
combustion chamber H to the front part of the chamber M' so that the products
of combustion directed downwards through the combustion chamber H are caused
to travel forward over the damper S and divide and turn under the two parts of the
boiler R when passing to the outlet flue or chimney G¹.
The part of the chamber M between the oven and bottom plate T is partitioned
off by plates T1 and T2 as indicated clearly in fig. 15 so as to cause the products of
combustion, as indicated by the arrows to pass first in one direction at one side and
then in the opposite direction at the other side of the plates T T before they
finally reach the entrance to the outlet flue G' which entrance it is to be observed
is on the same level as the chamber M7. The flue space between the top of the
oven and the hot plate Q is partitioned off by the plates Q1 Q2 and the back of
this space is closed in partly by the hinged valve or damper U (which may be
opened or closed from the outside of the range by the handle U' fig. 8) and

page_text: partly by the hit-and-miss ventilator or damper D the handle D' of the movable
portion of which projects upwards through a slot in the hot plate to enable it
to be operated from the outside. W is a pipe the lower end of which projects
through the bottom plate T as shown in figs. 10 and 12 and passes up through a
space between one part of the boiler R and the oven Q which space as also the
corresponding one at the opposite side of the fire-place is closed in at its upper part
by as-it-were a continuation of the top plate of the boiler. The upper end of the
pipe Wis bent over so that the heated air discharged from it is directed into the
combustion chamber H to more effectually consume the gases as they leave the fire-
place A. Q are passages for conducting fresh air into the oven Q which in the
usual manner is provided with the ventilator Q
In fig. 12 I have shown a false bottom applied to the fire-grate but when a large
say roasting fire is required that may be removed.
When kindling a fire in the last described range the hit-and-miss damper D¹ and
the damper X are opened and all the others being closed most of the fire gases
will then with the full draught be drawn directly to the chimney G₁ so that the
fire will soon be well ablaze. Suppose now that the fire has drawn up" it is
desired to apply the full heating powers to the boiler R. For this purpose the hit-
and-miss ventilator or damper D is closed and the damper S being in its closed
position that is to say pushed in to the fullest extent the tire gases will pass through
the slots E into and down through the combustion chamber H whence they travel
forward between the two parts of the boiler R. as indicated by the arrows fig. 10;
then they divide and pass under the said two parts of boiler as indicated by arrows
in fig. 14 which with the arrows shown in fig. 15 trace the course they pursue before
finally reaching the lower entrance to the escape flue G. It will be seen that
the escaping fire gases thus conducted are brought considerably in contact with
the bottom of the oven Qbut suppose it be desired to apply the maximum heating
powers to the bottom of the oven Q instead of to the boiler R the damper S is
drawn outwards into the position indicated in dotted lines in fig. 10 and the
escaping fire gases will then pass over the back or inner edge of the said damper S
and as indicated by the arrows in fig. 15 directly to the underside of the oven
whence they travel first to the left in front of the plate T and then to the right
at the back of it finally entering the escape flue or chimney at the lower part as
represented by the arrows shown in figs. 14 and 15. If instead of applying to the
oven "bottom heat" as herein last described it be desired to apply "top heat"
the damper S is closed and the damper U opened by means of the handle U. The
products of combustion by this adjustment will then as indicated by the arrows in
fig. 13 be drawn across the top of the oven first to the right and then to the left,
pass through the open damper Ù down at the back and under the rear part of tho
oven and thence around the plate Z fig. 15 to the chimney G¹.
The air passing into the lower end of the tube W becomes heated in its upward
passage and is therefore discharged in a highly heated condition into and amongst
the fire gases immediately after they leave the fire-place so that the combustion of the
said gases is rendered almost complete. The air entering the even through the
passages Q3 is similarly heated by contact with the back wall of the range.
It is to be observed although the working of the range has been described with the
fire gases passing in one particular direction or another that by suitable manipulation of
the valves the said fire gases may be caused to travel some in one direction and some
in other direction or directions.
The bearth or top plate J of the chamber M' is well adapted for keeping plates,
dishes and the like hot.
The range represented in figs. 16 to 21 of the accompanying drawings is of a
construction specially adapted for being built into a recess in a wall though it can
also if desired be arranged against the face of a wall. In this range the oven Qis
situated at one side and the boiler R at the other side of the fire-place, at the back of
which is arranged the combustion chamber H as in the preceding examples. At the
back of this combustion chamber is the hot air pipo or chamber W which opens at

page_text: its lower end below the bottom plate T and behind the skirting Y this being
perforated at Y¹ to admit the air which afterwards passes up into and becomes
heated in the said chamber W and afterwards discharged therefrom through the
perforations Was shown by the arrows in fig. 18. The lower part of the combustion
chainber H opens into the chamber Ms the only outlets from which are by way of
the hinged valves or doors S2 and S3 which may be opened or closed from the
outside of the range by means of the handles S¹. T¹ and T2 are plates which so
divide the flues M beneath the oven Q and boiler R as by deflecting the course of
the fire gases to cause them to give off more of their heat to the said oven and boiler
by holding them longer in contact with the surfaces of such parts. A fig. 20 are
the flues at the back of the oven and boiler which connect with the outlet flue G¹ by
the openings A' and As the former viz. :-that leading from the back of the oven Q
being preferably larger than that from the boiler R as shown in fig. 19 so as to
induce more of the fire gases to pass around the oven than around the boiler. B' is
the handle of a hinged damper not itself shown in the drawings but which when
opened causes the fire gases to be drawn over the top of the oven. This damper for
convenience is herein referred to by the letter B applied to its handle. C figs. 18
and 19 is a movable hood by the application of which and the removal of parts of the
hot plate Q converts the range from a
"close-fire" to an " open-fire" this however
forms no part of my present invention.
When in the last described range it is desired to kindle a fire the hinged dampers S²
and S³ are preferably closed and the sliding damper D4 fig. 18 opened it being of
course understood that the damper X inust be more or less open at all times except when
there is no fire in the range. The fire by so adjusting the dampers will speedily be
drawn up as the draught conducts the gases directly to the chimney G₁ through the
damper D. Now supposing that after the fire is well ablaze it is desired to apply
the full heating powers to the underside of the oven Q for this purpose the damper S
is opened and the fire gases will then be drawn down through the combustion chamber H
and will pass the damper S3 and under the oven Q swing round the plates T
and T2 and through the opening A' into the escape flue G¹. If it should be desired
to apply both bottom and top heat to the oven then both the dampers S3 and B
are opened so that some of the products of combustion will travel in the manner
before described while others of the said products will be drawn side-wise from the
fire and pass over the top and down the side of the oven Qat the lower outer
corner of which they will meet and escape with those which had passed previously
through the damper S3 and beneath the oven Q. If instead of applying all the
heating powers to the oven Q it is desired to apply them to the boilor R the
dampers B and S³ are closed and the damper S opened when the products of
combustion will pass under the said boiler R in a manner similar to that described
in reference to the bottom heating of the oven the said products of combustion
finally reaching the escape flue through the opening A³ there preferably being no flue
passage over the boiler.
It will be obvious how by the manipulation of the various dampers the escaping
fire gases may be divided so as to give off part of their heat to the oven and part to
the boiler. The heated air introduced into the combustion chamber for rendering
more complete the combustion therein passes in the direction indicated by the arrows
in figure 18 through the holes Y₁ in the skirting Y under the bottom plate T up
through the heating chamber W and out through the holes W¹.
Both the ranges shown in figures 7 to 21 are provided with a sufficiency of soot
doors D for enabling all the required parts to be properly cleaned.
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
I claim as the improvements in stoves, ranges and the like is :-
1. A back plate such as D constructed with horizontal openings such as E sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described.
2. A back plate constructed in parts such as D¹ each with one or both edges

page_text: recessed or with one or more horizontal openings E or with both a recess or recesses
and opening or openings substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a back plate such as D of a ventilator such as D' sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.
4. The combination with a chamber such as K of partition plates K² fixed therein
so as to cause the products of combustion after passing towards the front of the said
chamber to divide and pass off in two streams to two different flue outlets substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a chamber K of two outlet flues such as L substantially
as herein described.
6. The combination with the soot door N of a damper or baffle plate N' substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The complete arrangement of parts consisting essentially of a fire-place A back
plate such as D with slots E and D2 with ventilator D³ D' chambers H and K plates K²
Alue outlets G and L and gratings 0' and 02 all substantially as herein described and
illustrated in figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination with a chamber such as M' of partition plates such as T' T²
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
9. The complete arrangement of parts consisting essentially of a fire-place A oven Q
boiler back plate D with slots E dampers D S and U partition plates T¹ T² Q¹ Q²
and Z hot air pipe W and chambers H and M' all substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in figures 7 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.
10. The complete arrangement of parts consisting essentially of a fire-place A
oven boiler R back plate D with slots E dampers D₁ B S2 and S3 chambers H
and M7 partition plates T T2 hot air pipe W substantially as and for the purposo
herein described and illustrated in figures 16 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of December 1888.