Year: 1888

page_text: I, EMILE BERLINER of Columbia Road, Washington, District of Columbia,
United States of America, Electrician 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 has reference to the construction of mantels designed to be set
around open fire-places; though it is also applicable, wholly or in part, to use in
connection with latrobe and over stoves. On account of the better ventilation supposed
to be afforded thereby, as well as for the sake of appearances, and for other reasons,
open fire-places are held in great esteem. Probably the principal drawback attending
their use is the loss of heat, which in great part escapes to the chimney without
contributing to the warmth of the apartment.
The object of my present invention is to preserve all the advantages and desirable
features attending the use of open fire-places, and at the same time to reduce largely
the amount of waste heat. This object is accomplished by the peculiar construction
of the mantel, as hereinafter described, rendering it what may be termed a radiating-
mantel.'
The mantel, while to all appearances it may be similar to ordinary mantels and may
be ornamented and embellised in any desired way, has a hollow space or spaces above
and on each side of the grate, and the entire face or front wall of this hollow space is
The hot gases,
of metal and constitutes a heat-radiating surface of large area.
smoke and products of combustion, instead of escaping from the heater directly
to the flue, enter and circulate through the space or spaces in the interior of the
mantel, imparting their heat to the metal face, from which it is radiated into the
room. Preferably there is placed directly above the fire-place a shield or partition, by
which the products of combustion are deflected to either side of the mantel. They
pass around the shield or partition at each end thereof and return along its upper
surface in a passage or flue, of which the shield or partition forms the bottom. The
shield or partition may be straight or curved, or, in fact, of any suitable shape or
form to secure most effectually the desired circulation of the smoke and gases; and

page_text: to this end the interior construction of the mantel may be modified in various ways.
A damper may be placed in the shield or partition to be opened when as in starting, a
fire, a brisk draft is desired. The back of the fire-place is a metal plate, which cuts
off direct communication with the chimney and throws the products of combustion
forward into the spaces before mentioned. The space immediately behind this may
have an air inlet below the level of the fire, so that a current of air may be heated
by passing over the same and supplied to a room above. This current of air is
further warmed in its ascent by contact with the smoke pipe leading from the
fire place.
I am of course aware that it is common, in various ways, to economise heat by
causing a circulation of the products of combustion from the fire; but so far as I am
aware, it has not been proposed heretofore to economise the heat of open fire-places
by leading the smoke and products of combustion through suitably arranged flues in
the hollow of the mantel, so that the heat may be radiated into the room or be imparted
to a current of air which is admitted into the apartment. In many such heaters the
smoke flues or passages have been made a part of the heater itself. These of course
have no relation to the present invention; but it has also been proposed heretofore to
construct the smoke flues in the mantel itself, so that the face of the latter becomes a
heat-radiator. Such attempts have never succeeded in practice so far as I am aware.
It requires a strong and full draft to sustain an open fire; and the natural tendency of
the circuitous flues and passages for the products of combustion would be to check
the draught to such an extent as to render it difficult or impossible to maintain a good
fire. It is owing to this difficulty, in all probability, that no successful apparatus
involving the principle of a hollow radiating-mantel has ever been produced. In the
mantels as it has been proposed to construct them, the products of combustion have
usually been directed upward through a more or less contracted throat or orifice and
then deflected vertically downward to or near the bottom of the mantel, and finally
be allowed to escape into the chimney. In one instance it has been proposed to let
the products of combustion escape into the smoke-flues formed in the heater through
openings at the ends of the grate and through another opening directly over the
middle part of the fire. According to my invention instead of having the sides of
the grate closed and a communication with the mantel only on top or at one or two
points, the mantel is open into the fire-place all around the grate, so that the smoke
and gases, instead of reaching the smoke-flues through a tortuous and contracted
passage,, at once and freely diffuse themselves into the flues or spaces-behind the
radiating face, and in their passage have no downward course. This construction of
the fire-place, so that there is an open space at the sides of the grate, is not only
essential to the efficient maintenance of the fire in the grate, and to prevent escape of
smoke and gases into the apartment, but it also conduces to the more perfect.combus-
tion of the fuel at the ends of the grates, which ordinarily is consumed imperfectly,
or not at all; owing to the fact that the ends of the grates are not readily accessible
to air currents.
The invention includes certain specific features of construction hereinafter set forth
and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings Figure I is a front view of a mantel and fire-
place; Fig. II, a central vertical section thereof; Fig. III a cross section on line III,
Fig. II Fig. IV a cross section on line IV, Fig. II; Fig. V., a front view of a
mantel showing a construction that is advantageous when the radiating face is of
sheet metal; Fig. VI, a horizontal section on line VI, Fig. V; and Fig. VII a detail
view of a modification. Fig. VIII is a front elevation of a mantel. constructed in
accordance with the alternative form of my invention; Fig. IX a central vertical
section of the mantel and chimney of the alternative form; Fig. X à partial cross-
section on line 111, Fig. IX; Fig. XI, a view in elevation, partly in section, on
line IV, Fig. IX; and Fig. XII, a detail of one of the castings of the alternative form
of my invention.
The face or front piece A, of the mantel, or the part surrounding the fire-place B,
and forming the support of the shelf C; is formed of metal, preferably either cast or

page_text: '
sheet iron. The interior of the mantel is hollow, and the hollow space is in direct
communication with the fire-place B, both above and at the sides thereof. The space
above the fire-place between the face A of the mantel and the breast D of the chimney
is marked 1 in the drawings, and the side spaces 2.
The exterior form or design of the face A can be varied within wide limits, and
is obviously susceptible of a higher degree of ornamentation and finish. Behind the
face A, and some distance above the fire-place B (which is preferably set quite low)
is a horizontal shelf or partition, 3, its front edge resting on a flange, 4, and its rear
edge being set into the breast D. The partition 3 does not extend entirely across the
mantel; but an opening is left around each end for the passago of the products of
combustion. Between this partition and the top piece, 5, of the mantel is formed a
fluo, 6, extending entirely across the mantel. The outlet 7 from the flue 6 to the
chimney is directly above the middle of the fire-place, and in this is set a pipe, 8, into
which the smoke finally passes. A damper, 9, is placed in the middle of the
partition 3, to open, when necessary, a direct communication with the chimney.
The metal back plate, 10, of the fire-place is inclined forward, and is set at its
upper end against the breast D of the chimney, closing the outlet from the fire
place to the flue 12 and deflecting the smoke and gases forward. In the back-
wall, E, of the chimney about on a level with the grate 13, is an air inlet, 14.
The air entering at this point passes over the surface of plate 10 and is heated
thereby. It is further heated in passing up flue 12 by contact with the smoke-
pipe 8.
A supply of fresh warm air may thus be furnished to a room above
through a register in the ordinary way..
When the face A is made of sheet metai, it should be sufficiently braced to
prevent its warping or buckling out of shape by reason of changes of temperature.
The construction shown in Figs. V and VI is designed to secure this object.
The face A of sheet metal is secured in any suitable way to the upright castings 16
at each end of the mantel and to the intermediate casting, 17. The latter extends
entirely around the fire-place and serves to brace the sheet-metal face A and
prevent its bending out of shape. The casting 17 is provided on each side with
a number of perforations, 18, through which. the smoke and gases pass to the
spaces 2. The top of the casting is imperforate, and answers the purpose of 'the
shield or partition 3 in the other figures.
A convenient and practical mode of constructing a mantel with a sheet-metal
radiating-surface is illustrated in Fig. VII, which shows a portion of the front
of a mantel having a sheet-metal radiating-face, A, in front of which is an open-
work covering, A¹, of any suitable ornamental design. The heat radiates from
the face A, through the openings or perforations in the covering A¹..
When a fire is started in the fire-place the damper 9 may be opened and the
front of the fire-place closed by a blower, compelling a brisk draught through
the fuel, the air entering under the grate. Said blower may consist of a sheet
of metal which is adapted to be raised or lowered in cast iron guides as, or
substantially as shown in Figs. X and XII and hereinafter more fully described.
When the fire has gained sufficient head-way the damper 9 should be closed.
The hot products of combustion are then deflected by the partition 3, as indicated
by the arrows, Fig. I, passing into the spaces 1 and 2, thence around the ends
of partition 3 into the flue 6, and thence by outlet 7 to smoke-pipe 8. The face
or front-piece A thus becomes heated and, the heat is radiated into the room
from its entire surface:
It would of course be objectionable to have the shelf C of the mantel unduly
heated, and to prevent this it rests upon supports 15, (shown as balls, say of
metal) and is thus separated by an air-space from the top-piece, 5. In addition
to this air insulation a layer, 19, of asbestos or like substance, is placed on the
under side of the.shelf C, which may be of wood or other suitable material. By
this means overheating of the shelf and of articles placed thereon is prevented.
In the alternative forms of my invention, shown particularly in Figs. VIII, IX,
✗; XI.and XII of the drawings A represents the metal radiating-face; B, the. fire

page_text: place; C, the mantel-shelf. "Behind the radiating-face A are the spaces 1, 2, in
direct communication with the fire-place. In front of the radiating-sheet A is a
slab, A', which forms the front of the mantel. This may be of slate or marble.
or other material. A space, 15, is thus formed between sheet A and front A¹,
and the air therein, becoming heated, rises and escapes into the room through
openings 16 at the top of the mantel. When the mantel is used in a dining-
room, these hot-air openings are useful for warming plates and dishes.
The rear wall of the smoke passages or spaces 1, 2 is a sheet-metal piece, 17,
which is secured to the sheet A by a number of bolts 18. These bolts serve to
support the partition or deflector 3, and they are also important in preserving
the relative positions of the sheets A and 17, preventing warping or buckling.
The partition or deflector 3 is extended downward (see Fig. XI) on both sides
of the fire-place. The space 1 is thus separated from the side spaces or passages
by vertical partitions. By this construction a greater amount of heat is intercepted
in the space 1, while the productions of combustion pass around and under the ends
of the deflector 3. Thence they pass by way of spaces 2 to the horizontal flue or
passage 6, formed between the deflector 3 and top-piece, 5, and finally pass through
smoke-hole 7 to the chimney.
The radiating-sheet A is braced by a casting, 19, (shown in perspective in Fig. XII)
which is placed in front of said sheet. This casting is shaped at the bottom to
correspond with the fire-place opening. Each side is turned over, as shown, to form
ways or guides for a sliding shutter or blower, 20. This is supported just in front of
sheet A by cords or chains 21, passing over pulleys 22, and having at their ends
counterbalance-weights 23. This shutter or blower can be drawn down in starting
the fire, and afterward pushed up into the position shown in the drawings Fig. IX.
Another casting, 24, is placed around the fire-place opening and holds the sheet-
metal back 17 of the smoke flues or spaces 1, 2, and 6 against the breast D of the
chimney. The casting 24 has at the top a backwardly-projecting flange, 25, which
holds in place the end of the sheet-metal chimney-plate 10, by which the usual
communication between the fire-place and chimney is cut off. This plate 10 is
inclined forward over the grato 13. The bottom of the chimney is closed by a
horizontal sheet, 26, which forms, with the rear and side walls of the chimney and
the plate 10, a hot-air box. Outside air is admitted to this enclosure by an inlet, 14,
and becomes heated by contact with plate 10, which is in direct contact with the fire.
This heated air ascends through an opening.in sheet 26 into hot-air pipe 12, which
passes up through the smoke-flue, S, and may communicate with a register on the
Hoor above. The products of combustion ascending through flue 8 impart additional
heat to the air in pipe 12.
It is obvious that modifications may be made in details of construction, proportions,
and materials withouth departing from the spirit of the invention, and that parts of
the invention may be used without the whole.
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. In a mantel, the combination of the fire-place the radiating-face surrounding the
fire-place, the spaces or flues behind such face having a continuous communication
with the fire-place at its top and sides, the partition in the interior of the mantel
extending above the fire-place, but having a passage around it at each end, and a
smoke-pipe above the partition, whereby the products of combustion pass freely into
the spaces behind the radiating-face and upwardly around the ends of the horizontal
partition and a Damper which may be fitted thereto, all substantially as described.
2. In a mantel, the combination of the fire-place, the walls forming smoke-flues
opening directly into the fire-place, the front wall being a metal radiating-face, the
deffecting partition, the top-plate and the mantel-shelf separated from said top-plate
by an air-space substantially as described.
3. In a mantel provided with a fire-place and with hollow spaces communicating

page_text: directly therewith, through which pass the products of combustion, a metal radiating-
face forming the front wall of said spaces, and the perforated or open-work covering
therefor, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the upright front wall or slab having openings near its top,
the upright radiating sheet behind said wall or slab, these parts enclosing between
them an air space, and smoke flues or passages directly behind such radiating-sheet,
so that the latter is heated by the products of combustion passing from the fire-place
to the chimney, the air passing behind said front wall upward between it and the said
radiating-sheet, and finally into the apartment, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the upright front wall, the upright radiating-sheet behind
the same and separated therefrom by an air-space, the smoke-flues directly behind
said radiating-sheet and above and on each side of the fire-place, and the perforated
mantel-shelf forming the top of said air-space, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the upright radiating-sheet extending above and around the
fire-place, the smoke flues or passages in the rear of said sheet and communicating
directly with the fire-place, so that the products of combustion pass on their way to
the chimney in contact with the inside of said sheet, and the frame or casting
surrounding the fire-place opening and bracing said sheet, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the upright radiating-sheet extending above and around the
fire place, the smoke-flues or passages in the rear of said sheet and communicating
directly with the fire-place, and the casting surrounding the fire-place opening and
supporting said sheet, the sides of the casting being provided with guide-ways,
substantially as described.
8. A fire-place having an upright radiating-sheet extending above and on each side
of the grate, smoke-passages directly behind said sheet and communicating with the
fire-place, a deflector behind said sheet and above the grate for directing the products
of combustion into said smoke passages, a rear plate or wall, and bolts supporting
said deflector and serving also to brace said radiating-sheet, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of April 1888.
HORN & SON,
Agents on behalf of Applicant.