IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES, STOVES,
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Looker, of Kingston-on-Thames, in
the County of Surrey, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES, STOVES,
LETTERS
PATENT TO вenjamín Looker, or Kingston-on-Thames, · in
the County of Surrey, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES, STOVES,
OR FIRE-PLACES.
County of burity, DICK an
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vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES, STOVES,
OR FIRE-PLACES.
Sealed the 29th April 1873, and dated the 6th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Looker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th November 1872.
I, BENJAMIN LOOKER, of Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of
Surrey, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES,
STOVES, OR FIRE-PLACES," to be as follows:-
I construct a tile, slab, or plate of fire-clay, iron, or other suitable
material to be placed in a stove or fire-place, extending from the bottom
of the front of the said stove or fire-place in a sloping or sweeping
direction towards the top of the back of the said stove or fire-place,
openings being made through the top or upper part of the said tile,

page_text: slab, or plate. When one of these tiles, slabs, or plates is placed in a
stove or fire-place the air to support combustion of the fuel in the said
stove or fire-place passes under the bottom of the said stove or fire-place
to the under side of the said tile, slab, or plate, and through the openings
in the top or upper part of the said tile, slab, or plate. By this means
the air being admitted under the top or upper part of a fire, combustion
of the fuel is effected at that part of the said fire, the fuel as ignited
falling towards the front and lower part of the stove or fire-place. The
air space at the back of the said tile or plate prevents the heat being
absorbed by the chimney back, thereby causing a greater amount of
heat by radiation in front of the said fire.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Looker in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
LOOKER, of Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Looker, Her special
licence that I, the said Benjamin Looker, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Looker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and. vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-GRATES, STOVES, OR FIRE-PLACES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Looker, my ex-
ecutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,

page_text: or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 I, the said Benjamin Looker, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention has reference to the interior of grates, stoves, and
fire-places, for the more economical combustion of fuel and generation
of heat; for this purpose I construct a tile, slab, or plate of fire-clay
or other suitable material to be placed in a stove or fire-place extending
from the bottom of the front of the said stove or fire-place in a sloping,
sweeping, or concave direction towards the top of the back of the said
stove or fire-place, openings being made through the top or upper part
of the said tile, slab, or plate. When one of these tiles, slabs, or plates
is placed in a stove or fire-place the air to support combustion of the
fuel in the said stove or fire-place passes under the bottom of the said
stove or fire-place to the under side of the said tile, slab, or plate, and
through the openings in the top or upper part of the said tile, slab, or
plate. By this means, the air being admitted under the top or upper
part of a fire, combustion of the fuel is effected at that part of the said
fire, the fuel as ignited falling towards the front and lower part of the
stove or fire-place. The air space at the back of the said tile, slab,
or plate prevents the heat being absorbed by the back of the grate,
thereby causing a greater amount of heat by radiation in front of the
said fire.
The tiles, slabs, or plates herein-before described may be made
movable and separate from the fire-grate, stove, or fire-place, or as a
fixed part or portion of the said fire-grate, stove, or fire-place, and the
ordinary grate bottom of iron may be wholly dispensed with.
The accompanying Drawings shew various arrangements which I find
well adapted for the purpose.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tile or slab for filling up the
space between the lower bar and the top of the back of the grate;

page_text: Figure 2 is a section of the same as fixed or placed in a stove, shewing
the holes, slits, or perforations for the passage of air from the back
to the front of the slab.
Figure 3 is a perspective view, and Figure 4 a section of a tile or slab
suited for a kitchen range, or where heat is required at the back as well
as at the front. The arrows shew the direction of the air to support
the combustion through holes arranged in such manner as may be
desired. If the front top of the slab or tile be not too thick air may
pass in between its upper surface and the lower bar of the grate.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
claim generally the use of fire-bricks, slabs, tiles, or similar substances
in grates, stoves, or fire-places; but I limit my claim to the adaptation
and use of slabs or tiles constructed and applied as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Looker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Benjamin Looker,
in the presence of.
Jos. J. CORBIN,
14, Bedford Street,
Covent Garden,
Solicitor.
BENJ“. LOOKER. (L.S.)