IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC FIRE-GRATES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Kerr Hannay, of Haverthwaite, in the County
Palatine of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC
FIRE-GRATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Kerr Hannay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1880.
GEORGE KERR HANNAY, of Haverthwaite, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC FIRE GRATES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in domestic fire grates, has for
its object to economise heat by preventing or diminishing its escape up the
chimney.
This object is effected by the use of a reflector or plato, which is placed at an
angle above the level of the fire, and between it and the chimney. By means of
this reflector a considerable portion of the heat which would otherwise escape up
the chimney is thrown back partly on to the fire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Kerr Hannay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August 1880.
GEORGE KERR HANNAY, of Haverthwaite, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC FIRE-GRATES."
My said Invention has for its object to economise the heat generated in domestic
fire grates, and consists in the use of a reflector constructed and used in combina-
tion with a grate, as hereinafter described, the said reflector being made in various
sizes, such as may be required for the particular grates in which it is to be placed,
and being applicable to grates already in existence without disturbing any part of
the same, or of the setting or flue in connection with the same, the said reflector
being situated near to the fire, and extending completely thereover.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in front elevation, and Figure 2
in transverse section a grate containing a reflector A, according to my Invention.
The said reflector is made preferably of fire clay, but it may be of any other
suitable material, and is supported in position by being secured to the back of the
grate, or by merely being made to fit so closely into the grate that it is supported
in position by the ledge b at back, and by the cheeks of the grato in front. The
bottom of the reflector may be solid, or it may be slotted or perforated, and may
take the place of the ordinary grate bottom bars. Where the reflector is made for
grates already in existence it will be made of a shape suited to fit the said grate,
as for example, as shewn with regard to the old fashioned hearth grate in Figure 3.
The reflector may consist, in addition to the reflecting top or reflector proper, of a
back a¹, sides a³, and bottom a³, as in Figures 1 and 2, or a back a' and bottom a³,
as in Figure 3, or either a back or sides alone, and may be with or without a
bottom when used in grates having bars at bottom, or the reflector may consist
. merely of the top reflecting surface A, supported by rests on either side, as at a² in
Figure 4.
Figuro 5 of the accompanying Drawing represents in transverse section, and
Figuro 6 in front elevation a fire grate consisting of a circular or oval cage c for
containing the fuel, and provided with an ash pan c and mounted by means of
arms c³ upon a pivot on the stand d so that it can be turned in any direction hori-
zontally. The cage c should stand at least three inches from the framework of the
hearth so that the said framework may not get so heated as to carry off a great
amount of heat. The cage c may have fire bars all round, or may have a front of
fire bars and a back of firebrick. The reflecting surface marked A is placed, as
shewn, so as to be near to the fire, and extend completely thereover.
e is a canopy
for aiding in conducting the products of combustion to the chimney. A similar
canopy is shewn at e in Figures 1 and 2.
In all cases the reflecting surface will be brought down near to the fire so as to
extend thereover at a low angle, for example, from 30 to 40 degrees, from a hori-
zontal line to or slightly beyond the vertical line of the front fire bars of the grate
so as to as much as possible prevent any heat from the fire passing direct to the
chimney without being intercepted and deflected into the room.
I am aware that reflecting surfaces have been used or proposed, and I therefore
do not claim the use of reflecting surfaces generally, but such surfaces have not

page_text: been brought down near to tho fire and extended completely thereover at a low
angle so as to prevent the direct escape of any heat to the chimney or flue, but
have been built in or formed as part of a higher part of the grate, and have allowed
a considerable amount of heat to escape without being reflected by the said
reflecting surfaces.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The use in or combination with domestic fire grates of a reflecting surface situated
near to the fire, and extending at a low angle completely thereover, or to or
beyond the vertical line of the front fire bars of the grate, as and for the purposes
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Kerr Hannay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE KERR HANNAY. (L.S.)