AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS AND ASHES FROM FIRE-GRATES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Williams, of Long Acre, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING
AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS AND ASHES FROM FIRE-GRATES."
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1881.
THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, of Long Acre, in the County of Middlesex.. "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS AND
ASHES FROM FIRE-GRATES."
My Invention relates to apparatus to be applied to ordinary fire-grates for the
purpose of collecting and separating the cinders and ashes which fall from such
grates. It has for its objects novel methods of constructing and arranging such
apparatus so that it is very simple and cheap, whilst by its use time is saved in
the removal and separation of cinders and ashes, cleanliness is attained, and fuel is
economized.
I take a vessel preferably of metal, such as sheet iron, rivetted or otherwise
fastened together, open above and of such shape as to fit conveniently in the space
below the firegrate to which it is to be applied. This vessel is provided with one
or more bandles by which it can be removed or carried about, and into its upper
part, which is preferably made somewhat larger than the lower part, is fitted a
second separate vessel or frame, also preferably of metal, such as sheet iron. The
lower part or bottom of this upper vessel consists of a grating or series of bars,
preferably arranged so as to slope somewhat downward toward the back of the
fire grate, and the space between the bars may be made of convenient width, so
that the dust and ashes can pass through into the lower vessel whilst the cinders
are retained upon the bars..
I prefer to construct the grating or bars described in the following way:-I
make the bottom of the upper separate vessel of sheet iron or other sufficiently
flexible metal, and I make a series of parallel cuts through it, extending nearly
from the front to the back of the plate.

page_text: I then bend downward the edges of the strips of metal between the cuts until
each such strip is bent, preferably by a series of parallel pressure dies, into a shape
semi-circular, or nearly so, such curvature beginning gradually from the ends of the
cuts. In this way the grating or bars is very simply, cheaply, and readily formed
in the bottom of the upper separate vessel. I prefer to make a hole or opening in
the back of the lower vessel opposite to the lower end of each of the hollow bars
formed as described, and a corresponding opening in the front of the lower vessel
opposite to the upper end of each of the bars, when the upper vessel is fitted into
its place, and in this way a current of air passes along the lower side of each of the
bent bars and keeps them cool.
When my apparatus, constructed and arranged substantially as described, is in
its place, the lower vessel collects the dust and ashes which pass through the bars
upon which the larger cinders or pieces of fuel which fall from the fire are retained.
The latter can be readily removed with the upper vessel and reburned or utilized
when desired, and when the lower vessel is sufficiently filled with dust and ashes
the two vessels can be withdrawn together and the upper vessel being removed
they are thrown away. In this way the time ordinarily occupied in collecting,
removing, and separating the cinders and ashes is saved, the dirt ordinarily caused
by such operation is prevented, and the economy of fuel is promoted by the
separation of those parts of the cinders and ashes which are of value for
reconsumption from the waste dust and ashes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Henry Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th July 1881.
THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, of Long Acre, in the County of Middlesex. "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS AND
ASHES FROM FIRE GRATES."
My Invention relates to apparatus to be applied to ordinary firegrates for the
purpose of readily collecting and separating the cinders and ashes which fall
from such grates, in order that the cinders so falling may he re-used or utilized.
It has for its objects novel methods of constructing and arranging such apparatus
or appliance so that it is very simple and cheaply made. By its use time is saved
in the removal and separation of cinders and ashes, cleanliness is attained, and by
the ready utilization of the cinders economy of fuel is effected.
In order to put my Invention in operation I take a vessel, preferably of metal,
such as sheet iron plates rivetted or otherwise fastened together, open above and
of such size and shape as to fit conveniently in the space below the firegrate to
which it is to be applied. I provide this vessel with one or more handles by which
it can be removed or carried about, and into its upper part, which is made
preferably somewhat larger than the bottom, I fit a second separate vessel or frame,
also preferably of metal, such as sheet iron.
The bottom of this upper vessel consists of a grating or series of bars preferably
arranged in an inclined position, so as to slope somewhat downward toward the
back of the firegrate under which it is placed, and the spaces between the bars may
be made of any convenient width, so that the dust and ashes from the fire can pass
through them into the lower vessel, whilst the cinders are retained in the upper
vessel by the bars.
I prefer to make the grating or bars through which the dust and ashes fall as
described, in the following way:-I make the bottom of the upper separate vessel
of sheet iron or other sufficiently flexible metal, and I make a series of parallel cuts
through it extending nearly from the front to the back of such bottom plate. I
then bend downward the edges of the strips of metal left between the cuts, until
each such strip is bent into a shape semicircular, or nearly so, such curvature
commencing gradually from the extremities of the cuts. In this way the grating
or series of bars is very simply, cheaply, and readily formed in the bottom of the
upper separate vessel.
In order to make the cuts and bend down the edges of the strips of metal as
described, I prefer to use a series of parallel blades or cutters corresponding in
number to the cuts to be made and attached to or formed upon a moveable pressure
die or block, which when desired can be forcibly brought down by hand, steam, or
other power upon a corresponding die or block fixed below it. The shape of the
dies or blocks is so made, that after the cutters have made the cuts through the
sheet metal, the dies or blocks bend over and press into the desired shape, the edges
of the parallel strips of metal remaining. I sometimes make holes or openings in
the back of the lower vessel opposite to the lower ends of the hollow bars formed
as described, and corresponding holes or openings in the front of the lower vessel
opposite the upper ends of the lower bars, when the upper vessel is fitted into its
place, and in this way a current of air passes along the lower side of the bars and
keeps them cool.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention. Figure 1
represents the lower vessel, and Figure 2 the upper vessel. Figure 3 is a side
view, and Figure 4 a back view of the two vessels fitted together. Figure 5 is a
plan from above, and Figure 6 a transverse vertical section of the apparatus.

page_text: a represents the lower vessel, preferably of the shape shewn, so that the lower
part of the upper vessel b can be readily fitted into its upper part, as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4. The bottom of the upper vessel b is provided with a grating or
bars c, c, c, preferably formed in the way illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, parallel
cuts being inade in the plate between each bar, and the intervening metal being
bent gradually down as shewn. Holes are shewn in the lower vessel a at d, d, d
opposite to the ends of the bars c, c, c, so that currents of air can pass along under
the latter and keep them cool. Handles to the vessels are shewn at e, e, e.
When my apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as described is in its
place under a firegrate, the lower vessel a collects the dust and ashes, which pass
between the bars c, c, c, in the upper vessel b, which retain the larger cinders or
pieces of fuel which fall from the fire. These can be removed together with the
upper vessel b and re-burned or utilized when desired; and when the lower vessel a
is sufficiently filled with ashes and dust, the two vessels can be withdrawn together,
and the upper vessel having been removed, they are thrown out. In this way the
time ordinarily occupied in collecting, removing, and separating the cinders and ashes
is saved, the dirt caused by such operations is prevented, and economy of fuel is
promoted by the separation of these parts of the cinders and ashes which are of
value for re-consumption from the waste dust and ashes.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim,―
The combination of the upper moveable vessel, having a bottom provided with a
grating or bars, and the lower vessel into which the bottom of the upper vessel
fits, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
Also the method of making the grating or bars in the bottom of the lower vessel
by means of parallel knives or cutters, and suitably shaped blocks or dies, substan-
tially as described.
Also the method of cooling the bars by means of currents of air passing through
holes or openings provided in the back and front of the lower vessel, substantially
as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 16th day of July, A.D. 1881.