IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVE GRATES OR FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wright, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Stove Grate Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVE
GRATES OR FIRE-PLACES."
Sealed the 3rd July 1857, and dated the 6th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George. Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
February 1857.
I, GEORGE WRIGHT, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove Grate
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STOVE GRATES OR FIRE-PLACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in stove grates or fire places relates to a
novel description of fire-placé, combining certain arrangements for the escape
of the smoke and gaseous products of the fuel into the flue or chimney,
together with the means of obtaining a more perfect control over the draught,
also in so constructing certain parts of the same as to obtain a large radiating
surface, and at the same time conceal the ashes and other solid products
of combustion.
The improvements consist in making (in addition to the ordinary valve or
door at the back of the grate for the escape of the smoke) a portion. of the
radiating top plate itself moveable, so as to give a large opening when required

page_text: for any increased volume of smoke that may be produced at first lighting the
fire, or at any other time afterwards, and to allow it to ascend the flue or
chimney without obstruction. The valve or door of the flue also is so hung
as to enable it to be opened or closed, and remain stationary at any angle or
given point that may be desired, so as to afford a greater or less aperture for
the smoke, rarefied air, &c. In other words to check or increase the
draft.
The next improvement consists in the arrangement of a cast-iron plate or
plates, placed upon the hearth, so as to give increased radiating surface, and
at the same time to conceal or otherwise obstruct the view of the ashes that
fall from the fire.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WRIGHT, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove Grate Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Wright, Her special license that 'I, the said George
Wright, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said George Wright, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STOVE GRATES OR FIRE-PLACES," upon the condition..(amongst
others) that I, the said George Wright, by. an instrument in writing under.
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain. 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Wright, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of "Improvements in Stove Grates or Fire-places" relates.
to a novel description of fire-place, combining certain arrangements for the
escape of the smoke and gaseous products of the fuel into the flue or chimney,
together with the means of obtaining a more perfect control over the draught;,
also in so constructing certain parts of the same as to obtain a large radiating
surface, and at the same time conceal the ashes and other solid products of
combustion.
The improvements consist in making (in addition to the ordinary valve or
door at the back of the grate for the escape of the smoke) a portion of the
radiating top plate itself moveable, so as to give a large opening when required
for any increased volume of smoke that may be produced at first lighting the
fire or at any other' time afterwards, and to allow such smoke or gases to
ascend the flue or chimney without obstruction. The valve or door of the flue
also is so hung as to enable it to be opened or closed, and remain stationary at
any angle or given point that may be desired, so as to afford a greater or less
aperture for the smoke, rarefied air, or gaseous products of combustion. In
other words, the valve or door of the fibre is so constructed and arranged as,
to check or increase (as may be desired) the draught up the chimney.
The next improvement consists in the arrangement of a cast-iron plate or
plates placed upon the hearth, so as to give increased radiating surface, and at
the same time to conceal or otherwise obstruct the view of the ashes that fall
from the fire. The means by which these results are obtained are shewn in
the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of, a
stove, grate, or fire-place constructed according to my improvements. Fig. 2 is
a transverse vertical section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view,
part of the front and top plate being represented broken away, in order to
shew the hearth plate beneath.
a is the front plate of the grate; b, the large or outer radiating top or back plate;
c; the inner or moveable top or back.plate, which is mounted and turns upon
the axle d, by which means it may be opened or thrown back to afford a large
opening for the escape of the smoke, as represented by the dotted lines in
the sectional view, Fig. 2, in which, however, the top or back plate c is repré-
sented by the dotted lines as being only partly open; f is tlie valve or sinoke

page_text: door, and 7 a piece of iron, affixed to and projecting from the back of the
valve f, and taking a bearing upon the plate i behind, by which means the
valve fis supported in its place and retained in any réquired position. The
under side of the projecting piece of metal: g. is made in the form of. an arc,
having a shorter radius than the distance from any point in the arc. to the
axis upon which the valve door turns; the centre from which this arc is
described being shewn at X in the sectional view, Fig. 2, and also in the
enlarged detail, Fig. 4. The valve door f is perfectly loose and free to slide.
up or down the short incline formed upon the axle d of the moveable top
plate c. This arrangement forms a self-adjusting leverage, whereby the weight
of the valve f is made to act as a counterbalance to its tendency to fall back-
wards or forwards as it is declined from a perpendicular position. This
arrangement combined with an ordinary amount of friction of the door upon
its bearings (which renders a very accurate adjustment of the counteracting
forces unnecessary) enables the valve f to be placed at or moved to any given:
point where it will remain stationary. The radiator plate is seen at j, and by.
having its rays made of a waved or curved form. and placed diagonally as:
shewn at k, Fig. 3, gives an increased radiating surface, and at the same time.
hides the ashes from view.
Having now described my improvements in stove grates or fire-places; I.
would observe that I do not wish to confine myself rigidly to the precise form:
of the supporting hook attached to the valve door, though I prefer to make
the under side a portion of a circle; an ellipse will, however, act nearly as well,
and other similar forms may be substituted under certain circumstances to
produce the same or an equivalent effect. I would also remark that I am
aware that a secondary opening has previously been made in grates of a
construction somewhat resembling that above described, but these previous
arrangements have always so placed the secondary door or part of the top
plate that it has been hung from its top side, and thus presented an obstruction:
to the draught when open, and a disfigurement to the grate from its unsightly s
appearance as well as being open to other objections. I am also aware that
radiating bars have previously been arranged upon the hearth plate in such a
manner as to obstruct the view of the ashes, but these have hitherto been
formed in several pieces in wrought iron, whereas I form mine in one piece.
of cast iron, thereby rendering it much less costly in manufacture.
In conclusion, first, I claim forming a large opening for the escape of smoke,
and gases, by throwing back the whole or part of the radiating top plate, by:
moving it upon a bearing or axle connected with its lower edge, and thus.
3

page_text: causing it to form a part of the flue, and guide the smoke and gases in their
escape up the chimney without presenting any obstruction to the draught.
Second, I claim the mode of suspending the valve door, so as to enable it to
be set at any given angle.
And, third, the mode of constructing the radiator whereby an increased
radiating surface is obtained, and the ashes are concealed from view.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
SAM TURNELL,
Burton Weir, Sheffield.
GEORGE WRIGHT. (L.B.)