IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING, MOISTENING, VENTILATING, PURIFYING, AND MEDICATING THE AIR OF ROOMS AND OTHER SPACES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Deykin Clare, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING,
MOISTENING, VENTILATING, PURIFYING, AND MEDICATING THE AIR OF ROOMS
AND OTHER SPACES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 18th May 1880, and dated the 27th November 1879,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Deykin Clare at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1879.
THOMAS DEYKIN CLARE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING, MOISTENING, VENTILATING, PURIFYING, AND
MEDICATING THE AIR OF ROOMS AND OTHER SPACES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to the construction of stoves, grates, and similar
apparatus with appliances thereto, whereby the objects, namely, the heating,
ventilating, moistening, purifying, and medicating the air of rooms or other spaces,
may be more effectively and economically attained than by the means commonly
in use,
The Invention consists of a stove or grate with an air passage or chamber or
chambers surrounding or in contact with that part in which the heat is generated,
The air chamber or chambers communicate at the lower part of the stove with a
duct or passage through which external air is drawn by the rarefaction of the air
in the chambers, which induces a current of fresh air to flow into them, and from
thence, after being warmed or otherwise treated, is emitted into the apartment
through suitable orifices in the said stove.
In combination with the stove and in connection with the air duct or ducts, or
chamber or chambers, a receptacle is formed, and into which materials for
moistening, purifying, or medicating the air is placed. These materials may be
wire or other gauze, cotton wool, or other fibrous matter, with or without woven or
twisted material, which by capillary attraction will induce the ascent of water or
other liquid when one end is immersed in it. It will be seen that air drawn
through these materials will be deprived of dust, dirt, smuts, spores, germs, and

page_text: other impurities, and will be when so required moistened to a degree suitable for
its introduction into the apartment. In addition to the foregoing, disinfectants or
medicinal matters, either in a liquid or solid form, may be employed to purify or
otherwise render the atmosphere more fit for the use of invalids or other occupants
of rooms so treated.
The stoves may be made to consume coal, coke, anthracite, gas, or other ordinary
fuel, but where gas is employed the following appliance has many advantages and
may be used for heating a variety of apparatus other than the stoves described:-
A dead plate is made to fit the bottom of the stove, grate, or other place where heat
is to be generated. In the case of stoves where coke or coal is usually employed
the bottom of the grate is removed and in its place is substituted the dead plate,
having holes therein corresponding in number to the tubes or burners to be intro-
duced. The holes are much larger at top than at bottom, but as the dead plate is
of considerable thickness the tubes or burners are not subject to the weight of the
asbestos or other material with which the stove is charged. The gas is supplied
through a horizontal pipe or pipes into which are screwed vertical tubes or burners,
so placed that they may enter the holes aforesaid, a circular space intervening
between the holes and the exterior of the burners. Each of the tubes or burners is
fitted with a perforated copper or wire gauze conical cap which prevents any
extraneous matter from entering the burner or even lodging on the cap. The
lower part of each tube or burner is fitted into a bulbous or other suitably shaped
chamber having holes therein for the admission of air, and into which also the gas
is supplied. Within this chamber a diaphragm of gauze or perforated metal is
fixed, and between this diaphragm and tho inlet for the gas is spread a layer of
cotton wool or other fibrous or porous matter suitable for distributing the gas
evenly under the diaphragm, so that on the subsequent passage of the gas through it
a more intimate mixture of gas and air may take place, and ultimately a more perfect
combustion may be the result. The advantages of this arrangement of burners are
that the current of air passing round the tubes and the holes in the dead plate
tends to keep the copper gauze cap cool, while any choking of the burners is
avoided, and further, of great importance, the possibility of the light flashing back
through the tube is entirely prevented.
In addition to the foregoing I provide a "blower," which is capable of being
attached to the upper part of the stove. This blower is made either of gauze or
perforated metal, having interstices or openings of such size as will impede the flow
of air over the fire and cause it to enter at the bottom and pass through the fuel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Deykin Clare in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
May 1880.
"
IMPROVE-
THOMAS DEYKIN CLARE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING, MOISTENING, VENTILATING, PURIFYING, AND
MEDICATING THE AIR OF ROOMS AND OTHER SPACES, PARTS OF WHICHI APPARATUS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to the construction of stoves, grates, and similar
apparatus with appliances thereto, whereby the objects, namely, the heating,
ventilating, moistening, purifying, and medicating the air of rooms or other spaces,
may be more effectively and economically attained than by the means commonly
in use.
The Invention consists of a stove or grate with an air passage or chamber or
chambers surrounding or in contact with that part in which the heat is generated.
The air chamber or chambers communicate at the lower part of the stove with a
duct or passage through which external air is drawn by the rarefaction of the air
in the chambers, which induces a current of fresh air to flow into them, and from
thence, after being warmed or otherwise treated, is emitted into the apartment
through suitable orifices in the said stove.
In combination with the stove and in connection with the air duct or ducts a
chamber or chambers a receptacle is formed, and into which materials for
moistening, purifying, or medicating the air is placed. These materials may be
wire or other gauze, cotton wool, or other fibrous matter, with or without woven
or twisted material, which by capillary attraction will induce the ascent of water
or other liquid when one end is immersed in it. It will be seen that air drawn
through these materials will be deprived of dust, dirt, smuts, spores, gerins, and
other impurities, and will be, when so required, moistened to a degree suitable for
its introduction into the apartment. In addition to the foregoing, disinfectants or
medicinal matters, either in a liquid or solid form, may be employed to purify or
otherwise render the atmosphere more fit for the use of invalids or other occupants
of rooms so treated.
The stoves may be made to consume coal, coke, anthracite, gas, or other ordinary
fuel, but where gas is employed the following appliances has many advantages, and
may be used for heating a variety of apparatus other than the stoves described:-
A dead plate is made to fit the bottom of the stove, grate, or other place where heat
is to be generated. In the case of stoves where coke or coal is usually employed
the bottom of the grate is sometimes removed, and in its place is substituted the
dead plate, having holes therein corresponding in number to the tubes or burners
to be introduced. The holes are much larger at top than at bottom, but as the
holes in the dead plate are of considerable depth the tubes or burners do not come
in contact with the asbestos or other material with which the stove is charged, and
no impediment is offered to the free egress of the flame. There are also projections
round the upper part of the holes to raise and support the fuel above the plate to
allow the gas flame free passage into and among the fuel. The gas is supplied
through a horizontal pipe or pipes or other shaped conduit, into which are screwed
vertical tubes or burners, so placed that they may enter the holes aforesaid, a
circular space intervening between the holes and the exterior of the burners. Each
of the tubes or burners is fitted with a perforated copper or wire gauze conical or
hemispherical cap, which prevents any extraneous matter from entering the burner
or even lodging on the cap; this cap may be made in steatite or other suitable fire
resisting material. The lower part of each tube or burner is fitted into a bulbous
or other suitably shaped chamber having holes therein for the admission of air, and
into which also the gas is supplied. Within this chamber I sometimes introduce a

page_text: diaphragm of gauze or perforated metal, and above this diaphragm is spread a
layer of suitable fibrous or porous matter for distributing the gas evenly so as to
induce a more intimate mixture of gas and air, and that ultimately a more perfect
combustion may be the result. The advantages of this arrangement of burners are
that the current of air passing round the tubes and through the holes in the dead
plate tends to keep the conical cap cool, while any choking of the burners is
avoided in consequence of the conical shape of the cap, which prevents the lodgment
of particles of debris that might fall upon it from the fuel, and further, of great
importance, the possibility of the light flashing back through the tube is entirely
prevented.
Sometimes the dead plate is turned up all round, or a separate part to form a
basket or receptacle is made, which is attached mechanically to the dead plate to
contain the material to be heated. The whole apparatus may be fastened together
so that it can be placed entire with the material to be heated in any ordinary grate
without alteration or removal of the grate, thus forming a complete portable gas
fire apparatus which can be moved from room to room as required.
In addition to the foregoing I sometimes provide a "blower" which is capable of
being attached to the upper part of the stove. This blower is made either of gauze
or perforated metal, having interstices or openings of such size as will impede the
flow of air over the fire and perinit a larger proportion to enter at the bottom and
pass through the material with which the grate is charged.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the
stove, the floor on which it stands being in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse
sectional elevation of the same through Y, Z, Fig. 1, showing arrangement of fresh
air duct and filter box; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same; Fig. 4 is a part front elevation
and part sectional elevation of the arrangement of gas burners and grate drawn to
a larger scale, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 6 a plan of the
dead plate, and Fig. 7 is a full size section showing one form of cap attached to the
burner, Fig. 8 being.a section of the burner with conical cap, perforated diaphragm,
and fibrous material between it and the perforated cap, and Fig. 9 a part front
elevation and part sectional elevation of the tops of the burners and the basket or
receptacle to contain asbestos or similar material, as before referred to.
In Fig. 1A is the exterior body of the stove; B, the fire grate; C, the smoke tube,
and D the air duct; E is the filter box containing slides of perforated metal, wire
gauze, or woven material, and may be charged with water or other liquid for
moistening or medicating the air on its way to the filtering chamber, and G the
perforated cap or top of stove through which the heated air is admitted to the
room. One set of arrows, commencing at H, shows the direction the air pursues
from its entry to its emission into the apartment, and another set of arrows,
commencing at I, indicates the direction in which the products of combustion
impart their heat and pass through the smoke box C, and finally make their exit
by the conduit J. In Fig. 4 K, K, are the front bars of the grate; L, the dead plate,
and M the conical recesses for the introduction of the burners N, while U, O,
are pieces of asbestos or other refractory material with which the grate is charged;
P is the gas supply cock and pipe leading to the chamber or conduit Q into which
the lower part of the burners N are screwed or otherwise attached. In Fig. 7 R is
the gas jet; S, the bulbous shaped chamber with its orifices T, T, for the entry of
air, and U the hemispherical shaped cap. The shape of the mixing chamber is not
confined to that of a bulb, as shown on the Drawing, as it may be of any other
convenient form. In Fig. 8 V represents the perforated diaphragm and W the
fibrous material above it, while X exhibits a conical cap. In Fig. 9 a represents
the bars of the basket or receptacle to contain the asbestos. In each of the views
similar letters refer to the same parts.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise

page_text: details or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
Invention, but 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,-
First. The application of a filter box or boxes fitted with or without screens and
charged with liquid, or fibrous material, or both, in combination with heating stoves
or stoves forming motive power to draw the air through the filtering materials, as
hercin described and shown on the Drawings.
Second. The construction and arrangement of dead plate when gas is used as the
fuel, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Third. The construction of dead plate or an attachment thereto so as to make a
receptacle to contain the material to be heated, thus forming a complete portable
gas fire apparatus which can be moved from room to room as required, and as
herein described and shown in Fig. 9 of the Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and application of a conical or hemispherical cap to
burners, as herein described and shown in Fig. 7 on the Drawings.
Fifth. The construction and application of a conical or hemispherical cap to
burners having a diaphragm, and charged with fibrous matter, as herein described
and shown in Fig. 8 on the Drawings.
Sixth. The general arrangement of the gas appliances, as herein described and
shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Deykin Clare, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.