IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE GRATES OR FIRE PLACES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Teer at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1881.
"
JOHN TEER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE GRATES OR FIRE PLACES,"
My Invention relates to fire-grates or fire places used for domestic and other
purposes, and has for its principal object to promote a more perfect combustion of
the fuel and to lessen the emission of smoke. I employ a perforated back of fire
clay or other suitable material, and I form an air chamber behind or within the
said back. Air is admitted to the said chamber from the space below the grate, so
that it becomes heated during its progress towards the said chamber. I prefer to
employ bars of iron or of rolled steel which are of such sections as that when placed
side by side tubular air ducts leading into or towards the said chamber are formed.
A moveable damper is employed to prevent the air from passing directly into the
chamber without being heated, and when opened, permits accumulated dust to be
discharged from the chamber. The air becomes further heated when passing
through the said chamber, and issuing through the perforations into the body of the
fire tends to promote more perfect combustion of the fuel. The air is or may be
admitted through perforations or openings in the base of the grate below the front
bars. I also employ a movable cover or blower which is hinged or is mounted so
as to turn upon a fulcrum or upon fulcra. When brought forwards and downwards
this cover can be caused to rest upon the upper bar and to cover the fire. In such
a case the products of combustion escape into the flue through an opening above
the grate back. When the said cover is raised and moved back it passes through
the opening in the grate front, and permits the said products to pass upwards to
the throat of the flue in the usual manner. When the cover is so put back a
projection from it closes the aforesaid opening which is above the grate back. A
damper or shutter is mounted upon the said cover, or is otherwise suitably mounted
so that when the cover is brought down to cover the fire the said damper comes
forward and closes the opening in the grate front. The said cover may be moved
by means of a lever, rod, or handle, or be provided with a chain and balance weight,
or be arranged to be acted upon in any suitable manner. The said cover may be

page_text: arranged to be brought into a position short of entirely closing the top of the grate,
and to remain in such position or to be retained therein by means of catches or of
other suitable means. The cover is by preference curved and may be made orna-
mental, and is made hollow so that air flowing through through it tends to prevent it
from getting overheated. This may be effected by casting ribs on one part, and
fixing a plate of copper, iron, or suitable material to the said ribs. The space or
spaces in the cover may open into the flue so that the draught induces air to flow
through such space or spaces. When the cover is brought down the draught being
restricted to the comparatively small opening at the top of the grate back, great
energy of combustion is produced and a hot fire is quickly obtained. In some or
in all cases I form the intermediate front bars as louvres. I may formn side
chambers to warm air to be conveyed to any required point of delivery.