Improvements in and relating to Kitchen Ranges.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Kitchen Ranges.
We WILLIAM GEORGE STILLMAN, of 27, Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells, in
the County of Kent, Hot Water Engineer, and HARRY ARTHUR STONIAM, of
5, Selwyn Terrace, Tunbridge Wells, in the County of Kent, Plumber, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in fire gratings to kitchen ranges, and
is intended more particularly to be fitted to the fire boxes of kitchen ranges al-
ready in use, and the object of the invention is to obtain a fire grating, which
can be raised or lowered, as the need of a small or large fire is required, and which
can, by the method adopted in manufacture, be built up to fit any size fire box,
and thereby removing the necessity of making a wood pattern for every new
grating required to be made.
This invention also relates to improvements in vertical fire bars to kitchen
ranges, and in the method of fitting them to existing kitchen ranges and is
intended more particularly to be fitted and used in conjunction with the afore-
mentioned fire grating, but may be fitted and used independently of same.
In carrying our invention into effect, we construct the grating preferably of
cast iron, but instead of casting each complete grating in one piece, we cast it in
sections, each bar being a separate section and we connect a number of these
sections together, by means of wrot iron bars passing through suitable holes in
same, and by these means, we are enabled to build up a grating to suit any
width of fire box.
After building up the grating to a suitable size, we fix the end or outside
sections to the wrot iron bars, by means of iron wedges or set screws or the like.
We support the back part of the grating by means of cast iron lugs of suitable
shape, and which act as bearings in which the grating is free to turn, and we
fix a suitable number of these lugs to a cast iron angle bar, in which is a slot
hole, in which slot hole the lugs are made to fit, and by these means we are
enabled to use as many lugs, as the width of grating may require, and also to
place them in the most suitable positions for supporting the grating.
We support the front part of the grating by means of a suitable rack bar or.
the like, fixed to one of the bars of the grating and which works in a slot in a
bar fixed for this purpose, and hereafter to be described.
We construct the vertical fire bars of wrot iron of circular section, the length
of these bars being determined by the existing bar frame, but the diameter is
preferably seven-eighths of an inch or one inch.
We fix these vertical fire bars to any existing range, by means of two cast iron
plates, one fixed to the bottom of bar frame, and in which is the slot, in which
the aforementioned rack bar works, and the other fixed to top of the existing
bar frame, or to the under-side of the hot plate, or by any suitable means.
In both of these cast iron plates, we make holes of a suitable size to allow the

page_text: aforementioned vertical bars to fit easily, and the bars are so placed, that the space
between them corresponds with every other bar of the afore-mentioned grating,
allowing them to pass between.
We fit the adjustable fire grating to any existing range as follows:-After
building up a number of the cast iron sections to make a grating, suitable to
the fire box of the range, we remove the fire cheeks and then fix the afore-
mentioned cast iron angle bar, to which, the cast iron lugs for supporting the
back of grating have previously been fixed, we then refix the fire cheeks and then
fit the vertical fire bars in the manner described, and then place the grating in
position.
'
1.4.
We sometimes introduce cast iron fire cheeks in place of the fire brick, so that
no obstruction, by means of clinkers, may be given, to moving the fire grating.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will, by the aid of the accompanying drawings, proceed to
more fully describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
i
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Fig. 1, a, represents a side elevation of one of the sections of fire
grating, and a, a, shew the plan and cross section of same, 6, 61, 63, shew re-
spectively a side elevation, plan, and cross section of another section of fire grat-
ing, in both of the above cases, the cross section is supposed to be taken through
that part of the diagram immediately above that, which represents the cross
section.
In the same figure, c, c¹, c³, shew front elevation, plan, and cross section of cast
iron angle bar, the slot hole, in which is fitted a suitable number of the cast iron
lugs shewn at d, is also shewn, and it will be clearly understood, that by adopting
this length of angle bar, and this method of adjustable lugs for supporting back
part of the fire grating, that this one casting can be used for a large number of
different size ranges, as, in the case of very small fire boxes, should the angle
bar c, be too long, a portion can be easily cut off, it being only necessary to fix
a support across the slot hole, in order to prevent a fracture at the other end.
At e, is shewn the rack bar which supports the front of fire grating at any
desired point, and it is weighted at its lower end, to insure its proper action.
At f, is shewn the cast iron plate, which is fixed to the bottom of the existing
bar frame, and in which are the holes for holding the vertical fire bars in position,
and also in which is the slot, in which the rack bar e, is made to work.
It will be seen that the plate f, is made the same length as the angle bar c,
and by adopting this length, and the method of spacing the bar f, for the vertical
bars, we are enabled to use this bar f, for a large number of different size ranges,
it being only necessary to cut it off, to fit the existing bar frame and suitable to the
fire grating.
Figure 2, shews a plan of a complete fire grating built up of a number of the
sections a, b, and held by means of wrot iron bars shewn by. the dotted lines i, 27,
the end or outside sections being keyed or otherwise fixed to these wrot bars,
grating
and it will be clearly seen, that by these means, we are enabled to make a
to fit any width of fire box.
Figure 2, also shews the arrangement of the angle bar c, and the lugs or
bearings d, and the plate f. The fire cheeks are not shewn in this diagram, but
the arrangement of these will be readily understood by a competent mechanic.
Figure 3, is a section of Figure 2, through A, B, and shews the arrangement
It will be
for supporting the fire grating by means of the weighted rack bar e.
clear from this Figure 3, that in order to raise the fire grating, it is only
necessary to place a poker, or other suitable lever under one of the projecting
sections a, and lifting upwards, the grating can be raised to any desired point,
and it will be also clear, that to lower the grating, it is only necessary to press the

page_text: rack bar e, away from the plate f. on which it rests, and, supporting the grating
by a poker or the like, allow the grating to drop to any desired point.
It will also be clear from this Figure 3, that the position of the angle bar
shewn at ³, can be varied, in order to suit the various fire boxes, being raised
or lowered, as the position of the back fire brick or boiler will allow.
The method adopted for fitting the vertical fire bars is also shewn in this
Figure 3, the bottom of bars being held in position by the plate f, and the top
of bars being held in position by the plate g, which plate is twice the thickness
of the bottom plate f. in order to allow the vertical bars to be slipped up into
the holes in the plate g, and dropped back into the holes in plate f.
By adopting this method of fitting the fire bars, we are enabled to remove them,
in order to better clean out the fire box or the back boiler flue, we are enabled to
daily reverse them, in order that the action of the fire may be evenly distributed,
and each bar being independently fitted, we are enabled, to renew them, as occasion
arises, by simply cutting off a piece of wrot iron bar, the required length and
diameter, and at a nominal cost."
We are aware. that there are at present in existence, adjustable fire gratings
and vertical fire bars, which are protected by Royal Letters Patent, and we do not
claim the mere idea of an adjustable fire grating and vertical fire bars as our
invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare
that what we claim is:-
1. In an adjustable fire grating, the method of manufacture, as herein fully
described and for the purpose stated.
2. In an adjustable fire grating, as referred to in Claim 1, a number of separate
sections and the method of combining a number of the same together to form
any size grating required, a cast iron angle bar with slot hole, with adjustable
lugs or bearings, and a wrot iron rack bar as herein fully described, and for the
purpose stated.
3. Simplicity in the method of fitting an adjustable fire grating, as referred to in
Claim 1, and as herein fully described, whereby any competent mechanic can fit
such an adjustable fire grating to almost any existing kitchen range of the close
fire type.
4. Simplicity in the method of manufacture and in the method of fitting
vertical fire bars to existing kitchen ranges, as herein fully described and
for the purpose stated and whereby the cost of renewal is reduced to a minimum.
Dated this Second day of August 1898.
WILLIAM GEORGE STILLMAN.
HARRY ARTHUR STONHAM.