IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Lloyd, of Marlborough, in the County
of Wilts, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
"
Sealed the 29th May 1874, and dated the 1st December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Lloyd at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st December 1873.
I, FRANCIS LLOYD, of Marlborough, in the County of Wilts, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-GRATES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
―
1. First. An apparatus for the moistening and distribution of air
which has been warmed, and which apparatus may be cheaply applied to
fire-places or fire openings which are in course, of construction, as the
same are now usually constructed for sitting rooms or bedrooms, and
may also be applied to existing fire-places or fire-openings without
necessitating great and therefore costly structural alterations of the
chimney flues and chimney breasts.

page_text: 2. I have some time since used a form of grate so arranged as to warm
air brought by any convenient channel from the external air. For this
purpose I have brought such air into a flue or chamber formed in the
brickwork beneath the hearth, and covered with an iron plate which
forms the hearth, such last mentioned flue or chamber being connected
at either end with upright iron or other flues, one such upright flue
being contained in the sloping jamb on the right of the fire-grate, and
the other such upright flue being contained in the sloping jamb on the
left of the fire-grate, and such flues being connected by an iron upper
flue extending from one sloping jamb to the other immediately under
the soffit of the chimney breast. I have then conducted the air which
has been warmed by passing through the aforesaid flue, from the afore-
said upper flue into the room by means of a narrow slit or opening ex-
tending (but with interruptions if and when convenient) along the length
of the mantel-piece and through the mantel-shelf, such slit or opening
being placed in front of the chimney breast itself, and having a pro-
jecting upright guard in front of it so as to cause the warmed air to move
into the room upwards instead of horizontally, and such guard being
either near to the chimney breast, or if found more convenient three or
four inches in front of the chimney breast so as in the latter case to allow
of a chimney glass being placed behind such guard, and to leave a
narrow interval between such guard and the front of such chimney glass.
3. I have found it desirable to place the flues in and over the jambs
so far forward that they may not be in actual contact with the fire, and
thus to avoid the risk of overheating the air whilst it is being warmed.
And I have also found it desirable (taking the length of the mantel-piece
to be 36 inches) to make the slit or opening at least 36 inches long by 1
inch broad, and to make the total sectional area of the two upright flues
when taken together at least 36 square inches, and to make the sectional
areas of the upper and lower cross flues of corresponding size, and so in
proportion.
.4. I have found however (1) that there is sometimes a difficulty in
forming any slit in front of the chimney breast at the back of the
mantel-piece, as above described, with suitable communication between
such slit and the aforesaid upper flue, (2) that in certain conditions of
the external air the fresh air when warmed is too dry for health and
comfort, and consequently requires to be moistened, and (3) that it is
desirable to have the means of controlling and regulating the supply of

page_text: the warmed air, when supplied through the air slit in front of the
chimney breast and above the mantel-piece or otherwise supplied. To
meet these requirements I have made the following improvements.
5. First. Where more convenient I carry the warmed air from the
upper flue into the room by means of longitudinal louvres placed in the
upper part of the face of the upper flue, but under the soffit of the
mantel-piece, such louvres being placed at such a distance below such
soffit, and being themselves at such an angle that the current of warm
air which flows through them, will be directed in a course slanting
upwards from the louvres towards, but just below the front edge or any
other projection of the mantel-piece, and will in fact without impinging
upon the projections of the mantel-piece pass immediately below such
projections into the upper portion of the room.
For the purpose of
regulating the current of warm air through the louvres, a longitudinal
valve to be worked by a lever or other suitable contrivance may be
suspended on a hinge or a hinged joint or joints behind the louvres, so
that when such valve hangs perpendicularly, it will cut off the current
of warm air from the louvres, but when inclined backwards it will admit
such current.
Secondly. I cause the warmed air to pass over a shallow trough which
can be filled from time to time as required with water, such trough
being placed in the upper flue when louvres are employed, and having
in that case a suitable pipe or other means for supplying it with water,
and such trough being placed when the warmed air is supplied through
a slit or opening in the mantel-piece immediately below such slit or
opening or in any other convenient place.
Thirdly. In cases when the air is delivered from a slit or opening in
the mantel-piece, I apply a long valve or more generally two long valves
made of a thin sheet or sheets of metal or other suitable material, each
such valve being placed in and resting upon a groove cut in the bottom
of the trough which is placed below such slit or opening, and being
opened or closed or partially opened or closed by means of a small
jointed lever or small jointed levers acting through the aforesaid pro-
jecting guard. I find it more convenient to divide the slit or opening in
the middle of the mantel-piece, and to use two valves inasmuch as a
clock or other ornament is frequently placed in the centre of the mantel-
piece, also to so place the slit and trough that the warm air reaches the
A 2

page_text: slit through an interval or opening at the back placed between the slit
and the trough, and which interval or opening communicates with the
upper flue. Thus anything which may accidentally fall through the slit
or opening behind the upright guard, will lodge in the trough without
being carried into the upper flue.
6. Secondly. For the purpose of radiating or dispersing the heat I
construct the back of the fire-grate within the fire-place or fire-opening
so as partly to slope forward towards the room, the slope commencing
from the back of the grate, but about two inches above the level of
the top bar of the grate, and being at such an angle that the slope is
continued in a line from its spring or commencement until the horizontal
line of such slope, which is foremost or nearest to the room, is within.
6 or 8 inches of the junction line, which is formed by the junction of the
interior side of the chimney flue nearest to the room and of the under-
side of the fire-opening when finished (whether with or without an
upper air flue as before described) and so that such foremost horizontal
line is in the same vertical plane as such junction line. From the
foremost horizontal line of such forward slope I make a reverse slope or
curve upwards towards the back of the chimney at such an angle or
curve that the neck of the smoke flue is never of less width than the
distance between such junction line and such foremost horizontal line as
respectively aforesaid. Such respective slopes or slope and curve may
be made of fire-bricks or tiles, or where more convenient of cast iron or.
sheet iron, and such forward slope may be made zig-zagged or fluted in
the face thereof, so as to reflect the heat into the room laterally as well
as directly. If such slopes or slope and curve be made of sheet iron I
prefer making them as air tight as possible so that little or no smoke or
hot air can ascend behind them, but in that case they may when con-
venience requires be made so as to be moveable, and for this purpose
two or more tongues or lugs with suitable holes in them may be placed
at the top of the upper slope or curve, and such tongues or lugs may be
hung upon suitable hooks let into the back of the chimney flue. This
part of my Invention is applicable to old fashioned and common fire-
places whenever the lower extremity of the smoke flue as constructed is
directly above the grate and the distance between the top bar of the
grate and the soffit of the chimney breast is at least 18 inches. Such
apparatus hinders radiation of heat up the chimney and causes radiation
of heat into the room; it tends to throw such coal gases as rise from the

page_text: back of the fire forward and over the flame and thereby to cause the
same gases to be ignited; it throws heated air nearer the jambs of the
grate and thereby increases the radiating power of such jambs; and I
find it improves the draught of the chimney and tends to prevent rain
and snow from falling into the fire, thereby in most instances dispensing
with the necessity of a register door.
7. Thirdly. For the purpose of checking the upward draught of air
through the grate bottom bars and so in some measure controlling the
rate of combustion I employ an apparatus which is as follows:-I fasten
to the grate bottom bars underneath, and as far forward as may be
convenient, on the one side a ring and on the other side a hook, one end
of an axis of suitable length is inserted into the ring the other end of
such axis being placed in the hook, so that such axis is parallel to but
lower (say from half an inch to an inch) than the under side of the grate
bottom bars, and can turn on the ring and hook and can be removed at
pleasure. Such axis may also be suspended on lugs attached to the
lower bar of the fire-grate. I attach to such axis on the one side and at
the middle thereof a bent handle or lever projecting towards the front of
the fire-place, and on the other side of such axis two short arms
projecting backwards towards the back part of the ash-pit under the
grate, and one of such arms being near either end of such axis. Such
bent handle or lever and arms are respectively rigidly connected with
such axis, and the two arms have prolonged ends, but at a suitable
angle, which carry a plate of sheet or cast iron which is placed at an
obtuse angle to such arms, and is made so as accurately to correspond
with and when required to cover the back part of the grate bottom bars
at the under side thereof, a key can be fitted on to the end of the bent
handle or lever which extends forward, and the weight of such bent
handle and lever is such that when the key is fitted on thereto it over-
balances the two short arms on the other side of the axis with the iron
plate attached to such arms, and when the key is fitted on to such bent
handle or lever the same is depressed until the iron plate attached to the
two short arms is brought into contact with the back part of the grate
bottom bars, at the under side thereof, so as to hinder the access of any
sensible quantity of air to that part of the fire which is immediately
above the iron plate and thus to deaden the fire. When it is desired to
increase the draught the key can be removed from the bent handle or
lever and the two short arms and iron plate being made slightly more

page_text: heavy than the bent handle or lever when the key is detached will then
overbalance such bent handle or lever, and the iron plate will fall away
from the bottom of the grate, sinking until the bent handle comes into
contact with the lowest front bar of the grate. The bend of the bent
handle or lever and the obtuse angle between the short arms and the
iron plate are so arranged that on the one hand when the bent handle is
sufficiently depressed the iron plate is close underneath to and covers
the back part of the grate bottom bars, and when the bent handle is
raised till it touches the lowest front bar of the grate the iron plate is at
an angle with the hearth, so that ashes which fall through the grate on
to the iron plate then slip off from such iron plate to the hearth. I find
it preferable to have the front portion of the grate bottom bars always
uncovered, and when the front of the grate is curvilinear I generally
lcave at least such part of the grate bottom bars as is contained between
the curve and the chord which joins the two extremities of such curve
uncovered by the iron plate.
I claim as my Invention the apparatus herein-before respectively
described in paragraphs 5, 6, and 7, but I do not claim the exclusive
use of any of the separate component parts of such respective
apparatus, except when used in combination and in manner respectively
aforesaid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Lloyd in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st June 1874,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
LLOYD, of Marlborough, in the County of Wilts, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Francis Lloyd, Her special licence that
I, the said Francis Lloyd, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Francis Lloyd, 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,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE--
GRATES AND THEIR APPURTENANCES," upon the condition (amongst others).
that I, the said Francis Lloyd, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Lloyd, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the several Drawings
therein referred to and hereto annexed.
The nature of my Invention is as follows,-.
1. First. An apparatus for the moistening and distribution of air.
which has been warmed, and which apparatus may be cheaply applied
to fire-places or fire-openings which are in course of construction, as the
same are now usually constructed for sitting rooms or bedrooms, and
may also be applied to existing fire-places or fire-openings without.
necessitating great (and therefore costly) structural alterations of the
chimney flues and chimney breasts.
2. I have for some time since used a form of grate so arranged as to
warm air brought by any convenient channel from the external air. For
this purpose I have brought such air into a flue or chamber formed in.
the brickwork beneath the hearth and covered with an iron plate, which.
forms the hearth, such last-mentioned flue or chamber being connected
at either end with upright iron or other flues, one such upright flue
being contained in the sloping jamb on the right of the fire-grate, and the
other such upright flue being contained in the sloping jamb on the left of
the fire-grate, and such flues being connected by an upper flue made of
iron or other suitable material herein-after generally referred to as
"the..
upper flue," extending from one sloping jamb to the other immediately
under the soffit of the chimney breast. It is obvious that where con-
venient other arrangements can be made for obtaining fresh air from the
external air, warming it by flues adjacent to the fire and carrying it into
the upper flue. I have then conducted the air, which has been warmed

page_text: by passing as aforesaid from the upper flue into the room by means of
a narrow slit or opening between the chimney breast and the mantel
frieze, extending from the upper flue (but with interruptions if and
where convenient up to and along the length of the mantel-piece and
through the mantel-shelf towards its back, such slit or opening being
placed in front of the chimney breast, and having in front of itself a
projecting upright guard, so as to cause the warmed air to move into
the room upwards instead of horizontally, and such guard being either
near to the chimney breast, or if found more convenient two, three, or
four inches in front of the chimney breast so as in the latter case to
allow of a chimney glass being placed behind the guard, and in that case
to leave a narrow interval between the guard and the front of the
chimney glass.
3. I have found it desirable to place the flues in the jambs and the
upper flue so far forward that they may not be in actual contact with
any iron to which the fire has access, and thus to avoid the risk of over-
heating the air whilst it is being warmed. And I have also found it
desirable (taking the length of the mantel-piece to be thirty-six inches)
to make the slit or opening in the mantel-shelf at least thirty-six inches
long by one inch broad, and to make the total sectional area of the two
upright flues when taken together at least thirty-six square inches, and
to make the sectional areas of the upper and lower cross flues also
having a sectional area of at least thirty-six square inches of corre-
sponding size, and so in proportion.
4 I have found however (1) that there is sometimes a difficulty in
forming any slit in front of the chimney breast at the back of the
mantel-piece as above described, with suitable communication between
such slit and the upper flue; (2) that in certain conditions of the external
air the fresh air when warmed is too dry for health and comfort, and
that it consequently requires to be moistened; (3) that it is desirable to
have the means of controlling and regulating the supply of the warmed
air when supplied through the air slit in front of the chimney breast
and above the mantel-piece or otherwise supplied. To meet these
requirements I have made the following improvements.
5. First. Where more convenient I carry the warmed air from the
upper flue into the room by means of longitudinal louvres placed in the
upper part of the face of the upper flue, but under the soffit of the
mantel-piece, such louvres being placed at such a distance below the

page_text: soffit, and being themselves at such an angle that the current of warm
air which flows through them will be directed in a course slanting
upwards from the louvres towards but just beyond the front edge or any
other projection of the mantel-piece, and that such current will in fact
without impinging upon the projections of the mantel-piece pass imme-
diately beyond such projection into the upper portion of the room. I
find it convenient for the purpose of constructing such louvres, and
when circumstances allow to make a longitudinal opening in a hori-
zontal direction along the front or nearly the whole of the front face
of the upper flue, and to groove each end of such opening at any suitable
angle, so that the grooves may receive the louvre plates. Such plates
may be made of strips of thin sheet brass or other suitable material, and
each strip may be made about two inches wide and of such a length and
be so constructed as to slide easily say for the space of one inch and a
half into two corresponding grooves (one at either end of the longitu-
dinal opening), but so that such plate when placed in position may project
say for the space of half an inch from the external face of the upper fluc
or from the mantel-piece. Thus such louvre plates can be removed for
the purpose of cleaning or otherwise, and can be reinstated at pleasure.
The external edges can of course be made ornamental if this be desired.
I find it convenient to use four louvre plates placed at a suitable
angle as aforesaid, and so that the distance between two successive
louvre plates when in position is half an inch. The angle towards the
room which such louvre plates when in position make with a horizontal
plane should not be less than 45° nor in my judgment greater than 60°
or thereabouts, but such angle will be partly regulated by the position of
the longitudinal opening and the space through which the mantel-shelf
or other projection extends into the room. When the mantel frieze is
very deep a neck or air channel of sufficient dimensions may be inter-
posed between the upper flue and the louvre opening. For the
purpose
of regulating the current of warm air through the louvres a longi-
tudinal valve to be worked by a lever or other suitable contrivance may
be suspended on a hinge or a hinged joint or joints behind the louvres,
so that when such valve hangs perpendicularly it will cut off the current
of warm air from the louvres, but when inclined backward will admit
such current.

page_text: brough or water concarmer bemg placed in the upper nue. W nen now-
ever the warm air is supplied through a slit or opening in the mantel-
piece a trough or water container may be placed immediately below such
slit or opening either in addition to or substitution for a water container
in the upper flue.
Thirdly. In cases where the air is delivered from a slit or opening in
and towards the back of the mantel-shelf I apply a long valve or more
generally two long valves made of thin sheet or sheets of metal or other
suitable material, each such valve being placed in and resting upon a
groove cut in the bottom of the trough, which is placed below such slit
or opening, and being opened or closed or partially opened or closed by
means of a small jointed lever or small jointed levers acting through the
aforesaid projecting guard, I find it convenient to divide the slit or
opening in the middle of the mantel-piece and to use two valves,
inasmuch as a clock or other ornament is frequently placed in the centre
of the mantel-shelf. I find however that it is not generally necessary to
provide for the mere partial opening of such last-mentioned valve or
valves, and that for the complete opening or closing thereof the more
simple arrangement is to affix a small tongue or handle to cach valve,
by means whereof such valve may be opened or closed at pleasure, and
will thereupon remain opened or closed by its own weight until its.
position is reversed by means of such handle. I also find it convenient
to so place the slit and trough in and towards the back of the mantel-
shelf that the warm air reaches the slit through an interval or opening
at the back placed between the chimney breast and the trough, and
which interval or opening communicates by a passage or chamber placed
between the chimney breast and the mantel freize with the upper flue..
Thus anything which may accidentally fall through the slit or opening
behind the upright guard will lodge in the trough placed immediately
below without being carried into the upper flue, and a horizontal guard
may also be placed so as to extend from the back partly over the slit
when circumstances permit. I sometimes in addition to the upper flue
form an air chamber immediately below the mantel-shelf and communi-
cating with the upper flue, and if it be found inconvenient to interfere
with space
for ornaments or other articles on the mantel-shelf itself then
instead of making a slit in and placing an upright guard for such
mantel-shelf I cut away part of the mantel-shelf itself and cover the
space so cut away with an ornamental grating resting on rebates in the..

page_text: mantel-shelf, but let into such mantel-shelf so as to be flush with the
upper side thereof (such grates may be movable). In such cases I use
a slide valve to regulate the supply of hot air. If the mantel freize be
shallow and louvres are placed underneath the portion of the heated air
which passes through such louvres may be allowed to pass upwards
through such grating.
7. Secondly. For the purpose of reflecting or radiating or dispersing
the heat I construct the back of the fire-place or fire-opening so as
partly to slope forward towards the room, the slope commencing from
the back of the grate, but about two inches above the level of the top
bar of the grate, and being at such an angle that the slope is continued
in a line from its spring or commencement until the horizontal line of
such slope which is foremost or nearest to the room is within six inches
more or less of the junction line which is formed by the junction of the
interior line of the chimney flue nearest to the room and of the under
side of the fire-opening when finished. From the foremost horizontal
line of such forward slope I make a reverse slope or curve upwards
towards the back of the chimney at such an angle or curve that the
neck of the smoke flue is (for the convenient sweeping of the chimney)
not of less width than the distance between such junction line and such
foremost horizontal line as respectively aforesaid. Such respective slopes
or slope and curve may be made of fire-bricks or tiles, or where more
convenient of cast iron or sheet iron, and such forward slope may be
made zig-zagged or fluted in the face thereof so as to reflect or radiate
the heat into the room laterally as well as directly. If such slopes or
slope and curve be made of sheet iron I prefer making them as air-tight
as possible, so that little or no smoke or hot air can ascend behind them,
but in that case they may when convenience requires be made so as to
be moveable, and for this purpose two or more tongues or lugs may be
placed at the back or top of the upper slope or curve, and such tongues
or lugs may have in the upper part thereof suitable holes, and in the
lower part may be connected by rods placed at right angles to such lugs,
by either of which means the reflector may be hung upon hooks let into
the back of the chimney flue or fire-grate .back, and by providing such
holes or rods at various intervals the height of the position of the reflector
may if required be varied. This part of my Invention is applicable to
old fashioned and common fire-places whenever the lower extremity of the
smoke flue as constructed is directly above the grate, and the distance

page_text: between the top bar of the grate and the soffit of the chimney breast is
at least eighteen inches. Such apparatus hinders radiation of heat up
the chimney, and causes reflection or radiation of heat into the room.
It tends to throw such coal gases as rise from the back of the fire
forward and over the flame, and thereby to cause the same gases to be
ignited. It throws heated air nearer the jambs of the grate, and thereby
increases the reflecting or radiating power of such jambs, and I find it
improves the draught of the chimney, and tends to prevent rain and
snow from falling into the fire, thereby in most instances dispensing
with the necessity of a register door.
8. In many old houses the fire opening is very wide and the soffit of
the chimney breast low; under these conditions the draught is weak,
and a great part of the heat generated by the fire passes up the chimney
as there is not sufficient reflecting or radiating surface adapted to
throw such heat into the room. In such cases I use a radiator, which,
while it allows the smoke to pass through its interstices, reflects or
radiates heat into the room. For this purpose I adopt the following
contrivance :- I take a plate or piece of sheet iron sufficiently large
to extend in width across the back of the chimney from one jamb to
the other, and in height from a horizontal line in the back of the
chimney and about four inches above the hobs to another horizontal
line about three inches above the highest part of the soffit of the
chimney breast, and inside such chimney breast. I then cut out of
this plate in the middle, so as to be equidistant from the sides of such
plate when in position, a piece equal in width to the greatest width
of the fuel grate, and extending from about two and a half inches from
the lower edge of such plate when in position to the upper edge of such
plate. To this plate I rivet two strips of hoop iron of suitable width,
extending in a horizontal direction, one immediately below the opening
or space, cut as aforesaid, and the other about two and a half inches
below the upper edge of such plate, making each strip extend across
nearly the whole length of the fire opening%3B and to these first
mentioned strips of hoop iron I rivet other strips of hoop iron at
intervals throughout the space or opening, intervening as aforesaid,
each such strip being one and a half inch wide and leaving an interval
one inch wide between each two such consecutive secondly mentioned
strips, and so that such secondly mentioned strips extend at right angles
to the first mentioned strips across the lower and greater part of the

page_text: opening or space cut away, as aforesaid; then I rivet to the first
mentioned strips other strips, also of hoop iron, and also one and a
half inch wide, and cranked to the extent of three quarters of an inch;
and also having an interval of one inch wide between each two
consecutive such thirdly mentioned strips, and such thirdly mentioned
strips are cranked, as aforesaid; close to the parts where they are
fastened they are riveted to the first mentioned strips, and are so placed
as to extend in a direction at right angles to the first mentioned strips
across the greater part of the opening or space cut away, as aforesaid,
and to be opposite to and overlap on either side the longitudinal
intervals between the secondly mentioned strips. Thus the series of
the secondly-mentioned strips and the series of the thirdly mentioned
strips together become a specie of laminated radiator or reflector,
and prevent a large amount of heat which would otherwise pass into
and be wasted in the chimney or the external air from so doing, and
reflect such heat forwards into the room; while at the same time as
the series of the third mentioned strips is so arranged by means of the
cranks or bends therein as to be three quarters of an inch or there-
abouts further back than the series of the second mentioned strips, the
smoke can pass through the intervals in the series of the second
mentioned strips into the space between the two series of the secondly
and thirdly mentioned strips, and thence through the intervals between
the third mentioned strips into the chimney. By this arrangement I
also limit the openings for the smoke to the intervals between the
strips and that above the upper horizontal strip of hoop iron, and
thereby the fire draught is, generally speaking, considerably improved.
If the back of the grate does not afford any convenient ledge or other
projection on which the lower edge of the radiator can be rested, I
fix in the back of the chimney studs or other projections four inches
or thereabouts above the hobs, and I then rest the lower edge of the
radiator upon such studs or projections, allowing the upper edge of
the radiator to lean forward and rest against the inside of the chimney
breast. Such a radiator as I have described can easily be taken out
of the chimney when this is required, either for sweeping the chimney,
cleaning the radiator or the space behind it, or for any other purpose,
and can then be replaced.

page_text: with intervals therein a zig-zagged surface with intervals therein; and
other arrangements may be so made as to make a radiating surface at
the back of the fire, and, as I find it desirable, inclined, the upper
edge thereof being foremost) towards the room, and at the same time
to leave sufficient intervals or spaces to allow the smoke to pass away.
Variations in dimensions can also be made so as to adopt the radiator
to any chimney for which it is specially required.
"
9. Thirdly. For the purpose of checking the upward draught of air
through the grate bottom bars, and so in some measure controlling the
rate of combustion I employ an apparatus which I call a ⚫ draught
valve," and which is as follows:-I fasten to the grate bottom bars
underneath, and as far forward as may be convenient, on the one side a
ring and on the other side a hook. One end of an axis of suitable
length is inserted into the ring, the other end of such axis being placed
in the hook, so that such axis is parallel to but lower (say from half an
inch to an inch) than the under side of the grate bottom bars, and can
turn on the ring and hook, and can be removed at pleasure. Such axis
may also be suspended on lugs attached to the lower bar of the fire-grate.
I sometimes attach to such axis on the one side and at the middle
thereof a bent handle or lever, projecting towards and beyond the front
of the fire-place; and I attach on the other side of such axis two short
arms, projecting backward towards the back part of the ash-pit under
the grate, and one of such arms being near either end of such axis.
Such bent handle or lever and arms are respectively rigidly connected
with such axis, and the two arms have prolonged ends bent at a suitable
angle, which carry a plate of sheet or cast iron, which is placed at an
obtuse angle to such arms, and is made so as accurately to correspond
with, and when required to cover the back part of the grate bottom bars
at the under side thereof. When a bent handle is used, a key or weight
can be fitted on to the end of such handle or lever, which extends
forward, and the weight of such bent handle and lever is such that when
the key or weight is fitted on thereto it overbalances the short two arms
and plate attached thereto, so that when the key or weight is fitted on
to such bent handle or lever the same is depressed until the iron plate.
attached to the two short arms is brought into contact with the back
part of the grate bottom bars at the under side thereof, so as to hinder
the access of any sensible quantity of air to that part of the fire which
is immediately above the iron plate, and thus to deaden the fire. In

page_text: order to make the draught valve conveniently small the grato bottom i
for about two inches along the back thereof cast without openings, but
a small opening is cast near either sloping side of the grate bottom, and
such last-mentioned openings are not covered with the draught valve.
I find it preferable to have the front portion of the grate bottom:
bars always uncovered, and when the front of the grate is curvilinear I
generally leave at least such part of the grate bottom bars as is contained.,
between the curve and the chord which joins the two extremities of such
curve uncovered by the iron plate. When it is desired to increase the
draught the key or weight can be removed from the bent handle or
lever, and the two short arms and iron plate being made 'slightly more:
heavy than the bent handle or lever, when the key or weight is detached
will then overbalance such bent handle or lever, and the iron plate-will
fall away from the bottom of the grate, sinking until the bent handle
comes into contact with the lowest front bar of the grate. The bend of
the bent handle or lever, and the obtuse angle between the short arms
and the iron plate, are so arranged that on the one hand when the bent
handle is sufficiently depressed the iron plate is close underneath to and
covers the back part of the grate bottom bars, and when the bent handle
is raised till it touches the lowest front bar of the grate the iron plate
is at an angle with the hearth, so that ashes which fall through the
grate on to the iron plate then slip off from such iron plate to the
hearth.
2
10. Another and better mode of controlling the position of the
draught valve is as follows, the valve being hung under the grate in the
manner before described. A bent lever is placed underneath the lowest
front bar of the grate near to one of the jambs, and is attached to the
under side of the front bar near to such jamb by means of a hinge joint,
on which it oscillates freely. The longer arm of such lever is imme-
diately below the draught valve; the other arm, which is shorter, is
placed close to a pawl or swing latch attached to the jamb. When the
shorter arm of the lever is so far depressed as to elevate the draught
valve upon which the longer arm acts, and to bring such valve into
contact with the bottom of the grate, the pawl or swing latch drops
over and catches the short arm and keeps it depressed, and thereby
causes the draught valve to be retained in position close to the bottom
of the grate; but when it is desired to increase the draught and to lower
the valve, the pawl is pushed or pulled aside, and the valve falls by its

page_text: own weight into an inclined position. This arrangement dispenses with
the before-mentioned bent handle and weight or key to be placed
thereon.
11. In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 shews an elevation, Figure 2
a plan, and Figure 3 a section of a fire-grate to which my aforesaid
improvements, or some of them, are applied or applicable. In these
Figures air is conducted through the flue a, Figures 2 and 3, from
the external air into the air chamber a¹, Figures 2 and 3, beneath
the hearth and through the upright flues a", a", Figures 1, 2, and 3,
into the upper flue a¹¹, Figures 1 and 3, a section of which upper flue
is also shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Figure 4 shews a sectional view upon the scale of one inch to the
foot of the louvres when employed and applied to the upper flue a¹¹¹;
Figure 5 shews a sectional view of the same arrangement upon a
scale of three inches to the foot. In such Figure 5 b, b, b, shaded
dark in the Figure, shows one end of the longitudinal opening from
the upper flue a¹ into the room, and in which opening the louvres
are placed; c, c, c, c, show the ends of the louvre plates inserted
into the grooves c¹, c¹, c¹, c¹, in the end of the opening b, b, b, b; d
is the flap valve for regulating the supply of air suspended from
a hinge e, and such valve can be regulated by a curved handle e¹
having slight projections or teeth on the lower side, and passing.
through an orifice in the face of the upper flue, and which handle
when slightly raised moves freely in such orifice, but catches when
let down; f is the water container which can be supplied with water
for the purpose of moistening the fresh warm air whenever such air
is found to be too dry for health or comfort; such water container
may in this case be formed by two vertical partitions respectively
placed across the upper flue a¹¹¹, and respectively extending from the
bottom of such flue about half way up such flue, so as to form a small
trough in the bottom of the centre part of the upper flue, one such
partition being about six inches on the right, and the other at an
equal distance on the left of a vertical plane passing through the centre
of the upper flue at right angles to the direction of such flue.
Figure 6 is a sectional Drawing upon the scale of three inches to
the foot, representing the arrangement when the warmed air is allowed
to issue through a slit in the mantel-shelf; in this Figure a represents

page_text: --
a section of the upper flue; f, a section of the trough; 9, a short pipe
projecting, say, half an inch outside of the grate, and through which
pipe water can be supplied as needed. The projecting end of such
pipe can be closed at pleasure by a knob or plug, which can be screwed
upon or inserted into such end; h, an air chamber in the mantel-piece;
i, the slit in the mantel-shelf; k, the vertical guard; k³, a horizontal
guard;, a small trough in which water may be poured; m, a valve
resting in a groove n, and which valve may bo opened or closed by the
tongue or handle o.
'
Figure 7 represents a section of mantel-piece which instead of a slit
in the mantel-shelf has an ornamental grating p let into it flush with
the mantel-shelf, and through which the warmed and moistened air
may pass from the air chamber h; e is a slide valve for the purpose
of regulating the supply of warm air, and such valve may be closed or
opened by the projecting handle e'.
Figure 8 represents a section of a mantel-piece with a similar grating p
through which warmed and moistened air may pass after coming between
the louvres c¹, c¹³, c¹, c¹³.
"
"
Figure 9 is a sectional drawing of a sheet-iron reflector q placed
at the back of an ordinary chimney, “r” being the handle; Figure 10
is an elevation of the back of such reflector, 8, 8, being the arms
or lugs in which are holes, and which carry. rods in order to hang
the reflector on hooks fastened in the back of the chimney.
Figures 1 and 3 also represent an elevation and a section of a similar
reflector made up of tiles, fire-brick, or other materials, and built
into the back of the chimney. In either case the front is represented
as fluted or zig-zagged.
Figure 11 represents a section of t, the open or laminated reflector
used where the soffit of the chimney is low and the fire-place wide, and
Figure 12, an elevation of such reflector when in position.
Figure 13, a plan of the plate of iron and the firstly, secondly, and
thirdly mentioned strips of hoop iron employed in such reflector. In
these Figures, t, represent the plate or sheet of, iron; u, u¹, the
upper and lower first mentioned horizontal strips; v, v, v, v, v, v, the
secondly mentioned strips placed in front; w, w, w, w, w, w, w, the
third mentioned strips which are placed at the back, and which are
B

page_text: cranked towards the top and the bottom, as shown in Figure 11, and
are opposite to and cover the longitudinal spaces left by the secondly
mentioned strips, as shewn in Figures 12 and 13.
Figure 14 is the plan of a grate with the draught valve x under-
neath and the lever y with the weight or handle projecting in
front; Figure 15 is a section of the same in which the continuous
lines represent the position of the draught valve when applied to the
bottom of the grate, the weight or handle being then on the lever,
and the dotted lines represent the position of the draught valve and
lever when the weight or handle has been taken off the lever and the
draught valve is in its lowest position.
Figure 16 represents a plan of the grate and draught valve when
fitted with a bent lever A and pawl or swing latch, represented in
Figure 17 by B, and Figure 17 represents a section of the same
on the line E, F, and in this section the continuous lines represent
the position of the swing catch and lever when the swing catch is
down and the draught valve is up, and the dotted lines represent
the swing catch and lever when the swing catch is raised and the
draught valve is at its lowest position.
I claim for my Invention the use of such improvements and appa-
ratus as herein-before in this behalf described in parts 5 to 10 both
inclusive, and for the purposes aforesaid; but it is obvious that in the
several particulars herein-before described variations may be made in
details so as to make the best use of space, position, and materials, as
circumstances may suggest or require, and I do not claim the exclusive
use of any of the separate parts of the apparatus employed by me except
in combination and for the purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Lloyd, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.