Improvements in Apparatus for Increasing the Combustion in Fire Grates, Furnaces, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Increasing the Combustion in
Fire Grates, Furnaces, and the like.
I, HERBERT JOHN DOWSING 24 Budge Row Cannon Street London E.C.
Electrical Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to an appliance or apparatus which can be placed in or
fitted to an ordinary fire grate, furnaces etc., where the free admission of air is
required to carry on combustion. In grates of ordinary construction the fire
consists of a solid or semi solid mass of which certain parts notably the middle and
top receive less oxygen than is necessary for complete combustion as a consequence
carbonic oxide and other gases are cast off and large quantities of carbon are
lost in the form of smoke and soot, with a consequent loss of heat.
My invention which I call a fire cone is a contrivance made in the form of a cone,
pyramid, saddle or other similar form and of a material such as iron, fireclay or
asbestos, which will stand the heat of the fire, and the size of the cone is such that
it can be placed in the grate, and the base of the cone rest upon, or take the place
of the ordinary grating. The fire cone is pierced in various places, and in one form
has a number of projections in the shape of small tubes or conical projections
standing out from the outside of the cone in such a manner that they can penetrate
into the fire, and conduct a plentiful supply of air to all parts. The fire cone may
have vertical indentations or depression forming cups for holding liquid fuel used
in lighting the fire, and a handle may be fixed to the coue so that it may readily be
moved in the fire in order to shake the dust or other obstructions off. The base of
the cone is sometimes made irregular and the sides may be straight, or fluted or
stepped.
When in use, the fire cone becomes very hot causing the air in the tubes and
underneath to become rarefied, and a constant stream of fresh air is passed into
the fire.
The fire cone is varied in shape according to the manner in which the fire is
required to radiate, and the grate in which it is burned, but in all cases the fire cone
must be partly or wholly covered by the burning fuel in order to get the best
results.
The fire cone of which Fig. (1) is a section consists of a perforated shell (A) of
iron, fireclay, asbestos, or other suitable material which will stand the heat of a fire,
with a number of projections (b) of conical tubular or other forms hollowed out so
that the air can pass freely from the shell (A) through the tube to the fuel of the
fire which is placed above them. When the tube of the shell becomes heated, the
air contained therein becomes rarefied, and passes freely through the fire, supplying
the necessary oxygen for complete combustion.
Fig. (2) shows another form of fire cone (C) with hollow tubular projections (d)
fixed in the bottom and back of grate (E).
Fig. (3) shows the fire cone as illustrated in Fig. (1) fixed in an ordinary grate
ready for use; the bars of grate are removed to show position of cone.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
In fire grates er false bottoms for grates or furnaces, conical or tubular
projections extending in the fire and allowing free passage of air thereto
substantially as described.
H. J. DOWSING.