IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES AND FIRE GRATES
Year: 1885

page_text: I FELIX JOSEPH VERGARA of Red House, Overhill Road, Lordship Lane, Dulwich
in the County of Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES AND FIRE GRATES "to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a stove or fire grate in such a way
that the production of smoke may be reduced to a minimum and the combustion
of the coal rendered perfect whereby waste is avoided and a continuously bright
fire can be maintained.
The stove or fire grate I form of a front plate from which projects forwards the
grate or fire basket.
The bottom of the grate or fire basket I make to curve upwards at the back and
form an opening through the front plate just above the top of this curved or
inclined bottom to allow the products of combustion to pass to the back and into
the chimney. From the top of this opening a grid or grating of bars is made to
incline downwards so as to cover over the fuel which rests upon the bottom of the
grate or basket an opening of a few inches in height is left between the lower
end of this grating and the front of the bottom on which the fuel rests.-Above
these inclined bars I also provide a sliding plate or damper which can either be
slid upwards so as to close or nearly to close the passage into the flue, or down-
wards to rest above the inclined bars-when in this latter position it will serve as
a blower to produce a powerful draught. Preferably I form the bottom on which
the fuel rests of a solid lump through which openings are formned for the escape of
cinders, and below this I mount a small ash box in which ashes may be caught.
On lighting the fire the damper or plate should be drawn downwards so as to
leave the flue completely open whilst the plate as it covers over the fire will act as
a blower and create a great draught; some smoke will be produced at first but not
much if the fire be lighted at the back instead of at the front as is usual-when
the coals are burning brightly the damper is moved upwards so as to partially close
the flue and diminish the draught; after a time it will be necessary to put in a
new supply of coal, this is done by first pushing back the hot coals from the front
towards the back and then placing the new supply of coal in a row along the front
of the bright coal-in half an hour or so the whole will be burning brightly and
can be kept in this state for a long time if the draught be sufficiently reduced by

page_text: closing the flue by means of the plate or damper-the same process is repeated
whenever fresh coal has to be put on.
even
In this way as the new supply of coal is always placed in front a bright fire is
always ble under the bars and this has the effect of keeping up an
temperature in the room; the combustion of the coal being gradual and perfect
there is also no waste of fuel, and a bright fire can easily be kept up by the
addition of small quantities of coal every now and then so that it will be found
that less coal is consumed than in an ordinary grate.
I; FELIX JOSEPH VERGARA, of Red House, Overhill Road, Lordship Lane, Dulwich,
in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 and accompanying drawing, (that is
to say)
My invention relates to stoves or firegrates used for heating purposes, and it
has for its object a novel method of construction by which the production of smoke
is reduced to a minimum and the combustion of the coal rendered as nearly as
possible perfect, whilst waste is avoided, and a bright and cheerful fire maintained
without difficulty.
In order to put my invention in operation I use a front plate of suitable shape
and proportions, from which projects forward the grate or firebasket in which the
fuel is contained and burned. The front plate may either itself form the front of
the flue or chimney, or it may be fitted against the brickwork forming the front of
the latter.
I form the bottom of the grate or firebasket of fireclay or other material sufficiently
refractory to beat, its upper surface curving upward at the back to a sufficient
height, its upper back edge then forming the lower side of an opening which passes
through the front plate and communicates with the chimney into which the products
of combustion, and smoke-if any-pass. This opening into the chimney is made
of sufficient width and depth, and from its upper edge descend forward and down-
ward a set of inclined bars, or a grating or perforated plate, the lower end of which
is carried by a cross bar or support arranged a short distance above the front edge
of the fireclay bottom, the ends of the cross bar or support being carried by the
sides of the grate or firebasket, these sides projecting from the front plate and
their lower edges supporting the sides of the fireclay bottom.
: )

page_text: The vertical distance between the crossbar and the fireclay bottom is such that
pieces of coal or other fuel of moderate size can be easily introduced between them
for the purpose of replenishing the fire, and the front edge of the fireclay bottom
curves up a little and preferably projects forward in advance of the cross bar above,
so as to lessen the chance of coal falling from it.
Above the inclined bars or grating or perforated plate, I fit an inclined sliding
plate the side edges of which are guided on the sides of the grate or firebasket,
whilst its back edge passes through the opening in the plate into the chimney, its
length being such that when pushed up (by means of a knob or handle at its lower
end, or other equivalent means) it closes or nearly closes the chimney (or a passage
to the chimney), so as to form a damper, the inclined bars being in such position
uncovered, whilst when drawn down so as to cover the inclined bars it leaves the
chimney open.
=
The fireclay bottom is preferably made solid, but narrow openings may be mado
through it and a sliding pan or drawer may be arranged beneath it to catch any
cinders or ashes which may fall through the openings, and to serve at the same
time as a regulator to adjust the admission of air through the openings.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, figure 1
is a front view of a stove shewing the sliding plate described drawn nearly down
so as to cover the inclined bars. Figure 2 is à vertical section through the same.
Figure 3 is a front view of the same stove having the sliding plate pushed up
so as to expose the inclined bars, and figure 4 is a vertical section through the
same. Figure 5 shews the fireclay bottom solid as I prefer to make it, and without
the openings through it shewn in the other figures, the sliding drawer below being
omitted as unnecessary.
a is the front plate of the stove, and b the fireclay bottom of the grate or fire-
basket, having its upper surface curving and rising up at the back to the opening c
into the flue or chimney d. From the upper side of this opening the inclined bars e
descend to the crossbar or support f which is carried by the sides g of the grate
which are also lined with fireclay. The support f is a short distance above the
bottom a, the front edge of which curves up as shewn, and may if desired project
forward beyond the support f above. is the sliding plate, the back edge of which
passes through the opening c into the chimney d, where it serves as a damper. In
figures 1, 2, 3, and 4-a sliding drawer is shewn below the fireclay bottom, to
receive any ashes or cinders which may fall through the openings in the bottom.
The action of the stove or grate is as follows-When the fire is to be lighted,
the sliding plate h is drawn down so as to cover the inclined bars e and open the.
damper in the chimney d, as shewn in figures 1 and 2, sufficient fuel being placed
in the grate or firebasket and ignited.
As soon as a current of beated air is obtained in the chimney a powerful draught
is obtained, and the sliding plate h, covering the fire will act as a blower in the
usual well known way to increase the draught. At first lighting some little smoke
will be produced, but this will soon cease as the coals begin to burn brightly,
especially if the fire be lighted at the back, instead of at the front as is usual.
When the smoke has ceased and the fire is burning brightly the sliding plate h
is moved upward so as to partially close the chimney d, and to expose the bright
fire through the bars e, as shewn in figures 3 and 4, the draught being greatly
diminished and no smoke produced. When it is necessary to add a fresh supply of
fuel this is done by pushing back the burning fuel, and placing a fresh supply of
fresh fuel upon the front of the fireclay bottom b and in front of the brightly
burning fuel. In a short time this fresh fuel will also be burning brightly, and
very little smoke will have been produced, that from the igniting coal having to
pass with a horizontal draught over the brightly burning coal at the back, and with
an ample supply of air so that it is effectually consumed.
The bright fire can be preserved for a considerable time by pushing in the sliding
plate h so as to reduce the draught, whilst it can be seen through the bars e which
are then uncovered, and the space between which is sufficient to allow the fire to

page_text: be seen and enjoyed, whilst it is so small as to prevent fuel from being supplied
through the bars without great difficulty.
The same process is repeated whenever a fresh supply of fuel is needed, which
being always placed in front the brightly burning fuel is always visible through
the bars e, and an even temperature is thus kept up in the room or place where the
stove is used, the combustion of the coal being gradual and perfect and there being
no waste.
A continuously bright and cheerful fire can be easily kept up by the occasional
addition of small quantities of fresh coal in the manner described, and in this way
less coal is used than is ordinarily the case. ·
The front plate may be provided with an opening or door by which access can
be got to the chimney for cleaning.
The space under the grate may be used to hold a supply of coal, any gases
emanating from which may be carried off through perforations in the fireclay sides
of the grate, and discharged above the burning coal.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and dimensions of the several
parts of stoves or grates constructed according to my invention, which may be
varied more or less according to the circumstances in which it may be used, but
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
1. In a stove or firegrate, the combination of the inclined bars, grating, or
perforated plate e, above the fire, with the sliding plate h forming a damper, and the
front opening for the supply of fresh fuel when needed, substantially as and for
the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
2. The combination, in a firegrate or stove, of the bottom b, opening c, inclined
bars, grating, or perforated plate e, and sliding plate, all arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn in the drawing.
T1000