Improvements in and relating to Fuel Saving Ashpans.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
· PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fuel Saving Ashpans.
I, THOMAS GIBB, of Bank Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Ironmonger, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
of ashpans such as are used below the fire-places of kitchen ranges and other fire
grates, and which improvements are also applicable to steam-boiler and other
furnaces where the fuel is burned upon grate bars, and has for its object the
separation of the unconsumed fuel and cinders from the ash so that same can be
returned to the fire or furnace to be consumed all in a simple and efficient
manner.
According to one modification as applied to a portable ashpan such as is
commonly used below the firegrates of ordinary kitchen ranges, the improvements
would consist in forming the ashpan as a rectangular box open at top, and fitting at
the bottom of same a drawer or tray sliding in suitable guides for the purpose of
receiving the fine ash. This drawer would be of a width and depth to fill the
bottom of the ashpan and extend to the back of same.
Above this drawer a
second drawer or tray having a perforated or grated bottom would be fitted to slide
in suitable guides, and would be formed the full width of the ashpan but only
extending to about half or a little more towards the back of the ashpan for the
purpose of receiving the unconsumed fuel and cinders partially separated from the
ash. Above this second drawer a metal plate, unperforated, would be fitted extending
from the upper inside front edge of the ashpan downwards at an angle to direct a
portion of the mixed ashes and cinders falling from the fire on to another angled
plate fitted to the upper inside back part of the ashpan and over the back part of
the ash drawer.
This plate would preferably be formed of sheet or cast metal perforated with
numerous holes of any desired form and be so fitted as to direct all matter
remaining on its surface down into the cinder receiving drawer, but it might be a
wire grating instead of a perforated plate. All cinders and ash falling from the
fire, would fall partly on the plain plate and partly on the perforated one, those
falling on the latter would as they slid down the slope be partially sifted, the ash
falling into the back part of the lower drawer, and the cinders and unconsumed
fuel into the upper drawer. The material falling on the plain plate would be
directed on to the perforated plate to undergo the same process. As. often as
necessary the upper drawer would be shaken to agitate its contents which would
cause the ash to fall through the perforated bottom when the cleaned cinders could
be placed on the fire.
According to another modification this improved ashpan would be formed along
with and as an integral part of the kitchen range or grate and in this case it is
preferred to fit the angled plates at the sides instead of at the back and front, and
the ash drawer beneath would be of the full width of the space beneath the fire,
and the cinder drawer instead of being placed above would be placed at the one
side of the ash drawer either on the same level or it might be a higher level when
it could have a perforated bottom. The perforated plate would also be carried at
an angle across the whole width above the ash drawer to the side of the cinder
drawer so as to deliver the cinders in a clean state into the same.
Though the invention has been described as applied to ordinary firegrates or
kitchen ranges it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other fires or
furnaces where the fuel is burnt on open grate bars and where there is space

page_text: beneath for the necessary appliances. In some cases such as for boiler furnaces
the plain and perforated plates might be hinged so as to be capable of being lifted
up for the purpose of more easily removing the ashes, and the unconsumed fuel to
be returned to the fire for after consumption.
Dated the 22nd December 1892
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fuel Saving Ashpans.
I, THOMAS GIBB of Bank Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire Ironmonger, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
of ashpans such as are used below the fireplaces of kitchen ranges and other fire
grates, and which improvements are also applicable to steam boiler and other
furnaces where the fuel is burned upon grate bars, and has for its object the
separation of the unconsumed fuel and cinders from 'the ash so that same can
be returned to the fire or furnace to be consumed all in a simple and efficient
manner.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have hereunto append
an explanatory sheet of drawings the same reference letters being used to indicate
the same or corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, from back to front, and Figure 2 is a plan
illustrating one modification of my improvements as applied to a portable ashpan A
such as is commonly used bolow the fire grates of ordinary kitchen ranges, and the
improvements consist in forming the ashpan as a rectangular box open at top, and
fitting at the bottom of same a drawer or tray B, sliding in suitable guides and
fitted with a handle, for the purpose of receiving the fine ash. This drawer B
would be of a width and depth to fill the bottom of the ashpan A and extend to
the back of same. Above this drawer B a second drawer or tray C having a
perforated or grated bottom c would be fitted to slide in suitable guides c¹ also with
a handle and would be formed the full width of the ashpan A but only extending
to about half or a little more towards the back of the ashpan A for the purpose of
receiving the unconsumed fuel and cinders partially separated from the ash. Above
this second drawer a metal plate D unperforated, would be fitted extending from
the upper inside front edge a of the ashpan A downwards at an angle to direct a
portion of the mixed ashes and cinders falling from the fire on to another down-
wardly angled plate E fitted to the upper inside back part a¹ of the ashpan A and
over the back part of the ash drawer B. This plate E would preferably be formed
of sheet or cast metal perforated with numerous holes e of any desired form and
be so fitted as to direct all matter remaining on its surface down into the cinder
receiving drawer C, but it might be a wire grating instead of a perforated plate.
All cinders and ash falling from the fire, would fall partly, first, on the plain
plate D and partly on the perforated one E those falling on the latter would as
they slid down the slope be partially sifted, the ash falling through the perforations e
into the back part of the lower drawer B and the cinders, and unconsumed fuel
into the upper drawer C. The material falling on the plain plate D would be
directed on to the perforated plate E to undergo the same process. As often as
necessary the upper drawer C would be shaken to agitate its contents which would
cause the ash to fall through the perforated bottom c when the cleaned cinders
could be placed on the fire for burning.
Figure 3 is also a vertical section from back to front, and Figure 4 a plan, but

page_text: illustrating another modification of my improvements also as applied to a portable
ashpan A. In this modification the lower drawer or tray C is the ciuder drawer
for the partially consumed fuel, while the upper and smaller drawer or tray B is
the drawer for receiving the ashes and in this case neither drawer would have a
perforated bottom. A perforated downwardly angled plate E is fitted to the upper
front inner edge a of the ashpan and extends over the ash drawer B which receives
the fine ashes falling through the perforations as the cinders and ashes descend this
angled plate E. To the upper back edge at of the ashpan A a plain downwardly
angled plate D is fitted, the lower edge of which projects slightly over the
perforated plate E to guide and throw the mixed cinders and ashes from the back
part of the fire on to the perforated plate E from which the cinders, separated
from the fine ashes which fall through the perforations, fall into the cinder drawer C.
a small angled plate F being fitted to the lower part of the back of the ashpan A to
assist in guiding them into the drawer C.
Figure 5 is a vertical section from end to end and Figure 6 is a front elevation
of a portion of a kitchen range illustrating another modification of my improve-
ments in which the improved ashpan arrangement is formed along with and as an
integral part of the kitchen range or grate, and in this case it is preferred to fit
the angled plates D and E at the sides instead of at the back and front. And the
ash drawer B beneath, would be of the full width of the space beneath the fire,
and the cinder drawer C instead of being placed above, would be placed at the one
side of the ash drawer B either on the same level having a plain bottom, or it might
be a higher level when it could have a perforated bottom. The perforated plate E
is also carried at an angle across the whole width above the ash drawer B to the
side of the cinder drawer C so as to deliver the cinders in a clean state into the
same, while a small angled plain plate D is fitted at the side next the cinder
drawer C to direct the fuel falling on it on to the perforated plate E.
Though the invention has been described as applied to ordinary fire grates or
kitchen ranges it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other fires or
furnaces where the fuel is burnt on open grate bars and where there is space
beneath for the necessary appliances.
some cases such as for boiler
the plain and perforated plates might be hinged so as to be capable of being lifted
up for the purpose of more easily removing the ashes, and the unconsumed fuel to
be returned to the fire for after consumption.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a circular boiler flue illustrating one mode of
applying my improvements. To the upper sides a a¹ of a portable cinder and ash
receiver A of a contour to suit the space beneath the fire bars are fitted or hinged
the plain unperforated plate D and the perforated plate E respectively each of the
full length of the said space, and the receiver A would be divided by a partition A',
on one side B of which the ashes would be received and on the other side C the
cinders the ashes being sifted from the cinders as they rolled down the perforated
plate E.
My improvements as applied to boiler and other furnaces burning fuel on grate
bars would necessarily be modified to suit varied circumstances, the essential
feature being the use of plain and perforated sifting and guiding plates, and in
some cases the angled plates may be fitted to run in the direction of the length of
the flue instead of across.
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 :-
--
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of fuel saving ashpans or
appliances all substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The construction and arrangement of the parts of fuel saving ashpans
fitted with plain and perforated angled plates for sifting the ashes from the partially
consumed fuel, and directing these into separate drawers or trays all substantially

page_text: as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
Third. The fitting of kitchen ranges or such like grates with perforated and
plain angled plates for sifting and directing the ashes and partially consumed fuel
into separate drawers or trays all substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The fitting of steam boiler and other furnaces with perforated and plain
angled plates below the grate bars for sifting and directing the ashes and partially
consumed fuel into different receptacles all substantially as herein described in
reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated 1st Sentember 1902
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.