AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-PLACES OF KITCHEN RANGES AND SHIPS' COOKING STOVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Hill, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan,
Shipwright, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF FIRE-PLACES OF KITCHEN RANGES AND SHIPS' COOKING STOVES."
" AN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Hill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1876.
CHRISTOPHER HILL, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Shipwright.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-PLACES OF KITCHEN RANGES AND
SHIPS' COOKING STOVES."
Instead of placing the bars of such fire-places level I put them in an inclined
position, the higher ends being against the bridge and the lower ends by the door
of the fire-place. On the upper surface of the bars I place notches to act as
supports for the coal and prevent it from falling too quickly towards the door.
Bars are also placed in front abreast the lower part of the door.
I vary the angle of the inclination of the bars from 28° to 60°, according to the size
of the fire-place and the relation between its depth and length. With this arrange-
ment there is only a small layer of coal at the top of the bars next the bridge, the
body of fuel lying in the angle below.
By this improvement there is a great saving of fuel, as a current of hot air passes
through the bars at their upper ends next the bridge, and so mixes with the smoke
as to cause complete combustion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Christopher Hill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th February
1877.
CHRISTOPHER HILL, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Shipwright. "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-PLACES OF KITCHEN RANGES AND
SHIPS' COOKING STOVES."
My said Invention consists in an improvement in the construction of the fire-places
of kitchen ranges and ships' cooking stoves, whereby great advantages are obtained
with respect to the quantity of heat evolved from the fire, and the economy of the
fuel used for the purposes of combustion and the production of such heat.
Instead of placing the bars of such fire-places in a level or horizontal position, as
ordinarily practised, I arrange them in an inclined or oblique direction, the upper
ends of the bars resting against the bridge and the lower ends resting by the door
or lower portion of the fire-place. Notches are formed in the upper surfaces of the
bars to act as supports for the coal or other fuel, and to prevent the same from
falling too quickly towards the door or front of the fire-place or stove. Horizontal
bars are also placed in front of the fire-place and above the door or lower portion
thereof. The angle of inclination of the fire-bars is varied from twenty-eight degrees
to sixty degrees, according to the size of the fire-place and the proportion which
exists between its depth and length. The fire-bars may be either rigidly fixed in
or form part of a frame, or may be severally placed in sockets provided for that
purpose in the frame, so as to be movable at pleasure.
When it is desired to apply my said Invention to fire-places already constructed,
and to use the inclined fire-bars therein, I remove the whole of the lower grate
and place therein a frame holding the fire-bars, as before described, or I place
bearing bars at the lower portion of the front of the range or stove, and also at the
upper part thereof at the back, upon which the fire-bars are placed in an inclined or
oblique position, the ends of the same being either let into sockets provided for
that purpose in the bearing bars or being provided with recesses into which the
bearing bars enter, so that the fire-bars cannot be moved by the operation of poking
the fire.
Sliding dampers are provided which when the fire is being used need only be
pulled out a very short distance, and when the fire is not in use the same may be
nearly entirely closed.
A boiler or boilers is or are placed in the back of the stove, and have dividing
bars placed therein, in order to allow the full flame from the fuel to pass under the
boiler or boilers, and so to heat the water contained therein in a much shorter time
than is the case with such boilers as usually arranged.
The result of the arrangement of the fire-bars, as before described, is that there
is only a thin layer of fuel at the upper part thereof next the bridge, whilst the
main body of the fuel lies at the lower part thereof, and as a current of air
constantly passes between the bars at their upper ends next the bridge, the same is
mixed with the smoke and other products of combustion, which are completely
consumed.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stove; Figure 2, a front view; and
Figure 3 a section of part of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several Figures.
A, A, is the body of the stove; B, the fire-bars; C, the oven at the top of the b
stove, the door being shewn open in Figure 1 and closed in Figure 2; D is the
incandescent fuel, the entrance of the draught of air being shewn by dotted lines
at d, d, d. The front horizontal bars are shown at E.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that 5

page_text: what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Inven-
tion secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
improvement in the construction of fire-places of kitchen ranges and ships' cooking
stoves, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Hill, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CHRISTOPHER HILL (LS)