IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES AND FIRE GRATES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Robertson, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Stove Grate Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES AND FIRE GRATES."
Scaled the 10th July 1855, and dated the 14th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Robertson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
May 1855.
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove Grate
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES AND FIRE GRATES" to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to increase the heating capacity of stoves
without increasing the consumption of fuel therein. For this purpose 1 propose
I
to cast the hearth plate and the grating cheeks and frame of the fire-place in
one piece, so that a large portion of the heat generated in the fire-place may
be transmitted by conduction to the hearth plate, which, by reason of its
extended surface, will readily yield up its heat to the surrounding atmosphere.
The hearth I make hollow, and admit air beneath it (from the front edge
of the hearth) to the grating which supports the fuel. For the purpose of
facilitating the removal of the ashes, I place an ash-pan under the grating
(but out of sight), and withdraw it when required, either at an opening at the
front edge of the hearth plate, or at an opening formed in the hearth plate,
and covered by a removable plate of ornamental open work, which will admit
air below the grating. This ornamental cover (by the removal of which access
is gained to the ash-pan) I propose to make either of cast metal, either iulaid
or not with other metals, or of pottery or china ware, inlaid or otherwise, or of
glass; my object being to add to the beauty of th stove by inserting ornament

page_text: in the hearth, and at the same time permit of any ashes that may fall from
between the fire bars being swept down into the ash-pan. The cheeks of the
fire-place may be lined with fire brick or tile, if required. In place of con-
tinuing the grating to the back of the fire-place, I propose in some cases
to employ a curved or [concave fire brick to complete with the grating the
bottom and back of the fire-place, leaving a space between the grating and the
fire brick for the passage upwards of air to the fire, and also for the ashes to
fall through into the ash-pan.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Robertson- in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ROBERTSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove Grate Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Robertson, Her special license that I, the said Alexander Robertson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Robertson, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES AND FIRE GRATES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Robertson, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, und 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 Alexander Robertson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-

page_text: This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of increasing the heating capacity
of stoves without increasing the consumption of fuel therein. For this purpose
I avail myself of the power of the hearth plate to diffuse the heat which may
be imparted thereto by casting it (when constructing open stoves or fire-
places) in one piece, not merely with the grating (which has heretofore under
special circumstances been proposed), but also with the frame, and also, if
required, with the cheeks of the stove. By this means a large portion of the
heat which is generated in the fire-place, and is absorbed by the surrounding
metal may be transmitted by conduction to the hearth plate, and so given out
to the apartment in which the stove is situate.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews, in front view, a stove con-
structed according to my Invention, wherein the hearth plate, which is heated
by conduction, as well as by the direct rays of the fire, is caused to give off a
large amount of heat to the surrounding atmosphere. The hearth, which is
shewn at a, I make hollow, and admit air beneath it through openings in the
fretwork or other ornament b, at the front edge of the hearth, which air passes
to the grating c to support combustion. In order to facilitate the removal of
the ashes, I place an ash-pan under the grating (but out of sight) to catch
the ashes and dust as they fall through the grating c, and I thus avoid the
necessity for drawing out the hearth plate and grating for the purpose of
discharging the ashes. In the hearth plate I make one or more openings to
permit of the dust which falls from the fire-place being swept into the dust-pan
below. One mode of applying this pan is shown at Fig. 2, which represents
merely the hearth plate and grating with the ash-pan d drawn partly from
beneath the hearth plate, an opening having been made at the front edge of
the hearth plate for this purpose by the removal of a portion of the ornamental
border 6; or in place of this arrangement an opening may be formed in the
face of the hearth plate (which opening is to be covered by a removable plate
of ornamental open work), to permit of the insertion of the ash-pan below the
grating c, and its withdrawal therefrom when filled with ashes. Fig. 3 shews,
in front view, a stove fitted with a removable plate or cover e, which will admit
air below the grating to keep up combustion, and by its removal will afford
means of access to the ash-pan. This plate or cover I propose to make of cast
iron, brass, or other metal, either inlaid or not with other metals, and also of
glass and pottery, or china ware, inlaid or otherwise, as taste may dictate my
object being to add to the beauty of the stove, by inserting ornament in the
hearth, and at the same time permit of any ashes that may fall from between
the fire bars being swept down into the ash-pan. The grating c which carries
the fuel I set at a somewhat higher level than the hearth plate, to allow of the

page_text: free passage of air over the ash-pan to the fire. In constructing my improved
stoves, I have found it convenient to apply thereto a supplementary draft and
smoke flue, as at f (Fig. 1), which consists simply of a door or valve hori-
zontally set between parallel side plates, and capable of sliding, as indicated by
the detached view, Fig. 4, and of opening up a flue for the passage of the
smoke at times when it may be thought requisite to increase the draft, or
closing that flue when the draft by the ordinary vent is good.
Figures 5 and 6 shew, in plan view and cross section, so much of a stove as
will serve to explain the manner in which I propose to apply fire clay to form
the back and bottom of the fire-place, which adaptation constitutes the second
head of my Invention. In these Figures, 9 is the hearth plate, made of cast
iron; and h is a concave fire brick, forming a curved continuation of the hearth
plate, and acting as a substitute for the cast-iron grating c of Figures 1 and 2.
A space
i is left between the hearth plate and fire brick for the passage
upwards of the air to the burning fuel, and also for the ashes to fall through
into the ash-pan. In other respects I propose to construct the stove as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Fig. 3. By the use of this
concave brick (which may be readily replaced when injured), the burning away
of the back and bottom of the fire-place will be prevented.
Having now set forth the naturo and objects of my Invention of "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Stoves and Fire Grates," and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the abovo
in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First, constructing stoves in the manner above described, whereby the means
of distributing the heat generated in the fire-place will be greatly improved by
reason of the increased power of conduction imparted to the hearth plate, and
at the same time the removal of the ashes will be facilitated.
Secondly, I claim the application to my improved stoves of a removeable
cover or plate, for the purpose above set forth.
And, thirdly, I claim the construction of fire-place as described with reference
to Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the sail Alexander Robertson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Tenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ALEXR ROBERTSON. (L.S.)