Improvements in Fire Places.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Places.
I, WILLIAM THOMSON MITCHELL, of Grahamston Iron Company, Falkirk, in
the County of Stirling, North Britain, Ironfounder 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, that is to say :-
My said invention comprises certain improvements in fire places, which, whilst
being simple and inexpensive to make, provide for a slow or a quick combustion of
the fuel, and also insure a better draught than is usually obtained.
In carrying out my invention I make the fire-place framing of any suitable and
ornamental design and I provide a canopy plate and a damper which together close
the opening between the fire place and the flue. The canopy plate is connected to
the framing and can be adjusted so as to vary the amount of draught and also so as
to automatically close the damper which is hinged to the back part of the fire-place.
Dished or curved fire bars are fixed in the bottom of the grate and a firebrick slab,
which is easily removable, is fitted upon and covers their inner parts. When slow
combustion of the fuel is wanted the firebrick slab is kept in the grate but when
quick combustion is desired it is removed.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to
be hereinafter referred, and showing my improvements in fire places.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a front elevation and Figure, 2, a transverse
vertical section of a fire place as made with my improvements.
Figures, 3, and, 4, are partial transverse vertical sections showing the canopy
plate and damper in different positions.
Figures, 5, and 6, are horizontal sections as taken through the front fire-ribs,
Figure 5, being delineated with the firebrick slab removed from the dished bars.
Figure, 7, is a partial transverse vertical section showing lugs hereinafter
described.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
As shown in the drawings I make the framing, A, of any suitable and ornamental
design, and provide in front of its lower part vertical ribs, B, to retain the fuel in
its proper place. The opening, C, in the framing, A, to the flue may be made of
any desired form, but it is by preference of a rectangular shape. The amount of
draught through the opening, C, is regulated by a canopy plate, D. hung by
centres, D 1, fixed in its sides near the top, and entered into slots in lugs, AI,
which are formed on and project upwards at an angle from the back of the
framing, A. The slots of the lugs, A 1, are formed with several notches, A 2, by
preference three, which are made so that the canopy plate, D, held in them by the
centres, D 1, cân be easily lifted from the one to the other. In consequence of the
inclination to the back of the framing, A, of the lugs, A 1, from which the canopy
plate, D, is suspended, a variable amount of draught can be obtained by changing
the position of the canopy plate from one notch to another. The canopy plate has
its centre of gravity below the point of suspension and its upper part bears on the
framing so that when it is suspended from the lowest notches, A 2, as shown in
Figure, 2, it is in its full open position and a maximum draught is obtained.
Figure, 3, the canopy plate, D, is shown in an intermediate position being suspended
from the middle ones of the three notches, A. 2, on each side.
When the canopy
plate, D, is suspended from the highest of the three notches, A2, as shown in
Figure, 4, it is in a vertical position and its back part engages with a snug, E,
formed on the damper, E1, and tilts it into a horizontal position so as to abut
Price 8d 1
In

page_text: against the lower part of the canopy plate, and completely close the opening, C, to
the flue, when the fire place is not in use.
The damper, E 1, is hinged by a pin, E 2, to the back part, A 3, of the frame
and as its centre of gravity is below its point of suspension it swings into a vertical
position, so as to be out of the way, when disengaged from the canopy plate, D.
Bottom fire bars are provided, which are of a dished form at their inner bottom
part, F, and curved upwards at their front part, F 1, and upon and covering the
dished part a firebrick slab, G, is placed being easily removable. When slow com-
bustion of the fuel is wanted the firebrick slab, G, is retained in its place and air is
permitted to enter through the spaces between the front curved parts, F 1, of the
bottom fire bars only, but when quick combustion is desired the firebrick slab, G,
is removed and the air entering through the whole space between the bottom fire
bars effects a speedy combustion of the fuel. The construction of fire grate shown
in the drawings gives a considerable depth of clear burning fuel, and the ashes
collect at, and can be easily withdrawn through the front curved parts, F 1, of the
bottom fire bars.
The back part, A 3, of the fire-place is by preference made of firebrick in one or
more pieces so as to radiate a large amount of heat. The improvements herein-
before described can be made with little trouble and expense and a considerable
economy of fuel is effected by them.
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. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting my
improved fire place substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In fire places, the combination of an angularly-adjustable canopy plate, with
an automatically closing damper substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
3. In fire places bottom fire bars having a dished bottom part and a raised curved
front part, with or without a removable firebrick slab covering the inner parts of
the bottom bars, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of November 1892,
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.