IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES OR FIRE GRATES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Robertson, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Stove Grate Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STOVES OR FIRE GRATES."
Sealed the 27th August 1858, and dated the 8th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Robertson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th June 1858.
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove
Grate Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES OR FIRE GRATES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to improve the appearance of arched top
plate stoves, by dispensing with the use of the unsightly door or moveable
piece usually placed in the centre of the inner or top plate, for the purpose of
allowing the smoke to pass into the flue on occasions such as on first lighting
the fire when the ordinary flue door is sometimes found insufficient. For this
purpose the inner or lower top plate is made in one piece (instead of the usual
mode of constructing it in several pieces, as in the grate known as Stephen's
grate). The lower edges of this inner top plate are made to rest on horizontal
mouldings at the spring of the arch, or on curved mouldings on or behind
the inside check, or at some other convenient part of the stove. This inner
top plate is hinged at the upper part thereof to the fixed arched top plate, so
that it may, when required, be thrown up out of the way of the smoke. This
inner or moveable top plate may be sustained in any required position by
means of a spring or springs, which will hold it up at any given point. Behind
the flue door is placed a curved spring, against which the upper edge of the

page_text: flue door bears as it is moved backward or forward to increase or diminish the
smoke opening. By this means the door may be held in any given or deter-
mined position, and consequently the draft of the stove or grate may be
increased or diminished at pleasure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Robertson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ROBERTSON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Stove Grate Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Пer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing late the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first 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, ny 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STOVES OR 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, and 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 dato of the said Letters
Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that J, the said Alexander Robertson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention of "Improvements in Stoves or Fire Grates,"
is to improve the appearance of arched top plate stoves, by dispensing with
the use of the unsightly door or moveable piece usually placed in the centre

page_text: of the inner top plate, for the purpose of allowing the smoke to pass into the
flue on occasions such as on first lighting the fire, when the ordinary flue door
is sometimes found insufficient. For this purpose the inner or lower top
plate is made in one piece, instead of the usual mode of constructing it in
several pieces, as in the grate known as Stevens' grate. The lower edges of
this inner top plate are made to rest on horizontal or curved mouldings at the
spring of the arch, or behind the inside check, or at some other convenient part
of the stove. This inner or moveable top plate is hinged at the upper part
thereof to the fixed arched top plate, so that it may, when required, be thrown
up out of the way of the smoke, which is thereby made to pass under instead
of over the plate as heretofore. By my peculiar mode of hinging or attaching
this inner or moveable top plate to the other parts, and which will be hereafter
more particularly described, 1 am enabled to raise and lower the top plate
within a smaller or narrower space than heretofore, which will be a great
convenience where flue accommodation is circumscribed. This inner moveable
top plate may also be sustained in any required position by means of a spring
or springs, which will hold it up at any given point. Behind or above the
inner or moveable top cr back plate (which forms part of the flue door) is
placed a curved double or split spring, which is made to bear against a fixed
guide or bars or piece connected with the fixed back plate, as the moveable
back plate is raised or lowered to increase or diminish the smoke opening or
the draught of the fire. By this means the inner moveable top plate may be
held at any given altitude or determined position, and consequently the draught
of the stove or grate may be increased or diminished at pleasure.
In the accompanying Drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent front elevations
of two stove grates of different design, but constructed according to my
improvements; Fig. 3 is a side view of the stove shewn at Fig. 1, and
Fig. 4 is a similar view, but having the back raised instead of shut, as shown
at Fig. 3.
し
a (Figures 1 and 2) is the front plate of the grate; (Figures 1 and 2)
is the fixed radiating top or back plate; is the inner or moveable radiating
top or back plate, which rests on or behind the inside cheeks d, d, (Fig. 2,)
and which radiating top or back plate on being raised, as shewn in the side
view, Fig. 4, affords a large opening for the passage of smoke up the chimney,
as indicated by the arrows; c is the falling door or back, which is shewn open
in Fig. 4, and is supported at any angle by means of the ratchet bar ƒ
(Figures 3 and 4). The inner or moveable top or back plate c is connected
or attached to the fixed top or back plate b, by means of a hinged piece g, and
the moveable back plate c is provided with a double or split spring h, which

page_text: works in a stationary slot or guide piece i, secured to the fixed back plate b.
It will now be understood that on raising the inner top or back plate c, the
action of both the double spring hand double binge g is brought into play,
and as will be seen in the side view, Fig. 4, the pressure of the spring against
the sides of the slot piece i, in which it works, keeps the inner top or back
plate at any required altitude, and in the action of raising or opening this
top plate the double hinge, by which the inner top or back plate c is joined
to the larger or outer top or back plate b, causes the inner top or back plate c
to move in a vertical or nearly vertical direction, thereby saving great
amount of flue, space, as will be understood on inspecting Fig. 4 of the
Drawings.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Stoves or Fire
Grates, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I would observe that I do not mean or intend to confine myself to the precise
form or construction of the spring or double hinge, although I consider those
shewn in the Drawings to be the most convenient and best adapted for the
intended purpose.
In conclusion, I claim, first, making the inner radiating top plate in one
entire piece.
Second, I claim forming a large opening for the escape of smoke and
gaseous products of the fuel into the flue or chimney, by raising the inner
top or back plate, and by moving it on a double hinge, and thus causing
it to form part of the flue, and guide the smoke and gascous products
in their passage up the chimney without presenting an obstruction to the
draught.
Third, I claim the mode of suspending the inner or moveable top or back
plate, whereby the smoke from the fire is caused to pass under instead of over
the inner top plate.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Robertson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
ALEXANDER RODERISON.
(L.S.)