IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PLACES AND STOVES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Collier Bakewell, of No. 6, Haverstock
Terrace, Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PLACES AND STOVES."-A communication from
abroad by Marshall Daniel Wellman, of Allegheny City, in the State
of Pennsylvania North America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd September 1862.
I, FREDERICK COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hamp-
stead, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PLACES AND STOVES," a
communication to me from abroad by Marshall Daniel Wellman, of
Allegheny City, in the State of Pennsylvania, North America, to be as
follows:-
The Invention consists in the construction of fire-places and stoves, in
such manner as to effect a more perfect combustion of the fuel, to obtain
more complete controul over its combustion, and to prevent the soot and
fine ashes from entering the apartment in which such fire-place or stove is
fixed.

page_text: The first of these objects is effected by making air passages or recesses in
the back wall of the fire-grate, extending from below the fire-basket to
any desired height above the grating, so as to increase the supply of air to the
burning fuel.
The second object is accomplished by suspending under each grate bar,
a narrow flap or strip of iron supported by pivots at the ends, all of the flaps
being connected together by a transverse rod so that by the movement of
a lever their lower edges may be raised to close the spaces between the
grate bars and the air passages, to prevent or check the access of air from
beneath.
To effect the third object the throat of the chimney is closed by a suitable
metal plate through which there are openings to admit a short horizontal smoke
flue, an air flue, and two dust pipes all of which may be closed and opened at
pleasure, and a latticed screen is placed above the smoke flue, to obstruct the
fall of soot and dust, and to direct them into a receptacle from which they
can be easily removed.
The Invention also comprises an arrangement for heating air, which object
is effected by admitting the air behind the back wall of the fire-grate, in which
part the air flue and the dust pipes are situated, an opening being left round
the front arch of the fire-place for the entrance of the air, and for its issue
into the apartment when heated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell in the Great Seal Patent Oflice
on the 2nd March 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hampstead, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of ITer
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, Her special licence that I, the said
Frederick Collier Bakewell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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,

page_text: 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 FIRE-PLACES AND STOVES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Marshall Daniel Wellman, of Allegheny
City, in the State of Pennsylvania, North America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :--
The Invention consists of certain improvements in fire-places and stoves to
effect the following objects:-First, to obtain more perfect controul over the
combustion of the fuel, so that the fire may be made to burn up, and give out
a great amount of heat, or to burn very slowly as desired. Second, to effect
a saving of fuel. Third, to prevent the soot and fine ashes from passing from
the chimney and fire-place into the room.
The construction and arrangement of parts which constitute this Inven-
tion, as applied to an open fire-place, are shown in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, in which the same letters in each Figure refer to similar
parts.
Figure 1 is a front view of the open fire-place; Figure 2 is a vertical
section of the fire-place shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal section
of the same, through x -------x; Figure 4 is a perspective repre-
sentation of the same, with the front piece and grate, and back wall removed,
and the draught, and dust pipes broken off, so as to show more clearly the
construction and arrangement of the several parts; Figure 5 shows part of
the grate bars of the fire-basket, with the spaces between the bars open;
Figure 6 shows part of the grate bars of the fire-basket, with the spaces
between the bars closed. The front of the fire-place, which may be made
of cast iron, in the usual manner, is in two pieces, of which the part a, is
set close to the wall of the chimney in front of the opening for the fire-
place, and 6, the front arch, to which the fire-basket or grate c is attached,
being set a little in advance of the front piece a, so as to leave a space on each

page_text: side, and round the top of the arch 6, (as seen at d, d, Figure 3,) through
which space
I cold air may pass in, and circulate round the flues, and back wall
of the fire-basket, and, becoming heated, pass out into the apartment. The
inner edge of the arch piece b, is attached to the skeleton frame e, (see Figure 4)
to which are also fastened the grate or fire-basket c, and the back wall f. The
back wall of the fire-place is semi-cylindrical up to a point a few inches above
the top of the fire-basket, and from thence is arched over to the arch piece b
of the front, leaving a narrow opening 9 at the top of the arch near the front
piece for the passage of the smoke. The opening 9 leads into a short
horizontal flue h, the mouth of which is closed by a slide i, which rests on
the top plate in the throat of the chimney. This top plato closes the
chimney so as to prevent the passage of air, smoke, soot, or dirt, up or
down, excepting through the flues h and k, and the dust pipes 1, 2, which
open through it at h', ', and ', as shown in Figure 4. The arch of the
back wall extends upwards to the top platej as seen in Figure 2, so that there
is an enclosed space m, behind the back wall of the fire-place, the only
opening into which is at d, round the arch piece b. The back wall ƒ, ƒ',
may be made of iron or of fire-clay, the latter being preferable as less likely
to burn out. In this back wall are a number of vertical air passages, which
extend from below the grate bars to a point above the top of the fire-basket.
These air passages are simply recesses formed in the back wall to allow
air to pass upwards at the back of the fuel in the fire-basket. They are
made tapering upwards, so that any cinders or ashes collecting in them may
fall down, or be easily removed with the point of a poker. One such recess
or air-passage n, n, &c. occurs between every two of the grate bars of the
fire-basket, so that the closing of the spaces between the grate bars as
hereafter explained, also closes the air passages, and prevents access of air to
the back part of the fire. The grate bars c', c', &c., are horizontal and extend
from the front to the back of the fire-basket c. Under each grato bar there is
a recess in which is placed a flap or strip of iron o, pivoted at each end into
the fire-basket so as to turn on its axis far enough to close the space between
the grate bars, as shown in Figure 6. When the flaps are not thus turned
up each one lies in its recess in the grate bar, leaving the space between the
bars open (as seen in Figure 5). These flaps are all connected with a
transverse rod p, which is pivoted to a lever q, by means of which they may
be opened or closed simultaneously. The handle of that lever projects from
the fire-place, in front, at one side (as seen in Figures 2 and 3). The hind
part of the back wall may be corrugated, as shown in Figure 3, in order to
present a larger surface to heat the air which enters the space m, under tho

page_text: top plato j, and
top piece j. Under the fire-basket is a grating », which extends also under
the air fluck, which grating allows the ashes and fine cinders from the fire
to fall into a drawers, placed under the grating, and under the dust flues 1, 1.
Behind the back wall fis a vertical air flue k, which opens at k', through the
top plate j, and extends downwards within a few inches of the grating r, the
lower end being also open. Through this flue ka draught of air passes up
from under the fire-basket, carrying with it any fine ashes that fall from the
fire-grate, and which might otherwise pass into the room. The dust thus
carried upwards into the air flue will either pass through the
be deposited from the dust pipes in the drawer s, or will fall down again
through the air flue into the drawer, so that the air flue k cannot become
choked. The slide i, which when drawn forward closes the smoke flue h,
also closes at the same time the opening of the air flue in the top covering
plate j, as may be seen in Figure 4. The slide i is worked by a hooked rod
passed into the eye t, on the upright part of the slide which is easily accessible
through the opening g. On each side of the air flue k is a dust pipe l, l.
before named. These two dust pipes open above into the top covering
plate at ',, (Figure 4) and below into the space occupied by the drawers,
at 1, 1. The lower openings of the dust pipes may be closed by the
slides u, u, which are worked by rods u', u', which pass forwards to the front
of the fire-place, on each side, and are concealed, as is also the drawers, by
the fender v. Above the top plate j in the chimney, is placed a lattice
screen w, w, &c., composed of strips of iron extending horizontally from back
to front of the chimney, and overlapping, but not touching, each other.
They rise from the openings P, P, of the dust pipes on each side, to a point
over the air flue k, covering, but not closing, the orifice of the smoke flue g,
as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. These strips are all inclined down-
wards from the apex on each side, so that while the smoke can pass freely up.
the chimney, no soot, dust, or ashes can descend between the strips, but must.
fall on one side or the other into the dust pipes 1, 1, and thence into the.
drawer s.
Having thus described the construction of the improved fire-place I will.
briefly explain the mode of operation.
When a fire is built in the grate of the fire-place tho lever 9 is pushed back,
so as to turn down the flaps o in the grate bars, and leave the spaces between
them open, and also the air passages in the back wall. The slide i is also pushed
back to open the smoke flue h, and the air flue k.
cominunicate between the dust pipes and the drawer s, are kept closed, being
drawn back only when it is desired to clear the dust pipes from any substances
The slides u, u, which.

page_text: which may have fallen from the chimney. While the spaces between the
grate bars and the air passages in the back wall are open, the fire will burn
brightly, and give out a great deal of heat because the air by passing freely
behind the burning fuel, as well as through and in front of it, causes its
thorough ignition, and the smoke and gases are also consumed. By this
means there is a great saving of fuel effected. The best way of using the
improved fire-place is to leave the spaces between the grate bars open, after
baving lighted the fire, until the coal ceases to emit much smoke or flame,
and then by shutting off the air the fire will burn slowly downwards, and
the surface of the fuel will remain red hot until it is entirely consumed. If
it be desired at any time to damp the fire, it is only necessary to reverse the
lever q, thus closing the spaces between the grate bars and the air passages,
and the air being then able to gain access only at the top, and in front of the
fire the rapidity of combustion is suddenly arrested. The fire may be retained
in that condition for a long time, but it may be speedily revived into more
active combustion by pressing back the lever. The fire may thus be slacked
at night, and in the morning be made to burn up by merely moving the lever.
The air flue k serves to draw in any fine ashes that fall from the fire-basket,
and to keep up a good draught in the chimney, without having too large an
opening for the smoke flue h. The space behind the back wall of the fire-place
and under. the top platej serves to heat the air, which enters the space between
the front a, and the arch b, near to the ground, and, after circulating round the
heated back wall, the air flue, and the dust pipes, passes out through the
opening a higher up. This improved fire-place is peculiarly adapted for burning
the more bituminous descriptions of coal, but it may be used with great advantage
with anthracite and other kinds of coal. In the ordinary plans of burning
bituminous coal, large quantities of soot collect in the chimney, and not
unfrequently become loosened and fall down into the room. The arrangement
of dust pipes and lattice screen placed over the air flue, and smoke flue,
effectually prevents such annoyances, as all soot or dust falling on the inclined
surfaces of the screen are conducted to the openings A, A, at the top of the
dust pipes, and are deposited on the slides u, u. When those slides are drawn
back which should be frequently done, the contents of the dust pipes fall into
the drawers. If preferred partitions may be made in the drawer to separate
the soot from the ashes and cinders which fall into it through the grating r.
These improvements are applicable to stoves and furnaces as well as to open
fire-places, the arrangements of the parts being susceptible of the necessary
modifications to adapt them to those purposes.
Having thus described the nature of these improvements in fire-places and

page_text: stoves, and in what manner the same are to be userl, I claim and desire to
secure by Letters Patent.
1st, the use of air passages or recesses in the back wall of the grate,
extending from below the fire-basket to any desired height above the grating
on which the fuel is placed.
2nd, the use of flaps, or other equivalent device, for closing at pleasure
the spaces between the grate bars, on which the fuel rests, for the purpose of
preventing the rapid combustion of the fuel.
3d, the use of a screen placed over the smoke flue, for the purpose of
preventing the fall of soot and dirt into the apartment, and for conducting
those substances to suitable receptacles from which they may be removed
from time to time.
4th, the combination of the air flue, dust pipes, and screen, described, or
any of them, with a fire-place or stove for the purposes herein-before set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year
of our Lord 1868.
L.S.
FRED. COLLIER BAKEWELL.
L.S.)
FRED. COLLIER BAKEWELL.