IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND CHIMNEYS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smith, of Castle Fields, Shrewsbury, in the
County of Salop, Civil Engineer and Architect, for the Invention
of T..
39
Sealed the 14th January 1873, and dated the 8th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th November 1872.
I, JOHN SMITH, of Castle Fields, Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop,
Civil Engineer and Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES AND CHIMNEYS," to be as
follows:
This Invention relates chiefly to tubular grates, chimney drafts, and
appliances connected therewith, for offices, chambers, and all kinds of
rooms.
The front part of the grate is constructed of tubular form partaking
of either segmental, parabolic, octagonal, polygonal, or oblong square,

page_text: on the plan; the tube thus constructed is continued down to the fire-
chamber where it is cut out in various shapes and heights to receive the
smoke from the consuming fuel. This tube or smoke draft is divided
externally into compartments, panels, or divisions, in various forms.
These panels or compartments are made to receive movable valves
protected on each side by cheeks, and opened or closed by screw knobs,
rack, or catch springs. The number of these valves can be increased
from one to six, according to the length of chimney and position of
the grate. The valves open at an angle with the smoke draft, and
are closed at the lower or bottom end and sides, and open at the upper
end or top, to permit of the air passing freely to the tubular smoke
draft, partly or wholly closed at pleasure by a screw knob or graduated
spindle to tighten by spring or otherwise. This tubular flue is fixed on
a frame bearing the fire-bars and chamber. The form of the fire-bars,
box, or chamber to receive the fuel is eliptical, or parabolic, polygonal,
or square sided parallelogram in plan, to follow the contour of the
tubular draft or smoke flue. The bars on this chamber are of various
sizes and number, and vary according to the size of grate. These bars
forming the fire-box or chamber are made either flush or facable with
the tubular smoke flue, or projecting from it outwards into the apart-
ments from one to five or more inches, according to the position of the
chimney and the chimneypiece. They are closed in on the sides or
contracted by perforated cheeks and carved stands or hobs, or perfectly
plain fire-chamber, without contracting cheeks, with stand iron, or
hobs.
A bar of metal cast to pattern is made to fit on to the upper rail of
the grate, and of any of the forms aforesaid, is built into the wall with
a recess formed of fire-bricks of the section and form to fit the metal
tubular smoke draft and fire-chamber. The grate thus constructed is
fixed on the face of the wall, and secured to the bar by set screws.
On the upper end of the metal tubular smoke flue or draft, and fitting
on to it closely, is a conical graduated box of metal, carrying on its
upper edge a valve of the exact form of the smoke grate and fitted to
tip over the edge, and poised on point journals, and made to open and
part or to hold or hermetically close at pleasure; the moving action
of these are by several ways and means, according to the situation
of the chimney flue, some working on the outer surface and some
inwardly.

page_text: The draft is continued upwards off the circular parabolic chimney or
grate bar with a specially shaped brick which may be of the desired
thickness and width, forming a flue of 24 inches in thickness, and of the
form, i.c., segmental, parabolic, octagon, or polygonal, in plan. These
tubular drafts are surmounted by and finished on the end by a terminal
of fire-clay, completing the draft through uninterrupted.
The draft is continued upwards off the circular parabolic chimney or
grate bar with a specially shaped brick which may be of the desired
thickness and width, forming a flue of 24 inches in thickness, and of the
form, i.c., segmental, parabolic, octagon, or polygonal, in plan. These
tubular drafts are surmounted by and finished on the end by a terminal
of fire-clay, completing the draft through uninterrupted.
The grates and valves are applicable to ordinary chimneys and
chimney pieces, and also the terminal of the tubular flue is applicable,
with certain modifications, to other drafts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Smith in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 8th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SMITH, of Castle Fields, Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop, Civil
Engineer and Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Smith, Her special licence that
I, the said John Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Smith, 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 FIRE-GRATES AND 'Chimneys,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Smith, 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.
.
.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon, all of which
correspond to the several parts in detail, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the construction of tubular grates and
chimney's draughts and appliances as set forth in the annexed Drawings,
and the objects to be obtained thereby are the economizing of heat, and
its more perfect distribution for the purpose of warming apartments or
cooking and preparing food, providing the means by which the passage.
of heat from the rooms can be checked and the draught brought under
perfect control, providing at the same time ventilation without passing
the air through the fuel into the chimney, and allowing the heat to
radiate, and checking and reducing the consumption of coals, forming a
perfect and equable channel of the most easily cleansed figure, having
no angles or cavities for lodgment or the deposit of soot, and at the same
time ensure the perfect formation of the flues.
The object of the Inventor has been to place in the hands of the
public a mode of construction which shall enable the architect to place
the fire in the most advantageous position for the general convenience
and purposes of the apartment, and dispenses with the obstructive
chimney breasts, placing the grate on the face of the wall with its fire
chamber projecting its full depth into the apartments and obtaining the
maximum amount of heat.
The front part of the grate is constructed of tubular form and
partakes of several figures, that is to say, circular, segmental, 8 sided,
polygonal, or square; this tube is continued down to the fire-bars and
chamber. The opening to form the draught is moulded into a cusped
trefoil arch with a pointed OG head in the centre of the draught,
the draught lead to be a point or apex of an angle of any kind, to vary
in height according to the nature of the draught required and the
purposes which the grate has to perform. Above the draught head the
tubular front is subdivided into compartments or panels; these panels
are made to receive movable valves which are protected on each side by
cheeks and flanges, and rest at an angle, close at the bottom and open
at the top; these valves are closed at pleasure by the double button
fastener on the outer surface; or a spring bolt or screw may be applied;

page_text: the tubular flue is fixed on a frame which also carries the fire-bars.
The chamber to contain the fuel follows the line of tubular fronts but
projecting from 3 to 4 inches beyond it, according to the purposes
required. These bars are specially designed for radiation and economical
use of the fuel, glossed tiles being used for the plinths and borders
around the grates used for cooking purposes.
Above the frame are provided bars of the same figure and form of
grate front, which bars are built into the brickwork,
and upon
which
the flues are built. The bars receive a contracting chamber fitting
precisely the upper portion of the grate, and to which is fitted a flanged
valve lipped over the front and side of the chamber and under the back
flange which effectually excludes all down draught or soot when fires
are not used. This valve has fixed thereon a lever rod with joints and
connections which enable it to be raised or depressed, motion being
given to it by the handle, and stops, and slotted side rests, on the out-
side of the canopy or frame, where it can be adjusted to one-quarter,
one-half, three-fourths, or full draught. This chamber contracts the
opening of the grate on each side to the centre of the draught, giving
great assistance and impulse to the ascent of the smoke, and is applicable
to other grates.
The chimney draughts are constructed of brick specially made to suit
situation and plan of rooms; they are of various sections; they are to be
built with close well-fitted joints, and well washed full and flat inside
with a brush of cement wash. By the use of terra cotta fronted flues
heat can be got from the smoke flue. The terminal for chimneys has a
deflecting cylinder within it and a barrel with arched louvred openings
and storm shoots through the cornice.
The grates shown in the following Figures are constructed to fit
and apply the tubular chimney and canopy, and appliances thereto.
The tubular grate shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 is intended for living
rooms or offices, chambers, and other apartments. a is the fire
chamber, and 6 the fire-bars with a canopy cover the fire. This grate
has a fire-brick back d and a series of valves e, e, in the front of the
grate; is the chimney valve; g the chamber with a connecting rod;
h, h, are chimney bars, and i the hearth and fender, j being the floor
of the room or other apartment in which the stove is fitted; k is the
tubular chimney flue, the upper portion of which has a terra cotta terminal,.

page_text: shown detached in Figure 4, and to which the deflecting cylinders and
cornice m, m, are arranged, as also storm shoots p, p; q, q, are louvred
openings in the barrel of the terminal, and is the smoke flue above
the tubular flue. D is a crucible brick applicable to my Patent and to
other grates. Valves x, x, set in the chimney on same principle (for
ventilation) are worked by disguised metal rod behind plastering, with
slide rests for regulating, as for grates.
shown detached in Figure 4, and to which the deflecting cylinders and
cornice m, m, are arranged, as also storm shoots p, p; q, q, are louvred
openings in the barrel of the terminal, and is the smoke flue above
the tubular flue. D is a crucible brick applicable to my Patent and to
other grates. Valves x, x, set in the chimney on same principle (for
ventilation) are worked by disguised metal rod behind plastering, with
slide rests for regulating, as for grates.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a tubular grate similar to that shown in-
Figures 1, 2, and 3, but applied to an ordinary breast and chimney-
piece.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 show the tubular canopy and arch in connection
with a double or single fire grate to be used and fixed on the floor of
drawing rooms, saloons, halls, and other large apartments, show
rooms, &c.
a is one fire chamber discharging its smoke into the flue k,
and a¹ is another fire chamber discharging its smoke into the flue k¹
leading to a channel below; c, c, are canopies and arches over the two
fires; and d, d, are the fire lumps or stove backs; P is the metal
division of the smoke flues; G is a concave crown of fire-brick over the
whole surface, and N is the dome of openworked metal work. L is a
metal or other flue leading to an uptake, and S, S, S, are apertures in
the floor by which heat can ascend into the apartment if required. This
flue may be cased with three-inch patent bricks when the shaft or
uptake is deficient in height. R is the cap on the end, the removal of
which facilitates the cleansing of the flue L and also the short tubular
flues K, K. Swivel damper valves can be employed to close either or
both the flues K, K, as found necessary.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13 represent the tubular chimney and
appliances in connection with a small open fire-cooking grate specially
invented to supply a great desideratum for cottages, second kitchens,
still and butler's rooms, giving roasting bars a good oven in a con-
venient position without burning the cook or interference with the
roasting operation when the door is opened; also a good boiler and
cooking appliances over the fire, as in large grates; in this plan the
fire-bars can be lowered about 2½ inches when desired. This grate
requires no breast of brickwork, and occupies a space only 2 foot
6 inches in the front; a is the fire-chamber; and B, B, roasting bars,
which can be dropped to B¹ when desired by the lever C when the

page_text: handle C¹ is acted upon for that purpose; D is the fixed bottom grate
and fire lump; and E is the cinder box and screen for the ashes,
which fall into the ash-box F below; H is the boiler feed plate; and H',
the slide rack and appliances for gridiron, kettle, horse, &c.; I is the
boiler, and in the sectional views Figures 12 and 13, U, U, are the flues
and damper; P is the roasting and pastry oven; and Q, the hot hearth
or plate. Tiles are in some cases fitted under the ovens as plinths and
borders.
Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17 represent the construction of the tubular
chimneys which I use in connection with my grates for heating and
cooking, and give some of the forms of bricks used and their appli-
cation in connection with 9-inch walls R, R, R; S showing a flanged
cast plate built into the brickwork to carry grate and hearth; T, the
grate bars; U, the canopy; V, the fire-chamber; W, the fire lump;
and X, X, X, the smoke flues.
Figure 18 shows a tubular chimney with a metal front Y; and Figure 19,
a tubular chimney with a terra cotta front Z; R showing the walls,
and X the flues, as in the preceding Figures.
Figure 20 represents a sectional view of the curved form in which
I prefer to make my horizontal grate bars; or they may be made with
the upper surface flat, as shown by the dotted lines.
Figures 21 and 22 show the conical graduated metal box e¹ carrying
on its upper edge a valve ƒ of the exact form of the smoke flue, and
fitted with a lip at its front edge, whilst the box itself has another lip
at the top of its back plate by which the valve is enabled to effectually
close the box when required. The valve ƒ has a jointed rod g attached
to it in connection with a knob or handle on the exterior, which can be
secured in any position so as to open or close the valve to any extent,
according to the amount of draught required.
I have also devised a grate to give all the advantages of an open
fire-grate, with roasting bars and chimney, which shall take away the
steam and gases thrown off in the process of cooking, and when this is
done to be used as a cheerful open fire-place quite free from waste
when not in use for cooking. In this case I use two separate fire-
chambers (which can be united when required for roasting joints). The
upper chamber or breakfast service heats the boiler and pastry oven
on one side, leaving the dinner oven and hot hearth on the other side

page_text: quiescent. This upper chamber occupies a little more than half the
depth of the bars. The lower chamber is divided from the upper one
by a movable division bottom grate with fast vertical leg underneath,
which enables the cook to use only such part of the lower chamber as
will be sufficient to heat the oven.
The position of the canopy front has been utilized by a newly
invented rack, which receives several useful appliances for cooking
over the open fire, which is raised or depressed to any position with
one hand, and self-fastening.
This combined cooking and heating grate is shown in Figures 23
to 28 of the accompanying Drawings, in which K is the tubular
smoke flue; c, the canopy front over the fire on f, the chamber and
valve with the connecting rod, and rests in order to moderate the
draught in chimney at will; H is a slide rack for suspending cooking
appliances for cooking over the open fire; D is a cranked gridiron ;
E is a kettle and pan horse; F¹ is a sad iron heater fluted; G' is the
toasting rack and slide front of bars; these are shown separately in
Figures 29, 30, 31, and 32.; a is the upper fire-chamber and breakfast
bars, serving also through the flue U, Figure 24, for the boiler I and
pastry or breakfast oven P; I is the lower fire-chamber when combined
with the upper fire-chamber a for roasting bars and supplying heat
through the flue U₁, Figure 26, to the dinner or roasting oven Q', and
the hot plate Q over it; K' is a movable division between the upper
and lower fire-chambers, having a vertical leg and shoe for dividing the
lower bars, and leaving merely space enough for heating the oven and
plate only when the full width for roasting in front of the fire is not
required, thus effecting a saving in coals; L' is a barrel with motive
power to move the slide K'; M', M', are smoke flues; and U, U, are
the heat flues from the ovens and the boiler; I is the boiler to be used
for supplying steam if required with all necessary appliances; N¹ is a
bath boiler; R is a screen placed in front of the cinder pit; S¹ is a
portable cinder draw; T is the ash pit; V₁ represents brick jambs for
fixing the grate, but the latter requires no chimney breast and can be
extended to any width of bars, capacity, and number of ovens or boilers,
steamers, closets, and pans, and all the appliances for a large establish-
ment, on a 14-inch wall.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention of: "Improve-

page_text: ments in Grates and Chimneys," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that I claim,—
First. The fixed tubular canopy and the form given to the grate, and
draught with the arch and valves in combination therewith, also the
mode of opening and closing the canopy valves, and the contracting
chamber and valve for chimneys, and fire lump or back, as described
and shown.
Secondly. The position of the canopy flue and the appliance fixed
thereon for cooking and other purposes, as described and shown.
Thirdly. The arrangement and the construction of smoke flues, and
the mode of connecting and fixing the tubular grates thereto, with
the terminal for intercepting down draughts, substantially as described
and shown.
Fourthly. The divisions of bars for cooking purposes into two separate
chambers, horizontally, to work two distinct ovens and boilers, and the
arrangements and position of heating flues in connection' therewith,
as described and shown.
Fifthly. The position and form of the grate, the canopy, the chimney,
the oven, and the boiler, and the flues in connection therewith, and the
mode of lowering the fire, as described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.
JOHN SMITH. (L.S.)