Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug.. 1887
Complete Left, 14th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
We, GEORGE SMITH and FREDERICK GEORGE LIDINGTON trading as Smith and
Lidington of Excelsior Works, Earl Street, Bilston in the County of Stafford,
Tin-plate Workers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In coal vases, or coal receptacles, as ordinarily constructed, there is only one
chamber, for both large and small coals; this is objectionable, inasmuch as the said
coals become mixed indiscrimately, which renders them difficult of access, as it
usually happens that the smaller coals, get under the larger lumps; so that when the
said smaller coals are required, the upper and larger lumps have to be first
removed.
Our invention has for its object, to remedy these defects, by dividing or partitioning
off the said coal vase, or coal receptacle, into two compartiments, wherein the large
and small coals are respectively stored.
We will describe our invention in connection with an upright or pillar like vase.
The body of the vase, consists essentially of an upright box, or pillar like body,
enclosed on all sides and bottom, but open at top, and through which both large and
small coals, are introduced into the interiors of both receptacles or compartments, as
hereinafter described; and which said open top is enclosed, by a hinged lid or
cover.
Disposed horizontally about the middle of the said vase or receptacle, is a loose
grating or false bottom, which rests upon ledge or flange supports, carried upon
the inside walls thereof; so that any small coals placed upon the said grating, falls
therethrough.
By thus partitioning off the upper, from the lower part of a coal receptacle, two
compartments are thereby obtained; the one above the grating, or meshed false
bottom, being for the reception of large lumps, while the part thereunder, is made a
receptacle, wherein slack or small lumps can be placed or stored; and access gained
to which said lower part, by a longitudinal opening, disposed at or near the base, and
at the front of the receptacle. The front and ends of this opening, are made to extend
forward, and with the top boundary edges to this opening, inclined downwards ;

page_text: and which said opening is covered or enclosed by a sloping flap door, which is
hinged on its lower edge, and turns outwardly.
The receptacle is supported upon rollers or feet, while the hinged doors or flaps, are
provided with the usual knobs and handles for their opening and closing.
When in use, the horizontal grating, which divides the upper from the lower
compartment, is lifted out, when small coal or slack can be placed through the top,
this having been done, the grating or false divisional bottom, is then replaced upon its
ledge supports, when large coal or lumps can then be placed upon it, and there stored
for use.
Thus, when large coal is required to be used, it is simply taken from the top
receptacle, and when small coal or slack is required, then the flap door at the front of
the base of the receptacle, is opened, and the fuel removed by a shovel, or by other
means, through the opening.
Instead of a divisional grating being placed horizontally, it may be placed obliquely
or vertically; but in each case, access to the compartments is gained by separate and
independent doors or openings.
If necessary, the separate compartments of the vase, may be made in the form
of drawers, which pull out, and the upper one provided with a false grating bottom.
Or the lower compartiment only, may be made to draw out, while the upper one
remains fixed.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Coal Vases or Coal Receptacles.
We, GEORGE SMITH and FREDERICK GEORGE LIDINGTON trading as Smith and
Lidington of Excelsior Works, Earl Street Bilston in the County of Stafford,
Tin plate Workers, 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:-
In coal vases, or coal receptacles, as ordinarily constructed, there is only.one
chamber, for both large and small coals; this is objectionable, inasmuch as the said
coals become mixed indiscriminately, which renders them difficult of access, as it usually
happens, that the smaller coals, get under the larger lumps; so that when the said
smaller coals are required, the upper and larger lumps have to be first removed.
Our invention has for its object, to remedy these defects, by dividing or partitioning
off, the said coal vase, or coal receptacle, into two compartments, wherein the large
and small coals are respectively stored.
We will describe our invention in connection with an upright or pillar like vase.
The body of the vase, consists essentially, of an upright box, or pillar like body;
enclosed on all sides and bottom, but open at top, and through which, both large and
small coals are introduced into the interiors of both receptacles or compartments, as
hereinafter described; and which said open top, is enclosed, by a hinged lid or
cover.
·
Disposed horizontally about the middle of the said vase or receptacle, is a. loose
grating or false bottom, which rests upon ledge or flange supports, carried upon the
inside walls thereof; so that any small coals placed upon the said grating, falls
therethrough.
•
By thus partitioning off the upper, from the lower part, of a coal receptacle, two
compartments are thereby obtained; the one above the grating, or meshed false
bottom, being for the reception of large lumps, while the part thereunder, is made a
receptacle, wherein slack or small lumps, can be placed or stored; and access gained
to which said lower part, by a longitudinal opening, disposed at or near the base, and
at the front of the receptacle. The front and ends of this opening; are made to
extend forward, and with the top boundary edges to this opening, inclined downwards;
and which said opening is covered or enclosed by a sloping flap door, which is hinged
on its lower edge, and turns outwardly.
The receptacle is supported upon rollers or feet, while the hinged doors or flaps, are
provided with the usual knobs and handles, for their opening and closing.
:
When in use, the horizontal grating, which divides the upper from the lower
compartment, is lifted out, when small coal or slack, can be placed through the top;
this having been done; the grating or false divisional bottom, is then replaced upon its
ledge supports, when large coal or lumps can then be placed upon it, and there stored
for use.

page_text: Thus, when large coal is required to be used, it is simply taken from the top
receptacle; and when small coal or slack is required, then the flap door, at the front
of the base of the receptacle, is opened, and the fuel removed by a shovel, or by other
means, through the opening.
If necessary, the separate compartments of the vase, may be made in the form of
drawers, which pull out, and the upper one, provided with a false grating bottom.
Or the lower compartment only, may be made to draw out, while the upper one
remains fixed.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, and figure 2 in transverse section, on the
dotted lines A B figure 1, a coal vase, provided with improvements made according to
our invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the said vase, and figure 4 is also a vertical section,
but taken at right angles to that of figure 3.
a are the sides or outer walls of the vase, with closed bottom b, and open top c,
which latter is enclosed or covered, by a hinged lid d, and access is gained to the
lower part of the vase, by a hinged lid or door e, which opens outwards, and with its
outer edge resting upon a stop a².
Disposed horizontally about the middle of the said vase, or coal receptacle, is
a removable grating or widely meshed reticulated bottom f, which rests upon ledge, or
flanged supports g, situated upon two opposite inside walls of the receptacle; and
upon which grating, the larger coals are placed.
By thus partitioning off the vase, by means of a divisional grating, two compart-
ments L and S, are formed, an upper and a lower one, the former of which, is
adapted for containing lumps of coal, while the latter for holding small coals, to which
access is gained, through the opening e², by opening the lid e.
.
The grating or reticulated bottom, instead of being removable, may if necessary,
made a fixture with the bars.
bo
are swivelling castors, upon which, the vase or coal receptacle, is supported, and
i is the scoop holder.
Figure 5 represents a modification of our invention, in which the lower compartment
is provided with an outwardly sliding box or coal receptacle.
a is the vase, is a divisional grating, or reticulated bottom, and j is a small coal
receptacle, which slides in the lower compartment, under the grating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is,―
First. Dividing or partitioning off horizontally or obliquely, the interiors of coal
vases, or coal receptacles, into two or more compartments, by means of a movable or
fixed grating or gratings, or its, or their equivalents, as set forth.
Secondly. The combination with a coal vase, provided with an open top c, of
a lower opening e², with cover and grating f, as set forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Thirdly. The combination with a coal vase, whose interior is divided off, by
a grating, as in figure 5, of a drawer like coal receptacle j, as set forth.
Dated this Twelfth day of May 1888