IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE- PLACES, FURNACES, AND STOVES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Julius Jeffreys at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd December
1865.
I, JULIUS JEFFREYS, of Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
PLACES, FURNACES, AND STOVES," to be as follows:-
I place a metal basin, preferring a hemispherical one, mouth upwards, partly
in front of and partly under the burning fuel. A cylindrical axis turning in
collars cast on each side of the basin lies in the line of its transverse diameter,
and projecting beyond it at each side is furnished with ratchet teeth cast
round the projecting ends. A slot through the axis in length equal to the
diameter of the basin receives the straight side of a semicircular disc (or other
shaped plate) of metal, which exactly fits the basin. A pin through the
central point of the axis and the disc plate, while holding the disc plate
firmly, permits it to be turned round through the axis. The basin having been
filled with fuel the disc or plate is turned through the axis over the front half
of the fuel and is then made to drive the fuel before it by means of a lèver
acting upon one ratchet of the axis; the other ratchet being employed to keep
the plate or half disc by means of a ring stop where the lever left it. When
all the fuel has been driven out of the basin and it is replenisheil, the lialf

page_text: disc is turned round again over the fresh fuel for repeating the propulsion
of it.
In domestic fire-grates the nether half of the basin occupies the usual ash-
pit, and there being no bottom grating the fresh fuel in the basin supports
and replenishes the live fuel in the grate. A horizontal slit through the back
of the grate at bottom permits the ash dust to be pushed through it into a
space behind the basin. The upright back plate of the stove is divided hori-
zontally on a line with the top of the bright fuel, and is suspended by a chain
over a pulley and balanced by a weight. It can be raised or lowered as
required, leaving a slit through which the current flows backwards into the
chimney as the stove is closed above. Hinged along the lower edge of this
back plate is a plate inclined forwards at a variable angle so as to overshadow
the fuel. This plate deflects the atmospheric current upon the top of the fuel,
maintaining its combustion in lieu of the current cut off from below. Upon
this plate may be fixed one of polished metal to reflect the heat as well as
deflect the current. I can avail myself of the considerable heat of a current
thus deflected by conveying it as it enters the chimney through a portion of
the chimney's area only; a fresh air current warmed by it occupying the other
portion; the one current travelling up stoneware pipes carried up the chimney,
and the other current up the space exterior to the pipes; the fresh air
passage, whichever of the two, having communications with the outer air at
bottom and with one or more rooms traversed by the chimney. I place a
fender with a raised bottom round the front of the stove to form a box to
receive dust and ashes through slits or ornamental perforations in it, and to
enclose or encircle the front half of the basin. In furnaces the nether half of
this fuel basin projects into the front part of the usual ash-pit, thus displacing
the bars there. A bridge (forming a water casing or made solid of fire-stone
according to the nature of the furnace) divides this front coking part of the
furnace from the main furnace. The fuel driving axis of the disc plate being
turned by engine power causes a constant supply of bright fuel. to mount over
the bridge and fall upon the main furnace to be stoked down its inclined bars.
The fire-door (no longer receiving fuel) is divided into an upper and lower
airway by a plate or water casing extending inwards nearly to the first fire-
bridge and inclined downwards. Its under surface thus forms a deflector
urging the current of air upon the coking fuel, while its upper surface directs
the upper current of air over the bridge of the main furnace and protects the
stokers from the front fire. In some cases, where it may be desired to
maintain a constant fire and prevent the burning fuel from rising too high, I
lay across the top of the fire a number of fire-clay rods or tubes maintained

page_text: in their place by iron rods running through their centre and resting in holes
or slots in the fire-bar and the back of the grate. A constant supply of fuel
may be kept up by having the disc plate constantly urged forwards by means
of a spiral spring.