IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES OR FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1856

page_text: (This Invention received Provisional Protection, but notice to proceed with the
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Hadley Riddell at the
Office of the Commissioners of "Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1856:
I;. JOSEPH HADLEY RIDDELL, of 5, Sherborne Lane, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer,, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES OR FIRE-PLACES, to be as follows:-
This Invention is intended, 1st, to reduce the labor and economize the
materials required for kindling a fire in an open grate, stove, or fire-place;
2nd, to prevent the smoke from the burning fuel entering the apartment;
3rd, to provide the means of enclosing the fire in such a way as to con-
siderably reduce or entirely remove the danger of setting fire to the furniture
or contents of the apartment, by sparks, &c. being thrown from the burning
fuel; and, 4th, to reduce the quantity of fuel required for heating apartments
by open fire-places.
These several objects I accomplish in the following manner, that is to say:-
I make the grate or fire-holder of a series of metallic rings, forming a vase or
other shaped vessel. This vessel is provided with a socket at its lower ex-
tremity, which socket fits upon a stud on which it will freely revolve. The bed
plate or floor of the stove or fire-place I form of a cast-iron or other plate,
having a recess, in which is fixed the stud upon which the fire-holder revolves.

page_text: This stud and recess I place in such a position that the fire-holder when fixed
in and upon them shall not be in the focus of the curve formed by the back of
the stove or fire-place, and the rays of heat reflected from the polished back
of the stove are thus caused to be dispersed through the apartment. The back
of the fire-place I form of a wrought-iron or other frame, to which is fitted
a thin sheet of polished steel, or other metal of any required curve, which
curve is determined by the shape of the framework, but I prefer the segment
of a circle. This sheet of metal is loose or detached, and made to fit into its
position, and in contact with the metallic frame, before mentioned, by springs or
catches, in order that it may be easily taken out and removed to a convenient
situation for cleaning or polishing. Above the vase, or other shaped fire-holder,
is fitted a sheet-iron or other metal pipe, which passes through the cover or
roof of the fire-place, and this tube or pipe may be telescopic if required, and
also formed with a trumpet mouth at its lower extremity, and it may be made
to be raised or lowered at pleasure by any ordinary means. When a fire is first
lighted, this tube may be placed in its lowest position, and approach or rest
upon the top ring of the vase or fire-holder, thus causing it to act as a "blower,"
and form an effective instrument for increasing the draught of air through the
fuel to be ignited, and facilitating the lighting and burning up of the fire.
The front of the stove or fire-place I fit with a metallic blind or screen, formed
of ribs of sheet iron or other metal, in such way that it can be raised or
lowered at pleasure. When raised to its highest position it may be concealed
behind the ornamental framing or front of the stove or fire-place, and when
lowered it will enclose the fire in a close chamber, formed of incombustible
materials, from which sparks cannot be projected.