IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WARMING, VENTILATING, AND COOKING
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1873.
I, JAMES WADSWORTH, of the City of Manchester, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR WARMING, VENTILATING, AND COOKING," to be as follows :-
The object of this Invention is to construct a heating apparatus which
shall economise fuel, and at the same time give off a maximum amount
of heat for warming, ventilating, and cooking purposes. Each side and
back of the fire-space is formed of fire-brick or other bad conducting
material, I arrange a metallic plate in front of the upper part of the fire
grate which is usually occupied by the upper bars for keeping in the
fuel. I cover the top of the fire-place with a plate having its front edge
resting upon the top of the fire-grate, and having in it an aperture or
opening over the top of the fire, there being an open space above the
plate which gives free access to the fire, the aperture being provided
with a lid or loose cover except when the apparatus is made on the self-
feeding principle, in which case the opening over the fire is occupied by
the feed nine.

page_text: I make passages or flues at or near the top of the fire-space which
pass underneath the plate to the heating chamber, boiler, or oven. By
this arrangement the heat and products of combustion pass at a high
temperature into the heating chamber or chambers in which are affixed,
in some cases, one or more smaller atmospheric chambers having
apertures near the top and bottom through which the atmosphere of the
room has access and becomes heated in its passage.
The heating chambers are in some cases situated above the open space
over the fire, and in others on each side of the opening, and the back
part of the intervening space may be occupied with a boiler underneath
or through which the back flue from the fire may pass. The heat and
products of combustion surround the small atmospheric chambers in
passing through the heating chamber, and escape into a branch flue
which also receives the ordinary flue of the fire, in which branch flue an
opening into the outer atmosphere is formed and covered with a hinged
flap opening inwards, or provided with sliding dampers for ventilating
purposes.
It will be readily apparent that when the small atmospheric chambers
become warm a current of, air will be induced to enter them at the
bottom aperture and escape at the top, and thus by forming a continuous
current the whole atmosphere of the room will be warmed.
To prevent the atmosphere becoming too dry and unpleasant to
breathe I cause the air to pass over the surface of water; by this means
the atmosphere will absorb moisture in accordance with the temperaturo
of the room.
In constructing apparatus for cooking, warming, and ventilating I
affix the oven either above the opening over the fire or at the side of the
opening, and cause the heat and products of combustion to pass round it
in passing to the branch flue, or to the chimney, and when the oven is
not otherwise in use I utilize the oven for warming purposes by opening
sliding doors which are affixed near the top and bottom of the oven for
that purpose.
As à modification of my apparatus suitable for fire-places as at present
constructed I prefer to make the main front plate with a considerably
narrower opening than usual, so as to afford a wider space at-cach-side.
To the back or on each side of the front plate I attach heating chambers
with or without atmospheric chambers, as herein-before described; I also

page_text: make a reserve feed box with an opening horizontal or otherwise having
a close fitting lid; this feed box is adapted to fit the opening over the
fire, and may be used in apparatus constructed according to this
Invention.
To produce effective ventilation I fix a pipe from near the top of the
room, by preference, down to the floor, and make a passage under the
floor leading into a flue which opens into the chimney, the passage
through which the air passes to the flue being provided with a hinged
flap to prevent a back draught.
In some cases I surround the heating chamber with an outer casing to
effect a more perfect circulation of heat in the room, especially when the
apparatus is made without atmospheric chambers.
It will be apparent that the heat given off by gas lights used for
lighting purposes may be utilsied by this means for warming and
ventilating purposes, and to effect this object I conduct the heat and
products of combustion through a pipe coated with non-conducting
composition to a heating chamber provided with an outlet for the escape
of the products of combustion, and surrounded with an outer casing, the
cavity between the heating chamber and the outer casing being supplied
with air through a pipe from near the floor, and the outer casing having
at or near the top an opening for the escape of warm air; by this means
the whole atmosphere of the room may be warmed.