Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 11th Nov., 1887
I, THOMAS BAKER of No. 160 Newport Road Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan
Retired Shipowner do hereby declare the nature of my said invention:-
My invention has for its object improvements in draft regulators for the fronts of
fire places, which supplies a quick and ready means for procuring a bright fire from
even inferior coal and affords almost perfect control over the fire from a fierce heat to
a simple glimmer and it is in many kinds of smoky chimneys a perfect cure.
answers as a good fire guard and is a convenient and simple covering to the fire place
during the summer months or when the grate is not otherwise in use.
It also
My draft regulators are generally made with a foundation or upper portion to suit
the shape of the upper part of the opening into the grate and is supplied with a
suitable attachment whether an opening projection or snap so as to be securely attached
to the grate. To this foundation piece I generally hinge an apron piece which folds
face to face with the foundation piece the lower edge of which when down having
(say) three flats formed thereon to which I hinge three wings or flaps according to
the number of flaps or wings, say three more or less according to design and con-
struction. These flaps or wings are so hinged that when the apron piece is lifted up
and folded face to face with the foundation piece they fold back to back with the apron
piece in such a manner that the ornamental portions are always outside and the edges
of the wings may be so formed to project beyond the level of the hinged parts that
they entirely cover up the front of the foundation piece or the foundation piece may
be so recessed as to receive the wings and flaps without being entirely covered thereby
the ornamentations of the two agreeing together. It will be understood that the
outer edge of the apron and flaps will determine the amount of protrusion from the
front of the plate so as to suit the configuration of the front or bars of the grate. I
may further attach supplimental flaps or slides to the flaps already mentioned so as to
increase the depth of the regulator when drawn down or I may provide a bottom
piece to stand upon the hearthstone or upon the edge of the ash pan so as to meet the
regulator or to lap internally or externally therewith so as to entirely stop combustion
or in the summer or other times to entirely cover up the front of the grate. I make

page_text: hese regulators and other parts generally of pressed or stamped thin metal say copper,
brass, bronze, polished steel or other metal or fire proof material which is capable of
easy treatment so that the faces may be fluted corrugated or beaten into various shapes
and devices to agree with the grate or ornamentations thereof. These regulators are
of course highly adapted for attachment to grates already fixed but they may be
advantageously constructed to agree with the mountings upon new grates and in such
cases the upper portion or foundation piece may be allowed to go under or over lap to
such an extent that before or after the flaps are let down it may be lowered to such an
extent as to permit the flaps to even meet the hearth stone or ash pan without a bottom
or supplimental portion. In this case the weight of the regulator may be counter-
balanced by suitable springs arranged at the back of the grate in its construction so
as to make the whole work very easily. The flaps are secured in their folded position
by a spring button or buttons so that a simple touch of the tongs or poker will
bring them down. The edges of the flaps may be serrated scolloped or otherwise
ornamented.
1067
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Draft Regulators for the Fronts of Fire Places.
I THOMAS BAKER of 160 Newport Road Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan
Retired Ship Owner 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in draft regulators for the fronts
of fire places which supplies a quick and ready means for procuring a bright fire
from even inferior coal and affords almost perfect control over the fire from a
fierce heat to a simple glimmer and it is in many kinds of smoky chimneys a
perfect cure. It also answers as a good fire guard and is a convenient and suitable
covering to the grate during the summer months or when the grate is not otherwise
in use.
My draft regulators are generally made with a foundation or upper portion to suit
the shape of the upper portion of the opening into the grate and is supplied with a
suitable attachment whether an opening projection or snap so as to be securely
attached to the grate. To this foundation piece I generally hinge an apron piece
which folds face to face with the foundation piece the lower edge of which when
down having say:-three flats formed therein to which I hinge three wings or flaps
according to the number of flats or wings say three more or less according to design
and construction. These flaps or wings are so hinged that when the apron piece is
lifted up and folded face to face with the foundation piece they fold back to back
with the apron piece in such a manner that the ornamental portions are always outside
and the edges of the wings may be so formed to project beyond the level of the
hinged parts that they entirely cover up the front of the foundation piece or the
foundation piece may be so recessed as to receive the wings and flap without being
entirely covered thereby the ornamentations of the two agreeing together. It will
be understood that the outer edge of the apron and flaps will determine the amount of
protusion from the front of the grate so as to suit the configuration of the front or
bars of the grate I may further attach supplimental flaps or slides to the flaps already
mentioned so as to increase the depth of the regulator when drawn down or I may
provide a bottom piece to stand upon the hearthstone or upon the edge of the ashpan
so as to meet the regulator or to lap internally or externally therewith so as to entirely
stop combustion or in the summer or other times to entirely cover up the front of the
grate I make the regulators and other parts generally of thin pressed or stamped
metal say copper brass bronze polished steel or other metal or fireproof material which
is capable of easy treatment so that the face may be fluted corrugated or beaten into
various shapes and devices to agree with the grate or ornamentations thereof. These
regulators are of course highly adapted for attachments to grates already fixed but.
they may be advantageously constructed to agree with the mounting upon new grates
and in such cases the upper portion or foundation piece may be allowed to under or
over lap. to such an extent that before or after the flaps are let down it may be lowered

page_text: to such an extent as to permit the flaps to even meet the hearthstone or ash-pan
without a bottom or supplimental portion. In this case the weight of the regulator
may be counterbalanced by suitable springs arranged at the back of the grate in its
construction so as to make the whole work very easily.
The flaps are secured in their folding position by a spring button or buttons so that
a simple touch of the tongs or poker will bring them down. The edges of the flaps
may be serrated or scalloped or otherwise ornamented.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried into
practice I have appended hereunto three double sheets of drawings upon which I have
illustrated a number of examples which will make the principle quite clear and enable
others to apply it to the necessities of each particular case which may occur in
practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ordinary fire grate showing a draft regulator
applied thereto in its closed up or folded condition and having side wings C and C¹
which entirely cover the foundation plate E.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line A B Figure 1 showing the
various parts of the same draft regulator folded together as shewn at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same grate as shewn at Figure I but with the
draft regulator opened out and let down over the upper portion of the fire and grate
which is covered at the upper part by the front flap D and its supplimental flap d¹ and
the side flaps C and C..
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line A. B Figure 2 showing how
the regulator projects over to the front bar.
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line A B. of grate but with the
regulator only partly folded together and which makes the lapping or folding up action
more clear.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of a grate showing a regulator attached thereto which
is different in its details of construction being composed at the lower portion of four
supplimental flaps G and G and H and H' which are sustained by the main flaps E
and D similar to the previous case.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of Figure 6 on line A. B showing the flaps down
just as in the Figure.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the grate and regulator shown by the two previous
Figures but with the regulator folded up and it will be observed that the two flaps G
and G¹ form an angular line at the top and leave a portion of the base E exposed at
each side.
Figure 9 is a front view of a regulator when up which is suitable for plain open
grates and would hang between the jaws and may be made to any dimensions without
difficulty.
Figure 10 shows the regulator of Figure 9 opened out which exhibits the
foundation E the first flap J the second K and the third L and having side flaps Z
hinged at 2¹.
Figure 11 is a vertical section of Figure 10 on the line A. B. showing the position
of the three flaps which are made to hang as shown by the special formation of the
hinge or the manner of hinging.
Figure 12 shows a section of Figure 9 on the line A. B i.c. with the regulator
folded up upon the foundation plate E. E out of the way.
Figures 13 and 14 are folded up elevation and opened out elevation of another
regulator of a similar kind to those shown by Figures 6. 7 and 8 but with the outline
of the bottom edge different.
Figure 15 is a sectional elevation of Figure 14 on the line A B showing the
appearance thereof sideways.
Figures 16 and 17 are both front views of a similar regulator the first being folded
up and the second opened out as when on a great front but it will be noticed that
there are only three flaps the main one D being hung to the foundation E and carrying
the side flaps.
Figure 18 is a front elevation of a grate and regulator in which there is provision

page_text: after the regulator is lowered as shown by the section Figure 19 to be still further
drawn down as shewn by the section Figure 20 and this is simply accomplished in
constructing the grate by either a balance weight or a spring and the amount of lap
or travel may be lengthened so as to come down lower or shortened without difficulty.
In this Figure 18 is shown pulled down to the bottom bar but it may be made to
reach the hearthstone or to meet the ash-pan.
Figures 21 to 26 are diagrams showing the mode of forming these regulators. In
Figure 21 the regulator is open and the foundation part E is a complete semicircle the
circle being struck from centre d². The depth of D is precisely the same as the
radius of E and therefore only the two flaps C and Care required to make the front
complete. Figure 23 has its foundation E on the segment of a circle the hinge line el
being above the centre d' and it therefore becomes necessary to use a supplimental
flap d which is hinged to D to laps under and is covered by the wings C and C when
closed up as seen at Figure 24. Figure 25 has also the part E only the segment of a
circle the hinge line e¹ being in this case still higher above the centre d² which
necessitates a still larger supplimental flap d' as shown but this is effectively covered
when closed up as seen at Figure 26. It will thus be clearly understood how this
class of regulator is proportioned.
Figures 27. 28 and 29 show in diagram form another class having the four wings G
and G and H and H hung to the flap D which is hinged to the foundation E. The
slot N is here necessary as seen at Figure 27 when the parts lie flat but when G.
GH. and H project as seen at Figure 7 the opening N become practically only a
line if properly made.
Figures 30. 31 and 32 are made precisely on the same principle as the previous
Figures but in this case the lower edges of the wings are dressed off so as to take
away the appearance of the notch N and the edges are notched or scalloped so as to
come and fit together when closed up shewn by Figure 32. Of course a variety of
patterns may be formed around the edges and upon the faces of these regulators.
Figure 33 shows the hinge between the foundation E and flap which is arranged so
that the amount of set or slope of the flap is determined by the inclination or flat a
which may be on either the flap or foundation plate.
In cases where the flaps entirely cover the foundation E when folded up they are
hinged upon the straight line 2 or 3 shown dotted at Figures 23 and 25 but in
Figures 21 and 22 the foundation E is only partly covered by the flaps. The hinges
must be so formed as to allow the flaps to turn under or over as required and they
may project or be cranked where the flaps lie level in recesses in the foundation E or
other parts. It will now be evident that the range of form and design in these
regulators is practically without limit but sufficient has been shown to make the
principle clear and to enable any ordinary workman to make them. The various
plates or parts may be plain or figured and it will be found best generally to stamp
them in dies. The flaps or lower parts may be held up against the foundation E in
numbers of ways such for instance as the spring finger P or by a button or other
device and the whole of the regulator may be lifted off the fireplace quickly if desired
as a simple hook will hold it or a drilled hole in the grate with a pin upon the back of
the regulator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The improvements in draft regulators for the fronts of fire places of the foundation E
having supplimental flaps which will let down over the fire substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Second-In draft regulators the combination of the straight flaps E, J, K, Z, with
also L if necessary as shown by Figures 11 and 12 and substantially as herein
set forth.
Third-In fire places the combination therewith of draft regulators having hinged
flaps for covering the fire and so as to lift by a spring or weight behind the front
substantially as herein set forth and shown by Figures 18, 19 and 20.

page_text: Fourth In draft regulators the combination of four wings or flaps E. M. Y. as
shown by Figures 16 and 17 or E. D. C. and C₁ as shown by Figure 21 and
substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth-În draft regulators the combination of five wings E. D. d¹ C and C¹ as
shown by Figures 1. 2 3. 4 and 5 and also of Figures 23. 24. 25 and 26 and
substantially as herein set forth.
Sixth In draft regulators the combination of six flaps E. D. C. CH and Has
shown at Figures 27. 28 and 29 and also at Figures 6. 7 and 8 with the modifications
in the formation of the under edges of the lower flap shown by Figures 14 and 15,
30. 31 and 32 and substantially as herein set forth.
Seventh In draft regulators having hinged flaps the particular mode of cranking
out setting the foundations or wings so as to compel the parts to take certain
inclinations when in use such as that shown by Figure 33 and substantially as herein
set forth.
:
Eighth The draft regulators illustrated upon the drawings and substantially as
herein described.