CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES AND FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1846

page_text: TILLETTS SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TILLETT, of Snow Hill, Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of January, in the ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Tillett, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said George Tillett, my exors, adñors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said George Tillett, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STOVES AND FIRE-PLACES;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said
George Tillett, by an-instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
anneer

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Tillett, do hereby declare with the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates, first, to certain improvements in the construction of
stoves and fire-places where the fuel is supplied to the body of the fire from
below by means of a box or receptacle containing such fuel; and, secondly, in
the means of replenishing such box or receptacle with fuel when required
without disturbing the fuel in combustion.
But in order that my Invention may be fully understood and more readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to give a description of the Drawings here-
unto annexed, in which the same letters and numerical figures of reference
indicate several parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents the front view of a stove known in the trade by
the name of a register stove, with my improvements attached thereto.
Figure 2 shews the same with part of the front removed. A, A, the
front face of the stove, with the bevel cheeks B, B; these parts are in
every respect similar to those in common use, and constitute no part of my
improvement. C shews the fire-place, with the fire bars 1, 2, 3, and 4. This
fire-place C is moveable, and has no bottom or grating, but is left quite open,
the use of which will be hereafter explained. D is a moveable box or recep-
tacle, for containing coal or other fuel to be supplied to the fire-place C.
This moveable box or receptacle D is furnished with sides or cheeks a, a, pro-
jecting above the top fire bar 1 of the fire-place C. The back E, Figure 8,
of the stove forms one of the sides of this fuel box or receptacle D, as seen at
Figure 2; and the pannelled front F, seen below the fire bars at Figure 1,
forms the other side thereof; the part of the fuel box which is loose and move-
able is composed of the two sides or cheeks a, a, and the bottom b. c, c, are
two links or hooks, to which the chains d, d, are secured. These chains run
over the pullies G, G, which revolve in the brackets e, e. To the other end of
the chains d, d, are secured two counterbalance weights H, H, to equalize the
weight of the fuel box or receptacle D when filled, and to lessen the leverage
attendant on the raising of the same. f, f, is a square frame or guide, in which
the fuel box or receptacle D is made to rise or fall. The sides or cheeks a, a,

page_text: of the fuel box or receptacle D are famished with a number of square or round
projections 9, 9, 9, 9.9, in the form of a rack, projecting through a long slot h,
Figure 4, formed in the sides of the square frame or guide L, L. These pro-
jections need be of only such a length as to allow a poker or any suitable lever
to get a hold. This arrangement will be better understood by referring to
Figures 1 and 4, in which last Figure the lever is shewn by dotted ines i.
I, I, are two openings or orifices, formed in the front of the stove, opposite to
the rack g, g, and are of sufficient width to admit a poker or other suitable
lever, as seen at i, Figure 4, for the purpose of raising or lowering the fuel box
or receptacle D, as may be required. j is a flat passage, situate at the bottom
of the stove, and immediately under the fuel box or receptacle, to supply air to
the fire-place. This horizontal air passage j communicates with a vertical air
passage k, situate behind the fire-place C and the fuel box D, and the back
plate of which forms part of the passage k, and is perforated by a number of
holes, through which the atmospheric air is supplied to the fuel under combus-
tion. I would here remark, that atmospheric air may be supplied to the fuel
under combustion either in the manner above described and set forth in the
Drawings, or in any other convenient manner, the supply of such air forming
no part of my Invention. Supposing the fuel box or receptacle D to be lowered
and filled with coal or other fuel to be consumed in the fire-place C, then the
surface of the fuel therein will be on a level with the bottom fire bar 4, or
thereabouts; the fire is then laid in the usual manner and ignited. As the fuel
is consumed, fresh fuel is to be supplied in manner as follows:-The fuel box
or receptacle D being suspended by the chains d, d, and counterbalance
weights H, H, running over the two pullies G, G, it requires very little power
to raise it, and the action of raising is effected by applying a poker or other
suitable lever, as seen at i, Figure 4, under one of the projections, taking the
bottom edge of the opening or the orifices I, I, in the front of the stove as a
fulcrum, and pressing downwards, until the fuel will be raised to a sufficient
height in the fire-place C, and thereby, so long as there be fuel in the box
or receptacle D, it can be raised to supply the fire in the manner above de-
scribed, until the bottom 6 of the box or receptacle D shall come on a level
with the bottom bar 4 of the fire-place.
I will now proceed to describe the part of my Invention which relates
to replenishing with fuel the fuel box or receptacle D. I have already
described the construction of this fuel box or receptacle D. I cause the
fire-place to travel backwards, so as to form an opening at the top, through
which the fuel is introduced. For this purpose, the fire box C is supported

page_text: by the suspension rods 1, 2, which are furnished with suitable pullies m, m,
rolling on the rods or horizontal bars n, n, more clearly seen in the vertical
sections, Figures 5 and 6. At the back of the fire-place are fixed two small
rollers K, K, rolling on the support plate J, J, J, resting on the brackets
L, L, L. When it is found necessary to push back the fire-place, as scen
at the section, Figure 6, for the purpose of replenishing--the fuel box, a
receptacle D, the whole body of the fire-place C may be pressed back
the
support plate J, by pushing against one of the front bars or the bäck of the
fire-place with the poker, or with a plate M, made moveable, which, being
applied to the front of the fire bars, will prevent any of the ignited fuel from
falling out as the fire-place is moved backwards. The fire-place C being
pushed back upon the support plate J, the fuel in combustion will be supported
during the time the fuel box or receptacle D is refilling with fuel.
upon
By referring to Figure 6, it will be perceived that the bottom of the fuel box
is upon a line, or nearly so, with the bottom fire bar 4, and also that the fire-
place C is partly pushed back and supported on the support plate J. The
poker or other suitable lever i is then applied through the opening or orifice I,
so as to act on the rack 9, 9, 9, and cause the fuel box or receptacle D to
descend till the bottom 6 rests upon the air passage J; the fuel is then sup-
plied to the fuel box or receptacle D through the opening formed between the
bottom fire bar 4 and the top of the front plate F. When the fuel box or
receptacle D is filled, the fire-place C is drawn forward, when the coal or
other suitable fuel in combustion will rest on the top surface of the fresh fuel
just deposited on the fuel box or receptacle D, as seen at the vertical section
in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan shewing the supporting plate J, and the rollers K, K,
which partially support the fire-place C. G, G, the pullies over which the
chain d, d, travels; N is a damper at the top; and O, an opening. made in the
back of the stove, to cause a draft, and to assist in keeping up a inore perfect
and uniform combustion.
Figure 8 shews an arrangement for supporting the fuel in combustion;
wherein the fire-place C is fixed, and not moved backwards, as first described.
A groove is formed between the lower fire bar 4 and the fuel-box or receptacle
D in this groove an iron supporting plate P, scen separate at Figure 9, is
inserted, with a square opening 2, which is to allow the fuel in combustion to
rest on the surface of the fuel in the fuel box or receptacle D. When it is
found necessary to fill the fuel box or receptacle D, the support plate P; which
rests on the platform J, is drawn under the fuel in combustion,' by which means

page_text: it is supported and prevented from falling when the bottom of the fuel box or
receptacle D is lowered. p is a door or opening for supplying the fuel to the
fuel box or receptacle D. The box or receptacle D having been filled as full
as can conveniently be done through the door p, the surface of the fuel must
be levelled and the door closed, and the box raised until the surface of the
fresh fuel comes into contact with the under side of the plate P, which being
pushed back, the fuel in combustion will rest on the fresh fuel. But I would
observe that I prefer the arrangement for moving the fire-place backward,
as firstly above described, as more convenient and effectual in practice for
supplying the fresh fuel.
Figure 10 represents a different arrangement. for raising the fuel box or
receptacle D. To the side cheeks. a, a, of the fuel box or receptacle D are
affixed two plates R, R, working through the sides of the frame or guide f, f.
S, S, are two spiral springs, the lower ends of which are fixed or otherwise
secured to the stove at r, r, and the top ends are secured to the plates R, R.
These spiral springs S, S, may be used in conjunction with the chains d, d, the
counterbalance weights H, H, and the pullies G, G, or they may be used
alone, as shewn. It will be easily understood that as the fuel is consumed
from the fuel box or receptacle D, it becomes lighter, and the expansion of the
spiral springs S, S,.will press it up to the top, as seen by the dotted lines.
tis-a-cross bar joined to the top of the side cheeks a, a, of the fuel box or
receptacle D; u is a screw working in a corresponding female screw formed
in the nut v. This screw is to be used when it is necessary to lower the fuel
box or receptacle D for the purpose of replenishing the same with fuel.
The fire-place having. been moved backwards, as above described, I would
also remark that other means may be employed for sustaining, raising, and
lowering the fuel box, but I believe the method firstly above described will be
found in practice the most convenient for the purpose; and I would also
observe that though the Drawings represent my Invention as applied to a
register stove, the same is applicable to other stoves and fire-places.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would remark, that although I have particularly
described the most effectual means, to the best of my knowledge and belief, for
carrying this my said Invention into practice, I wish it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and described above, as
they may be varied, so long as the peculiar character of my said Invention be
retained. And I would further remark that I am aware it is not new to
supply fuel from under or below upwards into stoves or fire-places by means of

page_text: chambers, piston, or platforms working therein, various methods having been
suggested for this purpose. I therefore wish it to be understood that I lay
no claim to the principle of supplying fresh fuel to the fire-place from below
upwards, nor do I claim any of the parts above described taken separately,
or except when the same are used in combination for the purposes of my
said Invention; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly, the improvement in stoves and fire-places, consisting in supplying
the fuel by means of a box or receptacle constructed with two sides or cheeks
and a bottom containing the fuel, and moveable, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the improvement in stoves and fire-places in which the
fire-place is capable of being pushed backwards, for the purpose of forming an
opening or access for replenishing with fuel the fuel box or receptacle situated
underneath such moveable fire-place, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tillett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.