AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIREPLACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith Melville, of No. 9, Frederick Place, Mile
End Old Town, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER
FIREPLACES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith Melville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1880.
WILLIAM SMITH MELVILLE, of No. 9, Frederick Place, Mile End Old Town,
County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO
DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIREPLACES."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for supplying fuel to domestic
and other fireplaces, the object being to prevent the formation of smoke, and
consists of a shovel with the after part formed into a chamber to receive the fuel,
the front part being provided with a flap hinged to front part of said chamber,
while the front edge of said flap rests in the bottom of the shovel. The flap is
provided with a lever, which is connected to a slide on the handle, by which said
flap can be raised or closed. The handlo is hollow, and receives the stem of a
piston fitted to slide within the chamber of the shovel. In use the shovel is
charged with fuel by raising the flap, which is then closed. The front part of the
shovel can now be slid into the fireplace at its lower portion, when a backward
motion of the slide and forward projection of the piston made simultaneously raises
the flap and ejects the fuel contained within the chamber of the shovel under the
incandescent mass. The gas from the fuel thus introduced passing upwards
becomes immediately ignited and utilised, a hot fire and almost complete absenco
of smoke is the result.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Smith Melville in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th May 1881.
WILLIAM SMITH MELVILLE, of No. 9, Frederick Place, Mile End Old Town,
in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL
TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER FIRE PLACES."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for supplying fuel to domestic
and other fireplaces, the object being to prevent the formation of smoke, and
consists of a shovel with the afterpart formed with a chamber to receive the fuel,
the front part being provided with a flap hinged to front part of said chamber,
while the front edge of said flap rests on the bottom of the shovel. The flap is
provided with a lever, which is connected to a slide on the handle, by which said
flap can be raised or closed. The handle is preferably hollow, and receives the
stem of a piston fitted to slide within the chamber of the shovel. In use the
shovel is charged with fuel by raising the flap, which is then closed. The front
part of the shovel can now be slid into the fire place at its lower portion, when a
backward motion of the slide and forward projection of the piston made simul-
taneously raises the flap and ejects the fuel contained within the chamber of the
shovel under the incandescent mass. The gas from the fuel thus introduced passing
upwards becomes immediately ignited and utilized, a hot fire and almost complete
absence of smoke is the result.
For kitcheners, screw launches, and ships' hearths this apparatus is especially
useful, as the flues will be kept clear of soot. It is made of thin steel, charcoal
iron, copper, brass, or other suitablo materials or combination of material.
For furnaces, a much larger and stronger apparatus being required, the same
may be worked on a slide or otherwise, the furnace door or doors being arranged
to slide up sufficiently to admit the wedge part of apparatus, which will lift the
fire door while in process of insertion, said door falling gradually to its closed
position as the apparatus is withdrawn, thus avoiding the rush of cold air consequent
on an open furnace fire door. In connexion with this arrangement the fuel is
supplied to the apparatus in the upper after part or coal chamber direct, which
chamber has a flap lifting up on the same joint as fore flap falling. forward, being
replaced and fastened when down when the fuel has been shovelled in.
The slide lever is dispensed with, as also handle, and a direct acting lever used
to lift fore flap.
Figure 1 represents the apparatus extended ready for filling with fuel.
Figure 2 represents the same with flap down filled with fuel, and inserted at
bottom of grate ready for discharging when flap is raised.
Figure 3 shows the piston driven home, the fuel having been discharged.
Figure 4 is a top view of No. 3. In these Figures samo letters indicate similar
parts. A is the coal chamber; B, the handle; C, the piston rod, which may be
hollow or solid; D, the slide; e, the lever; F, the flap; g, the piston; h, fire
guard; c, the coals; a, fire bars.
In
Figure 5 delineates the form of apparatus for large furnaces, showing double
flaps, the flap of the loading part elevated, lever extended, and short guide for
piston rod; the wedge part may be lengthened to any required extent.
recapitulation I would state that you obtain greater heat with less fuel, you can
bave quick or slow combustion, burn a cheaper fuel, burn coals under coke, and
burn up again the debris of the fuel which lies on the freshly inserted; in furnaces
your fire bars are kept cool and free from clinkers, you obtain immediate increase
of heat on firing also.
In domestic grates you have a continuous bright fire, and if desired the lower

page_text: bar of grate can at a trifling expense be made to slide up, or roll up if the bars are
circular, so as to adinit larger fuel.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my Invention the wedge form of apparatus for easily raising the
superimposed fuel, supplimented by a hinged flap with lever or slide lever attached,
thereby producing a clear space underneath the incandescent fuel for the reception
of fresh fuel, substantially in manner and so to operate as and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith Melville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM SMITH MELVILLE. (L.S.)