Improvements relating to Stoves, Flues, and Fire-places.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Stoves, Flues, and Fire-places.
I, GAVIN ALSTON of No. 27 Ronald Street Glasgow Cabinet Maker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to those open fire grates which are commonly
called "parlour" or register grates and has for its objects:
**
"
First, to render such fire grates more effective as fuel holders for heating
apartments;
Second, to prevent smoke escaping into apartments from such grates or from
their flues;
Third, to simplify the process of sweeping flues connected with such grates.
In carrying out this invention in connection with a register grate" of any style
or type I attach a smoke flue to it and adjust the said flue to a hopper piece, fitted
to the narrowest or other suitable part of the chimney, leaving the cavity or space
usually surrounding the back of the grate' open, so as to serve the purpose of a
warm air' chamber.
I fit a cover upon the mouth of the smoke flue to the grate so that when there
is no fire in the grate the said cover can be employed to close the flue and prevent
any downdraught from the chimney finding its way into the apartment: it also
prevents injury to bright steel articles which may be about the hearth by preventing
rain from falling upon them from the same source.
In fitting the said grate within the mantelpiece or to its other surroundings
I leave a small space or aperture on each side of the grate, right, left and top; or,
where the arrangement is not possible or convenient, the said apertures may be
limited to the top and bottom margins only, of the grate; or, further, a perforated
grating may be substituted for the said apertures, and, when occasion requires and
renders it possible, I fit an air tube or duct into the space behind the grate in
order to admit fresh air into the said spaces. These apertures are for the purpose
of giving egress to the air, after it has become heated by contact with the back of
the grate, out of the back space into the apartment.
The operation of my said improvements may be thus described;
A "register grate" constructed as before named, being fitted within a fire place
and united to the chimney in the manner just described, the cover is removed from
the entrance to the smoke flue and a fire is inserted within the grate; the smoke
flue, leading up to the chimney being of limited dimensions, induces a quick
draught and thus prevents any sluggish or stray jets of smoke escaping outwards
into the apartment: the bodies of the grate and of the smoke flue become heated
and thereby warm the air which fills the space surrounding the stove back and as
the air has no outlet except into the apartment through the spaces surrounding
the grate but, chiefly that between the grate and the lintel above it, all the air,
thus warmed, is discharged into the apartment instead of going up the chimney.
I find in practice that when the grate becomes thus heated, air enters naturally at
the lower part of the grate and proceeds into the space behind it and as it becomes
heated it expands and rises, seeking an exit wherever it can find one without any
particular form or construction of flue being accessary to guide it.
When the chimney requires sweeping, a soot-bag, with a neck piece attached, is
itted to the open, lower, end of the smoke flue and the chimney is swept either

page_text: from above with a brush and ball in the manner commonly practised in Scotland:
with a brush having a handle composed of lengths or sections similar to a fishing
rod, inserted at the front of the grate and operated through a hole in the side of
the soot-bag; or in any other convenient manner; in any case the grate does not
require to be removed for sweeping the chimney.
When the grate is not in use for warming purposes the mouth of the smoke flue
can be closed with its cover and this prevents downdraughts or rain falls from
obtruding into the apartment.
The hopper before nained is fixed to the brickwork or masonry of the chimney
so that it is smoketight; and the tube or smoke flue which connects it to the stove
is made in two or more parts. Above the stove I construct a trough or sand
chamber into which I fit the lower end of the sınoke flue so that if the latter
requires to slope from the stove to the hopper the lower end of it may be imbedded
in the sand contained in this trough and make a perfectly smoketight joint. A
cross bar is fitted into the smoke fue so that this pipe may be pushed up into the
hopper until the grate is inserted in the recess beneath it and the arm can then
be put up through the hole in the stove top and by taking hold of this cross bar
the smoke flue can be drawn down and imbedded in the sand trough.
The ball of a sweeping brush is prevented getting through this stove pipe by
means of a cross bar or other simple device.
A weighted damper is fitted in the lower part of the smoke flue.
Dated
L 1
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
I, GAVIN ALSTON of No. 27 Ronald Street Glasgow Cabinet Maker do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates chiefly to those open fire grates which are commonly
called "parlour" or "register grates" and has for its objects
First, to render such fire grates more effective as fuel holders for heating
apartments;
Second, to prevent smoke escaping into apartments from such grates or from
their flues;
<<
Third, to simplify the process of sweeping flues connected with such grates.
In carrying out this invention in connection with a register grate" of any style
or type I attach a smoke flue to it and adjust the said flue to a hopper piece, fitted
to the narrowest or other suitable part of the chimney, leaving the cavity or space
usually surrounding the back of the grate open so as to serve the purpose of a
warm air chamber.
A cover is fitted upon the mouth of the smoke flue of the grate so that when
there is no fire in the grate the said cover can be employed to close the flue and
prevent any downdraught from the chimney finding its way into the apartment: it
also prevents injury to bright steel articles which may be about the hearth by
preventing rain from falling upon them from the same source.
When fitting the said grate within the mantelpiece or to its other surroundings
a small space or aperture is left on each side of the grate, right, left and top; or
where the arrangement is not possible or convenient, the said apertures may be
limited to the top and bottom margins only, of the grate; or, further, a perforated

page_text: grating may be substituted for the said apertures, and, when occasion requires and
renders it possible, an air tube or duct is fitted into the space behind the grate in
order to admit fresh air into the said spaces. These apertures are for the purpose
of giving egress to the air, after it has become heated by contact with the back of
the grate, out of the back space into the apartment.
The operation of the said improvements may be thus described:
A " register grate," constructed as before named, being fitted within a fire place
and united to the chimney in the manner just described, the cover is removed from
the entrance to the smoke flue and a fire is inserted within the grate; the smoke
flue, leading up to the chimney being of limited dimensions induces a quick draught
and thus prevents any sluggish or stray jets of smoke escaping outwards into the
apartment: the bodies of the grate and of the smoke flue become heated and
thereby warm the air which fills the space surrounding the stove back and as the
air has no outlet except into the apartment through the spaces surrounding the
grate hub, chiefly that between the grate and the lintel above it, all the air, thus
warmed, is discharged into the apartment instead of going up the chimney. I find
in practice that when the grate becomes thus heated, air enters naturally at the
lower part of the grate and proceeds into the space behind it and as it becomes
heated it expands and rises, seeking an exit wherever it can find one without any
particular form or construction of flue being necessary to guide it.
When the chimney connected with this grate requires sweeping, a soot bag, with
a neck piece attached, is fitted to the open, lower, end of the smoke flue and the
chimney is swept either from above with a brush and ball in the manner commonly
practised in Scotland; with a brush having a handle composed of lengths or
sections similar to a fishing rod inserted at the front of the grate and operated
through a hole in the side of the soot bag or in any other convenient manner: in
any case the grate does not require to be removed for sweeping the chimney.
When this grate is not in use for warming purposes the mouth of the smoke flue
can be closed with its cover and this prevents downdraughts or rain falls from
obtruding into the apartment.
:
The hopper before named is fixed to the brickwork or masonry of the chimney
so that it is smoketight and the tube or smoke flue which connects it to the stove
is made in two or more parts. Above the stove I construct a trough or sand
chamber into which I 'fit the lower end of the smoke flue so that if the latter
requires to slope from the stove to the hopper the lower end of it may be imbedded
in the sand contained in this trough and make a perfectly smoketight joint.
A cross bar is fitted into the smoke flue so that this pipe may be pushed up into the
hopper until the grate is inserted in the recess beneath it and the arm can then be
put up through the hole in the stove top and by taking hold of this cross bar the
smoke flue can be drawn down and imbedded in the sand trough.
The ball of a sweeping brush is prevented getting through this stove pipe by
means of a cross bar or other simple device.
A weighted damper is fitted in the lower part of the smoke flue.
This invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a parlour grate made in accordance with
this invention :
Figure 2 is a back view in elevation,
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of the grate shewn in Fig. 1:
Figures 5 and 6 are side views in section and Fig. 7 is a back view partly in
section of the aforesaid grate.
Figures 8 to 12 are views shewing details of or relating to the said grate.
Similar letters of reference and numerals throughout the drawings indicate
corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings the parts marked, represent; A, the mantelpiece,
B the metal front of the grate, C the tiled cheeks, D the fire basket, d' the fire

page_text: back, E the damper rod and Fa pin, hook or catch for said rod to engage with:
G, G are openings for the exit of warm air from and g' for entrance of cold air
into the chamber behind the grate: H is the roof, J the trough or sand chamber,
the damper, K the telescopic smoke flue, L the cross bar, M the hopper piece,
N the chimney, P the chamber behind the grate and Q the hooks for attachment
of soot hag.
The parts marked B, C, D and are fitted closely together without open
crevices and the turret roof H is fitted tightly thereto by means of rods h¹ or other
suitable appliances. The whole stove is fitted closely upon the floor and the sand
trough J is united to the roof H. The damper is weighted at one end and
pivotted within the mouth 2 of the smoke flue in the turret roof H and fixed in
any required position by the rod (or chain) E connected with the pin or catch F.
When the rod or chain E is released from the catch F the heavy end of the
damper falls and the damper j' assumes a vertical position, opening the flue as
shewn in Figs. 6 and 8.
In Figure 5 the stove B, C, D, H, J is represented as drawn out from the
mantelpiece A leaving the moveable or telescopic smoke flue K attached to the
hopper piece M which is fixed in the chimney N; the sand chamber J being a little
lower than the lintel of the mantelpiece. This stove can be pushed back within
the mantelpiece as shewn in Fig. 6. When the stove is thus pushed back the
smoke flue K can be pulled down into the sand chamber J by putting up an arm
through the throat or mouth 2 of the smoke flue when the cross bar I, Figs. 5, 6
and 9 can be grasped and the lower end of the smoke flue K is then forced into the
sand contained in the trough J. The flue pipe K is carefully fitted within au
aperture of corresponding shape to itself in the hopper piece M Figs. 10 and 11
and the lip or flange m enables the pipe K to be angled slightly in any direction,
right, left, forward or back within the hopper, to suit a straight or oblique chimney.
The pipe K is by preference made oval in section but whatever its form is one or
more cross bars L'Fig. 9 is or are fixed therein for the double purpose of manipu-
lating the said smoke flue or pipe K as already described and preventing the ball of
a sweeping brush getting down the said pipe. Hooks Q, Fig. 8 are fitted upon the
interior of the stove and a soot bag is attached to them when the grate or chimney
is swept.
'
The hopper piece M Figs. 10 and 11 is fixed immoveably to the interior of the
chimney by means of brackets, rods, straps or any convenient appliances and is
made air and smoke tight so that no currents can pass up or down the chimney
except such as pass through the flue K.
When this grate is fitted within its recess as shewn in Fig. 6 and a fire is made
in it, the surrounding back space P, P becomes a hot air chamber and as there are
no open crevices about the parts C, D, d', H, J, K and M the air as it becomes
heated seeks vent into the apartment at such apertures as G, whilst a constant
supply of cooler air enters at g¹ Figs. 1 and 6.
If the back or body d' of the stove is not air tight a metal plate is added
enveloping the said back and is united to the turret roof H. This turret roof is
made to slope backward and to the right or left according to and in order to suit
the position of the chimney N.
The weighted damper acts as a cover to the mouth or throat of the smoke
flue 2 but if it is required the damper j¹ can be dispensed with and a close fitting
flap or door ³ Fig. 12 be hinged (or fitted removeably) to the flue 2 in which case
the rod E and catch F are not required.
When a fuel holding grate is constructed applied and used as herein described
all the air which is warmed in the recess P proceeds into the apartment and the
apparatus acts as a hot air stove and open register grate combined.
The small dimensions of the throat h² and smoke flue K cause the smoke and air
currents to rush quickly to the chimney, improving the draught and preventing
down currents.
I am aware that, previous to my invention parlour grates and other open fire

page_text: stoves have been made with turret roofs and pipe flue continuations, hopper pieces
in chimneys and telescoping flue pipes, air heating chambers behind them and ducts
for conveying the hot air therefrom into one or more apartments it will therefore
be understood that I do not claim these things broadly as my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In an open fire stove, grate or fire place of the class first herein described
the combination therewith of the improved devices all substantially as herein
described and drawn for the purposes specified.
Second. In an open fire stove, grate or fire place as first herein described the
combination therewith of the flue piece K and cross bar L adapted for telescopic
operation within the hopper M m² and k¹, and sand trough J all substantially as
herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
Third. In an open fire stove, grate or fire place such as first herein described the
combination therewith of the hopper piece M with flange m' and opening k' adapted
for the angling of the flue pipe K in any direction required all substantially as
herein described and drawn for the purposes specified.
Fourth. In an open fire stove, grate or fire place such as first herein described
the combination therewith of the trough J adapted for holding sand, with flue
opening through its centre all substantially as herein described and drawn for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 25th day of October 1805
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.