IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKELESS STOVES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF FUEL TO THE SAME "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Edward Cox of 329 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex Architect for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKELESS
STOVES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF FUEL TO THE SAME
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Edward Cox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1883.
ROBERT EDWARD Cox, of 329 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Architect. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKELESS STOVES AND IN THE APPLICATION OF
FUEL TO THE SAME
"
The object of my said invention is to provide open and other fire places with
smokeless fuel, for heating apartments in a more economical and efficient manner
than is now effected by means of gas fires filled with asbestos or fire clay.
I construct and fit such stoves with a horizontal gas pipe, at or near the level
of the bottom bars, or their equivalent, whether solid or open, or covered with fire
clay. Such pipe may be coiled, curved or straight. It may also be either a plain
pipe perforated with holes, or saw-cuts emitting gas only or it may be supplied
with a mixture of gas and air as an atmospheric burner or burners. Gas from oil,
ordinary coal gas, or any other suitable gas may also be supplied thereto; or oil in
a liquid state may be passed directly to the jets or burners.
:
I fill the grate with coke, authracite, smokeless coal, or other suitable material;
but I prefer, for this purpose, coke prepared in the manner now carried out by the
Gas Companies.
The fire is lighted in the same manner as ordinary gas and asbestos fires, but
the coke requires replenishing from time to time, and this combined combustion of
gas with coke radiates and imparts a greater amount of heat than would be
effected if asbestos or fire clay were used, as the latter materials merely absorb
heat from the gas flames, and thereby extract caloric; whereas, by the use of coke,
the caloric arising from the combustion of the gas is added to and increased by
that arising from the combustion of the coke, and by such combination of fuel no
smoke is produced, and the combustion is rendered perfect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Edward Cox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1883.
ROBERT EDWARD Cox of 329 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Architect. IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKELESS STOVES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF
FUEL TO THE SAME.
The object of my said invention is to provide open and other fire places with
smokeless fuel, for heating apartments in a more economical and efficient manner
than is now effected by means of gas fires filled with asbestos or fire clay
I construct and fit such stoves with a horizontal gas pipe, at or near the level
of the bottom bars, or their equivalent, whether solid or open, or covered with fire
clay Such pipe may be coiled, curved or straight. It may also be either a plain
pipe perforated with holes, or saw cuts emitting gas only or it may be supplied
with a mixture of gas and air as an atmospheric burner or burners -Gas from oil,
ordinary coal gas, or any other suitable gas may also be supplied thereto; or oil
in a liquid state may be passed directly to the jets or burners.
I fill the grate with coke, authracite smokeless coal, or other suitable material;
but I prefer, for this purpose, coke prepared in the manner now carried out by the
Gas Companies.
The fire is lighted in the same manner as ordinary gas and asbestos fires but the
coke requires replenishing from time to time and this combined combustion of gas
with coke radiates and imparts a greater amount of heat than would be effected if
asbestos or fire clay were used, as the latter materials merely absorb heat from the
gas flames, and thereby extract caloric;-whereas by the use of coke, the caloric
arising from the combustion of the gas is added to and increased by that arising
from the combustion of the coke and by such combination of fuel no smoke is
produced, and the combustion is rendered perfect.
In some cases it is expedient to dispense with both gas and liquid fuel, in which
cases the fire is lighted by ordinary wood or firelighters, and the coke or other
suitable smokeless fuel continues the combustion
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
Fig 1 is a sectional elevation, on the line d d of Figs: 2 and 3
Fig: 2 is a sectional elevation on the line e e of Fig: 3.
Fig: 3 is a section on the line ƒ ƒ of Fig: 2-w is a horizontal perforated gas
pipe or burner for lighting the fire and causing the fuel to become incandescent,
upon the attainment of which object the gas is shut off from this pipe or turned
very low-One or more burners is or are also placed at at the back of the fire
for a similar purpose
Side plates a a are laid upon the bars, as shewn in Figs 2 and 3, so as to leave
only 2 or three spaces open between the bars, through which air can pass to the
fuel
Another plate b is fitted as shewn in Fig 2 and below this plate a pipe with
one or more burners g is or are fitted-This burner is lighted at the same time as
w, or it may be left unlighted until w is shut off or lowered. 'This burner is for
the purpose of heating the lower plate b and assists in supplying warm air at o to
the fuel a' a' is the space occupied by the smokeless fuel-The arrows in Fig: 2
indicate the direction of the air currents-The currents of air being centralized
the sides and back of the fire are kept comparatively cool, whereby the rapid
burning away of the sides and back is prevented

page_text: By closing or nearly closing the door or register / Fig 1., the heat is rendered
available for heating the apartment and the present great waste of heated air
passing up the chimney is prevented
The foregoing description applies to the conversion or adaptation of ordinary
stoves to that in which my improvements are applicable, but I prefer to make
stoves with the several plates fitted in position, and either to perforate an entire
plate with a few holes centrally or to provide only the two or more bars in a
central position for admitting the necessary amount of air to the fuel
The pipes or burners are constructed to burn either gas or liquid fuel.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1 The manufacture and use of stoves for burning smokeless fuel with or without
the combination of gas or liquid fuel, substantially as hereinbefore described
2 The arrangement of the plates a a and b in combination with the above
described stoves, or in combination with ordinary stoves for the purposes
substantially as herein before described
3 The arrangement and combination of the several parts together constituting
my improvements in smokeless stoves, and in the application of fuel to the same,
substantially as bereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings
In witness whereof I the said Robert Edward Cox have hereunto set my hand
and seal this first day of September in the year of our Lord 1883.
ROBERT E COX (L.S.)