Improvements in Refractory Fuel for Gas Fires and Stoves.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
Improvements in Refractory Fuel for Gas Fires and Stoves.
I, CHARLES JAMES SAUNDERS, of Brockwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
Asbestos Fuel Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows :—
My invention has for its object improvements in refractory fuel for gas fires and
stoves by which I considerably improve the appearance of the lumps or balls and
increase their heating capacity to the greatest extent without materially adding to
the cost of same.
In carrying my invention into effect I form an outer hollow perforated ball of
fire clay or any suitable mixture which is moulded into a design having intersecting
branches so arranged as to leave a clear internal space within which I place a
second but smaller hollow ball which has been previously moulded into a suitable
design such as a smaller representation of the outer ball, or the design of the inner
ball may vary from that of the larger or outer one. In making these duplex hollow
balls 1 mould and dry the small or inner one first afterwards moulding the outer or
large one in two halves, within which the small one is inserted, the two halves of
the outer one being then moulded together and the whole then baked to the
requisite degree of hardness. It will be seen that there is hardly any limit to the
variation of design in these perforated balls, while they are particularly adapted for
catching the flames and radiating the heat to a greater extent than any hitherto
upon the market.
Dated this 25th day of July 1894.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refractory Fuel for Gas Fires and Stoves.
I CHARLES JAMES SAUNDERS of Brockwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
Asbestos Fuel Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in refractory fuel for gas fires and
stoves by which I considerably improve the appearance of the lumps or balls
and increase their heating capacity to the greatest extent without materially adding
to the cost of same.
In carrying my invention into effect I form an outer hollow perforated ball of
fire clay or any suitable mixture which is moulded into a design having intersecting
branches so arranged as to leave a clear internal space within which I place a
second but smaller hollow ball which has been previously moulded into a suitable
design such as a smaller representation of the outer ball, or the design of the inner
ball may vary from that of the larger or outer one. In making these duplex
hollow balls I mould and dry the small or inner one first, afterwards moulding the
outer or larger one in two halves, within which the small one is inserted the two

page_text: halves of the outer one being then moulded together and the whole then baked to
the requisite degree of hardness. It will be seen that there is hardly any limit to
the variation of design in these perforated balls while they are particularly adapted
for catching the flames and radiating the heat to a greater extent than any hitherto
upon the market.
The annexed sheet of drawings illustrate my invention but without limiting it to
the exact configuration of the balls or lumps of refractory fuel there shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of inner balls or lumps of different contours or
shapes.
Figure 3 an elevation of the inner ball, Figure 1, enclosed by an outer ball or
lump.
Figure 4, plan thereof.
The balls according to my invention are of refractory material moulded while in
a plastic condition after being properly worked up to the proper consistency and
these may have asbestos in powder or fibre form admixed with the compound or the
asbestos can be shaken or pressed on to the ball when made.
The balls, both inner and outer, are hollow or are perforated in a straight, a
diagonal or other form or by the windings, twistings or undulatory or sinuous
shapings of the moulds to produce the desired effect to, or appearance of the
finished article.
The outer ball is made in two parts, preferably in halves, as by the dotted
line a. b. in Figure 4. The inner and or the outer ball may form a rope shape of
plastic material laid in the mould the exact outline or surfacing being accomplished
by pressure or the plastic material may be put into the mould as a solid body and
be squeezed in between half moulds to conform to the shape of the mould.
In order that the two hollow moulded balls can be identified on the drawing
I have marked the small or inner one A and the larger or outer one B.
I am aware that hollow and perforated balls and lumps of refractory material
(refractory fuel) have been previously produced and used but these have been made
by squeezing and rolling rough unequal bits of fireclay in the hands and then to
push skewers through them, or plugs into them, there being no defined shape or
solidity of the balls or lumps so made when baked.
By my invention the particles of fire clay are brought into close contact and the
material made more homogeneous and less liable to fracture, it also enables portions
of each ball or lump to be thin in substance and have large openings or passages
for the play of the gas flame or flames within and around the branches which adds
materially to their heating capacity by the free entry of oxygen into and among the
broken flame.
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
clain is :-
:-
1. The improved manufacture of refractory fuel for gas fires and stoves as herein
described and substantially as represented, the novel feature of the invention being
moulding two hollow balls or lumps of different sizes and enclosing one within the
other as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The manufacture of hollow balls or lumps of fire clay by moulding them to a
defined shape or configuration as described for use as set forth.
Ine zon day or April 1895.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said C. J. Saunders.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said C. J. Saunders.