Improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Fireclay, Terra Cotta, or Firebrick Domestic Fireplaces.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 7th May, 1888
Complete Accepted. 8th June, 1888
Improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Fireclay,
Terra Cotta, or Firebrick Domestic Fireplaces.
I WILLIAM LEWIS of the Old Cock Hotel in the Town of Halifax in the County
of York Boots do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The back and diverging sides of the Fireplace forming the fuel container I make
in two tiers or courses of Fire clay or Terra Cotta lumps--or such other refractory
material of similar character-placed one upon the other. The lower tier or course―
being those surrounding and in contact with the fire-I make in three lumps coin-
prising a back and two diverging sides to form the cheeks or wings of the Fireplace
and on the top of the whole I place the other tier or course comprised in one lump
only and coinciding in plan with the course below..
The three lumps comprised in the lower tier or course, I join or secure together
in manner following. Down each side of the back lump at its junction with the
diverging side ones I provide a sunken slot or groove the sectional plan of which at
any point in its length may resemble a dovetail or a half dovetail or such other suitable
shape as would involve an expansion of the further or interior end of the slot or
groove laterally. On the corresponding ends of the diverging side lumps I provide
solid lugs of the same material as the lumps themselves and being a component part
of the same and similar in shape to the slots or grooves in the back lump but in size
slightly smaller and these lugs I insert into the slots in the back lump and thus
securely lock the latter and the side lumps together and still allow of the necessary
expansion and contraction. The slots or grooves referred to above need not necessarily
be made in the back lump but on the contrary may be made in the diverging side
lumps and the lugs be provided on the back lump in either case the same results being
obtained. On the front edges or ends of the diverging side lumps that is the ends
facing towards the room I form a rabet in depth equal to one half the thickness of the
lump the sectional plan of the ends thus formed being in shape similar to the letter L.
On either of the two faces of the rabetted ends either on the faces opposite the room
or otherwise on those at right angles thereto I provide a slot or groove precisely
LD O17

page_text: .
similar to those previously described and this slot I continue upwards into the ends
of the single lump forming the upper tier or course. I form the exterior or projecting
cheeks of the Fire-place usually termed the Jamb, of terra Cotta lumps or bricks,
glazed or unglazed, and of suitable size and on the ends of these lumps or bricks that
is the ends that face the fire I provide solid lugs in shape precisely similar to the slots
or grooves in the larger lumps forming the back but slightly smaller than the slots,
and these lugs I insert into such slots to form a secure connection between the terra
Cotta lumps or bricks comprised in the Jambs and the lumps comprised in the back. The
position of the slots in the rabetted portion of the diverging side lumps may be varied
that is be placed on the other face of the rabet and in that case the solid lugs should
be put at right angles to the length of the terra cotta lumps or bricks to correspond
with the slots. To prevent the terra cotta lumps or bricks from sliping on their beds
I provide the latter with similar slots or grooves and also with similar lugs as before
described and I insert such lugs into their respective slots and thus secure the whole
firmly together.

page_text: Terra Cotta, or Firebrick Domestic Fireplaces.
I WILLIAM LEWIS formerly of the Old Cock Hotel in the town of Halifax in the
County of York Boots but now of the North Eastern Hotel in the City of York 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 relates to an improved method of constructing the Fireclay backs of
Fireplaces in sectional pieces so as to allow of the several parts of the same to expand
under the influence of heat and to contract in the process of cooling without risk of
disintegration or cracking, and also a method of connecting such Fireclay backs with
Terra Cotta or brick Jambs whereby such Jambs may be so securely locked to the
backs that alternate heating and cooling will not cause them to separate one from the
other.
In order that my invention and the means by which the same may be carried into
practical effect may be understood I will proceed to describe the same in detail
referring in so doing to the accompanying Drawings which are to be taken as part of
this Specification and read in connection therewith.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the first tier or course of Fireclay lumps.
Fig. 2. is a perspective sketch of both tiers or courses of Fireclay lumps forming
the back of the Fireplace.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same.
Figs. 4 and 4 are perspective sketches of the back Fireclay lumps showing the
dovetails or projecting pieces for locking them up to the side pieces.
Fig. 5 is a Front Elevation of the Fireplace as completely fitted or fixed.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the Fireclay lumps with an alternative arrangement of the
locking dovetails.
The back and diverging sides of the Fireplaces forming the Fuel-container I make
in two tiers or courses of Fireclay or Terra Cotta lumps or such other refractory
material of similar character-placed one upon the other, the lower tier or course being
those surrounding and in contact with the fire I make in three lumps indicated in
Figs. 1, 2 & 6, by letters a a¹ a²-comprising a back; and two diverging sides to
form the cheeks or wings of the Fireplace; and upon the top of the whole I place the
other tier or course comprised in one lump only indicated by letter B in Figs. 2. 3. & 5
and co-inciding in plan with the course below. The three lumps comprised in the
lower tier or course Fig. 1 I join or secure together in manner following. Down each
side of the back lump at its junction with the diverging side ones I provide a sunken
slot or groove c and c Fig. 1 the sectional plan of which at any part of its length
may resemble a lovetail or a half dovetail or such other suitable shape as would
involve an expansion or widening of the further or interior end of the slot or groove

page_text: laterally. On the corresponding ends of the diverging side lumps I provide solid
lugs D and D Fig. 1 of the same material as the lumps being a component part of
the same and similar in shape to the slots or grooves in the back-lumps but in size
slightly smaller, and these lugs I insert into the slots c. c¹ in the back-lump and thus
securely lock the latter and the side lumps together and yet allowing of the necessary
expansion and contraction.
The slots or grooves referred to need not necessarily be made in the back-lump but
on the contrary may be made in the diverging side lumps and the lugs be provided on
the back-lump as shown in Fig. 4 E. and E' in either case the same results being
obtained.
On the front edges or ends of the diverging side lumps that is the end facing
toward the room I form a rabet in depth equal to one half the thickness of the lump
the sectional plan of the ends thus formed being in shape similar to the letter L and
on either of the two faces of the rabetted ends either on the faces opposite the
room F: F Figs. 1 and 2 or otherwise on those at right angles thereto G and G¹
Fig. 6 I provide a slot or groove precisely similar to those previously described and
this slot I continue upwards into the ends of the single lump forming the upper tier
or course. I form the exterior or projecting cheeks of the Fireplace usually termed
the Jambs H. H' Figs. 1 and 5 of terra cotta lumps or bricks glazed or unglazed and
of suitable size and on the ends of these lumps or bricks that is the ends that face the
fire I provide solid lugs in shape similar to the slots or grooves in the larger lumps
forming the back but slightly smaller than the slots and these lugs I insert into such
slots as shown by letters I and I' Fig. 1 to form a secure connection between the
terra cotta lumps or bricks comprised in the Jambs and the lumps comprised in
the back. The position of the slots in the rabetted portion of the diverging side
lumps may be variod, that is, be placed on the other face of the rabet as shewn by
letters G & G and in that case the solid lugs should be put at right angles to the
length of the terra cotta lumps or bricks to correspond with, the slots. To prevent
the terra cotta lumps or bricks from sliding on their beds I provide the latter with
similar slots or grooves and also with similar lugs as before described and I insert
such lugs into their respective slots and thus secure the whole firmly together.
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
1. The method of constructing Fireclay backs for Fireplaces in sections dovetailed
or locked together by projecting lugs forming a component part of the sectional
piece requiring to be locked substantially as indicated in the accompanying Drawings.
2. Forming slots or Dovetails in the front faces of the diverging side lumps and
providing projecting lugs or dovetails on to the opposite ends of Terra Cotta Jumps
or Bricks for the purpose of securing the same to the diverging side lumps forming
the fuel container.in manner substantially as illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this 7th day of M... 1000