Improvements in Open Fire-places.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Open Fire-places.
JAMES KNIGHT Builder & Contractor 7 Bedford Street Loughborough Leicestershire.
I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Apparatus or plate for creating a larger surface for cooking & heating purposes,
economising fuel, consuming smoke, preventing dust & dirt-made with or without
drop flap or hinged door. To be made of cast iron or other material specially useful
& boilers in artizans' dwellings or may be fixed to fire places in
for ovens
general.
This plate is made of cast iron or other material & is fixed over the fire between
oven & boiler, oven & hobb sham & hobb fireplaces being the class of firegrate
generally fixed in artizans' dwellings, but may be used or adapted for every form of
open firegrate. It is made in various patterns & details to suit the public require-
ments, styles of design &c. plain or ornamental. It is made to abut up to, as well as
rest upon oven &c., so as to exclude smoke on both sides of fire, & being movable can
be used or not as required. The upper side I sometimes make plain with the smoke
aperture or draught hole round, half round horse shoe, or any desired shape, also if
preferred two or more openings of smaller dimensions provided with close fitting
plates or covers to be used at pleasure when required.
Though the plate is made as above described I prefer to make it with studs, upright
rings, plain or corrugated or a combination of the two round the draught hole aperture
or apertures as may be desired, or other similar arrangements equivalent thereto in order
to raise the vessel to be heated so that the flame or heated gases play around as well
as under the vessel to be acted upon. I also when desired provide for main aperture
a loose half round plate or disc with guides to fit inside draught holes for partially
covering & diverting the force of flame in any direction required. The plates to be
made of cast or wrought iron or other material.
In addition to description already given I purpose making the plates with the edges
square, bevelled, round or half round,-front plain or ornamental & may be made
in line with front of oven & or I prefer to make the plate project forward of oven &c.
I also prefer to provide plate dropping down on front of firegrate any desired depth
at right angles to heating plate with fixed plate & may be plain perforated or
ornamental: or, if desired this drop plate may be hinged as a flap or door, or made
loose, & fixed hung or placed at pleasure.
1
The size form outline & details of plates are made for & adapted to existing open
fireplaces or for those fireplaces which may hereafter be made. The plates may be
provided with feet studs or nibs or their equivalent to rest on any desired bearing, or
they may rest upon oven &c. as already described.
In the construction of new oven and boiler or other grates I make special provision
for bearers in the form of ledges nibs or brackets or their equivalents cast on or
attached to the ovens & boilers or grates. Also in the construction of front bars &
frame for flap or door before described and which will take the place of the ordinary,drop-
bar and be a great improvement thereon as it will strengthen the draught and
create a bright glowing heat and thorough combustion of coal and consumption of.
smoke to a great extent.
This invention is intended especially for common ovens and boilers in artizans'
dwellings, seated directly over the fire and nearly on a level with the top of the oven
and boiler thus forming a small semi-cooking range and will be found a great boon to
the housewife for cooking and heating purposes, as it provides a larger space. For
ironing purposes it is most useful as several irons can be heated at once and much.
quicker than at the front of the fire.

page_text: Having tested its merits I consider this invention will become an important appendag
to fire grates.
First. As being a great economiser of fuel.
Second. As giving great facilities for cooking and heating.
Third. Being movable it can be used or not as circumstances require and
Fourth. As being a great preventer of smoke and dust.
Dated this Twenty-third day of December 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Open Fire-places.
I JAMES KNIGHT of Loughborough in the County of Leicester, Builder & Contractor
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:
The principal feature of this invention consists of a plate or plates of cast iron or
other material specially designed & adapted for improvements in existing open fire-
grates generally fixed in artizans' or cottage dwellings; & can be made in conformity
& congenious to any pattern or style of design plain or ornamental. It is made to
abut up to as well as rest on both sides of firegrate or fireplace so as to exclude smoke
on both sides of fire, & being movable can be used or not at pleasure as required.
The upper part can be made plain with smoke aperture or draught hole round, half-
round, horseshoe or any desired shape as shown in drawings A Fig. 1 sheet 1. also if
preferred two or more openings of smaller dimensions or one of triform shape Fig. 2
sheet 1. provided with close fitting covers C Fig. 3 sheet 1. These having a bearing
upon flanges or nibs form a level surface on the upper side of plate fitting on
any part of the triform aperture as shown in drawings c. d. e. Fig. 2 & 3 sheet 1.-the
Figs. 1 & 2 shewing the upper side of plate only. Fig. 3 shows covers fitting inside
& on top of triform aperture. Fig. 4 shows cross section with ridges B cast on.
Fig. 5 shows longitudinal section with ridges B & front plate cast on at right angles
with heating plate D & draught aperture Ů. Fig. 6 shows the front part of plate
made movable.
Fig. 1 sheet 3 shows plates adapted to existing open fireplaces. Fig. 1 & 2
sheet 2 show new fireplaces hereafter to be made with plates &c. complete.
(The letters of reference placed on the figures and which are referred to in this
Specification are the same for the same parts in all the figures.)
Fig. 1. sheet 1 is a form of plate with the draught hole aperture extending to back
of same when fuel can be thrown at the back of firegrate which fuel will gradually
work itself down to the fire as burnt.
The top of plate round draught hole aperture can be made plain or with ridge &
studs B Fig. 1. sheet 1 & Figs. 1 & 2 sheet 2. In Fig. 2 sheet 1. round the triform
draught hole aperture, the ridges are shown to be in sections of rings upright B
with draught apertures at sides C.
Although the plates are made as hereinbefore described I make them also with
upright rings plain or corrugated, or a combination of the same or other arrangements
equivalent thereto. By this arrangement the vessels can hang over the draught hole
or rest upon the ridges B Fig. 1 & 2 sheets 1 & 2, the heat & flame playing through
the aperture, under & around the vessels to be heated. In this form of draught hole
I also provide covers to fit on top of ridges on any part of triform aperture c. d. e
Fig. 3. sheet 1 to be used at pleasure. These covers are provided with guides cast
on under side which secures them in position, the advantage of the covers being in
placing them on any part of the triform aperture when a slow heat is required, or in
directing the force of flame & heat on any particular object.

page_text: In addition to description already given I purpose making the plate in some cases
with edges bevelled, round, or half round, square, or any other shape suited to the
various requirements.
Fig. 5 sheet 1 shows the longitudinal section of plate made either plain or with
ridges, the back and side bearings of plate being bevelled on under side, thereby
causing it to fit close down on the slanting back of fireplace, bringing the plate level
on its seatings & fitting close to oven & boiler thereby sealing down the heat smoke
and flame, & conveying the same through the aperture or draught hole, thus preventing
the smoke & flame from spreading & curling in all directions as shown in Fig. 1
sheet 3. The front of plate can be made plain or ornamental & at right angles with
the heating plate, dropping any desired depth. For adapting to fireplaces already fixed
I prefer them made as 1) Fig. 5 sheet 1. and fitting close up to firegate as D Fig. 1
sheet 3. thus shutting out the cold air from the upper portion of the firegrate &
diverting the same through the lower bars, thereby causing a bright glowing heat
and perfect combustion of fuel.
In this form of plate the draught can be excited by the front of the same abutting
close up to the front bars, & retarded by drawing the plate forward, thereby allowing
the cold air to rush between the plate & the top of the fire: or, they can be made
with front movable as in Fig. 6. sheet 1.
Although I prefer this form of plate, it does not preclude the plates from being
made and attached in the various shapes forms & ways as set forth in my Provisional
Specification.
In the construction of new oven & boilers or other grates hereafter made on
this principle I make special provision for bearers in the form of ledges, nibs, or
brackets or their equivalents cast on or attached to sides of oven & boilers or the
bearers or stays may be cast on underside of plates if circumstances so require.
Fig. 1 sheet 2 shows the construction of firegrate front with flap or door substituted
for the ordinary drop bar. These can be made in various depths to suit the size and
design of grate-hinged from front of plate and hanging down to upper bar a Fig. 1
sheet 2 closed, and opening upwards as shown by dotted line 6: or, being hinged
on pivots opening downwards Fig. 2 b. open, & Fig. 1. a. closed.
By this arrange-
ment the draught can be regulated & the fire fed. The door also can be let down
& used if required as a stand for vessels &c.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details only as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of 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. Novelty in design.
Second. Facility for converting an open firegrate into a semi-cooking range at
pleasure.
Third. Efficiency as a cooking & warming grate.
Fourth. Simplicity in its use, being under control & requiring no special skill.
Fifth. Great economy in the expenditure of fuel.
Sixth. That, being movable, it can be used or not as required and
Seventh. That it is a great preventer of smoke and dust.
Witness to the signature of
James Knight by-
JOSEPH GRIGGS,
Mayor of Loughborough.
JAMES KNIGHT.