FIREPLACES." M "IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Redmayne at the Office of
the Cominissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1882.
THOMAS REDMAYNE, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
FIREPLACES."
M
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to fireplaces in which it is desired that the coal or other
fuel consumed should produce as little smoke as possible, and in which for such
purpose fresh fuel is supplied when necessary beneath that already burning and
incandescent, the smoke from such fresh fuel passing through the latter with a due
proportion of air and being consumed.
It has for its object an improved method of constructing and operating such a
fireplace arranged for the purpose described, so that it is simple, cheap, and effective,
and easily worked.
In order to apply my Invention to an ordinary open fireplace, I arrange the front
bars which may be either horizontal or preferably vertical, so that they are suspended
upon a transverse bar or pivot which traverses the front of the fireplace at or about
the level of the top of the fire, its ends turning in sockets in the sideplates or checks
of the fireplace. Upon one end of this transverse bar I make or attach a boss
having one or more transverse holes into which the end of a poker or other bar or
lever can be inserted for the purpose of turning the transverse bar and with it the
front bars.
When the front bars (which may be straight or curved) are hanging vertically or
in their most forward position, their lower ends touch a second transverse bar or
pivot parallel with the upper one but at a sufficient distance below it, the ends of
which second bar also revolve in sockets in the side plates or cheeks of the fireplace.
This bar has attached to or formed upon it a curved plate preferably perforated or
in the form of n grating and of such sizo and form that when its inner end is raised
sufficiently high, by means of a poker or bar inserted into a hole in a boss upon the
bar, its upper curved surface corresponds with the path through which the lower
ends of the front bars move as first described. At the back of the fireplace is fixed
a curved plate against which the inner end of the curved grating passes, and
this plate is provided with projecting stops which limit the movement of the
grating.

page_text: At the back of the fireplace, above the upper edge of the fixed curved plate, I
make a transverse grating or block of iron, firebrick, or other suitable material, more
or less horizontal and having through it openings or perforations through which air
can enter from the space beneath the fireplace, and above this grating I form the
back of the fireplace, preferably of firebrick, and also having through it perforations
by which air can enter the fireplace from below.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The front bars being in their vertical
or forward position and the lower curved grating being raised to its highest point,
when it is desired to add fresh fuel below that which is burning in the fireplace the
front bars are turned backward by inserting a poker or lever into the boss upon
their spindle until their lower ends have been moved as far as the upper edge of the
fixed curved plate, the burning or incandescent fuel being also raised with and
upon them.
The lower curved grating then falls or is turned down in a similar way until its
outer edge reaches and is stopped at the lower edge of the fixed curved plate, and
a chamber is thus formed into which coal or other fuel can be conveniently supplied
below the burning fuel. When sufficient fuel has been thus inserted the upper or
front bars are brought forward or allowed to fall to their original position, the
incandescent fuel following them, and the lower curved grating is then raised together
with the coal or fuel upon it until its outer end has reached its original position at
the upper end of the fixed curved plate. The process described is repeated as often
as it is necessary to add fuel to the fire.
I prefer to make a notch in the edge of the boss upon the upper bar or spindle
into which a detent or catch hinged to the front of the fireplace drops when the
front bars are raised as described, and retains them in their place.
A similar notch may also be made in the boss upon the lower bar or spindle, and
provided with a detent or catch to hold the curved grating in its place when raised,
and I sometimes connect this lower detent by a jointed link to a pin in the upper
boss in such manner that when the upper front bars have been turned inward
for the purpose described the lower catch is released and the curved grating drops
by its own weight into the proper position to receive fresh fuel as already
described.
I prefer that the sides as well as the back of the fireplace should be lined with
iron or firebrick having perforations through which air is admitted to the fire.
In order to increase the quantity of air passing through the fireplace, and thus
to promote the consumption of the smoke when fresh fuel has been added below the
already burning or incandescent fuel in the manner above described, I prefer to
arrange apparatus in the chimney above the fire place by which a strong draught
through the fire can be caused when desired.
For this purpose I arrange a vertical groove or guide upon each side of the fire-
place above the fire and at the entrance to the chimney, and in these grooves or
guides fit pivots or pins in front of the upper edge of a loose transverse moveable
plate.
This plate is of such size and its pivots are arranged in such position that when
its front lower edge is brought forward so as to be near the upper transverse bar
which carries the front bars the pivots are at the lower end of the grooves or guides
and the front space above the fire being more or less closed a powerful upward
draught is created through the fire. When the plate is moved backward until its
lower edge reaches the back of the fireplace above the fire the pivots rise in their
guides or grooves, the upper ends of which are open so that the plate can be taken
completely out if desired.
In the last mentioned position the heated air and products of combustion pass up
to the chimney in front of the plate.
Above the moveable plate constructed and operated as just described I mako a
damper consisting of a horizontal plate, preferably of cast iron turning upon
transverse horizontal pivots at its front edge and when down closing or nearly
closing the chimney. I raise this damper when and to the extent required by means

page_text: of a spindle arranged under the plate and passing out through the front of the fire-
place, a regulating handle being fitted upon its front end and an excentric, squaro
or polygonal cam upon its back end, which can operates upon the lower side of the
damper near its front edge, raising or lowering it more or less as desired. An
› indicator may be provided shewing the extent to which the damper is opened.
Apparatus constructed according to my Invention may be applied to fireplaces of
different kinds.