IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES, STOVES, AND OTHER FIRE-PLACES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mac Phail, of Cannon Street, in the City of
London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES, STOVES, AND
OTHER FIRE-PLACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mac Phail at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1881.
ALEXANDER MAC PHAIL, of Cannon Street, in the City of London.
MENTS IN FIRE-GRATES, STOVES, AND OTHER FIRE-PLACES."
" IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
fire-grates, stoves, and other fire-places or containers used for warming rooms or
for other heating purposes, and has for its object the prevention of down draughts
from chimnies and consequent issue of smoke into the room or space to be warmed,
combined with a more perfect combustion of the fuel and radiation of heat than
has hitherto been attained by any known arrangement of fire place or stove.
In carrying out my Invention I substitute for the grate and box of an ordinary
fire-grate, fire place, or stove, a corrugated or fluted bottom and backing (hereinafter
termed the fire box) of fire clay, metal, or other suitable material, the corrugations
of which are curved or inclined forwards and downwards towards a bottom ledge
or plain surface placed within a short distance of the hearth. Behind and above
the fire-box I construct a fire brick or metal partition, through which are holes or
slots suitably arranged and communicating with a space or pocket behind. The
lower end of this space or pocket opens into the flue or chimney, the said flue or
chimney being completely closed immediately over the fire, so that the smoke from
the fire is not permitted to escape directly into the chimney as is usually the
case.
In front of the fire box are fixed the bars of my fire-grate, such bars being
preferably arranged vertically and curved over towards the fire instead of
horizontally, as commonly done, or they may be otherwise arranged if found
desirable. These bars are united at their upper ends by a through bar or stay, and
at their lower ends by a flat or other shaped bar forming a ledge or projection on
D

page_text: its inner or fire side, a space occurring thereat between it and the bottom front
edge of the fire-box. Below and closely against the front of the bottom bar I
place a screen or fender provided with air holes and furnished or not with
adjustable plates or other devices for regulating the admission of air to the space
beneath the fire-box. Air holes are also formed vertically or otherwise from the
said space through the corrugations of the fire-box, and again through the extreme
back of the fire-box into the flue adjacent to the passage from the space or pocket
before named.
When fuel is placed in the fire-box and ignited, the air passing through the holes
in this screen or fender and through the corrugated fire-box acts upon the fire so
that the smoke and gases pass through the holes or slots in the partition behind
the fire box and are drawn down the space or pocket thereat into the flue, where
mixing with the heated air coming through the holes at the extreme back of the
fire box bottom the smoke is thereby more or less consumed and the draught
increased.
At the back of the grate I also place an upright flap or valve (nade to form the
inner or front side of the flue), hinged or otherwise secured at its lower end to the
upper part of the space or pocket aforesaid, and provided at or towards its upper
end with a connecting rod and handle acted upon from the front of the grate for
the purpose of more or less opening and closing the flue, and thereby regulating
the consumption of fuel as desired.
By my Invention the heat. from the fire instead of being wasted by passing
directly into the chimney, as at present, is diffused into the room and radiated
from all points of the fire. Also by the disposition of the air holes combined with
the use of the space or pocket behind the fire-box the smoke is wholly or partially
*consumed before passing into the flue, and a more perfect combustion of the fuel is
effected.
My said Invention is applicable to every kind of fire-place, stove, or range, and
is especially suitable where hot air pipes are used in combination therewith for
heating purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Mac Phail in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1881.
ALEXANDER MAC PHAIL, of Cannon Street, in the City of London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-GRATES, STOVES, AND OTHER FIRE-PLACES."
My said Invention which relates to the construction and arrangement of fire-
grates, stoves, and other fire-places or containers used for warming rooms or for
other heating purposes has for its objects the prevention of down draughts from
chimneys and consequent issue of smoke into the room or space to be warmed, and
ensuring a more perfect combustion of the fuel and radiation of heat than has
hitherto been attained by any known arrangement of fire-place or stove.
In carrying out my Invention I substitute for the grate and box of an ordinary
fire-grate, fireplace, or stove, a corrugated or fluted fire clay or metal bottom and
backing, the corrugations being arranged in any suitable direction. Behind and
above the fire-box I construct a fire brick or metal partition, through which air
holes or slots suitably arranged to communicate with a space or pocket behind.
This space or pocket communicates at its lower end with the flue or chimney,
which flue or chimney is completely closed immediately over the fire, so that the
smoke from the fire is not permitted to escape directly into the chimney, as is
usually the case.
The front of the fire-box is provided with bars arranged by preference vertically,
and made to curve over towards the fire instead of being arranged horizontally, as
commonly done. These bars are united at their upper ends by a through bar or
stay, and at their lower ends by a flat or other suitably shaped bar to form a ledge
or projection on its inner or fire side and a space between it and the bottom front
edge of the fire-box. Below and close against the front of the bottom bar I place
a screen or fender provided with air holes and furnished or not with adjustable
plates or a valve, or other device for regulating the admission of air to the space
beneath the fire-box. Air holes are also formed vertically or otherwise from the
said space through the corrugations of the fire-box, and again through the extreme
back of the fire-box into the flue adjacent to the passage from the space or pocket
before named.
When fuel is placed in the fire-box and ignited, the air passing through the holes
in the screen or fender and through the corrugated fire-box acts upon the fire so
that the smoke and gases pass through the holes or slots in the partition behind
the fire-box and are drawn down the space or pocket before referred to into the
flue, where mixing with the heated air coming through the holes at the extreme
back of the fire-box bottom, the smoke is thereby more or less consumed and the
draught increased.
At the back of the grate, near the upper part of the pocket, I hinge an upright
or curved flap or valve provided with a connecting rod and handle suitably
arranged to enable the valve to be acted upon from the front of the grate for the
purpose of more or less opening and closing the flue, and thereby regulating the
consumption of fuel as desired.
By my said Invention the heat from the fire instead of being wasted by passing
directly into the chimney, as at present, is diffused into the room and radiated
from all points of the fire. Also by the disposition of the air holes combined with
the use of the space or pocket behind the fire box the smoke is wholly or partially
consumed before passing into the flue, and a more perfect combustion of the fuel is
effected.
My said Invention is applicable to every kind of fire-place, stove, or range, and.
is especially suitable where hot air pipes are used in combination there with for
heating purposes.
>
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood. I have.

page_text: annexed to this my Specification two explanatory Sheets of Drawings, which I
shall now proceed to describe, the same letters of reference being employed to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, represent respectively a front elevation, a transverse
section, and a horizontal section of an open grate or domestic fire-place constructed
according to my said Invention; and Figures 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 2, are respectively
an external elevation, a vertical section, and a horizontal section of an open or
closed portable stove with my improvements applied thereto.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A is the fuel box, the bottom B of which may
be either corrugated or fluted on its underside, as shewn, the flutes or corrugations
being arranged in any desired direction. The back C of the fuel box which is also
corrugated or fluted may be formed in one with the bottom B, but I prefer to
make them separate for convenience of fitting. This back is made to incline
downwards towards the front of the stove, the top of the said back being in or
nearly in the same plane as the chimney breast, whilst the lower end thereof which
rests upon or supports the bottom B projects towards the front of the fuel box.
Immediately above and behind the back C is a partition D separating the fuel
box A from the fuel E, and forming with a plate F a space or chamber G into
which the smoke and other products of combustion from the fire enters and in
which the smoke is consumed, as hereinafter described. H is a hood or deflector
formed or fitted on the front of the partition D and made to incline downwards
over the fire towards the front of the stove, beneath which hood the products of
combustion pass into the chamber G through vertical passages a formed in the
partition D. Above the partition and hinged to the front plate thereof at b is a
flap or valve I which serves the two fold purpose of assisting to conduct the
products of combustion from the fire through the slots a into the chamber G, and
also to throttle or contract more or less the passage through the flue E, and thereby
regulate the consumption of fuel as desired. The flue E is fitted to or formed in
one with the stove, and placed therewith into the ordinary recess K provided in a
building for the reception of an ordinary stove, the flue entering and extending a
short distance up the chimney K', whilst the fuel box instead of being placed in
the recess immediately under the chimney projects into the apartment, whereby
the heat from the fire is caused to radiate from all points and is diffused throughout
the apartment instead of being allowed to escape up the chimney as is usually the
case. Lare the fire bars which may be arranged horizontally if desired, but I
prefer to arrange them vertically, as shewn, and to curve them inwards over or
towards the fire at their upper ends, and I connect the said upper ends together by
a horizontal rod or bar c, whilst their lower ends are connected to another bar d
which forms an ornamental front to the fuel box and serves to support the front of
the bottom B. M is a combined fender and ash pan, the front e of which is placed
in contact with the front bar d and is perforated to admit cold air beneath the
bottom of the fuel box, an adjustable valve being provided to regulate its admission;
part of the air thus admitted passes through perforations in the bottom B to
support combustion, whilst the remainder travels over the corrugated or fluted
under surface thereof. The air becoming thus highly heated passes thence into the
vertical passages f formed in the partition D, and through the lateral perforations
therein into the chamber G where it mingles with the smoke and flame, thereby
effecting its partial combustion, whilst in its downward course it comes in contact
with the flame (passing directly under the hood or deflector H) and a stream of
heated air passing through the back at h¹, whereby its complete or nearly complete
combustion is effected, and the residue of the products of combustion from the fire
pass into the flue E comparatively free from smoke.
By arranging the flue E behind the fuel box, as shown, instead of immediately
over the same, as is usual, and by causing the products of combustion to enter it
by an indirect passage, as herein before described, all down draught and the
disagreeable and destructive effects of smoke in the apartment is prevented, whilst
a more complete combustion, and consequently economy in the consumption of fuel,

page_text: is effected. The back wall of the recess K in which the stove is fitted is provided
with an opening N fitted with a regulating valve O for the admission of cold air to .
the recess K, which air by impinging against the surface of the flue E becomes
bighly heated and may be admitted as required by a regulating valve g into the
apartment to be heated through a passage P; formed in the chimney breast Q is a
receptacle which may constitute an ornament for the mantelshelf for containing
liquid disinfectants or scents, onto the surface of which the heated air passing
through the passage F into the apartment is caused to impinge by a deflector h,
whereby the air is not only rendered agreeably moist but the disinfectant or scent
is diffused throughout the apartment.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 2, represent my said Invention as applied to an open
or close portable stove, A being the body of the stove or fuel box provided with
vertical bars; B is the bottom of the fuel box, and C the back thereof, which in
my Drawing is represented as forming a continuation of the partition D, but which
may be made to incline as in the previously described arrangement. The partition D
seperates the fuel box from the flue E and forms with the plate F a combustion
chamber G into which the products of combustion from the fuel are conducted by a
deflector H, and the complete or nearly complete consumption or combustion of the
smoke is effected in a precisely similar manner to that herein before described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. I is a valve in the flue E to regulate the draft, and
consequently the consumption of fuel as required. The heat from the stove is diffused
throughout the apartment by radiation, and all down draught is prevented by
causing the products of combustion to enter the flue by an indirect course in a
similar manner to the first described arrangement, as will be clearly understood on
reference to the Drawings.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. Preventing down draft in open or closed grates, stoves, or fireplaces by
forming or arranging the flue or chimney at the back of the fuel box and causing
the products of combustion to enter the flue or chimney by an indirect course,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Secondly. Effecting the consumption or combustion of smoke in open or closed
grates, stoves, or fireplaces by causing the said smoke to enter and mingle with hot
air and flames in a chamber formed behind the fuel box, substantially as herein-
before described.
Thirdly. Constructing and arranging open grates, stoves, or fireplaces with a
fuel box extending into the apartment to be heated, and with a flue or chimney
arranged behind instead of over the top of the fuel box, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by my
Drawings.
Fourthly. Constructing open or closed grates, fireplaces, or stoves with a
perforated partition separating the fuel box from the flue or chimney, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mac Phail, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ALEXANDER MAC PHAIL. (L.S.)