Year: 1889

page_text: We, THOMAS FLETCHER and ALFRED CLARE, both of Thynne Street Warrington
in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers of Gas Apparatus, 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:―
This Invention relates to the type of gas fires in which solid or perforated lumps of
fire-clay or fire-clay and similar compounds are rendered incandescent by flames issuing
from gas burners..
When a mass of such lumps of incandescing material is employed in the ordinary
manner the incandescence of the front portions of the fire only is visible and there is
therefore an apparent want of depth in the fire. Owing also to the solidity of the
lumps, a considerable time is required before the masses become visibly heated.
Further, since the lumps are generally formed of a mixture of fire-clay asbestos, and
sawdust, they are very friable and by their disintegration in use they soon fill up or
obstruct the openings of the gas burners.
These Improvements consist in constructing and employing for the incandescing
portions of gas fires hollow spheres or shells, of any suitable form and size, constructed
of fire resisting material, and having their walls perforated.
We will proceed to more particularly describe our Invention with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 represents an incandescing lump of
the construction at present in ordinary use. Fig. 4 represents an approximately
spherical shell, and Figs. 2 and 3 an approximately hemi-spherical shell each having
perforated walls, constructed according to these Improvements. Although we have
shown two forms only, it will be understood that the shells may have any desired shape
and that the two forms are represented only for purposes of illustration.
The shells may be constructed of any suitable fire resisting material but we prefer
to use a mixture of fire-clay and asbestos, or cast or wrought iron.
If the shells are formed of fire-clay compound we prefer to omit the sawdust and
employ a larger proportion of fire-clay than is used in constructing the ordinary lumps.
This material is well pugged or incorporated and is then cut or rolled into sheets.
Suitable discs or pieces of these sbeets are taken and the desired perforations are

page_text: made in them and the perforated discs or pieces are then or previously formed into the
desired shape and burnt in a kiln. It will be found convenient when a spherical or
closed shell is desired, to make it in two portions which may be united before burning
by means of fire-clay slip. The walls of the shells being comparatively thin, say
about one eighth of an inch, they will not require drying in ovens before being burnt,
and the process of burning need not exceed ten minutes, so that they may be burnt
continuously by being slowly passed through the kiln.
If the shells are to be formed of cast iron, they may be moulded and cast in the
ordinary manner; if they are to be formed of wrought iron they may conveniently
be stamped out of sheets by known means.
When the shells are formed of the fire-clay compound no sawdust being used, and
a larger proportion of fire-clay being employed, a stiff plastic compound is produced
which burns very hard and does not crumble or powder in the fire. Owing to the
numerous perforations in the shells constructed according to this Invention and as
illustrated by the drawings, the incandescent shells at the back of the fire will become
visible through the openings and a much greater depth of effective incandescence is
thus secured.
The perforated shells constructed as herein before described may be employed in a
gas fire of any construction in which the ordinary fire clay and asbestos lumps may be
used, and they may be distributed and arranged in a similar or other convenient and
suitable manner so as to become incandescent under the action of the
gas flames.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
(1) Hollow shells having perforated walls constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described, for use as the incandescing portion of gas fires.
(2) A gas fire consisting of a number of perforated hollow shells constructed of fire
resisting material; arranged in such a manner as to be rendered incandescent by the
action of gas flames; substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated thin 10th In.filAD 1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.