Improvements in Open Gas Fires or Stoves.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May. 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 27th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Open Gas Fires or Stoves.
We, SAMUEL VICKREY BIRD of St. Pauls Road, Balsall Heath, near the City
of Birmingham, Manager of Works, and JOSEPH SYKES WOOD of Hingeston
Street in the aforesaid City, Foreman of Works, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
--
This invention relates to improvements in open gas fires, or open gas stoves, and
consists in the 1st part, in providing the said gas fires or stoves, with exterior or
front framings, composed of wood or other like materials, which may be embellished
or ornamented in any desired way, so that they may be made en suite with the
furniture of the room wherein the fire or stove is fitted. In the 2nd part, in mounting,
fitting and arranging the fire, or metal enclosure constituting the fire-box, and
wherein combustion takes place, to the back of, or behind the said exterior framing.
In the 3rd part, in providing the fire aperture or apertures within the wood
framing or enclosure, with a movable and fitted panel, which covers screen-wise
the said opening or openings in warm weather, when the fire or stove is not required
to be used. In the fourth part, to the construction and formation of the backs,
and upper parts of the fires." In the 5th part, to a new form of heat absorbent,
and radiator, commonly and hereinafter called the fuel. In the 6th part, to means
for adjusting the fuel within the channels, cellular formations, or undulations of the
slab or back of the fire.
In carrying out our invention in connection with an open fire place, or stove
fitted within a recess, or ordinary fire place of a room, we provide the front of the
said fire, with an exterior framing of wood or other like material, embellished or
ornamented in any desired way; and which said wood exterior framing, has a fire
opening about its middle, wherethrough the fire is seen, and wherethrough heat
primarily radiates therefrom.
Fitted to the back of the said exterior, is a fire receptacle or fire box, consisting
primarily of a cast or wrought metal framing, suitably constructed to contain the
accessories and cognate parts in connection with the fire.
The said fire box or receptacle, is supported, hinged or otherwise connected to
the front exterior framing, and before the opening or pierced middle part thereof.
To protect the wood from becoming unduly heated, the same may be painted at
back with asbestos or other fire-proof paint, or the same may be covered, or have
interposed between it, and the fire-place or box, a layer of silicate of cotton, or other
non-conducting material, which if necessary, may be encased within enamelled iron
or the like.
The opening or fire aperture within the exterior enclosing frame, is or may be
fitted with a brass or other panel, so that when the stove is not in use, the said
opening is screened off by the panel, which is fitted in position, either by being
raised, hinged or otherwise mounted, such as being raised from below, or dropped
from above, the opening.
This said covering or screen, constitutes an ornamental portion of the framing
of the fire grate during warm weather, when the stove is not in use; and further,
if desired, the said panel may be divided and hinged crosswise, so that the lower
portion can be made to slide internally, or at the back of, the exterior framing, and
the upper portion falling horizontally upon the bottom of the fire opening, in
manner that the said upper portion juts or projects outwardly shelf-like, and forme
a trivet. upon which articles to be heated or kept warm may be placed.

page_text: Thus, a divided panel may be employed, either aforesaid as a trivet, or the same
may be made to fall forward, so as to form a heat deflector.
The said panel, or portions of the same, when applied as aforesaid, is or are kept
in position, or held rigid, by ears or lugs, with or without pivots, arranged upon
the ends or sides of the said panel, and at or near the lower edge of the fire
opening.
The front side of the interior back or slab of the fire or fire-place, is made
of fireclay or other refractory material (fireclay preferred), and which slab, is
channelled horizontally, vertically, or obliquely, with circularly or other shaped
recesses, which form compartments or cellular passages, wherein a new fuel, as
hereinafter described, is placed, projects, or is disposed. This fuel, with its
adjuncts, consists of a hollow tube or tubes, fitted or provided on their undersides
or otherwise, with fireclay hollow bosses, pierced with holes, and having depending
from them, ramified bush-like sprays of metal, or in other words, the sprays of
metal, which are preferably of cast iron, are filigree or fibrous in character, with
the branches or ramified parts crossing each other, alike unto bush-work.
The hollow boss or bosses of fireclay, forms the centre of the fuel, and upon
which, and the ramified bush like metal parts, the jets of flame issuing from
suitably arranged burners, play, and heat the said fuel to redness, whilst the tubes
or hollow rods, which are the fuel carriers, convey heat from their open ends into
a room or apartment to be heated.
Although we have described that the flame jets impinge upon the whole of the
parts surrounding the middle and hollow fireclay boss, yet the said impingement
may be directed only on the said hollow and pierced boss if necessary.
The tufts of the ramified bush shaped fuel described, are placed alternately one
above another, so that the intervening spaces of one row, are met by the fuels of
the next row, above and below, hence continuous lines of fuel, having the spaces
between then confronted by the fuel of the adjacent and continuous lines. By this
means a large amount of space for fuel is obtained, and the gas jets made to apply
themselves in the most advantageous manner possible, and hence a large amount
of heat.
The bush like tufts of fuel, may be directed if necessary from tubular extensions
of the slab or back of the fire, or they may be directed from tubes, or rectangular
shaped bosses.
The fire-brick back or slab may be made in segments, and so also may the bossed
hollow chambers, with the filigree work surrounding them.
The parts carrying the fuel are adjustable, to admit of the sprays, or ramified
parts taking or projecting into the channels or recesses in the fire-back aforesaid.
Or the top, bottom and sides of the metal enclosing frame of the fire-place or fire
box, may be made to open-out, lift-off, take-up, drop-down, or be removed out of
position the most convenient way, in order to admit or allow the fuel to be placed
into the openings, or semi-cellular portions in the fire-clay back, or back and top,
as aforesaid.
Where the open fire or stove is not let into a recess, then the same may be
surrounded by exterior sides or parts, consistent with the character and shape of
the said fire place or stove.
The fire openings, or openings, within the exterior casing, may be furnished with
deep metallic flanges, so as to protect the edges of the opening from the heat given
out through it.
Dated this 26th day of May-1801
SAMUEL VICKREY BIRD,
JOSEPH SYKES, WOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant..

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Open Gas Fires or Stoves.
We, SAMUEL VICKREY BIRD of St. Pauls Road, Balsall Heath, near the City
of Birmingham, Manager of Works, and JOSEPH SYKES WOOD of Hingeston
Street in the aforesaid City, Foreman of Works, '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 pertains to detail improvements in open gas fires, or open gas
stoves, as herein after described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, an open
gas fire or an open gas stove, constructed according to, or provided with improve-
ments made according to our invention.
The said open gas fire or stove, has an exterior embellishment or framing, made
of wood or other like material, and which is protected from the radiant, conducted,
and ascending heat of the fire place, by flanges or outstanding ledges, disposed or
arranged contiguous with the inner boundary edges of the said wood or other
Framing, which, if unprotected, would be liable to become discolored, and the polish
blister, and the said wood framing possibly burnt.
The fire box is so constructed, that the same admits of being fitted to the back of
the said wood frame-work, and the presented edges of the metal parts, materially
isolated from those of the wood.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the said open gas fire or
open gas stove, upon the dotted lines A B, Figure 1, shewing the means of isolating
the wood framing from the metal, and the obtaining of an air circulation around
the presented parts of the said metal with the wood, and also the flange or guards,
for protecting the outside surface of the wood framing from ascending heat.
The said view also shows our new or recuperative fuel, and regenerator back,
which latter creates heated air, which is delivered or supplied through the said
back, and through it, revivification of the impoverished products of combustion in
the fire-box is accomplished, hence a re- and increased animation to the fuel.
The said section further shows the position of the combined screen and trivet,
the latter in position for using, and the former in position when out of use.
Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the said open gas fire, with its fittings
and cognate.parts, upon the dotted lines C D Figure 2.
The fuel, which is shown in sections, and consists of ramified metal sprays, upon
which pierced shells of fire clay, asbestos, or other refractory material, come, is
introduced laterally into position by shaped or dovetail shank parts, sliding and
taking within the air passage, which are fed with air, through vertical or upright
air shafts, which besides forming air conduits, shield or protect inlet openings to
the air passages made within the fire box sides.
To introduce the said fuel or fuels in position, one of the sides of the fire-box
and with it, one of the sides of the fire-brick and regenerator back, are hinged, so
as to be capable of turning outwards, leaving the ends of the air passage naked..
Figure 4 represents a horizontal section of the said fire box part, with a portion
of the fuel removed, and with the hinged side, which carries both air-shaft, and
part of the fire clay back, turned slightly outwardly.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the said fire box part, of the fire place
or stove.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same, showing the lower part of the air shaft
for feeding the fire brick and regenerative back with air, in section.
Figure 7 is an end view of the fuel.
Figure 8 is a plan of the same.
Figure 9 is a plan of the ramified metal part of the fuel, whilst Figure 10 is a

page_text: section of the perforated shell of fire clay, which is supported dependingly within
the shaped middle part of the said metal bush-like support,
Figure 11 represents a vertical section of the open gas fire or stove, upon the
dotted lines E F Figure 1, showing the air circulation means, for preventing the
conduction of heat from the metal to the wood.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 11.
a is the fire box, consisting of a rectangular shaped metal casing, open at front,
and bottom, and provided at back with a radiating and regenerative fire brick
slab, wherethrough air is drawn for supplying the upper portion or portions of the
flame or flames, emanating from the gas burner e, with heated air, which reanimates
the said flames, hence the production of great heat, and which flames play upon the
fuel d, which projects from the back of the slab b.
The said fire-box consists of a closed back a², flue outlet a³, a closed crown part a
a semi-closed bottom a an open front a", with a hopper shaped entrance a', having
a hood as, depending front side ³, front plate a¹, between which, and the part a
is a space a, down which the screen or movable panel slides, when the same is
out of use.
:
The outside boundary edges of the fore part of the expanding or hopper shaped
front a', are fitted with a box flange a³, having a boundary web a, and intermediate
bearings parts a, which impinge and abut at intermediate points, upon the front
side of the enclosing wood framing e, which is protected from ascending radiant
heat, by deflecting flanges a, a, carried at the upper inside crown parts of the
hopper shaped front a', which is the entrance to the gas fire or stove.
The connection of the front of the fire box, or the front of the entrance to the
fire box, with the wood front, is made at back by a flange as at top, and a, at
bottom, so that it will be seen that the contact of metal with wood is extremely
limited, and that the inner boundary edges of the said wooden frame e, are protected
by an air space a20, whilst the front or the varnished front of the frame or panel e
as aforesaid, is protected, by the outstanding flanges a, a, which cause the
ascending air to impinge upon them, and be deflected upwardly, clear of the
said front, whilst at the same time, the spaces ", " form cold air conduits or
flues, wherethrough air circulates, and thereby keeps the metal cool, and protects
the wood encircling frame or panel from injury.
The said screen or panel f, is composed of two parts, f", f, and when out of use
as a panel, as in Figure 2, the said lower part fo, lies, or is disposed at the back of
the lower part of the wooden frame, and between the guides located at the front of
the metal framing of the base part of the gas fire or stove.
peg /
The said screen is prevented from being withdrawn from its guides, by
whilst the said upper and lower parts, f, are connected together by a butt
hinge, and with lug abutments on the underside of part f', (which con-
stitutes a trivet) adapted to bear against the upper part of the lower part, of
the said panel j.
The said upper and trivet part, when turned at right angles to the plane of the
other part, forms a horizontal rest, upon which objects, the contents of which are
to be heated or kept warm, are placed.
When the open
is a handle for raising the said combined trivet and screen.
front a rear of the aperture a', requires to be closed, the screen is lifted, and the
hooks made to engage with the holes or recesses a', made within the framing of
the metal at the entrance a, (see Figures 1 and 2).
The fire brick back, or regenerative slab, consists of a channelled slab or brick,
with a recessed front, comprehended by top and sides 62, 63, which are ribbed, fluted,
or corrugated upon their inner presented sides, while directed horizontally through
the back of the said fire brick slab b, are a series of open ended air passages,
with air slits 65, running nearly the whole length of the said passages, and leading
and opening to the back of the combustion chamber y.
Thus the said air passages 6, have leading from them, and into the combustion

page_text: chamber I, horizontal slits 6, wherethrough heated air is delivered to the flames of
the gas jets, hence more complete combustion, and recuperation of the fire.
The ends of the air passages ', are semi-shrouded or partially covered up, by
vertical open bottomed and closed topped air passages or shafts h, (see Figures 3, 4
and 6) up which cold air ascends, and is partly heated, and from thence conveyed,
to the horizontal air passages, which delivers and distributes the same, in a more
highly heated state, to the combustion chamber, which is immediately above the
gas jets, fitted within the open bottom of the fire or stove, and recuperative back
fire brick lining thereof.
The fuel d, consists of outstanding sprays or ramified metal branches ², semi-
open at their middles, 3, and fitted at their inner ends with dovetails, or other
shanks d, which slide within the air passages, and also take within the slits ³,
hence the supporting of the said fuel in a projecting manner from the front of the
slab b, or at the back of the combustion chamber 9.
.
The said fuel, or ramified metal sprays, are made preferably in sections, and
form shelf or bracket like rests, within the middles of which, a hollow fire-brick or
asbestos pierced shell i, comes.
These said pierced shells of fire brick or the like, slightly depend, and are
supported within the concave middles of the iron work branched parts d², in manner
that the flame plays upon the metal branches ², and upon the fire brick pierced
shells, which take in heat, become partially incandescent, and then radiate the
said heat absorbed, through the open frout of the framing of the gas fire, and so
into an apartment.
It is understood that the shanks d, of the fuel supports d, have suitable air
clearances, so that when in position in the slits 6, the ingress of air to the combustion
chamber is not materially hindered.
In order to introduce the said fuel d, one of the sides 63, of the block, is hinged
at , so as to admit of the said side turning outwardly, leaving the ends of one side
open for the introduction of the fuel, or the sliding of the shanks of the fuel within
the passages, and slits 1.
Figure 12 represents a modified form of the connection of the fore part of the
framing of the gas fire or stove, to, or with the wood framing.
In this arrangement, the abutments of the inside and outside framing parts, are
made only at intermediate points, and the inner boundary edging of the said wood
framing is intermittently isolated, and surrounded by an air space, wherethrough
air circulates.
e is the wood framing, a3 is a box flange, with points of contact only at a".
a20 is an air space, whilst upon the opposite sides is a like box flange a23, cavities a²,
and intermediate contact parts 25.
Cold air circulates within the interior of the box flanges, and keeps the surrounding
metal and parts cool.
Figure 13 represents a vertical section of a fire box, with the back or slab of the
same, provided with vertical air passages, instead of horizontal ones.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section of the same, showing the said disposition of the
passages, relative to the position of the fire box.
When like fuel, as before described, is employed, and the air passages vertically
arranged, the stems, shanks, or inner ends of them, are threaded or dropped vertically
within the said passages, and by means of which, the said fuel is kept in position.
It is also understood that in this arrangement, the stems of the fuel, have such
clearances, as not to impare the free and proper circulation and delivery of super-.
heated air to the combustion chamber of the fire-box.
It is further understood that instead of employing fire-brick, any other well-known
refractory material may be employed, and that the air passages through them, may
be in the form of open jointed or other tubes, with longitudinally slit sides, arranged
at the back of the fire box and combustion chamber, and wherethrough air is fed
or delivered to the flame within the combustion chamber.
a is the fire box, b the recessed slab let within the back of the same, b, bare-·

page_text: vertical air passages directed through the slab, with the slits, leading to the back
of the combustion, chamber, or to the front inner part of the slab.
Figure 15 represents partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, a gas
stove, provided with improvements made according to another form of our invention.
a is a fire box, a is the open front, is the combustion chamber, is an over-
hanging hood, taking away the fumes and products of combustion, a³ is a flue
outlet, is a fire-brick or other back, horizontally pierced from back to front with
the air
conical holes, wherethrough superheated air, which has been drawn up
shaft, is supplied to the combustion chamber g, wherein hollow or solid fuel dis
deposited, and below the combustion chamber is a burner c.
The gascous products of combustion from the flame located within the combustion
chamber, are fed with fresh heated air through the horizontal and conical air
passages, leading from the air shaft h, directed vertically up the back of the
fire-box.
The back slab, has inside corrugated top and sides b², b³.
Figure 16 represents a horizontal section on the dotted lines GH, of the fire box,
with direct air passages through the back, but with the new fuel, as in Figures 1
and. 2, shown applied.
Thus, the combined new fuel is connected and supported, bracket-like, to the
fire clay back or perforated slab, by hooked shank parts, taking horizontally through
the said holes, and being there connected.
a is the fire-box, the vertical flue or air shaft at the back of the same, for
feeding air, and are the air passages. d is the fuel, with inner ends or stems d',
passing through the said air passages, and with hooked ends, and rest front
parts d', coming at the back and front surfaces respectively of the back wall of the
slab, hence the connection.
Thus, to introduce the fuel, pass the stein and its hooked end through the air
passage, and then allow the fuel to drop into position.
Figure 17 is a vertical section of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a vertical section of a portion of the fire box, showing a new method
of connecting or fitting the fuel to the back of the regenerative or recuperative
slab, provided with horizontally directed air passages.
Thus, a is the fire box, the slab, the fuel, with a stem ', inwardly terminated
by a turned-up end d, and a depending rest d.
Figure 19 is a plan of a length of fuel separately.
Figure 20 is a vertical section of a fire box, provided with a chambered
regenerative and recuperative block..
Figure 21 is a horizontal section of the same.
« is the fire box, is a fire-clay slab, having directed upwardly through its back
middle part, an air flue or chamber 6, with horizontal air passages b, directed from
it to the combustion chamber g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First In an open gas fire or gas stove, mounting the frame work of the open
front of the fire box or fire casing, to and within the inner boundary edging of the
pierced middle part of a wood front frame work or panel or to the back of, aud
contiguous to the boundary edge of, an opening of a surrounding, or partly
surrounding wood front frame work or panel, substantially as described and set
forth.
Secondly In open gas fires or gas stoves, providing or fitting the fronts, or the
open fronts, of the same with wood-work framings, fitted with, or the inner boundary
edges of the same coming adjacent to, deflecting flanges, standing out ribs or ledges,
whereby the said wood work outer surfaces are protected from the deleterious
action, or direct impingement, of radiating and ascending heat, substantially as
described and set forth.

page_text: Thirdly-In open gas fires or gas stoves, fitting or providing the upper boundary
edges of the metal of the open fronts of them, with outstanding flanges, ribs or
deflectors, whereby the inner or other parts of wood frainings surrounding them,
are protected and screened off from the direct impingement of ascending heat,
substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly-In open gas fires or stoves, connecting the fronts, or the open fronts
of them, to surrounding or partly surrounding wood or like fronts, panels or the
like, by hollow, channelled, or box connections, and intermediate bearings, whereby
the metal surrounding, or in juxta-position to, the said wood is kept cool, and heat
conduction greatly lessened, substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly In open gas fires or stoves, providing or arranging (or fitting) within
the solid backs, or the inside lining to the backs, or the fire clay slabs contained
within the backs, air passages, having slit or like delivery outlets, directed to the
front of the said back, slab or the like, substantially as described and set forth.
Sixthly In open gas fires or stoves, combining with air passages having
outlets (of the kind as described in the preceding claim), leading to the front of
the fire brick, or into the combustion chambers above the burners, of hooded or
shrouded air shafts or air inlet conduits, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
:-
Seventhly In open gas fires or open gas stoves, providing the fire brick slabs,
or the interior solid backs of the fire boxes or combustion chambers, of a recessed
figure, or having sides and top projecting inwards, with horizontally directed
passages, alone, or in conjunction with air shafts at back, whereby air is supplied
to the combustion chamber above the burners, substantially as, and for the purpose
set forth.
Eighthly In the fuel of open gas fires, or stoves, combining with ramified shelf
or bracket rests, of pierced or other hollow fire-brick, or asbestos shells, or combining
with the said ramified bracket-like metal parts, which stand outwardly from the
back, or both back and sides of the fire box, of fire-clay or asbestos bosses or like
material, substantially as described and set forth.
Ninthly In the fuel of open gas fires or stoves, fitting and supporting the
same, to the fire brick backs, or the combustion chamber, by means, and in the
ways, substantially as described and set forth.
-
Tenthly In open gas fires or stoves, mounting one side of the fire box upon
hinge or like joints, to admit of the said side, and the section of the regenerative
back or block, to be turned outwardly, for the introduction and removal, or fitting
of the fuel, substantially described and set forth.
:-
Eleventhly In open gas fires and stoves, a combined trivet and screen, or
vertically sliding panel, consisting of a plain or perforated metal plate, jointed
at its upper part, and fitted with means for retaining the same in its elevated
position as a screen, or its lowered position as a trivet, substantially as described
and set forth.
Twelfthly In open gas fires or gas stoves, the construction and arrangement of
fire-boxes, with their fittings, for the purpose substantially as set forth.
Lastly-The improvements in open gas fires, with the fittings and connections
of them, as described and set forth.
Dated this 27th day of February 1802
SAMUEL VICKREY BIRD,
JOSEPH SYKES WOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.