An Improvement in the Construction and Formation of Fire Ranges or Grates for Household and other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 30th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction and Formation of Fire Ranges
or Grates for Household and other Purposes.
I, FRANCIS FRYER ABBEY of Salendine Nook Huddersfield Merchant do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I propose to make the Fire range, or Grate, or pan, of iron, or steel, or other metal,
or of fire-clay, or a combination of metal & clay, in such manner, or proportion as shall
be best suitable to the requirements of the aforesaid improvement. That the back and
front and sides of the Fire range, or Grate, or pan, sliall be in one or more pieces.
The back and sides to be made of corrugated iron, or steel, or other metal, or fire
brick. That within the centre of the said corrugations, from the base to the top, shall
be holes or perforations, to admit of air from the back of the fire place. That the
back of the range, or grate, or pan, shall be so formed as to slope, from within about
an inch, of the front ribs, if there be ribs, at the base, diaganolly to the uppermost
level of the fire back. That the front of the range shall be made of iron or steel
perpendicular bars, solid, or fluted, or hollow, of about the thickness of one quarter
of an inch in diameter, more or less, such bars to be fastened to or spring from, the
base of the corrugated back, at the distance of about one inch apart, more or less, and
attached to a crossbar at the top at such a height, as shall be level with the height of
the topmost rib, if rib there be, of the outer range, such aforesaid crossbar to be of
such strength and thickness as shall be requisite to hold the solid, fluted, or hollow
bars, firm and strong, such said crossbar, to extend along the sides from the front to
the back, and holding the upper part of the bars, firmly to the upper part of the sides
and back, that the base and sides, of the range, or grate or pan, at either or both
ends, between the back, and the vertical bars in front, shall be troughed, or grooved,
or bevilled, in such manner as to be capable of receiving, and holding a side-fire-iron,
which said fire-iron, shall fit, and rest, and be capable of sliding within, the said
trough, or groove, or hold fast and thus enabling, by means of the raising or lowering
of the said side-fire-irons, the oven or boiler, or other receptacle to be heated, or
cooled, as occasion may require. The aforesaid corrugations upon the back, and sides
of the range, or grate, or pan, must be perpendicular or verticle, and about one inch
wide, more or less, from rig to rig, and about half an inch deep, more or less, in the
trough of the corrugations, the holes or perforations, of about one-quarter inch
diameter, more or less, being cut or bored in the centre of the troughs of the corruga-
tions, and commencing about one inch from the bottom, or base, or at the junction of
the corrugated base and the bars, extending upwards, about one inch or two inches,
more or less, apart, untill within one or two inches of the top on the corrugated back,
and at the corrugated sides, to the height only, of what is supposed to be the bottom
of the oven, or boiler, or other receptacle to be heated from the side or sides of the
said range. The said holes or perforations intended for the passage of heat from the
sides of the range to the boiler or oven &c., may be circular, or longitudinal, or per-
pendicular, or any other shape, which whilst being small or narrow enough to retain
the fuel, will at the same time, be wide and open enough to emit the greatest
amount of heat possible.
That, if necessary, the said range, grate, or pan, shall be made so that it shall fit
into, or within, an old range, or within the old-fashioned inch, or inch and a half,
solid iron ribs, or that the 'tween ribs shall be removed, or cut out, leaving one square
or oblong open space, from the base of the grate to the hob, or that the whole of the
front bars shall be removed and that the fire grate or pan itself be fitted to the sett at
the sides, in like manner as was the frame constituting the ribs and hob, and that if
such latter be the case, a moveable hob of light construction, but equal in all respects
to the strength required, be fitted to slide in and out, like a 3 sided frame upon the two
D

page_text: sides of the crossbar, and jointed in such fashion, and proportion, that if drawn out
part way, it shall be a safe rest for a kettle, or pan, or pot, or such similar article, or,
if drawn fully out, that shall so double down, as to be able to hold against the front
of the bars, any article which by that means is required to be held against the front
of the fire. That if necessary, the aperture leading to, or from, and communicating.
immediately between, the opening from the fire pan on the one side, and the flues
running beneath and about, the toiler, or oven, or both on the opposite side, shall be
narrowed in proportion to each of the opposite sides, and in such manner as shall best
induce, according to their separate positions, the draught of hot air necessary to the
purpose required, and further, that wherever required, on account of the sluggishness
of the draught, or for some other reasons, I propose to close the opening or space at
the back, between the fire pan and the brick setting, with the same material, or other
material suitable for the purpose; and in such manner as will most easily enable such
closed aperture to be opened or closed as the nature of the draught or otherwise shall
require.
I propose also to use the moveable fire-pan or range, for other rooms, or compart-
ments, or uses, than for kitchen or domestic ranges, for which further use, I shall
construct a box of iron, or steel, or other metal, or of brick, or pottery, or other
suitable material, holding an ash pan below the rim or ledge, upon which the fire pan,
or range, or grate, would stand or rest, at the back of which box, and conveniently
attached thereto, I propose to fix a circular cage, or receptacle, within and around the axle
of which, would be fixed a series of coal cells, which said cells, could be filled, or renewed,
at the beginning, or some subsequent part of the day, and which by turning the cage
round could be emptied upon the fire, cell by cell, as occasion required, such aforesaid
moveable fire pans, with cellular coal boxes attached could, if convenience permitted,
be made to fit within a common range, as before described with regard to a kitchen
or domestic range.
By which means, I contend that by my system, small or engine coal can be best
burnt, which is a much less price than cobbling or house coal. That a much less
quantity of cral will be required, that the largest and least impeded space of fire will
be available to warm the room; and that more heat will be emitted, that by the more
regular flow of hot air from the back of the fire pan, the coal will be better consumed,
and less black heavy smoke engendered, and consequently more return smoke avoided.
The same results apply to the heating of the boiler, or oven, or both, and with respect
to ranges, other than, and as well as, kitchen or domestic ranges, the adaptability is
as advantageous as the suitability, and where possible, the attachment of the cellular
coal box, avoiding the dirt, and trouble, and noise, invariably attaching to the old-
fashioned method of feeding the fire.
Dated this 50th day of In.L., 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction and Formation of Fire Ranges
or Grates for Household and other Purposes.
I, FRANCIS FRYER ABBEY of Salendine Nook Huddersfield Merchant, 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:-
I propose to make the fire-range or grate, or pan, of iron, or steel, or other metal,
or of fire-clay, or a combination of metal and clay, in such manner or proportion as
shall be best suitable to the requirements of the aforesaid improvement. That the
back and front and sides of the fire range, or grate, or pan, shall be in one or more pieces,
but preferably and for convenience in separate and distinct pieces, which shall be made
and constructed in such a manner, as that, as a whole or in part, each separate, or
combination of pieces, shall be self-fastening, providing that the main principle of the
invention be present, and included in any separate combination of the parts, or as a

page_text: whole, I claim that such combination shall be considered, in whatever form, providing
it comes within the terms of the aforesaid condition, as complying with the claims of the
invention. Fig. 1. represents the inner face, of one or two opposite side plates, with
coal box H, and ash pan G, attached, which will be joined together at the base by
means of a bed plate A. The corrugated mid back plate B, will next be inserted, by
placing the ears, 1. within the openings at a a. and pushing it back flat upon the
ridges marked b. next the damper D, will be placed, by inserting the pins c at either
end, with the flat edge up when open, as seen in Fig. 1. and over it, will be let down
within socket d, and resting back upon peg e, the back-plate c. The front-grate will
then be inserted at f, and the top sliding bar or hob F. within which are two loose
ribs g. will be fixed in opening at and rest as required on peg n. in front, or peg n.
behind coal box H will rest upon arm i. attached to peg n. as shewn in Fig. 1. 2. and
will be divided into compartiments k, in number, in proportion to size required, and
opening by means of catch peg m, letting lid down within the range or grate as at 1 l,
E spring-catch M, shewing position when lid let loose, and also the same, when lid is
fast beneath the spring catch, lid, 11, may be closed again, by operator lifting
it up, and pushing it down on spring-catch M; which will spring back and resume
its place on closure of lid. L, is a forked-rake, containing the same number of prongs,
as there are openings y at base of corrugated mid back plate B. which openings are
intended for the ashes to pass through, by which arrangement, on pressure at any
of the points at o. the whole grate may be cleared of ashes at one operation,
pp. are the flanges fastening the forked-rake L, to the side plates Fig. 1. on either
side, and within which the forked-rake will move easily. G. is the cinder and
ash-pan, is a box with a netted bottom, sloping from the front, sufficiently fine
to permit of ashes only, to pass through into box r. The front of ash and cinder-pan
will open at handle S and being held or supported by two sliding arms at t. will
be available for holding dishes or pans, at front of fire-grate when let down. I, is
the top flat-plate to be fixed on either side of Fire-grate, betwixt it, and oven or
boiler, or both, and let into bevil U, Fig. 3. covering over the opening and connection
pipe from fire grate to boiler or oven as at N Fig. 3. K is the front flat plate which
by means of staples, v, hook on to ff in Fig. 3. and E. P. Fig. 3. shews the
manner in which the cinder and ash pan G is suspended beneath the fire-grate, by
resting on plate w, which plate extends backwards as far as the back of the grate as
at X Fig. 1.
If not for cooking or other such domestic purposes, the two side plates as in
Fig. 1. 2. need not be perforated or grated as at R, but left plain and whole, but if
required for heating purposes at either or both sides, then the grate as shewn at R,
in Fig. 2. will be rimmed to slope narrower to the edge, and also a similar rim z
attached to opposite boiler or oven plate, and the two will be connected by an
independent circular rim or band as shewn at N Fig. 3. A Fig. 2. is the opening in
which is inserted ends W of bed plate A Fig. 1.
The shape of the grate as seen in the slope of the upright ribs, is given as one
example. The grates will admit of all shapes, providing the principle be adopted
which is, 1st to supply hot-air into the body of the fire by way of the opening
between the forked-rake L, and the base of the front grate E, serving also to draw with
it any dust floating near, such air passing on beneath the bed plate A, between that
and the base of the back plate C, into the air-chamber between the aforesaid back-plate
and the corrugated mid back plate B, in which chamber, the air will acquire heat from
contact with the hot corrugations, and the upper part of the chamber being the
narrowest, the tendency is for confined air to rush through the narrow openings
caused by the corrugations, as between them and the cap of the back plate C. This
applies only to those grates or ranges which are not required for cooking or other
such purposes, and which do not require side grates, but where side grates are in use,
and in cases where side grates are required, then the damper D, is brought over from
the back and the upper corrugated openings are closed, forcing the hot air accumulating
in the air chamber, to rush out by the side of the fire at the grates R. 2nd. The
narrow space between the small ribs in E, compels the retention of the smallest coal

page_text: until thoroughly burnt out, the opening at the base of the mid back plate being
clearable at one operation, by the forked rake L, the narrow space at the base
throwing all fire to the front, whilst the corrugations help the up draught, all
tending to give the greatest possible beat for the smallest body of fire, entailing the
entire consumption of all burnable matter, and enabling the very lowest quality of
coal to be used, emitting at the same time the greatest maximum of heat.
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.
Firstly, to the combination as specified in the preceeding particulars.
Secondly, to the coal-box.
Third, to the moveable hop-ledge.
Fourth, to the ash-rake L'and the box containing the cinder and ash-pans.
Fifth, to the barr'd grates R in Figs. 1. 2.
Sixth, and the most important, to the formation of the air chamber at the back of
the fire-grate.
Thus in the first place, securing a vast saving in the quantity of coal burnt computed
at over one-third, producing at least one-third more heat, with either coke or the
lowest quantity of coal, at less than one half the price of house coal, next
to no waste in ash or cinder and by means of the coal box, avoids the
scattering of coal in feeding the fire. Can be put together by the occupant
of the dwelling, without the assistance of skilled labour, will fit into, and will
work equally as well in an old grate as in a new one, and can be lifted bodily into,
or out of the range by any one able to carry 40 or 50 lbs. weight, or can be taken to
pieces again at will, and without difficulty.
Dated this 28th day of July 1890.
TCT ווד
TATT
FRANCIS FRYER ABBEY.