IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FIREȘ AND IN MEANS FOR ENSURING THE PROPER CARRYING OFF OF THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg of Vincent Street in the City of
Westminster, Engineer for an invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FIREȘ
AND IN MEANS FOR ENSURING THE PROPER CARRYING OFF OF THE PRODUCTS
OF COMBUSTION
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1882.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG of Vincent Street in the City of Westminster, Engineer,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FIRES AND IN MEANS FOR ENSURING THE PROPER
CARRYING OFF OF THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION.
"
The invention relates first to a novel arrangement of parts constituting a gaš
fire whereby better results will be obtained than heretofore, and secondly to means
to be adapted to the top of the chimnies to which the gas fires are applied for
preventing down draughts, thereby ensuring a proper carrying off of the products
of combustion.
In carrying out the first part of my invention as applied to ordinary grates, I
apply to the grate a backing slab composed of steatite dust, and fire clay. This
slab is set at an angle of 45 degrees, and I fill up the grate above the slab to any
desired height with steatite dust and asbestos, which I form into lumps of irregular
shape in any convenient manner.
In front of the grate I arrange a piece of gas pipe which should take the contour
of the front of the grate, and into this pipe I fit any desired number of Bunsen
burners. Each of these burners is provided with a cock, and is arranged at or
about the same angle as the backing slab in the grate, so that the gas flame shall
play upon the backing slab at an acute angle.
By this means the surface of the slab becomes heated in a considerable degree
and the heat being given off by radiation assists in converting the whole of the
lumps of steatite and asbestos into an incandescent mass.
The pipe carrying the Bunsen burners is fitted to a socket which is arranged to

page_text: turn on a pivot at the side of the grate, so that it may be swung round to
clean out the burners should they become clogged. This arrangement will
also allow of the pipe being readily removed for any purpose without the
assistance of a gas fitter.
The gas service pipe is connected with a gas box on the top of which is adapted
a regulator of any suitable construction.
This regulator may be enclosed in a caso conveniently secured to the gas box,
which case is provided with a hollow vertical stem which will form the pivot on
which the socket of the pipe carrying the burners swings.
In applying the invention to cooking ranges, in which case a heating surface of
considerable depth is required, the backing slab which will be of greater depth
than for an ordinary grate, will be set at a less inclination than that before
mentioned.
As it will be impossible for the flames from a single row of burners of a
convenient size to convert the whole of such a depth of fire into an incandescent
mass I arrange below the first pipe a second pipe which is also arranged to swing
on the pivot. This pipe is provided with a series of jets or nozzles which are
arranged to enter the lower ends of a corresponding series of curved channels.
These channels are connected with a series of holes formed about half way up the
backing and serve to convey the gas which is to be burnt on the surface of the
slab, from the supply pipe.
The admission of air to the Bunsen burner is regulated so that only the amount
required to ensure proper combustion can pass in, and thus the inconvenience
caused by "lighting back" a disadvantage in all atmospheric burners is avoided.
It will be evident that a gas fire, arranged as above described may be readily
adapted to a closed stove.
In order to prevent down draughts in the chimnies to which gas fires are applied
I close the top of the chimney by a plate. Through this plate I insert a tube of
suitable diameter to carry off the products of combustion but less than that of the
chimney. This tube will project a short distance up above the plate and also some
distance down into the chimney so as to form an annular space in which warm air
will collect. As the temperature in the house is generally speaking higher than
that of the external air there will be a continual replenishing of the warm air in
the chimney, while the contraction at the top of the chimney if it does not
entirely prevent the entrance of cold air will so reduce its volume in proportion
to the upward column of warm air as to render it harmless to create a down
draught.
Or I may close in the top of the chimney with a cap or casing in the sides of
which I arrange a series of balanced louvres opening outwards..
These louvres will open under the influence of the upwardly rushing column of
warm air, but will be closed by any counter current.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomas Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd June 1883.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG of Vincent Street in the City of Westminster Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS FIRES AND IN MEANS FOR ENSURING THE PROPER
CARRYING OFF OF THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION
"
נו
The Invention relates, first, to a novel arrangement of parts constituting a gas
fire whereby better results will be obtained than heretofore; and, secondly, to
means to be adapted to the tops of the chimneys to which the gas fires are
applied for preventing down draughts thereby ensuring a proper carrying off of
the products of combustion.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 Sheet I my
improved gas fire as applied to an ordinary register grate; Fig: 1 being a front
elevation, Fig: 2 a cross section and Fig: 3 a sectional plan.
.
A is a backing block or slab which is placed in the grate and rests on the
bottom. The face of this slab may be curved as shown in the drawing or it may
be straight, but in either case the backward inclination given to it should be about
45 degrees.
The slab or block may be composed of any suitable material but I prefer to use
a mixture of steatite dust and fire clay.
B is a metal grating the back of which rests on the face of the slab, the front
being supported on feet or in any other convenient manner on a level with the
lowest bar of the grate. Above this grating the grate is filled up to any desired
height with lumps composed of steatite dust and asbestos or other suitable material.
By this use of this grating B a clear space is allowed for the gas to become
thoroughly ignited before it strikes against the asbestos lumps and thus the
disagreeable smell generally inseparable from the use of gas fires is avoided.
C is a gas supply pipe which is bent to follow the contour of the front of the
grate and into this pipe I fit any desired number of Bunsen or other suitable
burners D. Each of these burners is provided with a cock a the position of
which may be regulated to prevent "lighting back" which is so common with air
burners.
The inclination of these burners is such that the gas flame shall strike the
backing A near the bottom at an acute anglo.
By this means the surface of the slab becomes heated in a considerable degree
and the heat being given off by radiation assists in converting the whole of the
lumps of steatite and asbestos into an incandescent mass. The pipe carrying the
Bunsen or other burners is fitted to a socket C¹ which is arranged to turn on a
hollow pivot conveniently secured to one cheek of the grate so that the pipe may
be swung round to clean out the burners should they become clogged. This
arrangement will also allow of the pipe being readily removed for any purpose
without the assistance of a gas fitter.
The gas service pipe E is connected with a gas box E' in which is placed a
regulator or governor of any suitable construction.
The gas box is provided with a hollow vertical stem which will form the pivot
on which the socket C' of the pipe C carrying the burners D, swings.
By the arrangement of gas fire as above described the gas is thoroughly
consumed and effectually heats the lumps of asbestos converting them into an
incandescent mass with great rapidity.
In Sheet II I have shown in front elevation at Fig: 4, in transverse section at
Fig: 5, and in plan view at Fig: 6 my improved gas fire as applied to a closed stove.

page_text: The arrangement of the fire place and gas pipes will be practically the same as
that above mentioned and further referenco thereto will be unnecessary.
In applying the Invention to open cooking ranges of the ordinary construction a
heating surface of considerable width and height is required: the backing slab A
will therefore be of greater depth than for an ordinary grate, and will be set at a
less inclination than in the former case.
In Sheet III of the accompanying drawings I have shewn at Fig: 7 in front
elevation and at Fig: 8 in transverse section an open kitchen range with my gas
fire applied thereto.
As will be seen at Fig: 8 the backing slab A is set at a less inclination than in
the register grate and is of greater depth-The position of this backing slab in
the grate is more advanced than in the register grate, as it is desirable to reduce
the depth of the fire as much as possible while retaining the width and height.
The grate is provided with a grating B pipe C and air burners D as described with
reference to the former figures.
As it will be impossible for the flames from a single row of burners of any
convenient size to convert the whole of such a large quantity of lumps of asbestos
into an incandescent mass I arrange below the first gas pipe C a second pipe C³.
This pipe may be fixed or arranged to swing on the pivot and is provided with
a series of jets or nozzles 6 which are arranged to enter the lower ends of
a corresponding series of pipes c. These pipes project upwards behind the backing
slab A and fit into a series of holes formed about half-way up the backing A
and serve to convey the gas from the supply pipe C to be burnt on the surface
of the slab.
The nozzles project a short distance into the lower ends of the pipes c which are
of such a diameter as to allow the proper quantity of air to enter to support
combustion. The pipe c will be provided with a cock c¹ to cut off the gas from
that pipe when the whole of the fire is not required.
In this arrangement the lower portion of the asbestos packing will be heated by
the gas issuing from the burners D while the upper portion will be heated from the
pipes c and the whole mass can thus bo readily brought to the highest state of
incandescenco.
It will be evident that the arrangement of the pipe C and the pipes c may be
varied, but that shown in the Figures is preferred.
The admission of air to the Bunsen or other burners is regulated, so that only
the amount required to ensure proper combustion can pass in, and thus the
inconvenience caused by "lighting back," a disadvantage in all atmospheric
burners, is avoided.
In order to prevent down draughts in the chimneys to which gas fires are applied
I close the top of the chimney by a plate. Through this plate I insert a tube of
a diameter sufficient to carry off the products of combustion but less than that
of the chimney. This tube will project a short distance above the plate and also
some distance below into the chimney so as to form in the top of the chimney
an annular space in which warm air will collect. As the temperature in the
house is, generally speaking, higher than that of the external air there will be a
continual replenishing of the warm air in the chimney, while the contraction at
the top of the chimney if it does not entirely prevent the entrance of cold air will
so reduce its volume in proportion to the upward column of warm air as to render
it harmless to create a down draught. This form of chimney top is clearly shown
at Fig: 9 Sheet III.
The top of the chimney may also be closed in with a cap or casing in the sides of
which I arrange a series of balanced louvres opening outwards.
These louvres will open under the influence of the upwardly rushing column of
warm air but will be closed by any counter current. This arrangement of chimney
top is shown at Fig: 10 Sheet III.. E is the chimney and Fa cap having inclined
sides in which a series of balanced louvres G are placed. The cap F is enclosed

page_text: within a wind guard H having a dome or other suitably shaped top or cover to
deflect down currents.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in gas fires and in
means for ensuring the proper carrying off of the products of combustion," and
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim :-
First-The arrangement of gas fire applied to a register grate or closed stove
substantially as herein shewn and described with reference to Sheets I and II of
the Drawings.
Second: The arrangement of gas fire applied to open kitchen ranges
substantially as herein shewn and described with reference to Figures 7 and 8,
Sheet III. of the Drawings.
Third-The means substantially as herein shown and described for preventing
down draughts in chimnies to which gas fires are applied.
In witness whereof I the said William Thomas Sugg havo hereunto set
my hand and seal the 20th day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.