Improvements in Blowing Apparatus for Fire Lighting and other Useful Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blowing Apparatus for Fire Lighting and other
Useful Purposes.
We, THOMAS TURNER MERCER and THOMAS WOOLFALL of The Cherry
Tree Machine Company, Limited, Cherry Tree, near Blackburn, Lancashire,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
These improvements refer to an invention for creating currents of air or gases for
fire lighting purposes and for which Letters Patent No. 14985 were granted to
Thomas Bletcher on the 19th day of August 1892, and our improvements have
for their object to generally improve the apparatus described in the Specification
of the said Patent, and render it a more practical and saleable machine.
Now our invention consists, first-in the improved means for hanging the apparatus
upon fire grate bars, whereby to enable the same to be applied to bars of different
shapes and sizes, and to fix the apparatus at different heights or levels according to
the spacings of said bars; secondly-in simplifying the construction of the burner
nozzle from which the flame is blown; and thirdly-in forming, mounting and
arranging the several parts of the apparatus in a more mechanical and compact
manner than heretofore.
And in order that our said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side. elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an end or front view of our
improved apparatus; the housing or covering for the gear work being shewn in
section in each view.
Fig. 4 is a detail view, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the use of
our improved apparatus.
In accordance with our invention we erect the blower casing (A) upon a bed or
base plate (B) cut away in certain parts to save material and make it as light
as possible. At the front end and arranged slightly away from the edge of
the said plate is a vertical rod (C), by preference square in cross section and
adapted to carry a loose sliding hook (D). This hook with the apparatus attached
takes on to the bars of a grate and to suit the varying sizes and thicknesses of
bars the claw part is slightly tapered as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1. In
order now to adjust the apparatus to the required level, the rear end is supported
by the hands and the rod (C) is caused to slide up or down through the hook (B)
which is of a free and easy fit, until the apparatus is on a level with the opening
between the grate bars through which it is desired to blow the flame, at which instant
the apparatus is "let go" causing the rod by the leverage of the weight to bind itself
within the eye part of the hook, or the said eye part to bind itself on the rod, in
either case effectually sustaining the apparatus at the desired height.
To keep the apparatus horizontal and level with the aforesaid opening we provide
the front corners of the plate with vertical abutment pieces (E) having serrated
faces as illustrated, and which as shewn in Figs. 1 and 5 abut against the front of
the grate bars.

page_text: It will be obvious that the rod (C) may be arranged beneath the plate (B) and
extending downwards, also that such rod may take the place of the hook and the
plate (B) be provided with. an opening equivalent to the eye part of the aforesaid
hook, but these arrangements would not be so practical as the one already described.
Similarly two rods and two hooks may be used.
The improved automatic suspending device may be used with other objects
requiring to be similarly attached and suspended at different heights from fire grate
bars or the like and we claim its application.
The sides or corners of the rod (C) may be serrated or notched for the more
effectual binding of the hook thereupon. To facilitate the threading of the hook (D)
and to permit of its being removed for packing purposes the rod (C) is made with
a screw cap (C¹).
Referring now to the further features of our invention, we form the burner
nozzle or tube in two portions (F) and (G), the portion (F) forming part of the
blower casing (A), and the portion (C) being loose and detachable from the
portion (F) and forming the burner nozzle. These parts are, preferably of square
tubular formation, and the part (G) fits on the end of the part (F) telescopically
as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus enabling its ready renewal in case of breakage.
The burner proper consists of a grid of wires (H) beneath which is a bed of
asbestos fibre to hold petroleum or other inflammable oil used for creating a flame.
This burner is open at the top and the lid heretofore used is dispensed with.
To
For fire grates of exceptional width our improved apparatus may be fitted with
two, or more, burner nozzles for delivering a tongue of flame in various parts of the
grate, and either supplied with a blast of air from one or more blowers.
facilitate the use of our improved apparatus where oil is not available we may
provide the nozzle with means for connecting it with a flexible tube for supplying
it with gas from a pendant in the room in which the grate is situated.
The volute spring (1) for imparting movement to the blower or fan is mounted
on an axle (J) supported in a bearing (K) in the side of the blower casing, and
fitted with the lever handles (J). To the said axle the central end of the spring
is attached, and the outer end of such spring is attached to a pin or cross bar (L)
as illustrated. On this same shaft and keyed thereto is a ratchet wheel (M), and
alongside this ratchet wheel is a large spur wheel (N) loosely mounted on the said
axle. Upon the face of this latter is a pawl (0) constantly held in play with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel (M) by a spring (P). The wheel (N), when the
spring (I) is wound up and acts upon it through the ratchet wheel (M) and
pawl (0), drives the blower or fan within the casing (A) through a pinion (Q),
shaft (R), wheel (S), pinion boss (T), wheel (U), pinion boss (V) and wheel (W)
gearing with a pinion (✗) on the fan or blower axle (Y). The arrangement of
these wheels and the mounting of their axles is such as to render the apparatus
exceedingly compact and reduce the number of fittings to a minimum.
To arrest the movement of the blower when not required for use (or to lock the
wheels when winding up the spring (I)) we provide the blower axle (Y) with a
brake appliance as shewn in Fig. 4, which is mounted on the side of the blower
easing on the centre (Z). By pressing the lever (Z') in the direction of the arrow
it causes the spring blade (Z) to impinge against the axle and so arrest its
movement, whilst on pressing the lever in the opposite direction the axle is released
aud the blower allowed to work.
To facilitate accessibility to such brake the top end of the lever (Z¹) projects
through a slot in the casing (Z) as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 5.
The blower or fan within the casing (A) is composed of a number of small metal
plates or vanes, secured to the axis (Y) by a corresponding number of arms or
spokes. These arms consist of thin strips of metal bent into channel or U shape
longitudinally, and the plates or vanes are secured thereto by one of their edges
being clamped between the fold of the strips.
The arms or spokes are in turn secured to the axis (Y) by being placed in a
moulding box and melted solder or zinc run round the inner ends of the arms and

page_text: the axis, so forming a boss with the arms and axis moulded therein. This method
of attachment is very rapid and dispenses with all soldering or brazing by hand.
Having thus 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 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st. In means for adjustably suspending our improved blowing apparatus or its
equivalent from the bars of a fire grate or the like, the use of a rod (C) hook (D)
and abutment pieces (E) or any mere modification thereof substantially as Bet
forth.
2nd. The improved burner nozzle (G) formed separate from the blower casing,
and attachable thereto as aforesaid, and fitted with wire grid (H) substantially as
set forth and illustrated.
3rd. The improved construction, arrangement and combination of parts forming
our improved blower substantially as set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 27th dox of Mer 1905
THOMAS TURNER MERCER,
THOMAS WOOLFALL,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
THOMAS TURNER MERCER,
THOMAS WOOLFALL,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.