CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON AND ADDITIONS TO STOVES AND GRATES
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
ATKINS, late of Drury Lane, now of the Parish of St Pancras, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, and HENRY MARRIOTT, of Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five, in the sixth year of His reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said George Atkins and Henry
Marriott, His especial licence that we, the said George Atkins and Henry
Marriott, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George
Atkins and Henry Marriott, our exors, adiñiors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon
Tweed, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON AND ADDITIONS TO STOVES
AND GRATES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging us,
the said George Atkins and Henry Marriott, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, par-
ticularly to describo and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
George Atkins and Henry Marriott, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and the following description thereof, that is to say:-
The objects of the said Invention arc, firstly, to remedy smoky chimnics;
secondly, to economise fuel and regulate heat evolved from stoves or grates
for warming apartments, and for the various operations of cooking. In order to
prevent the evolution of smoke from open fire stoves into the rooms of dwelling
houses, and also to prevent the escape of black or opake smoke from chimney
flues into the exterior atmosphere, the smoke, as it becomes disengaged from
coal or other fuel, is made to pass through the mass of ignited fuel in the
fire chaniber, by which means the inflammable or opake portion of the smoke
becomes consumed, giving out light and heat, while the carbonic acid and other
more transparent gases which form the residuum of combustion will ascend the
chimney flue with rapidity from the heat, and, consequently, rarifaction pro-.
duced by the flame. The combustion of smoke may be accomplished in open
stoves or grates by making or attaching a box or chamber, of a rectangular or
any
other figure, to the fire chamber of any or every kind of open fire grate.
The most convenient form for this coal box or chamber is represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed, in which Drawing Fig. 1 shews an elevation
of a register stove (scale), and Fig. 2 a section of the same, the letters
referring to similar parts in each; but the Patentees do not restrict themselves
to this form of coal box. The bottom of such coal chamber should be made
to slope forward at a considerable angle, and to communicate with the fire
chamber by an opening through the back plate near the bottom of a parallelo-
gram, or any other figure (see Fig. 1, a). This coal chamber may be closed at
the upper part either by a sliding door or a door made to turn on hinges, or a
door of a semicircular form made to turn on its own center, as shewn at b.
This door plate may be attached either inside or outside the back plate of the
stove, through which a semicircular aperture is to be made somewhat less in
diameter than that of the door plate. This door may be made to turn easily on
its axis by means of a key, and should be fitted accurately, so as to close the
coal chamber nearly air-tight. Another mode of attaching the coal chamber to
the fire chamber is shewn in Figures 3 and 4 (which represent the front eleva-
tion and section of the detached stove, commonly called air stoves, the front
plate of Fig. 3 being removed to shew the interior arrangement). The coal
chamber, with its aperture at a beneath the top bar of the fire grate, is exactly
similar to that of Fig. 1. But its upper part is closed by a lid or cover which

page_text: slopes towards the front of the stove, and is made to turn back at pleasure by
vertical hinges, and to shut down on a rebate at the top edge of the fire back
plate, as shewn in the section, Fig. 4. The space above the fire and coal chamber
c,c, and the passage d, are nearly similar to other air stoves, having a descending
flue to carry off the smoke. A third method of attaching a coal chamber to
the fire chamber is shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7, which represent a front view
and section, of a kitchens or cooking stove, commonly called a range. The
sides of this coal box are similar to that in Figures 3, 4, but the cover or lid
is made to shut down horizontally, forming a level with the top plates or hobs of
the grate, as shewn in sections 6, 7, at g. The bottom of this coal chamber, instead
of being formed simply of an iron plate, resting on a bed of certain materials
(to be hereafter described), as in the preceding Figures, is formed by the top
of a boiler (shewn at b, Fig. 7), made of iron or other metal, which boiler
also extends round the sides of the fire chamber in order to bring it moro im-
mediately in contact with the fire. It will be proper to face the edge of this
boiler with an additional thickness of iron to protect it from the immediate
effect of the fire. The object of this boiler being the plentiful supply of steam
or of boiling water for the various operations of cooking or heating by steam,
its appendages for conveying off the steam are similar to those in common use,
and consequently form no part of the claim of the Patentecs for the present
Invention. The operation of these arrangements for consuming smoke as are
follows: Suppose any kind of grate or stove (provided with this coal chamber)
to require replenishing with fuel, instead of throwing on coals in the usual way
at the top of the fire, it is to be thrown into the chamber behind, and the door
or cover immediately closed. The fresh fuel on reaching the bottom of the
chamber, and coming in contact with the ignited fuel, will immediately evolve
that dense or opake smoko always observable from fresh coals. This gaseous
matter being prevented from making its escape (either into the chimney or the
apartment) through the upper part of the coal box, is compelled to pass through
the mass of burning fuel at the lower part of the grate previous to ascending
the chimney flue, by which operation its offensive portion, the tar vapour
and carburetted hydrogen gas instantly inflames, in combination with the
oxygen of the atmospheric air, while the azote of the common air and the
ammonia and carbonic acid gases pass up the chimney with rapidity almost in
an invisible form, and consequently without depositing soot in any material
degree in the chimney, or impregnating the external air with the black car-
bonaceous matter of ordinary coal smoke. The coal box is calculated to contain
sufficient coals for a day's consumption. But it would be more economical and
afford a mere complete combustion of the gaseous part of the coal (which forms

page_text: more than one-third of its valuable properties) if coals be supplied in small
quantities, according to the usual practice, for, in the event of the coal, box
being nearly filled with the gaseous portion of the coal, will be consumed in the
early part of the day, while the dull coke or cinder would be reserved for the
latter part of the day. As the coals become successively reduced to the state
of coke, it may be brought forward from the aperture of the coal box, and
raised into the grate as requisite by the point of a poker. The other objects
of the Patentees, to economise fuel and regulate the heat evolved from stoves
or grates for warming apartments, and for the various operations of cooking,
are to be accomplished by the following arrangement:-In lieu of the detached
fender and the opening beneath the fire in stoves and grates of the ordinary
construction, a basement or projection is to be attached to the front of any
register or other stove immediately beneath and in contact with the bottom of
the fire bars. This basement may be made of any kind of metal plates, or of
marble or other stone, or artificial stone, cement, or clay, in combination with
inetal plates or bars. It may also be made of any figure and any dimensions,
according to individual taste or fancy. The basement must be provided with a
drawer or box to receive the ashes beneath the fire, in the front of which
drawer should be a sliding ventilator in order to admit a current of air beneath
the fire grating. On each side of this ash box cavities or chambers are to be
formed for the reception of certain substances known to be imperfect or slow
conductors of heat; a mixture of pulverized charcoal and lime is the substance
the Patentees chiefly recommend for this purpose, though they do not restrict
themselves to any peculiar materials, but employ any of the mineral substances
which are slow conductors of heat. -- Those cavities being filled with any such
slow conducting materials, the basement will form a solid mass with the plates
forming the body of the stove. On each side of the fire bars the back part of
the front plates or face of the stove is also to be provided with cavities or
chambers (of any requisite depth) for receiving a portion of the said slow
conducting materials. The front plates of these cavities may be formed either
of metal or any kind of stone or cement, and be fixed parallel with the front of
the grate, or placed in an oblique direction, at the discretion of the manufac-
turer. The space f, in the section, Fig. 2, is also to be filled with the same
materials, and also the whole of the cavity formed by the plates of the canopy
or cornice d, d, Figures 1 and 2, the materials to be pressed or beaten into the
cavities so as to form a solid mass with their respective surfaces. The sides
and back of the several cavities should neither extend to the entire .width of
the front of the stove, nor to the entire depth of the recess of the fire-place,
in order avoid that loss of heat which would ensue from the actual contact

page_text: of the body of the stove with the brickwork of the chimney. Immediately
beneath the top plates of the basement, two passages are to be made leading
from the draft hole or ash box, and having a deflection towards the fire bars, be
made to terminate in apertures on each side of the basement. These passages
are for the purpose of creating a current of air on each side from the draft
hole, which air becomes warmed by contact with the front of the basement,
and subsequently flows out into the apartment through the side orifices. These
orifices may be provided if necessary with ventilator or regulating plates,
similar to those applied to the ordinary air stoves. Suppose the respective
cavities of a stove, according to this plan, to be filled up with any of the before-
mentioned slow conducting materials, and a fire to be lighted in the grate, it
will be obvious that as the fire comes in contact with the basement and sides of
the stove, a great portion of the heat given out from beneath the fire (and
which in ordinary stoves is lost to the apartment through being immediately
driven up the chimney) will in this case be absorved and retained for a time by
the materials which form the basement and lower parts of the stove herein
described. Thus, for example, if two stoves be made, one on the usual
construction of register stoves, and the other with the improvements before
mentioned, and having the fire chambers of equal dimensions, and supposing a
fire to be kept in each for a given number of hours, and then extinguished,
while the register stove (constructed wholly of iron or other metal) will have
become cooled down to the temperature of the atmosphere of the room within
half an hour, the basement and other parts of the improved or "thermo-regu-
lator" stove will retain a portion of its heat from four to six hours, according
to the dimensions of the stove and its mass of non-conducting materials. The
gradual evolution of this portion of caloric from the surface of the improved
stove may also be greatly economised for maintaining the warmth of any
apartment by closing the register plate at the top when the fire is quite extin-
guished, and thus preventing the rapid escape of the warm air up the chimney
in waste, with the several adaptations and apendages before mentioned; the
improved stove combines the advantages of the close chamber stoves generally
used on the continent of Europe as to economy and exemption from smoke,
with the cheerful aspect and comfort peculiar to open fire stoves. The "draft"
or ascending column of air will in most cases be sufficient to maintain an
active or brisk fire in these improved stoves, owing to the additional heat and
rarifiction produced by the combustion of the smoke. But in certain cases where
the bad construction or too great area of chimney flues occasion a remarkably
bad draft, the Patentees apply a small pipe to the basement of the improved
stove, which pipe is to be connected with a reservoir of air (in a kitchen or

page_text: other convenient apartment); the reservoir is to be filled by a pair of lever
(or forge) bellows, or the air pipe may be immediately connected to the nozzle
of the bellows, without any reservoir. This arrangement enables a brisk fire
to be produced at all times in a few minutes, and without the necessity of
having a servant enter the apartinent for that purpose. This air pipe also
furnishes a most convenient mode of supplying any requisite quantity of fresh
or cold air for the purpose of ventilating and cooling apartments during the
summer season, for which purpose the air pipe, after it is brought into the
corner or other convenient part of the room, is to have a branch leading
to the basement of the stove and another branch carried up an opening
near the ceiling, each of these branches to be furnished with a stop-cock, to
be open or shut at pleasure. These pipes may be made of any requisite
dimensions, and rendered ornamental or concealed from view at the discre-
tion of the workmen. The slow conducting materials before mentioned are
also capable of being applied with advantage in economising the heat from
detached or air stoves. The basement of the stove f, f, (Figures 3 and 4,) is to
be filled with these non-conducting materials, leaving a space for the ash box
and descending flue, as shewn in section, Figure 4. But in warm air stoves with
latiral or ascending flues, the basement may be filled up solid. The iron plates
which form the coal chamber a, b, (Fig. 3,) should also be lined on each side
with a portion of the same materials, and the exterior surface of the fire
chamber (usually termed the "cockle" in stoves of this descriptions) should be
covered with plates or fire fire tiles to prevent the air from being vitiated by
contact with the surface of hot iron plates. The exterior of this stove is
similar to that of air stoves in general. The peculiar advantages, however,
which this kind of air stoves possess over those in common use (and for which
the Patentees claim to be the inventors) are derived from the coal chamber and
appendages for burning the smoke, for the principal objection to the general
introduction of air stoves arises from the great liability of the horizontal or other
flues to become choaked up with soot, and consequently to endanger buildings by
taking fire. But as the combustion of the crude smoke destroys full four-
fifths of that carbonaceous matter which would otherwise be deposited in the flues
or pipes, the liability to block up these flues with soot must consequently b
reduced in the same ratio from the use of air stoves with these appendages for
burning the smoke. The several improvements which the Patentees have
effected in the construction of cooking stoves or grates consist, firstly, of the
adaptation of the coal box and boiler beneath (as before described); secondly,
in the application of an oven on a peculiar construction immediately above the
fire chamber of such cooking stoves or grates. The form of such oven, and

page_text: the arrangement for directing and economising the heat in a cooking stove
with this appendage, will be readily understood from the Drawing, Fig. 5, and
its sectional parts, Figures 6 and 7, the front plate being removed from
Fig. 5, in order to show the interior. The bottom and sides of the oven d are
to be formed of wrought or cast iron plates, bent into a curvilinear or polygonal
form, with horizontal flanches or cars at the top, by which flanches the oven is
to be fixed by means of screws or rivets to the cast iron plate h, which extends
across the top of the entire stove or grate. The oven, previous to being fixed,
is to be filled to a certain extent with any kind of cement, fire stone or clay
tiles (nearly in the form represented at d, d, (Figures 5 and 6), with the view
of preventing the two powerful action of the fire on the bottom of the oven,
and for rendering the heat uniform in its interior. The side plates i, i, may be
considered as a continuation of the plates forming the exterior of the oven, with
apertures, shewn at k, k, about 3 inches wide, and from 12 to 15 inches long,
from front to back, to allow the passage of hot air or smoke into the chimney
flue; the iron plate should also have correspondling openings cast in it, or be
made of three separate picces, with intervals between, as seen at h, h, h; the
three portions of this hot plate should be lined or covered with blocks of fire
stone, or any slow conductor of heat, in order to prevent the rediation or loss of
heat from the top of the oven. The spaces 1, 1, on each side of the oven serve
as hot closets or auxilliary oyens in the upper part, while the lower parts in
contact with the hob plates of the stove may receive the usual culinary vessels for
steaming or boiling, a communication being made through the hob to the steam
boiler in the usual way. The partitions m, m, on each side of these warm
closets are to be formed of their brickwork or tiles, and carried up so as to
enclose the ends of the hot iron plate h, h, h. . A back partition or wall of the
same materials is also to be carried up to the same height from the back edge
of the stove (as seen at e, Fig. 6), in which wall a register plate is to be fitted,
so as to close the aperture into the chimney at pleasure. By closing this
register plate the whole of the hot air and flame will be directed towards the
narrow passages through the top plate, after having given out a portion of its
heat to the bottom and sides of the oven, as well as the top plate, a certain por-
tion also being given out to the side plates and chambers 1,7. If the heat be too
great beneath the oven, the register plate is to be fully opened, and a detached
iron plate made to slide in immediately beneath the oven, so as to direct the
flame and hot air through the back opening into the chimney. The front of
these passages and ovens or chambers may either be constructed of iron plate
altogether or of brickwork, with doors of plate iron, faced with tile, in order to
prevent the radiation of heat into the apartment. It is scarcely necessary to

page_text: remark that the beat beneath the oven will be considerably augmented by
the occasional application of a plate called a "blower" in front of the opening
between the top bar of the grate and the bottom of the oven. The peculiar
advantages attending a kitchen stove having the appendages before mentioned
are that the oven may be more uniformly and far more economically heated by
a given quantity of fuel than by any of the usual arrangements of flues leading
from the side of the fire, and the very simple construction of the draft passages
.and apertures, together with the combustion of the crude smoke, in a great
measure prevents the inconvenience to which all such flues are liable from the
deposit of soot. The Patentees do hereby further declare the specific parts
of stoves and grates of which they claim to be the inventors, are the appli-
cation of a box or chamber for receiving the fuel preparatory to burning the
crude smoke in open fire grates; also the construction and application of the
basement cornice and other parts herein-before described (however such parts
may be varied in their form) for saving fuel and regulating the temperature of
the air in apartments; and, lastly, for the construction and application of the
.improved oven before mentioned, with its appendages for economising heat
in kitchen or cooking stoves.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Atkins and Henry Marriott,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of December,
in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.