Improvements in and connected with Firebars and Grates.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Firebars and Grates.
I, JOHN ALWENT CHAPMAN of 4 Lambton Quay, Wellington, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Stock and Share Broker 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 :-
The object of this invention is to counteract the tendency of fires to get into a
solid or dead mass and also to introduce continual gentle currents of air throughout
the body of the fire; by either forming the bars of any grate, or fire place, of any
description; with a swelling upwards, so as to form a chamber open, or partly open,
below; so as to freely admit cold air; and also open above, by being formed,
so, that when the bars are put together, slots are arranged between them, or the
bars themselves may have slots or holes made in the bars themselves or other
similar devices for attaining the same object as will presently be explained fully.
The air escaping through the upper slots or holes of this invention is heated in
the chamber and passes into and through the fire in different ways or directions
thus effecting a more thorough combustion of the fuel and the gases thereof; the
effect of which is to increase the amount of heat procurable in a given quantity of
fuel, and to cause the said fuel to produce less smoke, and soot, and such like
noxious matters, than is now usually the case.
If the invention is required to be used in an open hearth, where there are no bars,
or the bars may perhaps be too close, so as not to allow a sufficient quantity of air
to get into the invention it may be set on feet, or a number of notches may be made
on the lower edge, so as to allow air to be drawn into it from as near the bottom as
possible, when the air will escape into the fuel in the same manner as described
above.
Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates various forms of the
invention suitable for various descriptions of fire places or furnaces ;
Fig. 1, is a section from back to front of an ordinary fire place of usual con-
struction; but having the bottom bars so formed that a chamber B is made as there
shewn, inside the bars A, and by the bars.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal elevation of the same form of chamber.
Fig. 3, is a section from back to front of an ordinary fire place of usual con-
struction but having the chamber B formed in, and as part of the back of same
instead of in the middle of the bottom bars as shewn in Fig. 1, and Fig. 2.
This chamber thus shewn in the back may be continued round any other side or
sides or may be in the side or sides in similar manner to the one shewn in the back.
Fig. 4, is a similar section of a grate as shewn in Fig. 1, and Fig. ; but with
the invention shewn on the bars in a box form as part of a grate.
Fig. 5, shews the same form longitudinally and this form may be cast in the bars
of the grate, or be secured to them either in the middle of the bottom of the grate,
as there shewn; namely in Fig. 4, and Fig. 5, or it may be in the positions shewn
and explained in connection with Fig. 3, and if not desired to have the invention
cast on, or secured to, a grate; or when it is desired to apply the invention to an
existing grate, it may be in a portable form as shewn in Fig. 6, and Fig. 7, and this
form also may be formed in a similar manner to any of the forms above described
and may be placed in any and all of the positions also above described.
Fig. 8, is a plan of bars, more especially adapted for use in large fire places or
furnaces shewing slots formed by bringing bars together, but if desired the bars or
any of them could have the slots or any holes cast in them or be like the box form
of the invention by having portions of such a box as shewn Fig. 5, cast on each bar
so as to form a box similar to it when a number of bars are put together.
D511

page_text: Fig. 9, shews an elevation of bars such as those shewn on plan in Fig. 8, shewing
a form of chamber.
A, A, refers to the bar form of the invention and shews the bars forming the
chamber.
B, B, shews the chamber formed in any way.
In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the hollow chamber is indicated by dotted lines.
C shews the box form of the invention.
D shews the holes or slots in this last form of the invention of which any number
may be made and they may be made of suitable shapes for this object and they may
be made tapered, or larger in the inside of the box than the outside for giving greater
facility to the air coming out of same.
EE on all the parts where it occurs indicates the parts of grates or fire places
that are in present use and consequently these parts are liable to be of any form of
grate or fire place in use.
This invention may be made of iron clay or of any suitable substance that will
stand the fire; any desired number may be used in any fire and they may be
formed of any suitable sizes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a fire place of any description a hollow chamber so formed (substantially
as shewn and herein described) that cold air can enter underneath, or at the outer
edges of the said chamber, and become heated and work through the fuel at one or
more points as required.
2. In a hollow chamber formed as shewn on plans and described herein; the
combination of the holes or slots with the chamber for directing the air at any
points desired; to and through the fuel, so as to effect a more thorough combustion
of the said fuel and the gases thereof.
3. In an appliance for obtaining better combustion of fuel; (such as shewn and
described;) the combination of the chamber capable of containing and heating air,
and the holes and slots, or the bars forming the said chamber and also forming
holes or slots; with the bottom or sides; (or both ;) of a grate, either as a fixture
cast in the grate or secured in any way to it.
4. In an appliance for obtaining better combustion of fuel (such as shewn and
described) the combination of the holes or slots and the chamber capable of con-
taining heated air, and of receiving air either through the bars of a grate or
through notches or feet as described herein for use in any fire place as a portable
article.
5. The forming of furnace bars either as shewn on drawing of same or as
further described to form chambers for the same uses as described and explained
herein.
Dated this 4th day of July 1802
J. ALWENT CHAPMAN.