IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR FEEDING FIRES WITH FUEL
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Punshon, of 4, Queen Square, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR FEEDING FIRES WITH
FUEL."
Sealed the 4th March 1873 and dated the 13th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Punshon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1872.
I, ROBERT PUNSION, of 4, Queen Square, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR FEEDING FIRES
WITH FUEL," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the feeding of fuel into the bottom
of fires in grates instead of on the top as usual, and consists in the
adaptation and application to such purpose of a shovel or fuel carrier

page_text: with a box for containing fresh fuel applied to the blade of the shovel,
a moveable plate at the back of such box, after the insertion of the shovel
in the fire, being projected forwards by means of a rod in or connected to
the handle or otherwise, in order thereby to force out at the front of the
box, and deposit at the bottom of the grate underneath the live coal the
fresh fuel contained in the said box. The box is or may be formed with
an inclined front in order to facilitate the forward motion of the shovel
into the fire, such front being hinged so as to admit of its being raised
as required in order to discharge the fuel from the box by the pressure
of the fuel forced forwards by the back plate of the box.
If preferred a lever can be added to the shovel in order to raise the
fire by the fore part of the shovel so as to facilitate the feeding of the
fresh fuel from the box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Punshon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
PUNSHON, of 4, Queen Square, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Punshon, Her
special licence that I, the said Robert Punshon, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Punshon,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOVELS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR FEEDING FIRES WITH FUEL,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Punshon,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Punshon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
My Invention of "
Improvements in Shovels or Instruments for
Feeding Fires with Fuel" has for its object the feeding of fuel into the
bottom of fires in grates instead of on the top as usual, and consists in
the adaptation and application to such purpose of a shovel or fuel
carrier with a box for containing fresh fuel applied to the blade of the
shovel, a moveable plate at the back of such box, after the insertion of
the shovel in the fire, being projected forwards by means of a rod in or
connected with the handle or otherwise, in order thereby to force out at
the front of the box and deposit at the bottom of the grate underneath
the live coal the fresh coal contained in the said box. The box is or
may be formed with an inclined front in order to facilitate the forward
motion of the shovel into the fire, such front being hinged so as to admit
of its being raised as required in order to discharge the fuel from the
box by the pressure of the fuel forced forwards by the back plate or slide
of the box.
If preferred a lever can be added to the shovel in order to raise tho
fire by the fore part of the shovel so as to facilitate the feeding of the
fresh fuel from the box.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed
by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented
shovels constructed in the manner referred to.

page_text: sloped handle; Fig. 5 shews a shovel with a screw handle; Fig. 6 shews
a rack for working the slide; and Fig. 7 is a section. In these several
Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the box for containing fresh fuel, which box is formed by adding
a top and sides to the blade of a shovel; B is a moveable flap applied 5
to the front of the box by means of a hinge so as to admit of the flap
being raised as required. This flap is raised as required by pressing
forward the fresh fuel in the box by means of a moveable plate or
slide C at the back end of the box. This moveable plate or slide is
worked forwards in order to force the fresh fuel out at the front of the 1
box by acting on the handle D either by merely pressing on the handle E
or by working it forwards by a screw, as shewn at Fig. 5, or by a rack,
as shewn at Fig. 6. But the moveable plate or slide C may be worked
as required by other suitable means.
"
In order to feed a fire with fresh fuel the box shovel is pushed several 1
inches into the fire between the lowest bars of the fire-place, and then
the fresh fuel contained in the box is forced into the burning fuel of the
fire by pressing on the handle E, or acting upon it by a screw or other
mechanical means, the moveable flap B being raised and the front of
the box being opened by the pressure of the fuel in the box acted upon
by the moveable plate or slide C. When the fresh fuel has thus been
deposited in the fire the emptied box is withdrawn.
The box will be made of various sizes and depths to suit different
grates, and the space between the lowest bar and the bottom of grates
will be arranged as required.
In order to save the necessity for stooping when feeding a fire, or in
cases where high fenders are used, a sloped handle, as shewn at Fig. 4,
may be employed.
When adapted to engine furnaces the box will be increased in size,
and the screw or other means of forcing forward the fresh fuel will be
correspondingly increased in power as required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is, the construction of shovels or instruments for

page_text: feeding fuel into the bottom of fire-grates and furnaces with a box for
containing the fuel, and from which it can be discharged into the fire
by means of a slide in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Punshon, have hercunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.