IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL IN FIRE-GRATES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Freeman Finch, James
Finch, and Amethyst Luther Finch at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 27th October
1873.
. We, THOMAS FREEMAN FINCH, and JAMES FINCH, and AMETHYST
LUTHER FINCH, all of the City of Worcester, Button Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for * IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING FUEL IN FIRE-GRATES," to be as follows:―
'
Our Invention consists of the construction and arrangement herein-
after described of the parts of apparatus to be placed in fire-grates, in
which said apparatus the combustion of the fuel takes place, the said
combustion being so regulated and controlled by the said apparatus and
the heat produced so advantageously used that great economy in the
consumption of fuel is effected.
Our improved apparatus consists of a receptacle made proforably of
cast iron, the said receptacle having the general figure of a nearly
rectangular box open at top and front. The edges of the sides are
inclined preferably from the back downwards towards the front, that is

page_text: the height of the said sides is less at front than at back. The inclined
edges of the sides being very conspicuous are made by preference of
an ornamental figure.
The bottom of the receptacle is constructed in the following manner :—
On the said bottom are three or other number of elevations situated
parallel to each other and extending from front to back or from side to
side of the receptacle. These elevations are hollow and have the general
figure of triangular prisms; or the said elevations may be otherwise
shaped. The summits of the prismatic elevations are replaced for the
greater part of the length of each elevation by a flat surface in which is
a slit parallel to the axis of the prism. These prismatic elevations
constitute as it were large hollow bars with slits on their upper sides
and on these hollow supports the fire rests. By the figure of the said
supports and their general construction the fuel is kept well separated
and is supplied with air heated before coming in contact with the
fuel, by which means a vigorous combustion when required may be
obtained.
In order however effectually to control the combustion of the fuel in
the receptacle a horizontal sliding plate or damper works in the bottom
of the receptacle, and by opening or closing more or less the said plate
of damper the amount of air entering through the said prismatic
clevations on the bottom of the receptacle may be regulated to any
required extent, and the combustion made rapid or slow at pleasure.
To the top of the back of the receptacle an ornamental plate is jointed
which when the receptacle is in its place in the grate may stand in a
vertical position or be turned down into a horizontal position. In the
former position it forms a handle whereby the apparatus may be lifted,
and in the latter position it forms a horizontal support for a tea-
kettle or any other article which is required to be supported over the
fire.
As the back and sides of the apparatus are unperforated combustion is