IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES OR OTHER HEATING APPA- RATUS FOR WARMING AND VENTILATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, BATHS, HOTHOUSES, AND DRYING HOUSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Whitaker, of Bolton, and Joseph Constantine,
of Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES OR OTHER HEATING APPA-
RATUS FOR WARMING AND VENTILATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS,
BATHS, HOTHOUSES, AND DRYING HOUSES."
Sealed the 26th February 1667, and dated the 24th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Whitaker and
Joseph Constantine at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 24th September 1866.
We, THOMAS WHITAKER, of Bolton, and JOSEPH CONSTANTINE, of Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES OR OTHER
HEATING APPARATUS FOR WARMING AND VENTILATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
BUILDINGS, BATHS. HOTHOUSES. AND DRYING HOUSES," to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention is to obtain an heating apparatus for air or
liquids which, though comparatively occupying but a small space presents
not only a very large surface to the medium which is to be heated, but
exposes also a large surface to the fire and the hot gases, which are compelled
[Price 8d.1

page_text: to come into contact with all the available heating surface in such a manner
that nearly all the heat obtained from the combustion of the fuel is given off
to the apparatus, and produces useful effect, instead of escaping for the most
part through the chimney, as is usually the case.
We construct our stoves of hollow segments, which form when put together
the sides of the structure, and at the same time the flues. In their outer
form these segments are made according to the shape the stove is to
have; as, for instance, for a stove with square sides and a vaulted top the
segments would be of a horse-shoe form. The segments are cast hollow and
open towards the inner side. On the sides of the inner edges there are ribs
which form the part of contact between each two adjoining segments. As we
generally bolt a whole series of segments together by a number of bolts passing
through all of them, we boss the inside of the segments up round the bolt
holes to prevent breakage from the pressure of the screws, and also to avoid
leakage. In order to make a good joint between the segments we cast close
behind each rib, at the inner edge, a taper indentation, which will form, with
the rib and the similar indentation of each of the adjoining segments, a dove-
tail groove
which will securely retain clay, cement, or other similar substance
which has been rammed in; or we cast at a short distance from the inner rib
a second rib, which will retain with the one of the adjoining segment a strip
of metal, between which and the inner ribs we ram iron-cement, clay, or other
substances. As we make the segments of considerable depth, the thickness of
the metal not great and uniform, and leave the inner edges unconnected, our
stoves possess great elasticity,and the pressure and motion from the expansion
and contraction cannot lead to breakage. The segments put together and
forming the stove are mounted on a foot framing, which contains the grate and
ash-pit, with the necessary openings. We prefer the segments to overhang
the foot framing, so that the cold air has a free passage upwards. The outside
surfaces appear like large corrugations. The inside of the stove we line up
with bricks, or tiles, or clay, or also with au iron casing fitting the same; this
lining fits close to the inner ribs of the segments, but does not reach down to
their lower ends. The flames and hot gases enter all the openings thus left
at the bottom and pass upwards inside each of the segments, heating the
entire surface equally, and collect finally in a general flue leading to the
chimney.. Sometimes we form the top part of each segment into a short pipe
leading to the general flue, and sometimes we lead the heat all round and
have a collecting flue at each side, or one central flue below the stove. In
this latter arrangement we let the heat enter one segment at one side, and the

page_text: next segment at the opposite side, so that the expansion and contraction is
equal on both sides of the stove. In upright cylindrical stoves we shape the
segments so that they form together a central flue at the top. We can also
let the heat enter the segments at the top and lead it downwards into a flue
below. In this case the grate can be placed at a higher level, the segments
being left shorter where the fire-door has to be placed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph Constantine in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
WHITAKEB, of Bolton, and JOSEPH CONSTANTINE, of Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph Constantine, Herspecial license that we,the
said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph Constantine, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph
Constantine,our 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 THE CONSTRUC
TION OF STOVES OR OTHER HEATING APPARATUS FOR WARMING AND VENTILATING
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, BATHS. HOTHOUSES, AND DRYING HOUSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Whitaker and
Joseph Constantine, our executors oradministrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and seals, should particularly
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 we, the said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph
Constantine, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our Invention is to obtain a heating apparatus for air or other
liquids which, though comparatively occupying but a small space, presents not
only a very large surface to the medium which is to be heated, but also exposes
a very large absorbing surface to the fire and the hot gases, which by our
arrangementare compelled to come into contact with all the available absorbing
surface in such a manner that nearly all the heat obtained by the combustion
of the fuel is given off to the apparatus, and produces useful effect, instead of
escaping for the most part through the chimney, as is usually the case.
We construct our stoves of hollow segments, which when put together form
the sides of the structure, and at the same time with the internal linings also
the flues. These segments we make of a V or U section, and their outer
form we make according to the shape the stove is to have, as, for instance,
for a stove with square sides and a vaulted top the segments would be of a
horse-shoe form. The segments are cast hollow and open towards the inner
side. On the inner edges there are ribs projecting sideways to form the parts
of contact between each two adjoining segments. We form the centre of the
top part of each of these segments, where the hollows or flues from both sides
meet, into a short pipe, which leads the smoke into a general smoke box or
flue running over the whole length of the stove; this smoke flue, supported
by the front and back walls, consists of a loose bottom plate, with raised edges
all round, and short tubes projecting downwards along its centre, fitting loosely
over the outlet pipes of the segments, and an inverted box or trough with a
soot door at the front end, and an opening in the top, with a raised edge to
receive the smoke pipe or flue leading to the chimney; this smoke box may
also be made open at its back end, to lead off the smoke into a flue or direct
into the chimney. To make the joints between the outlet pipes of the segments
and the tubes in the bottom plate of the smoke box we use short tubes of
sheet metal encasing both of them, and resting on a rim cast round the lower
part of the pipe on the segment, and fill the annular space between the three
tubes with sand or clay. In order to make good joints between the segments
we cast on the top part close behind the ribs, at the inner edges, taper inden-
tations, forming with the ribs and the corresponding indentations of the
adjoining segments dove tail grooves, which will securely retain clay, cement
or other similar substance which has beeu rammed in. For the vertical joints
at the sides we cast a short distance from the inner rib a second rib, which
will retain with the one of the adjoining segment a strip of sheet metal, and

page_text: into the space left between the latter and the inner rib we ram cement, clay,
or other suitable substances. As we make the segments ofconsiderable radial
depth, and the thickness of the metal not great, and as much as possible
uniform throughout, the whole being at the same time uniformly heated, our
stoves possess great elasticity, and the pressure and motion from expansion
and contraction cannot easily lead to breakage. If from some cause or other
a segment should break it can easily be replaced without disturbing the other
parts, and at a very small expense. The front and back of the stove we form
of separate pieces, and by passing bolts from the former to the latter, outside
the segments, the whole structure is held together. In the front plate are
the necessary openings for firing and cleaning the flues at the top. The back
plate we make of such a section as to present an appearance similar to that of
a number of adjoining segments at the sides, in order to obtain a larger number
of flues and additional heating surface. Instead of holding all the segments
together by the front and back plate, we also propose to fasten each segment
to the two adjoining ones by bolts, pins, and cotters, or hoops round small
projections, the front and back plates being fastened to the first and last
segments respectively. This arrangement will allow of a very free movement of
all the parts inexpanding andcontracting. The segments, front and backplates
are mounted on a foot framing formed by three plates bolted together, and
having a flange all round the outside of the top edge, and preparations sup-
porting the cross bars and dead plate carrying the grate bars. The segments
and back plate rest with their inner edges only on the foot frame, so that
their sides overhang the latter, and the cold air has a free passage upwards
between the segments. Bolted to the front plate of stoves which are built
in we have a frame reaching through the front wall, and carrying the fire
and ash-pit doors. In the fire-door we usually have a regulator for the
admission of air, and also a perforated box at the back of it for equal distri-
bution of the same. For open stoves this front framing may be dispensed
with, and the doors may be fixed to the front plate and foot framing. The
inside of the stove we line with slabs of fire-proof substance fitting close to the
inner edges of the segments and of the back plates. These slabs are supported
by small brackets cast with the segments, and reach to within a few inches of
the top and bottom of the segments. Slabs are laid across the top of the side
linings, and leave a clear space below the top of the segments. The hollow
parts of the segments and back thus form with this lining a number of flues
throughwhich the hot gases andsmoke have to pass, and are brought into close
contact with the whole inner or absorbing surface of the stove; after which

page_text: they are led through the short pipes in the top of the segments to the smoke
box, and from there to the chimney.
In some cases we also make the inner lining of cast iron or wrought iron.
We generally make the grate narrower than the inner width of the segments,
place it a little beneath their lower end, and put a lining of fire-brick along
the sides and end of the grate, which reaches up to the flues and is rounded
off towards them. Where it is not convenient to have the stove or heating
apparatus in the room which has to be warmed it is necessary to surround it
with walls a short distance off the sides and covered over the top. Openings
are left all round in the walls near the bottom to admit fresh air, which in
rising up between the walls and segments gets heated and collects in the space
over the stove, from where it is conveyed through pipes or flues to the rooms
which have to be warmed and ventilated. A trough or evaporating pan
supplied with water may also be introduced at the top of the apparatus to
moisten the hot air if required. We sometimes enclose our stoves in an iron
casing, with suitable openings for the admission of the fresh and the emission
of the hot air..
Our improvements are equally applicable to square, cylindrical, and oval
stoves, as well as to stoves of any other shape..
In order that our Invention may be more readily understood and carried
into effect we will now proceed to describe the same, reference being had to
the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
Fig. I. is a longitudinal elevation and section through middle of stove;
Fig. II. is a side elevation and cross section through middle of stove; and
Fig.III.is a plan and horizontal section through middle of one of our improved
stoves suitable for heating a church, large hall, Turkish bath, or other public
.building.
A, A, are the hollow segments of a V section, forming a square stove with
rounded top corners; a, a, are the inner ribs projecting sideways, forming the
part of contact between the adjoining segments A, A, the front plate B, and
the back plate C. The segments are held together by the bolts D, D, passing
through the lugs b, b, on the front plate and c, c, on the back plate. The
sections of the segments A and the back plate Care clearly shown in Fig. III.
d, d, are the taper indentations forming dovetail grooves, filled with clay or
cement to form the joint over the top; e, e, are small ribs retaining the metal
strips ff, the space between the latter and the ribs t, a, being filled with
clay or cement; 9, 9, are the small tubes leading the smoke into the smoke

page_text: box E; Fis the bottom plate of the smoke box E, and rests with its ends on
the walls; G is a small door to allow the smoke box to be cleaned; h, h, are
the short tubes cast with the plate F, and fitting loosely over the tubes g, g,
of the segments; i, i, are short tubes of sheet metal enclosing the tubes g, g,
& h, h, and rest on the top of the segments. The annular space left between
these tubes is filled with sand or clay. The segments, front plate, and back
plate, are mounted on a foot framing consisting of three plates H, H, bolted
together and having flanges k, k, all round the outside of the top edge, and
preparations 1, 1, supporting the cross bar I, and the dead plate K carrying the
grate bars L, L, and the plates M, M, which support the fire-brick lining
round the grate. Bolted to the front plate B is the frame N, fitted with the
fire-door O and the ash-pit door P. To the back of the fire-door Oa perforated
box Q is fixed, to distribute the air admitted by the regulator m. In the top
of the front plate there is an opening corresponding with a box R going
through the front wall and covered with a lid S, to allow the top slab of the
lining and the upper part of the segment to be cleaned. The inside of the
stove is lined with slabs of fire-brick T, T, supported by small brackets n, n,
cast on the segments and back plate. A large slab U of fire-brick is laid
across the top of the side linings, leaving a clear space below the top of the
segments. The course of the hot gases and smoke is indicated by a number
of arrows. From the smoke box E the smoke is conveyed through the pipe V
to the chimney. The whole apparatus is surrounded by brick walls W, W,
having openings Z, Z, all round the bottom for the admission of fresh air, and
covered by a large flag X. The hot air which has collected at the top is led
off through the pipe Y to the rooms to be warmed and ventilated. The course
of the air used for heating is indicated by arrows marked X.
Having now described our said Invention, and the manner in which the
same may be carried into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not
confine or restrict ourselves to the precise details and arrangements herein-
before described, and shewn in the Drawings; but what we do claim as the
Jnvention to be secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
Firstly, constructing stoves of hollow segments open towards the inner side,
forming with the lining slabs flues presenting a largeabsorbing surface for the
heat, and a large outer surface for heating the air or other liquids, and
possessing great elasticity, substantially as described and shown by A, A, on
Figs. I., II., & III, of Drawings.
Secondly, forming the joints of stoves by ramming clay or other substances

page_text: between ribs at the inner edges of the segments and metal plates retained by
outer ribs cast on the sides of the segments, substantially as described and
shewn by a, e, &f of Fig. III. of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Whitaker and Joseph Con.
stantine, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day
of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.
THOMAS WHITAKER.
(L.S.)
JOSEPH CONSTANTINE. (L.s.)