IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN FIRE-PLACES OR GRATES, AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Haughton, of the Middle Temple, Barrister-
at-Law, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPEN FIRE-PLACES OR
GRATES, AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Haughton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1882.
WILLIAM HAUGHTON of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OPEN FIRE-PLACES OR GRATES AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME."
The object of the present Invention is to provide a removable open fireplace
which may be fitted partially or wholly within an ordinary chimney recess, and
may be connected to a chimney of the ordinary construction, or be disconnected
therefroin and removed with the utmost facility.
The grate is designed to consume its own smoke, and means are provided for
emitting a stream of warm air into the apartment.
This removable open fire place, in its most effective form, is constructed with
double walls forming a chamber extending round its back and sides, within which
pure air from the outside, or air from the room itself, is thoroughly warmed by
passing through a series of overlapping plates of metal, or fireclay, carried by
hook-ended supports projecting horizontally from the inner and outer walls of the
said chamber. This chamber communicates with a hot air box forming the upper
front portion of the complete fire-place or stove, the said box being pierced with
holes for the exit of the heated air into the apartment.
The grate proper is entirely separated by the inner wall from the hot air
chamber, and consists of a fire basket having a solid curved fire-clay bottom with
an iron bar to protect its front edge from injury, and one or more iron front bars

page_text: as usual. The back of the fire basket is formed of a series of flat bars of metal or
fire-brick partially overlapping each other, placed somewhat like steps of stairs,
and having air spaces between them the uppermost of such bars being farthest
from the front of the fire basket. These flat bars may be arranged to tip up, when
necessary, to clear the air spaces between them.
This construction while allowing free passage of the heated gases of combustion
into the flue, serves to prevent the fuel from falling out at the back of the grate, and
thereby prevents waste of slack and small coal. Above the topmost of the flat bars
forming the back of the fire basket is an adjustable hanging door or register
extending the entire width of the back of the grate, which register is attached by
a hinge of peculiar construction to the lower edge of the hot air box above referred
to, or to the framework of the fire-place. A short lever arm projects from the back
of the hanging register, and is acted upon by turning the handle of a suitably
placed rod having a cam or excentric on its inner end. The cam depressing the
short lever arm, will throw upwards and forwards the hanging register to any
required extent. The base of the handle I construct with many equal sides to fit
into a correspondingly shaped socket.
When it is desired to turn the rod the handle is slightly withdrawn to clear the
socket, into which a special spring or its equivalent again draws its polygonal base,
when turned into a new position.
If it be desired to remove the register entirely it must be opened to its fullest
extent by hand, when it may be easily disengaged from the bar from which it bangs
when in use.
The flue passage (situate behind the step like bars) communicates at its lower end
through these bars with the fire basket, and directly with the ash pit; and tapers at
its upper end to a neck, or aperture, where a smoke proof joint with the chimney
(when situate vertically above the flue) is effected by means of a movable junction-
piece the lower edge of which dips into sand contained in a trough or groove, cast,
or otherwise formed, on the top of the stove casing, and the upper part of which
fits a tube like socket in a casting which closes the chimney mouth.
A clear space of some four inches between the top of the removable fire-place,
and the top of the chimney recess, allows of the movable junction piece above
named being raised sufficiently, when required to allow of the withdrawal of the
entire fire-place from the chimney recess. By theso means or by bringing the flue
out at the back or side of the casing so as to be capable of being inserted horizontally
into an opening in a chimney, or in a suitable plate covering an opening in a
chimney, the fire place may be readily adapted to any chimney recess of ordinary
construction.
This ash pit is fitted with a drawer, or ash pan, which completely closes it when
in its normal position, but by the partial withdrawal of which air in any desirable
quantity may be admitted to the back of the fire basket and up the flue; and this
drawer is formed with a receptacle in front to catch any dust or ashes which may
fall between the front bars. The draught may also be regulated by a dampor of
any well known suitable construction placed in the flue.
A fireclay backing is fitted to that part of the flue which is exposed to the direct
impact of the flame, or highly heated gases of combustion, and this backing
preferably consists of a slab of fine brick supported on a metal bracket, or metal
arms projecting from the back of the flue.
The fire place is provided with feet on which it stands clear of the ground, and
it may be fitted with rollers or castors for facility of removal.
The hanging register is suspended by curved flanges to a cylindrical rod, in
which square ended notches extending to half its thickness are cut on opposite
sides, alternately, and opposite the curved flanges, which are so formed as to permit
the passage of the portions of the said rod corresponding to the said notches in one
position only, and in all other positions to form a hinge, or series of hinges with
the said rod. By raising the register into the one position above indicated,

page_text: which I call the position of disengagement, it may casily be drawn clear of the rod
and removed as aforesaid for renewal of cleaning.
As a modification of the fire place above described the outer wall of iron may be
dispensed with, and in this case the wall of the chimney recess will forn the outer
wall of the hot air chamber, which will then for the sake of appearance require to
be separated from the room by a screen of wire work, perforated metal, or other
suitable material with openings for the passage of air.
When this arrangement is
adopted, as it may be for the sake of saving in first cost, the projecting plates
herein before described and the hot air box may be dispensed with, in whole or in
part;
the space between the fireplace and the chimney recess taking the place of the
hot air chamber and hot air box hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent file
by the said William Haughton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th July 1882.
WILLIAM HAUGHTON of the Middle Temple Barrister at Law.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OPEN FIRE PLACES OR GRATES AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME.'
"
The object of the present Invention is to provide a removable open fire-place
which may be fitted partially or wholly within an ordinary chimney recess and
may be connected to a chimney of the ordinary construction or be disconnected
therefrom and removed with facility.
The grate is designed to consume its own smoke and means are provided for
emitting a stream of warm air into the apartment.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Fig. 1 shows in central vertical section
my improved removable open stove. It is constructed with double walls A B
forming an air chamber C extending around its back, sides, and top. To this
chamber, pure air from the outside or air from the room itself is admitted, for the
purpose of being warmed, for which purpose it is caused to circulate over a series of
overlapping plates of metal or fireclay slabs carried by hook ended metal supports e
projecting horizontally from the inner and outer walls A B of the said chamber.
The part of the chamber C which fronts the apartment is pierced with holes to
permit of the discharge into the apartment of a supply of heated air. D is the fire
place for the reception of the fuel; it is provided with front bars as usual and between
it and the back plate B a chamber E is formed by means of horizontal bars F and
a hinged damper or register G resting upon the top bar which bars and damper
extend from one side of plate B to the other and form the visible back of the stove.
The top of the stove is closed in by the plates which form the upper and
horizontal portion of the air chamber C and through this part of the air chamber
rises a pipe E leading to the chimney fluc. The tire place is fitted with a solid
slightly curved fire clay botton. The back bars F consist of a series of flat bars
of metal or metal protected by fire clay partially overlapping the one the other,
placed somewhat like steps of stairs and having air spaces between them the
uppermost of such bars being farthest from the front of the fire basket These flat
bars may be arranged to tip when necessary to clear the air spaces between them
and they may conveniently be made removable to facilitate their replacement when
burnt out.
This construction while allowing free passage of the heated gases of combustion
into the flue, serves to prevent the fuel from falling out of the back of the grate
and thereby prevents waste of slack and small coal.
The register or damper G is suspended by a hinge of peculiar construction the
details of which are given in Figures 2 and 3.
Fig. 2 represents a round bar of suitable dimensions stretching across the stove
and fixed in the side plates, portions of this round bar are cut away on opposite
sides for half its thickness so as to permit of hook-shaped sockets projecting,
from the upper edge of the damper being passed onto the bar thereby taking a hold
thereon, as in a hinge. The form of these sockets for coupling the damper with
the bar is clearly illustrated in the cross sections Figures 3. By this means a
hinge is formed which in one position offers no obstruction to the removal of
the damper or register when necessary. In place of this hinge attachment the
register may be made to swing on pins or trunnions projecting from the cheeks
of the grate as illustrated at Fig: 4 or projecting from it and engaged in
the cheeks of the grate. For adjusting the position of the register or damper

page_text: I employ the arrangement shewn in Fig: 1 which represents the register or
damper G as furnished with a projecting arm g against the face of which a cam g¹
bears.
This cam is mounted on the end of a rod or axle g² which extends to the front
of the stove and. is slotted longitudinally to receive a cross pin which connects it
with a hollow handle H. This handle is shewn detached and on an enlarged
scale in Figures 5 and 6.
Fig 5 being a longitudinal section and Fig. 6 a cross section of the same.
This coupling of the rod and handle while preventing the handle turning on the
rod allows of the handle moving end wise thereon for locking or unlocking the
adjusted damper. The base of the handle is made polygonal to fit a socket of
corresponding form in the front of the stove. When this polygonal base is, by the
action of a coiled spring contained in the handle, forced into the socket it will be
locked therein and the register will be retained in its adjusted position. In order
to readjust the register the handle is drawn back clear of the socket and it may
then be turned to cause the can g' to bear against the arm g and thereby raise the
register to any necessary extent. When the register is raised the required distanco
the handle is pressed into and retained in the polygonal socket by the spiral
spring encircling the axle g thereby locking the register in its adjusted position.
The connection of the handle H with the rod or axle g may be modified as shewn
in the sectional view Fig. 7, which represents the rod and interior of the handle
formed as polygons. In this example also the handle is locked to the axle, but is
at the same time free to be moved endwise thereon, for the purpose of its polygonal
base engaging with the socket formed to receive it, on the front of the air chamber.
The chamber E situate behind the fire place communicates therewith by the spaces
between the bars F and at the bottom it is closed by the ash pan I which is made
capable of sliding under the fire place and opening, when desired, a passage for the
admission of air to the chamber E. This chamber is connected at top with the
chimney flue, by means of a moveable junction piece K, the lower edge of which,
dips into sand contained in a trough or groove cast or otherwise formed on the top
of the stove casing and the upper part of which fits a tube like socket in a
casting which closes the chimney mouth.
A clear space of some four inches between the top of the removable fire place
and the top of the chimney recess allows of the movable junction piece above
named being raised sufficiently to clear it from the fire place, when the same is
required to be withdrawn from the chimney recess. By providing the junction
piece with handles it may be readily rotated to free it if it should become set fast
from rust or other causes.
It will now be understood that when the fire is burning freely and the register
closed (excepting the small clearance shewn in the vertical section between its upper
edge and the air chamber, there is a draught to the chamber E through the spaces
between the bars F. If however all smoke is not now consumed it is only
necessary in order to ensure its combustion to pull forward the ash pan slightly
and so admit a current of air through the ash pan to the chamber E which being
highly heated by its close proximity to the fire place becomes a combustion
chamber consuming any smoke which may have passed into it between the bars F.
It is obvious that by bringing the flue out at the back or side of the casing to
meet a horizontal opening in a chimney the fireplace may be readily adapted to a
chimney flue directly behind or at its side.
A fireclay backing may be fitted to that part of the chamber E which is exposed
to the direct impact of the flame or highly heated gases of combustion and this
backing preferably consists of a slab of firebrick supported on a metal bracket or
metal arm projecting from the back of the chamber.
The fire place or grate is provided with feet on which it stands clear of the
ground and it may be fitted with rollers or castors for facility of removal.
As a modification of the fire place or grate above described its outer walls may
be dispensed with and in this case the wall of the chimney recess will former the

page_text: outer wall of the hot air chamber which will then for the sake of appearance
require to be separated from the room by a screen of wire work or perforated
metal or other suitable material with openings for the passage of air.
When this
arrangement is adopted as it may be for the sake of saving in first cost, the
projecting plates may be dispensed with in whole or in part, the space between the
fire place and the chimney recess taking the place of the hot air chamber.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Open
Fireplaces or Grates and in Fittings for the same " and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim.
First. The combination of the parts as described with reference to Fig: 1 of the
Drawing constituting my improved removable open fire place or grate.
Second. The combination in an open fire place of step like bars and a pendent
register or damper to form the front of a combustion chamber for consuming the
smoke emitted from the burning fuel as above described.
Third. The arrangement of mechanisin above described for adjusting and fixing
the position of the pendent register or damper.
Fourth. The means described for connecting the stove with the chimney flue.
Fifth. The peculiar arrangement of hinge herein before described with reference
to Figures 2 and 3 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof I the said William Haughton have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM HAUGHTON. (L.S.)