Blocks for use with fuel in Fire grates
Year: 1896

page_text: DIOCKS
rates.
ERNEST BARKER 43 Old Hill Street Upper Clapton, N.E. Ironmonger and Gas &
Hot Water Fitter do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.
The "Blocks for use with fuel in Fire grates" may, be constructed in the form of
a hollow perforated cone and may be made of Fire clay or other suitable substance
that will stand the heat. In grates with bottom gratings it is placed loose on the
bottom, standing on the base. One or more "Blocks" may be placed on the bottom
of an ordinary grate previous to placing any fuel therein, so as to convey a free
draught of unconsumed air from beneath the stove to the middle and back parts of
the fire. By means of this assistance to combustion coke may be used in ordinary
grates. The "Blocks "being loose do not prevent the fuel from being stirred nor
the grate being properly cleansed from ashes. I do not confine myself to the
particular shape of the cone, but may make my "Blocks" in the shape of a pyramid,
oblate hemi-spheroid with elliptical base, with or without a spout for protrusion
between the front bars of the grate, or any other suitable shape.
Dated this 10th day of Dear 1806
ERNEST BARKER 43 Old Hill Street Clapton Common N.E. Ironmonger and Gas
and Hot Water Fitter do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
Inanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of a loose hollow perforated cone made of fire clay or other
substance not impaired by heat to be used in ordinary firegrates- for the purpose of
conveying a free draught of unconsumed air to the middle and back parts of the fire.
In fire grates ventilated in the ordinary way the oxygen in the air is largely
consumed before it can reach the remote parts of the fire and the combustion is
consequently slow. By using this invention a free current of air is conducted direct
to the centre of the mass of fuel resulting in complete combustion. The cone at the
same time becomes incandescent and a greater heat is diffused. By this means coke
may be burnt in ordinary firegrates which otherwise would require the assistance of
coal or wood.
The ventilating cone, or "Block for use with fuel in firegrates" as I term it, is
placed loose in the firegrate when the latter is quite empty and the fuel placed

page_text: around and above it. Being loose it will not prevent the fire from being stirred, and
the possibility of the grate becoming blocked with ashes will thus be obviated.
I do not confine myself to any particular shape of "block" but may make it an
oblate hemi-spheroid with elliptical base, or pyramidal, or any other suitable shape,
and I may make one side to fit against the back of any particular shaped grate. I
may also use more than one "Block" in one grate if desirable. In another form of
my invention instead of making ordinary perforations in the substance I fix tubes or
spouts which may protrude between or beyond the bars of the grate or below the
bottom or in any other convenient direction likely to induce draught.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a front view of the "Block" showing the general shape and
method of ventilation.
Figure 2 shows a section of Figure 1, bisected along line a in figure 1, showing
the inclination of the cone to fit the sloping back of firegrates mostly in use. Figure
2 at b&c shows the almost upright position of the perforations designed with a
view to prevent choking by the ashes.
In Figure 3 the spouts which I intend to use for protrusion between the bars of
grates possessing no ventilating bottoms are shown at d, e, & f.
Figure 4 shows the position at g of the Block or Cone when ready for use in the
fire grate before the fuel is placed in position for burning.
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) A hollow perforated ventilating block of fire clay, or other suitable substance,
in the shape of a cone, pyramid, or other convenient shape, to be placed loose in
ordinary fire grates to assist the combustion of the fuel and diffuse greater heat,
substantially as herein described.
(2) A hollow ventilating block of fire clay or other suitable substance in the shape
of a cone, pyramid, or other suitable shape, fitted with tubes or spouts extending
beyond or above the bars of the firegrate, or in any other direction likely to induce
draught, to be placed loose in the bottom of ordinary firegrates.
Dated this ninth day of September 1897.