IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE PLACES
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
1, WILLIAM FOULIS of 42 Virginia Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE PLACES to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in fire places and it consists in so construct-
ing the fire chamber of a kitchen range or other fire place that it may be used either
as a slow combustion stove or fire place or as an open fire.
In order to effect this the bottom bars of the grate are constructed so as to be easily
removable and in the space below the bars forming the ash-pit in kitchen ranges or
other fire places as ordinarily in use, there is constructed a chamber preferably
lined with fire brick which may extend from the bottom bars to the floor line. An
opening with a door is formed at the bottom of this chamber for the admission of air
and removal of ashes. A close fitting door is fitted on the front of the grate
closing up the front bars. When this door is closed and the bottom bars removed
the chamber being filled with fuel combustion can only be supported by the air
entering at the bottom opening above referred to, and the arrangement is similar to
that of slow combustion stoves ordinarily in use. When the bars are replaced and
the front door opened the arrangement is similar to that of an ordinary fire place.
The portion of air that enters the fire from below is partially heated in passing through
the brick chamber and assists combustion.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1888
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: I, WILLIAM FOULIS of 42 Virginia Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates to improvements in fire places and it consists in so constructing
the fire chamber of a kitchen range or other fire place that it may be used either as a
slow combustion stove or fire place or as an open fire.
In order to effect this, the bottom bars of the grate are constructed so as to be
easily removable and in the space below the bars, forming the ashpit in kitchen
ranges or other fire places as ordinarily in use, there is constructed a chamber.
preferably lined with fire brick which may extend from the bottom fire grate bars to
the floor line. An opening with a door is formed at the bottom of this chamber for
the admission of air and removal of ashes. A close fitting door is fitted on the front
of the grate closing up the front fire grate bars. When this door is closed and the
bottom fire grate bars removed the chamber being filled with fuel, combustion can
only be supported by the air entering at the bottom opening above referred to, and
the arrangement is similar to that of slow combustion stoves ordinarily in use. When
the bottom fire grate bars are replaced and the front door opened the arrangement is
similar to that of an ordinary fire place. The portion of air that enters the fire from
below is partially heated in passing through the brick chamber and assists
combustion.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings, of which
Figure 1, is a transverse vertical section of the fire place and some of the adjoining
parts of a cooking range with my improvements applied thereto. The bottom bars A,
of the fire grate are capable of being slid back into the space B; in the body of the
fire place. The casting or forging constituting the fire bars A, being mounted
on horizontal slides at either side so that by applying a fire hook or bar through the
openings of the front fire-grate E, the fire bars A, may be pushed inwards so
as to make the space constituting the upper and ordinary fire place C, continuous
with the lower slow combustion chamber D), and, by pulling the bars A, back again.
into the position shewn at Figure 1, the fire place is restored to the condition of
working in the ordinary manner. The bars of the fire-grate E, of the fire-place are
of the kind ordinarily employed and may be placed either vertical or horizontal
preferably I use the vertical bars, as will be seen more especially by reference to
Figure 2, and when the fire place is to be used as a slow combustion stove, the fire
doors F, (one only of which is shewn at Figure 2) are placed or closed over these
openings so as to shut them and prevent air from passing in therethrough.
In Figure 2, which is a part elevation of the improved fire-grate, one half is shewn
with the cover F, applied and the other half with the said cover removed. The slow

page_text: combustion chamber D, consists of a vertical chamber wherein fuel in the form of
dross is placed. When the fire place is to be used as a slow combustion stove and it
is provided at the bottom with a door J, that hangs upon a bar K, and by its
weight lies close against the inclined face of the lower doorway or mouth piece L.
The slow combustion chamber is provided with a bottom M, carried on a frame N, as
shewn in the drawings. The grate M, of this bottom is formed with a projecting
handle O, for the purpose of enabling the attendant from time to time to shake the
said bottom by moving it round upon the centre pivot N', and thereby facilitate the
clearing out of the combustion chamber of the ash of the burnt fuel which by
the shaking action thus produced falls through the open spaces in the said bottom of
the said chamber. The form and construction of this bottom is more particularly
seen in Figure 3, which is a horizontal section and plan on the line a, b, Figures 1
and 2. This moveable bottom which I call a "racking or rocking bottom," rests
upon a fixed frame N, and below it is an ashpan P, in which the ash collects and from
which it may be removed from time to time.
When the improved fire place constituting this Invention is used in the ordinary
manner, that is to say by having the fuel only in the upper chamber C, which rests
upon the fire bars A, then drawn forward, the door J, is opened and either the whole
or a portion of the air for burning the fuel in the chamber C, may pass in through
the mouth-piece L, and up through the chamber D, into the chamber C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
-
1. In fire places, such as kitchen ranges and domestic fire grates, the construction
of the fire chamber so that the said range or fire place may be used either as a slow
combustion stove or as an open fire, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn upon the annexed drawings.
2. In kitchen ranges or other fire places, the arranging of fire bars or grate A, on
slides so that they can be pushed back into a space B. when the range or fire place is
to be used as a slow combustion stove or pulled out from the said space B, to form
the bottom of the chamber C, when the range or fire place is to be used as an open
fire, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
3. The providing of the chamber D, with the mouth piece L, and closing door J,
also with a perforated compound bottom M, and N, as and for the purpose substantially
as herein before described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
Dotal this 6th day of October 1888
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.