IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEYS AND FLUES OF HOUSES, AND IN STOVES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH, WHEREBY BETTER DRAFT WILL BE OBTAINED, CONSUMPTION OF FUEL WILL BE DIMINISHED, SMOKE, FOG, AND NIGHT DAMP WILL BE PREVENTED FROM ENTERING APARTMENTS, MORE WARMTH WILL BE THROWN OUT, AND WHEREBY FIRE IN THE CHIMNEY CAN BE READILY EXTINGUISHED
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, of Wells
Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CHIMNEYS AND FLUES OF HOUSES, AND IN STOVES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH,
WHEREBY BETTER DRAFT WILL BE OBTAINED, CONSUMPTION OF FUEL WILL BE
DIMINISHED, SMOKE, FOG, AND NIGHT DAMP WILL BE PREVENTED FROM ENTERING
APARTMENTS, MORE WARMTH WILL BE THROWN OUT, AND WHEREBY FIRE IN THE
CHIMNEY CAN BE READILY EXTINGUISHED."
Sealed the 27th June 1854, and dated the 7th January 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Bernhard Baron.
Von Rathen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,, with his
Petition, on the 7th January 1854.
I, ANTHONY BERNHARD BARON VON RATHEN, of Wells Street, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEYS AND FLUES OF HOUSES, AND IN STOVES TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREWITH, WHEREBY BETTER DRAFT WILL BE OBTAINED, CONSUMPTION OF FUEL WILL,
BE DIMINISHED, SMOKE, FOG, AND NIGHT DAMP WILL BE PREVENTED FROM ENTERING
APARTMENTS, MORE WARMTH WILL BE THROWN OUT, AND WHEREBY FIRE IN THE
CHIMNEY CAN BE READILY EXTINGUISHED," to be as follows:-
My Invention in chimneys consists in placing an iron case directly over the
fire place at the commencement of the chimney or flue. The form of the
case is shown at A, Figure 1, or the case may be fitted inside with plates as
shewn at Figures 4 and 5. A proportionate opening from the case A is left to
conduct the smoke to an iron tube B (proportionate to the dimensions of the
'

page_text: fire-place), fitted up in the flues, and which may ascend any height, or may be
conducted to the top of the chimney, which latter method I prefer. The case
and the plates I intend to construct of corrugated iron. If the flues of
several fires should run into one another, separate tubes must be fitted to each
fire-place. I have a valve C, sliding or otherwise, as shewn in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, fitted to the opening at the top of the case A, in such a manner that
it may be wholly or partly closed by turning the drum D, shewn at Figure 2.
This valve may be used to prevent fog or damp entering rooms. A spring a
opens the valve as soon as the drum-is-released. .I have also a valve E, fitted
to a collar at the top of the chimney in any convenient manner, but so that
it can be closed by turning a drum F, fitted in the room, as shewn at Figure 1.
If the drum is released, a spring or weight at the top opens the valve like that
on the top of the box A.
If a fire should occur in the chimney, it can be instantly extinguished by
closing both the valves upon the case and at the top of the chimney. If more
than one fire place has flues in the same chimney, of course the valves over
the boxes must all be closed. I propose to use, or not, according to circum-
stances and localities, means to protect the sides of the case and the whole
apparatus or tubes inside the flues from refrigeration, by an outside casing of
sheet iron, felt, or other material. The sliding valve over the case may serve
also to regulate the opening according to the extent of the fire, &c.
Figures 4 and 5 show a square case A, of a different construction, and furnished
inside with moveable plates G, which can be removed when the box requires
cleaning. Over the plates G is another contrivance of V shaped plates H, H,
with narrow openings, through which the smoke must pass to enter the tubes
shewn by red lines.
Figures 6 and 7 represent a fire plate which I propose to screw to the back
plate of the grate, to improve the combustion] of fuel by the issue of air
through the small openings left between the bars 6 of the plate, the air
ascending from the ash-pit into the spaces left behind the bars, which are
covered at the top.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, Her special licence that
I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron
Von Rathen, my 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, usc,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CHIMNEY AND FLUES OF HOUSES, AND IN STOVES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH,
WHEREBY BETTER DRAFT WILL BE OBTAINED, CONSUMPTION OF FUEL WILL BE
DIMINISHED, SMOKE, FOG, AND NIGHT DAMP WILL BE PREVENTED PROM ENTERING
APARTMENTS, MORE WARMTH WILL BE THROWN OUT, AND WHEREBY FIRE IN THE
CHIMNEYS CAN BE READILY EXTINGUISHED," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Anthony Bernard Baron Von Rathen, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 I, the said Anthony Bernhard Baron Von Rathen,
do hereby declare the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:
My Invention consists, first, in improvements in the construction of stoves
and fire-places; second, in a mode of feeding or supplying stoves and fire-places
with fuel; and third, in improvements in chimneys and flues.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed shews a front elevation of a stove or
fire-place constructed according to the first part of my Invention. The fire-
bars A, A, are arranged so as to slope downwards from each side to the centre
part of the grate, where they are horizontal. The back and sides of the grate
are formed of plates B, which are cast with slots or openings through them,
as shewn in the elevation and section, Figures 2 and 3; and behind these
plates a space is left, as shewn by the dotted lines, communicating with the
ashpif, through which space air is admitted to the fire through the slots or open-

page_text: ings in the plates B, so as to effect a more perfect combustion of fuel and
consumption of smoke. This fire-place is fed or supplied with fuel by throw-
ing it on by hand in the usual way. Figure 4 is a front elevation of a fire-
place or stove constructed according to the second part of my Invention. The
fire-grate is composed of the two inclined sets of bars A, A, which are sup-
plied with fuel from the box or casing C, C, constructed beneath the grate.
This box has a moveable bottom or piston D, which is raised by turning the
handle E of the pinion F, which gears into the rack G, attached to the bottom.
of the piston D. The rack G is steadied by the guide a, which works in a
groove in the back of the rack, as shewn in Figure 5, which is a section
at b, b. A tongue or click is. used for retaining the rack in any position to
which it may be raised. The back and sides of the grate are formed of slotted
plates B, with a hollow space behind them communicating with the ashpit, as
shown in Figure 6, which is a plan in section on the line c, c, of Figure 4.
Figure 7 shews the improvements in chimneys or flues, which constituto
the third part of my Invention. These improvements consist in removing the
cover or register over the fire-place, and in fitting a conical case or chamber
H, open at the bottom, immediately over the fire-place, and just inside and at
the lower part of the chimney. The case may be made of cast-iron, and corru-
gated inside. At the top of this case an opening I, is left, which communicates
with an iron tube K, fitted up in the chimney, through which the vapours and
colorless smoke ascend into the chimney. The dimensions of the tube K,
and the opening I, in the conical case, are made proportionate to the dimen-
sions of the fire-place. The height to which the tube K ascends in the
The ob-
chimney will depend upon the locality and the option of the user.
jects of the Invention, to save fuel, to have the heat reflected from the conical
case, and to retain any soot that may be formed within it, may be effected to a
great extent by making the tubes ascend only about three to six feet up the
chimney, and leaving the upper part of the chimney unaltered. But in fire-
places fitted up in the upper floors of houses, to prevent gusts of wind from
beating the smoke into the rooms, and in cases where expense is no object, it
is much preferable to have the tubes fitted up to the top of the chimney. A
throttle valve L is fitted in the tube K, just over the opening from the conical
case, and a handle is provided for working the valve. At the top of the
chimucy the tube K may be furnished with a cowl or hood for the exit of
the smoke, and another throttle valve M may be fitted, which can be opened
or closed by turning the drum N, fitted up in any convenient place, a cord
passing from the drum over a pulley on the axis of the valve M. A spring
or weight may be made to open the valve M when the drum is released.

page_text: Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 9 a plan, of a conical chamber
and tubes similar to those shewn in Fig. 7, but having a different arrange-
ment of the valve L, which is made in this case to slide instead of turning on
a centre as in Figure 7.
The valves L and M, which can both be closed or opened in the apartment,
would, in the event of a fire in the chimney, supply the means for suffocating
or extinguishing it.
If the flues of more than one fire-place open into the same chimney, the
tubes of such flues must be led into the chimney, and continued upwards for
about three to six feet, and the opening at the top must be sufficiently large
for the smoke coming from all the flues.
The objects which I attain by the several parts of my Invention are, the
burning of smoke and soot by the more perfect combustion of the fuel;
in fuel, with the production of greater warmth and comfort; the pre-
vention of smoke or night damps entering the apartments; doing away with
the necessity for chimney sweeping; and safety against fire in chimneys.
economy
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
Invention is,
First, the construction of the grates of stoves and fire-places with perforated
plates at the back and sides for the admission of air to the fire, as herein-
before shewn and described.
Second, the mode of feeding stoves and fire-places from beneath, as herein-
before described.
And, third, the construction of chimneys and flues, with a case or chamber
over the fire-place or fire-places in connection therewith, and tubes leading
from such case or chamber, in the manner before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Baron Von Rathen, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
ANTHONY BERNHARD BARON VON KATHEN. (L.8.)