A New or Improved Apparatus for Regulating and Economising the Combustion of Fuel and Regulating the Temperature in Apart- ments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left 15th July 1897-Accented 25th Sent 1897
Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left 15th July 1897 -Accented 25th Sept. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICA
A New or Improved Apparatus for Regulating and Economising the
Combustion of Fuel and Regulating the Temperature in Apart-
ments.
I, JOHN COOPER DOBINSON, of Ellison Street West, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, House and Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention, which is applicable to any open fireplace or stove, relates to an
apparatus placed in the chimney or flue with an aperture for the smoke and other
products of combustion which can be adjusted, as to area, by a slide connected by
mechanism to the interior of the apartment from which it can be fully opened, or
closed to any desired extent, by hand so as to regulate the draught of the fire
and also the temperature of the apartment by increasing or reducing the quantity
of external air entering to support the required increase or reduction of
combustion of fuel in the grate.
In one simple form of construction the apparatus may consist of a frame plate
having in it an aperture proportioned to the size of the fire grate, and furnished
with guides in which slides a flat plate connected by a worm rack with a worm
spindle, the end of which projects into the apartment and is fitted with a small
Land wheel or handle for revolving it. The worm rack on the sliding plate and
the worm spindle are both enclosed in a flat box fitted with a cover to protect them
from, injury and are clear of the chimney opening so as not to prevent it being
swept when required. The sliding plate works through a slot in the front of the
box and is formed with a projecting bead which abuts against the front of the
enclosing box so as to prevent the aperture in the frame plate being entirely
closed and always to provide for an adequate area of opening to support com-
bustion of the fuel and allow for the escape of the smoke and other products.
By revolving the worm spindle in one direction or the other, the sliding plate
opens or closes the aperture to any required extent thus regulating the combus-
tion of fuel by the increased or reduced quantity of air passing into the grate
by the draught of the chimney and at the same time increasing or reducing
the quantity of external air entering the apartment in sufficient quantity to the
requirements of the fire so causing an equality of temperature throughout the
anartment and also effecting economy of fuel by the adjustment of the draught of
the chimney to the needs of the fire and the heat required from it in the apartment.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Regulating and Economising the
Combustion of Fuel and Regulating the Temperature in Apart -
ments.
I, JOHN COOPER DOBINSON, of Ellison Street West, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, House and Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention, which is applicable to any open fireplace or stove, relates to an
apparatus placed in the chimney or flue with an aperture for the smoke and other
products of combustion which can be adjusted, as to area, by a slide connected by
mechanism to the interior of the apartment from which it can be fully opened, or
closed to any desired extent, by hand so as to regulate the draught of the fire
and also the temperature of the apartment by increasing or reducing the quantity
of external air entering to support the required increase or reduction
combustion of fuel in the grate.
of
In one simple form of construction the apparatus may consist of a frame plate
having in it an aperture proportioned to the size of the fire grate, and furnished
with guides in which slides a flat plate connected by a worm rack with a worm
spindle, the end of which projects into the apartment and is fitted with a small
hand wheel or handle for revolving it. The worm rack on the sliding plate and
the worm spindle are both enclosed in a flat box fitted with a cover to protect them
from injury and are clear of the chimney opening so as not to prevent it being
swept when required. The sliding plate works through a slot in the front of the
box and is formed with a projecting bead which abuts against the front of the
enclosing box so as to prevent the aperture in the frame plate being entirely
closed and always to provide for an adequate area of opening to support com-
bustion of the fuel and allow for the escape of the smoke and other products.
By revolving the worm spindle in one direction or the other, the sliding plate
opens or closes the aperture to any required extent thus regulating the combus
tion of fuel by the increased or reduced quantity of air passing into the grate by
the draught of the chimney and at the same time increasing or reucing the
quantity of external air entering the apartment in sufficient quantity to the
requirements of the fire so causing an equality of temperature throughout the
apartment and also effecting economy of fuel by the adjustment of the draught of
the chimney to the needs of the fire and the heat required from it in the apartment.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet I illustrate my invention as I propose to carry it
into practical application as to general construction and mode of operation.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on centre line, Fig. 2 a sectional plan and Fig. 3
a front view of the apparatus as applied to the chimney breast above the mantel,
and Figs. 4 and 5 shew it to a reduced scale as applied to the front plate of a fire
place or stove immediately above the fire grate. The Figs. are not shewn to any
exact scale but are in proportion as to the sizes of the apparatus which will vary
according to the size of fireplace to which it is to be fitted; for instance Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, shew it of the largest size, and Figs. 4 and 5 of the smallest size according
to circumstances but the general construction and principle of its operation will
be the same.
The same letters of reference apply to similar parts on all the Figs. where such
parts occur.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, A. is a moulded frame inserted
into a cavity provided in the brickwork, the front being "flush" with the face of

page_text: the plaster of the room and closed at the front by a plate B. which is removable
when required to give access to the interior. Within the frame A. is inserted the
flue plate C. and a flat box D. fitted with a cover D¹ to exclude soot or dirt. With-
in this box and working through the front of it upon the flue plate C. slides the
plate E. opening to a regulated extent, or, when the fire is not in use, entirely
closing the aperture of the flue in the plate C. The flue plate C., the flat box D.,
and the sliding plate E. are all so inserted in the cavity of the chimney that they
can be withdrawn for examination, cleaning, or repairs, without removing the
moulded frame A. The sliding plate E. is operated by a worm rack F. formed
upon or rivetted to it into which works a worm F¹ within the box D. fixed at
both ends, the front end extending through the removable plate B. where it is
fitted with a small hand wheel G. by turning which in one direction or the other
the aperture of the flue is either closed or opened to any desired extent according
to the requirements of the fire as to the quantity of air for combustion which
requirements also regulate the admission of external air into the room and so
keep the temperature equal, without fitting special adjustable ventilators for the
admission of external air, which unless properly attended to supply more air to
the fuel than is required for its economical combustion and so cause a waste.
In order to prevent the flue aperture being entirely closed or so nearly closed as
to choke the fire and send the smoke and gases back into the room, I provide in a
vertical flange E¹ on the sliding plate E. adjustable screws H. which abut against
the front of the box D. and so regulate the minimum area of the aperture.
In cases where the apparatus may require to be placed at such a position as not
to be conveniently within reach for regulating the sliding plate E. such regulation
may be effected by fitting upon the end of the worm spindle F¹, instead of the
hand wheel G., a sprocket wheel, actuated by a chain to right or left' so as to
revolve the worm in either direction, said chain passing over guide sheaves and
hanging down to a convenient height from the floor.
When the fire is not required, as in summer, the flue may be entirely closed if
desired by the sliding plate E. by screwing back the adjusting screws H. in the
flange E
The parts of the apparatus will be preferably cast of "stove metal" for lightness,
strength, and cheapness, but they may be partly castings and partly of wrought
iron plates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The new or improved apparatus for the purposes aforesaid comprising the
following or equivalent parts in combination, viz. a fixed frame A., à removable
plate B., a flue plate C. on which is a box D). with a cover D', a sliding plate E.
having a worm rack F. formed upon or rivetted to it, by which a worm being
revolved in one or other direction causes it to open or close the aperture in the
flue plate with adjusting screws H. in the flange E¹ of the sliding plate E. to
regulate the extent of travel so as to prevent the aperture being entirely closed,
the whole combined, constructed, and operating substantially as described and
shewn, fitted into the chimney breast in any suitable position above the mantel,
or to the front plate of the stove, or in any other position in which the sliding
adjustable plate will operate to regulate the area of the flue aperture to the
requirements of combustion of the fire and the temperature of the room by the
quantity of atmospheric air entering to supply the fire.
Dated this 15th dow of Tul.. 100%