An Improved Cinder-sifter suitable for Domestic Fireplaces.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jun., 1898
An Improved Cinder-sifter suitable for Domestic Fireplaces.
I, JOHN KENNEDY, of 7 Skerries Road, Anfield, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Commercial Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a simple and economical contrivance for collecting the
cinders and dust that fall between the fire bars of, say, an ordinary fire-place, and
separating the one from the other without allowing the finer particles of dust to
escape and settle about the fireplace.
According thereto two drawers, arranged one above the other, are supported by a
suitable metal casing adapted to be placed beneath the fire bars and to project some
little distance in front of the front bars. The upper drawer is provided with a
perforated or reticulated bottom and may have tapering sides; and the lower drawer
has a solid bottom and preferably vertical sides. Suitable handles are fixed to each
drawer to enable it to be removed from the casing and replaced therein. The
arrangement is such that cinders and dust falling between the fire-bars when the
fire is disturbed drop first on to the perforated or reticulated bottom of the upper
drawer, which retains the larger cinders, whilst allowing a portion of the fine
cinders and dust to fall through it into the lower drawer. By slightly with-
drawing and quickly replacing the upper drawer a few times the cinders may be
riddled whilst the apparatus is in position under the fire-place and this will also
cause any very fine particles of dust, that would under ordinary circumstances settle
about the fireplace and look untidy, to be carried by the natural draught again into
the fire. The larger cinders will remain in the upper drawer ready for reburning
and the dust or dirt will remain in the lower drawer and can be thrown away at
intervals.
It will be obvious that the cinder-sifter just described can be somewhat modified
whilst retaining those features that are essential.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This Invention consists of a simple and economical contrivance for collecting
the cinders and dust that fall between the fire bars of, say, an ordinary fire-place, and
separating the one from the other, without allowing the finer particles of dust to
escape and settle about the fire-place.
According to this Invention, two drawers are arranged, one above the other,
and supported by a suitable metal casing adapted to be placed beneath the fire
bars, and, in some cases, to project some little distance in front of the fire bars.
The upper drawer is provided with a perforated, reticulated, or grid bottom,
and may have tapering sides; and the lower drawer has a solid bottom and prefer-
ably vertical sides. Suitable handles are fixed to each drawer to enable it to be
removed from the casing, and replaced therein.
The arrangement is such that cinders and dust falling between the fire-bars at
the bottom of the grate, when the fire is disturbed, drop first on to the perforated
or reticulated bottom of the upper drawer, which retains the larger cinders,
whilst allowing a portion of the fine cinders and dust to fall through it into the
lower drawer. By slightly withdrawing, and quickly replacing the upper drawer
a few times, the cinders may be riddled, whilst the apparatus is in position under
the fireplace; and this will also cause any very fine particles of dust, that would
under ordinary circumstances settle about the fire-place and look untidy, or fly
about the room, and settle on the furniture, to be carried by the natural draught
again into the fire. The larger cinders will remain in the upper drawer ready for
reburning; and the dust or dirt will remain in the lower drawer, and can be thrown
away at intervals.
It will be obvious that the cinder sifter just described can be modified as to shape
or form, without departing from those features that are essential.
An apparatus or contrivance, the nature of which is above described, is illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2
a longitudinal section, and Figure 3 a plan of the appliance, which, as shewn, is
constructed and adapted to fit in the space beneath the grate, say, of a kitchen
fire-place, range, or equivalent fire-place. a is the casing, that is the sides and end
of the frame in which the trays referred to fit and work; and b is the front plate of
the casing, which, in the case shewn, is provided with wings at each edge, which fit
against the surrounding surface of the space beneath the grate at each side; while
its upper edge 1 is preferably of angular form, that is, is splayed out upwards,
and gives the front what is called a hoppered" appearance and construction,
for the purpose of guiding cinders and the like, which fall through the front bars
of the grate, into the upper drawer of the contrivance. This front part b, as will
be seen by the drawings, will also stand out some distance from the face of the
fireplace.
The upper drawer which is designated c, has an openwork bottom, which, in
the case shewn, consists of longitudinal bars c', fixed by their ends to the front
and back part of the tray, and it is supported in the casing by a ledge a¹, on the
inside of the side plates of the casing. The lower tray d, is similar to e, except
that its bottom is imperforate, and both it and the drawer c are provided with
handles on the front of them, for pulling them out and pushing them in. The
back plates of the drawers are preferably inclined, as shown.
In action, the case with its drawers being in position under the grate, the
cinders and ash which fall from the grate are first received in the upper grid-
bottom drawer c; and, owing to the shaking which the larger cinders or coal receive
in striking the bottom grid bars c, the dust which they carry is partly shaken off
them, and falls through the grid bars below, through which also the free dust
falling from the fire, passes; the cinders or coal being of course retained in the
upper drawer by and on the grid bottom. Thus the cinders and dust are separated,
and the cinders can be put onto the fire again, direct from the drawer c, when

page_text: taken from its case, or into a cinder receptacle; the drawer having first been pushed
to and fro while in the case, a few times, to shake off any dust that may be lodged
on them.
The lower drawer containing the dust, will, of course, be removed and emptied,
when required.
The parts of the contrivance above described will, in most cases, be made of
sheet iron or steel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described contrivance for separating and collecting cinders and
ashes or dust, which fall from a fire-place grate of the kind referred to; com-
prising upper and lower drawers or trays, the upper one of which has an openwork
or grid bottom; substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus or means, for catching or collecting the ashes and einders which
fall from a fire place, of the kind referred to, the employment in connection there-
with of a drawer or tray having an openwork or grid bottom: for the purposes
specified.
3. The contrivance, for separating and collecting cinders and dust which fall
from fireplace grates, of the kind referred to, consisting of the case a, front b,
upper drawer with grid bottom, and lower drawer d; as shewn in and set
forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of November 1897
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15 Water Street, Liverpool.