Year: 1887

page_text: I JAMES LOGAN LOBLEY of 22 Vicarage Villas, Willesden, London, N.W., F.G.S.,
Science Lecturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is intended :-(1) to economise the heat of coal-fires by lessening its
waste; (2) to consume smoke and so improve the atmosphere of towns or manu-
facturing localities; and (3) to increase the size, brightness, and incandescent surface
of sitting-room fires without increase of fuel.
The invention consists in the placing and adjustment of a layer or pile of asbestos
or other non-combustible heat-radiating substance or substances immediately over a
coal-fire, or, in the case of furnaces, stoves, or cooking ranges, in the path of the heat
or flames.
For ordinary domestic fire-grates, the layer or pile of the non-combustible material
is contained in a holder of a size and shape fitted to cover, more or less, the receptacle
for fuel in the grate.
The bottom of the holder is formed by open bars or ribs, and its sides (also of open
bars) are low, but higher at the back than the front, while the top is entirely open.
The holder is made of iron, steel, fire-clay, or other refractory material; and it is
sustained at one end by a strong vertical rod, or upright round bar of iron, working
in a tube or part of a tube, or in rings (either an original part of the grate or attached
to it) in such a way that the holder may be swung or moved forwards or backwards
for its removal from a position over the fire and its replacement, in the manner of an
ordinary trivit. The holder is made to swing at different elevations to clear the fuel
at any time put in the grate.
The holder may be fixed with its bottom level, or with an inclination downwards
from back to front.
The non-combustible contents of the holder are sufficiently loosely or openly
arranged and placed for the draught not to be obstructed, and for air and flame to
pass freely through.
When a fire is about to be laid in the grate the holder is swung forwards, and the
grate is then clear for the wood and coals to be placed in it in the usual manner.
The holder is then put back into position, that is over the contents of the grate.
D
027

page_text: When the fire is lighted much smoke is at first produced. This ascends and passes
into the layer or pile of incombustible material in the holder above, and part of the
carbon is deposited there, thus lessening the amount of smoke passing through the
Alue and discharging from the chimney-top. On the flames arising, this deposited
carbon or soot is burnt away, and the contents of the holder restored to their natural
colour, and then gradually heated to incandescence while radiating heat that would
otherwise pass away up the chimney and be wasted. The incandescent non-
combustible material then consumes smoke rising from the fire below while passing
through it, and thus a clear bright fire with little or no smoke is the result, and the
heat given to the room is greatly increased by the continuous radiation of heat from a
larger amount of hot and incandescent surface.
Whenever it is desired to add fuel to the fire, the holder is swung forward, and
coals or wood thrown on the fire in the ordinary way, after which the holder is again
placed in position.
A special fire-iron for swinging the holder forwards and backwards is provided.
In the case of Furnaces, Stoves, or Cooking-ranges, in which the draught is hori-
zontal or oblique, the non-combustible material is contained in a holder or frame
placed in the Hue at right angles with the course of the draught, and having its front
and back formed of open bars, so that the heat and flame pass readily through while
the contents of the holder. are retained in a position across their course.
The Fire-improver is readily attachable to all existing coal fire-grates, and can be
easily fitted in the flue of any furnace, stove; or cooking-range.

page_text: I JAMES LOGAN LOBLEY of 22 Vicarage Villas, Willesden, in the County of
Middlesex, Science Lecturer 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 :-
This invention is intended to economise the heat of coal-fires by lessening its
waste; to consume smoke and so to improve the atmosphere of towns or manu-
facturing localities; and to increase the size, brightness and incandescent surface of
sitting room fires.
The invention consists in the placing and adjustment of a layer, pile, or arrange-
ment, of asbestos, or other non-combustible heat-radiating substance or substances,
over a coal fire, or in the case of furnaces, stoves, baking-ovens, or cooking-ranges, in
the path of the smoke, heat, or flames.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the invention adapted to an ordinary domestic
fire-grate.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 4, is an elevation of the invention adapted for a furnaco flue.
Fig. 5, is a sectional plan of the same taken on a line marked ey in Fig. 4.
Similar letters denote like parts.
For ordinary domestic open fire-grates, the non-combustible material is contained
in a holder A, of a size and shape fitted to cover approximately the basket or receptacle
in the grate for fuel. The bottom of the holder is formed by open bars or ribs, B,
and its sides, also of open bars C, aro low, and of equal or unequal height back and
front.
The holder is made of iron, steel, fire-clay, or other refractory material, and is
sustained over the fire, and made removable from that position, for supplying fuel to
the grate, by a vertical metal rod, or upright round bar, D, working in a tube, or
part of a tube, or in rings, E, in such a way that the holder may be swung, or moved
backwards and forwards in the manner of an ordinary trivet; the bar being fixed at
different elevations by a screw, or by the insertion of a peg, F, in holes or perfora-
tions, G, along its length; or for convenience of elevating and lowering the holder,
by a rack-work arrangement of toothed bar and pinion, in which case the holder
would be made to swing on the head of the vertical bar; or by runners at each side
of the fire, or over it, on which the holder rests and slides; or by any other con-
venient method. The holder may be fixed so that its bottom may be horizontal or
level, or it may be adjusted to have an inclination from back to front or from front to
back. The tube, rings &c., to hold the vertical rod for the support of the holder may
be either an original part of the grate or be attachable to it by being fastened on the
front bars, H.

page_text: The non-combustible contents of the holder, I, are sufficiently loosely or openly
arranged and placed for the draught not to be obstructed, and for the heated air
current and flame to pass through.
In the case of a swinging holder, when a fire is about to be laid in the grate, and
also when fuel has to be added to the fire, the holder is swung forwards and the grate
is then clear for the wood and coals to be placed in it in the usual manner. The
holder is then put back into position, that is, over the contents of the grate. When
the fire is lighted much smoke is soon produced, and rises from the fuel for a con-
siderable time. This ascends and passes into the layer or arrangement of incom-
bustible material in the holder above, and part of the carbon is deposited there, thus
lessening the amount of smoke passing through the flue and discharging from the
chimney top. On the flames arising and entering the holder, carbon or soot deposited
on its contents is burnt away, and the incomibustible material, arresting part of the
heat passing upwards, becomes hot and radiates heat that would otherwise pass up the
chimney and be wasted.
When the fire is sufficient to make the non-combustible material incandescent,
smoke passing through it will be consumed and a clear bright fire with little or no
smoke will be the result, while the size of the fire will be enlarged, and the heat given
to the room will be greatly increased by the continuous radiation of heat from the
additional highly heated surface. When the fire is not sufficient to produce incan-
descence, a plate or shield, K, of polished metal or other ornamental material gives
bright and pleasing appearance, and at any time the holder may be elevated sufficiently
to allow of the top of the fire being exposed to view.
23
In the case of Furnaces, Stoves, Baking-ovens, or Cooking-ranges, in which the
draught is horizontal or oblique, the non-combustible material is contained and
arranged in a holder or frame, A, placed at right angles with the course of the
draught, and having its front and back formed of open bars, B, so that the heat and
flames may pass through, while the contents of the holder, 1, are retained in a position
across their path.
The fire-improver for domestic purposes is readily attachable to all ordinary fire-
grates at present fixed and in use; and for furnaces, stoves, baking-ovens, or cooking-
ranges, can be easily fitted in the most effective positions.
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 :
The utilization, application, and arrangement of non combustible and heat-radiating
material for (1) the arrestment and radiation of heat, and the arrestment and con-
sumption of smoke, which pass from an open coal-fire to a flue or chimney; and (2)
the arrestment and consumption of smoke which passes from a furnace or stove to a
flue or chimney..