AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING FUEL FOR COMBUSTION, THE COAL OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL BEING SUPPLIED UNDERNEATH · THE BURNING COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL, WHEREBY ECONOMY IS EFFECTED IN ITS COMBUSTION.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Orozier Sibbald Moore, Lieut. Royal
Engineers, of Portland, in the County of Dorset, England, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING FUEL FOR COMBUSTION,
THE COAL OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL BEING SUPPLIED UNDERNEATH ·
THE BURNING COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL, WHEREBY ECONOMY IS EFFECTED IN
ITS COMBUSTION.'
"
Sealed the 2nd June 1874, and dated the 6th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Crozier
Sibbald Moore at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 6th December 1878.
I, EDWARD OROZIER SIBBALD MOORE, Lieut. Royal Engineers, of
Portland, in the County of Dorset, England, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for “AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING FUEL
FOR COMBUSTION, THE COAL OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL BEING SUPPLIED
UNDERNEATH THE BURNING COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL, WHEREBY ECONOMY IS
EFFECTED IN ITS COMBUSTION," to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to a new or improved system or method of

page_text: supplying fuel for combustion in domestic or other fire-grates, or in
cooking ranges, furnaces, or other fire-places.
The improved system consists in supplying fresh fuel underneath that
which has been previously supplied to the fire-place whilst that firstly
supplied is in a state of incandescence, by which method the smoke and
unconsumed gases arising from the imperfect combustion of the fuel
lastly supplied are caused to pass through the live fire of that firstly
supplied, and are thus completely consumed before ascending the
chimney.
In order to carry my said system into practical effect I proceed as 1
follows:-
The coals firstly supplied whilst in a state of combustion are retained
in the fire-place upon a grating or series of bottom bars carried by a
cradle which is capable of being lowered and raised between side vertical
guide rails by chains or cords passing round pullies or secured to an axle, 1
which has motion imparted to it for the purpose by a handle fixed on its
outer end, but which motion can be controlled as desired by a paul and
ratchet wheel, the latter being placed on the said axle.
When necessary to add fresh fuel, and in order to do so according to
my improved system, I run a slide along horizontal guide rails from the 2
back or side of the fire-place underneath the live fuel firstly supplied,
and between it and the grating upon which it rests, so as to retain the
live fuel in position, the said slide receiving its motion by similar means to
that employed for actuating the cradle, or by any other equivalent means.
I then cause the cradle and grating to descend between the vertical guide 2
rails, and when in the lowest position I feed fresh fuel on to the grating
through an opening which at other times is or may be closed by a shutter
turning on hinges and secured at such times by a catch. I then cause
the cradle and grating carrying the fresh fuel thereon to ascend, and
when the said fresh fuel touches the under surface of the slide retaining 8
the incandescent fuel I withdraw the same, so that the incandescent fuel
then rests on the fresh fuel, the gases arising from the combustion of
which are completely consumed in passing through the incandescent fuel
resting on its top, and further, my said improved system effects a con-
siderable diminution in the consumption of fuel required.
The air is introduced to the hot-air chamber and in the rear of the
grate by means of pipes in communication with the external air, zinc

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Crozier Sibbald Moore in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
CROZIER SIBBALD MOORE, Lieut. Royal Engineers, of Portland, in the
County of Dorset, England, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year of.
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Orozier Sibbald Moore, Her
special licence that I, the said Edward Crozier Sibbald Moore, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward Crozier Sibbald Moore, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING FUEL FOR COM-
BUSTION, THE COAL OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL BEING SUPPLIED UNDERNEATH
THE BURNING COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL, WHEREBY ECONOMY IS EFFECTED IN ITS
COMBUSTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Crozier Sibbald Moore, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Edward Crozier Sibbald Moore, 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

page_text: in and by the following statement in writing, and on reference being
had to the accompanying five Sheets of Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to a new or improved system or method of
supplying fuel for combustion in domestic and other fire-grates, and in
cooking ranges and furnaces, and all descriptions of boilers, both
stationary and locomotive, and other fire-places, and the Invention also
consists in the means hereafter described in the various modifications of
carrying the said system into practice.
The said improved system consists in lighting a fire in the ordinary
way, and when necessary to supply fresh fuel thereto.-1. In retaining
the incandescent fuel in the position it occupied during the process of its
combustion by sliding thereunder between it and the grating (or part
thereof) a false bottom plate or slide upon which the said incandescent
fuel then rests; and 2, in lowering the said grating (or part thereof) to a
sufficient depth; and 3, in supplying thereonto the fresh fuel through a :
doorway at other times closed by a door flap or shutter; and 4, in raising
the said grating (or part thereof) together with the fresh fuel resting
thereon up to its former position; and 5, in then withdrawing the said
false bottom plate so as to allow the said incandescent fuel to rest upon
and ignite that freshly supplied, by the adoption of which system the
smoke and other unconsumed gases arising from the combustion of the
fuel lastly supplied are caused to ascend and pass through the live fire
of that firstly supplied (that is the said incandescent fuel) and are thus
completely consumed before ascending the chimney or smoke flue, so
that the consumption of fuel is considerably diminished.
The said Invention is illustrated in various modifications of its
application or adaptation in Figures 1 to 81 on Sheets 1 to 5 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In Figures 1-to 7, Sheet 1, and in Figures 8 to 14, Sheets 2 and 8,
the Invention is illustrated as applied or adapted to ordinary grates
without hobs.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the grate; Figure 2, a plan;
Figure 8, a longitudinal section; Figure 4, a transverse section; Figure 5,
a side elevation, shewing the cradle (2); Figure 6, a transverse section
of the slide (10); and Figure 7, a half plan thereof. These Figures are
drawn to a scale of four inches to the foot,

page_text: Figure 8 represents a front elevation of the grate; Figure 9, a sectional
plan showing half the bottom removed; Figure 10, a transverse section
shewing the false bottom (10) resting on the slides (27), and the flap
(14) turned down so as to introduce fresh fuel on to the lowered grate
(1); Figure 11, a plan of the bottom or slide (10); Figure 12, an
elevation of additional side plates (28) which are fitted to the grate
(the original sides being removed) and are made with grooves (29), in
which the cradle (2) rises and falls; Figure 13, a section thereof; and
Figure 14, a section on A, B, Figure 9, shewing the lever (21) and pawl
and ratchet (26) by which the height of the grate (1) can be adjusted.
as required. These Figures are drawn to a scale of six inches to the
foot.
In Figures 15 to 19, Sheets 3 and 4, the Invention is illustrated as
applied or adapted to an ordinary cooking stove.
Figure 15 represents a front elevation of the cooking stove; Figure
a transverse section; Figure 17, a detached view of the rack (80) and
pinion or toothed wheel (31); Figure 18, a plan of the slide (10); and
Figure 19, an illustration of the rivetting hereafter described; Figures
15, 16, and 18 are drawn to a scale of three inches to the foot; Figure 17
O is drawn full size, and Figure 19 is an enlarged view.
In Figures 20 to 28, Sheet 4, the Invention is illustrated as applied or
adapted to a portable engine.
Figure 20 represents a section on C, D, Figure 28%; Figure 21, a
section on E, F; Figure 22, a side elevation; Figure 28, a sectional
5 plan; Figure 24, an end elevation; Figure 25, a plan of the cradle (2)
and grating (1); Figure 26, a section of the same on G, H; Figure 27,
a section on I, J, thereof; Figure 28, a plan view of the bottom of the
slide (10); Figures 20 to 24, and Figures 27 and 28 are drawn to a scale
of one inch to the foot, and Figures 25 and 26 are drawn to a scale of
0 two inches to the foot.
And in Figures 29 to 81, Sheet 5, the Invention is illustrated as
applied or adapted to the circular boiler of a shunting locomotive (but
from these illustrations it will be seen that the Invention is equally
applicable or adaptable to all kinds of boilers, both stationary and

page_text: Figure 29 represents a longitudinal section; Figure 80, end elevations;
and Figure 31, transverse sections. These Figures are drawn to a scale
of one inch to the foot.
In Figures 1 to 7 the said movable grating (or series of bottom bars)
1 is carried by a cradle 2, which is capable of being lowered and raised 5
between side vertical guide rails 8 by cords or chains 4 passing round
pullies 5 and secured to an axle 6, which has motion imparted to it for
the purpose by a handle 7, fitted on its outer end, but which motion can
be controlled as desired by a pawl 8 and ratchet wheel 9, the latter being
placed on the axle 6 so as to prevent the grate 1 running down. The 1
said slide or false bottom plate 10 which is run on wheels 35 along
horizontal guide rails 11 from the back or side of the fire-place is
actuated by cords or chains 12 passing round pullies 13 and secured to
an axle 18, to which a handle 19 is secured. The said doorway or
opening 34 is or may be closed by a door flap or shutter 14 turning on 1
pivots or hinges 15, and secured when closed and retained in the
positions required by a pawl or catch 16. In all modifications side
supports 27 or rails 11 are provided for the said slide 10.
(Air is or may be introduced to a hot-air chamber 17, and in rear of
the grate by means of pipes in communication with the external air, 2
zinc pipes may then lead it just inside the mantlepiece (for a domestic
fire-grate) on each side and a few feet up, for which purpose a groove
may be made in the plaster.)
In Figures 8 to 14 the grating 1 and cradle 2 are actuated by a system
of levers 20 coupled and arranged as shewn on each side of the grate, 2
the motion being obtained from the movement of a lever handle 21, and
communicated to the levers 20 by means of a bar 22 running along the
front of the grate (if, however, the grate had hobs the levers 20 might
with advantage be arranged under them). 23 represent openings or
doorways (fitted with removable doors or covers 24) made in the front 8
plate 25, and through which the lever mechanism may be got at for
repairs or re-arrangement, &c., without necessitating the removal of the
grate. 26 represents a pawl and ratchet by which the lever handle 21
is controlled.
In Figures 15 to 19 the cradle 2 is dispensed with, and the grating 8
1 is secured (by a screw pin and rivets as shown) to a racked bar 30,
which is in gear with a toothed wheel 31, actuated by a handle 32, and

page_text: controlled by a pawl 86 to prevent the grate running (down. At 87, on
each side of the rack, a piece of bar iron is secured to the horizontal
bars by being shouldered and rivetted to them so as to serve as guides
for the rack, see Figure 19. At 28 the new sides are shewn, their upper
3 surfaces 27 forming the said horizontal slides on which the slide 10
rests.
In Figures 20 to 28 the cradle 2 is again used, and it and the grating
1 are actuated by bevil gearing 38 and worm rods 39, the shafts 40
carrying the said bevil gearing being carried by bearings 41 attached to
the locomotive or boiler frame. In lieu of using the pawl 16 as above
mentioned to secure and retain the door 15, the same objects may be
obtained by the use of an ordinary latch 46. In this and the following
modification the slide 10 is toothed at its under surface, see Figure 28,
and is actuated by bevil gearing 42, rods 48, toothed pinions 44, and a
¡ handle 45.
And in Figures 29 to 31 the cradle 2 and grating 1, or a central end
part thereof, is actuated by similar means 38, 39, 40, and 41, to those
immediately above described; one or more screw rods 39 may be used.
These Figures, and those illustrating the previous modification, are so
comprehensive and explicit as not to need or require further explanation
or description, and are intended to serve principally as illustrations of
the means, methods, or modifications in which I can adopt the principle
and principal parts of my Invention to the furnaces, fire-places, and
boilers of locomotive, stationary, and other steam engines or machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, together with the manner in which the
same is to be or may be-performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the above
described improved system or method of supplying fuel for combustion,
and the above described means, methods, or modifications of carrying
the same into practice and applying or adapting it to the uses specified
and to others of similar natures or requirements, substantially as
described and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings; at the
same time I would also remark that I more particularly claim to effect
the carrying of my said system into practice, the application and use of
a downward and upward movable grating (or series of bottom bars) on to
which the fresh fuel is fed when in its lowest position, and of a slide

page_text: capable of movement either sideways or frontways, on which, while the
said grating is being lowered and raised the incandescent fuel rests and
is retained in position, and also of a flap, doorway, or shutter fitted to
an opening through which, when the said movable grating is in its lowest
position, the fuel is fed thereonto.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Crozier Sibbald Moore,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
fane