An Improved Log Gas Fire.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 5th Nov.. 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
WILLIAM EDGAR GRAHAM and FRANK HAYWARD BIDDLE Engineers and
Contractors both of 461 and 463 Oxford Street London W. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been customary to make gas fires representing logs of wood so
that a mixture of gas and air was burnt, in order to give out the necessary heat, by
our invention we are able to burn pure gas, and in order to do so we construct
imitation logs of wood of a specially prepared asbestos composition, and of suitable
size. The interior of the logs is divided up into separate cells or divisions and so
arranged that the gas passes through them in succession by doing this explosions
are prevented when the fire is first lighted and a great economy is effected in the
consumption of the gas.
Dated this 4th day of February 1895.
WILLIAM EDGAR GRAHAM..
FRANK HAYWARD BIDDLE..
An Improved Log Gas Fire.
WILLIAM EDGAR GRAHAM Engineer and Contractor 461 and 463 Oxford
Street London FRANK HAYWARD BIDDLE Engineer and Contractor 461 and
463 Oxford Street Londou 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 relates to improvements in gas fires to burn in the ordinary grate
or upon dogs in an open hearth.
Hitherto it has been customary when using gas fires for the purpose of warming
rooms, to use a mixture of gas and air, after the principle of Bunsen, or else to
use pure gas and collect the products of combustion through a single or set of
condensing tubes.
By our invention we use pure gas and we are able to dispense with the condensing
tubes and also with the Bunsen burner or burners.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
:-
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section through the log fire at A, B.
Fig. 2. is a cross section on line C. D.
Fig. 3. is a cross section on line F. G.
Fig. 4. is a detail view of the interior.
The gas fire consists of a flat sheet of asbestos or other non-conducting cloth or
board, about 4 feet 6 inches by 2 feet (or other suitable size) bent so as to form
three separate compartments Fig. 4, H, H 1, H 2, these are again divided off by
other pieces of asbestos board M, M, M, into other compartments or cells J, J, J,
and these latter cells are packed quite tightly with silicate cotton, asbestos fibre or
other suitable substance shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: Three pieces of wrought iron tube K, K, K, are inserted connecting these
chambers and allowing the gas to pass from one to another.
The outside of the cylinders H, H1, H2, are covered over with a composition
of asbestos, silicate cotton and cement, or other pliable material L, L, L, this is
moulded and worked up into shape so as to represent logs of wood, and is afterwards
coloured in natural shades, the ends of the cylinders are closed, and coloured in a
similar manner.
A great number of small holes about a sixtieth part of an inch
in diameter are then pierced through the material L, L, L, and through the front
of the cylinders of asbestos cloth H1, H2, thus allowing the gas to pass.
Small sprigs of flake asbestos are cemented to the front of the logs in several
places, this when the gas is lighted gives the appearance of small burning chips
of wood.
The fire can be made with one, two or any number of logs or compartments, and
each log may be placed in any irregular position, which does not in any way
interfere with the action of the fire.
There are two principle reasons for packing the various logs or compartments
with asbestos or silicate cotton;
1st. The heat is reflected outwards into the room and away from the back and
useless part of the fire.
2ndly. It does away with the explosion that would inevitably occur when the
gas was first turned on, as the cylinders have considerable cubical contents and
were they not packed, the gas at ordinary pressure would take about a minute to
fill the cylinders, and during the process of filling there would be a moment when
the gas and residual air had combined in such proportions as to form a dangerous
mixture which would cause an explosion.
When the fire is first lighted the material L, L, L, gradually becomes heated
and causes the gas passing through the cylinders H, H1, H2, to also become
heated by conduction, and the gas before being consumed is expanded to many
times its volume and the fire is therefore extremely economical.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
An imitation log gas fire burning pure gas, consisting of one or more cylinders of
non-combustible material H, H1, H2, dividing partitions M, M, M, packed with
silicate cotton or other non-conductive substance, (the divisions and packing being
for the purpose of heating and expanding the gas and for other reasons as
explained), iron tubes K, K, K, and outer covering L, L, L, the said log gas fire
being absolutely non-explosive and economical, giving enormous heat without
vitiating the surrounding atmosphere, always retaining the appearance of logs of
wood, the said imitation log gas fire being adapted for fitting into any kind of
grate or to burn upon an open hearth substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
WILLIAM EDGAR GRAHAM.
FRANK HAYWARD BIDDLE.