Year: 1888

page_text: WILLIAM HENRY MICKLETHWAIT, of Clough Works, Clough Road, Rotherham, in
the County of York, Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
The special features of this invention are the construction and arrangement of the
two Gratings, forming the Front and Bottom of the Fire Box for Cooking Ranges.
The Front grating is moveable, working on a swivel, from pivots at its two upper
corners, which depend from corresponding journals or gudgeons, on the sides of the
Fire Box.
The grating forming the Bottom of the Fire Box is circled in shape, to correspond
with the sweep of the bottom of the moveable front, when working on its pivots.
Attached to the front and bottom gratings or to other convenient part of the range,
there is a Ratchet & Paul arrangement, or other suitable appliance, for fixing the
moveable front in any desired position; such appliance being wrought by means of a
loose lever, or other convenient handle.
By the foregoing arrangement, the capacity of the fire box, may be regulated to any
degree; even while the range is in action; and without disturbing the fire appreci-
ably, or diverting it from acting directly on the bath boiler, when such is attached to
the range.
Thus when it is desired to have the fire box at its fullest capacity, the Front grating
stands in a perpendicular position, as on a range in ordinary use; but when a smaller
fire is wanted, the lower end of the front grating is pushed inwards as far as may be
required, and fixed in position by the stopping appliance.
By this means, the cooking facilities of the range are greatly increased; great
economy of fuel is effected; more complete combustion of the gasses generated is
ensured ; and the emission of smoke is largely diminished.
The same arrangement with modifications to suit the altered conditions, may also be
applied to Grilling Stoves, and other descriptions of fire grates.
Deted the 5th day of Jonuom 1980

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cooking Ranges and other Descriptions of Fire
Grates.
WILLIAM HENRY MICKLETHWAIT of Clough Works, Clough Road, Rotherham in
the County of York, Ironfounder 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 relates to certain improvements in the construction and arrangement
of the Fire boxes of Kitchen Ranges, and other descriptions of fire grate whereby
their capacity may be regulated to any degree, according to the amount or nature of
the cooking to be done; great economy and increased combustion of the fuel is
ensured; and the emission of smoke is largely diminished, as compared with ranges,
and other domestic fires in ordinary use.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly explained, I shall now proceed
to describe the various parts; with their uses, and mode of working same, by reference
to the sheet of drawings which I append hereto; the same letters of reference
indicating the same parts, in the respective figures.
Figure 1 is a front elovation showing my improved fire box, as applied to an
ordinary Leamington range, with the fire door removed.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of same, as at the line A. B. in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the line A. B. in Figure 1, but showing
the Fire box at its smallest capacity, and a Poker inserted in socket H to illustrate the
mode of working the moveable front.
Figure 4 is a plan of my improved fire box, with the fire cover removed.
In these Figures C represents the grating forming the front of fire box, which is
moveable; and swings from pivots D. D. at its two upper corners. E is a moveable
pawl attached to the front grating, which secures same in any desired position, by
falling into the spaces F. F. F. in bottom grating G.
This pawl is self acting if the fire box is being contracted, but when it is being
enlarged, the pawl is relieved by being pressed upwards, either by hand or by a
lever.
i
G represents the grating forming the bottom of the fire box, which is circled in
shape to correspond with the sweep of the grating C. H. is a projection in front of top
of grating C, having a hole passing vertically through its centre, which acts as a socket
for receiving a poker or other lever, which passes through same, and resting against the
small cross bar J, enables the operator to vary the position of the front grating without
effort, and thereby alter the capacity of the fire box as desired.
K. is a bath boiler behind fire, having an arched flue L, underneath, through
which the flame may pass if desired, even when the fire box is reduced to its smallest-
capacity.
In the modification of my invention which I describe and illustrate, the bars of
grating Care shown as being vertical, but this is not essential, and may be horizontal if

page_text: desired. The mode of fixing grating C in position may also be varied, by dispensing
with the pawl E, and substituting for it, one or more fixed projections on bottom
of grating C, which would slip into corresponding recesses in grating G ; or by
having a moveable stopper at the side of, or below the fire, wrought by a handle from
the front of range.
This invention can also be applied to open fire ranges, grilling stoves, and other
descriptions of fire grates, by varying the arrangement to suit the altered conditions.
Having thus 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 arrangement and construction and application to Cooking Ranges, and other
descriptions of Fire Grates, of a Fire Box, whose capacity may be increased or
diminished at pleasure, even while the fire is in operation and without disturbing the
fire appreciably; and the position and intensity of the fire brought under the complete
control of the operator; by means of the moveable front grating working on
pivots D. D; in combination with the circled bottom grating G, all substantially in
the manner, and for the purposes hereinbefore described, and illustrated by my
drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said William Henry Micklethwait, have hereunto, set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty eight.
WILLIAM HENRY MICKLETH WAIT.