Specification of Benjamin Charles Collins : fire grates.

  • Collins, Benjamin Charles.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Benjamin Charles Collins : fire grates. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Collins New Construction of a Grate to be used in or out of a Chimney. the insertion of a receptacle of fuel intended to be burned therein, the same receptacle as in common use and generally known by the name of the grateing or grated part; this space I suppose to be twenty inches wide and three feet four inches high, so that the left and right hand sides of the said front are eight 5 inches wide, the top part of the said front is also eight inches wide crossways; to the inside inner edges of the left and right hand sides of the said front I fix a flat cheek, that is, a flat cheek to each side front; this cheek may be about half an inch thick, or more or less, and solid, excepting in those parts where the air is to draw away after passing through the fire, and those parts 10 must be open according to the degree of draught wanted, and it is best that they should be open from the hearth to within about three inches of the bottom of the grating or receptacle holding the fire, as thereby the atmo¬ spheric air must then descend through the burning fuel to ascend the flues; these cheeks being fixed, I next fix two other cheeks within half an inch of the 15 inner outside edges of the aforesaid side fronts; the second cheeks should be solid and about half an inch thick, more or less, and should be carried up within an inch to the top of the said fronts; this done, I put a strong back, made as other grate backs are, and of any materials preferred, extending in heighth from the hearth to the top of the cheeks, and in width so as to receive 20 and connect or become as a strong back to both pair of cheeks above mentioned; this done, I drill a hole in each left and right handed front, which are now become the fronts of flues according to the principle of my Invention. I also drill other holes in the back opposite to the hole in each front, whereby I may insert in each front a spindle or rod, shewing a small handle or screw on the 25 outside for turning the same; after this I affix to each spindle a thin plate, as an apt regulating stop to the inside of each flue, so that either or both may be occasionally applied to the intent of regulating or stopping the draught of air passing up the same, or if preferred, I apply an apt valve to each flue, regu¬ lating the same by a leaver or screw; this done, 1 insert the grating or recep- 30 tacle, which, being of the same kind as in general use, I do not describe; this grating being fixed at the usual distance from the hearth, I learn what space remains open before the ash-pit; this space I close up either by a stop plate, by sliding doors, or by any other mode preferred,' for by such closing up the common air is prevented passing up the said flues when a strong fire is wanted, 35 but this stop plate, sliding doors, or other mode preferred should be so applied as to move easily and altogether or in part, for thereby the strength of the fire will be the better regulated. Further, I apply, when preferred, a laying door or flat plate after the manner of a common register, with a leaver or screw to raise or depress the same at pleasure; further, where hearths are decayed or