US1370348A - Heating device for open fireplaces - Google Patents

Description

` l. S. NICHOLS. HEKT-F evlcz Foa OPEN FmEPLAcEs.

Patentd Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Moe Mtoz s. mcHoiLs. HEATING DEVICE FOR OPEN FIREPLACES "mamon mtu Juni 1. me.'

@wwwa um'rlslo STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. NICHOLS, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA., ASSIGNOR'TO NIC-HEATER CORPORATION, 0F ATLANTA., GEORGIA, A. CORPORATION 0F GEORGIA.

HEATING DEVICE FOR OIEN FIB'EELACES.

Specieat'on of Letters'patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application led June 7, 1919. SerialY No. 302,456.

To all whom itmag/fooacem:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and` useful Improvements in Heating Devices for Open Fireplaces, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to heating devices for rooms, apartments and the like and particularly to an o en grate heater, Vand the primary object o the invention isto provide a heating device of the class specied adapted to bereadily arranged in a re place and in operation having a relatively high heating eiiiciency.

A further object of the invention is toV provide a novel structure embodying means for utilizing the heat of the products of combustion which are caused to. circulate or to pass therethrough to a smoke outlet or chimney from a grate, and to so expose the heat conducting components of the improved heating device as to practically heat a room or apartment with material economy in the use Vof fuel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heating means of the class speciied arranged for the circulation of products of combustion and gases from a grate therethrough and to prevent burning paper and other material that may be carried upV toward the chimney or smoke outlet from passing into the latter and thereby preventing ignition of soot or other deposits within the chimney. With these andlother objectsY and advantages, the invention consists in certain improvements embodying the construction and arrangement ofV parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings V Figure l is a frontV elevation oi. a. fire place showing the improved open grate heater mounted therein. y

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through a portion of a fire place and chimney and the improved open rate heater.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are etail viewsV of different parts of the improved heater.

Fig. 7 is a section on the' line 7-7, Fig.

8, showing a modification of a part ofthe heater. Y

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Figi) is a horizontal section of a portion ofV the modified structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8 taken in the plane of the line 9 9, Fig. 8, and particularly illustrating a heat damper or cut-off.

The open grate heater embodying the featuresfof the invention obviate certain disadvantages found to exist in using the common form kof open grate heaters and fire places, by avoiding principally the escape of smoke and gases intoV the room or apart-V ment where itis installed. The improved heater also rovides means for eiciently controlling the combustion of the fuel and the utilization of the products of combustion by radiation of the heat thereof as a heating means instead of allowing such products to immediately pass off into the. chimney or smoke outlet. The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, llont it will be Y understoodfthat it is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent parts are contemplated and will loe included within the scope of the claims.

The improved Vopen grateheater comprises a frame 5 which is arranged around the fire place as particularly shown by Fig. 1 and is provided with a cross har 6 a short dis` tance below the top for a purposeV which will he hereinaftervexplained, and also with a basket grate 7 held within the fire place 8, and connertedto the lower portion of the frameat a suitable distance abovethe base of the fireplace inY any preferred manner.

The grate 7 is particularly constructed to Y reduce the charge of fuel necessary to fillYV theV same relatively to that required to lill theordinary form of basket grate and to provide for lateral draft through the fuel charge in o posite directions, as Well as vertically .an amore complete consumption of the fuel and aeonsequent economy in the use thereofV with` a comparatively greater heating eiuciency relatively to a given amount of fuel. To adapt the improved grate to the advantageous services specilied, it is formed with a central substantially triangular recess 9 opening through the front, bottom and rear parts thereof, said recess being formed by providing upwardly converging side grate bar sections 10 intersectingn the usual front vertical and bottom horizontal sections 11 and 12 of the grate. It will be seen that this recess 9 and the converging disposition of the grate bars as explained exposes the charge of fuel at the center for draft purposes or entrance of the air thereinto. Y Y

The heat radiating organizationof the improved structure comprises a main inclosure 13 which in the main is of box-like form and provided with a rear step or vertical extension 14 of less width than the main inclosure; the said main inclosure 13 being secured to the frame 5 VoverV the cross bar 6, the upper or top portion of the vertical eX- tension 14 terminatingv coincidentally with Ythe top of the opening ofV the lire place which communicates as usual with an upper smoke flue orchimney 15 having a rear ledge 16 on which is secured the rear end of a baille plate 17. This baille plateextcnds upwardly and outwardly across the'opening 18 between the extension 14 and the lower main inclosure 13 and rests on the bar 6 and has therein an opening 19 to permit the circulation ot the products of combustion vfrom the lire place into the improved heating'device. It will beA observed that the baiie plate 17 closes the rc place at the point where it extends thereover and prevents the products of combustion from passing fromthe grate upwardly into the chimney or smoke Yflue 17 The main inclosure 13 at theY top and in advance of the extension 14 is formed with a to J slot 21 having a surrounding 'opstanding flange 22, and in the form of the 1m roved heating device as particularly shown lby Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a radiating elbow 23 comprising a rear comparatively short member 24 and an outer longer member 25 is applied on the inclosure and extension. The outer longer member 25 of this radiating elbow 23 is open at the bottom and of such dimensions as to lit over and frictionally engage the flange 22 ina manner similar to the application oa stove pipe to a heating or cooking stove' and the lower end of the shorter member 24 is in like manner open and is provided with a wire gauze screen 26 extending full length and width thereof,V the lower open end of the shorter member 24 being fitted over an elongated slot or opening' 27 in the top of the extension 14 and whereby ,circulatingr communication for the products of combustion is established lbe'ttfeen Vthelower main inclosure 13 and the topfof the extension of Vtherlatter. TheA wire gauze partition or covering26 prevents the passageI of burning paper or similar material into the chimney or smoke flue 17 and thereby prevents ignition of the deposits in the said chimney or smoke liuc, and also emission of burning products of combustion from the top oi' the chimney. The radiating elbow 23 andthe main inclosure 13stand out into the apartment a. suitable distance beyond the front of the fire place Yabove the grate as shown particularly in Fig. 2 and the said elbow is preferably formed of sheet metal and continuous with such jointures of the parts thereof as may be necessary'to produce the same in the form shown and described. The short mem.-Y

ber 24 of this elbow also has a damper 24 thereinrto regulate communication of the el bow with the extension. Y Y

As a slight modification of ythe elbow 23 of continuous form, openings :or slots 2 1V and 27 respectively of the main inclosure 13 and extension l14 thereof may be replaced by a plurality oi circular openings 2S as a series of separate Yelbovvrppes 29 are proV vided and connectedv to the openings 28.Y

and at a Vsuitalple distance below vthe openings 28 in the top of the extension 14, a suitable slide damper 30 is mounted and controls communication of the separate pipes 29 with the saidV main inclosure in a'malnner similar to the damper 24F, heretofore described. n the modified structure the bafie late is used as in the first forni descri ed and is in all respects similar in construction thereto.Y t will be understood that all of the dempers are operable from the exterior of the drum and elbows.

In the operation of the improved heating device or attachment, the damper or slide between either the continuous sheet metal radiating elbow 23 or the modified structure oi the latter consisting of the series oi pipes 29 which also provides radiatingr elbow means is vopenedV and the products of combustion including the heated gasesV risc from the `grate 7 and pass into the rear open side of the main inclosure 1.3 and then upwardly through the opening or slot 21 or through the plurality of openings 28 in the modified structure, as the case may be, into either the elbow 23 or the Vseries of pipes 29 andthen into the top or upper side Yot' the extension 14 and thenceto and Yout-` VVwardly through the chimney or smokeiflue 17. The said main inclosure and the elbow means are heated by the circulation of theV products of combustion therethrough and the heat therefrom is radiated intothe apartment with material advantages asV a heating meansandwhereby the heat unitsof the:

fuel inthe grate may be more fully and practically utilized.

ies

VY.At iany time the dampers between the lower `.or main inclonemers sare 13 and the extension 14 may be regulated to control the circulation or passage of the products of combustion through the continuous elbow 23 or the elbow means comprising the series of pipes 29, and as heretofore explained, the wire gauze in the lower open end of the short member 24 of the elbow Q3 will check or stopthe passage of burning paper or other portions of the products of combustion into the chimney or smoke ilue 17 and will thereby prevent them from passing out ot the chimney in a ilaming condition and avoiding tires by protecting roofs against engagement by such flaming products of combustion. The improved heating device as a whole may be readily applied in operative position. The baiiie plate 17 in addition to serving as a partition means to exclude the direct passage of the products of combustion into the escape chimney or smoke flue will serve at times as a deliector to throw the heated air back or downwardly and out through the open portion of the fire place above the grate. All the parts of the improved device may be readily installed in operative position at a comparatively small expense, particularly when considered in a comparative sense relatively to the more complete utilization of the heat units of a given amount or charge of fuel deposited in the grate. The upper radiating elbow or elbow means is -materially advantageous in heating the air adjacent thereto as the air may readily circulate between the front and rear portions thereof and become thoroughly heated.

It will be understood that the proportions, dimensions and minor details of the several parts of the heatingr attachment may be modified to adapt the same for application to ire places of different dimensions and form without in the least modifying the function of the components of the heating device or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a heating device of the class specified, the combination with an open iire place having a chimney or escape passage and grate, of a battle plate secured therein above the grate and extending outwardly beyond the front thereof to shut oli direct communication with the chimney, a main heating inclosure projected outwardly from the upper part of the fire place and open at the rear and having an inner vertical extension closed to the lower main body ot the main inclosure by the baii'le plate which extends thereinto, elbow heat radiating means connected to the outer top portion of the drum and the top of the extension, and damper means between the outer portion of the drum and the elbow heat radiating means. 2. A. heating device for application to an openfireplace aboveaa grate, consistingor` tension being'separated from the main inclosure, elbow heat radiating means for circulation of they productsl of combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the main beating inclosure and extending over and connected to the top of the said extension, and means for controlling communication between the main inclosure and the extension.

3. A heating device for application to an open fire place above a grate, consisting of a main inclosure with an inner vertical extension, the inclosure and extension being open at the rear, elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the inclosure and to the top of the extension, a bafie plate extending into and separating the extension from the inclosure, and damper means between the elbow heat radiating means and the outer portion or the inclosure.

4. A heating device for application to an open lire place above a grate, consisting of a main inclosure with an extension at the inner part thereof extending above the top ofthe inclosure and providing an angular step construction, the inclosure and eXtension being fully open at the rear side and the opening being also primarily continuous with respect to the two parts, the extension being separated from the inclosure, elbow heat radiating means applied at one terminal to the top of the inclosure and extending upwardly and directed over Vand connected to the top of the extension for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough from the inclosure to the top of the extension, the part of the elbow heat a main: heating inclosure with aninner ver-1Y tical extensionY ofV less width than the ria-ainV inclosure, the main inclosure and its enten--V sion being fully open at the rear, the ex-'f radiating means connected to the top of the extension having a wire gauze screen between the same and the extension, and means for controlling communication between the inclosure and the elbow means.

5. A heating device for application to an open iireplace above a grate, consisting of a main inclosure disposed horizontally and of 'substantial rectangular shape and extending horizontally across the upper portion of the fireplace, the said inclosure being provided with an inner vertical extension and the inclosure and extension being primarily fully open at the rear, and elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the main inclosure and to the top of the extension, a space betension and the adjacent part of the elbow heat radiating means and also through said. In testimony whereof I have hreunto set latter means, the part of the ebow heat radimy hand in presence of two subscribing 10 ating mans connected 1to thl top of tlzlhe exwitnesses. v Y Y tension avingaoontro i am er t erein, 1 5 and a. balli@V plate extenciilli` olitwgrdly from JAMES S NILHOLS the fireplace into the mam inclosure and Witnesses: cutting of? communication between Vthe said H. EVAN SCOGING, main mclosure and the extension. N. F. RIUHARDSON.

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