US575847A - Fireplace-furnace - Google Patents

Description

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D. .MGDONALD FIRBPLAGB FURNApE.

No. 575,847. .Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

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No Model.) 3 sheetsesheet 2; D; :MGDONALD FIRBPLAGB FURNAGB. v No. 575,841 V,Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

. ffiy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD MCDONALD, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FIREPLACE-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,847, dated January 26, 1897. Application flied June 9, 1896. Serial No. 594,813. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD McDoNALD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fireplace-Furnaces,of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to improvements in the construction of fireplace-grams; and the primary object of my invention is to give to such a grate the function of an air-heating furnace by the general construction to that end hereinafter set forth.

Fireplace-grates as hitherto constructed havealways, so far as I am aware, been objectionable in use for the reason that they consume an undue amount of fuel, while throwing comparatively little heat into the room, and because they canse the discharge into the room of more or less of the products of combustion, which vitiate the atmosphere. In carrying out my invention I provide a fireplace air-heating furnace to be employed more particularly in burning hydrocarbon gas, either natural or manufactured, and of the construction more especially known to the trade as portable fireplaces, by means of which the above-cited objections to former fireplace-grates are entirely overcome and which provides ample and economical ventilation for the room and presents all the attractiveness in use of an open fireplace.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of my improved fireplace-furnace; Fig. 2, a broken sectional view showing the furnace in position in a fireplace, the section being taken on line 2 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a sectional view of an improved gas-burner which I employ, the section being taken on line 3 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, an enlarged section taken on line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken end portion of the gas- .inlet valve; Fig. G, an end view of the same;

Fig. 7, a section taken on line 7 of Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Figs. 8 and 9 sections taken, respectively, 011 lines 8 and 9 of Fig. 2 and viewed as indicated by the arrows.

` As before stated, I prefer to provide my improvements in the form of a portable fireplace for the reason that such a construction forms a device complete in itself which may be shipped intact and placed in a chimneyrecess without the necessity of mounting any of the parts in the brickwork.

The outer shell of the portable fireplacefurnace comprises a front A, sides A A', a top A2, and a back A3.. The front A is formed with the pilasters tt, upper cross-piece t', a 6o adapted to close tightly against the front and 65 render the joints about them substantially gas-tight. l

Y The doors may be of any fanciful design and adapted to receive mica sheets B, which thus render the front transparent throughout 7o a large part of its extent.

Fitting into the opening below the crossbar 153, between the pilasters, is a face-plate A4, formed of open-work, as shown, for the free passage through it of air. bar t2 and cross-piece 15 is the discharge-opening r, and fastened upon the cross-piece and extending outward and downward across the opening r is a hood A5. In the cross plate or bar t3 is a series of draft-openings t4.

C is a gas-burner which works upon the principle of the burner described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 525,665, granted to me September 4, 1894, but of an improved construction, adapting it particularly for use in the present connection. The burner comprises a shell or chamber C', formed, preferably, in two sections q q', fitting closely together at the joint q2'. The chamber is of a length about equal to that of the 9o pla te or bar t3. Along its rear side the chamber is enlarged and may describe the segment of a circle, as shown in Fig. 2. At its forward end the chamber is open, and there fits against the rear side of the Extending centrally through the enlarged part of the chamber C' is a pipe or burner D, provided in its upper side with a series of gasoutlets or burner-openings p, and just above the said pipe, in the top plate q of the chamtoo ber C', is a series of openings g3, registering in position with the openings 1o, and somewhat larger than the latter. The lower part q of the shell or chamber C is provided at its under Between the plate or barts.

side, midway between its ends, with a chainbered otfset C2, provided with an opening Q4 in its forward side. A branch D of the pipe D extends from the center of the latter through the opening g4 to a `point just beyond the front of the offset C2.

D2 is a gas-supply head communicating with a gas-supply pipe X. The head D2 comprises a lower tubular portion n, provided with a cock n', and upper horizontally-extending tubular portion n2 at its inner end fitting upon the pipe D and open at its outer end, anda small gas-outlet head or chamber n2 in the chamber n2, having a dischargeopening n4 and, in line therewith, a threaded opening p5. The part n2 extends through an openingin the lower face-plate AJX of the front, \Vorking in the threaded opening a5 is a regulatingscrew D2, having the threaded-shank portion m, reduced neck portion nr, and head m2. The head m2 fits the gas-discharge open ing n4 and is provided around its circumference with a series of tapering discharge-passages m3. The part n3 is of less diameter than the mouth of the pipe DI, leaving an annular port n about the port n4 for the passage of air, which enters through the chamber n2 to mix with the gas discharged through the port n4. Upon the threaded shank m of the regulating-screw is a Valve-disk m4, which may be screwed to or away from the end of the chamber n2 to close the latter or open it to the extent desired.

Fitting the mouth of the chamber C, behind the bar or plate t2, is a sliding grid or damper C3, having openings through it to register with the openings 4, and having an operating-handle Z, passing through a slot 'L5 in the plate or bar t2. In operating the burner described the gas is turned on at the cock n. the handle of which may for convenience be at the front of the face-plate A4, as shown. The gas passes into the chamber n2 and escapes through the port 014. Air to mingle with the gas and produce the desired burning mixture enters through the chamber n2 and escapes into the pipe D' through the annular port oti. Air to support combustion enters through the openings t4 to the chamber C' and escapes with the other products of combustion through the openings q2. The object of this construction is to facilitate adjustment of the moving parts for gases of Varying heating capacity and of varyingpressures, so that perfect combustion may always take place and the minimum amount of gas consistent with the heat desired may be employed.

To prod ucc the best results and obtain perfeet combustion and the maximum amount of heat from the gas, it is necessary that the flow of the burning mixture to the pipe or tube D shall be regulated according to the heating capacity and pressure of the gas. The adjusting-screw D3 with the distributerhead m2, constructed as described, affords means for regulating the flow of gas into the pipe or mixing-chamber D and divides the supply into two or more streams, thereby effecting a more intimate mixture With the air entering at the port @t6 than could be obtained were the gas to enter through a single opening. Turning of the screw D3 to move the head m2 to the right in Fig. 3 enlarges the gasoutlets, while movement of the screw to the left in that figure reduces the outlets. Besides .separating the inowing gas into two or more streams, as described, the adj listing-screw affords a very satisfactory means for regulating the supply. When once adjusted, the screw neednotnecessarilybedisturbed. Thevalve or disk m'l may be turned to regulate the inflow of air to the chamber n2 and mixingchamber DQ so that enough and no more air may enter than is desirable to produce a burning mixture which will give the best results. The iniow of air to the draft-chamber C/ through the openings t may be regulated with great exactn ess by means of the sliding damper C2, so that enough but no more air than is required to supply combustion may enter.

E is the combustion-chamber, of which the burner C forms the base, and having a back plate 7s, side plates 7c c, and a top plate 7a2. The side and top plates lit closely against the front A, and the back plate at its lower end fits closely against the burner C, so that the joints are substantially gas-tight. In the top plate 7a2 is a longitudinal outlet-opening k2, extending nearly the full length of the chamber E. In the chamber is an inclined plate E, which is preferably provided with an asbestes facing` 7a4. The outlet-ports q2 of the draft-chamber C open into the combustionchamber E at the base of the asbestos facing.

Fastened upon the top plate 7a2 and extending` longitudinally thereof in the space between the plates 7a2 A2 is the section t' of a flue, which carries off the products of combustion. In the section t' is an opening t', which registers with the opening k3 in the plate 7a2. The line-section e' connects at opposite ends with vertical flue-sections h h, extending in the spaces between the side walls 7o of the combustion-chamber and the side walls Al of the casing. The flue-sections h at their lower ends connect with a horizontal flue-section h', which extends below the burner C. Communicating with the flue-section 72.', at the back and center thereof, is a flue-section h2, communicating with a vertical tine-section h2, extending upward along the outer side of the wall A2 and terminating near the top of said wall in an outlet h4. Extending from the center of the flue-section 1l to the upper end portion of the Hue-section h3 is a short directdraft section jt", provided With a damper t2. This damper is upon a stem t2, passing transversel y through the flue-section i and through the opening r into the hood A5, where it carries a handle i4. By turning the handle 4 the damper 2 maybe opened or tightly closed. The back A3 ofthe casing is cnt away below the flue-section h2, leaving an openingf.

IOO

IIO

As before stated, all the air necessary to supply combustion enters the draft-chamber C through the valved openings t, and when the gas is ignited at the burner-openings p the flame rises through the openings Q? and 4 la s against the asbestos facing 7a4 causing D D 7 the latter to glow and present an attractive appearance. Owing to the presence of the substantially gastight doors B B,the products of combustion are prevented from vescaping into the room, and they fill the combustionchamber E both at the front and rear sides of the inclined wall E' and escape to the fluesection i through the opening or slot k3 t. Vhen the fire is first started,the handle i4 may be turned to open the direct draft to the chimney and the damper may be left open until the chimney is heated and the draft established, after which the handle should be turned to close the direct-draft damper. The

. products of combustion ilowinginto the fluesection t will then pass in equal proportions downward through the vertical flue-sections h into the flue-section h' and thence through the flue-sections h2 h3 to the outlet h4. The air of the room will pass through the openings in the face-plate A4 and rise across the sides and. back of the combustion-chamber, flowing out through the opening r.

In setting the fireplace-furnace into a chimney-recess like that,l for example, illustrated in the drawings, the gas-supply pipe X may extend down through the ash-chute, usually pro- Vvided, or in any other suitable direction, and

the opening h4 may be provided with a short collar to extend into the chimney-flue, leaving ample space around it for ventilation. It is desirable in all cases to provide a collar at the opening h4 to prevent soot or other substance falling down the chimney-Hue from entering and clogging the flue-section h3. The space between the wall or back A3 and adjacent chimney-wall forms a Ventilating-passage G, communicating with the chamber below the burner, through the opening f, and leading to the chimney-flue.

When the furnace is in operation, the air entering through the open face-plate A4 first strikes the hue-section 7L', thence rises, as before stated, about the flue-sections 7L and along the wall k and lastly strikes the fluesection t'. Thus the passage of the air is in the direction opposite to the flow of the products of combustion, and as the heat is absorbed from the flues by the air-current the cold air as it first enters strikes the cooler portion of the ue and in its progress meets a gradually -increasing temperature, reaching the maximum heat at the fine-sections t' just before escaping into the room through the openingr. The hood A5, besides being an ornament to the furnace, operates as a defiector for the hot air, which, being given an initial downward course, is driven far out into the room. I

The products of combustion in passing through the flue-sections travel such an extended course that all bnt'a small fraction of the heat thereof is absorbed'by the air circulating aroundthe Walls of the chamber E and flues. As a consequence the products of combustion escaping through the outlet h4 contain relatively little heat, in fact no more than is necessary to keep up a substantial draft through the chimney-flue. Ventilation of the room is kept up by a constant discharge of air through the lower part of the fireplace upward through the passage G, and as the air is taken from the floor of the rooln but a small proportion of heat is wasted. This mode of Ventilating is much more economical than is the case Where (as in other fireplaces) the air passes `over the fire and out through the chimney. Owing to the transparent gastight combustion-chamber front which I provide, my improved furnace presents all the attractiveness in use of an open-front gasgrate, with none of the attendant objectionable features of the latter. In my improved construction a large volume of air is taken from the floor of the room and after absorbing substantially all of the generated heat is discharged back into the room without any of the unhealthy products of combustion being mixed therewith. The fines t' h h may be corrugated, if desired, to increase their heatingsurfaces. The transparent front, besides preventing the escape of products of combustion to the room, prevents the air of the roomfroin mingling with the hot products of combustion to increase the quantity and lower the temperature thereof and greatly increase, as it would, the amount of heat escaping to the chimney.

XVhile I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown and described, the construction may be modified in the matter of details without departing from the spirit of my invention as Vdelined by the claims, and although for various reasons the best results in a furnace of this kind are'obi tained by employing hydrocarbon gas for the fuel a liquid burner or support for solid fuel may be substituted for the gas-burner without changing the general construction of the fireplace, which gives to it the function of an air-heating furnace.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A furnace adapted for location within a fireplace-opening and to cover the same, and provided with-a front having an opening and a transparent closure therefor, and provided also with an air-inlet at its base and an airoutlet near its top and also with air-openings below said closure, an approximately gastight combustion-chamber, having for its front wall said transparent closure, a draftchamber communicating with said air-openings and having a burner therein, a circuitons passage for the products of combustion leading from the combustion-chamber, and a passage for air extending from the said inlet upward and around the combustion-chamber IOO IIO

and the circuitous passage for the products and terminating in the discharge-outlet, substantially as described.

2. `A fireplace-furnace adapted to be set with its front alone exposed and having in combination a combustion-chamber rendered approximately gas-tight by a transparent closure, a passage for the products of combustion leading from said combustion-chamber, a draft-chamber below said combustionchamber and having valved openings for air, a burner within said draft-chamber, and a passage for air having an inlet in the base of the furnace and extending upward and around the sides and rear of said combustionchamber, and the passage for the products of combustion but have no connection therewith, and having a discharge-outlet immediately above said chamber and in the front of the furnace, substantially as described.

3. In a fireplace-furnace, a front having an air-inlet at its lower end and an air-discharge outlet at its upper end, and an opening intermediate thereof, controlled by a transparent approximately gas-tight closure, a com bustion-chamber havin g for its front wall the said closure, a draft-chamber below said combustion-chamber having valved openings for the admission of air, a burner in said draft-chamber, a passage for the products of combustion leading from said combustionchamber downwardly at each side of the latter, and thence upwardly at the rear thereof, and a passage for air extending from said inlet upward and around the said combustionchamber, and the passage for the products of combustion and terminating in the dischargeoutlet, substantially as described.

4. A iireplace-furnace adapted to be set with its front alone exposed and having in combination a combustionchamber rendered approximately gas-tight by a transparent closure, an inclined wall in the combustionchamber having an asbestos facing, a draftchamber below said combustion-chamber having valved openings for the admission of air, a hydrocarbon-burner in said chamber, a passage for the products of combustion leading` from said combustion-chamber, and a passage for air having an inlet in the base of the furnace and extending upward and around the sides and rear of said combustionchamber, and the passage for the products of combustion buthavin g no connection therewith, and having a discharge-outlet immediately above said combustion-chamber and in the front of the furnace, substantially as described.

5. A fireplace-furnace adapted to be set with its front alone exposed and having in combination a combustion-chamber rendered approximately gas-tight by a transparent closure, a draft-chamber adjacent to and below said combustion-chamber and having outlets qf to said combustion-chamber and an airinlet located in the furnace-front and provided with a damper, a burnertube in the draft-chamber having outlets p registering with the outlets g3, a mixing-chamber communicating with the burner-tube, an airsupply tube for said mixing-chamber, a gassupply pipe leading to the mixing-chamber and means for controlling the gas-supply and Athe air-supply, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DONALD MGDONALD.

In presence of- Trios. W. KENNEDY, WM. H. CRUTOHER.

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