——Theonlyquestionthereforeis,howfaritshouldbebroughtforward?——Theanswerisshort,andeasytobeunderstood;——bringitforwardasfaraspossible,withoutdiminishingtoomuchthepassagewhichmustbeleftforthesmoke。Nowasthispassage,which,initsnarrowestpart,IhavecalledtheTHROATOFTHE
CHIMNEY,ought,forreasonswhicharefullyexplainedintheforegoingChapter,tobeimmediately,orperpendicularlyovertheFire,itisevidentthatthebackoftheChimneymustalwaysbebuiltperfectlyupright——Todeterminethereforetheplaceforthenewback,orhowfarpreciselyitoughttobebroughtforward,nothingmoreisnecessarythantoascertainhowwidethethroatoftheChimneyoughttobeleft,orwhatspacemustbeleft,betweenthetopofthebreastoftheChimney,wheretheuprightcanaloftheChimneybegins,andthenewbackoftheFire-placecarriedupperpendicularlytothatheight。
InthecourseofmynumerousexperimentsuponChimnies,Ihavetakenmuchpainstodeterminethewidthpropertobegiventothispassage,andIhavefound,that,whenthebackoftheFire-placeisofaproperwidth,thebestwidthforthethroatofaChimney,whentheChimneyandtheFire-placeareattheusualformandsize,isFOURINCHES——Threeinchesmightsometimesanswer,especiallywheretheFire-placeisverysmall,andtheChimneygood,andwellsituated:butasitisalwaysofmuchimportancetopreventthoseaccidentalpuffsofsmokewhicharesometimesthrownintoroomsbythecarelessnessofservantsinputtingonsuddenlytoomanycoalsatonceuponthefire,andasIfoundtheseaccidentssometimeshappenedwhenthethroatsofChimneysweremadeverynarrow,Ifoundthat,uponthewhole,allcircumstancesbeingwellconsidered,andadvantagesanddisadvantagescomparedandbalanced,FOURINCHESisthebestwidththatcanbegiventothethroatofachimney;andthis,whethertheFire-placebedestinedtoburnwood,coals,turf,oranyotherfuelcommonlyusedforheatingroomsbyanopenfire。
InFire-placesdestinedforheatingverylargehalls,andwhereverygreatfiresarekeptup,thethroatoftheChimneymay,ifitshouldbethoughtnecessary,bemadefourinchesandanhalf,orfiveincheswide;——butIhavefrequentlymadeFire-placesforhallswhichhaveansweredperfectlywellwherethethroatsoftheChimnieshavenotbeenwiderthanfourinches。
Itmayperhapsappearextraordinary,uponthefirstviewofthematter,thatFire-placesofsuchdifferentsizesshouldallrequirethethroatoftheChimneytobeofthesamewidth;butwhenitisconsideredthattheCAPACITYofthethroatofaChimneydoesnotdependonitswidthalone,butonitswidthandLENGTHtakentogether;andthatinlargeFire-places,thewidthoftheback,andconsequentlythelengthofthethroatoftheChimney,isgreaterthaninthosewhicharesmaller,thisdifficultyvanishes。
AndthisleadsustoconsideranotherimportantpointrespectingopenFire-places,andthatis,thewidthwhichitwill,ineachcase,bepropertogivetotheback——InFire-placesastheyarenowcommonlyconstructed,thebackisofequalwidthwiththeopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;——butthisconstructionisfaultyontwoaccounts——First,inaFire-place,soconstructed,thesidesoftheFire-place,orCOVINGS,astheyarecalled,areparalleltoeachother,andconsequentlyill-contrivedtothrowoutintotheroomtheheattheyreceivefromthefireintheformofrays;——andsecondly,thelargeopencornerswhichareformedbymakingthebackaswideastheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontoccasioneddiesofwind,whichfrequentlydisturbthefire,andembarrassthesmokeinitsascentinsuchamannerasoftentobringitintotheroom——BoththesedefectsmaybeentirelyremediedbydiminishingthewidthofthebackoftheFire-place——
Thewidthwhich,inmostcases,itwillbebesttogiveit,isONETHIRDofthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront——Butitisnotabsolutelynecessarytoconformrigorouslytothisdecision,norwillitalwaysbepossible——ItwillfrequentlyhappenthatthebackofaChimneymustbemadewiderthan,accordingtotheruleheregiven,itoughttobe——Thismaybe,eithertoaccommodatetheFire-placetoastove,whichbeingalreadyonhand,must,toavoidtheexpenseofpurchasinganewone,beemployed;orforotherreasons;——andanysmalldeviationfromthegeneralrulewillbeattendedwithnoconsiderableinconvenience——Itwillalwaysbebest,however,toconformtoitasfarascircumstanceswillallow。
WhereaChimneyisdesignedforwarmingaroomofamiddlingsize,andwherethethicknessofthewalloftheChimneyinfront,measuredfromthefrontofthemantletothebreastoftheChimney,isnineinches,IshouldsetofffourinchesmoreforthewidthofthethroatoftheChimney,which,supposingthebackoftheChimneytobebuiltupright,asitalwaysoughttobe,willgivethirteeninchesforthedepthoftheFire-place,measureduponthehearth,fromtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront,totheback——Inthiscasethirteenincheswouldbeagoodsizeforthewidthoftheback;andthreetimesthirteeninches,orthirty-nineinches,forthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;andtheanglemadebythebackoftheFire-placeandthesidesofit,orcovings,wouldbejust135
degrees,whichisthebestpositiontheycanhaveforthrowingheatintotheroom。
ButIwillsupposethatinalteringsuchaChimneyitisfoundnecessary,inordertoaccommodatetheFire-placetoagrateorstovealreadyonhand,tomaketheFire-placesixteenincheswide——Inthatcase,Ishouldmerelyincreasethewidthoftheback,tothedimensionsrequired,withoutalteringthedepthoftheChimney,orincreasingthewidthoftheopeningoftheChimneyinfront——Thecovings,itistrue,wouldbesomewhatreducedintheirwidth,bythisalteration;andtheirpositionwithrespecttotheplaneofthebackoftheChimneywouldbealittlechanged;butthesealterationswouldproducenobadeffectsofanyconsiderableconsequence,andwouldbemuchlesslikelytoinjuretheFire-place,thananattempttobringtheproportionsofitspartsnearertothestandard,byincreasingthedepthoftheChimney,andthewidthofitsopeninginfront;——orthananattempttopreservethatparticularobliquityofthecovingswhichisrecommendedasthebest,135degrees,
byincreasingthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-place,withoutincreasingitsdepth。
Inordertoillustratethissubjectmorefully,wewillsupposeonecasemore——WewillsupposethatintheChimneywhichistobealtered,thewidthoftheFire-placeinfrontiseitherwiderornarrowerthanitoughttobe,inorderthatthedifferentpartsoftheFire-place,afteritisaltered,maybeoftheproperdimensions。Inthiscase,IshoulddeterminethedepthoftheFire-place,andthewidthofthebackofit,withoutanyregardtothewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront;
andwhenthisisdone,iftheopeningofFire-placeshouldbeonlytwoorthreeinchestoowide,thatistosay,onlytwoorthreeincheswiderthanisnecessaryinorderthatthecovingsmaybebroughtintotheirproperpositionwithrespecttotheback,Ishouldnotalterthewidthofthisopening,butshouldaccommodatethecovingstothiswidth,byincreasingtheirbreadth,andincreasingtheangletheymakewiththebackoftheFire-place;butiftheopeningoftheFire-placeshouldbemorethanthreeinchestoowide;——Ishouldreduceittotheproperwidthbyslipsofstone,orbybricksandmortar。
WhenthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-place,infront,isverygreat,comparedwiththedepthoftheFire-place,andwiththewidthoftheback,thecovingsinthatcasebeingverywide,andconsequentlyveryoblique,andtheFire-placeveryshallow,anysuddenmotionoftheairinfrontoftheFire-place,thatmotion,forinstance,whichwouldbeoccasionedbytheclothesofawomanpassinghastilybeforethefire,andverynearit,
wouldbeapttocauseeddiesintheair,WITHINTHEOPENINGOF
THEFIRE-PLACE,bywhichpuffsofsmokemighteasilybebroughtintotheroom。ShouldtheopeningoftheChimneybetoonarrow,whichhoweverwillveryseldombefoundtobethecase,itwill,ingeneral,beadvisabletoletitremainasitis,andtoaccommodatethecovingstoit,rathertoattempttoincreaseitswidth,whichwouldbeattendedwithagooddealoftrouble,andprobablyaconsiderableexpence。
Fromallthathasbeensaiditisevident,thatthepointsofthegreatestimportance,andwhichoughtmostparticularlytobeattendedto,inalteringFire-placesupontheprincipleshererecommended,are,thebringingforwardthebacktoitsproperplace,andmakingitofaproperwidth——ButitistimethatI
shouldmentionanothermatteruponwhichitisprobablethatmyreaderisalreadyimpatienttoreceiveinformation——ProvisionmustbemadeforthepassageoftheChimney-sweeperuptheChimney——Thismayeasilybedoneinthefollowingmanner:——
InbuildingupthenewbackoftheFire-place;whenthiswall,whichneedneverbemorethanthewidthofasinglebrickinthickness,isbroughtupsohighthatthereremainsnomorethanabouttenoreleveninchesbetweenwhatisthenthetopofit,andtheinsideofthemantle,orlowerextremityofthebreastoftheChimney,anopening,ordoor-way,elevenortwelveincheswide,mustbebeguninthemiddleoftheback,andcontinuedquitetothetopofit,which,accordingtotheheighttowhichitwillcommonlybenecessarytocarryuptheback,willmaketheopeningabouttwelveorfourteenincheshigh;whichwillbequitesufficienttoallowtheChimney-sweepertopass。WhentheFire-placeisfinished,thisdoor-wayistobeclosedbyafewbricks,byatile,orafitpieceofstone,placedinit,dry,orwithoutmortar,andconfinedinitsplacebymeansofarabbetmadeforthatpurposeinthebrick-work——AsoftenastheChimneyisswept,theChimney-sweepertakesdownthistemporarywall,whichisveryeasilydone,andwhenhehasfinishedhiswork,heputsitagainintoitsplace——TheannexeddrawingNo。6。willgiveaclearideaofthiscontrivance;andtheexperienceIhavehadofithasprovedthatitanswersperfectlywellthepurposeforwhichitisdesigned。
Iobservedabove,thatthenewback,whichitwillalwaysbefoundnecessarytobuildinordertobringthefiresufficientlyforward,inalteringaChimneyconstructedonthecommonprinciples,needneverbethickerthanthewidthofacommonbrick——Imaysaythesameofthethicknessnecessarytobegiventothenewsides,orcovings,oftheChimney;orifthenewbackandcovingsareconstructedofstone,oneinchandthreequarters,ortwoinchesinthicknesswillbesufficient——Careshouldbetakeninbuildingupthesenewwallstounitethebacktothecovingsinasolidmanner。
Whetherthenewbackandcovingsareconstructedofstone,orbuiltofbricks,thespacebetweenthem,andtheoldbackandcovingsoftheChimneyoughttobefilledup,togivegreatersoliditytothestructure——Thismaybedonewithlooserubbish,orpiecesofbrokenbricks,orstonesprovidedtheworkbestrengthenedbyafewlayersorcoursesofbrickslaidinmortar;
butitwillbeindispensablynecessarytofinishthework,wherethesenewwallsend,thatistosay,atthetopofthethroatoftheChimney,whereitendsabruptlyintheopencanaloftheChimneybyahorizontalcourseofbrickswellsecuredwithmortar——
Thiscourseofbrickswillbeuponalevelwiththetopofthedoor-wayleftfortheChimney-sweeper。
FromthesedescriptionsitisclearthatwherethethroatoftheChimneyhasanend,thatistosay,whereitentersintothelowerpartoftheopencanaloftheChimney,THEREthethreewallswhichformthetwocovingsandthebackoftheFire-placeallendabruptly——Itisofmuchimportancethattheyshouldendinthismanner;forweretheytobeslopedoutwardandraisedinsuchamannerastoswellouttheupperextremityofthethroatoftheChimneyintheformofatrumpet,andincreaseitbydegreestothesizeofthecanaloftheChimney,thismannerofunitingthelowerextremityofthecanaloftheChimneywiththethroatwouldtendtoassistthewindswhichmayattempttoblowdowntheChimney,inforcingtheirwaythroughthethroat,andthrowingthesmokebackwardintotheroom;butwhenthethroatoftheChimneyendsabruptly,andtheendsofthenewwallsformaflathorizontalsurface,itwillbemuchmoredifficultforanywindfromabove,tofind,andforceitswaythroughthenarrowpassageofthethroatoftheChimney。
AsthetwowallswhichformthenewcovingsoftheChimneyarenotparalleltoeachother;butinclined,presentinganobliquesurfacetowardsthefrontoftheChimney,andastheyarebuiltperfectlyuprightandquiteflat,fromthehearthtothetopofthethroat,wheretheyend,itisevidentthatanhorizontalsectionofthethroatwillnotbeanoblongsquare;butitsdeviationfromthatformisamatterofnoconsequence;andnoattemptsshouldeverbemade,bytwistingthecovingsabove,wheretheyapproachthebreastoftheChimney,tobringittothatform——Alltwists,bends,prominences,excavations,andotherirregularitiesofform,inthecovingsofaChimney,neverfailtoproduceeddiesinthecurrentofairwhichiscontinuallypassinginto,andthroughanopenFire-placeinwhichafireisburning;——andallsucheddiesdisturb,eitherthefire,ortheascendingcurrentsofsmoke,orboth;andnotunfrequentlycausethesmoketobethrownbackintotheroom——Henceitappears,thatthecovingsofChimneysshouldneverbemadecircular,orintheformofanyothercurve;butalwaysquiteflat。
Forthesamereason,thatistosay,topreventeddies,thebreastoftheChimney,whichformsthatsideofthethroatthatisinfront,ornearesttotheroom,shouldbenearlycleanedoff,anditssurfacemadequiteregularandsmooth。
Thismayeasilybedonebycoveringitwithacoatofplaster,whichmaybemadethickerorthinnerindifferentpartsasmaybenecessaryinordertobringthebreastoftheChimneytobeoftheproperform。
WithregardtotheformofthebreastofaChimney,thisisamatterofverygreatimportance,andwhichoughtalwaystobeparticularlyattendedto——Theworstformitcanhaveisthatofaverticalplane,oruprightflat;——andnexttothistheworstformisaninclinedplane——Boththeseformscausethecurrentofwarmairfromtheroom,whichwill,inspiteofeveryprecaution,sometimesfinditswayintotheChimney,tocrossuponthecurrentofsmoke,whichrisesfromthefire,inamannermostlikelytoembarrassitinitsascent,anddriveitback——
TheinclinedplanewhichisformedbyaflatregisterplacedinthethroatofaChimneyproducesthesameeffects;andthisisonereason,amongmanyothers,whichhaveinducedmetodisapproveofregisterstoves。
Thecurrentofair,which,passingunderthemantle,getsintotheChimney,shouldbemadeGRADUALLYTOBENDITSCOURSEUPWARDS,bywhichmeansitwillbeQUIETLYwiththeascendingcurrentofsmoke,andwillbelesslikelytocheckit,orforceitbackintotheroom——Nowthismaybeeffectedwiththegreatesteaseandcertainty,merelybyROUNDINGOFFthebreastoftheChimneyorbackpartofthemantle,insteadofleavingitflat,orfullofholesandcorners;andthisofcourseoughtalwaystobedone。
Ihavehithertogivennoprecisedirectionsinregardtotheheighttowhichthenewbackandcovingsoughttobecarried:——
Thiswilldependnotonlyontheheightofthemantle,butalso,andmoreespecially,ontheheightofthebreastoftheChimney,orofthatpartoftheChimneywherethebreastendsandtheuprightcanalbegins——Thebackandcovingsmustriseafewinches,fiveorsixforinstance,higherthanthispart,otherwisethethroatoftheChimneywillnotbeproperlyformed:——butIknowofnoadvantagesthatwouldbegainedbycarryingthemupstillhigher。
Imentionedabove,thatthespacebetweenthewallswhichformthenewbackandcovings,andtheoldbackandsidesoftheFire-place,shouldbefilledup:——butthismustnotbeunderstoodtoapplytothespacebetweenthewallofdrybricks,orthetilewhichclosesthepassagefortheChimney-sweeper,andtheoldbackoftheChimney;forthatspacemustbeleftvoid,otherwise,thoughthistilewhichatmostwillnotbemorethantwoinchesinthickness,weretakenaway,therewouldnotbeanyroomsufficientforhimtopass。
Informingthisdoor-way,thebestmethodofproceedingistoplacethetileorflatpieceofstonedestinedforclosingit,initsproperplace;andtobuildroundit,orratherbythesidesofit;takingcarenottobringanymortarnearit,inorderthatitmaybeeasilyremovedwhenthedoor-wayisfinished——Withregardtotherabbetwhichshouldbemadeinthedoor-waytoreceiveitandfixitmorefirmlyinitsplace,thismayeitherbeformedatthesametimewhenthedoor-wayisbuilt,oritmaybemadeafteritisfinished,byattachingtoitsbottomandsides,withstrongmortar,piecesofthinrooftiles。Suchasareabouthalfaninchinthicknesswillbebestforthisuse;
iftheyarethicker,theywilldiminishtoomuchtheopeningofthedoor-way,andwilllikewisebemoreliabletobetornawaybytheChimney-sweeperinpassingupanddowntheChimney。
Itwillhardlybenecessaryformetoadd,thatthetile,orflatstone,orwallofdrybricks,whichisusedforclosingupthedoor-way,mustbeofsufficientheighttoreachquiteuptoalevelwiththetopofthewallswhichformthenewbackandcovingsoftheChimnies。
Iought,perhaps,toapologizeforhavingbeensoveryparticularinthesedescriptionandexplanations,butitmustberememberedthatthischapteriswrittenprincipallyfortheinformationofthosewho,havinghadfewopportunitiesofemployingtheirattentioninabstrusephilosophicalresearches,arenotsufficientlypractisedintheseintricateinvestigations,toseize,withfacility,newideas;——andconsequently,thatIhavefrequentlybeenobligedTOLABOURtomakemyselfunderstood。
IhaveonlytoexpressmywishesthatmyreadermaynotbemoreFATIGUEDwiththislabourthanIhavebeen;——forweshallthemmostcertainlybesatisfiedwitheachother——Buttoreturnoncemoretothecharge。
ThereisoneimportantcircumstancerespectingChimneyFire-places,destinedforburningcoals,whichstillremainstobefartherexamined;——andthatistheGrate。
AlthoughtherearefewgratesthatmaynotbeusedinChimneysconstructedoralteredupontheprincipleshererecommended,yettheyarenot,byanymeans,allequallywelladaptedforthatpurpose——Thosewhoseconstructionisthemostsimple,andwhichofcoursearethecheapest,arebeyondcomparisonthebest,ONALLACCOUNTS——NothingbeingwantedintheseChimniesbutmerelyagrateforcontainingthecoals,andinwhichtheywillburnwithaclearfire;——andalladditionalapparatusbeing,notonlyuseless,butverypernicious,allcomplicatedandexpensivegratesshouldbelaidaside,andsuchasmoresimplesubstitutedintheroomofthem——Andinthechoiceofagrate,asineverythingelse,BEAUTYandELEGANCEmayeasilybeunitedwiththeMOSTPERFECTSIMPLICITY——Indeedtheyareincompatiblewitheverythingelse。
Inplacingthegrate,thethingprincipallytobeattendedtois,tomakethebackofitcoincidewiththebackoftheFire-place;——
butasmanyofthegratesnowincommonusewillbefoundtobetoolarge,whentheFire-placesarealteredandimproved,itwillbenecessarytodiminishtheircapacitiesbyfillingthemupatthebackandthesideswithpiecesoffire-stone。Whenthisisdone,itisthefrontoftheflatpieceoffire-stonewhichismadetoformanewbacktothegrate,whichmustbemadetocoincidewith,andmakepartoftheback,oftheFire-place——
Butindiminishingthecapacitiesofgrateswithpiecesoffire-stone,caremustbetakennottomakethemTOONARROW。
Theproperwidthforgratesdestinedforroomsofamiddlingsizewillbefromsixtoeightinches,andtheirlengthmaybediminishedmoreorless,accordingastheroomisheatedwithmoreorlessdifficulty,orastheweatherismoreorlesssevere——
Butwherethewidthofagrateisnotmorethanfiveinches,itwillbeverydifficulttopreventthefirefromgoingout。
Itgoesoutforthesamereasonthatalivecoalfromthegratethatfallsuponthehearthsoonceasestoberedhot;——itiscooledbythesurroundingcoldairoftheatmosphere——
Theknowledgeofthecausewhichproducesthiseffectisimportant,asitindicatesthemeanswhichmaybeusedforpreventingit——
ButofthissubjectIshalltreatmorefullyhereafter。
Itfrequentlyhappensthattheironbacksofgratesarenotvertical,orupright,butinclinedbackwards——Whenthesegratesaresomuchtoowideastorenderitnecessarytofillthemupbehindwithfire-stone,theinclinationofthebackwillbeoflittleconsequence;forbymakingthepieceofstonewithwhichthewidthofthegrateistobediminishedintheformofawedge,orthickerabovethanbelow,thefrontofthisstone,whichineffectwillbecomethebackofthegrate,maybemadeperfectlyvertical;andtheironbackofthegratebeinghidinthesolidworkofthebackoftheFire-place,willproducenoeffectwhatever;butifthegratebealreadysonarrowasnottoadmitofanydiminutionofitswidth,inthatcaseitwillbebesttotakeawaytheironbackofthegrateentirely,andfixingthegratefirmlyinthebrick-work,causethebackoftheFire-placetoserveasabacktothegrate——ThisIhaveveryfrequentlydone,andhavealwaysfoundittoanswerperfectlywell。
Whereitisnecessarythatthefireinagrateshouldbeverysmall,itwillbebest,inreducingthegratewithfire-stone,tobringitscavity,destinedforcontainingthefuel,totheformofonehalfofahollowhemisphere;thetwosemicircularopeningsbeingoneabove,toreceivethecoals,andtheotherinfront,ortowardsthebarsofthegrate;forwhenthecoalsareburntinsuchaconfinedspace,andsurroundedonallsides,exceptinthefrontandabove,byfire-stone,asubstancepeculiarlywelladaptedforconfiningheat,theheatofthefirewillbeconcentrated,andthecoldairoftheatmospherebeingkeptatadistance,amuchsmallerquantityofcoalswillburn,thancouldpossiblybemadetoburninagratewheretheywouldbemoreexposedtobecooledbythesurroundingair,ortohavetheirheatcarriedoffbybeingincontactwithiron,orwithanyothersubstancethroughwhichheatpasseswithgreaterfacilitythanthroughfire-stone。
BeingpersuadedthatiftheimprovementsinChimneyFire-placeshererecommendedshouldbegenerallyadopted,whichIcannothelpflatteringmyselfwillbethecase,thatitwillbecomenecessarytoreduce,veryconsiderably,thesizesofgrates,Iwasdesirousofshowinghowthismay,withthegreatestsafetyandfacility,bedone。
Wheregrates,whicharedesignedforroomsofamiddlingsize,arelongerthan14or15inches,itwillalwaysbebest,notmerelytodiminishtheirlengths,byfillingthemupattheirtwoendswithfire-stone,but,formingthebackoftheChimneyofaproperwidth,withoutpayinganyregardtothelengthofthegrate,tocarrythecovingsthroughthetwoendsofthegrateinsuchamannerastoconcealthem,oratleasttoconcealthebackcornersoftheminthewallsofthecovings。
IcannothelpflatteringmyselfthatthedirectionsheregiveninregardtothealterationswhichitmaybenecessarytomakeinFire-places,inordertointroducetheimprovementsproposed,willbefoundtobesoperfectlyplainandintelligiblethatnoonewhoreadsthemwillbeatanylossrespectingthemannerinwhichtheworkistobeperformed;——butasorderandarrangementtendmuchtofacilitateallmechanicaloperations,IshallheregiveafewshortdirectionsrespectingthemannerofLAYINGOUT
THEWORK,whichmaybefounduseful,andparticularlytogentlemenwhomayundertaketobetheirownarchitects,inorderinganddirectingthealterationstobemadefortheimprovementoftheirFire-places。
DirectionsforlayingouttheWork。
IftherebeagrateintheChimneywhichistobealtered,itwillalwaysbebesttotakeitaway;andwhenthisisdone,therubbishmustberemoved,andthehearthsweptperfectlyclean。
SupposetheannexedfigureNo。1。torepresentthegroundplanofsuchaFire-place;ABbeingtheopeningofitinfront,ACandBDthetwosidesorcovings,andCDtheback。
Figure2。showstheelevationofthisFire-place。
Firstdrawastraitline,withchalk,orwithaleadpencil,uponthehearth,fromonejambtotheother,——evenwiththefrontofthejambs。ThedottedlineAB,figure3,mayrepresentthisline。
FromthemiddleCofthisline,ABanotherlinecd,istobedrawnperpendiculartoit,acrossthehearth,tothemiddled,ofthebackoftheChimney。
ApersonmustnowstanduprightintheChimney,withhisbacktothebackoftheChimney,andholdaplumb-linetothemiddleoftheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneyd,fig。5,orwherethecanaloftheChimneybeginstoriseperpendicularly;——
takingcaretoplacethelineaboveinsuchamannerthattheplumbmayfallonthelinecd,drawonthehearthfromthemiddleoftheopeningoftheChimneyinfronttothemiddleoftheback,andanassistantmustmarkthepreciseplacee,onthatlinewheretheplumbfalls。
Thisbeingdone,andthepersonintheChimneyhavingquittedhisstation,fourinchesaretobesetoffthelinecd,frome,towardsd;andthepointf,wherethesefourinchesend,whichmustbemarkedwithchalk,orwithapencil,willshowhowfarthenewbackistobebroughtforward。
Throughf,drawthelinegh,paralleltothelineAB,andthislineghwillshowthedirectionofthenewback,orthegroundlineuponwhichitistobebuilt。
ThelinecfwillshowthedepthofthenewFire-place;andifitshouldhappenthatcfisequaltoaboutONE-THIRDofthelineAB;
andifthegratecanbeaccommodatedtotheFire-placeinsteadofitsbeingnecessarytoaccommodatetheFire-placetothegrate,inthatcase,halfthelengthofthelinecf,istobesetofffromfonthelinegfh,ononesidetok,andontheothertoi,andthelineikwillshowthegroundlineoftheforepartofthebackoftheChimney。
InallcaseswherethewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontABhappenstobenotgreater,ornotmorethantwoorthreeinchesgreaterthanTHREETIMESthewidthofthenewbackoftheChimneyik,thisopeningmaybeleft,andlinesdrawnfromitoA,andfromktoB,willshowthewidthandpositionofthefrontofthenewcovings;——butwhentheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisstillwider,itmustbereduced;whichistobedoneinthefollowingmanner:
Fromc,themiddleofthelineAB,caandcb,mustbesetoffequaltothewidthofthebackik,addedtohalfitswidthfi,andlinesdrawnfromitoa,andfromktob,willshowthegroundplanofthefrontsofthenewcovings。
Whenthisisdone,nothingmorewillbenecessarythantobuildupthebackandcovings;andiftheFire-placeisdesignedforburningcoals,tofixthegrateinitsproperplace,accordingtothedirectionsalreadygiven——WhenthewidthoftheFire-placeisreduced,theedgesofthecovingsaAandbBaretomakeafinishwiththefrontofthejambs——Andingeneralitwillbebest,notonlyforthesakeoftheappearanceoftheChimney,butforotherreasonsalso,tolowertheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-place,wheneveritswidthinfrontisdiminished。
Fig。4。showsafrontviewoftheChimneyafterithasbeenalteredaccordingtothedirectionsheregiven——Bycomparingitwithfig。2。whichshowsafrontviewofthesameChimneybeforeitwasaltered,themannerinwhichtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminishedmaybeseen——Infig。4。theunderpartofthedoor-waybywhichtheChimney-sweepergetsuptheChimneyisrepresentedbywhitedottedlines。Thedoor-wayisrepresentedclosed。
Ishallfinishthischapterwithsomegeneralobservationsrelativetothesubjectunderconsideration;withdirectionshowtoproceedwheresuchlocalcircumstancesexistasrendermodificationsofthegeneralplanindispensablynecessary。
WhetheraChimneybedesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,orwood,orcoalsinagrate,theformoftheFire-placeisinmyopinion,mostperfectwhenTHEWIDTHOFTHEBACKisequaltotheDEPTHOFTHEFIRE-PLACE,andtheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontequaltoTHREETIMESthewidthoftheback,or,whichisthesamething,toTHREETIMESTHEDEPTHOFTHEFIRE-PLACE。
ButiftheChimneybedesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,uponhandirons,ordogs,astheyarecalled,itwillsometimesbenecessarytoaccommodatethewidthofthebacktothelengthofthewood;andwhenthisisthecase,thecovingsmustbeaccommodatedtothewidthoftheback,andtheopeningoftheChimneyinfront。
WhenthewalloftheChimneyinfront,measuredfromtheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneytothefrontofthemantle,isverythin,itmayhappen,andespeciallyinChimniesdesignedforburningwooduponthehearth,orupondogs,thatthedepthoftheChimney,determinedaccordingtothedirectionsheregiven,maybetoosmall。
Thus,forexample,supposingthewalloftheChimneyinfront,fromtheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneytothefrontofthemantle,tobeonlyfourinches,whichissometimesthecase,particularlyinroomssituatednearthetopofahouse,inthiscase,ifwetakefourinchesforthewidthofthethroat,thiswillgiveeightinchesonlyforthedepthoftheFire-place,whichwouldbetoolittle,evenwerecoalstobeburntinsteadofwood——InthiscaseIshouldincreasethedepthoftheFire-placeatthehearthto12or13inches,andshouldbuildthebackperpendiculartotheheightofthetopoftheburningfuel,whetheritbewoodburntuponthehearth,orcoalsinagrate,
andthen,slopingthebackbyagentleinclinationforward,bringittoitsproperplace,thatistosay,PERPENDICULARLYUNDERTHE
BACKOFTHETHROATOFTHECHIMNEY。Thisslope,whichwillbringthebackforwardfourorfiveinches,orjustasmuchasthedepthoftheFire-placeisencreased,thoughitoughtnottobetooabrupt,yetitoughttobequitefinishedattheheightofeightorteninchesabovethefire,otherwiseitmayperhapscausetheChimneytosmoke;butwhenitisverynearthefire,theheatofthefirewillenablethecurrentofrisingsmoketoovercometheobstaclewhichthisslopewillopposetoitsascent,whichitcouldnotdosoeasilyweretheslopesituatedatagreaterdistancefromtheburningfuel[2]。
Fig。7,8,and9,showaplan,elevation,andsectionofaFire-placeconstructedoraltereduponthisprincipal——ThewalloftheChimneyinfrontata,fig。9,beingonlyfourinchesthick,fourinchesmoreaddedtoitforthewidthofthethroatwouldhaveleftthedepthoftheFire-placemeasureduponthehearthbconlyeightinches,whichwouldhavebeentoolittle;——anichecande,wasthereforemadeinthenewbackoftheFire-placeforreceivingthegrate,whichnichewassixinchesdeepinthecenterofit,below13incheswide,orequalinwidthtothegrate,and23incheshigh;finishingabovewithasemicirulararch,which,initshighestpart,roseseveninchesabovetheupperpartofthegrate——Thedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper,whichbeginsjustabovethetopoftheniche,maybeseendistinctlyinboththefigures8and9——Thespacemarkedg,fig。9,behindthisdoor-way,mayeitherbefilledwithloosebricks,ormaybeleftvoid——Themannerinwhichthepieceofstonef,fig。9,whichisputunderthemantleoftheChimneytoreducetheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-place,isroundedoffontheinsideinordertogiveafairruntothecolumnofsmokeinitsascentthroughthethroatoftheChimney,isclearlyexpressedinthisfigure。
Theplanfig。7,andelevationfig。8,showhowmuchthewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminished,andhowthecovingsinthenewFire-placeareformed。
AperfectideaoftheformanddimensionoftheFire-placeinitsoriginalstate,asalsoafteritsalteration,maybehadbycarefulinspectionofthesefigures。
Ihaveaddedthedrawingfig。10,merelytoshowhowafault,whichIhavefoundworkmeningeneralwhomIhaveemployedinalteringFire-placesareveryapttocommit,istobeavoided——
InChimneyslikethatrepresentedinthisfigure,wherethejambsAandBprojectfarintotheroom,andwherethefrontedgeofthemarbleslab,owhichformsthecoving,doesnotcomesofarforwardasthefrontofthejambs,theworkmeninconstructingthenewcovingsareveryapttoplacethem,——notinthelinecA,whichtheyoughttodo,——butinthelineco,whichisagreatfault——ThecovingsofaChimneyshouldneverrangeBEHINDthefrontofthejambs,howeverthosejambsmayprojectintotheroom;——butitisnotabsolutelynecessarythatthecovingsshouldMAKEAFINISHwiththeinternalfrontcornersofthejambs,orthattheyshouldbecontinuesfromthebackc,quitetothefrontofthejambsatA——Theymayfinishinfrontataandb,andsmallcornersA,o,a,maybeleftforplacingtheshovels,tongs,etc。
Werethenewcovingtorangewiththefrontedgeoftheoldcovingo,theobliquityofthenewcovingwouldcommonlybetoogreat;——ortheangledcowouldexceed135degrees,WHICHIT
NEVERSHOULDDO,——oratleastneverbymorethanaveryfewdegrees。
NoinconvenienceofanyimportancewillarisefrommakingtheobliquityofthecovingsLESSthanwhatishererecommended;
butmanycannotfailtobeproducedbymakingitmuchgreater;——
andasIknowfromexperiencethatworkmenareveryapttodothis,Ihavethoughtitnecessarytowarnthemparticularlyagainstit。
Fig。11。showshowthewidthandobliquityofthecovingsofaChimneyaretobeaccommodatedtothewidthoftheback,andtotheopeninginfrontanddepthoftheFire-place,wherethewidthoftheopeningoftheFire-placeislessthanthreetimesthewidthofthenewback。AsallthosewhomaybeemployedinalteringChimneysmaynot,perhaps,knownhowtosetoffanangleofanycertainnumbersofdegrees,——ormaynothaveathandtheinstrumentsnecessaryfordoingit,——Ishallhereshowhowaninstrumentmaybemadewhichwillbefoundtobeveryusefulinlayingouttheworkforthebricklayers。
Uponaboardabout18incheswideandfourfeetlong,oruponthefloororatable,drawthreeequalsquaresA,B,C,fig。12。ofabout12or14incheseachside,placedinastraitline,andtouchingeachother——FromthebackcornercofthecentersquareB,drawadiagonallineacrossthesquareA,toitsoutwardfrontcornerf,andtheadjoiningangleformedbythelinesdcandcfwillbeequalto135degrees,——theanglewhichtheplaneofthebackofaChimneyFire-placeoughttomakewiththeplaneofitscovings——Andabevelm,n,beingmadetothisanglewiththinslipsofhardwood,thislittleinstrumentwillbefoundtobeveryusefulinmarkingoutonthehearth,withchalk,theplansofthewallswhicharetoformthecovingsofFire-places。
AsChimneyswhichareapttosmokewillrequirethecovingstobeplacedlessobliquelyinrespecttothebackthanotherswhichhavenotthatdefect,itwouldbeconvenienttobeprovidedwithseveralbevels;——threeorfour,forinstance,formingdifferentangles——Thatalreadydescribed,whichmaybecalledNo。1。willmeasuretheobliquityofthecovingswhentheFire-placecanbemadeofthemostperfectform:——anotherNo。2。maybemadetoasmallerangle,dce,——andanotherNo。3。forChimnieswhichareveryapttosmokeatthestillsmallerangledci——Orabevelmaybesocontrived,bymeansofajoint,andanarch,properlygraduated,astoserveforallthedifferentdegreesofobliquitywhichitmayeverbenecessarytogivetothecovingsofFire-places。
Anotherpointofmuchimportance,andparticularlyinChimneyswhichareapttosmoke,istoformthethroatoftheChimneyproperly,bycarryingupthebackandcovingstoaproperheight。This,workmenareapttoneglecttodo,probablyonaccountofthedifficultytheyfindinworkingwheretheopeningofthecanaloftheChimneyissomuchreduced——ButitisabsolutelynecessarythatthesewallsshouldbecarriedupfiveorsixinchesatleastabovetheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimney,ortothatpointwherethewallwhichformsthefrontofthethroatbeginstoriseperpendicularly——IftheworkmanhasintelligenceenoughtoavailhimselfoftheopeningwhichisformedinthebackoftheFire-placetogiveapassagetotheChimney-sweeper,hewillfindlittledifficultyinfinishinghisworkinapropermanner。
Inplacingtheplumb-lineagainstthebreastoftheChimney,inordertoascertainhowfarthenewbackistobebroughtforward,greatcaremustbetakentoplaceitattheverytopofthebreast,wherethecanaloftheChimneyBEGINSTORISE
PERPENDICULARLY;otherwise,whentheplumb-lineisplacedtoolow,oragainsttheslopeofthebreast,whenthenewbackcomestoberaisedtoitsproperheight,thethroatoftheChimneywillfoundtobetoonarrow。
Sometimes,andindeedveryoftenthetopofthebreastofaChimneyliesveryhigh,orfarabovethefireseethefigures13
and14,wheredshowsthetopofthebreastoftheChimney;
whenthisisthecaseitmustbebroughtlower,otherwisetheChimneywillbeveryapttosmoke——SomuchhasbeensaidintheFirstChapterofthisEssayoftheadvantagestobederivedfrombringingthethroatofaChimneyneartotheburningfuel,thatI
donotthinkitnecessarytoenlargeontheminthisplace,——
takingitforgrantedthattheutilityandnecessityofthatarrangementhavealreadybeenmadesufficientlyevident;——
butafewdirectionsforworkmen,toshowthemhowthebreastandconsequentlythethroatofaChimneycanmostreadilybelowered,maynotbesuperfluous。
WherethetoogreatheightofthebreastofaChimneyisowingtothegreatheightofthemantle,seefig。13,or,whichisthesamething,oftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront,whichwillcommonlybefoundtobethecase;theonlyremedyfortheevilwillbetobringdownthemantlelower;——orrather,tomaketheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontlower,bythrowingacrossthetopofthisopening,fromonejambtotheother,andimmediatelyunderthemantle,averyflatarch;——awallofbricksandmortar,supportedonstraightbarsofiron;——orapieceofstoneh,fig。13——Whenthisisdone,theslopeoftheoldthroatoftheChimney,orofthebacksideofthemantle,istobefilledupwithplaster,soastoformonecontinuedflat,vertical,oruprightplanesurfacewiththelowerpartofthewallofthecanaloftheChimney,andanewbreastistobeformedlowerdown,carebeingtakentorounditoffproperly,andmakeitfinishatthelowersurfaceofthenewwallbuiltunderthemantle;——whichwallformsinfactanewmantle。
Theannexeddrawingfig。13,whichrepresentsthesectionofaChimneyinwhichthebreasthasbeenloweredaccordingtothemethodheredescribed,willshowthesevariousalterationsinaclearandsatisfactorymanner。Inthisfigure,aswellasinmostoftheothersinthisEssay,theoldwallsaredistinguishedfromthenewonesbythemannerinwhichtheyareshaded;——
theoldwallsbeingshadedbydiagonallines,andthenewonesbyverticallines。Theadditions,whichareformedofplaster,areshadedbydotsinsteadoflines。
WherethetoogreatheightofthebreastofaChimneyisoccasioned,notbytheheightofthemantle,butbythetoogreatwidthofthebreast,inthatcase,whichhoweverwillseldombefoundtooccur,thisdefectmayberemediedbycoveringthelowerpartofthebreastwithathickcoatingofplaster,supported,ifnecessary,bynailsorstuds,drivenintothewallwhichformsthebreast,andproperlyroundedoffatthelowerpartofthemantle——Seefig。14。
CHAPTER。III。
Ofthecauseoftheascentofsmoke。
Illustrationofthesubjectbyfamiliarcomparisonsandexperiments。
Ofchimnieswhichaffectandcauseeachothertosmoke。
Ofchimnieswhichsmokefromwantofair。
Oftheeddiesofwindwhichsometimesblowdownchimnies,andcausethemtosmoke。
Explanationofthefigures。
ThoughitwasmywishtoavoidallabstrusephilosophicalinvestigationsinthisEssay,yetIfeelthatitisnecessarytosayafewwordsuponasubjectgenerallyconsideredasdifficulttobeexplained,whichistoointimatelyconnectedwiththematterunderconsiderationtobepassedoverinsilence——
AknowledgeofthecauseoftheascentofSmokebeingindispensablynecessarytothosewhoengageintheimprovementofFire-places,orwhoaredesirousofformingjustideasrelativetotheoperationsoffire,andthemanagementofheat,Ishalldevoteafewpagestotheinvestigationofthatcuriousandinterestingsubject——Andasmanyofthosewhomayderiveadvantagefromtheseinquiriesarenotmuchaccustomedtophilosophicaldisquisitions,andwouldnotreadilycomprehendeitherthelanguageorthediagramscommonlyusedbyscientificwriterstoexplainthephaenomenainquestion,Ishalltakepainstoexpressmyselfinthemostfamiliarmanner,andtousesuchcomparisonsforillustrationasmayeasilybeunderstood。
Ifsmallleadenbullets,orlargegooseshot,bemixedwithpeas,andthewholewellshakeninabushel,theshotwillseparatefromthepeas,andwilltakeitsplaceatthebottomofthebushel;forcingbyitsgreaterweightthepeaswhicharelighter,tomoveupwards,contrarytotheirnaturaltendency,andtaketheirplacesabove。
Ifwaterandlinseedoil,whichislighterthanwater,bemixedinavesselbyshakingthemtogether,uponsufferingthismixturetoremainquite,thewaterwilldescendandoccupythebottomofthevessel,andtheoil,beingforcedoutofitsplacebythegreaterpressuredownwardsoftheheavierliquid,willbeobligedtoriseandswimonthesurfaceofthewater。
Ifabottlecontaininglinseedoilbeplungedinwaterwithitsmouthupwards,andopen,theoilwillascentoutofthebottle,andpassingupwardsthroughthemassofwater,inacontinuedstream,willspreaditselfoveritssurface。
Inlikemannerwhentwofluidsofanykind,ofdifferentdensities,comeintocontact,oraremixedwitheachother,thatwhichisthelightestwillbeforcedupwardsbythatwhichistheheaviest。
Andasheatrarefiesallbodies,fluidsaswellassolids,airaswellaswater,ormercury,——itfollowsthattwoportionsofthesamefluid,atdifferenttemperatures,beingbroughtintocontactwitheachother,thatportionwhichisthehottestbeingmorerarefiedorspecificallyLIGHTERthanthatwhichiscolder,mustbeforcedupwardsbythislast——Andthisiswhatalwayshappensinfact。
Whenhotwaterandcoldwateraremixed,thehottestpartofthemixturewillbefoundtobeatthesurfaceabove;——andwhencoldairisadmittedintoawarmedroom,itwillalwaysbefoundtotakeitsplaceatthebottomoftheroom,thewarmerairbeinginpartexpelled,andinpartforcedupwardstothetopoftheroom。
Bothairandwaterbeingtransparentandcolourlessfluids,theirinternalmotionsarenoteasilydiscoveredbythesight,andwhenthesemotionsareveryslow,theymakenoimpressionwhateveronanyofoursenses,consequentlytheycannotbedetectedbyuswithouttheaidofsomemechanicalcontrivance:——
Butwherewehavereasontothinkthatthosemotionsexist,meansshouldbesought,andmayoftenbefound,forrenderingthemperceptible。
Ifabottlecontaininghotwatertingedwithlog-wood,oranyothercolouringdrug,beimmersed,withitsmouthopen,andupwards,intoadeepglassjarfilledwithcoldwater,theascentofthehotwaterfromthebottlethroughthemassofcoldwaterwillbeperfectlyvisiblethroughtheglass——
Nownothingcanbemoreevidentthanthatbothofthesefluidsareforced,orPUSHED,andnotDRAWNupwards——SmokeisfrequentlysaidtobedrawnuptheChimney;——andthataChimneydrawswell,orill;——butthesearecarelessexpressions,andleadtoveryerroneousideasrespectingthecauseoftheascentofSmoke;
andconsequentlytendtopreventtheprogressofimprovementsinthemanagementoffires——Theexperimentjustmentionedwiththecolouredwaterisverystrikingandbeautiful,anditiswellcalculatedtogiveajustideaofthecauseoftheascentofSmoke。Thecoldwaterinthejar,which,inconsequenceofitssuperiorweightordensity,forcestheheatedandrarefiedwaterinthebottletogiveplacetoit,andtomoveupwardsoutofitsway,mayrepresentthecoldairoftheatmosphere,whiletherisingcolumnofcolouredwaterwillrepresentthecolumnofSmokewhichascendsfromafire。
IfSmokerequiredaChimneytoDRAWitupwards,howhappensitthatSmokerisesfromafirewhichismadeintheopenair,wherethereisnoChimney?
Ifatube,openatbothends,andofsuchalengththatitsupperendbebelowthesurfaceofthecoldwaterinthejar,beheldverticallyoverthemouthofthebottlewhichcontainsthehotcolouredwater,thehotwaterwillriseupthroughit,justasmokerisesinaChimney。
Ifthetubebepreviouslyheatedbeforeitisplungedintothecoldwater,theascentofthehotcolouredwaterwillbefacilitatedandaccelerated,inlikemannerasSmokeisknowntorisewithgreaterfacilityinaChimneywhichishot,thaninoneinwhichnofirehasbeenmadeforalongtime——Butinneitherofthesecasescanit,withanypropriety,besaid,thatthehotwaterisDRAWNupthetube——Thehotterthewaterinthebottleis,andthecolderthatinthejar,thegreaterwillbethevelocitywithwhichthehotwaterwillbeforcedupthroughthetube;andthesameholdsoftheascentofhotSmokeinaChimney——Whenthefireisintense,andtheweatherverycold,theascentoftheSmokeisveryrapid;andundersuchcircumstancesChimneysseldomsmoke。
Asthecoldwaterofthejarimmediatelysurroundingthebottlewhichcontainsthehotwater,willbeheatedbythebottlewhiletheotherpartsofthewaterinthejarwillremaincold,thiswatersoheated,becomingspecificallylighterthanthatwhichsurroundsit,willbeforcedupwards;andifitfindsitswayintothetubewillriseupthroughitwiththecolouredhotwater——ThewarmedairofaroomheatedbyanopenChimneyFire-placehasalwaysatendencytorise,ifImayusethatinaccurateexpression,andfindingitswayintotheChimneyfrequentlygoesoffwiththeSmoke。
Whathasbeensaid,will,Iflattermyself,besufficienttoexplainandillustrate,inaclearandsatisfactorymanner,thecauseoftheascentofSmoke;andjustideasuponthatsubjectareabsolutelynecessaryinordertojudge,withcertainty,ofthemeritofanyschemeproposedfortheimprovementofFire-places;ortotakeeffectualmeasures,inallcases,forcuringsmokingChimnies——Forthoughtheperpetualchangesandalterationswhichareproducedbyaccident,whim,andcaprice,dosometimesleadtousefuldiscoveries,yettheprogressofimprovementundersuchguidancemustbeexceedinglyslow,fluctuating,anduncertain。
AstothecausesofthesmokingofChimnies,theyareverynumerous,andvarious;butasageneralideaofthemmaybeacquiredfromwhathasalreadybeensaiduponthatsubjectinvariouspartsofthisEssay,andastheymay,inallcases,averyfewonlyexcepted,becompletelyremediedbymakingthealterationsinFire-placesherepointedout;Idonotthinkitnecessarytoenumeratethemallinthisplace,ortoenterintothoselongdetailsandinvestigationswhichwouldberequiredtoshowtheprecisemannerinwhicheachofthemoperates,eitheralone,orinconjunctionwithothers。
ThereishoweveronecauseofsmokingChimnieswhichIthinkitisnecessarytomentionmoreparticularly——Inmodernbuilthouses,wherethedoorsandwindowsaregenerallymadetoclosewithsuchaccuracythatnocreviceisleftforthepassageoftheairfromwithout,theChimniesinroomsadjoiningtoeachother,orconnectedbyclosepassages,arefrequentlyfoundtoaffecteachother,andthisiseasytobeaccountedfor——WhenthereisafireburninginoneoftheChimnies,astheairnecessarytosupplythecurrentuptheChimneywherethefireburnscannotbehadinsufficientquantitiesfromwithout,throughtheverysmallcrevicesofthedoorsandwindows,theairintheroombecomesrarefied,notbyheat,butbysubtractionofthatportionofairwhichisemployedinkeepingupthefire,orsupportingthecombustionofthefuel,andinconsequenceofthisrarefaction,itselasticityisdiminished,andbeingatlastovercomebythepressureoftheexternalairoftheatmosphere,thisexternalairrushesintotheroombytheonlypassageleftforit,namely,bytheopenChimneyoftheneighbouringroom:——AndtheflowofairintotheFire-place,anduptheChimneywherethefireisburningbeingconstant,thisexpenceofairissuppliedbyacontinuedcurrentdowntheotherChimney。
IfanattemptbemadetolightfiresinbothChimniesatthesametime,itwillbefoundtobeverydifficulttogetthefirestoburn,andtheroomswillbothbefilledwithSmoke。
Oneofthefires,——thatwhichismadeintheChimneywheretheconstructionoftheFire-placeisbestadaptedtofacilitatetheascentoftheSmoke,——orifbothFire-placesareonthesameconstruction,——thatwhichhasthewindmostfavourable,orinwhichthefirehappenstobesoonestkindled,——willovercometheother,andcauseitsSmoketobebeatbackintotheroombythecoldairwhichdescendsthroughtheChimney——ThemostobviousremedyinthiscaseistoprovideforthesupplyoffreshairnecessaryforkeepingupthefiresbyopeningapassagefortheexternalairintotheroombyashorterroadthandownoneoftheChimnies;andwhenthisisdone,bothChimnieswillbefoundtobeeffectuallycured。
ButChimniessocircumstancedmayveryfrequentlybepreventedfromsmokingevenwithoutopeninganynewpassagefortheexternalair,merelybydiminishingthedraught,asitiscalled,uptheChimnies;whichcanbestbedonebyalteringbothFire-placesupontheprinciplesrecommendedandfullyexplainedintheforegoingChaptersofthisEssay。
Shouldthedoorsandwindowsofaroombeclosedwithsomuchnicetyastoleavenocrevicesbywhichasupplyofaircanentersufficientformaintainingthefire,AFTERTHECURRENTOFAIRUP
THECHIMNEYHASBEENDIMINISHEDASMUCHASPOSSIBLEBY
DIMINISHINGTHETHROATOFTHEFIRE-PLACE;inthatcasetherewouldbenootherwayofpreventingtheChimneyfromsmokingbutbyopeningapassagefortheadmissionoffreshairfromwithout;——butthis,Ibelieve,willveryseldombefoundtobethecase。
AcasemorefrequentlytobemetwithiswherecurrentsofairsetdownChimniesinconsequenceofadiminutionandrarefactionoftheairinaroom,occasionedbythedoorsoftheroomopeningintopassagesorcourtswheretheairisrarefiedbytheactionofsomeparticularwinds。Insuchcasestheevilmayberemedied,eitherbycausingthedoorsinquestiontoclosemoreaccurately,——or,whichwillbestillmoreeffectual,bygivingasupplyofairtothepassageorcourtwhichwantsit,bysomeotherway。
WherethetopofaChimneyiscommandedbyhighbuildings,byclifts,orbyhighgrounds,itwillfrequentlyhappen,inwindyweather,thattheeddiesformedintheatmospherebytheseobstacleswillblowdowntheChimney,andbeatdownthesmokeintotheroom——ThisitistruewillbemuchlesslikelytohappenwhenthethroatoftheChimneyiscontractedandproperlyformedthanwhenitisleftquiteopen,andtheFire-placebadlyconstructed;butasitisPOSSIBLEthataChimneymaybesomuchexposedtotheseeddiesinveryhighwindsastobemadetosmokesometimeswhenthewindblowswithviolencefromacertainquarter,itisnecessarytoshowhowtheeffectsofthoseeddiesmaybeprevented。
VariousmechanicalcontrivanceshavebeenimaginedforpreventingthewindfromblowingdownChimnies,andmanyofthemhavebeenfoundtobeuseful;——thereare,however,manyoftheseinventions,which,thoughtheypreventthewindfromblowingdowntheChimney,aresoill-contrivedonotheraccountsastoobstructtheascentoftheSmoke,anddomoreharmthangood。
OfthisdescriptionareallthoseChimney-potswithflathorizontalplatesorroofsplaceduponsupportersjustabovetheopeningofthepot;——andmostofthecapswhichturnwiththewindarenotmuchbetter——Oneofthemostsimplecontrivancesthatcanbemadeuseof,andwhichinmostcaseswillbefoundtoanswerthepurposeintendedaswellorbetterthanmorecomplicatedmachinery,istocoverthetopoftheChimneywithahollowtruncatedpyramidorcone,thediameterofwhichabove,oropeningforthepassageoftheSmoke,isabout10or11inches——
Thispyramid,orcone,foreitherwillanswer,——shouldbeofearthenware,orofcastiron;——itsperpendicularheightmaybeequaltothediameterofitsopeningabove,andthediameterofitsopeningbelowequaltothreetimesitsheight——ItshouldbeplaceduponthetopoftheChimney,anditmaybecontrivedsoastomakeahandsomefinishtothebrick-work——Whereseveralflewscomeoutneareachother,orinthesamestackofChimnies,theformofapyramidwillbebetterthanthatofaconeforthesecovers。
Theintentionofthiscontrivanceis,thatthewindsandeddieswhichstrikeagainsttheobliquesurfaceofthesecoversmaybereflectedupwardsinsteadofblowingdowntheChimney——
Theinventionisbynomeansnew,butithasnothithertobeenoftenputinpractice——AsoftenasIhaveseenittriedithasbeenfoundtobeofuse;Icannotsay,however,thatIwaseverobligedtohaverecoursetoit,ortoanysimilarcontrivance;
andifIforbeartoenlargeuponthesubjectoftheseinventions,itisbecauseIampersuadedthatwhenChimniesareproperlyconstructedINTHENEIGHBOURHOODOFTHEFIRE-PLACElittlemorewillbenecessarytobedoneatthetopoftheChimneythantoleaveitopen。
IcannotconcludethisEssaywithoutagainrecommending,inthestrongestmanner,acarefulattentiontothemanagementoffiresinopenChimnies;fornotonlythequantityofheatproducedonthecombustionoffueldependsmuchonthemannerinwhichthefireismanaged,butevenoftheheatactuallygeneratedaverysmallpartonlywillbesaved,orusefullyemployed,whenthefireismadeinacarelessandslovenlymanner。
Inlightingacoalfiremorewoodshouldbeemployedthaniscommonlyused,andfewercoals;andassoonasthefireburnsbright,andthecoalsarewelllighted,andNOTBEFORE,morecoalsshouldbeaddedtoincreasethefiretoitspropersize[3]。
TheenormouswasteoffuelinLondonmaybeestimatedbythevastdarkcloudwhichcontinuallyhangsoverthisgreatmetropolis,andfrequentlyovershadowsthewholecountry,farandwide;
forthisdensecloudiscertainlycomposedalmostentirelyofUNCONSUMEDCOAL,whichhavingstolenwingsfromtheinnumerablefiresofthisgreatcityhasescapedbytheChimnies,andcontinuestosailaboutintheair,tillhavinglosttheheatwhichgaveitvolatility,itfallsinadryshowerofextremelyfineblackdusttotheground,obscuringtheatmosphereinitsdescent,andfrequentlychangingthebrightestdayintomorethanEgyptiandarkness。
Ineverviewfromadistance,asIcomeintotown,thisblackcloudwhichhangsoverLondon,withoutwishingtobeabletocomputetheimmensenumberofchaldronsofcoalsofwhichitiscomposed;forcouldthisbeascertained,Iampersuadedsostrikingafactwouldawakenthecuriosity,andexcitetheastonishmentofallranksoftheinhabitants;andPERHAPSturntheirmindstoanobjectofeconomytowhichtheyhavehithertopaidlittleattention。
Conclusion。
ThoughthesavingoffuelwhichwillresultfromtheimprovementsintheformsofCHIMNEYFIRE-PLACEShererecommendedwillbeveryconsiderable,yetIhopetobeabletoshowinafutureEssay,thatstillgreatersavingsmaybemade,andmoreimportantadvantagesderivedfromtheintroductionofimprovementsIshallproposeinKITCHENFIRE-PLACES。
IhopelikewisetobeabletoshowinanEssayonCOTTAGEFIRE-PLACES,whichIamnowpreparingforpublication,thatTHREEQUARTERS,atleast,ofthefuelwhichcottagersnowconsumeincookingtheirvictuals,andinwarmingtheirdwellings,maywithgreatease,andwithoutanyexpensiveapparatus,besaved。
ENDOFTHEFOURTHESSAY。
EXPLANATIONOFTHEFIGURES
[IMAGE]
Fig。1。
TheplanofaFire-placeonthecommonconstruction。
AB,theopeningoftheFire-placeinfront。
CD,thebackoftheFire-place。
ACandBD,thecovings。
Seepage341。
[IMAGE]
Fig。2。
Thisfigureshowstheelevation,orfrontviewofaFire-placeonthecommonconstruction。Seepage341。
[IMAGE]
Fig。3。
ThisFigureshowshowtheFire-placerepresentedbytheFig。1,istobealteredinordertoitsbeingimproved。
ABistheopeninginfront,——CD,theback,andACandBD,thecovingsoftheFire-placeinitsoriginalstate。
ab,itsopeninginfront,——ik,itsback,——andaiandbk,itscovingsafterithasbeenaltered,eisapointuponthehearthuponwhichaplumsuspendedfromthemiddleoftheupperpartofthebreastoftheChimneyfalls。Thesituationforthenewbackisascertainedbytakingthelineefequaltofourinches。
Thenewbackandcovingsarerepresentedasbeingbuiltofbricks;——andthespacebetweentheseandtheoldbackandcovingsasbeingfilledupwithrubbish。Seepage342。
[IMAGE]
Fig。4。
ThisFigurerepresentstheelevationorfrontviewoftheFire-placeFig。3。afterithasbeenaltered。Thelowerpartofthedoor-wayleftfortheChimney-sweeperisshowninthisFigurebywhitedottedlines。Seepage344。
[IMAGE]
Fig。5。
ThisFigureshowsthesectionofaChimneyFire-placeandofapartofthecanaloftheChimney,onthecommonconstruction。
abistheopeninginfront;bc,thedepthoftheFire-placeatthehearth;d,thebreastoftheChimney。
de,thethroatoftheChimney,anddf,ge,apartoftheopencanaloftheChimney。
[IMAGE]
Fig。6。
ShowsasectionofthesameChimneyafterithasbeenaltered。
klisthenewbackoftheFire-place;li,thetileorstonewhichclosesthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper;di,thethroatoftheChimney,narrowtofourinches;a,themantle,andh,thenewwallmadeunderthemantletodiminishtheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfront。
N。B。ThesetwoFiguresaresectionsofthesameChimneywhichisrepresentedineachofthefourprecedingFigures。
[IMAGE]
Fig。7。
ThisFigurerepresentsthegroundplanofaChimneyFire-placeinwhichthegrateisplacedinaniche,andinwhichtheoriginalwidthABoftheFire-placeisconsiderablydiminished。
abistheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontafterithasbeenaltered,anddisthebackofthenicheinwhichthegrateisplaced。Seepage347。
[IMAGE]
Fig。8。
ShowsafrontviewofthesameFire-placeafterithasbeenaltered;wheremaybeseenthegrate,andthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper。Seepage347。
[IMAGE]
Fig。9。
ShowsasectionofthesameFire-place,cdebeingasectionoftheniche,gthedoor-wayfortheChimney-sweeper,closedbyapieceofthefire-stone,andfthenewwallunderthemantlebywhichtheheightoftheopeningoftheFire-placeinfrontisdiminished。Seepage347。
[IMAGE]
Fig。10。
ThisFigureshowshowthecovingsaretobeplacedwhenthefrontofthecovingsaandbdonotcomesofarforwardasthefrontoftheopeningoftheFire-place,orthejambsAandB。
Seepage348。
[IMAGE]
Fig。11。
ThisFigureshowshowthewidthandobliquityofthecovingsaretobeaccommodatedtothewidthofthebackofaFire-place,incaseswhereitisnecessarytomakethebackverywide。
Seepage349。
[IMAGE]
Fig。12。
ThisFigureshowshowaninstrumentcalledabevelmn,usefulinlayingoutthework,inalteringChimneyFire-places,maybeconstructed。Seepage349。
[IMAGE]
Fig。13。
Thisshowshow,whenthebreastofaChimneydistoohigh,itmaybebroughtdownbymeansofawallhplacedunderthemantle,andacoatingofplaster,whichinthisFigureisrepresentedbythepartmarkedbydots。Seepage351。
[IMAGE]
Fig。14。
ThisshowshowthebreastofaChimneymaybebroughtdownmerelybyacoatingofplaster。Seepage351。
FootnotesforessayIV。
[1]
EvesandSutton,bricklayers,BroadSanctuary,Westminster,havealonealteredabove90Chimnies——TheexperimentwasfirstmadeinLondonatLordPalmerston’shouseinHanover-square;——thentwoChimnieswerealteredinthehouseofSirJohnSinclair,Baronet,PresidentoftheBoardofAgriculture;oneintheroominwhichtheBoardmeets,andtheotherintheSecretary’sroom;whichlastbeingmuchfrequentedbypersonsfromallpartsofGreatBritain,itwashopedthatcircumstanceswouldtendmuchtoexpeditetheintroductionoftheseimprovementsinvariouspartsofthekingdom。SeveralChimnieswerealteredinthehouseofSirJosephBanks,Baronet,K。B。PresidentoftheRoyalSociety。
AfterwardsanumberwerealteredinDevonshire-house;——inthehouseofEarlBesborough,inCavendish-square,andathisseatatRoehampton;——atHolywell-house,nearSt。Alban’s,theseatoftheCountessDowagerSpencer:——atMelbourne-house;——atLadyTempleton’sinPortland-place;——atMrsMontagu’sinPortman-square;——
atLordSudley’s,inDover-street:——attheMarquisofSalisbury’sseatatHatfield,andathishouseintown;——atLordPalmerston’sseatatBroadlands,nearSouthampton,andatseveralgentlemen’shousesinthatneighbourhood;——andagreatmanyothers;butitwouldbetiresometoenumeratethemall;andeventhesearementionedmerelyforthesatisfactionofthosewhomaywishtomakeinquiriesrespectingthesuccessoftheexperiments。
[2]
HavingbeenobligedtocarrybackwardtheFire-placeinthemannerheredescribed,inordertoaccommodateittoaChimneywhosewallsinfrontwereremarkablythin,——IwassurprisedtofinduponlightingthefirethatitappearedtogiveoutmoreheatintotheroomthananyFire-placeIhadeverconstructed——
Thiseffectwasquiteunexpected;butthecauseofitwastooobviousnottobeimmediatelydiscovered——Theflamerisingfromthefirebrokeagainstthepartofthebackwhichslopedforwardoverthefire,andthispartofthebackbeingsoonverymuchheated,andinconsequenceofitsbeingveryhot,andwhenthefireburntbrightitwasfrequentlyquiteredhot,itthrewoffintotheroomagreatdealofradiantheat——ItisnotpossiblethatthisobliquesurfacetheslopeofthebackoftheFire-place
couldhavebeenheatedred-hotMERELYbytheradiantheatprojectedbytheburningfuel,forotherpartsoftheFire-placenearerthefire,andbettersituatedforreceivingradiantheat,wereneverfoundtobesomuchheated;——andhenceitappearsthatthecombinedheatinthecurrentofsmokeandhotvapourwhichrisesfromanopenfireMAYBE,atleastINPART,stoppedinitspassageuptheChimney,changingintoradiantheat,andafterwardsthrownintotheroom——Thisopensupanewandveryinterestingfieldforexperiment,andbidsfairtoleadtoimportantimprovementsintheconstructionofFire-places——I
haveoflatebeenmuchengagedintheseinvestigations,andamnowactuallyemployeddailyinmakingavarietyofexperimentswithgratesandFire-places,upondifferentconstructions,intheroomIinhabitintheRoyalHotelinPallMall;——andMr。HopkinsofGreek-streetSoho,IronmongertohisMajesty,andMrs。Hempel,atherPotteryatChelsea,arebothatworkintheirdifferentlinesofbusiness,undermydirection,intheconstructionofFire-placesuponaprincipleentirelynew,andwhich,Iflattermyself,willbefoundtobenotonlyelegantandconvenient,butveryeconomical——ButasImeansoontopublishaparticularaccountoftheseFire-places,——withdrawingsandampledirectionsforconstructingthem,Ishallnotenlargefartheronthesubjectinthisplace——Itmayhowevernotbeamissjusttomentionhere,thatthesenew-inventedFire-placesnotbeingfixedtothewallsoftheChimney,butmerelysetdownuponthehearth,maybeusedinanyopenChimney:andthatChimniesalteredorconstructedontheprincipleshererecommendedareparticularlywelladaptedforreceivingthem。
ThePublicingeneral,andmoreparticularlythoseTradesmenandManufacturerswhomitmayconcern,arerequestedtoobserve,thatastheAuthordoesnotintenttotakeouthimself,ortosufferotherstotakeout,anypatentforanyinventionofhiswhichmaybeofpublicutility,allpersonsareatfulllibertytoimitatethem,andvendthem,fortheirownemolument,whenandwhere,andinanywaytheymaythinkproper;andthosewhomaywishforanyfurtherinformationrespectinganyofthoseinventionsorimprovementswillreceivegratisalltheinformationtheycanrequirebyapplyingtotheAuthor,whowilltakepleasureingivingthemeveryassistanceinhispower。
[3]
Kindlingballscomposedofequalpartsofcoal,——charcoal,——andclay,thetwoformerreducedtoafinepowder,wellmixedandkneadedtogetherwiththeclaymoistenedwithwater,andthenformedintoballsofthesizeofhenseggs,andthoroughlydried,mightbeusedwithgreatadvantageinsteadofwoodforkindlingfires。Thesekindlingballsmaybemadesoinflammableastotakefireinaninstantandwiththesmallestspark,bydippingtheminastrongsolutionofnitreandthendryingthemagain,andtheywouldneitherbeexpensivenorliabletobespoiledbylongkeeping。Perhapsaquantityofpurecharcoalreducedtoaveryfinepowderandmixedwiththesolutionofnitreinwhichtheyaredippedwouldrenderthemstillmoreinflammable。
IhaveoftenwonderedthatnoattemptsshouldhavebeenmadetoimprovethefireswhicharemadeintheopenChimniesofelegantapartments,bypreparingthefuel;fornothingsurelywasevermoredirty,inelegant,anddisgustingthanacommoncoalfire。
Fireballsofthesizeofgooseeggs,composedofcoalandcharcoalinpowder,mixedupwithadueproportionofwetclay,andwelldried,wouldmakeamuchmorecleanly,andinallrespectsapleasanterfirethancanbemadewithcrudecoals;
andIbelievewouldnotbemoreexpensivefuel。InFlandersandinseveralpartsofGermany,andparticularintheDutchiesofJuliersandBergen,wherecoalsareusedasfuel,thecoalsarealwayspreparedbeforetheyareused,bypoundingthemtoapowder,andmixingthemupwithanequalweightofclay,andsufficientquantityofwatertoformthewholeintoamasswhichiskneadedtogetherandformedintocakes;whichcakesareafterwardswelldriedandkeptinadryplaceforuse。
Andithasbeenfoundbylongexperiencethattheexpenseattendingthispreparationisamplyrepaidbytheimprovementofthefuel。Thecoals,thusmixedwiththeclay,notonlyburnlonger,butgivemuchmoreheatthanwhentheyareburntintheircrudestate。
Itwilldoubtlessappearextraordinarytothosewhohavenotconsideredthesubjectwithsomeattention,thatthequantityofheatproducedinthecombustionofanyquantityofcoalsshouldbeincreasedbymixingthecoalswithclay,whichiscertainlyanincombustiblebody;——butthephenomenonmay,Ithink,beexplainedinasatisfactorymanner。
Theheatgeneratedinthecombustionofanysmallparticleofcoalexistingundertwodistinctforms,namely,inthatwhichisCOMBINEDwiththeflameandsmokewhichrisefromthefire,andwhichifmeansarenotfoundtostopit,goesoffimmediatelybytheChimneyandislost,——andtheRADIANTHEATwhichissentofffromthefire,inalldirectionsinrightlines:——Ithinkitreasonabletoconclude,thattheparticlesofclaywhicharesurroundedonallsidesbytheflamearrestapartatleastofthecombinedheat,andpreventitsescape;andthiscombinedheat,soarrested,heatingtheclayredhot,isretainedinit,andbeingchangedbythisoperationtoradiantheat,isafterwardsemitted,andmaybedirected,andemployedtousefulpurposes。
Incomposingfireballs,Ithinkitprobablethatacertainproportionofchaff——ofstrawcutveryfine,orevensawdust,mightbeemployedwithgreatadvantage。Iwishthosewhohaveleisurewouldturntheirthoughtstothissubject,forIampersuadedthatveryimportantimprovementswouldresultfromathoroughinvestigationofit。