essays-1-第53节
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The advantages which are derived from mechanical inventions and contrivances are； I know； frequently accompanied by disadvantages which it is not always possible to avoid； but in the case in question； I can say with truth； that I know of no disadvantage whatever that attends the Fire…places constructed upon the principles here recommended。 But to proceed in giving directions for the construction of these Fire…places。
That what I have to offer on this subject may be the more easily understood； it will be proper to begin by explaining the precise meaning of all those technical words and expressions which I may find it necessary or convenient to use。
By the THROAT of a Chimney； I mean the lower extremity of its canal； where it unites with the upper part of its open Fire…place。 This throat is commonly found about a foot above the level of the lower part of the mantle； and it is sometimes contracted to a smaller size than the rest of the canal of the Chimney； and sometimes not。
Fig。 5。 shows the section of a Chimney on the common construction； in which d e is the throat。
Fig。 6。 shows the section of the same Chimney altered and improved； in which d i is the reduced throat。
The BREAST of a Chimney； is that part of it which is immediately behind the mantle。It is the wall which forms the entrance from below into the throat of the Chimney in front； or towards the room。It is opposite to the upper extremity of the back of the open Fire…place； and parallel to it； in short it may said to be the back part of the mantle itself。In the figures 5 and 6； it is marked by the letter d。 The WIDTH of the throat of Chimney （d e fig。 5； and d i fig。 6；） is taken from the breast of the Chimney to the back； and its LENGTH is taken at right angles to its width； or in a line parallel to the mantle （a fig。 5。 and 6。）。
Before I proceed to give particular directions respecting the exact forms and dimensions of the different parts of a Fire…place； it may be useful to make such general an practical observations upon the subject as can be clearly understood without the assistance of drawings； for the more complete the knowledge of any subject is which can be acquired without drawings； the more easy will it be to understand the drawings when it becomes necessary to have recourse to them。
The bringing forward of the Fire into the room； or rather bringing it nearer to the front of the opening of the Fire…place；and the diminishing of the throat of the Chimney； being two objects principally had in view in the alterations in Fire…places here recommended； it is evident that both these may be attained merely by bringing forward the back of the Chimney。 The only question therefore is； how far it should be brought forward？The answer is short； and easy to be understood；bring it forward as far as possible； without diminishing too much the passage which must be left for the smoke。 Now as this passage； which； in its narrowest part； I have called the THROAT OF THE CHIMNEY； ought； for reasons which are fully explained in the foregoing Chapter； to be immediately； or perpendicularly over the Fire； it is evident that the back of the Chimney must always be built perfectly upright。To determine therefore the place for the new back； or how far precisely it ought to be brought forward； nothing more is necessary than to ascertain how wide the throat of the Chimney ought to be left； or what space must be left； between the top of the breast of the Chimney； where the upright canal of the Chimney begins； and the new back of the Fire…place carried up perpendicularly to that height。
In the course of my numerous experiments upon Chimnies； I have taken much pains to determine the width proper to be given to this passage； and I have found； that； when the back of the Fire…place is of a proper width； the best width for the throat of a Chimney； when the Chimney and the Fire…place are at the usual form and size； is FOUR INCHES。Three inches might sometimes answer； especially where the Fire…place is very small； and the Chimney good； and well situated： but as it is always of much importance to prevent those accidental puffs of smoke which are sometimes thrown into rooms by the carelessness of servants in putting on suddenly too many coals at once upon the fire； and as I found these accidents sometimes happened when the throats of Chimneys were made very narrow； I found that； upon the whole； all circumstances being well considered； and advantages and disadvantages compared and balanced； FOUR INCHES is the best width that can be given to the throat of a chimney； and this； whether the Fire…place be destined to burn wood； coals； turf； or any other fuel commonly used for heating rooms by an open fire。
In Fire…places destined for heating very large halls； and where very great fires are kept up； the throat of the Chimney may； if it should be thought necessary； be made four inches and an half； or five inches wide；but I have frequently made Fire…places for halls which have answered perfectly well where the throats of the Chimnies have not been wider than four inches。
It may perhaps appear extraordinary； upon the first view of the matter； that Fire…places of such different sizes should all require the throat of the Chimney to be of the same width； but when it is considered that the CAPACITY of the throat of a Chimney does not depend on its width alone； but on its width and LENGTH taken together； and that in large Fire…places； the width of the back； and consequently the length of the throat of the Chimney； is greater than in those which are smaller； this difficulty vanishes。
And this leads us to consider another important point respecting open Fire…places； and that is； the width which it will； in each case； be proper to give to the back。In Fire…places as they are now commonly constructed； the back is of equal width with the opening of the Fire…place in front；but this construction is faulty on two accounts。First； in a Fire…place； so constructed； the sides of the Fire…place； or COVINGS； as they are called； are parallel to each other； and consequently ill…contrived to throw out into the room the heat they receive from the fire in the form of rays；and secondly； the large open corners which are formed by making the back as wide as the opening of the Fire…place in front occasion eddies of wind； which frequently disturb the fire； and embarrass the smoke in its ascent in such a manner as often to bring it into the room。Both these defects may be entirely remedied by diminishing the width of the back of the Fire…place。 The width which； in most cases； it will be best to give it； is ONE THIRD of the width of the opening of the Fire…place in front。But it is not absolutely necessary to conform rigorously to this decision； nor will it always be possible。It will frequently happen that the back of a Chimney must be made wider than； according to the rule here given； it ought to be。This may be； either to accommodate the Fire…place to a stove； which being already on hand； must； to avoid the expense of purchasing a new one； be employed； or for other reasons；and any small deviation from the general rule will be attended with no considerable inconvenience。It will always be best； however； to conform to it as far as circumstances will allow。
Where a Chimney is designed for warming a room of a middling size； and where the thickness of the wall of the Chimney in front； measured from the front of the mantle to the breast of the Chimney； is nine inches； I should set off four inches more for the width of the throat of the Chimney； which； supposing the back of the Chimney to be built upright； as it always ought to be； will give thirteen inches for the depth of the Fire…place； measured upon the hearth； from the opening of the Fire…place in front； to the back。In this case thirteen inches would be a good size for the width of the back； and three times thirteen inches； or thirty…nine inches； for the width of the opening of the Fire…place in front； and the angle made by the back of the Fire…place and the sides of it； or covings； would be just 135 degrees； which is the best position they can have for throwing heat into the room。
But I will suppose that in altering such a Chimney it is found necessary； in order to accommodate the Fire…place to a grate or stove already on hand； to make the Fire…place sixteen inches wide。 In that case； I should merely increase the width of the back； to the dimensions required； without altering the depth of the Chimney； or increasing the width of the opening of the Chimney in front。 The covings； it is true； would be somewhat reduced in their width； by this alteration； and their position with respect to the plane of the back of the Chimney would be a little changed； but these alterations would produce no bad effects of any considerable consequence； and would be much less likely to injure the Fire…place； than an attempt to bring the proportions of its parts nearer to the standard； by increasing the depth of the Chimney； and the width of its opening in front；or than an attempt to preserve that particular obliquity of the covings which is recommended as the best； （135 degrees；） by increasing the width of the opening of the Fire…place； without increasing its depth。
In order to illustrate t
