IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBE- GRATES ADAPTED FOR DWELLING AND BED-ROOMS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Bartlet, of Ipswich, in the County of
Suffolk, Doctor of Medicine, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBE-
GRATES ADAPTED FOR DWELLING AND BED-ROOMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Bartlet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1880.
JOHN HENRY BARTLET, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Doctor of
Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES ADAPTED FOR DWELLING AND
BED-ROOMS."
These improvements refer to fire grates constructed with vertical (in distinction
from horizontal) front bars in the face of the fire, and consist in so arranging the
spaces both between the bars themselves, and also between the bar and the back and
sides of the fire box, that as the fuel descends it falls always into freer space, and
consequently does not "hold up" or jam. By this means the fire is caused to keep
alive and burning a long time without attention. This object is attained by sloping
the vertical bars slightly forward from the top of the fire and from the upper hori-
zontal bar to which the vertical bars are attached, or by tapering the vertical bars.
The ends or sides of the fire box may also be made to slope outwards from the
top. The back also may be made to slope backwards from the top in connection
with nearly vertical bars sloping away one from the other right and left of a central
vertical bar or central space.
The nearly vertical bars instead of being simply straight may be curved or bent
if desirable, and made of steel instead of iron.
The horizontal top and bottom bars to which the nearly vertical bars would
ordinarily be attached to form the face of the fire box may be curved outwards, the
lower one being of larger radius than the upper one.
The amount of inclination may in some cases be made adjustable, so that the area
of the fire box may be increased or decreased at pleasure, and greater or less freedom
given to the fuel to fall. Thus a larger or smaller fire may be provided for, and
the grate accommodated to the kind, size, and peculiarities of the fuel and the
nature of the draught.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Bartlet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
July 1880.
JOHN HENRY BARTLET, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Doctor of
Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE GRATES ADAPTED FOR DWELLING AND
BEDROOMS."
These improvements refer to fire grates constructed with vertical (in distinction
from horizontal) front bars in the face of the fire, and consist in so arranging the
spaces both between the bars themselves, and also between the bar and the back and
sides of the fire box, that as the fuel descends it falls always into freer space, and
consequently does not "hold up" or jam. By this means the fire is caused to keep
alive and burning a long time without attention. This object is attained by
sloping the vertical bars slightly forward from the top of the fire and from the
upper horizontal bar to which the vertical bars are attached or by tapering the
vertical bars.
The ends or sides of the fire box may also be made to slope outwards from the
top. The back also may be made to slope backwards from the top in connection
with nearly vertical bars sloping away one from the other right and left of a
central vertical bar or central space.
The nearly vertical bars instead of being simply straight may be curved or bent
if desirable, and made of steel instead of iron.
The horizontal top and bottom bars to which the nearly vertical bars would
ordinarily be attached to form the face of the fire box may be curved outwards, the
lower one being of larger radius than the upper one.
The amount of inclination may in some cases be made adjustable, so that the area
of the fire box may be increased or decreased at pleasure, and greater or less
freedom given to the fuel to fall. Thus a larger or smaller fire may be provided
for, and the grate accommodated to the kind, size, and peculiarities of the fuel and
the nature of the draught.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, represent plan, elevation, and vertical section of the
most simple fire grate, having the fire box front made with two straight horizontal
bars into which the nearly vertical bars are rivetted, these bars being so inclined
both as to the back of the fire box and as to the right and left as to carry out the
chief features of this Invention, the inclination from the back being about
1 inches to the foot, and the inclination between the bars being about inch in
the foot. The sides of the fire box are also inclined so as to give greater width at
the bottom of the box.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 1, represent plan, elevation, and vertical section of a
fire grate in which the upper and lower horizontal bars of the front grating are
curved instead of straight, as in Figure 1. The reduced sides of the fire box are
sloped as in the former case.
Figures 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 2, represent plan, elevation, and vertical section of a
fire grate in which the upper and lower horizontal bars of the front grating are so
much curved as to do away with the necessity of solid sides, the grating springing
directly from the back of the fire box.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, Sheet 2, represent plan, elevation, and vertical section
of a fire grate in which the front bars are (as a frame in one piece) made to move

page_text: on pivots of the upper horizontal bar to and from the back of the fire box. The
upper and lower horizontal bars are attached to a pair of side plates a, a, having
each a slot near the bottom, and pivotted at the top c, c, into the two wedge shaped
iron side pieces d, d, which are fastened to the main side frames of the fire place
b, b, by screws e, e, e, e; these wedge pieces form parallel guides between which the
front grating moves in and out so as to alter the inclination of this front with
respect to the back of the fire box, and thus also vary the capacity of the fire box
as well as give more or less tendency for the fuel to fall as may be desirable. The
front grating is retained in any desired position within a practicable range by the
two screws and nuts ff, the screws passing through the slots of the side plates a, a,
of the grating.
This arrangement is the most simple plan of accomplishing the adjustment
aimed at, but it will be obvious to any mechanic that various other detailed
methods may be made to accomplish the same end, viz., by racks or screws, levers
or cams, if thought desirable under certain circumstances.
The fire boxes are all shown with a flat fire brick bottom, raised some 1 inches
above the hearth stone, no bottom grating or metal plate being used. The backs
and sides are also shown as fire brick, as this is the general plan I recommend, but
other suitable materials may be used.
In all the Drawings the front metal grating is supposed to be made of mild steel,
but it can be made of any suitable metal.
In the Drawings the vertical (or nearly vertical) bars are shewn straight, but
they may be curved if desirable, as shown at A and B, Sheet 2.
I have not thought it necessary to give any Drawing of a front composed of
tapered vertical bars, as from what has gone before it can easily be conceived how
a grate may be constructed with such bars giving such inclination and freedom for
the fuel to descend as I have specified and shown in respect to grates of which
Drawings are shown.
The fire brick backs of the fire boxes are all drawn vertically, but they may be
inclined if desired. The bottoms although shewn horizontal may be placed at an
angle if desired.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of fire grates adapted for dwelling and bed rooms, with
nearly vertical front bars and with the spaces between the bars themselves, and
also the spaces between the bars and the back and sides of the fire box, 80
arranged that as the fuel descends it falls always to a larger or freer space,
substantially as described.
Second. My improved fire grates, substantially as described and represented by
the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Bartlet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night houndand and sieht..
J. H. BARTLET. (L.S.)