IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE- GRATES.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT James Damrel Prior, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Warehouseman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
GRATES.
"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Damrel Prior at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1877.
JAMES DAMREL PRIOR, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Warehouseman.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES.'
"
My Invention has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means of
varying at pleasure the capacity, form, and position of the fire-grate in cooking or
other ranges, so as to meet the varying requirements of culinary and other operations
in which heat is employed, and this object is attained in the manner herein-after
described.
I construct the front of the grate of vertical bars curved in the direction of their
length and made separate from the bottom bars, which latter are made of a similar
section, are connected together so as to form a grating or frame, the back edge of
which is furnished with a pivot on each end turning in supports or bearings attached
to the back of the fire-place in such a manner that the front edge of the grating or
frame may be moved up and down in a curved path inside the vertical bars, the
latter being in contact or nearly so with the front edge of the bottom grate as it is
raised or lowered. One of the front or vertical bars is provided with a series of
notches, with which. a pawl attached to the bottom grate engages, so as to retain
the grate at any desired height.
A socket is also formed on the front edge of the bottom grate, into which the
ordinary kitchen poker or suitable bar can be inserted to serve as a lever for raising
the grate. The bottom grate, when at the lowest position allowed by the front bars,
is inclined towards them, and thus affords a large front surface of fire suitable for
roasting, whilst when raised to its full extent a thin fire adapted for heating a hot
plate is secured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Damrel Prior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
November 1877.
<<
JAMES DAMREL PRIOR, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Warehouseman.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GRATES.
My said Invention has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means of
varying at pleasure the capability, form, and position of the fire-box basket or com-
partment in cooking, warming, and other stoves, so as to increase or decrease the
quantity of heat generated, as may be required in culinary and other operations in
which heat is employed, and this object is attained in the manner herein-after
described, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a vertical section of a grate constructed
according to my said Invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of the same.
I construct the front of the grate of vertical bars A curved and made separate
from the bottom grating B, or of horizontal bars arranged in a similar manner, the
bottom grating B is composed of bars connected together so as to form a frame, the
back edge of which is either furnished with a pivot C at each end, turning in
supports or bearings a attached to the back D of the fire-box, or elsewhere, as may
be convenient; or is provided with a roller cast on it and fitted in a suitable groove
cast in the back plate of the fire-box, or is otherwise arranged in such a manner as
to admit of the front edge C₁ of the bottom grating being moved up and down in a
curved path (turning upon C as a centre) inside the front bars A, the latter being in
contact or nearly so with the front edges C¹ of the bottom grating B as it is raised
or lowered. The bottom grating is slightly curved or turned up at its front part so
as to prevent a crushing action in lifting the fire.
A series of notches or ratchets b is provided either in one of the bars A, as shewn,
or in a casting on the front of the stove, with which notches engages a detent or
catch E attached to the bottom grating B, so as to retain the grating at any desired
height. On the front edge of the bottom grating B there is also formed a
socket F, into which the ordinary kitchen poker or any suitable bar can be inserted
to serve as a lever for raising or lowering the bottom grating; or a projecting stud
may be cast on to the bottom grating, and a suitable loop attached to the poker or
lever for raising or lowering the bottom grating, as herein-before described.
It will be seen that by varying the position of the bottom grating the capacity
and form of the fire basket and the position of the fire may be regulated as required.
When the bottom grating is at the lowest position allowed by the front bars, as
(shewn by the full lines in Figure 1) it is inclined towards them, and thus affords
a large front surface of fire suitable for roasting, whilst when raised to its full
extent (as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1) a thin fire adapted for heating
a hot plate is secured; by entirely releasing the detent E from the notches b, the
bottom grating will hang vertically, thus allowing the whole of the ashes and
cinders to fall into the ash pan G, whence they may be readily removed..
Although I prefer to employ curved front bars, yet the curved form is not essential,
as straight front bars may be used in substitution therefor, a suitable slot or groove
being provided in the back of the fire-box to admit of the bottom.grating sliding
back as its front end rises or falls in a straight line.
The form of the front bars may also be otherwise varied, as may also that of the
bottom grating, according to the taste of the constructor or the exigencies of
particular cases whilst retaining the principle of my said Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, constructing grates with a movable bottom pivotted at its back

page_text: edge or portion and maintained in any adjusted position, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I. the said James Damrel Prior, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, Onc thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
SALAD
J. D. PRIOR. (L.S.)