AN IMPROVED EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING GRATE
Year: 1884

page_text: WILLIAM JEFFREY HOPKINS-F.R.I.B.A. Sansome Lodge-Worcester Architect
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED EXPANDING
AND CONTRACTING GRATE, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The Invention consists of an arrangement that admits of the grate being readily
enlarged or contracted by means of side bars, or that which unites them, being
made and so arranged as to slide backwards or forwards into the jambs of the
fireplace or hollow tubing in such a manner that the grate can readily be expanded
or contracted as shown.
The Invention consisting of an arrangement that admits of the grate being readily
enlarged or contracted by means of side bars, or that which unites them, being
made and so arranged as to slide backwards and forwards into the jambs of the
fireplace or hollow tubing in such a manner that the grate can readily be expanded
or contracted so as to be suited for a large or small fire and easily adapted for the
use of either coal, wood or peat and moreover can when required, be removed bodily
by any person. Thus, doing away, entirely, with the ordinary expense of fixing,
or removal, and allowing the grate and adjuncts to be taken away and the whole
fire space to be used for ornamental purposes during the summer months, or at
any other time when the grate may not be required, as shown in the various
diagrams illustrating the method.
The method adopted for the insertion of the sliding bars is that of allowing them
to run backwards or forwards through an opening or openings in the jambs of the
fireplace into hollow spaces left for that purpose and sliding upon iron slots or upon
friction rollers or by other means as shown on the several diagrams N° 1 and N° 2.
These may be made of any size or form. In addition to which when iron dogs or
uprights are used iron friction rollers, or balls are placed, underneath by which
means the uprights are made to roll upon a surface of metal or other suitable
material provided for that purpose as shown in diagram N° 3. Also in certain
grates where thought desirable the sliding motion is obtained by means of hollow
side bars working upon an inner bar or rod as shown in diagram N° 4 allowing of
the same expansion or contraction as above described. Also in some cases the
several bars and uprights are made capable of being separated by means of pin
holes and screws as shown in diagram N° 5.

page_text: It is likewise intended to connect this grate with the arrangement of burrs and
back plates as more particularly shown in the several diagrams showing the general
arrangement so as by thus uniting them together the back draught may be more
effectually prevented than by any ordinary arrangement. The grate would thus
retain all the advantages of the ordinary register but having also the additional
advantage of removal and adaptation by means of contraction and enlargement.
When the principle is applied to the ordinary bars somewhat similar to those
known as Leamington grates double friction rollers are intended to be used for the
sliding portion of the bars to work upon as shown in diagram N° 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The method of expanding, contracting and removing the grate at pleasure,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.