IMPROVEMENTS IN TILE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS, INCLUDING IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CASTING THE SAME.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Mace and John Brewster, both of Sunderland,
in the County of Durham, Engineers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TILE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS, INCLUDING IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
CASTING THE SAME.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Maco and John
Brewster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March
1880.
CHARLES MACE and JOHN BREWSTER, both of Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS,
INCLUDING IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CASTING THE SAME."
The improvement in the shape or configuration of these fire bars consists in their
being cast one or more together, the lower web being made sufficiently deep and
very thin. They have webs or stiffening pieces cast between, which bind and hold
the bars together, and entirely dispense with stops or pieces, cast on the outside (as
bars are now usually made), and so leave a clear course along the bar for pricking
or cleaning the fire. From the thinness of the lower webs a much larger amount
of air gains admission to the furnace than by other forms of bars; at the ends of
the bars large spaces or air channels are left, allowing a good circulation of air
round the bar, and assisting to keep it cool. In cases where sinall or duff coal is
used a bar with perforations on the top side is employed, but with the same shape
and air spaces as the one described above. In the improved method of casting fire-
bars I employ a cast or wrought iron moulding box with two hinged lids, on one of
which stops or guide pieces are fixed, and in which one or any convenient number
of patterns are placed face downwards.
The bar is thus cast on the cast iron lid and chilled thereby, thus rendering the
face of the bar hard and more durable. Small patterns of the runners by which
the metal is run into the bar moulds are next laid in their proper position, and the
box is then rammed up with sand by hand or otherwise. When sufficiently full it
is levelled over, and the upper lid closed and clamped down with the clamps

page_text: provided for that purpose: The box is then turned over, the second lid opened, the
patterns and runner patterns drawn out, and the lid again closed and clamped, and
the metal poured in through the gates provided on the outer side of the lid.
Vent lioles are left in the lid to let off the air. When the castings are sufficiently
cool they are turned out of the box, and the process repeated.
Important points in this Invention arc,-
First. Making fire bars with webs deep and very thin, and casting webs or
feathers between to stiffen the bars, and making air spaces or channels at the ends
of bars for circulation of air, so keeping bar cool and preventing fusion.
Second. Casting the bars on a cast or wrought iron plate, which forms the lid or 1
cover of the moulding box, thus chilling the face of the bars and making them hard
and durable.
5

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Mace and John Brewster in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th September 1880.
CHARLES MACE and JOHN BREWSTER, both of Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, Engincers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS,
INCLUDING IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CASTING THE SAME."
The improvement in the shape or configuration of these fire bars consists in their
being cast one or more together, the lower web being made sufficiently deep and
thinned to a knife edge at bottom. They havo webs or stiffening pieces cast
between, which bind and hold the bars together, and ontirely dispense with stops
or pieces cast on the outside as bars are now usually made, and so have a clear
course along the bar for pricking or cleaning the fire. From the thinness of the
lower webs a much larger amount of air gains admission to the furnace than by
other forms of bars; at the ends of the bars large spaces or air channels, allowing
a good circulation of air round the bar and assisting to keep it cool. In cases
where small or duff coal is used a bar with perforations on the top side is employed;
but with the same shape and air spaces as the one described above. In the
improved method of casting fire-bars we employ a cast or wrought iron moulding
box with two hinged lids, on one of which stops or guide pieces are fixed, and in
which one or any convenient number of patterns are placed face downwards. The
bar is thus cast on the cast iron lid and chilled thereby, thus rendering the face of
the bar hard and more durable. Small patterns of the runners by which the metal
is run into the bar moulds are noxt laid in their proper position, and the box is then
rammed up with sand by hand or otherwise. When sufficiently full it is levelled
over, and the upper lid closed and clamped down with clamps provided for that
purpose. The box is then turned over, the second lid opened, the patterns and
runner patterns drawn out, and the lid again closed and clamped, and the metal
poured in through tho gates provided on the outer side of the lid. Vent holes are
left in the lid to let off the air. When the castings are sufficiently cool they are
turned out of the box and the process repeated.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention, and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, we will now proceed, aided
by the accompanying Drawings, to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is
to sav
Fig. 1 represents a plan, elevation, and enlarged cross section of fire bars which may
be cast one or more together; air channels are made at each end of the bars, which
may be made bevelled at the ends, as shown, and can be turned end for end as
desired; or they may be made square ended to suit existing slab plates, as most
convenient. The sides are made concave, and the lower web made to a knife edge,
as shown in section; webs or stiffening pieces are cast between the bars, and hold
or bind them together, thus dispensing with stop pieces on the outside, as bars aro
now usually made, and so leave a clear course along the bar for pricking or cleaning
the fire.
From the thinness of the bars and air channels at the ends a much larger
quantity of air gains admission to the furnace, thus keeping the bars cool,
preventing fusion of the bars, considerably aiding the combustion, and economizing
the fuel. Fig. 2 shows improved moulding box for casting the bars, both lids of
which are open. In the improved method of casting fire bars we employ a cast or

page_text: wrought iron moulding box with two hinged lids, on one of which stops or guide pieces
are fixed, and in which one or any convenient number of patterns are placed face
downwards. The bar is thus cast on the cast iron lid, and chilled thereby, thus
Tendering the bar hard and more durable. Small patterns of the runners by which
the metal is run into the bar moulds are next laid in their proper position, and the
box is then rammed up with sand by hand or otherwise; when sufficiently full it
is levelled over, and the upper lid closed and clamped down with clamps provided
for that purpose; the box is then turned over, the second lid opened, the patterns
and runner patterns drawn out, and the lid again closed and clamped, and the
metal poured in through the gates provided on the outer side of the lid. Vent holes
are left in the lid to let off the air. When the castings are sufficiently cool they are
turned out of the box, and the process repeated. Fig. 3 shows the box turned up,
and lids clamped ready for pouring in the metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, we hereby declare that we claim the Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Fire Bars, including Improved Apparatus for Casting the same,"
substantially as herein before set forth and described, wherein the following aro
important points or features,-
First. Providing, in manner herein before described, fire bars with large air
channels at ends, and with webs deep and thin, the sides of which are concave, the
bottom of web being made to a knife edge with the intention of gaining about one
third more air space than is got by any other bar at present made, substantially as
shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Casting fire bars in moulding boxes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or any
slight modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Mace and John Brewster, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty fifth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
JAMES STEWART KENT,
New Bridge Engine Works.
CHARLES MACE.
JOHN BREWSTER.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)