Improvements in Instruments for Cleaning Fires in Boiler ⚫ Furnaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Cleaning Fires in Boiler
⚫ Furnaces.
1, JAMES HOWDEN, of 8 Scotland Street, in the County of Glasgow, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows,
that is to say -
My said invention has for its object to deal satisfactorily with coal such as
is found in Australia and elsewhere and which leaves a large quantity of light
ash of a kind apt to choke the fire in boiler furnaces, and to greatly diminish
the efficiency of the furnace, if not frequently removed. The difficulty cannot
be economically met by increasing the air spaces between the fire bars, because
such increased air spaces would allow incompletely burned coal to pass through
into the ash pit; but by my invention waste is avoided and the fire is easily
cleaned by means of an instrument specially designed for the purpose, and which
is simple and easily used, whilst thoroughly effectual.
My improved instrument is a kind of shovel made with a long handle by
means of which it can be manipulated and its acting part is made like a
gridiron with slots separated by bars. The slots of the gridiron shovel may be
of about the same width as the air spaces between the fire bars or somewhat
smaller or larger. In using the instrument it is thrust along the tops of the
fire, bars and under the fuel to the part to be operated on at one time and is
then reciprocated a shorter distance backwards and forwards, with the effect of
loosening the light ash and causing it to pass through the slots of the shovel
and down through the air spaces between the fire bars into the ash pit, whilst
the bars between the slots of the shovel prevent incompletely burned pieces of
coal from getting through.
With the described instrument available for cleaning the fire the air spaces
between the fire bars may be very small and such, for example, as are used
with forced draught.
D
dov of abuse 1805
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Instruments for Cleaning Fires in Boiler
Furnaces.
I, JAMES HOWDEN, of 8, Scotland Street, in the County of Glasgow, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to deal satisfactorily with coal such as is
found in Australia and elsewhere and which leaves a large quantity of light
ash of a kind apt to choke the fire in beiler furnaces, and to greatly diminish
the efficiency of the furnace if not frequently removed. The difficulty cannot

page_text: be economically met by increasing the air spaces between the fire bars, because
such increased air spaces would allow incompletely burned coal to pass through
into the ash pit but by my invention waste is avoided and the fire is easily
cleaned, by means of an instrument specially designed for the purpose, and which
is simple and easily used whilst thoroughly effectual.
My improved instrument is a kind of shovel made with a long handle by means
of which it can be manipulated; and its acting part is made like a gridiron with
slots separated by bars. The slots of the gridiron shovel may be of about the
same width as the air spaces between the fire bars or somewhat smaller or larger.
Aud in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and showing my improved instrument.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a plan, and Figure, 2, a sectional side or edge view
of the instrument.
Figure is a longitudinal vertical section of a boiler furnace with the improved,
instrument shown in the position in which it is used.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
My improved instrument is a kind of shovel made with a long handle, A, by
means of which it can be manipulated; and its acting part, B, is made like a
gridiron with slots, C, separated by bars, D. The acting part, B, of the instrument
is slightly tapered or wedge-shaped in vertical section to allow of its being entered
under the fuel easily.
In using the instrument it is thrust along the tops of the fire bars, E, and under
the fuel, G, (as shown in Figure, 3) and is then reciprocated a short distance
backwards and forwards, with the effect of loosening the light ash and causing it to
pass through the slots, C, of the shovel and down through the air spaces between
the fire bars into the ash pit, H, whilst the bars, D, between the slots of the shovel
prevent incompletely burned pieces of coal from getting through.
With the described instrument available for cleaning the fire the air spaces
between the fire bars, E, may be made very small and such, for example, as are
used with forced draught.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
An improved instrument for cleaning fires in boiler furnaces, comprising a shovel-
like acting part having a long handle, and made like a gridiron with slots substantially
as hereinbefore described, and as shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.