Improvements in Reciprocating Grates.
Year: 1891

page_text: :
Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1891
..Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reciprocating Grates.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son 151, Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Ageut do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Henry S. Williams of 65 Federal Street Boston
in the State of Massachusetts United States of America Inventor,) to be as
follows:
The invention has reference to the construction of reciprocating grates for stoves
and furnaces, and particularly to that class of grates in which all grate-bars have a
reciprocating motion in horizontal planes, alternate bars moving in opposite
directions.
The general objects of the present invention are to simplify the mechanism by
which the grate bars are actuated to give motion to every part of the grate-surface,
thereby promoting uniform.combustion, to reduce grently the difficulty and cost of
construction and the liability of clogging and to construct and combine the parts
composing the grate and its actuating mechanism in such a manner that they will
all be held securely in position while in use without the employment of bolts nuts.
keys or fastenings of any kind.
The grate as hereinafter described, is composed of five simple castings, requiring
no prints, cores, or core-boxes. The parts when in position present no dead.
surfaces or slots where cinders or clinkers could lodge.
The headers or guide bars, as well as the bearings on which the grate bars are
supported partake of the oscillating motion, and the space beneath the grate
surface is always free for the ascent of air, and descent of ashes and cinders. As
no screws or other fastenings are used, the grate can be removed or parts thereof
taken out, should occasion arise, without difficulty or delay. Expansion and
contraction of the bars and other parts cannot derange the mechanism.
The reciprocating grate bars have a deep thin web, and horizontal lugs or
sections projecting above and on each side of the web.
The grate bars rest loosely upon anti-friction rollers. These rollers extend.
entirely across the grate from side to side and are formed with annular flanges.
alternating with recesses. The said rollers rest loosely upon the hangers in
depressions formed therein, which limit the play of the rollers. Lateral motion of
the rollers is prevented by the flanges thereon, which project down on each side of
the banger. The grate bars each rest in a recess in two of these rollers, and the
flanges on each side hold it in position. In arranging the parts every other groove
of the rollers receives a grate-bar, so that the hangers can be placed between and
not directly under the grate bars.
The rollers of the form described cannot come together so as to close up the
space between them, and so impede the circulation of air or removal of cinders.
The rocker-bar has swelling projections adapted, when the bar is oscillated, to'
move the grate-bars back and forth.
The said rocker-bar has projections above the axis of oscillation of the bar, and
other projections below said axis. Consequently when the rocker-bar is oscillated
it will move adjacent grate-bars in opposite directions.
Instead of mounting the rocker-bar in the front of the grate, it is preferably
placed in the centre of the grate, being provided with knife-edge bearings, which
rest in notches in the middle of the hangers, and the webs of the grate bars are
provided with a deep notch at the middle thereof, which fits over the rocker. In.
grates of large size having extra long grate-bars, the rocker may be hung,' as
heretofore at one end of the crate.

page_text: The rocker-bar may be provided with an arm and button on which to hook a
shaking bar, or it may be oscillated in any other suitable way. The headers or
guide-bars are provided with webs which project between the slotted ends of the
grate-bars, and with shorter webs between adjacent bars. These headers have a
thin vertical portion terminating in an edge which rests at the bottom of a recess
in the ends of hangers.
The header is not only connected loosely with the hangers or supports, but it is
capable of a limited oscillating movement on its bearing-edge. The slots in the
ends of the grate bars being somewhat shorter than the webs which enter the same,
the latter is struck by the end of the slot each time the grate is shaken, and the
header thereby oscillated, dislodging all accumulations above the samo and keeping
the grate-surface clean to the extreme ends thereof.
1
It will be seen that when the parts are in position they are all loosely mounted,-
that is to say, there are no positive connexions between any of the parts-and the
utmost ease and freedom of motion are thus provided for, that the shaking motion
extends to every square iuch of grate surface, and that the mechanism beneath the
grate surface does not impede the descent of ashes or ascent of air, and is not likely
to become clogged in use.
Di: net 1
1901
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reciprocating Grates.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Henry S. Williams of 65 Federal Street, Boston in
the State of Massachusetts United States of America Inventor) and in wint
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The invention has reference to the construction of reciprocating grates for stoves
and furnaces, and particularly to that class of grates in which all grate bars have
a reciprocating motion in horizontal planes, alternate bars moving in opposite
directions.
The general objects of the present invention are to simplify the mechanism by
which the grate-bars are actuated to give motion to every part of the grate surface,
thereby promoting uniform combustion, to reduce greatly the difficulty and cost of
construction and the liability of clogging, and to construct and combine the parts.
composing the grate and its actuating mechanism in such manner that they will all
be held securely in position while in use without the employment of bolts, nuts,
keys, or fastenings of any kind.
The grate as hereinafter described, is composed of five simple castinge, requiring
no prints, cores or core-boxes. The parts when assembled present no dead surfaces
or slots where cinders or clinkers could lodge. The headers or guide-bars, as well
as the bearings on which the grate bars are supported, partake of the oscillating
motion, and the space beneath the grate surface is always free for the ascent of air
and descent of ashes and cinders. As no screws or other fastenings are used the
grate can be removed or parts thereof taken out, should occasion arise without
difficulty or delay. Expansion and contraction of the bars and other parts cannot
derange the mechanism..
In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same in connection with the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing one of the hangers and one grate bar in
Bide elevation.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of one of the antifriction rollers;

page_text: Fig. 3 an elevation of the rock bar, and
Fig. 4 a partial plan showing relative positions of grate bars and headers.
A represents one of the hangers or truss-supports upon which all parts of the
grate rest. They may be hung at their ends on common bearing-bars or set in the
brick-work of the furnace.
The reciprocating grate-bars B having a deep thin web 6 and horizontal lugs or
sections ¹ projecting above and on each side of the wob b. The grate bars rest
loosely upon anti-friction rollers C. These rollers extend entirely across the grate
from side to side, and are formed with annular flanges c, alternating with
recesses c¹, as shewn in Fig. 2. The said rollers rest loosely upon the hangers A
in depressions a formed therein which limit the play of the rollers.
Lateral motion of the rollers is prevented by the flanges thereon, which project
down on each side of the hanger. The grate bars each rest in a recess in two of
those rollers and the flanges on each side of the bar hold it in position. These
rollers are solid castings aud as the flauges & grooves are regularly disposed the:
roller can be cut off at any desired length in the sand, according to the width of
the grate. Four rollers are used in each grate, and these are all cast from one:
pattern, and like other parts of the grate are reversible and interchangeable.
In assembling the parts, every other groove of the rollers receives a grate-
bar, so that the hangers can be placed between and not directly under the grate-
bars.
As shown in Fig. 1, the webs of the grate-bars are cut away at dd', so as to
clear two of the rollers. Each bar therefore rests on two rollers, and on a different
pair of rollers from that which supports the adjacent bar on either side. Rollers
of the form shown cannot come together so as to close up the space between them
and so impede the circulation of air or removal of cinders.
The rocker-bar E has swelling projections & e' adapted, when the bar is oscillated,'-
to move the grate bars back & forth. The projections e are above the axis of
oscillation of the bar whereas projections el are below said axis. Consequently
when the rocker bar is oscillated, it will move adjacent grate-bare in opposite.
directions.
Instead of mounting the rocker bar in the front of the grate, it is preferably
placed in the centre of the grate being provided with knife edge bearings g which.
rest in notches in the middle of the hangers A, and the webs of the grate
bars are provided with a deep notch at the middle thereof, which fits over the
rocker.
This construction has several important advantages. Power from the rock bar
is more easily applied. in this position and less force is required to oporate it..
Moreover the arrangement permits the construction of the grate bars all from the
same pattern without the expense of an extra pair of lugs at one end to admit of
the bars being reversed. Bars made as shown herein are lighter cheaper and more
casily made than those having depending arms or lugs to embrace the rocker-bar.
This construction is specially advantageous for grates of small and medium size.
In grates of large size having extra long grate bars, the rocker may be hung as
heretofore at one end of the grate. The rocker bar may be provided with an arm i
and button on which to hook a shaking bar, or it may be oscillated in any other
suitable way. The headers or guide bars M are provided with webs m, which
project between the slotted end of the grate bars, and with shorter webs m²
between adjacent bars. These headers have a thin vertical portion terminating in
an edge which rests at the bottom of a recess in the ends of hangers A. The
header is not only connected loosely with the hangers or supports but it is capable
of a limited oscillating motion on its bearing edge. The slots in the ends of the
grate bars being somewhat shorter than the webs m which enter the same, the
latter is struck by the end of the slot each time the grate is shaken, and the header
thereby oscillated, dislodging all accumulations above the same, and keeping the
grate surface clean to the extreme ends thereof.
It will be seen that when the parts are assembled they are all loosely mounted-

page_text: that is to say, there are no positive connections between any of the parts-and the
utmost ease and freedom of motion are thus provided for, that the shaking motion
extends to every square inch of grate surface, and that the mechanism beneath the
grate surface does not impede the descent of ashes or ascent of air and is not likely
to become clogged in use.
While the foregoing description sets forth what is regarded as the best embodi-
ment of the principles of my invention, it will be obvious that modifications may
be made therein without changing its essential character, and that some of the
improvements described are capable of use separately from others.
I am aware that grate-bars have heretofore been supported on antifriction
rollers of various forms. For example, smooth rollers extending entirely across
the grate have been used, such rollers being either journaled, in fixed bearings or
mounted loosely on fixed spindles. A series of independant spools or rollers, one
of each grate-bar, all mounted on a common fixed spindle, have also been used. I
do.not include in my invention any such devices. The construction described and
claimed herein has several distinctive, characteristic, and advantageous features.
The rollers, which extend entirely across the grate are cast in one piece and are
loosely mounted, so that they roll freely in both directions on their support and
require no fastenings of any sort. The annular flanges at regular intervals both
hold the grate bars and also hold the rollers on the hangers. They are reversible,
interchangeable, and can be cut off in the sand to the proper length for grates.of
any width. Although the rollers are free the flanges serve to keep an open space
between them and to prevent clogging or choking of the 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 :-
1. In a grate, the combination, with movable grate bars, of the anti friction
rollers, each extending across the grate and loosely mounted on suitable supports
or hangers, so as to roll thereon in both directions, said rollers being provided with
flanges for holding and guiding the grate bars, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with the hangers or stationary supports, of the anti friction
rollers in the form of solid castings having annular flanges at suitable intervals,
each of said rollers extending across the grate and resting loosely upon said
hangers, the edges of the latter lying in recesses between said flanges, and the
grate-bars, each resting loosely in recesses in said rollers substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the hangers, the headers loosely held in recesses in said
hangers and having transverse webs or projections and the grate bare adapted to
reciprocate along side of said webs or projections and to strike and rock the
headers at each reciprocation, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a series of grate-bars, all of the same pattern and
reversible and interchangeable, said bars being provided with a deep notch in the
middle thereof, of the hangers and the oscillating rocker bar embraced by the
recesses in said bars al resting in notches in the middle of said hangers, said
rocker having projecti as alternately above and below its axis of oscillation for
reciprocating the grate bars, so that adjacent bars will move in opposite directions
substantially as described.
5. The combination of the hangers, the anti friction rollers provided with flanges
at regular intervals, the grate bars, the headers, and the rocker bar, the hangers
being fixed and the other specified parts being loosely mounted and movable
substantially as described.