Improvements relating to the Fire Boxes of Steam Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Fire Boxes of Steam Boilers.
We, ARTHUR SAMUEL FRANCIS ROBINSON, and ARTHUR CHARLES AUDEN,
both of the Vale of White Horse Iron Works, Wantage, in the County of Berks.,
Engineers, 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 :-
This invention relates to baffle plates used in the fire boxes of multitubular and
other steam boilers using straw or such like material for fuel.
Plates are employed having side flanges by which they are bolted together
so as to form a whole plate occupying almost the entire width of the fire box.
On either side of these baffle plates and at about their centre of gravity are
formed hook jaws by which the plates are suspended on studs which project on
either side of the fire box a short distance from the tubes.
In the working position the bottom edges of the baffle plates abut against the
lower part of the tube plate of the fire box, slightly above the fire bars and the
upper part of the plates incline towards the fire hole at an angle determined by
the distance the studs or fulcrum pins, on which they swing, are fixed from the
tube plate.
By this arrangement ashes are prevented from flying directly into the tubes and
choking them and, by merely rocking the plates with a fireiron, any deposit behind
or in front of the baffle is at once dislodged.
The grate is constructed with two sets of short bars instead of one set of long
bars (which are liable to bend down when overheated owing to their great length
and weight). The central support for these bars is composed of a wrought iron
bar, having notched bars bolted to either side of it, the whole being held in position
by castings formed to receive the wrought iron bar and fixed to the foundation of
the fire box. This compound bearer has the advantage of not bending under great
heat and the general result is to avoid sagging of the grate. When burning coal
the notched bars are reversed so that the fire bars lie ou a plane surface and closer
together.
An especial advantage of the above arrangement is that the baffle plates need
not be removed for coal burning but whenever it may be desirable to remove them
they merely require to be lifted off the pins on which they swing.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is a transverse section of the fire
box end of a steam boiler.
a'a a are three flanged plates bolted together side by side and forming the
baffle plate. The baffle plate is hung upon studs 61 61 fixed to the sides 6 of the
fire box, hooked jaws a being provided upon the baffle plate to engage with
these studs.
The flanges on the separate parts a¹ a³ a³ give to the plate the required stiffness.
c is the tube plate of the boiler and e' are the tubes. d is the fire hole. e¹ are
the fire bars arranged in two sets a longer set e and a shorter set e. f₁ fare
notched bars secured to the front and the back of the fire box to support the ends
of the fire bars and g₁ are other notched bars to support the ends of the fire bars
where they meet. The notched bars are fixed to a bearer h which has
lugs h¹ h¹ at its ends by which it is secured to the sides of the fire box.
The notches in the bars ƒ¹ ƒ' g¹ g' space the fire bars somewhat widely apart as

page_text: is required for burning straw; when coal is to be burnt the notched bars ƒ¹ƒ³ g'g³
are removed from their attachments, turned over and refixed with the smooth
edge of the bar upward. The fire bars are then arranged close together on
the bars f g and additional fire bars are provided to complete the grate
surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
―:
1. A steam boiler fire box with a battle plate within it hung upon pivots in front
of and beneath the ends of the boiler tubes substantially as described.
2. A baffle plate arranged in accordance with the preceding claim and
consisting of plates flanged from top to bottom and secured together side by
side and provided with horns engaging with suitable bearers on the sides of the
fire box.
3. A steam boiler fire box with fire bars in two sets e¹ and e³ supported by an
intermediate bearer and notched bars f¹ f g g substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of November 1892.
ARTHUR S. F. ROBINSON.
ARTHUR C. AUDEN.