IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE BARS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF FURNACES FOR GENERATING STEAM AND CONSUMING SMOKE
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Erskine at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1881.
FRANCIS ERSKINE, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE BARS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF
FURNACES FOR GENERATING STEAM AND CONSUMING SMOKE."
My Invention consists in constructing firo bars in the form of a hollow rectan
gular box in cross section, the lengthway of the bar being divided by partitions to
form separate compartments or boxes.
The upper side of the bar or hollow box has a scries of cross slits to form a grato
surface, and along about the centro of the lower side and in the lengthway of the
bar a tube is carried which is supplied with steam from the boiler, and in the upper
sido of this pipe a small holo is made for the escape of a jet of steam opposito tho
centre of a hole in the under side of cach compartment in the bar, and thus air and
steam mixed is driven into each division of the bar and passes to the fuel over tho
upper surface of the bar.
Each jet of steam is or may be arranged to pass out through an orifice like that
of a gas burner so as to spread the steam to issue in a flat form.
My Invention also consists in combining with the hollow bar a steam jet and
cone or concs to draw in air and drive it into each compartment of the hollow
fire bar.
In some cases the hollow firo bars are or may be constructed so as to be entirely
closed underneath by a slide or damper when required and opened to lot out ashes
or admit air, the mixed steam and air being injected into the hollow bar at ono end.
In using my improved fire bars my Invention further consists in arranging them
in the furnace side by side, but with a space between the bars of three or four
inches, which intervening space is filled up with fire brick or other suitable
material.
I prefer to use these improved bars arranged as above described in the first-length
of the furnace, that is, for about half the length of the furnace, but they may be
employed if required for the entire length of the furnace..
The steam is conveyed to the pipes supplying the steam to the jets under the bars

page_text: by a cross pipe with which each pipe from the fire bars forms a junction, which
pipe has a cock for regulating or shutting off the supply of steam, and by this
cock the combustion inay be regulated in place of opening or closing the ordinary
damper.
My Invention further consists in combining with my improved firo bars and
their arrangement to form a furnaco grato a hollow box at the bridge of the
furnace having a damper which can be opened and closed by a rod from the front
of the furnace to regulate the supply of air, and I sometimes use a jet of steam in
this box to draw in and inject the air more freely, and can thus consume the
smoke as it passes over the fire bridge of the furnace.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Erskine at the Office of
tho Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1881.
FRANCIS ERSKINE, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE BARS, AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF
FURNACES FOR GENERATING STEAM AND CONSUMING SMOKE."
My Invention consists in constructing firo bars in the form of a hollow rectan
gular box in cross section, the lengthway of the bar being divided by partitions to
form separate compartments or boxos.
The upper side of the bar or hollow box has a series of cross slits to form a grato
surface, and along about the centro of the lower sido and in the lengthway of the
bar a tubo is carried which is supplied with steam from the boiler, and in the upper
Bido of this pipo a small holo is made for the escapo of a jet of steam opposito tho
centre of a hole in the under sido of each compartment in the bar, and thus air and
steam mixed is driven into cach division of the bar and passes to the fuel over the
upper surface of tho bar.
Each jet of steam is or may be arranged to pass out through an orifice like that
of a gas burner so as to spread the steam to issue in a flat form.
My Invention also consists in combining with the hollow bar a ateain jet and
cono or cones to draw in air and drivo it into each compartment of the hollow
fire bar.
In some cases the hollow firo bars are or may be constructed so as to bo entiroly
closed underneath by a slido or damper when required and opened to lot out ashos
or admit air, the mixed steam and air being injected into the hollow bar at one end.
In using my improved fire bars my Invention further consists in arranging them
in the furnaco side by side, but with a space between the bars of three or four
inches, which intervening space is filled up with fire brick or other suitable
material.
I prefer to use these improved bars arranged as above described in the first length
of the furnace, that is, for about half the length of the furnace, but they may be
employed if required for the entire length of the furnace..
The steam is conveyed to the pipes supplying the steam to the jets under the bars

page_text: by a cross pipe with which each pipe from the fire bars forms a junction, which
pipe has a cock for regulating or shutting off the supply of steam, and by this
cock the combustion may be regulated in place of opening or closing the ordinary
damper.
My Invention further consists in combining with my improved firo bars and
their arrangement to form a furnace grato a hollow box at the bridge of the
furnace having a damper which can be opened and closed by a rod from the front
of the furnace to regulate the supply of air, and I sometimes uso a jet of steam in
this box to draw in and inject the air more freely, and can thus consume tho
smoke as it passes over the fire bridge of the furnace.