IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACE BARS
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY WILLIAM SHARPE at the Office for Patents G Lord Street Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster Brewer do hereby declare the nature of iny said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACE BARS," to be as follows:—
This invention has for its object a bar that will keep cool will not allow the
clinkers to stick by causing as near as possible complete combustion, thus effecting
a very considerable saving in fuel the bars will last for years and can be kept in
constant action by supplying a regular stream of water vapour through every part
of the fuel without taking it from the boiler or having steam or any other fast
connections. The main difficulty hitherto found in supplying steam to furnaces
is that either it is delivered above the fuel thus cooling the gases that it is desirable
shall be as hot as possible, or it is delivered below in a few jets thus unevenly
distributing it over the surface or in a series of jets from a network of tubes which
seriously interfere with the draught or the working of the furnace or lastly there
is a connection with the boiler to tubular bars with jet orifices. My invention
surmounts these inconveniences. It consists in a hollow bar with openings near
the top at each end and a series of perforations all along each side near the top by
which the stean escapes. The water is run in at one end and that portion which
does not evaporate can trickle out at the other end. There are the usual distanco
pieces and stops for bearers and the outer contour of the bar can be of any required
form or dimensions.
These bars may be manufactured at a cost but little exceeding that of the bars
commonly used. They can be used as an ordinary bar without water the current
of air passing them tending to keep them cool and to last longer than the ordinary
bars. They are easily removed and replaced and are not liable to get out of order.
By their use the draught is increased and they can be fitted to any furnace at
littlo cost.

page_text: I, HENRY WILLIAM SHARPE, Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Lancashire, Brewer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACE BARS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object a bar for furnaces that will keep cool and will
not allow the clinkers to stick, by causing as nearly as possible complete com-
bustion, thus effecting a very considerable saving in fuel, the bars will last for
years and can be kept in constant action by supplying a regular stream of water
which is converted into vapour and is distributed through every part of the fuel
without as in previous systems taking it direct from the boiler by means of steam
or any other fast connections.
Steam has already been supplied to boiler furnaces both above and below tho
bars but serious difficulties and objections to the course adopted have arisen.
When the steam is delivered above the fuel it cools down the gases which should
be maintained at as high temperature as possible. When it is delivered under the
bars by either a few jets of steam or a network of steam tubes, the steam is so
unevenly distributed under the fuel as to seriously interfere with the draft and
working of the furnace, and when the steam has been taken direct from the boiler
by means of tubular bars provided with jet orifices the system has been maintained
at great cost of fuel and vapour.
This invention is intended to surmount these inconveniences. It consists in a
hollow bar with openings near the top at each end, and a series of perforations all
along each side near the top through which the steam generated in the interior
of the bar together with air is ejected and evenly distributed into the fire.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of furnace bar.
Figure 2 plan of bars in position in furnace.
Figure 3 half front elevation and half sectional elevation of bars in position in
furnace.
Figure 4 plan of front bearer for the bars.
Figure 5 sectional plan of front end of bar on line x. y.
In these A is tho bar which is made of cast or other metal which may be of any
convenient shape or contour, the centre B being hollow. At each end of the bar
there is an opening at the front C and at the back D, and along one or both sides
are a series of small orifices or openings E. Water is passed into the interior of
the bar through the back end at the opening D, preferably in a slow and continuous
.stream, which, as it passes the length of the bar is gradually evaporated and
converted into steam. If the flow of water is greater than the evaporation that is
at the time taking place, the unevaporated water passes out at the opening C and
trickles down the front of the bar into a receiver arranged for the purpose. The
supply of water to the bars can be so regulated that very little may be allowed to
run out at C. The less that is allowed to escape at C the better, as the greater the
flow there, the greater the flow at the inlet with a consequent result of keeping
the temperature of the water in the bar to a lower degree with less evaporation
and less production of dry steam. The water is supplied to the bars through a
main pipe or chamber running transversely across the back end of the bars.
The pipe or chamber I may be made of rectangular or other cross section, and
LI..
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page_text: "
at one of the ends. The chamber F is connected with the inlet D of each of the
bars by means of small tubes ƒ which are tightly fixed to the chamber F making
one side of the connections, they then pass loosely into the interior of each bar
through the opening D and are arranged as shown so that no leakage may occur.
The arrangement at the same time is such that the bar may be easily withdrawn
or removed. At the back of the furnace the bars rest on the transverse bearer H.
The front bearer I for the bars is formed "trough shape This trough i serves as
a receiver to catch the out-flowing water from the outlet C. Through the incline
of the trough i the water passes to the drain pipe J. K is a plug to remove for
the purpose of cleaning out the pipe. In order to prevent the water which trickles
down the face of the bar from Ċ running back under the bar instead of dropping
off into i, I notch the front bottom corner a of the bar (as shewn Figure 1) which
causes the water to drop off as it runs down. L is a loose dead plate which may
be easily removed for convenience of taking out any of the fire bars when required.
M bridge at back of furnace.
Although I consider the above arrangement the best and prefer it, the bars
might be so placed and arranged that the water inlet would be at the front and the
outlet at the back.
These bars may be manufactured at a cost but little exceeding that of the bars
commonly used. They can be used as an ordinary bar without water, the current
of air passing through them tending to keep them cool, and last longer than
ordinary bars. They are easily removed and replaced, and are not liable to get
out of order. By their use the draught is increased, and they can be fitted to any
furnace at little cost.
It will of course be understood that I do not claim broadly the use of hollow
fire bars, which I know have been in use, nor yet a jet of steam issuing into the
furnace or below it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. A hollow furnace bar with an opening or openings at each end through
one of which water or air or both are allowed to flow in, and having a number
of small orifices or perforations along one or both sides through which the steam
generated and air heated in the interior of the bar, or both, are ejected and evenly
distributed into the fire substantially as described and shewu.
2nd. The general arrangement and construction of furnace bars with their
adjuncts, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
214
.
Dated this 270
day of November 1881.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
.Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.