FOR BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Walbank, of Commercial Terrace, Holbeck,
Leeds, in the County of York, for an Invention of
FOR BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
"IMPROVED GRATEBARS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Walbank at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1880.
BENJAMIN WALBANK, of Commercial Terrace, Holbeck, Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVED GRATEBARS FOR BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
1. In the manufacture of gratebars consisting of several parts joined to each
other either in cast or wrought iron, hereinafter called compound bars, I increase
the thickness of the lower part of the longitudinal portion of the bar in such
manner as to add to its strength and lessen its liability to become crooked, my
method of doing this not diminishing the area for the passage of air through the
bars.
2. I make the underside of the transverse parts of the bar in a curved form, the
middle being of less depth than the end, so as to add to the strength of its con-
nection with the other or longitudinal portion of the bar without unnecessarily
adding to the weight of the bars.
3. Where gratebars (compound) lay lungitudinally in a furnace and a second or
more rows of bars are placed beyond the first row, I make the adjacent ends of
the bars of such form that they firmly grip the bearer, and are kept in their place
thereby. My method of adapting the ends of compound bars to each other allows
of the free passage of air into the furnace at this part.
4. In both compound bars (as herein defined), and in single bars, the projections
cast on the sides of the bar or other means employed to keep them at a regular
distance, I place alternately nearer to and further from the ends of the several bars;
this allows the bars to give way under a considerable pressure, and thus lessens
their liability through expansion by heat to press against the sides of the furnace
to an injurious extent.
5. I make the ends of the single bars where they rest upon the front and back
bearers of a V shape, and the ends of the compound bars are supported in like
manner with two or more V shaped projections resting on the bearers; this form,
as I apply it, lessens the liability of ashes or dross being jammed between the end
of the bar and its bearer and forcing the bearer out of its place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Walbank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
August 1880.
BENJAMIN WALBANK, of Commercial Terrace, Holbeck, Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVED GRATEBARS FOR BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES.”
1st. In the manufacture of grate-bars, cach consisting of several parts joined
together by cast or wrought iron (hereinafter called compound bars), I increase the
thickness of the lower edge of the longitudinal part of the bar in such manner as
to add to its strength and stiffness, thus lessening its liability to become crooked,
and increasing the durability of the bars. My method of doing this, so that it
shall not interfere with the passage of air into the furnace, is shown at A, A', No. 1
(see Drawings).
2nd. I make the underside of the transverse parts of the bar in a curved form,
so as to add to the firmness of their connection with the other portions of the bar
without unnecessarily increasing the weight, see B, B¹, No. 1, which is a section
through the line K, L.
3rd. Where grate-bars are placed longitudinally in the furnace, and a second or
more rows of bars are placed beyond the first row, I make the adjacent ends of the
bars of such form that they firmly grip the bearer, and are kept in their place
thereby.
My method of adapting the ends of the bars to each other permits the passage
of air into the furnaco unrestricted by the transvers bearer. This is accomplished
by having a bearer of the form shewn in section at C, No. 2, and notching the bars
upon it.
When the bars consist of straight longitudinal parts, cast together in groups, or
of wrought iron formed into groups by a number of straight pieces being bolted or
rivetted together (see No. 5), I make the several bars forming the group alternately
to pass over and to stop short of the transverse bearer, as shewn at D, D', No. 5.
When they are formed of longitudinal and transverse parts (at any angle) my
plan of forming the abutting ends is shown at E, E, and F, F, No. 3 (the pro-
jections at E, E', crossing the transverse bearer C¹ are not limited to any number).
By employing these methods of abutting the ends of the bars the implement used
to drag out the ashes will not catch against them as it does when the bars abut in
a continuous lino at right angles to the direction of the furnace.
4th. The projections cast on the sides, or other means employed to keep the
several bars in a furnace at the proper distance from each other, and which
hitherto have been placed all at the same distance from the ends of the bars,
I place alternately nearer to and further from their ends (see Nos. 3 and 5). This
allows the bars to give way to lateral pressure, and thus prevents damage being
done to the sides of boiler flues through their expansion by heat.
5th. I make the ends of single bars where they rest upon the front and back
bearer pointed, as shown at No. 5. The ends of compound bars, as shown at No. 4,
which is a view of the underside of the bar, consist of a number of pointed supports.
This method of forming the ends which is applicable to bearers of the form shewn
at M, No. 2, prevents the ashes or dross being jambed between the end of the bar
and the bearer, and thus forcing the bearer out of its place.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed, what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the Letters
Patent is,―
First. The method of strengthening the longitudinal parts of compound bars.
Second. The curved form of the underedge of the transverse pieces in compound
hara

page_text: Third. The method of notching the bars on the transverse bearers, and passing
them across the same, in such manner that their adjacent ends shall not abut in a
continuous straight line or at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the
furnace.
Fourth. The hubs cast or fixed on the sides of the several bars to keep them at
a proper distance not being opposite each other.
Fifth. The pointed form of the ends of the bars.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Walbank, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
BENJAMIN WALBANK. (L.S.)