IMPROVE MENTS IN GRATE BARS FOR FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN GRATE BARS FOR FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES." -A communication
from abroad by William McMonnies, of New York, in the United States
of America.
Sealed the 18th January 1867, dated the 23rd July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd July 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRATE BARS FOR FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by William McMonnies, of New York, in 'the
United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of grate bars for furnaces
and fire-places, and has for its object the keeping of the material of the said-
bars cool by leading currents" of air through the interior of each grate bar, in
the manner herein-after described.
According to this. Invention the top of the grate bar may be solid and of
any desired form on the surface, but it has two thin and deep webs formed on
the under surface extending throughout the entire length of the bar, and
having an air space between them, such air space being closed at the upper
[Price 8d.]

page_text: part by the top of the grate bar, and left open to the ash-pit along the whole
length of the bar on its under side. A series of holes are made through
both these thin webs communicating with the upper part of the air space
between them, and these holes are so placed as not to come opposite each other,
but to break joint, so that the heated currents of air will not oppose each
other in their escape from the interior of the bars. The heat communicated
to the upper edge of each bar is conducted downwards through the material
composing the two vertical sides or thin webs, and is carried off by the
ascending air which passes up through the interior space between the webs,
and escapes through the lateral apertures above referred to. In lieu of the
heat being brought in contact with the cold air on the two sides and narrow
lower edge only of the grate bars, as in ordinary bars, to radiate or conduct
the heat to such air, this Invention presents the additional surface of the
whole inner faces of the two webs or sides as well as the surface round the
lateral apertures, whereby the bars are more effectually and rapidly cooled,
whilst the temperature of the air on its way to the fuel is greatly augmented.
In other words, the currents of air received in the bottom of each grate bar
and discharged through the lateral perforations in the webs or sides cool the
bar in addition to the ordinary currents which flow up past each side of or
between the bars.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom

page_text: of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRATE BARS FOR FURNACES AND FIRE-PLACES,"
a communication to me from abroad by William MºMonnies, of New York,
in the United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
the grate bar is solid and of any
thin and deep webs formed on the
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of grate bars for
furnaces and fire-places, and has for its object the keeping of the material
of the said bars cool by increasing the surfaces of the bars acted upon by the
currents of cold air, nearly twofold, without increasing the area of metal in
contact with the fuel, and furnishing air to the fuel at a higher temperature
than is furnished by other bars, which is effected by leading currents of air
through a deep and narrow channel extending along the under side of each
bar, by which means the heat is taken up from the metal and imparted to the
air, its rarefication thereby accelerating its passage to the fuel, hence by a
larger supply of heated air reaching the fuel economy is effected.
According to this Invention the top of
desired form on the surface, but it has two
under surface extending throughout the entire length of the bar, and having
an air space between them, such air space being closed at the upper part by
the top of the grate bar, and left open to the ash-pit along the whole length
of the bar on its under side. A series of holes are made through both these
thin webs communicating with the upper part of the air space between them,
and these holes are so placed as not to come opposite each other, but to break
joint, so that the heated currents of air will not oppose each other in their
escape from the interior of the bars. The heat communicated to the upper
edge of each bar is conducted downwards through the material composing the
two vertical sides or their webs, and is carried off by the ascending air which
passes up through the interior space between the webs, and escapes through
the lateral apertures above referred to. In lieu of the heat being brought in

page_text: contact with the cold air on the two sides and narrow lower edge only of the
grate bars, as in ordinary bars, to radiate or conduct the heat to such air, this
Invention presents the additional surface of the whole inner faces of the two
webs or sides as well as the surface round the lateral apertures, whereby the
bars are more effectually and rapidly cooled, whilst the temperature of the air
on its way to the fuel is greatly augmented. In other words, the currents of
air received in the bottom of each grate bar and discharged through the lateral
perforations in the webs or sides cool the bar in addition to the ordinary
currents which flow up past each side of or between the bars.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a plan view showing several bars; Figure 2 is
a longitudinal section, taken at A, B, through the centres of the holes f, f;
Figure 3 is a side view; Figure 4 is an end view; Figure 5 is a section,
taken at E, F; Figure 6 is a section of two bars, taken at C, D; and
Figure 7 is a side view of three sections or lengths of such grate bars.
a is the top or main upper surface in contact with the fuel, made as usual
slightly hollow, to retain ashes; and b and c are thin portions forming sides
leaving the channel d entirely open at the bottom and ends, and running the
whole length of the bar; f, f, are holes communicating from the upper part
of the channel d to the exterior of the bar on each side; these holes are not
placed directly opposite each other, but are staggered, so that the escaping
currents of heated air do not oppose each other. The heat communicated to
the top surface of each bar is conducted downwards or diffused through the
material of the vertical sides b and c, and is carried off by the ascending air
which passes through the channel and escapes through the holes f, f. In
addition to the surface of the two sides and narrow lower edges, as in ordinary
bars, to radiate or distribute the heat to the air, this Invention presents the
additional surface of the whole inner faces of the sides b and c, thus more
effectually and rapidly cooling the bar, and preventing its speedy burning or
warping while giving air to the fuel in a much more heated state, and in a
larger quantity. The top of the bar being wider than any other transverse
portion of it permits the free descent of the fuel or ashes between the bars,
and prevents any portion of the heated fuel or residuum from resting or
remaining upon the sides or any part of the bar other than the narrow top a,
and as a consequence preventing the choking or clogging of the transverse
holes, f, in the sides b and c of the bar, thereby securing at all times an

page_text: unobstructed passage for the heated air as it escapes from the channel d.
These bars are placed in furnaces in the same manner as ordinary bars, and
equally as convenient to "prick" or "slice," in order to clean the fires or
remove the clinkers; they are lighter than bars ordinarily used, and more
convenient to remove, replace, and clean.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction and use of
grate bars having a longitudinal channel d formed between the vertical sides
b and c, and left entirely open at the bottom and ends, in combination with
lateral holes or passages f, J, so adapted as to allow of the ascent of air
between the vertical sides b and c, and its discharge through the transverse
holes ff, into the spaces between the bars, and from thence to the fuel
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)