IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Fred Barber, of Sylvester Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Emil Vossnach, of Ellershause, Nova Scotia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Fred Barber at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1876.
FRED BARBER, of Sylvester Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES." A communication.
This Invention relates to steam boiler and other furnaces, and is designed to
afford the means for ensuring the economical combustion of fuel and for preventing
the formation of clinkers upon the fire-bars and the escape or emission of smoke
from the furnace.
In applying the said Invention to a steam boiler the furnace must be erected
independently and in front of the boiler, and must be constructed at the top with a
strong and solid arch of fire-brick, properly formed and arranged to reflect the heat
down into the furnace. At the sides of the said furnace I build in the walls thereof
metal side plates, formed with lugs or projections, whereon are placed bearers
which support iron plates or shelves and the fire-bars. The said bars are arranged
in sets, one set below another, and the bars of the upper sets are sloped or inclined
in such a manner as to form a grate surface gradually sloping downward from the
front of the furnace to the rear of the saine, where it meets to the front of the
boiler, that is to say, the said shelves are arranged one below the other, and each
one projecting farther into the furnace than the one above it, and a set or tier
of bars projects inward from the end of each of the said shelves. Upon these
shelves the fuel is first placed in heaps. Between these shelves are openings
extending across the furnace, and through which the fuel is pushed from the shelves
to the bars whereon it is burned. At a lower level than the lowest of the said
shelves is a set of horizontal bars, provided with an adjustable or falling grate,
through which the clinkers and ashes are removed from the furnace. The said
grate is hinged upon suitable bearers which support it when open or turned down,

page_text: The aforesaid sloping or inclined bars are formed and arranged at such an angle
that the pushing in of fresh fuel through the aforesaid apertures causes the ashes
and clinkers to travel to the back or lowest part of the furnace where the said
adjustable grate is placed. And by reason of this arrangement there can never
be any accumulation of clinkers on the bars, so that the furnace may be said to be
self-cleaning.
The said furnace is above described more especially in its application to steam
boilers, but it will serve without any or with but very slight modifications for all
purposes, and in all cases where it is desirable to have a furnace, which will
economize fuel and prevent the accumulation of clinkers and the escape of smoke.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Fred Barbor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st December
1876.
FRED BARBER, of Sylvester Works, Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Einil Vossnach, of Ellershause,
Nova Scotia.
This Invention relates to steam boiler and other furnaces and is designed to
afford the means for ensuring the economical combustion of fuel, and to prevent
the formation of clinkers upon the fire-bars, and the escape or omission of smoke
from the furnace.
.
In applying the said Invention to a steam boiler the furnace must be erected
independently and in front of the boiler, and must be constructed at the top with a
strong and solid arch of fire-brick, properly formed and arranged to reflect the heat
down into the furnace. At the sides of the said furnace I build in the walls thereof
metal side plates, formed with lugs or projections, whereon are placed bearers or
bearing bars which support iron plates or shelves and the fire-bars. The said bars
are arranged in sets, one set below another, in such a manner as to form a grate
gradually sloping downward from the front of the furnace to the rear of the same,
where it meets to the front of the boiler, that is to say, the suid plates or shelves
are arranged one below the other, and each one projecting farther into the furnace
than the one above it, and a set or tier of bars projects inwards from the end of
each of the said shelves. Between these shelves are openings extending across the
furnace. At a lower level than the lowest of the said shelves is a set of horizontal
bas provided with an adiustable an falling omaha fitind
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Fred Barber in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st Decomber
1876.
FRED BARBER, of Sylvester Works, Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Einil Vossnach, of Ellershause,
Nova Scotia.
This Invention relates to steam boiler and other furnaces and is designed to
afford the means for ensuring the economical combustion of fuel, and to prevent
the formation of clinkers upon the fire-bars, and the escape or omission of smoke
from the furnace.
In applying the said Invention to a steam boiler the furnace must be erected
independently and in front of the boiler, and must be constructed at the top with a
strong and solid arch of fire-brick, properly formed and arranged to reflect the heat
down into the furnace. At the sides of the said furnace 1 build in the walls thereof
metal side plates, formed with lugs or projections, whereon are placed bearers or
bearing bars which support iron plates or shelves and the fire-bars. The said bars
are arranged in sets, one set below another, in such a manner as to form a grate
gradually sloping downward from the front of the furnace to the rear of the same,
where it meets to the front of the boiler, that is to say, the said plates or shelves
are arranged one below the other, and each one projecting farther into the furnace
than the one above it, and a set or tier of bars projects inwards from the end of
each of the said shelves. Between these shelves are openings extending across the
furnace. At a lower level than the lowest of the said shelves is a set of horizontal
bars, provided with an adjustable or falling grate fitted on a hinge.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a furnace adapted to a Cornish boiler, with one
flue through it; Figure 2 is a section of the same on the liue x, x, Figure 1.
Like letters indicate the same parts in both Figures.
A, A, are the two side plates built into the brick work of the furnace, and which
support the other parts herein-after described; B, B, are the bearing bars extending
between the side plates A and resting on the lugs B', B', cast on the said side
plates; B, B¹¹, are other lugs cast on the side plates A for the support of the
shelves D, D¹, D; C, O, Cu, C, are the bars on which the combustion of the
fuel takes place, these bars being supported by means of the bearers B in such
manner as to leave openings or spaces L, L, L", between them.
The shelves D, D, D", are level with the upper side or top of the bars C, C³, C",
and with the under side of the openings L, L, L".
E is the aforesaid hinged grate, forming with the bars C a refuse box, in which
the final combustion takes place and in which all the ashes and clinkers accumu-

page_text: late. The grate E can be dropped or turned down on its hinges J by means of the
curved bar H and rod H', and when turned down will rest upon the guard K so
as to allow the removal of the refuse when necessary, and by means of this lever
the said grate can be easily turned back into the position shewn in Figure 2.
F is the fire-brick arch at the top of said furnace, and which reflects the heat
down among the gases formed by the combustion of the fuel in the sainc.
G is a movable plug fitting in a front plate I, and which permits the surface of
the fire to be inspected when necessary. The said front plate connects the top of
the aforesaid side plates.
After the fire is lighted in the ordinary manner fuel is thrown on the shelves
D, D', and D, and pushed into the openings L, L, and L", in such a manner as
to be level with the ends of the bars C¹, C, and the lower edge of front plate I.
The consequence of this method of firing is that the lighting of the fuel pro-
gresses backwards and downwards, and the smoke being carried through the fire
in front and above it, and being mixed with the draught air becomes at once
volatilized, and on meeting the reflected heat of the arch F bursts into flame and
the products of combustion pass off through the flues completely freo from smoke.
Another result of this method of firing is that the clinkers which form on the
bars C run down them and fall on the top of the fire on bars O". On pushing in
fresh fuel the clinkers are pushed forward to the slope of bars C", and the saine
process again takes place until finally the clinkers accumulate with the ashes in
the refuse box at the back of the fire. This refuse can be at any time easily
removed by dropping the grate E, as above described, and taking out its contents.
And by reason of this arrangement there can never be any accumulation of clinkers
ou the bars, so that the furnace may be said to be self-cleaning.
The said furnace is above described, more especially in its application to steam
boilers, but it will serve with but very slight modifications for all purposes and in
all cases where it is desirable to have a furnace, which will economize fuel and
prevent the accumulation of clinkers and the escape of smoke.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. A steam boiler or other furnace in which the grate bars are arranged in
sets or series, so that the fuel may be introduced under the fire, as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination of parts comprising the side plates, the bearers, the
shelves, and partially inclined or sloping grate bars, constructed and placed in a
furnace, as shewn in the accompanying Drawing and as above described for the
purposes specified.
Third. In a furuace the combination with the bars, on which the fuel is burned,
of the refuse box or horizontal grate with a portion of the same made to open and
close, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Fred Barber, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
FRED BARBER. (L.S.)