CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN FURNACES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Grundy, of Wolstenholme Hall, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS TO
BE EMPLOYED IN FURNACES."
Sealed the 24th September 1867, and dated the 28th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Grundy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th March 1867.
JOHN GRUNDY, of Wolstenholme Hall, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN FURNACES," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to the fire-bars employed in furnaces, and is designed
for the purpose of promoting the better combustion of fuel and of obtaining more
radiation of heat, and consequently an economy in fuel together with more heat
and less smoke is effected.
The improvements consist in the application, employment, and use of
fire-clay in the manufacture of such bars, and also in the peculiar construction
or formation of the bars, which I prefer to make in blocks of about eighteen
inches long, six inches deep, and six inches wide, and to subdivide each
block by slots in the direction of the length so as to form each block into three

page_text: bars, a piece of clay being left about the middle of each bar so as to extend
across the slots and connect all three bars together in the middle for the purpose
of strength.
Although I have given the dimensions I prefer, I do not confine myself thereto,
the material employed and the peculiar construction of the bars in blocks being
the principal part of the Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Grundy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GRUNDY, of Wolstenholme Hall, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Grundy, Her special license that I, the said John Grundy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Grundy, my executors, administrators, and 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 of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN FURNACES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Grundy, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their bands and seals, 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 the 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 Grundy, 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
and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates to the fire-bars employed in furnaces, and is designed

page_text: for the purpose of promoting a better combustion of fuel and of obtaining
more radiation of heat, and consequently an economy in fuel together with
more heat and less smoke is effected.
The improvements consist in the application, employment, and use of
fire-clay in the manufacture of such bars, and also in the peculiar con-
struction or formation of the bars, which I prefer to make in blocks of about
eighteen inches long, six inches deep, and six inches wide, and to subdivide each
block by slots in the direction of the length so as to form each block into three
bars, a piece of clay being left about the middle of each bar so as to extend across
the slots and connect all three bars together in the middle for the purpose of
strength.
Although I have given the dimensions I prefer, I do not confine myself thereto,
the material employed and the peculiar construction of the bars in blocks being
the principle part of the Invention.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of same.
Fig. 1 represents a side view, Fig. 2 an end view, and Fig. 3 is a plan
view of a double bar formed of fire-clay which is hollow beneath and perforated
in lines instead of slotted as previously described, so that air may pass from
below to the upper surface of the bars and through them to the fire; Fig. 4
is a side view, Fig. 5 an end view, and Fig. 6 a plan view of a single bar
which are placed side by side, so that the grooves made down their sides
coming together form similar perforations to those in the solid part of the bar.
The bars are made of fire-clay in moulds either as double bars, and may be
divided lengthwise to form single bars, and are dried and burned in a kiln, and
when ready for use they are placed in the furnace on the bar bearers, either
slightly raised therefrom by placing fire-clay feet beneath them, or a channel
is made in each end, as at a, to admit air to the under surface. Fig. 7
represents an end view of an enlarged form of bar or slab which is stronger
than the other description; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same, exhibiting
slots instead of round perforations for the passage of air; and Fig. 9
represents a view of the under surface of the bar or slab, shewing the
manner in which it is strengthened by the diagonal bracing pieces.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the novel application and use of fire-bars for furnaces
made of the material called "fire-clay " as a substitute for metal or other material
hitherto used, and also in the construction and method of applying such fire-clay

page_text: bars to furnaces, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in
the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Grundy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES, C. E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
JOHN GRUNDY. (L.S.)