IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS FOR THE FURNACES OF STEAM Ravenna AND MID MODE OR MOUNTING THE CAMP
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe Ferris,
both of No. 1, Laurence Pountney Hill, in the City of London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS FOR THE FURNACES OF STEAM
Ravenna AND MID MODE OR MOUNTING THE CAMP
"
Sealed the 31st March 1864, and dated the 14th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun
and John Pardoe Ferris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 14th October 1863.
We, EWING PYE COLQUHOUN and JOHN PARDOE FERRIS, both of No. 1,
Laurence Pountney Hill, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS FOR THE
FURNACES OF STEAM BOILERS, AND THE MODE OF MOUNTING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
These fire-bars, unlike the ordinary or generally constructed moveable bars,
are supported near their centre on two bearing bars, partially revolving on
their axis. The fire-bars on their upper surface are considerably curved, to
give strength at the point mostly required, on the under side there is cast on
the bars a pin or tongue fitting into holes formed on the bearing bars which
serve to keep the fire-bars in position, and form the draught or air spaces
one half the required number of fire-bars necessary to form one tier or range
in a furnace are carried by one bearing bar, and the remaining half by the
other placed in. juxtaposition. The fire-bars are so packed in the bearing

page_text: bars that a space sufficient for a fire-bar is left between each, so that when
the two bearing bars with their allotted number of fire-bars are arranged in
their proper position the fire-bars carried by each bearing bar dovetail into
each other and form the furnace with the necessary width of air spaces
between each fire-bar. Cast on the side of each bearing bar are teeth, so
that when one bearing bar supporting one half of one range of bars is moved
the bearing bar in juxtaposition and supporting the other half of the same
range of bars moves in an opposite direction, causing an extensive lift or
upward motion to be given to all the fire-bars, but while the ends of one half
the number of the bars are being raised the ends of the other half are descending
by the side of the uplifted section. Two or more ranges of these fire-bars
are easily made moveable, and by one lever only by the front bearing bars
of each and every range of fire-bars being connected by a rigid rod, the action
then given to the bars in one range is imparted to the bars in the other ranges.
When the fire-bars are fitted to the fire-boxes of locomotives it is intended that
the bearing bars should be carried by moveable brackets connected by a
horizontal cross bar working on two bearings, and so arranged that the whole
of the fire-bars can be instantly depressed and again raised to their position,
thus enabling the fire to be dropped without displacing the fire-bars. The
bars can either be moved by a hand lever, giving an intermittent motion, or by
being connected with an engine and giving a continuous motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe Ferris in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EWING
PYE COLQUHOUN and JOHN PARDOE FERRIS, both of No. 1, Lawrence Pountney
Hill, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe Ferris, Her special
licence, that we, the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe Ferris,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe Ferris, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no. others, from

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-BARS FOR THE FURNACES OF
5 STEAM BOILERS, AND THE MODE OF MOUNTING THE SAME," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe
Ferris, our executors or adminstrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one their hands 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 we, the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John
Pardoe Ferris, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
These fire-bars (unlike the ordinary or generally constructed moveable
bars) are supported near their centre and are considerably curved on their
upper surface, whereby great strength is obtained at the points mostly
required. On the under side there is cast on each bar a pin or tongue, which
being fitted into corresponding holes formed in the bearing bars serves to keep
the fire-bars in position. The bearing bars are square in section. They have
at each end a journal, on one of which is formed a square to receive the lever
when placed vertically, but when the lever is fixed horizontally this gives
place to a half socket placed on the front of the bearer. Passing through
from top to bottom are holes which receive the pins or tongues of the fire-
bars. They have also cast on their side at each end teeth. When two or
more ranges of bars are required they have on the under side jaws to which
are secured the connecting rod. The fire-bars are either moved by a hand
lever attached to one of the bearing bars to give an intermittent motion, or
may be connected with an engine giving a continuous action. Two or more
ranges may be worked by one lever, the front bearing bars supporting each
range of fire-bars, being coupled by a rigid rod which is bolted to the jaws,
the movement then given to the fire-bars in one range is imparted to the
bars in the others. The bearers are generally placed in the furnaces
transversely and side by side, and supported at their ends by carrying lugs or
brackets. One half the required number of fire-bars necessary to form one
range or tier are carried by one bearing bar, and the other half by the other
placed in juxtaposition. The fire-bars are so packed in the bearing bars that

page_text: a space sufficient for a fire-bar is left between each, so that when the two
bearing bars with their allotted number of fire-bars are arranged in their
proper position the fire-bars carried by each bearing bar dovetail into each
other and form the furnace with the necessary air spaces between each fire-
bar. When one bearing bar supporting one half of one range of bars is made
to partially revolve by the hand lever or otherwise the bearing bar in juxta-
position and supporting the other half of the same range of bars moves at the
same time in an opposite direction causing an extensive lift or upward motion
to be given to all the fire-bars, but while the ends of one half the number of
the bars are being raised the ends of the other half are being depressed by
the side of the uplifted section. When the fire-bars are fitted to the fire-
boxes of locomotives the lever for giving motion to the fire-bars is attached
vertically to the journal of one of the bearing bars, the movement of the lever
being from back to front. The bearing bars are carried by bracket plates
'connected by a horizontal cross bar working on bearings secured to the fire-
box one of the bracket plates extend beyond the end of the fire-box and is
attached to a screw worked from the foot plate of the engine, by which means
the whole of the fire-bars can be instantly lowered, the fire discharged, and
the bars returned again to their normal position without displacing or
removing them from the bearing bars. When the fire-bars are applied to
stationary or marine boiler furnaces the lever for working them is attached
horizontally to a half socket cast on the front of one bearing bar and passing
underneath the dead plate, the movement of the lever then being up and
down. The apparatus for lowering the bars is not necessary in this
construction of furnaces, but the arrangement of fire-bars and bearers are
the same in all cases.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
No. 1 and 2, longitudinal section and half plan of a single range of bars as
applied to locomotive fire-boxes; No. 3 and 4, longitudinal section and plan
of a single range of bars as fitted to stationary and marine boiler furnaces;
No. 5, longitudinal section of a double range of bars as fitted to locomotive,
stationary, and marine furnaces, the vertical and horizontal lever illustrated
in the other diagrams not shewn; they are, a, fire-bars, with tongues or pins
6 cast with and forming part of the bars; c, bearing bars with holes & cast in
them so as to receive the pin or tongue b; e, teeth cast on the bearers to
produce a simultaneous motion of both; f, journals of the bearing bars which
partially revolve when motion is required to be given to the fire-bars; g, hand
lever secured to the journal of one bearer for working the fire-bars; h, bracket
No. 1 and 2, longitudinal section and half plan of a single range of bars as
applied to locomotive fire-boxes; No. 3 and 4, longitudinal section and plan
of a single range of bars as fitted to stationary and marine boiler furnaces;
No. 5, longitudinal section of a double range of bars as fitted to locomotive,
stationary, and marine furnaces, the vertical and horizontal lever illustrated
in the other diagrams not shewn; they are, a, fire-bars, with tongues or pins
b cast with and forming part of the bars; c, bearing bars with holes d cast in
them so as to receive the pin or tongue b; e, teeth cast on the bearers to
produce a simultaneous motion of both; f, journals of the bearing bars which
partially revolve when motion is required to be given to the fire-bars; g, hand
lever secured to the journal of one bearer for working the fire-bars; h, bracket

page_text: plates for supporting the bearers; i, horizontal cross bar suspended from the
fire-box by hooks j, and carrying the two bracket plates h; k, screw for
lowering and raising the fire-bars so as to discharge the fire; 1, jaws and
connecting rod for working two ranges of bars off one lever and only necessary
when that is desired.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction, as the same may be
modified without departing from the principle or main feature of our Invention,
but what we do claim is,-
1st, the form of the fire-bars and bearers, and the method of working
them.
2nd, the arrangement for carrying or mounting the bearers so as imme-
diately to drop the contents of the fire-box without displacing the fire-bars
in their position on the bearers.
In witness whereof, we, the said Ewing Pye Colquhoun and John Pardoe
Ferris, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day
of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-four.
EWING PYE COLQUHOUN. (L.S.)
JOHN PARDOE FERRIS.
(L.S.)