IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Poole, of Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
FURNACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Poole at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY POOLE, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention is designed principally to be applied to the construction of the
furnaces of steam boilers, but it may also be adapted with advantage to other
furnaces.
.
The Invention relates to the construction of the furnace bars and their
appliances, with the view to the more economical and perfect combustion of the
fuel employed.
In the first place, I arrange the bars by preference in two sets, supported by a
back and a front dead plate, and a central bearer. Each set consists of a number of
fixed and rocking bars placed alternately. Each bar (whether fixed or rocking)
consists of a long rib or plate, having along the upper edges a number of
projections or teeth in a serrated form on each side, the projection on one side being
(by preference) opposite to the space on the other, and the projections and spaces
on the contiguous bars interlocking with each other so as to leave between them
an air space of a serrated or zigzag form.
The ends of the fixed bars rest in notches in the dead plates and central bearer,
and the ends of the rocking bars are notches and rest on inverted V-edges.
The front rocking bars have arms cast to each of their ends underneath, which
are formed with forks embracing studs upon a bar which can be moved to and
fro when required by means of a lever or otherwise.
The back rocking bars have similar arms, but at that end only which rests on the
central bearer.

page_text: A pin connects the arms of the front and back rocking bars together, and passes
through a link or shackle which hangs from the central bearer, and thus supports
the connecting bar.
I prefer to make those furnace bars which are next to the flue at each side
"fixed bars," and on the side next to the flue I provide them with alternate short
projections or teeth and intervening air spaces. These projections and air spaces are
both shorter and narrower than those in the working part of the furnace.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Poole in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th January 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY POOLE, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES."
This Invention is designed principally to be applied to the construction of the
furnaces of steam boilers, but it may also be adapted or used with advantage to
other furnaces.
My invention relates to the construction of the furnace bars and their appliances.
with a view to the more economical and perfect combustion of the fuel employed.
In the first place I arrange the bars by preference in one, two, or more sets,.
supported by a back and front dead plate, and a central bearer or bearers. Each
set consists of a number of fixed and rocking bars placed alternately; each bar
(whether fixed or rocking) consists of a long rib_or_plate, having-along-the-upper-
edges a number of projections or teeth in a serrated form on each side, the projection
on one side being (by preference) opposite to the space on the other, and the
projections and spaces of the contiguous bars interlocking with each other, so as
to leave between them an air space of a serrated or zig-zag form.
The ends of the fixed bars rest in notches or slots in the dead plates and central
bearer or bearers, and on the ends of the rocking bars are notches which rest or
rock on inverted V or knife-edges.
The front rocking bars have arms cast to one or both ends' underneath; the end
towards the middle of the furnace is formed with forks embracing studs upon a
bar or cradle coupling, which can be moved to and fro when required by means
of a lever or otherwise.
The back-rocking bars have similar arms, but at that end only which rests on
the central-bearer.
The cradle or connecting bar is slung by shackles from middle bearer, and
carries pins which engage the fork ends of rocking-bars, thereby coupling the
sets or lengths of bars together.
I prefer to make those furnace bars which are next to the flue at each side
"fixed bars," and on each side next to the flue I provide them with alternate

page_text: short projections or teeth and intervening air spaces. These projections and air
spaces are both shorter and narrower than those in the working part of the
furnace.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood 'and readily carried into
operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings, reference being
made to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fire-box with my improved bars.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
The front dead plate or bar-bearer is indicated by the letter A, the central
bearer A, and the back dead plate by A¹, which are provided with the notches B
for the fixed or stationary bars C, and the inverted V or knife-edges D for the
rocking bars E. The stationary or fixed bars C and the rocking bars E are placed
alternately, and consists of the rib or plate F, having along their upper edge the
projections or tongues G-in a serrated form on each side right and left, which fit
into the recesses formed by the projections or tongues on the opposite bars, leaving
sufficient space between each individual bar for the air to pass through.
The ends of the stationary or fixed bars C are prepared so as to drop in the
notches B, in the dead plates A and A¹, and middle or central bearer A³; on the ends
of the rocking bars E are cast the inclined notches H, which sit on top of the
inverted or knife edges D, as shewn in Fig. 3.
The rocking bars E are provided with the arms I cast to each underneath, which
are formed with fork-ends at their extremity, and embrace the studs K, fixed in
the connecting-bar M, which is moved to and fro when required by the lever N
under the front dead plate.
.
The back rocking bars E are provided at the front end which sit on the central
or middle bearer A³ with the arins I, as shewn in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, which is for
the purpose of giving a simultaneous motion to those at the front end.
For the purpose of connecting the two lengths of rocking bars and causing them
to work uniformly together, is fixed in the central bearer A² the pins or centres O,
upon which the links P are suspended and connected at the bottom to the
connecting bar M by the pins R, thus connecting the whole of the rocking bars E
in one furnace.
The rocking motion is obtained by means of the lever N, secured to the front dead
plate A by means of the pin S, which forms the fulcrum; this lever projects to the
arm I, which is fixed or cast to one of the front rocking-bars E, thus giving the
motion to the rest, as before described.
When a reciprocating motion is given to the arms I and connecting bar M by
means of the lever N the bars E will rock, as in Fig 5, and break up the clinkers,
the small ashes passing through the spaces between the projections or tongues G
and the spaces on the opposite bars C, by which means the fires are kept bright
and more regular than with the bars in common use, at the same time keeping the
air spaces clear, so as to ensure a regular supply of air, which is required to produce
pefect combustion (or nearly so), thereby causing the smoke to be consumed, which
must of necessity produce a greater amount of heat and increase the efficiency of
the furnace and evaporative power of the boiler, resulting in economizing fuel.
The stationary bars C next to the furnace sides' are provided with short projections
or teeth W, and intervening air spaces X, on the opposite side being the projections
or tongues G, as in the other rocking and stationary bars.
When necessary, through the furnace being short, as in a marine or locomotive
boiler, I dispense with the middle bearer A2 and make the bars in one length from
front to back dead plates, which are provided with the notches B, and V or knife
edges D as described, the arms I and connecting bar M being placed either at the
front or back end, as circumstances and conditions will permit.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation shewing the middle bearer supporting the bars
when in working order. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the line M' and
M², shewing the projections or tongues G, and being in a level position as when
working. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation shewing the rocking bars E when lifted

page_text: in one direction by the rocking motion and lever N, so as to break the clinkers and
displace the small ashes that accumulate in the air spaces between the tongues and
spaces. Fig. 6 is a part front view of the middle bearer A³, shewing the notches
B for the stationary fixed bars C and the V-edges D for the rocking bars E.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the same. Fig. 8 is a section of the same through line S' and S².
Fig 9 is a section of the same through line S and S. Fig. 10 is a part front view
of the front and back dead plates A and A³, shewing the notches B for the
stationary fixed bars C and the V- or knife edges D for the rocking bars E.
All the parts of the fire-box not necessary for the elucidation of these
improvements are omitted in the Drawings, being the same as any ordinary
fire-box or furnace.
I wish it to be understood that I work the bars by hand with the lever N, but
if preferred can be worked automatically by applying a suitable motion to it, but I
wish it to be understood that I do not claim any such automatic motion,
consequently not shewn on the annexed Drawings, but simply the combination of
bars and their appendages, as stated in my claim hereafter described.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described the mode of
performing the same, I wish to remark that I do not limit myself to the exact
details given, as the same may be varied according to the peculiar construction
of the various furnaces or fire-boxes to which it may be applicable, but that what
I claim and desire to be secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
The respective combination of moveable and stationary fire-bars, provided with
tongues or projections and the means used for connecting the whole of the rocking or
moveable bars, causing them to act simultaneously together for the purpose of
breaking the clinkers in the fire when worked either up or down with the V or
knife edges D on the dead plates and bearer, and the inclined notches H on the
ends of the rocking bars on which they rest and reciprocate, the whole being
respectively constructed and operating substantially in the manner described and
as shewn on the Drawings in Figs. 1 to 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Poole, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM HENKY FOULE.
(L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within named
William Henry Poole in
the presence of
EDMUND CHADWICK
(Agent for the Petitioner),
30, Arrowsmith Terrace,
Bolton.