Improvements in or relating to Fire-grates.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application. 23th Dec., 1996-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire-grates.
I, GAMALIEL CYRUS ST. JOHN of 2 Cortlandt Street, City, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Vice-President and Treasurer of
The New York Steam Company, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and!
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The objects of the invention are to supply a light, neat, efficient and"
comparatively-inexpensive grate-structure, adapted to burn coal, hard or soft, of
any size; to increase air-supply: to render the grate practically indestructible;
to prevent any clogging of the coal on the surface; and to prevent sagging of the
grate from heat.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing the configuration of the structure.
Figure 2 is a like view, showing the frame constructed of two rectangular parts,.
between which the grate-body is secured.
Figures 3 and 4 are like viewe, showing the structure applied to an ordinary
tilting grate-frame, with the frame or a rim cast integral with the grate-body; the
one showing the surface flat and the other curved.
Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, showing the structure, as applied to a form.
of travelling-grate.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the grate, constructed of
wires or bars preferably circular in cross-section, although it is to be understood
that they may be of other form. The wires are interwoven, interlaced or inter-
meshed to produce a reticulated-that is to say open-worked, warped and woofed
structure, with the draught openings a, formed by the webs or walls as, of substan--
tially the same size and shape. The wires are to be of such thickness and so assembled
that, at the points. where they cross each other, a bulge or swell a will be formed
so that at each of the four corners of each draught-opening there will be a bulge.
or four bulges to each opening, and for each bulge there will be a corresponding
depression a at each corner of each opening. These bulges form points or
surfaces on which the fuel will rest. Thur, at every draught-opening there will be
four supports or separate fuel-supports and, also four draught-openings formed
by the depressions a, which are supplemental to and co-act with the regular-
draught-openings described.
The grate-body is secured to a frame or rim B inade of rods, or casting, or both
conjointly, which serves to stiffen and reinforce it, and constitutes the perimeter
and also the means by which the grate may be mounted in position in the stove,.
furnace, or the like. This frame may be secured to the grate-body by means of
bolts, rivets, or other form of fastening device; but by preference, it is cast around
the grate-body and forms an integral part thereof.
In Figure 5, I have shown a series of these grates connected together to form..
an endless travelling-grate which is supported on suitable wheels or rollers adapted
to be turned to bring the successive grate-surfaces beneath the point of ingress of
the coal which is to be carried forward into the furnace, or into propor position...
with the fire door thereof.
By constructing the grate-body of woven or interlaced wires or bars, I produce
&light and exceedingly strong structure, possessing greater elasticity, durability-

page_text: and effectiveness in use, than a cast-iron grate; and by the number and proximity
to each other of the draught-openings, I am enabled to obtain a very strong,
widely-diffused constant and uniform draught up through the entire grate-area,
that operates not only to shield the wires or bars from the destructive action of the
heat, but also renders possible the use of very sinall-sized fuel without loss by
falling through the grate into the ash-pit and without danger of prevention of
proper combustion from any close packing of the fuel..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A grate in the nature of a warped and woofed reticulated, structure.
2. A grate in the nature of a reticulated. structure, and a reinforcing frame or
rim surrounding the grate.
3. A grate comprising an open-work body-portion, and a frame surrounding and
reinforcing, the body-portion.
4. A grate comprising an open-work body-portion, and a frame or rim cast
integral with the body-portion.
5. A grate in the nature of a reticulated structure, and a reinforcing frame or
rim.secured to and constituting the perimeter of the grate the grate being substan-
tially a plane surface freely exposed underneath.
6. A grate having its body-portion .constructed of interlaced or interwoven
wires or rods and a reinforcing frame or rim secured to and constituting the
perimeter of the grate the combined area of the draught-spaces being greatly in
excess of the area of the metal presented to the direct action of the heat, whereby
a strong and constant upward draught will be generated by the rapid intake of air
beneath the grate operating to convey the heat away from the meshes or webs
constituting the fuel-supporting surfaces and also shielding these surfaces thereby
protecting them from rapid destruction.
7. A grate in the nature of a reticulated or woven structure having raised
portions at the air-openings constituting fuel-supports and a reinforcing-frame or
rim secured to and constituting the perimeter of the grate.
8. An endless travelling grate comprising a plurality of open-work grate-
surfaces and a frame enclosing each surface.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant: