IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF FIRE BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH HORIZONTAL TUBULAR BOILERS OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Hill, of East India Road, Poplar, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF FIRE BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH HORIZONTAL
TUBULAR BOILERS OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER ENGINES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Hill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1878:
CHRISTOPHER HILL, of East India Road, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CON-
NECTION WITH HORIZONTAL TUBULAR BOILERS OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER
ENGINES."
This Invention consists in improvements in the construction of fire bars to be
used in connection with horizontal tubular boilers of railway locomotives, agri-
cultural traction engines, and also other boilers in which the tubes run horizontally,
or nearly so, through the same from the back of the fire box. The said bars are
also applicable to the furnaces of marine boilers in which a tube or tubes (or flue)
passes or pass from the back of the fire box through the water space of the boiler
into a combustion chamber. By means of these improvements sufficient heat for
generating steam can be obtained in less time than is the case with boilers in
which fire bars of ordinary construction are employed; and owing to the complete
combustion of the fuel, great economy in the quantity consumed is effected, and at
the same time the escape of smoke and formation of clinkers are almost entirely
avoided.
The bars, which are constructed of wrought or cast iron or other suitable metal,
are arched upwards or raised in the centre and are arranged parallel to each other,
the front ends thereof resting on the bearing bar below the furnace door and the
opposite ends below the bottom tubes of the boiler, as will be well understood.

page_text: The sides of the bars are constructed in the ordinary manner, so as to leave sufficient
space between the same for the passage of air. On the fuel being ignited the air
which passes through the space left under the bars by the arched or raised form
thereof becomes thoroughly heated by the ignited fuel resting on the ends of the
bars and passes into and amongst the fuel at the centre thereof at a very high
temperature, thereby causing the complete consumption of the fuel and products of
combustion. The thorough heating of the air before coming into contact with the
main portion of the fuel allows of the utilisation of coke, small coal, and fuel of
inferior quality.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Christopher Hill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June
1879.
CHRISTOPHER HILL, of East India Road, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE BARS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CON-
NECTION WITH HORIZONTAL TUBULAR BOILERS OF LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER
ENGINES."
My said Invention consists in improvements in the construction of fire-bars to
be used in connection with horizontal tubular boilers of railway locomotives, agri-
cultural traction engines, and other boilers in which the tubes run horizontally, or
nearly so, through the same. By the employment of the said improvements
sufficient heat for generating steam can be obtained in less time than is the case
with boilers in which fire-bars of ordinary construction are employed; and owing
to the air being thoroughly heated before coming into contact with the main
portion of the fuel complete combustion and consequently great economy in the
consumption of the latter are effected, whilst at the same time the escape of smoke
and other products of combustion and the formation of clinkers are almost entirely
avoided.
The bars, which are constructed of wrought or cast iron or other suitable metal,
are arched upwards or raised in the centre and are arranged parallel to each other,
the front ends thereof resting on the bearing bar below the furnace door, the
opposite ends being supported in a position below the bottom tubes of the boiler,
as will be well understood. In some cases bearing bars are placed at each side of
the furnace, and the fire bars are arranged transversely thereon. The sides of the
bars are constructed in the ordinary manner, so as to leave sufficient space between
the same for the passage of air.
I will now proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of
reference indicate similar parts in the several Figures. Figure 1 is a longitudinal
section of the furnace and boiler of a locomotive engine; Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the same; and Figure 3 is a transverse section of the furnace of a Cornish
439

page_text: boiler which is fitted with tubes. In the last Figure the bars are shown arranged
transversely, as herein-before mentioned. A is the boiler; B, the furnace; C, the
bearing bars; and D, the fire-bars, d being the space formed by the arched or
raised form of a portion of the latter below the centre and between the ends
thereof.
On the fuel being ignited the air in passing through the space d becomes
thoroughly heated by the burning fuel resting on the ends of the bars and passes
into and amongst the fuel at the centre of the grate at a very high degree of
temperature, thereby causing the almost entire consumption of the fuel and products
of combustion, thus to a very great extent preventing the escape of smoke and
formation of clinkers, and allowing of the utilisation of coke, small coal, and fuel of
inferior quality.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The construction of fire-bars with arched or raised centres, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Hill, have hereunto, set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
CHRISTOPHER HILL. (L.S.)