CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Rees and Frederick Richardson Gledhill, both of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention of
" CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN FURNACES FOR STEAM
BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 5th May 1876, and dated the 24th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Rees and Frederick
Richardson Gledhill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
24th February 1876.
EDMUND REES and FREDERICK RICHARDSON GLEDHILL, both of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS,
AND IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Our improvements in steam boilers relate to the bridge, and it consists in
making the bridge of a T shaped tube of sheet iron or steel connected to the sides
and bottom of the flue to ensure a thorough. circulation of the water, also in
applying similar tubes in the flue at intervals for increasing the heating surface.
Our improvements in furnaces for steam boilers consist in forcing forward the
coal or other fuel by means of one or more archimedean screws placed horizontally
or diagonally at the lower end of the hopper and actuated by hand or power; also
in making some of the grate bars stationary and causing the intermediate bars
to move to and fro by an eccentric or other equivalent, either continuously or
intermittently. The grate bars are all made with steps, and the forward motion of
the movable grate bars carries the fuel from the dead plate to the bridge under
which the clinkers and ashes are delivered. The grate bars may be single, or two
or more may be cast together.
In furnaces for glass, chemical manufactories, breweries, and for annealing and
tempering mufflers, and for other purposes, the archimedean screws are placed
vertically and force the fuel upwards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmund Rees and Frederick Richardson Gledhill in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th August 1876.
EDMUND REES and FREDERICK RICHARDSON GLEDHILL, both of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS,
"
AND IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
[Price Bd1
ز

page_text: Our improvement in steam boilers relates to the bridge, and it consists in
making the bridge of a T shaped tube of sheet iron or steel connected to the sides
and bottom of the flue to ensure a thorough circulation of the water, also in
applying similar tubes in the flue at intervals for increasing the heating surface.
Our improvements in furnaces for steam boilers consist in forcing forward the
coal or other fuel by means of one or more archimedean screws placed horizontally
or diagonally at the lower end of the hopper and actuated by hand or power; also
in making some of the grate bars stationary and causing the intermediate bars
to move to and fro by eccentrics or other equivalents, either continuously or
intermittently. The grate bars are all made with steps, and the forward motion of
the movable grate bars carries the fuel from the dead plate to the bridge under
which the clinkers and ashes are delivered. The grate bars may be single, or two
or more may be cast or fixed together.
In furnaces for glass, chemical manufactories, breweries, and for annealing and
tempering mufflers, and for other purposes, the archimedean screws are placed
vertically and force the fuel upwards.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, we will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section of an ordinary two-flued cylindrical
boiler to which our improvements are applied; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section,
and Fig. 3 a plan of part of the same; in these views a is the shell of the boiler;
and b, b, the flues. The bridge consists of a T shaped tube c, the horizontal part of
which is open at the sides of the flue, and the curved part is open at the bottom of
the flue; this improved bridge causes a thorough circulation of the water from the
lower to the upper part of the boiler. Similar T shaped tubes may be placed in
the flue beyond the bridge to increase the heating surface.
Our improvements in furnaces consist partly in the mode of supplying the fuel
and partly in the mode of conveying the fuel over the grate bars and towards the
bridge. To the front plates of the boiler are fixed the cylindrical cases d and
hoppers e, and to these plates are fixed the brackets f supporting the shaft g, which
is driven by hand or power.
Within each case d is the archimedean screw h, which
is turned slowly round by the worm g¹ on the shaft y gearing into the wheel h¹
g
fixed to the axle of the screw h. To the shaft g are also fixed the pinions g²
gearing into the wheels fixed on short shafts & revolving in bearings in the
brackets f; in the backs of the wheels ¹ are adjustable crank pins for giving a to-
and-fro motion to the intermediate grate bars ; these grate bars and the stationary
grate bars are supported on the stays m. All the grate bars are made with steps,
and the intermediate grate bars of each furnace are coupled to the cross shaft n,
and this cross shaft is connected to the crank pins in the wheels ¹ by the links n¹
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the screw h revolves it forces the
fuel from the hopper e over the dead plate o and partly on to the grate bars k
and I, the forward motion of the intermediate or movable grate bars then gradually
carries the fuel from the dead plate to the bridge under which the clinkers and
ashes are delivered. The to-and-fro traverse of the bars and the speed at which
they move must be regulated so that the fuel shall be entirely consumed when it
arrives near the bridge. By this means the feeding of the furnaces is self-acting so
long as the hoppers are supplied with fuel.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent a bridge suitable for our improved furnace made of three
blocks of fire-clay, the centre block fits like a wedge between the side blocks, and a
space is left below the bridge for the accumulation of clinkers and ashes. This
fire-brick bridge is particularly applicable when our improved furnace is applied to
a boiler without the water bridge c.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8 represent three views of part of an ordinary two-flued
cylindrical boiler to which a modification of our improved furnace is applied; in
these views the archimedean screws hand the mechanism for driving them are
dispensed with, and the fuel from the hopper e falls direct on to the grate bars k

page_text: and, the former of which are moved alternately to and fro by eccentrics on the
shaft g which is turned round by steam or other power. The fuel is carried
forward by the steps on the movable grate bars. At the lower end of the hoppers e
are the doors e¹, which can be opened occasionally to examine the state of the fire
and for lighting the fires on starting. A damper may be placed at the bottom of
the hopper to regulate the feed or to shut it off entirely when the fuel is supplied
by hand through the doors c¹.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 represent another modification of our Invention%; this
arrangement is very similar to that shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the only difference
being in the mode of working the movable grate bars . Instead of moving them
all simultaneously, as before, described, we divide each set of grate bars into three
parts and move the intermediate bars of each part independently of the others.
The centre grate bars are moved to and fro by an eccentric on the shaft i, as shewn
in Fig. 9, and the outer grate bars are actuated by crank pins in the wheels i¹;
by this means the fuel is more effectually broken up on the grate bars and the
combustion is promoted.
Figs. 12 and 13 represent one of the outside sets of movable grate bars which are
cast or otherwise secured together.
Figs. 14 and 15 are two views of the lower part of an ordinary glass furnace to
which our improvements are applied; in this case the archimedean screw h working
in the case d is placed vertically, and the fuel is supplied in the circular trough p.
The screw is turned round when required by the handle q, which by bevel wheels
drives the horizontal shaft on which is a worm gearing into a wheel on the axle
of the screw h. As the screw revolves it raises the fuel from the trough p and
forces it up the case d into the glass furnace.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described several modes of
carrying the same into operation, we wish it to be understood that we do not
intend to limit ourselves to the details given, as the arrangements of the parts must
be varied to suit the particular purpose to which the furnace is applied. We would
also remark that although we have only shewn our improvements as applied to the
furnaces of steam boilers and glass furnaces, they are equally applicable to chemical
works, breweries, annealing and tempering mufflers, and to other furnaces.
We claim,―
First. The T shaped tubular bridge for steam boilers, as shewn and described,
and the application of similar T shaped tubes in the flues of boilers to increase the
heating surface.
Secondly. The archimedean screw for supplying fuel to furnaces, as shewn and
described.
Thirdly. The combination of stationary and movable grate bars provided with
steps for carrying forward the fuel, as shewn and described.
And, fourthly. Dividing the grate bars into three or other suitable number of
sets, as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 9, 10, and 11.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edmund Rees and Frederick Richardson
Gledhill, have hereto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
EDMUND REES. (L.S.)
F. R. GLEDHILL. (L.S.)