IMPROVE- .MENTS IN FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREwith.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of Birkenhead, in
the County of Chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
.MENTS IN FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREwith.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th March 1874.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a system of transverse fire-bars and
longitudinal rollers or series of disks actuated either by hand or by
machine power
in such manner that the fire is stirred and the ashes and
. clinker. removed from the furnace without the use of the rake or the
opening of the fire-doors, thus relieving the fireman from the most

page_text: onerous part of his duties, and obviating a large amount of loss of heat
from frequent and prolonged opening of the fire-doors. It is especially
useful in connection with fuel feeding machines on the old Stanley
principle, as adopted by Dillwyn, Smith, and others.
In carrying out said Invention into practice I use, 1st., two
longitudinal, polygonal, or square shafts turned at intervals as required
for bearings; 2nd., a roller or series of rollers or disks strung on each
shaft aforesaid, armed with projections for actuating the fire-bars and for
carrying out the clinker, as will hereafter be described; 3rd., two strong
longitudinal bars fastened to the sides of the flue and extending the full
length of the furnace from the bridge to the dead plate (these are not
absolutely necessary but save the sides of the flue from wear and tear);
4th., one or more series of fire-bars, some or all moveable; 5th., a pair of
longitudinal girders or frameworks for carrying the bearings of the longi-
tudinal shafts, and supporting the fire-bars (this also can in some cases
be dispensed with); 6th., an arrangement for gearing the two shafts
together so as to turn equally and in opposite directions, and arrange-
ments for actuating them by hand, also in some cases by machine power.
According to the plan which I usually adopt, especially when working
in conjunction with a fuel-feeding machine, I place the shafts carrying
the rollers or disks (each roller or disk being armed with a projecting
rib or series of projections) near the sides of the flue working against
the two contiguous longitudinal bars. These bars are placed low for
the purpose, and about one inch from the sides of the flue and with
sufficient room between them and the rollers to allow the projections on
said rollers to just clear themselves as they revolve. Teeth are cast on
the two longitudinal bars bearing against the side of the flue all-along
for the double purpose of supporting the bar and of preventing large
pieces of fuel, &c., from falling through the air space between the bar
and the side of the flue. I place each roller shaft at about the same
height as the centre line of the longitudinal bars and support it with
bearings cast on a longitudinal frame or girder whose upper edge is a
_trifle higher than the rollers and not far distant from them. Each
frame or girder is situated between the centre line of the furnace and
the contiguous roller shaft, as near the latter as practicable. I generally
cut notches in the upper edges of the longitudinal frames both opposite
the bearings and occasionally at other intervals, amounting in some
cases to placing a notch under every alternate fire-bar, such alternato

page_text: fire-bars being usually the stationary ones, to be hereafter described..
Resting on the two longitudinal frames I place a series of flat-sided
transverse fire-bars of either plane, angular, curved, or serrated upper
surface, the highest part of the bar being as a rule in the centre of the
fluc and sloping downward to each side of the furnace. When at rest
the heights of the bars are all uniform. Every alternate bar being
usually stationary and notched into the frames has two lugs cast on it
bearing against the frames to prevent it shifting transversely to the
furnace. I also cut away the under surface of the stationary fire-bars
over the rollers so as to just clear the projections cast on said rollers,
and generally put the distance pieces on the stationary bars only, &
lengthened to scrape the disks. The remaining alternate bars being
moveable, have smooth under surfaces in the parts where they rest
on the frames and just clear the rollers but not the projections on
the rollers. I usually make these moveable bars with two similar
projections on the lower side, one at each end pointing downward,
and at an equal distance from the centre of the bar. When the
rollers revolve in the manner hereafter shown each projection on the
rollers as it rises to the top lifts up the fire-bar above, and as it
comes to the projection thereon draws the fire-bar laterally till the
two projection just clear cach other. By this means the other pro-
jection at the other end of the bar has been brought to a point where
it almost grazes the opposite roller, and is ready to catch the pro-
jection on the said opposite roller as it comes in its turn to the top.
All the fire-bars are of uniform length, from four to twelve inches
less than the breadth of the flue or furnace so as to allow the clinker;
&c., to descend beyond the ends of the bars on to the rollers and two
longitudinal bars.
To make the two roller shafts revolve synchronously the two shafts
are geared together either by bevil gearing from a shaft actuated by
machine power, by a gear chain and secondary axis, by a row of spur
wheels gearing into one another and of an odd number, or any other
suitable contrivance. One of the shaft ends is squared so as to fit the
socket of a crank handle, and in the two latter instances of gearing the
other is armed with the necessary ratchet or other connection for
applying power when required.
Sometimes I make the projections on the rollers or disks in a con-
tinuous spiral (excent where broken at bearings) making one complote

page_text: revolution or semi-revolution in the length of the furnace. By this
means the firė-bars are raised one after the other in such manner as to
cause a wave-like motion to the fuel. At other times the projections
are arranged so that each moveable bar shall be drawn to one side nearly
at the same instant that the nearest moveable bars to it are drawn in
an opposite direction.
In the alternative plan which I sometimes adopt,e specially with hand-
fired boilers, I arrange two series of transverse firc-bars, one at cach
side of the flue, and each slanting towards the centre, one end of each
pivoted on the longitudinal bar by a hook cast on the fire-bar, the other
end reaching to within a few inches of the longitudinal centre line of
the furnace. Under these latter ends I place the longitudinal shaft and
rollers, supported as in the previously mentioned plan, or in bearings in
special fire-bars resting on the longitudinal side bars, and extending
across the flue from one side to the other. The two roller shafts are
placed near enough together to prevent any undue amount of clinker, &c.,
from falling between them, and far enough apart to allow the pro-
jections (which should be arranged so as to prevent their ever coming
into conjunction) to clear themselves. Outside the furnace I gear these
two shafts together with equal spur wheels, and arrange for driving as
in alternative plan already described.
In both arrangements described as the shafts are made to revolve the
inclined fire-bars are shook by the projections on the rollers, thus
stirring up the fire and causing the clinker to descend towards the
centre or sides, where falling down between the rollers or the longi.
tudinal bar and roller it is carried through into the ash-pit.

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Phillips Thompson, Her special
licence, that I, the said William Phillips Thompson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Phillips Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with and no others, from 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 FURNACES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Phillips
Thompson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
'immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Phillips Thompson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom
panying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that
is to say:-
Both in mechanical stoking on the principle adopted by Stanley,
Dillwyn Smith, and others, and also in firing furnaces by hand great
loss of useful heat from prolonged opening of the fire-doors, and a large
expendature of severe manual labour is entailed in the present mode of
stirring the fire and cleaning out the clinker by means of rakes and other
tools. Now according to my present Invention I accomplish the desired
result by simple mechanical appliances in a continuous manner without
any of the disadvantages above stated.
Now my Invention consists of a series of fire-bars and longitudinal
rollers or ranges of disks actuated cither by hand or by machine power in
5 such a manner that the fire is stirred and the ashes and clinker removed
from the furnace without the use of the rake or the opening of the fire-
doors, thus obviating the disadvantages referred to above. It has also

page_text: the additional merit of keeping up a hotter fire, and raising a much
greater amount of steam from a given heating surface, and also from a
given expendature of fuel.
In carrying out my said Invention into practice I use (first) two
longitudinal, polygonal, or square shafts (E, E,) turned up at intervals
as required for bearings; 2nd., a roller (or series of rollers or disks (D, D,)
strung on cach shaft aforesaid, armed with projections for actuating the
movcable fire-bars A, A, and for carrying out the clinkers, as will here-
after be described; 3rd., two strong longitudinal bars J, J, fixed to the
side of the flue, and extending the full length of the furnace from the
bridge to the dead plate (these are not absolutely necessary, but save
the sides of the flue from wear & tear); 4th., one or more series of
fire-bars A, B, some or all moveable; 5th., a pair of longitudinal girders
.or framework H, H, for carrying the bearings G, G, of the longitudinal
shafts E, E, and supporting the fire-bars A, B, A, B, (this also can in
.some cases be dispensed with); 6th., an arrangement for gearing the
two shafts E, E, together so as to turn equally and in opposite directions,
and arrangements for actuating them by hand or machine power.
According to the plan which I usually adopt, especially when working
with a fuel-feeding machine, I place the shafts carrying the rollers or
disks D, D, (each roller or disk being armed with a projecting rib or
´ series of ribs or projections on its circumference parallel with its axis
(or forming a portion of a spiral curve round said axis) near the sides
of the flue working against the two longitudinal bars J, J, but sufficiently
far apart to allow the projections on D, D, to clear themselves as they
revolve. The bars J, J, are cast with teeth (about one inch or more
in length) bearing against the sides of the flue all along, as shown in
the Drawing, for the double purpose of supporting the bar, and of
preventing large pieces of fuel from falling through the air space
between the bar and the sides of the fluc. I place each roller shaft E
at about the same altitude as the bar J, & support it when requisite
with bearings G, G, cast on the longitudinal .frame H (fixed at each
end in any convenient manner) whose upper edge is a triflc higher
i than the top of the rollers or disks, and not far distant from them
between the said roller shaft and the centre line of the flue I gencrally
cut notches in the upper edges of the frames H, H, both opposite the
bearings, and occasionally at other intervals, amounting in some cases
to placing a notch under every alternate fire-bar B, as shown in the

page_text: Drawing, such alternate fire-bars being usually the "stationary " ones
to be hereafter described. Resting on the two longitudinal frames I
place a series of flat-sided transverse fire-bars of cither plane, angular,
curved, or serrated upper surface, according to the requirements of
the particular kind of fuel usually burned, the shape shown in the
Drawing being usually preferred for ordinary coal, the bars being as a
rule highest in the centre of the flue, and sloping downwards with a
continually increasing grade to cach side of the furnace. When at
rest the heights of the bars are all uniform, every alternate bar being
usually stationary and notched-into the frames. H. has two lugs cast on it
bearing against the frames to prevent it shifting transversely to tho
furnace. I also cut away the under surface of the stationary bars (B)
over the rollers or disks D, D, so as to just clear the projections cast
on said rollers or disks, and generally put the distance pieces C, C,
(occasionally of wrought iron or steel rivitted or otherwise securely
fixed, in casting or otherwise, to the bar) on the stationary bars only,
and lengthened to scrape the disks D.
The remaining (usually alternate) bars A, A, being moveable havo
smooth under surfaces in the parts where they rest on the frames H and
just clear the rollers D, but not the projections on said rollers or disks.
I usually make these moveable bars A with two similar projections on
the lower side, one at each end, pointing downward and at an equal
distance from centre of bar A. When the rollers D) revolve in the
manner hereafter shown, cach projection on the rollers as it rises to the
top lifts up the moveable fire-bar A above it, and as it comes to the
projection thereon draws the fire-bar latterally till the two projection's
just clear each other. By this means the projection at the other end of
the bar has been brought to a point wher it almost grazes the opposite
roller D, and is ready to catch the projection on the said opposite roller
as it comes in its turn to the top. The fire is thus continually stirred,
and the clinker worked to the sides. All the fire-bars are of uniform
length, usually from four to twelve inches less than the breadth of the
flue or furnace, so as to allow the clinker, &c., to descend beyond the
ends of the bars on to the rollers and two longitudinal bars.
To make the two roller shafts revolve synchronously the two
shafts E, E, are geared together, cither by bevil gearing K, as shown in
4 Dawing fuam a

page_text: 3
gear chain and secondary axis, Dy
one another and of an even number, or any other suitable contrivance.
One of the shaft ends is squared so as to fit the socket of a crank
handle L, and in the two latter instances of gearing the other is armed
with the necessary ratchet or other connection for applying power when
required.
.
Sometimes I make the projections on the rollers or disks D, D, in a
continuous or disjointed spiral, making a complete revolution or semi-
revolution in the length of the furnace. By this means the fire-bars are
raised one after another in such a manner as to cause a wave-like motion
to the fuel. The rollers in this case are usually long drums instead of
disks, and all the bars, except those over the bearings (should there be
any bearings under the bars), moveable, instead of alternately moveable
and stationary as shown in Drawing. At other times the projections are
arranged so that each moveable bar should be drawn to one side nearly
at the same time that the nearest moveable bars to it are drawn in the
opposite direction.
The alternative plan, which I sometimes adopt, especially with hand
fired boilers, I arrange two series of transverse fire-bars, onc at cach
side of the flue, and each slanting downward towards the longitudinal
centre line of the flue, one end of each being pivotted or hooked on to
the longitudinal side bar J (which in this case is rounded at top and
destitute of teeth, abutting against the fluc sides at these points) by a
hook cast on the fire-bar, the other end reaching to within a few inches
of the longitudinal centre line of the furnace. Under these latter ends
I place the longitudinal shaft and rollers or disks, supported as in the
previously mentioned plan, or in bearings or holes in special fire-bars
resting on the longitudinal side bars, and extending accross the flue from
one side to the other. The two roller shafts are placed near enough
together to prevent any undue amount of clinker, &c., from falling
between them, & far enough apart to allow the projections (which
should be arranged so as to prevent their ever coming into conjunction)
to just clear themselves. Outside the furnace I gear these two shafts
together with equal spur wheels, and arrange for driving as in alternate
plan already described. This plan being inferior to the other, save in
exceptional cases, and being fully described in words, it is not shown in
the Drawing.

page_text: In both arrangements described as the shafts E revolve the fire-bars
are shook by the projections on the rollers or disks, thus stirring up the
fire and causing the clinker to descend towards the centre or sides, where
falling down between the rollers on the longitudinal bar and roller, it is
carried through into the ash-pit.
There are of course innumerable alternative arrangements and ways
in which the principles of my Invention can be worked out, as, for
instance, turning the whole round bodily, and making the bars longi-
tudinal and the rollers, &c., transverse, but I prefer for all ordinary
> purposes the arrangement substantially as shown in the Drawing.

page_text: 7th. The girders H, supported at each end in any convenient manner,
and notched or otherwise on the upper surface, for the purposes sub-
stantially as hercin described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON. (L.S.)