IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE FIRE BARS OF STEAM BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Henry Watts, of Catherine Street, Macclesfield
in the County of Chester, Engineer, and Edwin Swindells, of Oxford Road,
Macclesfield aforesaid, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH THE FIRE BARS OF STEAM BOILER AND OTHER
FURNACES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Henry Watts and
Edwin Swindells at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
16th March 1882.
MARTIN HENRY WATTS of Catherine Street Macclesfield Cheshire Engineer and
EDWIN SWINDELLS of Oxford Road Macclesfield Cheshire Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE FIRE-BARS OF STEAM BOILER AND OTHER
FURNACES.
Our invention relates to an improved form of furnace bar specially adapted to
the furnaces of steam boilers and also to other furnaces. The object of our
invention is to admit intensely heated air in the furnace at the top of the bridge
in sufficient quantity to mix with the unconsumed gases on their passage over
the bridge where the heat is most intense so as to increase combustion and consume
smoke.
With this object we have constructed a hollow fire bar J & J 1 fixed at the fire
end of the furnace next to the bridge, the end nearest to the bridge is curved
upwards with a very slow bend to an angle of ninety degrees J1 at the end of
which is fitted a loose finely perforated plate or grid K & K 1, the height of this
grid from the crown of the flue and the length of bars are proportioned to the size
of furnace, consumption of smoke and other circumstances; the remainder of grate
surface is fitted with ordinary bars L & L 1. the straight part of the hollow
bars M & M 1 answers the same purpose as ordinary fire bars, by admitting
sufficient air through the spaces between them so as to keep up an active.
combustion of fuel on its introduction into the furnace.
By thus constructing hollow fire bars with the end bent upwards in front of the
bridge N where the heat is most intense the free oxygen being finely and equally

page_text: distributed in passing through the finely perforated plates or grids is at liberty to
combine with the Carbon and other unconsumed gases. The Drawing herewith
will explain what is meant No. 1. Section of hollow Furnace bars in elevation.
No. 2. Plan of hollow furnace bars. No. 3. End of section of hollow furnace bars
through O.
In cases of slow firing or firing at long intervals we attach a self closing damper
to bars as shewn in sketch A attached by rods and joints to an Automatic
Mercurial balance box (B1 & B) in front of furnace or as most convenient. The
box comprises two separate enclosed compartments revolving on a stud or pivot.
in the centre webb, which divides the two compartments is inserted a double
cone (C) through which the mercury flows. The size of hole in this Cone and the
quantity of mercury placed in the box is regulated by the length of time the air
is to be admitted for the requirements of the furnace The Balance Box is operated
on by a lever (D 1) and catch (D)-working loose upon a Catch Wheel (E) cast on
the box The action is as follows:-From one end of lever to the furnace door is
attached a chain: upon the other end of the lever is fastened a balance weight (F)
of sufficient weight to keep the chain always tight. On opening the furnace door
full back for recoaling or breaking fire up, the balance weight and lever and catch
fall down, the catch coming in gear with the teeth of Catch Wheel and on closing
the furnace door the chain draws up the Lever and box in a horizontal position (H)
and opens the Damper (A) full open. From the top compartment (B1) the
Mercury commences to flow in the lower compartment (B) until sufficient quantity
of Mercury is contained in the lower compartment as to overcome the weight of
levers and joints attached to damper (A) so as to fall down in a vertical
position (G) and close the damper. The above references are to the Drawing
herewith.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Martin Henry Watts and Edwin Swindells in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th September 1882.
MARTIN HENRY WATTS of Catherine Street Macclesfield in the County of
Chester Engineer and EDWIN SWINDELLS of Oxford Road Macclesfield aforesaid
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE FIRE BARS OF STEAM
BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES.
•
Our Invention relates to an improved form of furnace bar specially adapted to
the furnaces of Steam Boilers and also to other furnaces and will be better under-
stood from the accompanying Drawing. The object of the invention is to admit
intensely heated air in the furnace at the top of the bridge in sufficient quantity to
mix with the unconsumed gases on their passage over the Bridge where the heat is
most intense so as to increase combustion and consume smoke.
With this object we have constructed a hollow fire bar J and J1 on the Plan
fixed at the far end of the furnace next to the bridge the end nearest to the bridge
is curved upwards with a very slow bend to an angle of ninety degrees J 1 at the
end of which is fitted a loose finely perforated plate or grid K and K 1 the height
of this grid from the crown of the flue and the length of bars are proportioned to
the size of furnace consumption of smoke and other circumstances; the remainder
of grate surface is fitted with ordinary bars L and L 1 the straight part of the
hollow bars M and M 1 answers the same purpose as ordinary fire bars by admitting
sufficient air through the spaces between them so as to keep up an active
combustion of fuel on its introduction into the furnace.
By thus constructing hollow fire bars with the end bent upwards in front of the
bridge N where the heat is most intense the free oxygen being finely and equally
distributed in passing through the finely perforated plates or grids is at liberty to
combine with the Carbon and other unconsumed gases. The Drawing herewith
will explain what is meant.
No 1. Section of hollow Furnace Bars in elevation.
No 2 Plan of hollow Furnace bars.
No 3 End Section of hollow Furnace bars through O.
In cases of slow firing or firing at long intervals we attach a self closing damper
to bars as shewn in Sketch A attached by rods and joints to an Automatic
Mercurial Balance box (B1 and B) in front of furnace or as most convenient, the
box comprises two separate enclosed compartments revolving on a stud or pivot in
the centre webb which divides the two compartments is inserted a double
Cone (C) through which the mercury flows. The size of hole in this Cone and
the quantity of mercury placed in the box is regulated by the length of time the
air is to be admitted for the requirements of the furnace. The Balance Box is
operated on by a lever (D1) and catch D working loose upon a Catch wheel (E)
cast on the box.
The action is as follows:-From one end of lever to the furnace door is attached
a chain; upon the other end of the lever is fastened a balance weight (F) of
sufficient weight to keep the chain always tight. On opening the furnace door
full back for recoaling or breaking fire up the balance weight and lever and catch
fall down, the catch coming in gear with the teeth of catch wheel and on closing
the furnace door the chain draws up the lever and box in a horizontal position (H)
and opens the Damper (A) full open; from the top compartment (B1) the mercury
commences to flow in the lower compartment (B) until sufficient quantity of
Mercury is contained in the lower compartment as to overcome the weight of

page_text: levers and joints attached to Damper (A) so as to fall down in a vertical
position (G) and close the Damper. The above references are to the drawing
herewith.
In witness whereof we the said Martin Henry Watts and Edwin Swindells
have hereunto set our hands and seals the twenty fifth day of August in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Signed sealed and delivered by
the said Martin Henry Watts
and Edwin Swindells in the
presence of
GEORGE H. SWINDELLS,
Clerk to Mr Hand,
Solicitor,
Macclesfield.
WALID. (4.5.)
EDWIN SWINDELLS.
(L.B.)