Improvements in Furnace Grates.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnace Grates.
I, CHARLES YINGLING, residing at Metuchen, in the County of Middlesex, in
the State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows.
.-
The improved grate is intended more especially for use in connection with
steam-boiler furnaces. It is of the class known as a double shaking," the grate
bars being in two series, and has provisions including a vibrating lever for
simultaneously rocking the series of sections in opposite directions, devices being
provided for adjusting the connection of the rocking provisions with the grate
bar sections, the latter having such form and arrangement as avoids over-heating
the fingers, inasmuch as the metal of said fingers while exposed to a high tempera-
ture on their upper surfaces is always cooled by an ascending current of air.
Care is taken to prevent as far as possible the fire from getting below the ends
of the fingers. The improved grate also embodies novel features in connection
with the supporting frame, and a novel arrangement of removable front and rear
bar sections.
The improved grate may be used with furnaces for any purposes.
In carrying out this invention, side and front and rear bearers, with a separately
formed longitudinal piece traversing the mid-width, and separately formed legs,
are rigidly connected by bolts and nuts, all rigidly united to constitute the framing
which supports the grate sections and which by the aid of a bracket or brackets
in the front of the forward end bearer carries the operating lever or levers.
The inner faces of the side bearers have pockets which support the ends of two
series of rocking shafts, each cast with a series of parallel fingers respectively,
presenting each a straight bearing surface to support the burning fuel at a much
higher level than the shaft. In the connecting metal between the fingers and
shaft, is a large hole allowing transverse circulation of air and reducing down-
ward conduction of heat.
These sections are so formed and applied together that the fingers of each lie
between the ends of the fingers of the section adjacent, they being matched with
sufficient looseness to allow proper uniform air spaces which may vary according
to the coal to be used. Each rocking section has also a depending arm carrying
a transverse pin.
Longitudinal link bars engage the pins of the depending arms so that by
means of adjustable connections with the operating lever one series of sections
will be rocked in a direction opposite to that in which the sections in the second
series are rocked.
The considerable depth of the shaft of each rocking sections below its fuel
supporting surface and the thinness of the metal connection prevents any rapid
transmission of heat downward, the rocking shafts being kept cool by the flow
of air from below.
The upper edge of each side bearer is cast with deep under-cut notches in-
creasing in depth downward and dividing the upper portion of the latter into

page_text: short lengths, thus allowing for expansion and contraction under heat, without
warping or straining the frame.
Besides the rocking sections additional loose or detachable sections are pro-
vided at the ends of the frame but are not capable of rocking. The series of
fingers of these bars extend in a uniformly level plane to lie between the fingers
of the adjacent rocking sections.
The end bearers have each an offset at about the mid-height of the inner face
which receives and supports the detachable end sections. The latter are kept
in place endwise by internal ridges one near each end of the side bearers. The
detachable sections at each end are preferably in two lengths, the inner end of
each being held by an offset in a middle bearer of the frame. This middle bearer
is itself removable.
The detachable end sections are peculiarly formed by having between each of
the fingers and the next, an under-cut notch corresponding to the notches in the
side bearer, that is to say, a space extending down about half the depth of the
bar, open but narrower at the top and wider below. This construction affords
the required strength for supporting the fingers and limiting the downward con-
duction of heat, and allows ample space at short intervals for the greater expan-
sion of the upper edge under the greater heat to which it is subjected.
By making each grate bar and its shaft in two sections, the parts can he
arranged so that one half of the grate can be differentially operated independent
of the other half.
As the open integral bearings on the inner faces of the side bearers are con-
tiguous to the notches therein, the undue heating of the bearings is prevented.
Dated this 10th day of March 1899.
For the Applicant.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Furnace Grates.
I, CHARLES YINGLING, residing at Metuchen, in the County of Middlesex.
State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, 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:-
This grate may be used with furnaces for any purposes, but is intended more
especially for use in connection with steam boiler furnaces, and I will describe
it as so applied. It is of the class known as double shaking having pro-
visions including one vibrating lever for rocking the alternate sections in opposite
directions. I employ such a form and arrangement of the sections that the
fingers can never be over-heated. The fire is never allowed to get below the ends
of the fingers, and the metal of the fingers, is always cooled by a flow of air
upward.
..
"
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent
what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a plan view with certain portions at the back of the grate omitted
Figure 2 is a partial elevation and a longitudinal vertical section on the
line 2 in Fig. 1, showing the several sections of the grate at rest for supporting
the burning fuel.
Figure is a corresponding elevation showing the several sections in the act
of being rocked,

page_text: right in Fig. 1, and
Figure 5 is a corresponding end elevation.
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are on a larger scale.
Figure 6, is a vertical cross section of a portion in and adjacent to one of the
side bars of the frame, with some of the adjacent parts in elevation.
Figure 7, is a corresponding cross section at another point in and near to the
middle bar.
Figure 8, is a perspective view of one of the rocking portions or sections
detached.
Figure 9, is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of an elevation of one
of the detachable but otherwise fixed portions of the structure.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
where they appear.
A. A are the side frames, A¹, A¹, the cross frames at the ends of the grate. A
a separately formed longitudinal piece traversing the mid-width, and A, A³,
the separately formed legs rigidly connected by bolts and nuts securing the
latter to the other portions of the framing. These parts rigidly united con-
stitute the framing which supporis the grate sections and which by the aid of
brackets A and center pins A, bolted on the boiler front carry the operating
lever.
On the inner face of each of the side frames A. A, are pockets a which
support the ends of two series of movable bearers or rocking shafts B and C,
Fig. 2, which are each supplied with a series of parallel fingers B₁, C' re-
spectively, presenting each a straight bearing surface to support the burning
fuel at a much higher level than the shaft. These parts are cast integral, and
in the connecting metal between the fingers and the shaft, is a large hole which
allows the circulation of air transversely through the part and reduces the con-
duction of heat downward. Each rocking section B, has also an arm B³, ex-
tending downward and carrying a short transverse pin 13. These sections are so
formed and applied together that the fingers of each section lie between the
ends of the fingers of the adjacent section. They are matched with looseness
to allow proper uniform air spaces. The spaces may vary according to the
size of the coal to be used.
I provide longitudinal link bars D and E, connected to the several pins B³,
the bar D being connected to the pins B3 of one series of sections of the grate,
and by its longitudinal movement causing them all to rock simultaneously in
the same direction, and the bar E being similarly connected to the pins Con
the arms carrying the fingers C. the shafts C and these several attachments
being interposed between the several sections B, and similarly supported in
pockets in the framing, and rocking always in the opposite direction to the
motion of the other series B. Each of these horizontal links D and E, has a
rigid arm extending downward, marked respectively D, EL
G is a hand lever turning on the pin or pivot A, and having pins G₁, G³, set
therein above and below the center A which serve as pivots for links I, J,
which are extended through holes in the adjacent frame A', and are pro-
vided with screw-threaded portions which are engaged loosely each in a hole
in the corresponding pendent arm D or E, and are allowed to work the rods
and therefore the connected grate sections by the aid of adjustable nuts K and
adjustable opposing nuts K¹. One link I is thus loosely and adjustably con-
nected to the bar D, and the other, J, to the bar E. When the lever G is
vibrated by the attendant, the bars D and E are moved simultaneously endwise,
causing the sections B and C to rock correspondingly in opposite directions.
and also to carry their upper surfaces forward and backward relatively to each
other. The ends of the fingers remain always more or less locked or interleaved.
not only when the grate sections are at rest with their bearing edges B, C.
level, but also when they are rocked into extreme forward and rearward and

page_text: extreme inclined positions, and in all the intermediate positions. There is no
chance for the burning fuel to surround and "burn" the ends of any of the
fingers it can only lie on the top; and there is always free access for air to
flow up past the metal below and convey upward the heat.
The considerable depth of each shaft B and C below its fuel-supporting
surface 3 C, and the thinness of the metal connections prevent any rapid trans-
mission of heat downward; the rocking shafts are kept cool by the flow of cool
air upward from below.
The upper edge of each side frame A is cast with deep under-cut notches a
extending down something like half the depth of the bar, dividing the upper
portion of the latter into short lengths, which, when heated by the glowing coals
thereon, may expand and contract independently without bending or straining
the main body A. The notches a are increased in width at the bottom so that
there is little metal to conduct heat downward from the separated portions A* at
the upper edge. These upper portions A may assume any temperature required
short of melting, and each will expand and contract independently without
straining the supporting portion of the frame below.
In the mounting of new sections B or C in my frame, or when at any time
it shall be judged expedient to adjust the mounting afterwards, it is easily
accomplished by adjusting the nuts K and K'.
Besides the two series of rocking sections B and C, I provide two removable
sections or bars A, one at each end of the frame, which are not capable of
rocking, but from each extends a series of fingers A8 in a uniformly level plane,
to lie between the contiguous finger ends of the adjacent rocking sections.
The cross pieces A have each an offset at at about the mid-height on the inner
face. These receive and support the removable bars A the stationary fingers
of which extend inward at the mean level of the tops B, C, of the rocking
sections. These removable bars are kept in place partly by stout internal
ridges A, one near each end of each end-frame A. These bars A are shown in
two lengths, the inner end of each being held up by an offset a³ in the middle
bar A. This middle bar is itself removable, each end being supported in a
suitable socket formed at the mid-length of each cross bar A¹ on the inner face.
The plan view Fig. 1 omits one line of fingers to show more clearly the inner
ends of the bars A These said removable bars A are peculiarly formed by
having between each of the fingers A3 and the next, an under-cut notch corre-
sponding to the notches in the side frame, that is to say, a space extending
down about half the depth of the bar, open but narrow at the top and wider
below. This construction affords the requisite strength for supporting the
fingers AS and limiting the conduction of heat from the top downward, and
allows ample space at short intervals for the greater expansion of the upper edge
under the greater heat to which it is subjected.
It will be noted that each grate bar including its shaft and fingers is in two
sections, so that the entire rocking grate bars are presented in two longitudinal
series. This permits the convenient shaking of but one half of the grate
distinct link and operating lever devices being provided for each section. Fig. 7
illustrates the divided character of a grate bar and how it bears at its divided
portion on the central longitudinal bar A².
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantages of the invention. There may be a greater or less number of the
sections B and C. The distance of the pivots G G from the center A³ on
which the lever G turns, may be varied, so that a given amount of rocking
motion of the lever G will give a greater or less turning motion to the several
sections of the grate.
The dimensions otherwise may be varied. I prefer to have the several
fingers B, C, about six inches in length and to have the center of the rocking
motion about three inches below the upper surfaces of the several sections, and
spaced about one and five-eighths inches from center to center; and to have the

page_text: fingers about one half-inch wide. Where larger coal is to be used, wider spacing
could be allowed.
Parts of the invention can be used without the whole. The middle bar A
may be omitted.
"
There may be more than one of the middle bars A³," and a corresponding
shortening and increase in the number of the removable end pieces A. The
end pieces may be thus divided without increasing the number of the bars A²
by providing a sufficient number of supports corresponding to the internal
ridges A distributed along on the offsets, on the permanent pieces A!.
I have in my experiments made a large grate with as many as six of the
removable pieces A, of equal length, stretching along on a single permanent
end piece of the grate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a shaking grate, the combination with a supporting frame, of a series
of interleaved fingers mounted on low-centered shafts and perforated contiguous
to the same, a horizontal link connected with arms extending down from alternate
shafts, another horizontal link connected with the arms of the intermediate shafts,
a lever adapted to be rocked by the attendant, and connections from said links
attached one above and one below the center of motion of such lever for recipro-
cating said links by the rocking of the lever and thereby oppositely rocking the
two series of shafts, all substantially as herein specified.
2. In a shaking grate, the combination with a supporting frame, of a series
of interleaved fingers mounted on low-centered shafts and perforated contiguous to
the same, a horizontal link connected with arms extending down from alternate
shafts, another horizontal link connected with arms of the intermediate shafts, a
lever adapted to be rocked by the attendant, rigid arms D', E', depending from the
links, rods I, J, having threaded inner ends adjustably connected by nuts K K',
with said depending arms, and at their outer ends one above and one below the
center of motion of the operating lever, whereby the rocking of the latter will
oppositely rock the two series of shafts, all substantially as herein specified.
3. In a shaking grate, the combination with a supporting frame, having side
bars provided with upper notched edges and also at lower points with hollowed
bosses forming pockets on their inner faces serving as bearings, rocking shafts
or grate sections, resting and allowing of being rocked in such bearings, each
provided with a series of fingers, and provisions for rocking said shafts, substan-
tially as herein specified.
4. In a shaking grate, the combination with the frame having the lower side
bearings and engaging means at its corners, and the shafts resting in said
bearings and having fingers of a central longitudinal brace bar detachably resting
in pockets therefor in the end of the frame, removable grate sections retained
by the corner ridges and central brace bar, and provisions for rocking the shafts
in their bearings, substantially as herein specified.
5. A fire grate characterized by a side bar of the supporting frame of which
bar the upper edge is composed of separated upright projections in the form of
inverted triangles attached at their inverted apexes and placed parallel with the
body of said bar, substantially as described.
6. A fire grate characterized by an end bar of the supporting frame of which
bar the upper edge is composed of separated upright projections in the form of
inverted triangles attached at their apexes and placed transverse to the body of
said bar, substantially as described.
7. A fire grate characterized by a middle bar of the supporting frame of which
bar the upper edge is composed of separated upright projections in the form of
inverted triangles attached at their apexes, substantially as described.
8. fire grate characterized by the combination with low-centered rocking

page_text: sections, of a supporting frame provided with bearings for said sections and
having a top edge composed of separated projections extended vertically upward
above said bearings, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1899.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.