IMPROVE- MENTS IN FURNACE FIRE-GRATES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Buchanan, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer and Brassfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FURNACE FIRE-GRATES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1865, and dated the 8th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
May 1865.
I, JAMES BUCHANAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACE FIRE-GRATES," to be as follows:-
Firstly, I construct furnace fire-grates of a number of short lengths of fire-
bars placed in rows across the furnace. Each row is carried on or by a cross
rod, which passes through openings in the bars, and on such cross rods, resting
as they do on side framework, the bars are free to be rocked or moved.
Through openings in the lower parts of the bars which compose each row, and
underneath the cross bars above mentioned, other cross bars are passed, or the
bars are cast with or fastened to the cross bars last named. These latter cross
bars do not touch the framework at either side, but by links and pins, or a
continuous rod and pins, all the several rows which constitute the fire-grate are

page_text: connected together, so that by rocking or moving the row nearest the door by
a lever or other means the several rows can be made at pleasure to partake of
a rocking or undulatory motion sufficient to break up any "clinker" which
may be formed, and to admit a supply of air to the fuel on the fire-grate. In
practice I prefer to separate the lines of short moveable bars by stationary bars
placed lengthwise of the furnace.
Secondly, my Invention relates to an arrangement of fire-bars designed for
small-sized fire-grates. On one, two, or more rods or rocking shafts, placed
longitudinally in the furnace, the fire-bars are placed, or they are attached
thereto or cast therewith. The bars are therefore in position across the
furnace. By connecting the longitudinal rods or rocking shafts together
motion given to one by a lever or other means will rock or move all the
bars.
And, thirdly, my Invention relates to improvements on that arrangement of
furnace fire-bars set forth in the Specification of an Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent of date the 4th day of December A.D. 1857, No. 3005,
and consists in connecting the several rows, or all the rows, with the exception
of the backmost one, of reciprocating or undulating bars therein described by
a long rod and pins, instead of employing a number of links. The great
advantage of this improvement is that in the event of any of the pins or parts
of the bars breaking, all the rows, excepting the one broken, can be.rocked or
moved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Buchanan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES:
BUCHANAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Brass-
founder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Buchanan, Her special license that I, the said James
Buchanan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Buchanan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter.

page_text: 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FURNACE FIRE-GRATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Buchanan, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Buchanan, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
:-
Firstly, I construct furnace fire-grates of a number of short lengths of fire-
bars placed in rows across the furnace. Each row is carried on or by a cross
rod which passes through openings in the bars, and on such cross rods, resting
as they do on side framework, the bars are free to be rocked or moved.
Through openings in the lower parts of the bars which compose each row, and
underneath the cross bars above mentioned, other cross bars are passed, or the
bars are cast with or fastened to the cross bars last named. These latter cross
bars do not touch the framework at either side, but by links and pins or a
continuous rod and pins all the several rows which constitute the fire-grate are
connected together, so that by rocking or moving the row nearest the door by
a lever or other means the several rows can be made at pleasure to partake of
a rocking or undulatory motion sufficient to break up any "clinker" which
may be formed, and to admit a supply of air to the fuel on the fire-grate. In
practice I prefer to separate the lines of short moveable bars by stationary bars
placed lengthwise of the furnace.
Secondly, my Invention relates to an arrangement of fire-bars designed for
small-sized fire-grates. On one, two, or more rods or rocking shafts, placed
longitudinally in the furnace, the fire-bars are placed, or they are attached
thereto or cast therewith. The bars are therefore in position across the
furnace. By connecting the longitudinal rods or rocking shafts together
motion given to one by a lever or other means will rock or move all the
bars.
And, thirdly, my Invention relates to improvements on that arrangement of
furnace fire-bars set forth in the Specification of an Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent of date the 4th day of December A.D. 1857, No. 3005,

page_text: and consists in connecting the several rows, or all the rows, with the exception
of the back most one, of, reciprocating or undulating bars therein described by
a long rod and pins, instead of employing a number of links.. The great
advantage of this improvement is, that in the event of any of the pins or parts
of the bars breaking, all the rows, excepting the one broken can be, rocked or
moved.
That details of parts constructed and arranged according to my said
Invention may be clearly seen and understood, I have appended hereunto, a
Sheet of illustrative Drawings.
:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of a furnace
fire-grate constructed according to the first part of my Invention, in which
the bars a of short length placed in rows across the furnace are separated in
the length of the furnace by stationary bars 6; c, the cross rods on, which the
bars a are placed, and by which they are carried; they are free to be rocked
or moved on the supporting shoulders in the frame d, as shown by dotted lines
in Fig. 2; e, cross bars, shewn passed through the lower parts of the bars a,
but not long enough to come into contact with the frame d. These cross.bars
might be cast with a row or a number of bars a, but it will be evident that
for general purposes the mode shown is preferable; f, the links which connect
the several rows together, and so allow the rocking motion given to the lever g
to be communicated to (as shown) the whole of the rows. Long rods, similar
to those described under the third part of my improvements, could be, used
instead of the separate links f. It will be obvious that when the stationary
bars b are dispensed with the rocking or undulating bars. a, which would then
compose the whole of the furnace fire-grate, could be so connected with links
or rods as that the whole or part of them could be, moved at the same time.or
at different times, and in the same or opposite directions.
J
**
In Fig. 3, which is a plan view, and Fig. 4, which is an end elevation, an
arrangement of parts constituting a furnace fire-grate according to the second
part of
my Invention is shown. h denotes the longitudinal rods or rocking
shafts, two being here represented, with or on which the bars i are cast or
placed; ; is the dead plate; k, cranks, to the lower ends of which the lever
is jointed; m, operating levers. When these operating levers m, or either of
them, are or is moved up and down the bars i are made to move up and down,
and the fire-grate is thereby kept in proper condition.
The third head of my Invention is illustrated by longitudinal secțions
marked Figs. 5 and 6. n (Fig. 5) represents undulating or rocking bars
connected by a long rod o; through apertures therein the pins or cross rods
are made to pass. The backmost row could be left detached, and it might,

page_text: be worked by a special lever provided for that purpose. In Fig. 6 another
form of long rod, marked o¹, is shewn. Here the pins or cross rods do not
pass through the long rod, but recesses q are formed to receive them. To
prevent this form of long rod from sliding upwards and away from the pins or
cross rods I provide a bell crank r, fixed to the under side of the dead plate s,
and connect it by a link t to such long rod, the operating power being applied
through the lever u.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, and
shown modifications or details by which the same can be carried into effect, I
would have it understood that I do not confine myself to every detail, or all
the forms of parts shown on the Drawings, as many alterations might be made
without departing from the leading features of my Invention. What I claim
is,-
Firstly, constructing furnace fire-grates, in whole or in part, of rocking or
undulating bars, through which two cross rods are made to pass, substantially
as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly, arranging furnace fire-bars on rods or rocking shafts placed
longitudinally in the furnace, substantially as herein described and for the
purpose set forth.
And, thirdly, connecting all the rows, or all the rows but the backmost
one, of the rocking or undulating fire-bars which constitute a furnace fire-
grate by a long rod, substantially as herein described and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buchanan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
Patent Agent,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JAMES BUCHANAN. (L.S.)