IMPROVEMENTS IN GRATE BARS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRATE BARS."
-A communication from. abroad by Addison Calvin Fletcher, of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward'
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd May 1868..
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery:
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare -
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRATE BARS,"
to be as follows:-
.
The object of this Invention is the construction of a grate bar
applicable to furnaces of different kinds, which shall embrace in an
enlarged degree the following important features, namely, a free circula-.
tion and large supply of air with uniform. distribution of the same

page_text: through and amongst the fuel on the grate; also an effectual provision
for the escape from the fire-bed of the dust and ashes which form the
residue without objectionable detraction from the strength of the bar;
and furthermore the prevention of the overheating of the bar.
The Invention consists, firstly, in constructing the upper edge of the
bar with transverse recesses through it of a conical or tapering character
so as to give an increasing width of opening towards or near their
bottoms, thereby inducing a full supply or admitting of a large volume
of air for escape through the more contracted upper edges of the
recesses, and quickening the upward current therethrough; also forming
heat conducting and radiating points to the upper ends of the divisions
or projections which establish the recesses to heat the currents of air as
they escape into or through the fire-bed, and by such abstraction of the
heat keeping the upper portion of the bar cool and aiding to effect
a more perfect combustion as well as adding to the durability of
the bar.
The second part of the Invention consists in combining such a recessed
construction of grate bar that forms points for the fuel to rest upon,
with channels or ways made in the sides of the bars and meeting the
recesses at their bases, but of a reversely conical or tapering character
and deeper at top than below, for the purpose of forming a ready escape
for the dust and ashes from the recesses down the sides of the bars and
facilitating the supply of air to the recesses.
Furthermore, and thirdly, the Invention consists in an alternate or
successive arrangement of the tapering dust escape channels or ways on
opposite sides of the bar, whereby the reduction of the bar at its sides
to form the channels is equal or thereabouts on both or opposite sides,
which adds to the strength or lightness of the bar, and produces.
uniformity of expansion on both sides throughout its length.
Office on the 21st November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton,
Her special licence that I, the said William Edward Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, 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 GRATE BARS," being
a communication to me from abroad by Addison Calvin Fletcher, of
the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters

page_text: thus adding to its durability. Increased facility for the expansion of
the bar without warping or straining the same is obtained.
To accomplish these ends the Invention consists, firstly, in the con-
struction of the upper edge of the bar with transverse recesses through
it of a conical or tapering character so as to give an increasing width
of opening towards or near their bottoms, thereby inducing a full supply
or admitting of a large volume of air for escape through the more
contracted upper edges of the recesses and quickening the uppward
current therethrough; also forming heat conducting and radiating points
to the upper ends of the divisions or projections which establish the
recesses to heat the currents of air as they escape into or through the
fire-bed, and by such abstraction of the heat keeping the upper portion
of the bar cool and aiding to effect a more perfect combustion as well
as adding to the durability of the bar.
The second part of the Invention consists in constructing such a
recessed form of grate bar with points for the fuel to rest upon and
air ducts of tapering capacity between them in combination with
channels or ways made in the sides of the bars meeting the recesses
at their bases, but of a reversely conical or tapering character and
deeper at top than below, for the purpose of forming a ready escape
for the dust and ashes from the recesses down the sides of the bars
and facilitating the supply of air to the recesses.
Furthermore, and thirdly, the Invention consists in an alternate or
successive arrangement of the tapering dust escape channels or ways
on opposite sides of the bar, whereby the reduction of the bar at its
sides to form the channels is equal or thereabouts on both or opposite
sides, which adds to the strength or lightness of the bar and produces
uniformity of expansion on both sides throughout its length.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a side view of one
form of the improved grate bar; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the
same through the line wo, wo, in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan of three of
such bars as arranged side by side, and of which there may be any
number so arranged to constitute a grate; Fig. 4 represents a side
view of a modified form of such bar; Fig. 5 is a like view of another
modification; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are similar views in part
of additional modifications of the same; Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse
section of the modification shown in Fig. 5 through the line x, x,
and Fig. 13 is a plan of two of such bars; Fig. 14 is a transverse

page_text: section of the bar represented in Fig. 7 taken through the line y, y;
Fig. 15 is a transverse section through the line 2, 2, in Fig. 8, and
Fig. 16 a plan of the bar shewn in Fig. 8; Fig. 17 is a plan of the
bar shown at Fig. 10; and Fig. 18 a like view of the bar formed
as in Fig. 11.
Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing,
A represents the body or bodies of the bar or bars a, a, with its or
their supporting ends or rests, and b, b, the intermediate dividing lugs
of the bars or separating ribs. Each of these bars is formed on its
upper edge with fuel resting points c, which are established by transverse
air ducts or recesses d of a tapering or conical character so as to
increase in width towards or near their bottoms and giving contracted
mouths or openings e at their tops whereby the recesses admit of a
large volume of air within them and establish a quick escape or supply
of the same to and through the fire-bed past the heated ends f of
the fuel points or rests c at uniform distances apart or thereabouts
throughout the length of the bar to establish a free circulation and-
equal distribution of the air to the fire. By this construction a perfect
and most economical combustion of the fuel is effected with a ready
escape for the dust and ashes by reason of the downwardly enlarging
capacity of the recesses, and by the division of the points c with every
provision for expansion of the bar without warping the latter; the
same also protects the bar from becoming over heated at its top by
the heat abstracted by the incoming air from the conducting or radiating
ends of the fuel joints c. Connected with the air ducts c or joining
them at their base are reversely tapering or conical channels g made
in the sides of the bars, the same being of greater depth at their tops
than their bottoms, or gradually vanishing as it were in a downward
direction. The channels g facilitate the free entry or supply of air
to the ducts d and form a ready escape for the dust and ashes there-
from. It is preferred to arrange these channels successively on opposite
sides of the bars, which adds to the strength or lightness of the bar
(while reducing it) by providing for its equal expansion on opposite
sides and restraining or preventing warping.
In the remaining Figures of the Drawing substantially, the same
construction is represented as in Figures 1, 2, and 3 so far as the fuel
points c, and reversely tapering air ducts d, and side channels gare
concerned, similar letters of reference indicating corresponding parts

page_text: throughout the several Figures, but certain additional features or
modifications are embraced, which may be briefly described as follows:-
Thus in Fig. 4 the points c are of a hook-like shape, as at h, to provide
for the cooling of the fuel points or rests c under their centres, as it were,
and thus adding to the durability of the bar, also furnishing an enlarged
supply of air to the ducts d.
In Figures 5, 12, and 13 the fuel points or rests c are made of a
corrugated or serpentine form (in the direction of the length of the bar),
which gives a more extended cooling area or surface to the sides of the
fuel points and provides in a special manner for their separate expansion
and contraction.
In Fig. 6 the fuel points c are shewn cupped or indented on their tops,.
as at i, i, to provide for the lodgment of ash dust for the better protection.
of the bar from being burnt.
In Figures 7 and 14 the fuel points or rests c are shown as formed by
detachable caps or pieces suitably notched or grooved to secure their
retention on the body of the bar (constructed to fit the same) so that the
points when injured, broken, or burnt may be removed and others
substituted for them without throwing away the bar.
Figures 8, 15, and 16 shew the fuel points c as formed with air ducts k
in or up their sides, each succeeding point c preferably having such
ducts on the opposite side of its next adjacent point.
In Fig. 9 the fuel points c are constructed with cooling air supply
passages through them.
l
Figures 10 and 17 illustrate the conical or tapering points c as of a
rounded character, and Figures 11 and 18 as of a diamond or lozenge
shaped form.
Having now described the Invention, which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured to
me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First. Constructing grate bars with fuel points or rests formed by
transverse recesses of a conical or tapering character so as to give an
increasing width of opening below relatively to their mouths or tops and
establishing air-heating points as herein set forth.
1
Second. I claim in combination with the fuel points and air ducts or g
recesses to the bar the channels or ways 9 as and for the purpose or
purposes herein set forth.

page_text: Third. I claim the arrangement of the channels or ways 9 alternately
or successively on opposite sides of the bar for operation in combination
with the air ducts or recesses d and fuel points c, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)