Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted. 4th Oct., 1887
I, WILLIAM WILKIE of Arnloss Colliery, Slamannan, in the County of Stirling,
North Britain, Coalmaster 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 :-
My Invention relates to an improved fire-har, which firebar is capable of being
used for heating furnaces, boilers, and furnaces generally, and is also applicable to
cooking ranges and other domestic fire grates.
My improved firebar is made in several pieces and is constructed principally of
castiron or of any other suitable material and it consists of a series of slabs or discs of
a square, rectangular, polygonal, circular, or oval form, which are mounted upon a
central bar or spindle fitted in bearings and capable of being slightly moved or
shaken without materially disturbing the fire.
At the same time the movement of
the slabs or discs is sufficient to cause the refuse, ashes, or other waste substances, to
fall through the spaces formed between each series of firebars and the thin spaces
between the slabs or discs themselves on each bar constitute effectual heating surfaces
for heating the air or forced blast passing upwards to the fuel carried on the
said firebars.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1, is a longitudinal section through the line a, b, Figure 2, of an ordinary
furnace applicable for steam boiler or other analogous furnaces fitted with my
improved firebar.
Figure 2, is a horizontal section of the same through the line c, d, Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a corresponding view to Figure 1, shewing the slabs or discs at the
full extent of their angular travel.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively elevations of a square or polygonal slab or disc
whilst Figure 6, is a corresponding elevation of a rectangular slab or disc having
a greater depth than width.
In the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the slabs or discs marked A, are
mounted upon square or rectangular bars or shafts marked B, which are fitted in
bearings formed in the sides of the furnace C, the said bars or shafts B, may be

page_text: provided with levers and rods, not shewn on the drawings to enable the operator to
give them the angular motion necessary to remove or shake the ashes or refuse which
has collected on the top or between the bars marked A, by which action the ashes
drop through the bars into the ashpit beneath.
When burning certain kinds of coal, I find it of advantage to make the slabs or
discs of considerable depth as shewn at Figure 6.
An important feature in connection with my improved firebar is that each slab
or disc is thicker at the centre than at the sides or edges so that when a series of the
said slabs or discs are placed together on the central bar whereon they are carried
the necessary air spaces are left between the same.
It is to be understood that in place of arranging the firebars transversely
in the furnace as shewn in the annexed drawings they may be arranged
lengthwise therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The improved firebar consisting of a series of square, rectangular, polygonal,
circular, or oval slabs or discs carried upon a central bar working in bearings and
actuated so as to produce a shaking motion of the said bars by means of rods and
levers or their equivalents substantially as herein described and shewn upon the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of August 1887.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agents.