Improvements in Fire Bridges for Boiler Furnaces:
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Bridges for Boiler Furnaces:
We, JAMES REAGAN, of 1026 Filbert Street, Engineer, and FRANK HENRY FLEER,
of 109 Chestnut Street, Merchant, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, 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 invention relates to certain improvements on the application filed by the
above named James Reagan under date of December 31st, 1896 30112, in which a
sectional bridge plate provided with grooves for the lodgement of ashes and
imbedded in similar substance to resist the action of heat, is employed in boiler
furnaces.
The present invention consists in constructing each section of the bridge in a
hollow box like form, with receptacles on the upper surface, consisting of grooves
or channels for ashes or any other non-conductor of heat, and packing the interior.
of same with a similar substance. Owing to this peculiar formation of the bridge
and the fact that it is shielded from the fire it is rendered fire proof and will retain
its normal position and shape in the furnace, avoiding all possibility of its becoming
warped, twisted or burnt out.
The object of the present invention is to prepare these sections, forming the
bridge proper, for immediate use, so as to be handled like and take the place of
fire brick; and by making them independent, each section can be more readily
and properly packed when detached from the furnace, and when required may be
easily passed through the fire door or other opening and set in position, without the
aid of skilled labour, on the horizontal plate at the rear end of the furnace, at the
junction of the combustion chamber. .
Reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section through the rear portion of a marine
boiler furnace and part of the combustion chamber, showing our invention applied.
Figure 2, is a transverse section through a furnace flue, showing the bridge
extending across the same.
Figure 3, is a vertical longitudinal division of the hollow section of the bridge
which is placed at the front, adjacent to the fire.
Figure 4, is a rear open end view of the same, through which the packing is
introduced.
Figure 5, is a plan view of the lid or cover enclosing the same.
Figure 6, is a rear end view of one of the back sections.
Figure 7, is a longitudinal section of same.
Figure 8, is a perspective view of a portion of one of the sections, showing the
grooved upper surface and interior of same.
The sections A & B, Figures 1, 3, 4, & 6, are enclosed on five sides, forming a
box or receptacle, with the remaining sides C & C¹, Figures 3 and 7 made open, or
partially so, and closed with a lid or cover 1-D', Figures 5 and 7, for the intro-
duction of filling material. This material may consist of ashes, cinders or any
other substance which is a non-conductor of heat, and is packed thoroughly within

page_text: each section, closely against the metal to prevent heat entering from below to
destroy the bridge.
The upper surface of section A; Figures 1, 2, 3 & 4, which is inclined at any
suitable angle to cause an upturn of the flame, is furnished with a series of parallel
grooves or channels, EE, to retain ashes and protect this portion of the bridge
from the action of the heat. The upper surface of section B, Figures 67 & 8,
which is made flat, is provided with grooves or channels E-E¹, similar to those of
section A, so that ashes or cinders are allowed to accumulate over the surface of
the bridge to shield the metal, composing the same, from the action of heat.
The section A Figures 1 and 2, is placed in front, adjacent to the fire, and is
backed by section B, to complete the bridge, the whole being supported upon the
plate F, Figure 1, which extends across the combustion chamber.
The sections A and B, are packed, as stated, with ashes or other material which
will not conduct heat, previous to being placed in position within the furnace,
and are provided on the abutting sides with tongues and grooves G-G', Figures 2,
6. 7, to retain them in line transversely across the rear end of the flue; the small
space between the bridge and the curve of the flue H, Figure 2, on the right and
left side being filled with fire brick, if desired.
In filling the sections A and B, the covers D and D¹ are removed and the
material packed in with a rammer so as to thoroughly fill all the corners and leave
no vacant spaces; after this is completed the covers are replaced and secured by.
means of tap bolts k--k, and are then ready for immediate use, and are simply
dropped into place on the plate F, without the aid of skilled labor or requiring any
particular manipulation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invan-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1st. A fire bridge composed of the sections A and B, of boxlike form, having
inclined and flat tops respectively, and grooves or channels E and E, formed
therein, with the interior and grooves filled with ashes or other non-conductors of
heat, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. A fire bridge composed of the hollow sections A and B, having open
ends C, C, and covers or lids D-D, for the introduction of ashes or other material,
and grooves or channels E-E', on the upper surface for the retention of ashes,
substantially as specified.
I
3rd. The combination in a fire bridge, of the hollow sections A and B, covers
or lids D-D¹ tap bolts k, grooves or channels E-E', tongues and grooves G and G¹,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 1st day of June 1897
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.