IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WROUGHT IRON AND CAST IRON FIRE-BARS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Willoughby, William Willoughby, Joseph
Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, all of Plymouth, in the County of
Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WROUGHT IRON AND CAST IRON FIRE-BARS.
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, and dated the 2nd October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said James Willoughby, William
Willoughby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1879.
JAMES WILLOUGHBY, WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY, and SAMUEL
WILLOUGHBY, all of Plymouth, in the County of Devon. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WROUGHT IRON AND CAST IRON FIRE-BARS."
Our said Invention consists, firstly, in certain improvements in the construction
of fire-bars from a combination of pieces of rolled iron of any ordinary or suitable
sections, or from pieces of bar-iron of a wedge like form, or other special and suitable
shape, such pieces being respectively joined together by means of rivets, so as to form
one bar with one or more air spaces in the same; and, secondly, in the construction
of fire-bars of cast iron of a charactor similar to those before mentioned.
In accordance with the first part of our said Invention, the fire-bars may be made
of any desired width by taking the requisite number of pieces of wrought iron and
combining the same by riveting, collars or other distance pieces being placed
between for obtaining the desired air spaces. In order to give the requisite degree
of stiffness to the bar the sectional area of the pieces of iron employed should be
greater or less according to the length of bar required. No specially shaped bearing-
bar is required for the said fire-bars, the ends of which may be made square, or in
the ordinary and well known manner, or formed of such a shape as to allow for
expansion, or so as to be connected or combined with rocking apparatus, if needed
or desired.
The second part of our said Invention consists in the construction of fire-bars
of cast-iron, the same being in all respects similar to those herein before described,
pieces of cast iron being made and riveted or bolted together, and the air spaces
being formed either by means of loose washers or by projections cast or formed
on or attached to the pieces of which the bars are formed.
The firebars constructed in accordance with our said Invention possess grea
advantages and superiority as compared with those in general use, as a great amount
of air space is obtainable, and at the same time the fire-bars are of light weight,

page_text: strong, and inexpensive. Another advantage possessed by the said fire-bars is that
in the operation of stoking or removing clinkers they are not so liable to be moved
from their positions as ordinary fire-bars of shallow depth and light weight.
Our said Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed
Drawings and the figures and letters marked thereon. The same letters of reference
in all the several Figures indicate similar parts. Figures 1 and 2 respectively relate
to the construction of fire-bars in accordance with our said Invention. The said
Figures respectively represent a plan and elevation of a fire-bar. The pieces a, a, a, a,
having been cut to the required length, are trimmed, the holes formed therein, and
the ends thereof shaped as may be desired. The bar represented has plain ends
b, b, b, b, are collars or distance pieces, either loose or connected with the said bar
for determining the distances and width of the air spaces, rivets or bolts c, c, c, c,
being passed through the whole and forming one bar. Instead of employing the
said collars or distance pieces and rivets or bolts, the distance pieces b, b, (Figures 7
and 8) have holes drilled or formed therein, the ends of the pieces a, a, a, a, being
provided with projecting bolts or rivets, which are passed through the said holes and
firmly secured therein as shown, or the ends of the pieces a, a, a, a, are enlarged and
rivets or bolts passed into them through the distance pieces b, b. Figures 9 and 10
show a form of bar in which the two outside pieces a, a, and one distance piece b are
formed in one piece, the other pieces a', a', and the distance piece b' being riveted
or bolted as before described. In cases where it is desired that the bars have only
one air space it is preferred to construct them in the manner lastly described, the
sides a, a, being formed in one piece, with the distance pieces b and b', either welded
or riveted thereto. In the above mentioned Figures the bar is shown as having
three rivets or bolts, but any requisito number may be so placed, according to the
length of the bar. The heads of the rivets or bolts, or washers of any desired shape,
projecting on one side of the bar or on each side thereof, form the air spaces when
any two of these fire-bars are placed side by side in the furnace. Although the bar
shown has three air spaces any number may be obtained by adding additional or
putting less pieces, and so forming any width of surface in the bar.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the annexed Drawings relate to the construction of fire-
bars in accordance with our said Invention when the same are formed of cast-iron,
as herein before mentioned, the same letters of reference as those before used being
employed to indicate the several parts.
It should be observed that a great advantage connected with the bars formed as
above described is, that when any portion becomes worn it can be removed and a
now piece supplied.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, we
would observe in conclusion, that what we consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the same, are,
First. The construction of wrought iron fire-bars of parts combined substantially
as herein before described and set forth.
And, Secondly. The construction of cast-iron fire-bars, substantially as herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Willoughby, William Willoughby,
Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, have hereunto set our hands
and seals, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord 1879.