IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT, to William Humphrey, of Hunslet, near Leeds, in
the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
FOR STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 30th April 1867, and dated the 7th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Humphrey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1866.
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY, of Hunslet, near Leeds, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a set of fire-bars better adapted
for the consumption of smoke and the economizing of fuel. To effect this
object I use an endless chain of fire-bars lying transversely and horizontally
across the flue- or furnace, working in grooved guides, such grooved guides
being attached to a framework which admits of being withdrawn from the
internal flue or furnace of the steam boiler when the apparatus requires to
be cleaned. In conjunction with this apparatus I place a hopper at the
front or firing end capable of receiving coals or other fuel, and communi-
cating with the upper portion of the endless chain of fire bars, such fire-bars

page_text: being made straight and solid or hollow, and perforated as desired. The
guides, in which they work consist of pipes communicating at the bridge
end with the bridge itself, supposing the latter to be hollow and in com-
munication with the boiler, and at the other end by convenient junctions with
the fore end of the boiler water space, thus, serving the two-fold object of
guiding the fire-bars and of-generating steam. The operation is as follows:-
Fuel having been supplied to the hopper by the attendant, the endless chain
of fire-bars actuated as it is by means of gearing or other well-known
mechanical appliances used for like purposes, either from an engine when
the latter is working, or by hand if not, slowly traverses along, the guides
being regularly fed from the hopper placed in conjunction with it. A regular
and equitable feed of fuel is thereby ensured, the emission of smoke more
or less prevented, and economy of fuel obtained.
SPECIF
CIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Humphrey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HUMPHREY, of Hunslet, near Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand. eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, 'for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Humphrey, Her special licence that I, the said William
Humphrey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Humphrey, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FURNACES FOR STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Humphrey, 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 Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Humphrey, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fôl-
Jowing statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to provide a set of fire-bars better adapted
for the consumption of smoke. and the economizing of fuel. To effect this
object I use an endless chain of fire-bars lying. transversely and horizontally
across the flue or furnace working in grooved guides, such grooved guides
being attached to a framework which admits of being withdrawn from the
internal flue or furnace of the steam boiler when the apparatus' requires to be
cleaned. In conjunction with this apparatus I place a hopper at the front or
firing end capable of receiving coals or other fuel; and communicating with
the upper portion of the endless chain of fire-bars, such fire-bars being made
straight and solid or hollow, and perforated as desired. The guides in which
they work consist of pipes communicating at the bridge end with the bridge
itself, supposing the latter to be hollow and in communication with the boiler,
and at the other end by convenient junctions with the fore end of the boiler
water space, thus serving the two-fold object of guiding the fire-bars and of
generating steam. The operation is as follows:-Fuel having been supplied
to the hopper by the attendant the endless chain of fire-bars actuated as
it is by means of gearing or other well-known mechanical appliances used
for like purposes, either from an engine when the latter is working, or by
band if not, slowly traverses along the guides, being regularly fed from the
hopper placed in conjunction with it. A regular and equitable feed of fuel is
thereby ensured, the emission of smoke more or less prevented, and economy
of fuel obtained.
In order however that my Invention may be more fully understood,
reference is made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, similar letters representing similar parts, that is
to say:-

page_text: claim as and of my Invention is the horizontal round fire-bars and the
motion that is given to them by the wheel and chain before named, so as to be
applicable to round fire furnaces or any other shape, so as to prevent smoke
and cause a saving of fuel.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Humphrey, have hereunto set
my hand and seal; this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J..W. BULMER,
Clerk to P. H. Sharp,
: Patent Agent,
Leeds..
WILLIAM HUMPHREY. (L.B.):