Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Facilitating the Stoking of Marine or other Boiler Fires.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Facilitating the
Stoking of Marine or other Boiler Fires.
J, ALFRED ELLIS ASH, of 35 Handfield Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, Marine
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved device for supporting the "pricker bar"
which is a fulcrum or rest upon which a "pricker" is supported when in use for
pricking the fire or perforating clinkers upon the fire bars of a steam boiler.
Hitherto the "pricker bar or fulcrum has been a fixture, just within the front
part of the ash pit, and carried upon two brackets bolted to the front of the
furnace, and upon this pricker bar, the pricker has been rested when in use, for the
sake of leverage, but for pricking the back part of the fire the labour has been very
heavy, owing to the greater distance of the fulcrum from that part of the fire being
operated upon.
In carrying out this invention the pricker bar is adapted to be moved backward
upon two horizontal slides when the back part of the fire requires to be dealt
with.
For this purpose two slides under and nearly parallel with the fire-bars, and at a
suitable distance therefrom, are fixed from the front or sides of the ash-pit or furnace
flue. Upon these two slides rests a movable pricker bar, which can be pushed back
or drawn forward as required, and which engages in notches, either at the front or
back ends of the slides.
The ends of the pricker bar are flanged or looped to prevent the bar coming off
'the supporting slides.
By the use of this adjustable "pricker bar," the amount of labour hitherto
required to prick or break up the clinker at the back part of the fire-bars is greatly
reduced and the work can be more effectually performed, whereby an improved
draught may be obtained.
Dated this 12th day of November 1895.
Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Facilitating the
Stoking of Marine or other Boiler Fires.
I, ALFRED ELLIS ASH of 35 Handfield Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, Marine
Engineer 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 thie
following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved device for carrying the "pricker-bar,"
which is a fulcrum or rest upon which the "pricker" is supported when in use, for
pricking the fire from below the fire-bars or perforating clinkers upon the fire-bars
of a steam boiler, for the purpose of admitting a larger supply of air, and thereby
intensifying or hastening combustion.

page_text: Hitherto the pricker-bar or fulcrum has been a fixture, being a strong horizontal
bar carried upon hangers bolted to the front of the furnace., "When pricking the
back part of the fire, and using this fixed fulcrum, the leverage has been adverse to
the stoker, and the pricking operation very difficult or altogether neglected.
To obviate this difficulty, and in carrying out this invention, the pricker bar,
instead of being made a fixture, is supported at its ends upon horizontal guides or
bearers, and is adapted to be moved back, when the back portion of the fire requires
pricking, whereby the adverse leverage above referred to is overcome to a great
extent, and the operation is much facilitated.
In order to enable this invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of a boiler flue
to which my improvements are applied.
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in both the drawings.
The outlines of the flue are represented at A A, the fire-bars at B B, the
dead-plate at C, and the front-plate of the furnace at E.
The brackets D D, which carry the channelled guides F F, are secured to the
furnace-frout by bolts, which also pass through and secure the front vertical flange
of the dead-plate. The adjustable prioker-bar G is a strong round bar; provided
with a rounded flange or flattened knob at each end, which fits easily in the groove
or channel of the guide F, wherein it is adapted to move easily backward or
forward as required, without leaving the groove. Notches are formed both at the
front and back ends of the guides, into which the necks formed upon the pricker-
bar drop and engage when in position for use, and an upward opening at the front
end of the channel allows the pricker-bar to be removed when required.
Holes may be pierced in the bottoms and sides of the channels of the guides, to
allow the escape of dirt or ash, and to lighten the castings.
Horns or rests are formed upon the brackets namely H, for supporting stoking
tools when not in use, and J, upon which latter a sheet iron damper may
be hung.
It is obvious that a movable pricker-bar having loops or eyes at its extremities,
sliding upon plain guides or rods, may be employed in a similar manner, and for the
purpose herein referred to.
The pricker adapted for use with the above described sliding fulcrum, has a
projecting peg or finger formed or fixed at one side, whereby the pricker bar may
be moved backward or forward as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sliding pricker-bar which is provided with flanged or looped ends, operating
in the manner and for the purpose described.
2. For supporting a sliding pricker-bar, the brackets bolted to the boiler front,
and the grooved or channelled guides constructed and operating in the manner
described.
3. The combination of a sliding pricker-bar having flanged or looped ends, with
grooved, channelled or plain guides, supported by brackets, operating in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
U
4. The sliding pricker-bar, with the brackets and guides, all constructed, arranged
and operating in the manner set forth and as represented in the accompanying
drawings.
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Dated this Eighth day of August 1808
WILLIAM J. BAKER,
Peasholme House, Scarborough, Agent for the Applicant.