A NEW SYSTEM OF FIRE-GRATES FOR BOILERS AND ANY OTHER KIND OF FURNACES
Year: 1885

page_text: We, JOSEPH MAGNÉE and EDMOND BENEKENS of the Firm Magnée and Benekens,
Manufacturers both of Liége in the Kingdom of Belgium do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention for "A NEW SYSTEM OF FIRE-GRATES FOR BOILERS
AND ANY OTHER KIND OF FURNACES" to be as follows:-
Our present invention has for its object a new or improved construction of fire
bars, which besides being cheap and durable are devised to admit a maximum
quantity of air to the fire and to facilitate the escape of the ashes, without
increasing the width of the space between the bars.
In the various systems of firebars hitherto in use the air requisite for combustion
enters only between the bars: this arrangement has the serious drawback that the
greater the quantity of coal placed on the fire and consequently the greater
the quantity of air required, the nearer the bars must be to each other to
prevent the fuel dropping between them whereby the supply of air is curtailed.
Another drawback resulting from the restricted space for the access of air is
that the bars become heated, soon get out of shape, and allow clinkers to adhere
to them.
Now our invention has the further advantage of obviating these drawbacks, by
presenting a relatively large surface of the bars to the air, thereby preventing them
from becoming overheated.
Moreover the construction of bars hereinafter described, effects an appreciable
economy of metal in construction.
The bars which form the object of the present application for Letters Patent
may be constructed in several modifications.
In one pattern the grating is formed of a bar '016 metro thick '40 metre deep;
there is fixed in the bar and secured to it by rivets or other suitable means, an
iron or steel blade about 010 metre thick and 070 metre deep: the whole grating
may however be formed of a single casting if preferred. On each side of the bar
project ends or teeth say 024 metre long, 035 metre deep and 020 metre wide.
These serrations are separated by spaces of about 010 metre width forming
transverse openings for the admission of air and escape of the ashes. The end and
middle teeth are longer than the other ones, so as to form a longitudinal opening
when the bars are placed side by side in the fire place.

page_text: In another modification the grating is constructed as before, but has serrations
at one side only Another pattern consists of three bars of about 0.50 metre
depth, "020 metre width and about 010 metre apart, joined together at each end
and the middle by cross pieces or other suitable means, the middle bar having an
iron or steel blade as above described; or the grating may be composed of two
bars about *016 metre thick and 100 metre deep. They are joined together and
strengthened at the ends as well as in the middle and have between them a longi-
tudinal aperture of about 010 metre wide for the passage of air and escape of
ashes, the outer sides of each bar are serrated in the manner already described.
Instead of the outer edges, the inner ones of each bar may be serrated.
These compound firebars or gratings may be made of cast iron or other suitable
material, by sand casting, in moulds or otherwise, and the precise dimensions of the
various parts may be varied to suit special requirements.

page_text: OL Furnaces.
We JOSEPH MAGNÉE and EDMOND BENEKENS of the Firm Magnée and Benekens
Manufacturers both of Liége in the Kingdom of Belgium 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:-
Our present invention has for its object a new or improved construction of fire-
bars, which besides being cheap and durable are devised to admit a maximum
quantity of air to the fire, and to facilitate the escape of the ashes without
increasing the width of the space between the bars.
In the various systems of fire bars bitherto in use, the air requisite for combus-
tion enters only between the bars: this arrangement has the serious drawback that
the greater the quantity of coal placed on the fire and consequently the greater
the quantity of air required the nearer the bars must be to each other to
prevent the fuel dropping between them, whereby the supply of air is curtailed.
Another drawback resulting from the restricted space for the access of air is, that
the bars become heated, soon get out of shape, and allow clinkers to adhere to
them.
Now our invention has the further advantage of obviating these drawbacks, by
presenting a relatively large surface of the bars to the air, thereby preventing them
from becoming overheated.
Moreover the construction of bars hereinafter described, effects an appreciable
economy of metal in construction.
The accompanying drawings represent types of fire bars constructed according
to our invention in plan, in longitudinal and in transverse section; but it is
obvious that numerous modifications in the precise shape of the bars may be made
without departing from the principle of the invention: it is also obvious that the
teeth or serrations of the bars may also, if desired, be slit or serrated.
Referring to the drawings, the grating A is formed of a bar F 016 metre thick
and 40 metre deep; there is fixed in the bar and secured to it by rivets or other
suitable means, an iron or steel blade about 010 metre thick and 070 metre deep:
the whole grating may however be formed of a single casting if preferred, like the
patterns B & C on each side of the bar F project ends or teeth GG say '024 metre
long, 035 metre deep and 020 metre wide. These serrations are separated by
spaces of about 010 metre width forming transverse openings for the admission of
air and escape of the ashes. The end and middle teeth are longer than. the other
ones, so as to form a longitudinal opening when the bars are placed side by side in
the fireplace. The grating B is constructed like grating A, but has serrations at
one side only. Grating C is composed of three bars of about 0.50 metre depth
020 metre width and about 010 metre apart, joined together at each end and the
middle by cross pieces or other suitable means, the middle bar having an iron or
steel blade as above described.
The grating D is composed of two bars about 016 metre thick and 100 metre
deep. They are joined together and strengthened at the ends as well as in the

page_text: middle and have between them a longitudinal aperture of about 010 metre wide for
the passage of air and escape of ashes; the outer sides of each bar are serrated in
the manner already described.
Grating E is constructed like grating D but the inner edges of each bar composing
it are serrated instead of the outer ones.
These compound firebars or gratings may be made of cast iron or other suitable
material, by sand casting, or in moulds, and the precise dimensions of the various
parts may be varied to suit special requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is:―
..!
1st. The new or improved system of compound firebars or gratings composed of
one or more bars, cast in one or more pieces and preferably supported by a blade
of iron or steel, each component bar having serrations on one or both sides,
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings. >
2nd. The new or improved compound firebar, consisting of a grating composed
of three bars, suitably joined in such manner as to leave a longitudinal aperture
between each, the middle bar being strengthened by a blade of iron or steel;
substantially as described.
.
-
3rd. The new or improved compound fire bar consisting of two bars cast together
or suitably connected having teeth or serrations on their outer or inner sides,
substantially as described.
4th. The new or improved fire bar or grating composed of a single bar cast in
one piece or provided with an iron or steel blade, and having on one or both of its
sides, teeth or 'serrations, substantially as described.