US1723775A - Flexible grate - Google Patents

Description

u8 6, 1929. B. F. FLr-:MING 1,723,775

FLEXIBLE GRATE Filed June 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Smet l Inventor B. F. FLEMING FLEXIBLE GRATE Aug. 6,1929.

Filed June 2o. 1928 *2 sneetsfsneet Cil Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES BERTHA FRANCES FLEMING, OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY.

FLEXIEBLE GRATE.

Application filed `Tune 20,

The present invention relates to improvements in grates for furnaces and the like and has reference more particularly to an auxiliary grate for disposition on top of the fire grate arranged in the lire box of a furnace, whereby small fuel, such as buckwheat coal may be properly supported for burning. Y

further object is to provide an auxiliary grate of the above mentioned character which includes a plurality of pivotally con nected separate bars or links, the same being of such construction as to permit the proper circulation of air through the grate so as to aid combustion.

Still a further object is to provide an auxiliary grate that will permit of the usual rocking operation' of the grate bars for shaking the coal.

Still a further object is to provide an auxiliary grate of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable, 'and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

`Other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, form ing a part of this application.

.ln the accompanying drwings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the auxiliary grate embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the iire box of a furnace, showing my auxiliary grate positioned on top of the conventional fire grate.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken approximately on the line of Figure' 1.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the bars or links employed to construct f the auxiliary grate embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure L1, and

Figure G is a side elevation of one of the end lugs or bars.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred em.- hodiment of my invention, the numeral designates the tire box portion of a vfurnace of any well known or preferred construction, and in which fire box is supported the usual grate designated by the numeral 2, the

1928. semi No. essere mechanism for actuating or rocking the grate not being shown.

It is impossible to burn small fuel such as buckwheat coal, in a furnace w`th the ordinary grate construction, and therefore I have devised an auxiliary grate for rest upon the conventional grate in the `lire box of the furnace to properly support such small fuel whereby the same will be burned eiliciently in the furnace, and suoli fuel will not be apt to pass through the grate bars into the ash pit in an unburned condition.

My improved auxiliary grate.; is designated generally by the numeral 3. The auxiliary grate comprises a plurality. of substantially rectangular shaped links or bars L1-, and smaller end links or bars 5. Each of the links or bars et comprises an elongated flat body that has its upper edge serrated as illustrated at 6, while the lower edge of the intermediate portion of thev body is cut out at 7, to form an air passage. Parallel spaced vertically disposed ribs 8 are formed on each side of the body at the intermediate portion thereof to provide vertical air channels or passagesy 9 as shown very clearly in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings.

Enlarged bosses 10 are formed on one side of the body of each link or bar 4- at the respective end portions thereof. Notched bosses 11 are formed on opposite sides of the body of each link or bar ll, with the respective bossesV 10 and each link or bar 4 is formed with the transverse openings 12 at the respective end portions thereofk and these `openings extend through the bosses as indicated very clearly in Figure 5.

Each of the end links or bars 5, comprises a flat body having its lower edge cut away as at 13. The upper edge of each end link or bar is also serrated as at 14, with reference more particularly to Figure 6, and formed on the opposite faces of therbody of each end link or bar adjacentthe smaller end thereof are the vertically disposed ribs 15. A boss 16 similar to the boss 10k is formed on one side of each end link or bar 5, adjacent the larger end thereof, and a notched boss 17 is formed on the other side of each end link or bar, in alignment with the boss 16. The larger end portion of each end link or bar is formed with a transverse opening 18 and the bosses are also apertured for communication with the opening 18.

As more clearly suggested in Figure 1, the

links or bars constituting my improved auxili: y 1ate are arranged in spaced rows, the links or bars in one row being disposed in sta gered relation with respect to the links or oars of the adjacent row. The links or bars l are so positioned as to have the bosses lO disposed in abutting engagement with the notched bosses of the adjacent links or bars, an(L an elongated threaded bolt 19 is adapted to pass through the registering openings l2 of the links or bars fl. A washer f2.0 arranged on each bolt for spacing the head with respect to the links or bars 4, at one side of the grate, a similar washer 22 being removably disposed over the other end of each bolt for engagen'ient with the outer sides of the links or bars at the other side of the grate, and the free end portion of each bolt is formed with a transverse opening to accommodate a. cotter pin 23, whereby to properly secure the links or bars on the several headed bolts and this construction provides a means whereby the pivotal connection is provided between the adjacent ends of the several links or bars.

rlhe endmost links or bars 5 have their aoertured ends arranged on the endmost bolts and are disposed between the spaced endmost links or bars 5, as clearly shown in Figure l.

lilhile I have shown the grate as being substantially rectangular in shape, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself` to the particular shape of the auxiliary grate, the shape of said auxiliary grate depending upon the particular type of furnace and grate with which the present invention is to be associated.

lVhen the parts are assembled in the manner as shown in Figure l, the auxiliary grate can be placed in the fire box l for rest upon the grate bars of the conventional grate structure 2 and the end portions of the links or bars 4rwill rest on the grate bars of the ordinary grate structure as will also the inner end portions of the end links or bars and the cut out portions 7 and 13 will form air channels to provide the proper circulation of air beneath the auxiliary grate 3. Furthermore, the ribs formed on the links or bars will afford a means to permit the circulation of air upwardly through the auxiliary furnace grate, whereby to aid in the combustion of the small fuel placed on the auxiliary grate, and this auxiliary grate will prevent the small fuel, such as biiclm'lieat coal or the like from falling through the grate into the ash pit without having first been burned.

By constructing an auxiliary grate in the manner as shown and described, the same will be automatically rocked for shaking the small coal when the grate bars of the conventional grate structure 2 are rocked, by the usual rocking mechanism, not disclosed.

The simplicity of my improved auxiliary grate enables the several links or bars to be readily assembled or disassembled, and should any one of the links or bars become broken, the same can be replaced with a new one at a minimum cost, thus obviating the necessity of having to discard the auxiliary grate in case of breakage of one or more of the links or bars constituting said auxiliary grate.

.lilliile l have shown the preferred embodi ment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. rthe combination with a furnace enr bodying a fire box and its grate, of a flexible auxiliary grate comprising a plurality of interconnected units resting upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked.

2. The combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and .its grate, of a flexibleauxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate links arranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, and means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacent rows together.

3. The combination with a furnace embodying a lire box and its grate, of a flexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the Jfurnace grate is rocked, said. flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate links arranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacent rows together, each of said links being constructed to provide air passages.

Ll. The combination with a furnace embodying a re box and its grate, of a tlexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate links arranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacent rows together, each of said links being cut out at its lower edge to provide horizontal air passages.

5. rlhe combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and its grate, of a flexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked, said flexible gra-te comprising a plurality of separate links arranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacent rows together, each of said links being cut out at its lower edge to provide horizontal air passages, and ribs arranged vertically on the side faces of the links to provide vertical air passages.

G. The combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and its grate, of a liexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the urnace grate to support small coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate links arranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent rows, and means for pivotally connecting theadjacent ends of the links in the adjacent rows together, each of said links comprising a flat body, the upper edge thereof being serrated, the

klower edge being cut out to provide an air passage, said body being provided with a pivot bolt receiving opening, and bosses on opposite sides of the body around said openinv.

n testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BERTHA FRANCES FLEMING.

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