Abstract: A furnace grate for use in a combustion furnace includes rows of grate bars positioned one behind the other, moveable and stationary grate bar supports, side plates, drive shafts and fluid cylinders. The grate bars are seated on the grate bar supports within the furnace while the fluid cylinders are positioned outside the furnace wall.

Abstract: A furnace having a thrust grate formed of grate bars which are loosely disposed on alternate movable and stationary grate bar supports, having freedom of movement to tilt in a vertical direction. In a horizontal direction, a grate bar is fixed on each grate bar support, preferably in the middle, and neighboring grate bars are connected to each other, the outermost grate bar on the stationary grate bar support being coupled to a driving element and which, upon thermal expansion, displaces a side shield with respect to the furnace wall.

Abstract: A grate bar support for use in combustion furnaces, particularly rubbish incinerators, has a hollow-box shaped member having a trapezoidal cross-section along a longitudinal direction and trapezoidal cross-section along a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, a front and a rear end and a nozzle shaped air outlet opening located at the front end of the hollow box shaped member. A grate is formed by a plurality of overlapping alternately stationary and movable rows of grate bars having a stroke which corresponds to the distance two adjacent rows of grate bars are offset with respect to each other. Preferably, the grate bar supports are arcuately shaped so as to provide a tight grate surface in both cold and hot operating conditions.

Abstract: A grate bar assembly for use in a combustion furnace, particularly, in a waste incinerator having a combustion chamber, includes a plurality of overlapping rows of grate bars extending across the combustion chamber, each row of grate bars being composed of a plurality of juxtaposed grate bars; a grate bar support; and a preferably hydraulically operated releasable clamping device disposed outside the combustion chamber for laterally clamping the plurality of overlapping rows of grate bars and for moving the juxtaposed grate bars toward each other. A method of operating the grate bar assembly is also disclosed.