Patent GB-266887-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in stoking mechanisms for locomotives
IPC: F23K3/04
Filed: 1926-02-09
Abstract: 266,887. Marks, E. C. R., (Locomotive Stoker Co.). Feb. 9, 1926. Stoking. - A stoking mechanism for locomotives of the type shown in Specification 143,570, in which fuel is transferred from storage and elevated by screw means to raise it to a point from which it is deposited on the fuel bed or grate, comprises a small high speed engine located at one side of the locomotive below the cab and driving continuously at a reduced speed screw elevating means adjacent the locomotive back-head, the driving shaft extending across the locomotive adjacent the lower end of the elevating means. A transfer screw conveyer serving to bring ooal forward to the locomotive 11 comprises a trough 14 loosely mounted beneath a slot 15 in the base of the tender 10 and containing a screw 16 adapted to urge the coal past a crusher 17 and into a chamber 20 Communicating with two upwardly and outwardly inclined cylindrical elevator casings 18. Elevator screws 19 in each of the casings 18 force the coal upwardly and discharge it into downwardly inclined tubes 12 from which it is scattered over the grate 13 by stirrers 34 and steam jets 31. Worm-wheels 55 keyed to the lower ends of the elevator screws 19 are driven in opposite directions by worms 52, 53 connected together by a sleeve 59 journaled in a bearing 60, the worm 52 being connected by a sleeve 69 with a stub shaft 70 driven through reduction gearing by a small four-cylinder engine 74 located at the side of the locomotive. The worm 53 is connected through a clutch sleeve 61 with a worm 54 driving a worm wheel 57, the shaft 101 of which is connected by universal joints 110 to a shaft 109 driving through gearing 108 the transfer conveyer screw 16. Antifriction bearings are provided to take the thrust of the worm 54 and any unbalanced thrust of the worms 52, 53. The worms are mounted in a boring 51 of a casting D bolted to the frame 126 of the locomotive and may be readily inserted and withdrawn without disturbing the worm-wheels. The lower ends of the elevator screws 19 are mounted in antifriction bearings 85, 90, Fig. 6, a dust guard 94 co-operating with dust-collecting rings 93 to prevent dust reaching the bearings. Pivoted to a lug 36 on the front wall of the chamber 20 is an adjustable rib 39 serving to divide the stream of coal advancing from the trough 14 into two branches which are diverted laterally into the elevators. A stud 45 on the dividing rib takes into an elongated opening 44 at the end of a rod 43 having a screwed part 46 passing through the side of the chamber 20 and through a projecting wing 41. In the pocket 48 is arranged a wheel 47 engaging the thread 46 and projecting upwardly through the deck 49 of the locomotive; this wheel is provided with teeth 50 so that it can be turned by the pressure of the foot or by a bar to swing the dividing rib. The fly wheel 113 of the engine 74 is rotatably mounted on the crank shaft, and a friction disc 116 fixed to the crank shaft bears against a friction surface on the fly wheel to avoid strain on the mechanism when a large lump of coal is being crushed or foreign matter clogs the screws. A rearwardly projecting cylinder 35 on the casting D communicating with the chamber 20 has a universal connection with the front end of the trough 14 to permit relative movement between the engine and tender. By shifting the clutch sleeve 61, Fig. 3, by a finger 65 operated by lever mechanism 67 the worm 57 may be disconnected and the transfer conveyer screw 16 stopped while the elevator screws continue to operate. The elevator casings 18 are provided with doors 118 held by fastenings 119, and a hinged door is provided in the deck 49 of the locomotive above the chamber 20 through which coal may be shovelled when the transfer conveyer is not operative. In a modification the bore in the casting D for the driving shaft and worms is located on the forward side of the elevators.