Improvements in Machines for Reducing and Pulverizing Mineral Fuel and other Materials, and for Discharging the same into Furnaces or other Places by Means of a Blast of Air.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Reducing and Pulverizing Mineral
Fuel and other Materials, and for Discharging the same into
Furnaces or other Places by Means of a Blast of Air.
A communication from abroad by THE PULVERIZED COAL AND FURNACE COMPANY, a
Corporation existing under the Laws of the State of New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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
the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for reducing and pulverising
mineral fuels, and for supplying the same, mixed with sufficient air to insure perfect
combustion, to furnaces used in all varieties of economic purposes.
In preparing coal and other fuels for the market, it has been found that a very large
amount of the fuel is wasted by becoming broken into fine dust. In the case of coal,
this fine material is produced by the blasting out and the handling of the coal, and by
breaking and preparing the various sizes in which it is sold. It accumulates in
enormous quantities, and in most cases where attempts have been made to utilise the
same, such attempts have been usually unsuccessful, for the reason that such material
is usually in too fine a state of division to permit of an ordinary draught being passed
through it, and a quantity of air sufficient to support active combustion being supplied,
or to permit of a strong draught being used, without lifting the fire from the grate
and carrying a large portion of the fuel up the smoke-stack.
The object of the invention is to effect, by mechanical means, the utilisation of all
classes of low grado fuels, which have hitherto been wasted, as well as to effect more
perfect combustion of, and consequently a diminution of the consumption of, all classes
of fuels ordinarily used for all varieties of economic purposes. These objects are
accomplished by means of a particular form of machine, into which the crushed and
pulverised coal or other fuel is fed, and in which it is then reduced into an impalpable
dust, together with a quantity of air sufficient to produce perfect combustion, and
which finally discharges the air and pulverized fuel at any point where the same may
convenient quantity.
bo conveniently consumed, in any desired direction, and in
any
This machine reduces the fuel, after being introduced into the machine in a crushed
condition, to an impalpable or floated dust; it supplies air to the machine, and mixes
the same with the fuel automatically, so that each particle of fuel, as it passes from
the machine and enters the fire-box, shall be surrounded by air sufficient for its
combustion; and, lastly, it discharges the fuel and air, automatically, in desired
quantities.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying three sheets
of drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 a plan view of the interior of a part of the pulverizing cylinder.
Figure 3 a vertical section of the entire pulverizer.
Figure 4 a vertical cross-section upon the line of Figure 3.
Figure 5 an end view of the pulverizer, showing the tangential discharge pipe.
Figure 6 a vertical cross-section upon the line of Figure 3, omitting the
pulverizing and fan mechanism.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the cylinder, showing generally, the arrangement
of the lining fastening.

page_text: Figures 8, 9, and 10, are views of details, and show the manner of attaching the
lining of the machine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts, throughout the several views.
The machine is made in the form of a hollow cylinder, A, terminating at one end
in the form of a section of a sphere, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. This cylinder,
and the hollow spheroid, will vary in diameter, according to the size of the machine.
The end walls of the machine, are parallel planes. In the views, A³ represents the
peripheral walls of the machine, and A2, the end walls. The machine is made of cast
iron or any other conveniont material, and the walls may be of any convenient thick-
ness. In practice, it will be found convenient to cast the cylinder in two horizontal
sections, which are placed upon each other, as shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 7. The
lower section is cast with standards S at either end, and with a flange a, at its upper
surface, upon which rests a corresponding flange a', cast upon the lower face of the
upper section, as shown in the views. The two sections are held together by means of
a series of screw bolts, b, b, etcetera, passing through openings in the flanges, or in any
other convenient manner. In practice, however, the cylinder may be composed of
any convenient number of sections, fastened together in any suitable manner. The
interior of the machine is divided into any convenient number of independent com-
partments or chambers, C, C, C², etcetera, by means of a series of parallel, vertical
diaphragms, D, D'. The first of theso diaphragins, D, is placed at the point where
the spherical walls intersect the walls of the machine, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
In practice, two diaphragms are used, which divide the cylinder into three compart-
ments, as shown in the views. The compartments are connected with each other, in
the interior of the machine, by means of one or more circular openings, d, d¹, in the
diaphragms.
Through the centre of the cylinder, and consequently through the openings d, d
in the diaphragmns, passes a horizontal shaft E, which is supported upon exterior
learings B, B, made of anti-friction metal, which are carried upon brackets B¹, B¹,
attached by the bolts &, 2, to the vertical end walls A', A², of the machine. The
shaft may be of any convenient diameter, but must have sufficient strength to carry
the rotary blowing fan and the rotary beaters I, J, and the bearings and their
brackets e will vary in size according to the size of the pulverizer and the weight of
the rotary blowing fan F, and the rotary beaters. Each compartment of the cylindrical
portion of the machine, contains a rotary beater of the general character
shown in the drawings. Any number of rotary boaters may be arranged radially
around the shaft E; in practice, however, two will be found most convenient, as
shown in the views. In the blowing compartment (, at the closed end of the
machine, the blades of the rotary blowing fan are mounted on adjustable radial arms,
as shown in the views, so that their plane surfaces may be adjusted laterally, at any
angle, to the axis of the main shaft E, upon which the rotary blowing fan rotates.
The object of this adjustment, is to facilitate and regulate the draught of air through
the machine from the feed-hopper to the discharge spout on the periphery of the
blowing compartment. The arrangement of the rotary blowing fan, in the compart-
ment C, is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In the views, the letters F1, F2, F³ and F,
represent the four blades, and in Figure 2, they are represented as having their flat
surfaces adjusted longitudinally to the axis E, at an angle of about thirty degrees. It
is immaterial how the blades of the fans are radially mounted, or by what means they
are laterally adjusted. In practice, however, it will be found most convenient to
adjust them in the manner shown in the views. In these, f represents a cast iron
collar or hub, bolted or keyed to the shaft E, containing four screw holes, f', f¹‚ƒƒ³,
drilled at right angles to each other. The blades are mounted upon radial arms, f
ff, which terminate at one end in screw-threads, and at the other end in flattened
cross-heads, and screw into the openings f, ff, f. They are attached to the
arms, ƒƒ³, f, f*, by means of a series of ordinary bolts, fo, f³, ƒ³, f³, passing
through openings in the flattened cross-heads, f*, f, f^,, of the radial arms f', f.
Each arm carries upon it a screw nut, f³, screwing over the upper part of the screw-
thread, by means of which the blades can be held firmly in the collar ƒ, at any angle.

page_text: In changing the adjustment of the blades, the nut f³, is in each case unscrewed, and
the radial arm of the fan blade turned to the desired angle, and the nut then screwed
down fast with a wrench. To admit of this adjustment, the side walls of the com-
partinent are made partially spherical, as shown in the views, and the extremities of
the fan blades correspondingly curved, to permit of their being turned.
0³,
In the cylindrical portion of the pulverizing compartment of the cylinder, (",
the rotary beaters are mounted rigidly upon the axis of rotation, and with their flat
surfaces parallel thereto. They may be attached to the rotating axis or shaft E, in any
convenient manner; but in practice, the manner of fastening shown in the views will
be found most simple. Figure 3 shows a cylinder divided interiorally into two com-
partments (and (, each provided with a set of rigidly mounted rotary beaters, I¹²
and JJ. In these views, i and j represent collars or hubs, provided each with the
flanges and, and keyed or bolted to the .shaft E. 11, and J, J2, represents the
blades or shoes of the rotary boaters rotating in the compartments cl and c², respectively.
These are carried upon the radial arms 3, 3, and 3, 3, the extremities of which fit into
grooves cut in the face of the flanges and j', on the collars i and j, and are secured
thereto by the bolts, and j³, 1. The outer extremities of the radial arins 3 and 1³,
terminate as in the case of the rotary blowing fan in the compartment C, in flat cross-
heads, to which the shoes of the rotary beaters are fastened by means of the bolts 1º,
and. The dimensions of all the parts will vary according to the size of the
cylinder and of the compartment, and they may be made out of any convenient
material.
The discharge of the machine is effected by means of a rectangular pipe K,
Figures 1, 5, and 6, terminating in a curved and flanged bottom, fitting over an
opening in the curved walls of the compariment C. The side flanges of the bottom.
contain slots, 4, through which pass bolts ³, k³, which penetrate the main walls of
the cylinder A. In this way, the discharge-pipe K assumes a tangent to the circum-
ference of the pulverizer, and by unscrewing the nnts upon the bolts 3, k, and sliding
the discharge-pipe up and down over the opening in the curved surface of the cylinder,
by means of the slot on the bolts, the inclination of the tangent may be varied at
pleasure, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. The outer extremity of the pipe K,
In one of the side walls
terminates in a flange K, as shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6.
of the pipo K, is placed an opening covered by glass or other translucent material, for
the purpose of affording inspection of the interior of the discharge-pipe.
The interior of the cylinder A, is lined with a lining of boiler-plate, W, or other
desirable material, arranged in the manner shown in Figures 7, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The
sheets of lining correspond in size to the shape and dimension of the section of the
cylinder to which they are.to be fitted. in the views, the cylinder is shown to be
composed of two sections, and the lining is likewise made in two sections of a similar
size. In Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, A' represents a section of the cylinder walls, and W,
a section of the lining. The extreme longitudinal edges of the lining W, contain any
number of countersunk bolt holes, www, as shown in the views. The lining is attached,
by bolts passing through these holes, to angle irons wow, Figures 7 and 74, placed
longitudinally along the longitudinal edges of the sections. The sections A, A', of
the cylinder, are cast with the longitudinal double flanges a' a', Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10,
containing the holes a² a², through which the bolts bbb, Figure 1, are passed for the
purpose of holding the sections together. The longitudinal angle irons to, are set into
the space formed between the two flanges a' a', when the sections A¹ A¹, are bolted
together, and are bolted to the sections A' A', in manner similar to that shown by w²,
in the views.
The method of operating the machine, is as follows:-
The pulley E, is attached by a driving-belt to any convenient form of motor that
will enable the shaft E, and the beaters attached thereto, to be driven at a rate of
speed varying from 2200 to 2500 revolutions per minute.
The fuel, in the form of a fine powder, enters the hopper pipe H, where it becomes
mingled with any desired amount of air, and falls into the interior of the box A, where
it is at onco caught up by the beaters and subjected to further reduction. This

page_text: reduction is accomplished by the whirlwinds of air, moving at a very high velocity,
generated in the cylinder by the rotary beater rotating rapidly, and to the violent
interaction of the rapidly rotating beater blades and the interior surface of the shell or
casing. Owing to the peculiar form of the chambers, these whirlwinds, which are
generated by the rapid rotation of the beaters, revolve on their axis with still greater
velocity, carrying with them the particles of coal, and whirling them in swift spirals.
The friction of the particles of fuel upon each other, produces an impalpable dust or
powder. The finer particles of fuel, as they become reduced into a fine powder, will
be drawn, by the suction of the blowing fan F, into the compartment C, while the
coarser particles, being much heavier, are not affected by the action of the fan, and
will remain in the reducing compartments until they are thoroughly reduced. In
this way a separation of the finer particles from the coarser particles, is effected in the
machine.
The quantity and quality of dust furnished by the machine, will depend upon the
.degree of movement that can be communicated to the air and material in the pul-
verizing cylinder, and the quantity of material which can be kept in motion at any one
time. The escape of the dust is effected by means of the fan blades F1 F2 F3 and F*,
and the amount of dust escaping will vary according to the amount of air admitted.
The dust and air are expelled through the mouth, K', of the tangential pipe K, by the
action of the fan-blade 1, and the other material coming through, is forced through
by the air entering at the opposite end of the mill. The discharge-pipe K, may be
made to assume any desired angle of inclination, by simply unscrewing the bolts k³ ³,
Figures 1, 5 and 6, and sliding it upwards or downwards on the slots kk, in the
curved flange, Figures 1, 5 and 6, and then tightening the bolts ³ k³.
For the purpose of observing the conditions within the machine, the opening K2, is
provided in the side walls of the tangential discharge-pipe K. This opening is covered
by a plate of glass, which may be removed at pleasure. From the discharge spout,
the fuel may be conducted to the furnace by any convenient form of pipe, attached
in any convenient manner.
This form of pulverizer may be adapted for reducing almost all kinds of materials,
and even for triturating liquids, and afterwards conveying them by a blast of air, and
the invention is not limited to any one particular use, although it is primarily adapted
to the process of saving fuel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
hereinbefore set forth, with the pulverizing chamber, of a blowing compartment having
spherical side walls, and a rotating shaft carrying one or more rotary fans having
laterally adjustable blades, which are curved on their peripheries to correspond to the
walls of the blowing compartment.
2. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
herein before set forth, with the cylindrical pulverizing chamber, the shaft and rotary
heaters of a blowing compartment having spherical side walls placed at one end of
said chamber and connected therewith, and a rotary blowing fan rotating upon the
same shaft as the rotary beaters, and having laterally adjustable blades, the peripheries
of which are curved to correspond to the walls of the blowing compartment.
3. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
herein before set forth, with the pulverizing chamber of a blowing compartment,
having spherical side walls and a rotary blowing fan in its interior, the blades of which
are laterally adjustable and are curved on their peripheries to correspond to the walls
of the compartment.
4. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
herein before set forth, with the blowing compartment, of a sliding, tangential discharge-
pipe, whereby the angle of discharge of the pulverized material, may be varied at
pleasure.

page_text: 5. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination with the pulverizing
chamber, of a blowing compartment connected therewith, and rotary fan blower, the
blades of which are adjustable at any angle to the axis of rotation.
6. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
herein before set forth, with the blowing compartment, of an adjustable tangential
discharge spout, whereby the angle of discharge may be varied at pleasure, provided
with a curved flange fitting over the periphery of said compartment, said flange being
formed with slots in its side; and bolts in the side walls of the compartment, passing
through the said slots, whereby the said discharge spout may be caused to slide
upward or downward at pleasure.
7. In a machine such as set forth in the title, the combination substantially as
herein before set forth, with the exterior shell of the machine composed of removable
sections, of a removable sectional lining, fitting into and corresponding with the
sections of the shell, and having the longitudinal edges cupped to receive bolt-heads,
and a series of angle irons bolted into recesses in said cylinder sections, to which the
longitudinal edges of said lining are bolted.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.