Manufac
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
America, Furnace Manufacturer, and GIVI
70gincet,
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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a furnace to which the fuel may be fed
automatically and in such manner as to be uniformly and evenly distributed over
the grate surface. To this end, my invention consists in certain novel features.
relating to the construction of the grate itself as well as in the means provided
for feeding the fuel thereto-all of which is hereinafter more specifically
described.
In the drawing,
Figure 1, is a front elevation of a furnace embodying the features of my
invention.
Figure 2, is a plan view of a portion thereof.
Figure 3, is a plan view of the grate and the mechanism for operating the same.
Figure 4, is a longitudinal sectional view taken upon the line 4-4, Figure 1.
Figure 5, is a side view in detail of a portion of the feeding mechanism
represented in Figure 2.
Figure 6, is a face view in detail showing my improved means for tilting the
grate-bars.
Figure 7, is a plan view showing a modification of the feeding mechanism, and
Figure 8, is a side view of the same in section, taken upon the line 8-8,
Figure 7.
Referring to the drawings, a represents the frame or casing of the furnace over
which is placed the usual boiler 6, Figures 1, 2 and 4. The furnace is preferably
extended forward beyond the front of the boiler as more clearly shown in
Figure 3; in order that the fuel may be uniformly fed from the outside to the
middle of the grate surface.
The grate, which is located at the forward end of the boiler, as is usual in boiler.
furnaces, consists of an annular ring c, which is mounted upon and supported by a
series of rollers d secured in adjustable brackets e, Figure 4. The brackets have
each an oblong opening e¹ therein which is adapted to receive a rigid supporting
arme which is formed upon or rigidly secured to the annular supporting ring
set in the brick-work which forms the furnace setting. By means of wedges e
placed above the arms e² as shown, the brackets è may be raised or lowered as
desired which enables the ring c to be accurately levelled. The brackets may then
be firmly secured in place by means of set-screws et.
The supporting ring f¹ constitutes an important feature in my invention inasmuch
as it enables the grate to be kept in its proper position regardless of the uneven
settling or warping of the furnace walls. It is made in sections rigidly attached
to each other, and is provided with one or more flanges f which are set in the
masonry thereby being protected from heat. These flanges serve to sustain the
ring in position and impart lateral strength thereto. The ring, moreover, built
thus into the wall, prevents the latter from warping or settling unevenly.
The ring c is free to revolve upon the roller bearings and the bottom thereof is
bevelled as indicated, in order to maintain its position upon the rollers.
Within

page_text: the ring c is formed a series of horizontal openings f, Figure 6, for the reception of
the ends g of the grate-bars h. The ends or extensions of the bars are smaller in
cross-section than the bars themselves, so that shoulders are formed upon the latter
in such a manner as to permit of an end wise movement of the bars, while at the
same time the movement is limited in extent. The openings fare also of sufficient
.depth to permit the bars to be raised and lowered for the purpose hereinafter
set forth.
The outer circumference of the ring c is provided with teeth-i which are adapted
to be engaged by a worm j upon a shaft k, Figures 1, 3, 4 and 8, which is mounte
in suitable bearings upon the casing as shown, and is provided with a sprocket
wheel which is connected by means of a sprocket-chain to a like wheel upon a
shaft, connected in turn to a suitable source of power. The rotation of the shaft k
serves to rotate the grate continuously.
Mounted upon a bearing attached to the casing a is a bell-crank lever m,
Figures 1 and 3, which is held in a normal position by means of a spiral spring n,
which bears against the end of one arm. The other arm of the lever serves as a
support for a roller o which is adapted to bear against the protruding ends of the
grate-bars as clearly shown in Figure 3, and to push them in one by one as they
are brought in contact with it by the rotation of the grate,-thus serving to loosen
the ashes and cause them to drop into the ash-pit. Should the grate-bar fail to
slide upon its first contact with the roller o the spring a permits the roller to yield
until the bar is brought into more complete alignment with the axis of the roller
when the spring, by reason of its more direct action, overcomes the friction of the
bar and causes the latter to slide back suddenly, which serves to free the ashes
therefrom more completely.
Should the sliding action of the bars prove insufficient to clear the grate surface,
Pivoted
I have provided the following means for automatically tilting the bars.
to an arm at p. Figure 6, is a bar q having an incline q' which is adapted to
engage with and lift the projecting end of the grate-bars as the ring is rotated.
The opposite end of the bar is arranged to rest upon a spring having a
set-screw beneath it for the purpose of adjusting its tension. The tendency of this
device is to tilt each bar suddenly as it passes over the roller and thereby aid in
keeping the grate clear.
Above the grate is located a hopper-shaped ring s, Figures 1, 3 and 4, which is
preferably made in sections as indicated to prevent warping and permit of replace-
ment, and which serves to direct the fuel upon the grate as well as to prevent the
ring c from becoming overheated.
Having described the construction of and means for operating my improved
grate, I will now describe my improved automatic mechanism for feeding the fuel
thereto. Located upon the casing above the furnace and in front of the boiler, is
a hopper t, Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, which is wider at the left than at the right-hand
side in order to hold a quantity of fuel proportionate to the varying feed. Beneath
the hopper are preferably arranged a series of feeding plungers t', t2, 1, Figure 2,
which, when reciprocated, serve to push the fuel out through openings at the rear
of the hopper upon a trap door u which is secured to a rock-shaft u mounted in
suitable bearings as shown. A counterpoise weight serves to balance the trap-
door and return it to its normal position.
v
Mounted in bearings upon the front of the casing is a rock-shaft v provided with
an arm v' which is connected by means of a pitman to a crank-pin upon a gear
wheel 20, which meshes into a pinion upon the shaft . It will thus be seen that
by virtue of the rotation of the shaft the shaft is continually rocked through the
action of the mechanism described. Rigidly attached to the rock-shaft vare
arms, to which is secured a connecting-rod with which each of the
plungers t¹, t, t³ is connected by means of bars t. Each of the bars t³ is bent
downwardly at its outer end as shown at t, Figure 8, so as to engage with the
rod v. A clamp t' is adjustably secured to each of the bars t. By means of this
arrangement the forward movement of the feeding plungers may be varied and

page_text: In
adjusted to any desired extent, the vibration of the arms being constant.
Figure 2, I have shown the feeding plungers as occupying different relative
positions, that to the left indicating the maximum, and that to the right indicating
the minimum movement.
A sliding bar is pivotally attached to the rod and extended forward in
operative proximity to a stud u² which is rigidly attached to the rod ¹ upon which
the trap door is pivoted. A notch upon the bar 5, Figure 2, is adapted to
engage with the stud² and tilt the trap-door as indicated in Figure 5 when the
bar vis carried forward to its full limit, thus discharging the fuel which is thrust
forward upon the trap-door into the furnace. The length of the trap-door is equal
to about half the diameter of the grate, and is so arranged that when the fuel is.
discharged therefrom it falls in a line extending from the centre of the grate to the
outer edge, the changes being delivered in the same order from the smallest to
the largest. As the grate is being constantly rotated by the worm j, it follows.
that each charge of fuel is dropped upon a fully ignited fire and not upon fresh fuel.
Moreover, the charges being graduated from the centre of the grate outwardly it
follows that a uniform depth of fuel may be constantly maintained and hence that.
a uniform fire may be constantly secured. In order that the feed may be adjusted
to vary the aggregate amount of fuel fed within a given time, I provide a slot in
the arm v, Figure 5, and adjust the wrist-pin 8 therein by means of suitable lock-
nuts so as to change its distance to any desired extent from the rod v.
means the rod may be tilted to a greater or less extent according to the amount
of fuel desired to be fed to the furnace.
By this
In lieu of the reciprocating plungers, it is obvious that the rock-shaft and the
adjustable sliding bars to may be employed to actuate a series of rotary buckets or
a series of worm conveyors so as to feed the fuel uniformly upon the grate surface..
In Figures 7 and 8, a series of rotary buckets are shown mounted upon an axis at
the bottom of the hopper. Each bucket is arranged to rotate independently of its
fellow, by means of ratchet-wheels secured to each bucket and in operative
The
connection with pawls as shown, which are in turn connected with the bars t³.
buckets are divided into compartments, and the extent to which the bar t is.
permitted to move determines the size of the charge delivered thereby.
The gearing by which the feeding mechanism is actuated is so timed with
reference to the rotation of the grate by the worm-gear that the charges dumped
upon the grate surface during one revolution will lie in different radial lines from
those deposited during the preceding revolution so that the distribution will
be uniform instead of being in radial ridges. This result is accomplished by
so apportioning the teeth in the respective gears that one is not divisible by
the other.
By actuating a single grate-bar at a time, it is obvious that much less power is.
required than for shaking the entire grate. The feeding mechanism also is adapted
to be actuated by a minimum expenditure of power.
My improved furnace is adapted to the use of coal as well as shavings, saw-dust
or other kinds of finely divided fuel. By its use the fuel may be uniformly fed at
all times, the formation of smoke may be effectively prevented, and a uniform
incandescent fire may at all times be maintained throughout the entire grate
surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what i
claim is :-
1. The combination with a furnace of a rotary grate, means for actuating the
same, a fuel feeding magazine in operative proximity to an opening above the grate,
a series of independent fuel measuring discharging receptacles arranged in said
magazine, a rock-shaft in operative connection with a source of power, means for
actuating said rock-shaft at regular intervals, and means for connecting said
measuring receptacles with said rock-shaft, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination with a furnace of a rotary grate, means for actuating the
same, a fuel magazine in operative proximity to an opening above the grate, a
series of independent fuel measuring and discharging receptacles of varying capacity
arranged in said magazine, a rock-shaft in operative connection with a source of
power, means for actuating the same at regular intervals, and means for indepen-
dently and detachably connecting said measuring receptacles with said rock-shaft,
whereby one or more may be actuated at the will of the operator, substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a furnace of a rotary grate, means for actuating the
same, a fuel magazine in operative proximity to an opening above the grate, a
series of independent fuel measuring and discharging receptacles arranged in said
magazine, a rock-shaft in operative connection with a source of power for actuating
the same at regular intervals, means for independently connecting said measuring
receptacles with said rock-shaft, and means for adjusting said respective connections
to vary the extent of movement thereof, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a furnace having a rotary grate, of a fuel magazine, a
series of fuel discharging devices in operative connection therewith, a rock-shaft,
means for actuating the same, bar V4 in operative connection with said rock-
shaft, and the connecting bars to having adjusting clamps t' thereon, substantially
as described..
5. The combination in a self-feeding furnace, of a magazine, a series of fuel
discharging devices in operative connection therewith, a rock-shaft connected with
said fuel discharging devices, a source of power, and an adjustable connection
between the same and said rock-shaft for varying the extent of movement of the
latter, whereby all the charges may be increased or diminished, substantially as
described.
6. The combination in a self-feeding furnace of a magazine, a series of fuel
discharging devices, a counterpoised trap door for receiving the fuel charges, a
rock-shaft connected with said fuel discharging devices, a source of power for
periodically tilting said rock-shaft, and a tripping device interposed between said
rock-shaft and said trap-door, substantially as described.
Traved Los 200
X45
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.