Improvement in and relating to Automatic Stoking Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
FOR.
Improvement in and relating to Automatic Stoking Apparatus.
I, DANIEL GOFF, of Milville, in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey,
United States of America, President of a Company, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:.
-
My invention relates to an improved construction of automatic stokers, in which
provision is made for automatically feeding the fuel to a boiler according to require-
iments, the feeding being regulated by the variations of pressure in said boiler.
It also consists of an improved construction of steam generator and superheater,
adapted to be used in conjunction with the stoker, steam being discharged from
the superheater so as to accelerate and assist the descent of the fuel to the furnace.
It also consists of an improved construction of rotatable or adjustable steam
nozzles employed, which discharge steam into the furnace
It also consists of an improved construction of deflectors adapted to operate in
conjunction with the adjustable nozzles above referied to.
It also consists of an improved construction of fuel feeding device, which is
automatically thrown into operation, when the boiler pressure becomes unduly
lowered, said device being adapted to feed the fuel toward the centre of the chute
or passage leading to the furnace.
It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter
fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partly in section, of an improved construc-
tion of automatic stoker, embodying my invention, the section being taken on
line Figure 2.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section on line y-y Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a section on line - Figure 2
Figures 4 and 5 represent end views of the adjustable or rotary steam nozzles
employed
Figures 6 and 7 represent sectional views of the ends of the nozzles seen 111
Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 8 represents a plan view of the deflectors employed, said deflectors being
seen in elevation in Figure 2.
Figures 9 and 10 represent front or end elevations of a modified construction of
fuel feeding device
Figure 11 represents a side elevation of a boiler having my invention applied
thereto, the furnace walls being shown in section, and
Figure 12 represents a perspective view of a deflector employed in connection
with vertical or upright boilers, having stokers embodying my invention applied
thereto.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
1 Figure 11 designates a boiler furnace containing a boiler 2. giate 3, ash pit 4,
firing door 5, ash pit door 6 and the other usual appurtenances
7 designates a recess or opening in the front wall of the furnace and having
[Price $1

page_text: applied thereto my improved automatic stoker 8 and its adjuncts, the detailed
construction of which will now be explained.
10 figure 2 designates a pipe leading from any source of water supply to the
reservoir 11, said pipe being preferably extended to near the bottom of said
reservoir.
12 designates a pipe leading from the reservoir 11 to the pipe 13, said pipe 13
being also adapted to receive exhaust steam from the pipe 13 and has a check
valve 14 therein and discharges at the point 15, into the chamber 16, which,
being located directly above the grate, rapidly heats to a high degree the water
contained there, which water being now vaporized leaves sand chamber at the
point 17 and passes through the pipes 18 to the reservou 11.
The incoming water through the pipe 18 being now highly heated or vaporized
passes out through the pipe 19 through the safety valve 20, to the pipe 21 and
through the check valve 22 to the pipe 23, which also has a safety valve 24 in cou-
nection therewith, and thence to the superheating chamber 24.
25 designates a passage leading from the chamber 24 to the valve or valves 26,
which is preferably a needle valve, although it will be apparent that any other
construction may be employed if desired.
The superheated steam after passing through the valve 26 is directed into the
fuel passage or chute 27 which discharges at the point 28 upon the bed 29, upon
which are located the deflectors 30, the relative position and construction of which
will be best understood from Figures 2 and 8.
A portion of the superheated steam leaves the chamber 24 through the pipe 31
and passes through the valved branch 32 to the laterally extending branch 33
leading therefrom, each of which has a swivel or other coupling 35 mounted
thereon, in which is mounted rotatable or adjustable pipes 36, which pass through
the openings 37 so that they are out of communication with the passage 25 and
thus unaffected by the superheated steam.
Each of the pipes 36 have mounted in the extremity thereof the block or
plug 37 Figures 4 to 7, which has the inclined opening 38 leading therethrough,
through which steam is discharged, whereby it will be apparent that by adjusting
or rotating the pipes 36, the steam can be deflected into any desired direction
within the furnace.
39 designates a hopper into which the fuel is placed, said hopper being in com-
munication with the chute 27, which latter also communicates with the passage 40,
into which leads the pipe 41, which communicates with the uptake 42 Figure 11,
said pipe having a blower 43 therein, while the pipe 41 has a branch 44, which
leads to the ash pit 4, wherefrom it will be appaient that upon the proper mani-
pulation of the damper 45, some of the products of combustion can be directed
into the passage 27, or into the ash pit 4 at will.
40 Figure 1 designates the means for feeding or propelling the fuel into the
passage 27, the same consisting of a shaft having mounted thereon the screw or
helical members 47 and 48, which it will be noted incline in opposite directions,
The shatt
so as to tend to feed the fuel towards the centre of the chute 27.
carving the helical members 47 and 48 has mounted thereon a gear 49, which
meshes with the gear 50, the latter being mounted on the shaft 51, which canies
the sprocket wheel or drum 52, around which passes the upper portion of the endless
sprocket chain 53, the lower portion of the latter passing around the sprocket
wheel 54, which is Journalled in a suitable support.
55 designates cross pieces joining the chain at intervals upon which is hung the
weights 56, the tendency of which normally is to cause the rotation of the gears
and consequently of the feeding device 40*.
57 Figure 2 designates an elbow or other lever, which is fulciumed above the
gears 49 and 50, said lever having a member 58 adapted to be rocked so as to
prevent the rotation of said gears, the movement of said lever being effected by
the safety valve 59, which is mounted on the pipe 60, which leads from the boiler,
the lever 1 of said valve having a link 62 common thereto and to the lateral

page_text: member of the lever 57, wherefrom it will be apparent that when the pressure in
the boiler increases above a certain point, the lever 61 will be raised and thus
cause the member 58 to engage the gear 50 and lock the latter, but when said
pressure decreases the lever 1 is lowered and the gears being unlocked, can now
be revolved by the weight 56, whereby the feeding of the fuel is effected.
63 designates a rod connected to the level 64 of the safety valve 24, wherefioni
it will be seen that when said lever is raised the rod 63 will be actuated, said rod
passing through a guide 65, and being so located that its upper end is adapted to
engage or interlock with the teeth of the gear 50 and thus prevent rotation of said
gear and its adjuncts when the steam pressure is mcreased sufficiently to actuate
said lever and rod.
It will be understood that my improved stoker is equally applicable to vertical
or upright boilers and when the latter are used, 1 employ the deflector 66 seen in
Figure 12, said deflector having a body portion 67 and the upper surface 68 upon
which the fuel is discharged, said surface terminating in the upwardly extending
lip 69.
it will be understood that when the deflector 66 is ea.ployed the same is sub-
stituted in the place of the deflectors 30 while the parts of the apparatus seen in
Fig 11 are placed in substantially the same relative position to the grate and
the fing dooi as they assume in Fig. 11 with respect to the grate 3 and the firing
door 5 as seen therein.
70 designates a modified form of feeding device seen in Figures 9 and 10, the
same consisting of a shaft 71, having mounted thereon the gear 49. the same as
in Figures 1 and 2, said shaft having the fingers or projections 72 thereon, by
which the feeding of the fuel is effected.
The operation is as follows.
I
Water having been introduced into the reservon 11, and steam generated and
superheated in the manner described and directed into the chute 27, it will be
evident that as the fuel is fed thereinto, its movement down the chute will be
accelerated, and when said fuel has reached the lower portion of the chute and
been discharged upon the bed 29, its movement will be further accelerated by the
superheated steam sing from the ports 38 and since the pipes 36 can be rotated
in any direct on it will be evident that the fuel can be directed into any part of
the furnace. When the elbow level 57 is in the position indicated in Figure 2,
it will be evident that the weight 56 will be acting to operate the feeding device,
such action continuing until the pressure in pipe 60 has increased sufficiently to
raise the lever 61 till the member 58 interlocks with the gear 50.
It will of course be understood that the various pipes of flues above relented to
are provided with valves and dampers according to requirements.
It will be apparent that upon operating the fan 43 a portion of the hot gases
can be returned to the furnace through the chute 27 or the ash pit and if desired,
a pipe may be employed leading from the pipe 44 to the combustion chamber above
the grate.
!
By the manipulation of the valve 74 Figure 2 the flow of superheated steam, to
all the pipes 36, can be simultaneously checked, o: each of the pipes 36 can be
controlled by its valve 75
I desire to call special attention to the function of the waterback or chamber 16,
it being evident that by the same a large number of the heat units, ordinarily
wasted in furnaces, are utilized, said waterback also serving to protect the front
part of the stoker and to further prevent the superheating chamber 24 from burn-
ing out.
I desire to call especial attention to the construction of the water holding
chuber 16, it being apparent that the same can be readily applied to and discon-
nected from the steam superheating chamber, said chamber 16 having an exten-
sion 16, which projects at an angle therefrom and is adapted to engage the flaring
or wedge-shaped portion 17 at the lower portion of the chamber 24, it being also
noted that the top of the chamber 24 has a tongue 24, which engages the adjacent

page_text: recess in the extension 23 of the bed 29, said extension being provided with the
tongue 25, which engages the adjacent recess in the top of the chamber 24, it
thus being apparent that the water chamber 16 can be readily removed, or replaced
in case of injury without dismantling the furnace to any extent.
Having now particularly described and ascertamed the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18:
1st. In an automatic stoker, a chute leading to a furnace, a steam generating
and superheating chamber located in proximity to said furnace, a fuel teeding device
ior said chute and means for discharging superheated steam into the upper and
lower portions of said chute.
2nd. In an automatic stoker, a chute leading to a furnace, a steam generating
and superheating chamber, located in proximity to said furnace, a fuel feeding
device for said chute, means for discharging superheated steam into the upper
portion of said chute, at an angle corresponding to the inclination thereof, and
means for returning some of the products of combustion to the furnace through
said chute.
3rd. In an automatic stoker, a chute, a fuel feeding device located adjacent
thereto, a steam generating and superheating chamber, the latter being located
adjacent to said chute, a steam nozzle leading into the upper portion of said chute
below said feeding device, said nozzle discharging into said chute at an angle
parallel to the inclination thereof, and steam nozzles located below said chute and
discharging laterally into the furnace.
4th. In an automatic stoker, a chute, a fuel feeding device located adjacent
thereto, a steam nozzle leading into the upper portion of said chute below said feeding
device, said nozzle discharging into said chute at an angle parallel to the inclina-
tion thereof, and steam nozzles located below said chute and discharging laterally
into the furnace, said last mentioned nozzles being adjustable, relative to said
furnace.
5th. In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute, means for discharging super-
heated steam and products of combustion thereto, and a series of nozzles located
below said chute, said nozzles being rotatable, and having plugs in the ends thereof,
said plugs having inclined openings therethrough.
6th In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute, a fuel feeding device located
therein, a gear mounted in the shaft carrying said device, a second gear in mesh
therewith, a shaft on which said gear is mounted a sprocket on said shaft, a lower
sprocket on said shaft, a lower sprocket wheel 1otatably supported, a cham common
to said wheels, means for attaching a weight to said chain, and means for locking
said gears when the boiler pressure becomes unduly increased
7th In an automatic stoker, a chute, a feeding device therefor, gearing for
actuating said device, a pipe communicating with the boiler pressure and having
a safety valve and connections from the latter for interlocking with said gearing,
in combination with a pipe having communication with a superheater, a safety
valve in said pipe, and a rod actuated by said safety valve and suitably guided, said
rod being also adapted to interlock with said gearing
Sth. In an automatic stoker, a chute, a fuel feeding device therefor, means for
conducting steam into the upper and lower portion of said chute, and a bed
located near the lower extremity of said chute, said bed having deflectors mounted
thereon.
9th. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive
water from any suitable source, the inlet pipe of said reservoir projecting nearly
to the bottom thereof, outlet pipes for said reservoir, a water holding chamber
located above the furnace grate and in communication with said outlet pipe, a pipe
leading from the upper portion of said
reservoir to a steam
super-
heating chamber
a pipe leading from said superheating chamber to
the lower portion of a chute, adapted to discharge fuel into the furnace, means

page_text: for discharging superheated steam into the upper portion of said chute, and means
for regulating the feeding device for said chute
10. In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute having a hopper located near the
upper portion thereof, a feeding device located in said hopper, a superheater located
adjacent said chute, a connection from the outlet flue of the boiler to a passage
adjacent said hopper, gearing actuating said feeding device, a sprocket wheel
adapted to rotate in unison with said gearing, a second sprocket wheel suitably
journalled, a sprocket chain common to said wheels, and means for attaching a
weight to said chain, in combination with devices for controlling the action of said
weight in proportion to the variation of boiler pressure.
11th In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute, a hopper located adjacent thereto,
a feeding device located in said hopper, said feeding device consisting of a shaft
rotatably mounted, said shaft having secured thereto spiral or helical members
or wings, the latter being oppositely inclined so as to feed the fuel to the centre
of said chute, and means for rotating said shaft, in combination with steam super-
heating chamber, located adjacent to said chute and pipes leading to the latter fiom
said chamber.
12th In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute, a hopper located near the
upper portion thereof, a shaft mounted in said hopper and having means thereon
for propelling fuel to the furnace, a superheating chamber having a passage dis-
charging into said chute, openings through said superheating passage leading to
said chute but out of communication with said passage, rotatable pipes mounted in
said openings, plugs in the extremity of said pipe said plugs having inclined open-
ings therein, a single pipe leading from said superheater and provided with a laterally
extending branch, a valve in said pipe and connections common to said branch and
to each of said rotatable pipes, and valves for each of said pipes, said valves being
located intermediate the latter and said branch.
13th. The combination of an inclined chute, a feeding device therefor, a bel
upon which the fuel is adapted to be discharged, deflectors supported upon said
bed and rotatable pipes located in proximity to said bed, said pipes being pro-
vided with plugs therein having inclined openings therethrough, through which
superheated steam is discharged to the furnace
14 In an automatic stoker, an inclined chute, a heating or feeding device
therefor, a superheater, pipes leading from the latter for discharging superheated
steam into the upper and lower portion of said chute, a safety valve operated by
boiler steam pressure, a safety valve operated by the pressure in the superheater,
gearing for actuating said feeding device and connections from said safety valve
for controlling the automatic operation of said gearing.
15th. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a boiler furnace, a steam
superheating device, the same comprising a water holding chamber located above
the furnace, a superheater adjacent to said chamber, an inclined chute, means for
conducting superheated steam thereinto, and fuel feeding devices located in said
chute, the top of said water holding chamber and super heater acting as a bed for
the reception of the incoming fuel, and deflecting devices located in proximity to
said bed.
16th In an automatic stoker, the combination of a fuel feeding device, an
inclined chute, a water holding chamber and a superheater suitably supported
above a furnace, the upper portion of said chamber and superheater forming a
bed upon which the fuel is discharged from said chute, means for conducting super-
heated steam into said furnace through said chute, and in proximity to said bed,
a hopper located above said chute, a passage adjacent to said hopper leading into
said chute, a pipe common to said passage and the outlet flue of the furnace, a
blower located in said pipe and means for conducting the products of combustion
simultaneously to the upper and lower portions of the furnace
17th. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a furnace, an inclined chute,
a water holding chamber and a superheater located above the furnace grate, the
top of said chamber and superheater forming a bed upon which fuel is discharged,

page_text: said bed being provided with deflectors, means for discharging superheated steam
into said furnace, over the top of said bed, means for rotating the nozzles dis-
charging said steam, means for discharging steam into the upper portion of said
chute, and means for conducting products of combustion into said chute and into
the lower portion of the furnace.
18th. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a water holding chamber, a
superheater located in proximity thereto, the top of said chamber and superheater
forming a bed, an inclined chute discharging upon said bed, a feeding device
located above said chute, gearing for actuating said feeding device, safety valves
operated by pressure from the boiler and from said superheater and gearing for
eperating said feeding device, said safety valves for controlling the rotation of said
gearing, in combination with means for returning a portion of the products of com-
bustion to the furnace above the grate through said chute, and means for con-
ducting products of combustion also to a point below said grate.
19. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a reservoir, and a valved water
inlet pipe leading thereto, a connection from said reservoir to a water holding
chamber located above a furnace grate, a return pipe leading from the upper por-
tion of said chamber to said reservoir, a pipe provided with a safety valve and a
check valve leading from said reservoir to a superheating chamber located above
said grate, and in proximity to said water holding chamber, a pipe leading from
said superheating chamber and having a valve therein to a laterally-extending
branch, a plurality of pipes leading from said branch to the bed formed by the
upper portion of said water holding chamber and superheater, valves for control-
ling the flow of steam in said last mentioned pipes, means for adjusting the dis-
charge outlets of the latter, a valved passage, leading from said superheater into
the upper portion of said chute, a fuel feeding device located in proximity to the
latter, gearing for actuating said device, sprocket wheels having a chain common
thereto and adapted to be actuated in unison with said gearing, means for attach-
ing a weight to said sprocket chain, safety valves operates by boiler pressure, and
by the pressure from said superheater, and connections from said safety valves for
controlling the rotation of said gearing.
20th. The combination of a boiler furnace having a boiler therein, an inclined
chute, a hopper discharging into said chute, a passage leading into the latter from
the outlet flue of the furnace, a blower located in said passage, means for dis-
charging superheated steam into the upper and lower portion of said chute, a water
holding chamber and a superheater located at the lower portion of said chute, the
top of said chamber and superheater serving as a bed upon which the fuel is
initially discharged, deflectors located in said bed, and means for varying the
'angle at which steam is discharged into the furnace in proximity to said bed."
21st In an automatic stoker, a superheater located above the grate, a water
holding chamber mounted on said superheater in front thereof, and interlocking
devices common to said chamber and superheater.
22nd In an automatic stoker, a superheater located above the grate, a water
holding chamber removably mounted on said superheater, so as to protect the
same, interlocking devices common to said superheater and chamber, the top of
the latter serving as a bed for the reception of the incoming fuel, and said bed
having deflectors thereupon
23rd. In an automatic stoker, a chute leading to a furnace, a steam generating
and superheating chamber, located in proximity to said furnace, a fuel feeding
device for said chute, means for discharging superheated steam into the upper and
lower portions of said chute, and means for returning a portion of the products of
combustion to the furnace, through said chute
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.. Agents for the Applicant