IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPAratus for SuppLYING FUEL TO FURNACES."TS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henderson, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPAratus for SuppLYING FUEL TO FURNACES."
MENTS IN APParatus for SuPPLYING FUEL TO FURNACES.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henderson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th August 1874.
I, THOMAS HENDERSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Egineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO FURNACES," to
be as follows:-
The said Invention relates chiefly to modifications of the apparatus
described in Specification of my Letters Patent, No. 2509, A.D. 1872,
and consists,-
-
First. In constructing the bottom plate of the fan boxes in two parts
or sections to admit the fans being conveniently removed from said

page_text: boxes without interfering with the driving shaft of the apparatus.
When it is desired to remove the fans for any purpose the front part
of the bottom plate is removed from the fan box and when replaced is
secured to said box in any suitable manner.
Second. In driving the fans by extending the pinions into the
concave or hollow part of said fans, which enables me to bring the
driving shaft close to the bottom of the fan boxes, and by which
arrangement I am enabled to employ larger pinions and to run the
machine at a much lower speed.
Third. In placing the driving shaft of the apparatus immediately
above the fan boxes, by which arrangement I am able to dispense with
the ordinary crusher or feed roller by a device herein-after mentioned.
Fourth. In the employment of a swing plate or plates forming either
the front or back, or both the front and back, of the crusher box for
crushing and feeding the coals instead of the ordinary crusher, which
plate or plates are operated by cams or other suitable gear on the
aforesaid driving shaft.
Fifth. In driving an upright crusher by means of a shaft extending
through the fan boxes, which shaft gears into a horizontal driving shaft
placed below the fan boxes.
Sixth. In providing the interior of the crusher box and exterior of
the crusher with horizontal cutting blades, which are so formed and
arranged that the blades or cutters on the exterior of the crusher work
between the blades or cutters on the interior of the crusher box. These
blades or cutters are so arranged that the spaces between the said a
blades or cutters gradually diminishe from the top to the bottom. One
or more sides of the crusher box is made adjustable to regulate the
supply of the fuel to the furnace.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Henderson in the Great Seal Patent 80
Office on the 13th February 1875.

page_text: 2nd. In driving the fans by extending the pinions or friction rollers
into the concave or hollow part of the aforesaid fans, which enables me
to bring the driving shaft close to the bottom of the fan boxes, and by
which arrangement I am enabled to employ larger pinions or friction
rollers, and to run the same at a much slower speed. This is shown
in section in Fig. 7, where the pinions are shown bearing against a ring
of leather securely fixed to the inside of the fan. The leather is not
essential, but causes the motion to run more quietly.
3rd. In placing the driving shaft of the apparatus immediately above
the fan box, by which arrangement I am able to dispense with the
ordinary feed roller or crusher, by means of apparatus to be hereafter
described. This is exemplified in Figs. 3 and 4, where O is the fan
box; D, D, the fans; E, the disk on the fan spindle, and F the one on
the shaft G for driving the fans by frictional gearing. Other gearing,
of course, can be used.
4th. In the employment of a swing plate or plates forming either
the front or the back of the crusher box (or both front and back), for
crushing and feeding the coals. This swing plate has oblique or vertical
blades or ridges cast or otherwise fixed on, and is operated by cams or
other suitable gear on the aforesaid driving shaft. The particular form
of the apparatus which I prefer is shown in Figures 8, 4, 5, and 6.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and section; Figure 4, a transverse section;
Figures 5 and 6, horizontal sections (Figure 5 on line H, I, and Figure 6
on line J, K, of Figure 4). In these G is the driving shaft actuating
(by means of cam N), the swing plate M; L is a front plate armed a
with blades or ridges similar to those of swing plate M and adjustable
by screw and wheel P. This apparatus can be varied in an infinite
variety of ways to suit circumstances.
5th. In driving an upright crusher by means of a shaft extending.
through the fan boxes, which shaft gears into a horizontal driving shaft 5
placed below. This is exemplified in transverse section in Figure 1,
and in plan in the upper half of Figure 2, the lower half being a section
through fan box. In these Q is the crusher; R, the shaft; and T the
horizontal shaft driving the wheel S on the vertical shaft by means of a
worm.
8

page_text: 6th. In providing the interior of the crusher box, and the exterior of
the crusher with horizontal cutting blades, which are so formed and
arranged that the blades or cutters on the exterior of the crusher work
between the blades on the interior of the crushing box. These blades
or cutters are usually so arranged that the spaces between the said
blades or cutters gradually diminish from the top to the bottom. One
or more sides of the crusher box are made adjustable to regulate the
supply of fuel to the furnace. I usually endeavour in casting the
crusher, and also the moveable plate, not to let any two blades on either
of them stand directly one over the other on the same casting. In
Figures One and Two Q is the crusher armed with blades X; Z, the
crusher box armed with blades Y on the back to clean off any coal
accidentally brought round by the crusher blades; V, the moveable side
adjustable by horse-shoe link and screw U and armed with blades W
pointing in the opposite direction to the blades on the nearer side of
the crusher. To prevent the part below the crusher getting choked up
with coal I cast a series of volute ribs on the bottom, so arranged that
as the crusher revolves they shall sweep outward any coal that falls
down below the crushing blades on the back and sides and guide it into
the opening into the fan box.

page_text: 7th. Providing the interior of the crusher box and exterior of the
upright crusher of a mechanical stoker with horizontal crushing or
cutting blades for the purposes described, and in combination with fans
.or otherwise.
8th. The arrangement of the horizontal cutters or blades, substantially
as described.
9th. Making one or more sides of the crusher box of a vertical or
nearly vertical crusher adjustable so as to regulate the supply of fuel
to the furnace in mechanical stoking.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henderson, have hereunto 1
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year
of our Lord 1875.
Witness,
W. PHILLIPS THOMPSON,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord St.,
Liverpool.
THOMAS HENDERSON. (L.B.)