An Improved Mechanical Stoker.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Stoker.
I CLEMENS TSCHOEPE of Remsheid-Hasten, Rhenish Prussia, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Tool Maker 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 and accompanying drawings
My said Invention relates to an improved mechanical stoker for feeding fuel to
steam boiler and other furnaces. According to my invention the fuel broken or
crushed to a suitable size is placed in a hopper from which a conduit or spout leads
to the furnace mouth into which the fuel slides over an inclined plate. The conduit
or spout is diminished in size towards the furnace and is or may be of a knee shape
so as to allow the hopper and apparatus to stand quite clear of the boiler. At the
foot of the hopper is a shaft to which is connected a spiral rod or wire which occupies
the conduit or spout and traverses the fuel to the furnace at any speed desired, so that
the quantity of fuel supplied to the furnace is constant, and can be regulated with
great exactitude.
To render my invention more clear I will now describe the same with reference to
the annexed two sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a side elevation of the stoker, the boiler end and furnace
being shewn in section.
Fig. 2 Sheet 2 is a front view of the stoker, the hopper and spout being in
section.
Referring to the said drawings the apparatus consists of a hopper t connected at
the foot to a spout or conduit through which the fuel is led to the deflecting
plate p over the front of the furnace. The conduit is bent or kneed as shewn and
diminishes towards the furnace. By forming the conduit with a knee as shewn I
can set the hopper to one side of the boiler and out of the way. Near the bottom of
the hopper is a shaft supported in bearings as shewn and to the inner end of this
shaft is fixed the end of a spiral traverser s composed of a spirally coiled rod or wire
and extending along the conduit to within a short distance of the furnace. The
spiral traversers being flexible can be rotated and yet maintain the bent position
shewn in Fig. 2. The shaft w and spiral traversers are driven from a ratchet wheel a
keyed on the shaft w. Above and beneath the ratchet wheel a are ratchet racks bb1
pivotted on a cross head c the said cross head having a tail i which slides in a guide or
on the shaft w. The cross head is slid to and fro by means of a connecting rod d
which is connected by the stud u to the crank g. The stud u is carried on a nut which
can be adjusted towards or from the centre of the crank shaft by means of the set
screw o, thus increasing or diminishing the traverse of the spiral s. The crank in
revolving moves the connecting rod and cross head to and fro with the result that when
the cross head is pulled outwards the ratchet rack turns the ratchet wheel a and
shaft w while on the return stroke the ratchet rack continues the rotation of the
wheel a in the same direction. The top rack 6 drops into gear with the wheel a by
its own weight. The bottom rack is upheld by a flat spring m. The wheel a
shaft w and traversers are thus practically continuously turned in the same direction.
The hopper t having been filled with fuel the coal is carried slowly along the conduit r
by the spiral traverser and is fed upon the plate 7 from which it falls upon the
furnace bars. The plate
might be perforated. If it should be desired at any
time to stop the apparatus this can be done by withdrawing the cottar fthus allowing
the rod d to slide in and out of the sleeve on the cross head c.
Means for crushing the fuel might if desired be combined with the shaft w.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts comprising the improved
mechanical stoking apparatus, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In a mechanical 'stoker of the indicated nature the conduit having a bend or
knee in combination with the spiral traverser & substantially as described and
shewn.
3. A Mechanical Stoker composed of the hopper t, the conduit r, traverser s,
shaft w, and the means for operating the same substantially as described and as
illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of April 1890.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1. St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.