Improvements in Automatic Stoking Apparatus, and in the Grates and Fire bars of Steam Generator and other Furnaces:
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1894'
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
Improvements in Automatic Stoking Apparatus, and in the Grates
and Fire bars of Steam Generator and other Furnaces:
We RICHARD HARLEY WILLIAMSON of 21 Victoria Street, Ashton-under-Lyne,
in the County of Lancaster, Joiner, and THE DIRECT AUTOMATIC STOKER
SYNDICATE LIMITED; having their registered offices at 77, King Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of: this
invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention consists to a certain extent in improvements upon prior
patents for similar inventions granted in 1894, No. 15513 to R. H. Williamson
and. in 1893, No.. 2304 to the said R. H! Williamson in conjunction with
James Dyson.
.
The improvements for which it is now. sought to obtain a patent relate to a more
convenient and certain mode. of moving the fuel from the bunker; hopper or heap
to the spiral or other conveyor by which it is carried to the furnace grate; .and
also to certain more practical 'and efficient modes of constracting; operating and
arranging the bars and other parts composing the furnace grate.
In the first instance to move the fuel from the bunker or heap to the conveyor,
we make use of a spiral or screw traverser arranged at the foot of the shoot
opening from the bottom of the fuel hopper, the said apiral traverser extending to
the lower end' or any convenient point in the length of the inclined spiral
conveyor and its. casing by which the fuel is carried to the furnace grate: The
employment of the said spiral traverser gives a much steadier and more equal
feed than the means beretofore employed for that purpose.
The shaft of the spiral'conveyor carries a worm wheel, gearing with a worm on
a shaft which receives motion from the side counter:shaft, which is in its turn driven
by bevel gearing from the shaft which drives the inclined spiral conveyor, which
lifts the fuel to the furnace grate..
A sliding shutter is placed in the bunker shoot to shut off the supply of fuel
entirely when desired and in addition to this shutter the mouth of the shoot is
also furnished with a sliding shutter which enables the quantity of fuel advanced
by the spiral.traverser to be accurately adjusted. The casings of the spiral
conveyors rise at an angle from the well in front of the boilers and so as not to
interfere with the free movements of the attendant in charge of the boilers. The
fuel is delivered as in the said prior patents to a coking chamber or plate from
which it is drawn forward by the movements: of the fire bars. These are actuated
in sets by, a. crank shaft arranged in front of the furnace grates and driven in any
suitable manner.
A connecting rod extends from each crank beneath each furnace
grate, and engages with a double rocking lever the upper cranked end of which
engages with jawed snugs extending from each alternate bar of the central
arrangement of bars in the furnace grate. Thus, half of the central bars are
positively moved by the to and fro motion of the cranked rock lever. Across
the front ends of the bars we lay a coking plate or platform, with a rib across
the under side. This rib lies in slots formed in the moving bars and connects
them together, the coking platform thus moving to and fro with the bars.

page_text: The alternate bars which are not connected to the rocking lever are moved
either by frictional contact with the moving bars or by the aforesaid rib on the
coking plate which enters clearing slots in the said alternate friction bars and
serves at times to move the friction bars. As the rib has clearing room on
each side of the slots in the friction bars, these bars are moved to a more
AB
limited extent than the bars positively moved by the double cranked lever.
a rule the friction bars are moved to and fro by mere frictional contact, and to
limit their play when such is the case we provide abutments at the ends of the
friction bars and interpose a stop which prevents the friction bars from moving
in either direction more than to a certain fixed and limited extent. The front
and back ends of the bars roll on frictional rollers. Thus there is a differential
motion between each alternate bar of the central set, and clinkers are more
readily broken up and the fire kept lively. On each side of the central bars we
arrange sets of side bars at a lower level than the centre bars, the space between
the centre and the side sets of bars being bridged over by intermediate bars with
angular projecting fins which carry the fuel between the side and central sets of
bars. The spaces between the outer bars of the side sets and the sides of the
boiler flue, are also bridged by bars of a similar make but with fins in the
horizontal plane.
The
The side sets of bars are moved in a reverse direction to the central bars and
are operated by cranked pins extending from the lower vibrating end of the
cranked rocking lever aforesaid. Each alternate bar of the side sets is moved to
a limited extent in a manner similar to the alternate bars of the centre set.
aforesaid coking plate or platform is however in this case replaced by side plates
containing a number of perforations, and placed on the side bars so as to prolong
them to the front of the furnace grate.
All of the moving bars and the outer ends of the side plates rest on anti-friction
rollers, which diminish resistance and enable them to work more freely. The forward
motion of the sets of bars draws the fuel from the coking plates or chamber and
feeds it towards the back of the furnace, ledges at the mouth of the fuel feed
casing and in the case of the side bars, saddles extending across the side plates,
preventing the return of the fuel.
Angle plates are set on each side of the coking chamber containing a number of
perforations through which ash can fall into the bottom of the boiler flue beneath.
Beneath the back bearer of the bars we pivot a swing door which can be opened
by a chain from the front of the grate so as to permit of ready cleansing and raking
out of the ash. Behind the bars is situated an upwardly sloping shelf upon which
the burnt clinkers and ash drop from the ends of the bars and up which the same
are pushed by the motions of the bars until they drop over the edge of the shelf
into the furnace flue.
A bridge is placed at a suitable distance behind the shelf.
The whole arrangement as herein before described possesses salient practical
advantages over those hitherto employed and tends to promote more economical
consumption of fuel and easier working.
Although we have referred to the arrangement as more particularly applicable
to the furnaces of steam boilers, the same might be used in the construction of
furnaces other than those used for steam raising purposes.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1894.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Stoking Apparatus, and in the Grates
and Fire-bars of Steam Generator and other Furnaces.
We RICHARD HARLEY WILLIAMSON of 21 Victoria Street, Ashton-under-
Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Joiner, and THE DIRECT AUTOMATIC
STOKER SYNDICATE LIMITED, having their registered offices at 77 King Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Our present invention consists to a certain extent of improvements upon prior
patents for similar inventions granted in 1891 (No. 15513) to R. H. Williamson
and in 1893 (No. 2304) to the said R. H. Williamson in conjunction with James
Dyson.
The improvements for which it is now sought to obtain a patent relate to a more
convenient and certain mode of moving the fuel from the bunker, hopper or heap
to the spiral or other conveyor by which it is carried to the furnace grate; and also
to certain more practical and efficient modes of constructing, operating and
arranging the bars and other parts composing the furnace grate.
To render the whole matter clear to the reader we have attached to this
Specification three sheets of drawings to which we will hereinafter refer.
Fig. 1 is a general sectional view showing the working of the whole apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a general plan view, also partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view which shows the construction, arrangement
and operation of the bars and other parts more clearly than in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 3 at the line A B.
Fig. 5 is a similar cross section at the line C D Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a view of the front end of one of these bars in the central set which
are not positively driven.
Fig. 7 is a view of the rear end of the bar.
Fig. 8 is a view of the double rocking lever which moves the positively driven
bars.
Fig. 9 is a view of the front end of one of the positively driven bars of the
side sets.
The bunker containing the fuel is marked E. To move the fuel from the
bunker E to the conveyer a we make use of a horizontal spiral or screw traverser b
arranged at the foot of the shoot E' which opens from the bottom of the fuel
bunker E. The spiral traverser b extends to the lower end or to any convenient
point in the length of the inclined spiral conveyor a and its casing a', by which the
fuel is carried to the furnace grate c. The employment of the said horizontal
spiral traverser b gives a steady and equal feed of fuel to the inclined spiral
conveyer but we do not absolutely confine ourselves to this, as a reciprocating
pusher or a traversing apron or chain might be used for the same purpose. The
shaft b of the spiral traverser 6 carries a worm wheel 62 which gears with a worm
on a shaft d which receives motion through bevel gearing d¹ from the side counter-
shafte which is in its turn driven by bevel gearing e from the shaft f which drives
the inclined spiral conveyer a which raises the fuel to the furnace grate. The
shaft is actuated from a short shaft f' driven by a pulley f. A sliding
shutter g is placed in the bunker shoot E¹ to shut off the supply of fuel entirely
when desired and in addition to this shutter y the mouth of the shoot is also
furnished with a shutter h which enables the quantity of fuel advanced by the spiral
traverser to be accurately adjusted. The spiral conveyer and traverser are
boxed in by suitable casings and the casing a' of the spiral convevers a rise at an

page_text: angle from the well in front of the boilers and so as not to interfere with the free
movements of the attendant or attendants in charge of the boilers. Upon reaching
the grate the casing a¹ joins a specially formed mouth i which opens into the front
of the grate and through which the fuel is pushed by the spiral conveyer a.
The mouth i carries a separate plate i, this plate forming a portion of the floor
of what we term a coking chamber situated in front of the bars of the furnace
grate and in: which the fuel is partially coked before being moved upon, the bars
proper. The plate can be removed and replaced without disturbing the mouth i.
If the reader will refer to the plan view Fig: 2 he will observe that the front
portion of the grate is composed of a number of plates which are for the most part
perforated with a series of holes, large enough to let a sufficiency of air through
and also to shed fine ash, but not so large as to let any of the freshly fed or green
fuel fall through. The plate forms one of these floor plates. The dead plate is
marked. There are also side plates k; rolling plates ; angle plates in; and
saddle plates n, the arrangement and functions of which will be more apparent as
this description proceeds. Suffice it to say in the meantime that the united plates
form a partly movable and partly fixed floor to the coking. chamber.
The fuel is drawn. forward from the ooking chamber by, the movements: of the
fire bars which consist of a centre set o o¹ and p p¹. The central set lies at a higher,
level than the side sets as plainly seen from Figs. 4 and 5 and the gaps between
the central and side sets are occupied by bars q which carry fingers q' extending.at
an angle from the bars and bridging the spaces between the sets, or perforated
plates might be used for the bars q. The spaces. between the sides of the side sets
of bars and the side of the flue are also occupied by bars q' having horizontal
fingers 9 which bridge the said spaces.
The central sot of bars o.ol is carriedi on rollers r which; permit of easy to and.
fro motion of the bars..
It may he noted here that of the central bars, the bars.o receive positive to and
fro motion from a crank. shafts arranged in front of. the grate and driven. by a
worm on the shaft t carrying the pulley thas clearly apparent from Figs. 1 and 2.
A connecting rod u extends from. each. crunk beneath each furnace grate and
engages with a double rocking lever r the pivots of which are supported in snugs
projecting from the bridge bars q as shown in Fig. 4. In order to disconnect the
bars from the crank shaft s when desired we place a saddle block.ul over the wrought
iron rod u and between the pin and the end of the cast iron; sleeve u. When
the block, is in place. the whole connecting rod forins. practically one piece, but
when the block is removed the rod u slides to and fro on the pin u which passes.
through a slot in the end of the rod.u. The upper cranked end v' of the rocking
lever vengages with jawed snugs o projecting downward from the bars these. being.
alternately placed with the bars o' (see Figs. 4 and 5). Thus half of the number of the
central set of bars that is to say the bars o are positively moved by the to and fro
motion of the cranked rocking.lever. Across the front ends of the bars o we lay
a plate w with a rib o' extending across the under side.. This rib passes through
and occupies slots formed in the positively moved bars o and thus locks them
together the plate w moving to and fro with the bars o, and sliding beneath the:
front portion of the mouth plate 2.. The alternate bars of which are not connected
to the rocking lever are moved either by frictional. contact with the. moving..
bars o, or by the aforesaid rib w' on the plate w, the said, rib occupying longer
clearing slots in the front. ends of the bars c¹, as shown in Fig. 6 and serving at.
times to jog or move the said alternate frictional bars o' in one direction or the
other. As the rib has a clearing space on each side, when in the slots of the friction
bars o¹ these bars are moved to a more limited extent than the bars o which are
positively reciprocated by the double cranked lever v. As a rule when at work
the alternate friction bars o' are moved to and fro by mere frictional contact and
to limit their play when such is the case, I form. the. rear ends of the bars as shown:
at Fig. 7 with abutments o' and interpose a stop which prevents the friction
bars from moving in either direction more than a certain und fixed limited extent..

page_text: As in the case of the bars o the friction bars o' also rest and roll on the anti-.
frictional rollers r. Thus there is a differential motion between each alternate bar
of the central set and clinkers are more readily broken up and the fire kept
lively.
As already stated, the central set of bars o o' is flanked on each side by a set of
side bars p p the said side bara lying at a lower level than the central set. The
spaces between the central and side sets of bars are bridged by the bars q with.
angular fingers ; and the spaces between the outer bars of the side sets and the
sides of the boiler flue are also bridged by bars of of a similar make, with the
exception that the fingers glie horizontally. The side sets of bars ppl are moved in
a reverse direction to the central set and are operated by crank pins which might
carry anti-friction sleeves and which extend from each side of the lower vibrating
ends of the cranked rocking lever v and engage with jawed snugs p³ which extend
downward from the bars p as shown in Fig. 9. Each alternate bar p is thus.
positively moved by the rocking lever v just as the bars o of the central set are.
positively moved, but in the reverse direction. The friction bars pl are not
similarly positively moved but are moved in the same manner as the friction
bars o¹ of the central set. The rolling plates are formed with ribs which engage
with slots in the side sets of bars p p', the said slots fitting the ribs in the case of
the positively moved bars p and having clearance in the case of the friction bars p².
In short there is no difference in the method of actuating the side bars from the
already explained method of operating the central bars. The rolling plates
extend up to the dead plate ; and are supported at the front by anti-friction rollers.
which need not be shown. Fixed side plates k, see Fig. 2, fill up the spaces.
between the rolling plates and the sides of the flue, while inclined angle plates m
occupy the spaces between the mouth plate i and the rolling plates 1. In the case
of the central set of bars o o' the forward motion of the bars combined with the
curved droop or fall of the bars causes the fuel to be fed or moved forward. On
the return stroke of the bars and plate w the front edges of the mouth plate i¹
prevents the fuel from returning with the plate w so that the next forward stroke
of the bars carries the fuel further forward and causes it to advance as it is con-
sumed. The same operation goes on in the case of the side bars and to present an
obstacle to the return of the fuel ou the inward stroke of the side bars, we provide
saddle plates n which extend across the rolling plates and side bars and so obstruct
the return of the fuel. While this forward feeding of the fuel is being carried ou
by the bars, the spiral conveyer continuously lifts the adjusted proportions of fuéh
from the bunker or heap and deposits it in the coking chamber where it is partially
coked before being moved forward by the bars. At the rear of the bars is a.
frame the top of which acts as a stop to limit the play of the friction bars. The
frame contains a swing door y which can be opened by a chain from the front of
the grate so as to permit of ready cleansing and raking out of the clinkers and ash..
Behind the bars is situated an upwardly sloping shelf z upon which the burnt
clinkers and ash drop from the ends of the bars, and up which they are pushed
by the motion of the bars, until they drop over the edge of the shelf into the
furnace flue, from whence they can be raked through the swing door and removed..
A bridge is or may be placed at a suitable distance behind the shelf z.
The whole arrangement as herein before described possesses salient practical
advantages over those hitherto employed and tends to promote more economical
consumption of fuel and easier working.
Although we have referred to the arrangement as more particularly applicable
to the furnaces of steam boilers the same might be used in the construction of
furnaces other than those used for steam raising purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what.
we claim is,
1. In automatic mechanical stoking apparatus the arrangement, construction

page_text: and combination of parts as described. generally with reference to the drawings,
and consisting of means such as the spiral traverser 6 or other equivalent means
for drawing adjustable quantities of fuel from a heap or receptacle such as the
bunker E isolated from the furnace, for conveying the same into the furnace by
means of a spiral conveyer a and for treating, burning and advancing the fuel
through the furnace by means of the coking chamber, stop ledges, and sets of
furnace bars operated by cranks, connecting rods and rocking, levers, and governed
by the means set forth all substantially as herein before described and shown.
2. In automatic mechanical stoking apparatus and as means for moving the fuel
from the heap or receptacle E to the spiral conveyer a, the spiral traverser bor its
equivalent, in combination with means such as the sliding shutter for adjusting
the quantity of fuel advanced by the spiral. traverser, substantially as described
and as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
3. In combination with the bunker E, the sliding shutter g for cutting off the
supply of fuel to the spiral traverser or its mechanical equivalent, substantially
as hereinbèfore described and shown.
4. In combination with the spiral traverser b. or its equivalent and the spiral
conveyer a the coking chamber at the front of the grate, having a floor composed
of partly moving and partly fixed plates viz. the plates i, m, landk. preferably
perforated, so as to coke the newly, fed fuel and prevent loss of the same
substantially as described and shown....
5. As means for operating the respective sets of furnace bars of automatic
stoking apparatus of the indicated nature, the connecting rod u made to be easily
engaged and disengaged to and from the crank shafts by means of the block u¹
and operated by a crank so as to actuate a rocking double lever v which latter
engages with the positively moved bars and reciprocates the same, substantially as
described and as illustrated.
6. The plate w with rib w¹ or the roller plates with rib, locking together the
positively moved bars of the central and side sets, and for operating when necessary
the friction bars of both sets substantially as described and as illustrated.
7. In combination with the indicated arrangement of automatic stoker, the saddle
plates n for preventing the return of the fuel with the side sets of bars on their
return stroke, and in combination with the said saddle plates the mouth plate i
with its edge for performing a similar service in connection with the central set of
bars, substantially as described and as illustrated. .
8. The upwardly sloping shelf at the back of the furnace bars; for the purposes
and substantially as described and shown.
Dated the 22nd day of July 1895.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5 John Dalton Street, Manchester,
For the Applicants.