IMPROVEMENTS IN SO CALLED ⚫ MECHANICAL STOKERS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Vicars, the elder, and Thomas Vicars, the younger,
both of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and James Sunith of
the same Place, Baker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SO CALLED
⚫ MECHANICAL STOKERS.'"
Sealed the 29th September 1877, and dated the 6th April 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Vicars, the elder,
Thomas Vicars, the younger, and James Smith at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents on the 6th April 1877.
THOMAS VICARS, the elder, and THOMAS VICARS, the younger, both of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and JAMES SMITH, of the same Place, Baker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SO CALLED MECHANICAL STOKERS."
Our Invention consists in working together, on or in connection with the same
furnace or fire-place,-
First. Means for feeding or supplying fuel to the fire-grate.
And, Second. Fire-grates having bars so arranged and fitted as to be moved in a
body, or in groups from front to back of the furnace, and returned singly one after
the other, or irregularly in sections.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrates one arrangement
or combination of parts under our Invention.
his a hopper containing coal or fuel; i is a vibrating plunger for regulating the
amount of coal or fuel fed to the discs f; y, driving gear for the discs and
plungers; b, fire-bars caused to move forward in a body by the cam on a revolving
shaft c; the cams on shaft d cause the bars b to return in sections one after
another. The gearing for working the bars and feed may be connected together, or
each may be driven separately.
It will be obvious that the method of mounting and driving the fans or discs,
and the arrangement and construction of the hopper and feed regulator, when used
in combination with grate or fire-bars having the motions above described may be
varied without departing from our Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Vicars, the elder, Thomas Vicars, the younger, and James
Smith in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 6th October 1877.
THOMAS VICARS, the elder, and THOMAS VICARS, the younger, both of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and JAMES SMITH, of the same Place, Baker.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SO CALLED MECHANICAL STOKERS.'
65
Our Invention consists is working together on or in connection with the same
furnace or fire-place,―
First. A rotating or revolving fan or disc as means for feeding or supplying
fuel to the fire-grate.
And, Second. Fire-grates having bars so arranged and fitted as to be moved in a
body or in groups from front to back of the furnace, and returned singly one after
the other, or irregularly in sections.
The gearing for working the bars and feed may be connected together, or each
may be driven separately.
It will be obvious that the method of mounting and driving the fans or discs, and
the arrangement and construction of the hopper and foed regulator, when used in
combination with grate or fire-bars having the motions above described, may be
varied without departing from our Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional plan view of one modification
of combined apparatus or appliances under our Invention.
a, hopper containing coal or fuel attached to the boiler b; c, plunger caused to
vibrate by the eccentric d, and levers and connecting rod c, so as to regulate tho
supply of coal or fuel fed to the fans or discs in the box g. The faus or discs faro
caused to rotate by means of the frictional gearing h, so as to throw or spread the
coal or fuel over the surface of the bars i in the furnace j. Motion is given to the
shaft from any convenient power. The bars i are free to slide on the bearings l,
and are moved forward in a body by means of the cam or wiper m on the shaft n.
The cams on the shaft o cause the said bars to return to their original position in
groups, as shown by the position of the bars i, i, Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4 a sectional end viow, showing a further
modification of our combined apparatus or appliances.
a, hopper; c, grooved rollers, which control by their speed of revolution the supply
of coal or fuel to the fans or discs f; i are the fire-bars caused to move forward in a
body by the cams m acting on the ends of the bars i, and moved back again in
groups by the cams m, m³, acting on the pieces a secured to or formed on the forks
of the bars i.
Having now described and illustrated our Invention so that others will be enabled
to carry our improvements into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the details illustrated and described, as many modifications can
be made without departing from our Invention; but what we do claim is, the
combination in connection with the same furnace of a rotating or revolving fan,
or disc, and fire-bars, operating substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-sAVAN
JOHN LING,
Patent Office,
Witness.
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JAMES SMITH. (LS.)