Improvements in or relating to Mechanical Stokers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Mechanical Stokers.
I FRED CLAYTON of Hague Fold, Strines, in the County of Derby, Millwright,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates principally to mechanical stokers known as "coking
stokers" wherein the coal is pushed forward by a ram or rams, over the edge of
the bottom of a feed box below the fuel hopper upon a coking plate or upon the
reciprocating fire bars of the furnace.
In the first place instead of using a sliding ram as usual I employ, an oscillating
or rocking plate or pusher which in one position forms an inclined back to the feed
box but can be rocked upon a shaft or trunnions situated at its lower edge, and
move forward in the said feed box pushing the fuel over the edge of the bottom or
feed plate. The upper edge of this rocking plate or pusher is provided or made
with a curve which is part of a circle struck from the rocking centre thereof so
that the fuel cannot fall behind the rocking pusher as it moves forward and so
prevent its return. Instead of making the working face of this rocking pusher a
Hat surface I prefer to bevil the same off from centre to sides at an obtuse angle,
so to distribute the fuel towards the sides.
I also propose to cause a jet or jets of steam to impinge on the feed plate (which
in this case need not be made hollow) in order to prevent it from being burnt.
Another part of this invention relates to the cams which act directly upon and
move the fire bars to and fro in the furnace, and consists in so forming the cams and
the ends of the fire bars that two cams only are needed for each pair of fire bars.
The two cams are fixed closely side by side on the shaft and work respectively in
clips made in the ends of the two fire bars.
One cam is in the form of a single ratchet catching against one of two
projections on its corresponding fire bars to move the same iu one direction or the
other.
The second cam is in the form of a sector of a circle which as the first cam is
drawing its bar outwards holds the second bar in place by working against a curved
part of the end of the same, and whilst the first cam is moving from one projection
to the other on the first bar the second cam withdraws the second bar, which is so
formed that one side of the sector will catch against it at this part of the revolution
of the cam shaft. The first bar is provided or made with a projection which when
both bars are withdrawn bears against part of the outer end of the second bar so
that as the former is pushed inwards or forwards by its cam it will carry the second
bar with it.
This fire bar motion may be applied to furnaces other than those provided with
coking stokers.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I FRED CLAYTON, of Hague Fold, Strines, in the County of Derby, Millwright,
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 :-
This invention relates principally to mechanical stokers known as "coking
stokers" wherein the coke or fuel is pushed or moved forward by a ram or rams,
over the edge of the bottom of a feed box below the fuel hopper upon a coking
plate or upon the reciprocating bars of the furnace.
The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed
or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the four
sheets of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
On Sheet 1 of the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved
mechanical stoker as applied to one furnace of a double flued boiler and Fig. 2 on
Sheet 2 is a partial sectional view of the same drawn to a larger scale.
The remaining figs. on Sheets 3 and 4 are detached views of details of the
apparatus hereinafter more particularly referred to.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a represents part of the boiler front, the fuel
hopper, c the feed box and d the furnace door.
In the first place instead of using a sliding ram as usual I employ an oscillating
or rocking plate or pusher e as seen in section at Fig. 2, also detached in elevation
at Fig. 3, plan view Fig. 4 and end view Fig. 5.
This rocking plate or pusher e in one position forms au inclined back to the
feed box c but can be rocked forwards (as shown at Fig. 2) upon a shaft f
(or trunnions situated at its lower edge) and move forward in the said feed
box c pushing the fuel over the edge of the bottom or feed plate g. The upper
edge of this pusher is provided or made with a curved portion ex which forms
part of a circle struck from the rocking centre thereof so that the fuel cannot fall
behind the rocking pusher e as it moves forward and so prevent its return.
I prefer to prevent the "jamming" of this pusher by means of a loose top plate h
resting thereon, and also two end plates hx adjusted by set screws i, and instead
of making the face of the rocking pusher e a flat surface from end to end, I may
bevil the same off from the centre to sides at an obtuse angle (see dotted lines e
Fig. 4 and section Fig. 24) so as to distribute the fuel towards the sides of the
furnace.
I also propose to cause a jet or jets of steam from a pipe k to impinge on the
underside of the feed plate g (which in this case need not be made hollow) in order
to prevent it from being burnt.
The rocking motion may be imparted to the plate or pusher e in any convenient
manner but I prefer to employ the arrangement shown at Fig. 1 Sheet 1 (and also
detached at Figs. 3, 4 and 5 Sheet 2) in which a lever 1, mounted loosely upon
the axle or shaft, works in the slot m or equivalent recess of a quadrant m
which is keyed by its boss to the shaft f, the end of the lever I being attached by
a connecting rod n to a wrist pin o above fixed in a plate or disc o' driven by a
worm and wheel. (see Fig. 1).
The amount of play between the lever and the quadrant m* may be varied, or
reduced to nil by inserting a pin or peg in one or other of the holes in the plate
(see Fig. 5).
Another part of this invention relates to the cams which act directly upon a id
move the fire bars p p to and fro in the furnace and is plainly illustrated by the

page_text: detached views on Sheets and 4 of the drawings as well as in its connection with
the stoker on Sheets 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Sheet 3 illustrates the formation of the ends of two adjacent fire bars detache.l
and Sheet 4 shows the same working together and in connection with the cams, the
latter and the ends of the fire bars being so formed that only two cams are needed
for each pair of fire bars.
The two cams q and q¹ (sce Sheet 4) are fixed closely side by side (or made in
one piece) and are threaded alternately upon the hexagonal or other suitably
shaped shaft r (see Fig. 1).
These cams work respectively in clips or jaws ss made in the ends of the two.
fire bars as shown at Figs. 6 to 9, the different positions being shown more clearly
at Figs. 94, 9B, and 9º.
One cam q
is in the form of a single ratchet catching against one of two.
projections ton its corresponding fire bars p to move the same in one direction.
or the other.
The second cam q¹ is in the form of a sector of a circle or is otherwise so formed
that as the first cam q is drawing its bar p outwards it holds the second bar p' in
place by working against the curved part s 2, of the jaw at the end of the same,.
should the outward motion of the first bar tend to draw it back; and whilst the
first cam 2 is moving from one projection t, to the other on the first bar p see
Figs. 94, 98, 9, the second cam g' withdraws the second bar p' which is so formed
with a recess at s 3 that one side of the sector or cam g' wili catch against it at
this part of the revolution of the cam shaft.
The first bar p may be provided with a projection u (see Fig. 8) which when
both bars are withdrawn bears against part of the outer end of the second bar pl
so that as the former is pushed inwards or forwards by its cam it will carry the
second bar with it, but I do not claim this projection u as any part of my invention,
for by making the cam q sufficiently wide (as sbewn at Figs. 1 and 9) the same
cam will act upon the lower jaws of both bars and the projection u is therefore
unnecessary.
It will be evident that this fire bar motion may also be applied to furnaces other
than those provided with "coking" stokers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1.
claim is :-
First. The combination with a "coking stoker" of an oscillating or rocking.
plate with curved top (instead of a sliding pusher) constructed and operating.
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings aunexed.
Secondly. The combination with coking stokers or the arrangement in other
furnaces having moving fire bars acting as mechanical stokers of the ratchets and
sectors or their equivalent forming double cams working in the clips or jaws
formed in the ends of the fire bars, constructed and operating substantially as
herein before described for the purpose of preventing one of each pair of bars from.
being withdrawn while the other is withdrawn, then withdrawing such bars and
finally pushing forward all the bars together.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.