IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM: OR APPARATUS POR FEEDING FUEL INTO FURNACES, FIRE-BOXES, AND FIRE-
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Myron John Frisbie, of New York, in the United
States of America, and of 4, Fitzroy Square, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM:
OR APPARATUS POR FEEDING FUEL INTO FURNACES, FIRE-BOXES, AND FIRE-
Sealed the 30th June 1868, and dated the 3rd January 1868.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Myron John Frisbie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 3rd January 1868, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MYRON
JOHN FRISBIE, of New York, in the United States of America, and
of 4, Fitzroy Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FUEL INTO FURNACES, FIRE-BOXES, AND
FIRE-GRATES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first
Inventor thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Myron John Frisbie, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:
The object and purpose of my said Invention is to provide by means
of suitable mechanism or apparatus for feeding fuel into furnaces, fire-
boxes, and fire-grates during the progress of the combustion of the fuel
therein at that part where the fresh fuel can be introduced with great
certainty of ensuring the immediate and perfect combustion of the same,
avoiding the formation of smoke and effecting the feeding in a ready
and cleanly manner; and by the use of which Invention great economy
of fuel will result.
With the above objects and purposes I construct mechanism or
apparatus in manner herein-after set forth, whereby the fuel may be
effectively introduced into the furnace, fire-box, or fire-grate at the.
bottom thereef, that is, directly underneath and in the centre of the
mass of burning fuel.
And in order that my Invention may be perfectly understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the Drawings accompanying
these Presents, that is to say:-
Fig. 1 shews in vertical section the mechanism or apparatus in the
position it assumes in the act of feeding, and Fig. 2 also in vertical
section the position the same remains in when feeding is not being
effected.
A denotes an opening through the bottom of the furnace, fire-box, or
fire-grate; B, B, a cylinder or fuel feed box having a moveable bottom
C, C, attached to or forming part of and supported by an upright bar D
connecting it ate with a lever E (partly in dotted lines), which lever
is jointed at one end to a plate or moveable grating F, which is secured
to or forms part of the fuel feed box B, B; K, K, is a lever also jointed
at one end to the moveable grating F, and at the other * * to a.
rocking bar G, the upper end of which is secured to or forms part of
an axle or rocking shaft H, which is supported in suitable uprights

page_text: (usually a front plate), or by other means of support connected with
the furnace, fire-box, or otherwise, according to the nature and character
of the furnace or grate to which the mechanism or apparatus is fitted.
I, the hand lever for giving the rocking motion to the rocking axle or
shaft H; L is a catch attached to the side of the fuel feed box B, B;
M, a radial arm working on the shaft N and supporting the fuel feed
box B, B. When it is wished to feed the fire in the furnace, fire-box,
or grate, fuel is put in the fuel feed box B, B, which is then in the
position shewn in Fig. 2; the hand lever I is then depressed, as shewn
in Fig. 1; this depression throws up the rocking bar G, which acting
on the lever K carries the fuel feed box B, B, underneath the opening A,
at the same time the rocking bar coming below the end of the lever E
thereby raises the moveable bottom C and forces the fuel through the
opening A into the furnace, fire-box, or grate. The lever E is held in
its position by the catch L until such time as the hand lever I is raised.
and the fuel feed box B, B, is brought to its original position ready for
again receiving fuel, when the catch L striking against the shaft H
or some suitable projection releases the lever E, and the moveable
bottom C falls to the bottom of fuel feed box B, B. The plate or
grating F meanwhile closing the opening A, or this may be unhooked
by hand.
Fig. 3 plan view and Fig. 4 vertical section of an arrangement of
mechanism or apparatus for the purposes herein-before referred to, being
a modification of that just described, and being well adapted (inter alia)
for use for domestic fire-grates. A denotes the opening through the
bottom of the grate; B, B, the fuel feed box; C, C, the moveable
bottom thereof; D, D, bent hand lever (which may if desired be made
as a socket for a loose handle to fit in) connected to and supporting the
same; E, a vertical shaft through a slot in which the bent lever passes,
and in which it has its bearings; F, F, brackets fixed to the upright
moveable shaft E, and supporting the fuel feed box B, B, and G a plate
or grating attached thereto. When it is desired to feed the fire the fuel
feed box B, B, being brought into the position indicated by the circle
B*, B*, (Fig. 3) the box B is filled with fuel and brought under the
opening A by moving the hand lever into the position shown in Fig. 3,
the handle being immediately afterwards depressed, as shewn by dotted
lines (Fig. 4), and the moveable bottom C, C, thereby raised so as to feed
the fuel by forcing it up through the opening A into the grate furnace
or fire-box, when the fuel feed box B, B, is brought by the reverse

page_text: motion to that just described from under the opening A; the opening
is closed by the plate or grating G, and the fuel feed box is again in the
position indicated by B*, B*, Fig. 3, ready to be filled again when
requisite.
Fig. 5 is a front elevational view and Fig. 6 a side elevational view
shewing an arrangement for feeding fuel into glass-making furnaces, and
is adapted to be fixed in the cave or ash-pit below the furnace. A is
an opening at the bottom of the grate; B, B, the fuel feed box; C, C,
moveable bottom thereof; D, pendant portion of the bottom attached to
the lever E at e, which lever is jointed at one end to a plate or
moveable grating F, which is secured to or forms part of the fuel feed
box B, B. A cranked lever a, a, works on an axle a', supported by an
upright b, which axle also supports a toothed wheel c, which toothed
wheel gears with another wheel d, which works on the shaft supported
in bearings secured to the framing, as shewn, or other supports as
may be necessary. 9 denotes a radial arm carrying the fuel feed box B
secured to and working on the shaft f. A slot in the side of the radial
arm g is marked g¹. h is a toothed wheel working on the shaft f, and
having another toothed wheel i gearing therewith, which also has a
toothed wheel k gearing with it, which toothed wheel has on the same
centre and forming part of it a hand lever wheel ; the two. wheels i
and are supported by suitable framework and bearings. m is a boss
fixed to the toothed wheel d, and having mortice holes m³ for the
insertion of a lever. In order to put this mechanism into operation a
lever is inserted in one of the mortice holes m¹ and raised, thus giving
a partial turn to the toothed wheel d, which again communicates the same
motion to the axle a' through the toothed wheel c; this axle having the
cranked lever a keyed to it causes it to move in a portion of a circle
which brings the pin o into the slot or guide g' in the radial arm. When
the lever is to be withdrawn from the mortice hole above mentioned and
inserted in the next, and this motion is to be repeated until motion has
been given to the arm to such an extent that such arm being connected
to the fuel feed hopper B shall bring it (the fuel feed hopper) from under
the opening A, and at the same time close the opening with the plate
or moveable grating F. On the fuel feed hopper B being brought to
its front position the catch L releases the end of the lever E, which falls,
at the same time bringing the moveable bottom C to the bottom of the
fuel feed box B, the box B is then filled with fuel, and the motion of
the boss reversed, the fuel feed box B is then carried back beneath

page_text: the opening A, and the crank lever coming beneath the lever E raises
it, carrying with it the moveable bottom C, which forces the fuel up
through.the opening A into the furnace or grate; the lever E is held by
the catch L, so that the bottom C may remain in its position to keep
the opening closed, whilst the box B is under the opening until it is
brought forward ready to be filled again. Instead of using the boss m
and lever for giving motion to this apparatus it may be done by the
following mechanism, also shown attached to the feed apparatus:-
When it is desired to give motion to the apparatus the handle wheel is
turned in the required direction, and being fixed to the toothed wheel k
communicates the required motion through the toothed wheels i and h,
being fixed to the wheel d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby
declare that I claim the "Improvements in Mechanism or Apparatus
for Feeding Fuel into Furnaces, Fire-boxes, and Fire-grates," through an
opening in the bottom of such grates, furnaces, or fire-boxes (whether
of locomotive engines or otherwise), in the manner and by the means
herein-before set forth and described, it being understood that I do not
claim any right or title to the exclusive use of the constituent parts
taken per se and apart from the objects and purposes of my said
Invention, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Myron John Frisbic, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
M. J. FRISBIE. (L.S.)
ALEX. P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the Inventors' Patent Right Association,
Limited,
21, Cockspur St., Charing Cross,
Applicant's Agents.