IMPROVEMENTS OF STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Arthur Wilson, of Cross Lane, Salford, Man-
chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS OF STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER
FURNACES,"
Sealed the 27th October 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
Sealed the 27th October 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 19th April 1677.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Arthur Wilson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1877.
RICHARD ARTHUR WILSON, of Cross Lane, Salford, Manchester.
OF STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention consists in an improved arrangement of machinery and apparatus
for supplying fuel to furnaces, also in an improved grate-bar.
The feeding apparatus consists of a pair of crushing rollers, or other equivalents,
to reduce the fuel into small pieces and to discharge them into a box, from which
they are raised by an archimedian screw, or other equivalent, to such an height
that it will fall down troughs placed above the hoppers of one or two boilers, as
required, whence it is distributed on to the fires by revolving springs fixed on
upright shafts, and working in boxes or by pans, these shafts being driven by a
line shaft in front of boiler, by friction pulleys and discs, or by bevelled wheels.
The improved grate-bar consists of stationary frame or frames, in which two sets
of movable grids are hinged; these grids are moved up and down alternately by
excentrics, cams, or levers joined to arms of the grids by rods; when the one series
are raised the fuel slides or is forced down the incline on to the other grids which
are then stationary, and when the first assume an horizontal position the other set
of grids are raised, carrying the fuel or forcing it on to the other grids; by this
means the fuel is forced from the front of the furnace to the bridge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Richard Arthur Wilson in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th November 1877.
RICHARD ARTHUR WILSON, of Cross Lane, Salford, Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS
OF STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES.
My Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing the fire-grates of
steam boiler and other furnaces.
This improved fire-grate consists in a series of frames resting on ordinary
bearings in one or two lengths, either lengthways or across the furnace. The ends,
sides, or bearing ribs, also connecting ribs across the frames, are made solid, or
chambered; if chambered, air is made to circulate through them by fan or jet of
steam, which creates a current and so keeps the bars cool. These frames and ribs
form one side of each air space opening, the other side being formed by loose or
movable grids supported and hinged by loose pin through sides of frames and head
of grid; on each grid is cast an arm or lover in which is cast a pin, in which a
hole is bored; the pin is for putting on the bar or coupling rod running the length
of the frame for raising the loose grid, and so clearing the air spaces, the hole is for
inserting a split cotter or pin for keeping the lever in its place; these rods may be
coupled to all the grids in each frame or to each alternate one, in which case the
grids would be worked in two series or actions; to these levers or rods is attached
à second rod or lever, which completes its connection to the rocking shaft or shafts
fixed in front of the furnace; this shaft may at intervals be worked by hand with
loose lever, or by cam crank or eccentric from engine.
The fuel may be supplied to the fire-grate by hand labour, as usual, or by self-
acting apparatus, consisting of a pair fans or two springs fastened to the upright
shafts in feeding boxes or other equivalents.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Figure 1 represents the frames or blocks in which the movable grids work;
A and B represent two of the frames without the loose or movable grids; C is a
frame with the loose or movable grids filled in.
Fig. 2 represents the loose or movable grids in two positions they assume
D', D', when raised by the connecting rod F7, bell crank F³, rocking shaft Fo, and
lever, Figure 10, and when in their stationary position D³, D².
F1, Figure 1, and F, Figure 2, is the dead plate and brackets shewn carrying
rocking shaft and frames of fire-grate.
G₁, Figures 1, 2, and 5, shew ribs connecting sides of frames F³, and H, Figures 1
and 2, represent the bridge.
Figure 3 shew the chamber in front of hollow grate-bar.
Figure 4, the side bearing rib or bar I, I, Figures 1 and 2, is pipe for creating
current from fan or jet of steam.
2, 2, Figures 1 and 2, is funnel for admission of air.
3, 3, Figure 4, are holes for pins carrying and hinging movable sections or grids.
4, 4, Figure 4, are holes for outlet of air to furnace.
Figure 5 is a cross section; g shews position of rib connecting side bearing bars,
also position of fingers on same, between fingers of movable grids, as shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 5, G¹.
Figure 5, h, shews back of loose or movable grid with arm or lever, also pin for
putting or connecting bar or lever, and split pin for keeping the same in position;
also holes for letting out the air from cored or hollow fingers.
Figure 5, I, shows section of the cored or hollow fingers, with arm or lever
coupling rod pin and cotter, these being cored hollow keeps them cool, the air
circulating through them and out of the holes at the back.
Figure 6 shews another form in which the frames can be made.

page_text: I do not confine myself to any number or particular form, my Invention con-
sisting in movable grids working inside frames, as explained. These frames, when
smaller than size of furnace, are completed with suitable side bars fitted to sides of
the furnace.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of boiler and feeding apparatus; J is a low
hopper in which coal is fed and crushed by toothed rollers a, a; from these rollers
it falls down angled or sliding plate to trough b, from which it is scooped out by
buckets on endless chain, and raised to such a height as to fall down inclined
trough or troughs d to hopper or hoppers C of one or two boilers. The ram or
plunger e in bottom of this hopper forces it along the troughs or pipes g, g, whence
it drops into boxes H, H, the ram being worked by eccentric f on upright shaft f¹,
this being driven by worm and wheel f' on the line or driven shaft f³, carried by
suitable brackets on the door frame.
The box H, Figure 7 and 8, contains two upright shafts, also two revolving pans
to receive and distribute the coal; motion is given to these from line shaft f³, which
carries two friction discs k, k, to each box, and against these on the upright
shafts m, m, run two small friction pulleys, the speed of pans to throw the coal
the distance required being regulated by raising or lowering the pulleys, Figure 8
being a section of this arrangement.
Figure 9, also the left-hand elevation of Figure 7, shews another arrangement; H,
box, in which two upright shafts m, m, run, driven by bevel geared wheels n, n,
from line shaft f³ at a slow speed; these upright shafts m, m, are mounted with
two flat springs o, o; bolted to them the shafts alternately catch the stud p, which
retards the motion of the springs till such force is gathered as sufficient for striking
and distributing the coal placed in position for this purpose.
I do not confine myself to raising the coal by endless chains, as shewn, as this
may be varied by chain working in pipe or trough, and the buckets replaced by
scrapers or carriers; also in case of coarse slack I propose using an upright archi-
median screw, for crushing the larger pieces and raising at the same time.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described how the same may
be carried into operation, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the details given or mode shewn of accomplishing the same, as the same
may be considerably varied, but what I claim is,—
First. The improved fire-grate, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; frames
in which moveable grids are worked to clear the air space of what would form
clinker and retard and prevent combustion; also supply of air to hollow bearing
bars, as herein-before described and shewn.
Secondly. The combinations on the mechanical stoker of a low hopper for feeding
and crushing coal, endless chain or archimedian screw for raising driven shaft
above the furnace door, and pans for distributing fuel, as shewn in Figures 7
and 8.
Thirdly. The use of flat springs on upright shafts to distribute the fuel, as shewn
in Figure 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Arthur Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
RICHARD ARTHUR WILSON. (L.S.)