Furnace and Grates.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Furnace and Grates.
1, JAMES GARDNER SANDERSON, Constructing Engineer, residing at
1530 Sanderson Avenue in the City of Scranton, County of Lackawanna, and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in furnaces, which may be used for
either generating steam or producing gas, and it is especially designed for the use
of small coals, such as coal waste and anthracite culm, which forms a very good
fuel for use in devices of this kind.
My invention consists broadly in the construction of the grate to be used and in
the arrangement of devices for supplying the fuel and generating the gas and
steam, and my invention further consists of certain details of novel construction
and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1, is a vertical section of my improved device.
Figure 2, is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 Figare 1.
Figure 4, is also a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 Figure 1.
Figure 5, is a detail view of a modified form of grate.
Figure 6, is a detail vertical section of the form of grate shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7, is an elevation partly in section of another modification of the grate.
Figure 8, is a plan view thereof, and
Figure 9, is a detail perspective of a portion of one of the rings forming the
grate.
In the said drawings:-
1 represents a boiler adapted to contain water and provided with the combustion
chamber 2 located within the boiler, the lower end of which is corrugated and
tapers inwardly, the chamber 3, into which the products of combustion pass and
the exit flue 4 which conduct away the products of combustion from the chamber 3.
5 represents a number of tubes connecting the chambers 2 and 3, through which the-
products of combustion pass. Thus it will be seen from the drawings that a large
I do not,
amount of heating surface is presented to the water in the boiler.
however, claim this form of boiler as part of my invention.
6 represents my improved grate, located centrally within the combustion
chamber 2. The grate 6 is formed with the conical perforated head 6, which is
also corrugated and with the tubular extension 7 the lower end of which fits in the
cylindrical extension 8 of the passage 9, through which air and steam is admitted
to the combustion chamber. The perforations in the head are of such size as will
freely admit air to all parts of the chamber, but are not large enough to allow
ashes or clinkers to pass through them. As will be seen from the drawing, I have
provided the extension 7 with a series of teeth 9 which are engaged by the teeth of
the rack 10 secured at each end to the pivoted levers 11. By this means the grate is
oscillated to shake the fire, and as it is oscillated the clinkers as they pass downwards
are ground between the corrugated surfaces of the head and tapering bottom of the
combustion chamber. Before the oscillation of the grate, it is raised by means of

page_text: the lever 12, which carries at one end the rod 13.secured to the grate at 14 and 15
in the manner shown. When the lever 12 is forced down the grate is raised
forming an opening between the .edge of, the grate hond and the combustion
chamber which permits the ashes and clinkers to fall into the ash pit 16 as the
grate is oscillated, from where they are removed through the opening 17 closed by
the door 18. The oscillation of the grate is still permitted after it has been raised
owing to the length of the teeth formed on the tubular extension. The grato may
be oscillated by means other than what is shown, as for example, a rod may be
connected to the tubular extension of the grate and extended to the outside of the
ash pits, and by the horizontal movement thereof back and forth, the grate may
be oscillated,
In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of my grate. In this form I
employ a number of corrugated rings 19 and smooth rings 20 alternately arranged
one upon another and secured together by the rod 13 the head of which is counter-
sunk in the top ring and held therein by means of the nut 21 which is jammed
against the web 22 carried by the tubular extension of the grate. This form of
grate is supplied with the same means for raising and oscillating it as shown in
Figure 1, and in this form the air and steam passes into the combustion chamber
through the passages formed by the corrugated and smooth rings. In Figures 7,
8 and 9, I have shown another modification of my grate. In this form I arrange
and secure upon one another by the rod 13 and means shown in Figure 5, a number
of rings 33-formed with the projections 34, on their outer periphery, the lugs 35 on
their lower faces and with the openings 36 in their upper faces and when the rings
are secured together the projections 34 are arranged one above the other in the
same straight line, and the intervening spaces form a groove 34" as shown in
Figure 8. The lugs and openings are arranged on the rings in about the position
shown. The lugs separate the rings to form the lateral spaces between the rings
through which the air and steam pass into the combustion chamber and the
grooves 34 which communicate with the lateral passages serve to conduct the air
and steam up through-the fuel. A further function of the lugs and openings is to
prevent the rings from turning one upon another when the grate is oscillated.
This form of grate is also supplied with the means for oscillating and raising it,
shown in Figures 1 and 5.
24 represents the hopper, 25 the chute for feeding the fuel to the chamber 2,
and 26 a valve for closing the opening at the bottom of the hopper. As will be
seen from Figure 1 the chute 25 is placed centrally within the boiler and directly
over the point of the grate so that as the fuel is fed into the chamber it will be
evenly distributed around in the chamber as will be seen by the dotted lines in
Figure 1.
27 represents a steam dome located on the boiler 1, and it may be if desired
within the upper portion of the combustion chamber, although I have shown it
located outside of the furnace and 28 a pipe leading therefrom to the passage 9 at
which point the end is tapered to form a jet and turned inwards so as to direct the
steam through the passage and openings 33 in the grate extension. By this
arrangement a forced draft may be made in order to make the fire burn more
rapidly. 30 represents a water glass, 31 a cock for drawing off water from the
hoiler and 32 a feed water inlet to the boiler, which is opened when the boiler is to
be filled.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The hopper being supplied with fuel, and the valve raised, the fuel falls through
the chute on to the grate until the furnace is charged with fuel to the extent
shown in dotted lines, but the hopper is filled to keep up a continuous supply of
fuel. The fuel in the furnace being fired combustion is aided by the draft through
the passage 9 and the tubular extension of the grate, through the opening in the
grate head which distributes air throughout the fuel. Ordinarily when the furnace
is not being used to produce gas, the grate may be turned so that the openings 33
will be more or less in a direct line with the passage 9 and in this manner.regulate

page_text: the drast. The ash and chokers formed by combustion of the fuel is removed by
raising and oscillating the grate by the means already described.
If the device is to be employed to produce gas for which it is well adapted,.
steam is supplied with the air to the combustion chamber, and as it passes through
the burning coals, it is decomposed forming hydro-carbon gas. When the device
is used for this purpose it is necessary to reduce the supply of air, only such
quantity being needed as is necessary for slow combustion of the fuel. This may
be accomplished by any suitable. means. After the gas has passed up through the
boiler it is conducted to.where it is.desired in the usual manner. The steam used:
for forming the gas may be taken from the steam dome.
It will also be seen that my furnace may be used for any of the purposes to.
which furnaces of the class are commonly employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a grate, a rod secured thereto, a pivoted lever adapted
to carry the rod at one end, a number of elongated teeth carried by said grate and
adapted to be engaged by a rack, and suitable means for reciprocating the rack,.
substantially as shown and described.
2. A gräte having a conical head formed of plain and corrugated rings alternately-
arranged; substantially as shown and described.
3. A bollow conical grate formed of plain and corrugated rings arranged
alternately one upon the other, having draft passages between the rings and
provided with means for oscillating the grate, substantially as shown and.
described.
4. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable boiler, a vertical fuel magazine.
located in said furnace, a combustion chamber having a conical grate provided with
a tubular portion having openings formed in it, located therein, said grate being
hollow and having openings from the interior to the combustion chamber, a draft
passage in communication with the tubular portion of said grate, and suitable-
means for turning the grate so as to regulate the draft; substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a furnace, the combination of a combustion chamber having a corrugated
tapered lower end, a corrugated conical grate fitting in the lower end of said
combustion chamber and having connected therewith suitable means for raising it
within the combustion chamber and at the same time oscillating it, substantially as
shown and described.
6. In a furnace the combination of a combustion chamber having a tapered
lower end, a grate having a conical head, a rod secured to said grate, a pivoted
lever adapted to carry the rod at one end, and to be operated at its other end to
raise the grate, a series of teeth carried by said grate, a rack in engagement there-
with, and a lever secured to the rack for reciprocating it, substantially as shown
and described.
7. A conical grate made of a number of superposed rings resting one upon
another with their parallel faces overlapped to prevent the escape of fuel and
spaced apart to form lateral air passages and having grooves on their surfaces
in communication with the lateral air passages, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
8. A hollow conical grate formed of a number of super-posed rings each being
provided with openings and lugs, and with lateral projections for forming an.
intermediate space substantially as shown and described.
9. A hollow conical grate formed of a number of rings, each being provided
with lugs and openings adapted to fit in a corresponding opening and receive a
corresponding lug on a super-posed ring for the purpose of spacing the rings
apart and prevent any relative movement of the rings, substantially as shown and
described.

page_text: 10. A furnace having a fuel magazine, a combustion chamber with an inwardly
inclined base, a conical grate located beneath the magazine and within the
combustion chamber, a vertical rod supporting the said grate, a pivoted lever
supporting the said rod, and a lever having means in connection therewith for
revolving or oscillating the grate, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.