IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL STOKERS, IN ATTACHING THEM TO BOILERS AND FURNACES, AND IN BOILER FIRE- PLACES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Clifton Carver, of Llanidloes, in the County of
Montgomery, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL
STOKERS, IN ATTACHING THEM TO BOILERS AND FURNACES, AND IN BOILER FIRE-
PLACES"
Sealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 20th February 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Clifton Carver at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1878.
HENRY CLIFTON CARVER, of Llanidloes, in the County of Montgomery, Engineer..
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL STOKERS, IN ATTACHING THEM TO BOILERS AND
FURNACES, AND IN BOILER FIRE-PLACES."
My improvements in mechanical stokers relate to stokers of the class described
in the Specification to my former Patent No. 207, dated 16 January 1877.
According to my present Invention the driving shaft is provided near its upper
end with a tubular part like an inverted cup, which surrounds the shaft and
revolves in a bearing and in an annular oil cup. The lower end of the driving
shaft works in a footstep carried by a bracket which is attached to the fuel breaking
box by a single hinge pin, and abuts against the said box. The distributor shaft
is driven through a clutch and spur gear. The clutch will when the distributor offers
excessive resistance allow the driving shaft to rotate without driving the distributor.
The clutch will also allow the distributor to overrun the driving shaft.
The relative speeds of the driving shaft and distributor may be varied by
changing the pinion in the spur gear. For this purpose the pinion axis is held in
a disc having an eccentric hole through which the axis passes. The disc is adjust-
able in a box or case, so as to place the hole, and with it the pinion axis, at a greater
or less distance from the driving shaft.
The pinion is carried by a tube which revolves on the fixed axis. Surrounding
the tube and revolving with it is an oil vessel, to which the spiral coil is connected
for driving the distributor. The distributor body is open at one end; at its other
end is a boss into which is screwed one part of an axis formed in two lengths,

page_text: which works in a socket-like bearing provided with a setting screw for adjusting
the longitudinal position of the axis and with a lubricator. Inside the distributor
body are blades to promote circulation of air and prevent overheating of the
bearing. The door case containing the distributor is furnished with a trap door.
In connection with the lever of the driving belt shifter I arrange a catch which
locks the furnace door in its closed position so long as the belt is on the fast
pulley.
I make the endless feeding chain of steel C shaped links, connected together by
steel pins, which project at the sides of the chain, and at their ends travel within
and against curved fixed guides or liners, which prevent the pins rubbing against the
fuel breaking box. The endless chain is carried and driven by toothed wheels
arranged at the sides of the chain and carried by two shafts. The wheels on one
shaft support and drive the chain, those on the other shaft only support the
chain. Both ends of the carrying wheels' shaft, and one end of the driving wheels'
shaft, work in socket bushes fitted in the sides of the fuel breaking box, and
furnished with suitable lubricators. The distributor is on the furnace door, where-
with the distributor containing case may be cast.
I attach the fuel breaking box, and parts carried thereby, to a Lancashire or
Cornish boiler, as follows:-On top of the boiler at front I secure a saddle, which
carries an adjustable forked support or bearing wherein a tube or holder is held by
trunnions or axes. Through this tube or holder passes a suspending rod pivotted
below to the fuel breaking box, and screwed at its upper end, which is furnished
with a nut supported by the tube or holder. Thus the fuel breaking box and parts
carried thereby are held up at any suitable height, to which they may be adjusted
by the nut. They are kept in place opposite the boiler front by a bolt which draws
the suspending rod towards the saddle, and by right and left handed screws con-
nected to the fuel breaking box and furnace front, the requisite distance between the
fuel breaking box and boiler being maintained by adjustable studs carried by the
fuel breaking box.
It will be evident that similar means may be used to attach the stoker to furnaces
of different kinds.
My improvements in boiler fire-places relate to the use in boiler flues of false
bottoms or linings constructed so as to support bearers for carrying the fire-bars.
The alternate bars may be caused to rock, and for this purpose there may be
stationary and rocking bearers at each end of the fire-place, and the rocking bearers
may be of × section operated by a lever,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Henry Clifton Carver in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
August 1878.
HENRY CLIFTON CARVER, of Llanidloes, in the County of Montgomery, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL STOKERS, IN ATTACHING THEM TO BOLLERS AND
FURNACES, AND IN BOILER FIRE-PLACES."
My improvements in mechanical stokers relate to stokers of the class described
in the Specification to my former Patent, No. 207, dated 16 January 1877.
According to my present Invention the driving shaft is provided near its upper
end with a tubular part like an inverted cup, which surrounds the shaft and
revolves in a bearing and in an annular oil cup. The lower end of the driving
shaft works in a footstep carried by a bracket which is attached to the fuel breaking
box by a single hinge pin, and abuts against the said box. The distributor shaft is
driven through a clutch and spur gear. The clutch will when the distributor offers
excessive resistance allow the driving shaft to rotate without driving the distributor.
The clutch will also allow the distributor to overrun the driving shaft.
The relative speeds of the driving shaft and distributor may be varied by changing
the pinion in the spur gear. For this purpose the pinion axis is held in a disc
having an excentric hole through which the axis passes. The disc is adjustable in
a box or case, so as to place the hole, and with it the pinion axis, at a greater or
less distance from the driving shaft.
The pinion is carried by a tube which revolves on the fixed axis. Surrounding
the tube and revolving with it is an oil vessel to which the spiral coil is connected
for driving the distributor. The distributor body is open at one end; at its other
end is a boss, into which is screwed one part of an axis formed in two lengths,
which works in a socket-like bearing provided with a setting screw for adjusting
the longitudinal position of the axis and with a lubricator. Inside the distributor
body are blades to promote circulation of air and prevent overheating of the bearing.
The door case containing the distributor is furnished with a trap door.
In connection with the lever of the driving belt shifter I arrange a catch which
locks the furnace door in its closed position so long as the belt is on the fast
pulley.
I make the endless feeding chain of steel C shaped links connected together by
steel pins, which project at the sides of the chain, and at their ends travel within
and against curved fixed guides or liners, which prevent the pins rubbing against
the fuel breaking box. The endless chain is carried and driven by toothed wheels
arranged at the sides of the chain and carried by two shafts. The wheels on one
shaft support and drive the chain; those on the other shaft only support the chain.
Both ends of the carrying wheels' shaft and one end of the driving wheels' shaft
work in socket bushes fitted in the sides of the fuel breaking box and furnished
with suitable lubricators. The distributor is on the furnace door, wherewith the
distributor containing case may be cast.
I attach the fuel breaking box and parts carried thereby to a Lancashire or
Cornish boiler as follows:-On the top of the boiler at front I secure a saddle,
which carries an adjustable forked support or bearing, wherein a tube or holder is
held by trunnions or axes. Through this tube or holder passes a suspended rod
pivotted below to the fuel breaking box, and screwed at its upper end, which is
furnished with a nut supported by the tube or holder. Thus the fuel breaking box
and parts carried thereby are held up at any suitable height, to which they may be
adjusted by the nut. They are kept in place opposite the boiler front by a bolt,
which draws the suspended rod towards the saddle, and by right and left handed
screws connected to the fuel breaking box and furnace front, the requisite distance
between the fuel breaking box and boiler being maintained by adjustable studs
carried by the fuel breaking box.

page_text: It will be evident that similar means may be used to attach the stoker to furnaces
of different kinds.
.
My improvements in boiler fire-places relate to the use in boiler flues of false
bottoms or linings constructed so as to support bearers for carrying the fire-bars.
The alternate bars may be caused to rock, and for this purpose there may be
stationary and rocking bearers at each end of the fire-place, and the rocking bearers
may be of x section operated by a lever.
shewn in section.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine and boiler partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the machine and boiler flue taken near the delivery
orifice of the fuel breaking box, the boiler flue being in mid section. This view
shews more particularly the arrangement of the right and left hand screws and of
the false bottom of the boiler.
Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the endless chain and of the parts connected
therewith.
Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged views of the distributor driving apparatus, and of the
parts connected therewith.
Fig. 8 shews an alternative arrangement in connection with this apparatus.
Fig. 9 and 10 are enlarged views of the distributor and of the parts connected
therewith.
a is the upright shaft; b, the fast driving pulley, the boss of which has a tubular
extension or inverted cup at its lower end; c is the bearing in which this tubular
extension works or revolves, and which together with an internal tube, as shewn in
Fig. 1, forms an annular oil cup, which retains the lubricant. It is evident that
the tubular extension or inverted cup may be secured to the upright shaft quite
independently of the fast pulley; d is the footstep which carries the upright shaft;
it is attached to the breaking box e by the single hinge pin f, and abuts against the
breaking box at g; h is the distributor shaft which is driven by the flexible shaft q
and spur wheels j, k, through a clutch, which consists of the ratchet / secured to the
spur wheel j, and of a trigger and spring working in a socket upon a disc, forming
part of the worm m, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; n, Fig. 6, is the pinion axis held in
the disc o, having an eccentric hole through which the axis passes; p is the box or
case in which the disc is held by means of a nut and collar, as shewn, and is adjust-
able, so as to place the centre of the hole at a greater or less distance from the
centre of the upright shaft, according to the size of the pinion k which is required to
be used; a key secured to the box or case, and notches which fit this key formed in
the disc, as shewn in Fig. 7, enable the requisite adjustments to be made with
speed and accuracy; the pinion k is carried by a tube which revolves on the axis n
and is surrounded by an oil vessel, which revolves with it, and to which is con-
nected the spiral coil 7; a collar at the lower end of the axis secured by a pin pre-
vents the pinion and its attachments from falling down; or, as shewn in Fig. 8, the
pinion k may be carried by an oil vessel to which the axis n. is secured, and a tube
or bearing in which the axis will revolve may pass through the eccentric hole in the
disc o and be held there by means of a nut and collar, as shewn; a collar at the
upper end of the axis secured by a pin prevents the pinion and its attachments
from falling down; r, Figs. 9 and 10, is the distributor body, which is shewn open
at the right hand end, Fig. 9; at the other end is a boss, as shewn, into which is
screwed one part of the axis h, which is formed in two lengths, as shewn, to facilitate
the removal of the distributor from and its replacement in the distributor case; the
part of the axis which projects beyond the distributor case is requisite to agitate the
needle of a lubricator placed in the hole shewn in the socket-like bearing 8, in which

page_text: the axis revolves; this bearing is held in the boss t, forming part of the distributor
case u, by a set screw v, and is provided with another set screw 20, which closes one
end of it and affords facility for the longitudinal adjustment of the axis h; spiral
blades (not shewn in the Drawings) may be fixed inside the distributor body, or the
distributor body may be perforated for the promotion of a current of air about the
bearing so as to prevent it from becoming overheated; x is the trap-door to a
receptacle in the bottom of the distributor case u through which any accumulation
of fuel inside the receptacle and case may be readily discharged; y is the lever of
the belt shifter, and z is a catch in connection with it which locks the furnace door 9
in its closed position, so long as the belt is on the fast pulley, by passing through
the casting of the breaking box and into the furnace door.
1, 1, Figs. 4 and 5, are the C shaped steel links of the endless chain connected
together by the steel pins 2, 2, which project at the sides of the chain, and at
their ends travel within and against the curved fixed guides or liners 3, 3, which
protect the breaking box from abrasion. 4, 4, are the toothed wheels upon the
shaft 5, which both carry and drive the endless chain, and 6, 6, are the toothed
wheels upon the shaft 7, which only carry the endless chain. 8, 8, are the socket bushes
fitted into the sides (one of which sides consists partly of a removeable plate 22,
as described in the Specification of my former Patent) of the breaking box e, and
are provided with lubricators, their construction being such that the lubricant does
not escape to the outside of the machine. 10 is the saddle secured to the boiler
immediately above the furnace flue, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of two
set screws screwed down on to a pad, which bridges over the rivet heads of the
boiler. 11 is the forked support, which swivels, and is adjustable in the saddle;
and secured to it by a screwed end furnished with a nut. It carries the tube
or holder 12 by means of trunnions or axes, as shewn. Through this tube or
holder passes the suspending rod 13 pivotted at its lower end to the breaking box,
and screwed and furnished with a.nut, which rests on the tube or holder at its
upper end: 14 is the bolt, which draws the suspending rod towards the saddle;
and 15 is a branch, one end of which is connected to the suspending rod. Its other
end is in the form of a segment concentric with the hinge pin of the suspending
rod, and is secured by a bolt to a bracket upon the breaking box. The suspending
rod is thus prevented from moving about its hinge after having been set to the
required angle.
The bolt 14 and branch 15 may be used either as alternative arrangements or in
conjunction with each other, should the additional stiffness thus gained be required.
16, 16, are the right and left handed screws connecting the fuel breaking box to
the furnace front, means of adjustment being afforded by the locking nuts, as
shewn.
In practice it may be found more advantageous to make the thread upon the
screws of one hand only, instead of right and left.
17, 17, are the adjustable studs made of a bent form, so as to enable them to be
set clear of rivet heads or other projections on the boiler face. 18 is the false
bottom plate or lining, to which are secured brackets 19 of the form requisite for
receiving the bearers, on which the furnace bars are to be supported. The plate is
held in position in an ordinary furnace flue by the flange, shewn at its outer end,
which abuts against the flue plate, and by the tongue piece 20, which is attached
to the false bottom plate, and fits against and between two of the flue rivets.
Small projections and supporting feet 21 are provided upon the false bottom plate,
and brackets for retaining the false bottom plate at any required distance from the
flue plate, should the flue rivets not be suitably placed for this purpose.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode of carrying it
into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that I do not intend to claim
any of the mechanical parts of the apparatus herein-before shewn and described
when taken separately and apart from the combination or application thereof, in
manner and for the purpose herein described, but what I consider to be novel and

page_text: original, and therefore claim as secured to me by the Letters Patent first herein-
before in part recited is,--
1. The combination with the upright shaft of the self-lubricating bearing, sub-
stantially as described and shewn.
2. The combination with the upright shaft of the hinged footstep, substantially
as described and shewn.
3. Driving the distributor shaft through the clutch and spur gear, arranged
substantially as described with reference to the Drawings.
4. The method of adjusting the position of the pinion axis in relation to the
driving shaft for varying the speed of the distributor, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the pinion axis and self-lubricating chamber carrying the
pinion, substantially as described.
6. The arrangement of axis and bearing in connection with the fan or drum,
substantially as described.
7. The door catch in connection with the fan, mounted as described.
8. The steel chain, and shafts and bearings, constructed and arranged as
described:
9. Attaching the fuel breaking box and parts carried thereby to boilers or
furnaces, substantially in the manner herein-before described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
10. The combination of parts constituting the improved mechanical stoker, con-
structed, arranged, and operating substantially as described and shewn.
11. Providing boiler flues with false bottoms or linings constructed to support
bearings for carrying the fire-bars, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Clifton Carver, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TTV A CIDE