IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES, AND TO SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE SAME, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1878

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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Bennis at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1878.
EDWARD BENNIS, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPERTAINING TO BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES, AND TO SUPPLYING FUEL TO
THE SAME, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention consists chiefly in improvements on my former Patent, No. 1308,
of 1875, and in furnaces to be worked with the same.
It consists,―
1st. In shaping the shovel with a series of radiating planes on it to more effectually
scatter the fuel.
2nd. Supporting the shovel at one end and giving it a rotating motion above the
point of support round said point. This shovel is preferably divided into chambers
one above another by diaphragms, so that the higher ones may throw further than
the lower ones. I drive it with one or more springs so arranged that both the
driving and buffering is performed by the same, or by different springs, or their
mechanical equivalents, such as steam cylinders.
3rd. Arranging the springs (one or more to each flue), so that in a double or treble
flued boiler one spring can be compressed more than another alternately, and
consequently one flue fed more than another at one time, or each flue be fed
alternately; the same thing applies to two sides of the same flue. The springs are
placed in a recess beneath the shovel when convenient.
.
4th. I construct a door or valve beneath the fuel crusher or hopper so as to
regulate the times when the coal is permitted to fall into the throwing apparatus.
I also extend the crusher plate beyond the vertical centre line of the crusher to
prevent the small coal from running through.
5th. The construction of a revolving crusher with a series of beaks pointing in
the direction of rotation.
6th. Where two flued boilers are used the employment of a reciprocating crusher
reciprocating horizontally between the two flues, the crusher and flues being each
armed with teeth so as to distribute (and crush) the coal from one hopper on to both
throwing apparatus.

page_text: 7th. For the same purpose a revolving crusher with a screw at each side like that
in Deacon's Patent, No. 3017, of 1870. The bearings can be self adjusting.
8th. A shovel with two or more steps on it.
9th. An arrangement of self-cleaning fire-bars; these are alternately moveable
and stationary. The moveable ones are supported on a shaft at each end worked
by a worm shaft or otherwise so as to rotate uniformly. This shaft has a cam
under each moveable bar working in a peculiarly shaped projection on the bottoms
of the bars.
The bars are so arranged that the cam propells them up an inclined plane, and
when it leaves them they run or slide down; for this purpose a roller is or can be
used, and the incline can be on the bars. The bars move forward at the highest
portion of the throw.and intermittently.
When the stationary bars are hollow for conveying air, I convey that air into the
chamber behind the fire, and sometimes place a loose rod in it, so that by moving
the rod at intervals by hand or machinery the passage is kept clear.
Sometimes I make the moveable bars hollow also in this way.
In steamers especially, fire-bars are apt to stick to each other, or rather rest on
each other, so as to prevent movement. To prevent this I construct the stationary
bars with projecting distance pieces touching each other, and also place small
friction spheres between each bar, so that the inoveable bars may move on them
instead of rubbing against the stationary bars. The bars are grooved to hold the
spheres.
In feeding I feed into half or three quarters of the bar and not all over.
motion of the bars covers the remaining portion.
The
I sometimes arrange the furnace so that the moveable bars at the sides move all
together and the central portion at an alternate interval.