IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO STEAM BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Smith, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING
FUEL TO STEAM BOILER AND OTHER FURNACES."
Sealed the 19th February 1878, and dated the 21st August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Smith' at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1877.
CHARLES SMITH, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic.
MENTS
"IMPROVE-
IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO STEAM BOILER AND OTHER
FURNACES."
This Invention relates to the class of furnaces in connection with which "mechanical
stokers" are used, and the object of this Invention is,―
Firstly. By the use of improved apparatus herein-after described to afford a
uniform intermittent supply of fuel to the stoker, or to the furnace from the feed
hopper.
Secondly. To an improved construction and arrangement of apparatus for dis-
tributing the fuel.
Thirdly. To the use of a deflecting or angle plate for the purpose of diverting,
turning, and directing the fuel thrown by the fans or other medium upon and over
the fire.
According to this my Invention, I employ a hopper (or hoppers), the bottom or
lower part of which is in communication with a cylinder, the under side of which is
provided with an opening for the exit of fuel.
Within the cylinder is a roller caused to rotate slowly by gear wheels or
other driving apparatus. The periphery of the roller is (at intervals apart)
recessed, forming receptacles, within which coal (as the receptacle comes under
the hopper) is received; the continued rotation brings the receptacle over the
exit opening (through the cylinder) by way of which the fuel passes out of the
furnace, or to the mechanical stoker, and so as each recess passes under the hopper
it becomes filled with fuel, to be discharged on reaching the exit opening.

page_text: When two-flued boiler or double furnace is to be supplied, there may be one of
such apparatus to each furnace or stoker, or one apparatus may supply both furnaces
or stokers; in the latter case there will be a double incline placed immediately under
the exit opening, so that part of the fuel may pass down the incline to the right
hand, and part down the incline to the left hand. Or the receptacles may extend
a portion of the length of the roller, and the receptacles on the right hand supply
the furnace or stoker on the right, the receptacles to the left supplying the left of
the furnace or stoker.
The receptacles may be of various forms so as to vary the discharge from any one
receptacle.
It will be obvious that the roller, instead of being entirely enclosed within a
cylinder, would answer the same purpose if partly enclosed or embraced by a concave
neck or concave bottom of the hopper.
In connection with the improved feed roller above described, I employ for double-
fluid boilers two "fuel fans or rotary distributors, partly enclosed in boxes, and a
varying speed or rotation is imparted to the fans by means of an eleptical or
eccentric rim gear wheel, or a short pinion (flanged) may engage with the eccentric
gear and slide upon the fan shaft, an elongated key and key bed being provided so
as to admit of lateral traverse of the pinion, or an eliptic spur gear wheel upon
the fan shaft may be driven by a like wheel upon the main driving shaft. Or the
varying speed may be obtained by ordinary eleptical pulley and driving pulley, the
slack of the driving strap or driving band being taken up at each revolution by
means of a bell crank and antifriction roller bearing against the driving cord or
band, the motion being imparted to the bell crank by eccentrics, or by cam grooves
cut in a revolving disc.
"
"
The plate or plates for diverting and directing the fuel thrown by the fan or fans
is placed within the flue and supported by a shaft or other axis or hinges, and such
plate or plates may have a gradual rising and falling motion imparted by tappet or
its equivalent, or the plate or plates may be stationary; the angle of inclination
being readily adjusted according to the speed and throw of the fans, so that the
fuel shall be diverted and directed upon and over the whole surface of the bars, the
throwing of fuel upon and over the bridge being entirely obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st February
1878.
CHARLES SMITH, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO STEAM BOILER AND OTHER
FURNACES."
This Invention relates to the class of furnaces in connection with which
"mechanical stokers are used, and the object of this Invention is,―
"
Firstly. By the use of improved apparatus herein-after described to afford a
uniform intermittent supply of fuel to the stoker or to the furnace from the feed
hopper.
Secondly. To an improved construction and arrangement of apparatus for
distributing the fuel.
Thirdly. To the use of a deflecting or angle plate for the purpose of diverting,
turning, and directing the fuel thrown by the fans or other medium upon. and over
the fire.
According to this my Invention, I employ a hopper (or hoppers), the bottom or
lower part of which is in communication with a cylinder, the under side of which is
provided with an opening for the exit of fuel.
Within the cylinder is a roller, caused to rotate slowly by gear wheels or other
driving apparatus; the periphery of the roller is (at intervals) recessed, forming
receptacles within which coal (as the receptacle comes under the hopper) is received,
the continued rotation brings the receptacle over the exit opening through the
cylinder, by way of which the fuel passes out to the furnace or to the mechanical
stoker; and so as cach recess passes under the hopper it becomes filled with fuel to
be discharged on reaching the exit opening.
When two-flued boiler or double furnace is to be supplied, there may be one of
such apparatus to each furnace or stoker, or one apparatus may supply both furnaces
or stokers, in the latter case there will be a double incline placed immediately under
the exit opening, so that part of the fuel may pass down the incline to the right
hand, and part down the incline to the left hand. Or the receptacles may extend a
portion of the length of the roller, and the receptacles on the right hand supply the
furnace or stoker on the right, the receptacles to the left supplying the left of the
furnace or stoker.
The receptacles may be of various forms, so as to vary the discharge from any one
receptacle.
It will be obvious that the roller, instead of being entirely enclosed within a
cylinder, would answer the same purpose if partly enclosed or embraced by a concave
neck or concave bottom of the hopper.
In connection with the improved feed roller above described, I employ for double-
flued boilers two "fuel fans or rotary distributers partly enclosed in boxes, and
speeded by means of pulleys.
D
The plate or plates for diverting and directing the fuel thrown by the fan or
fans is placed within the flue and supported by a shaft or other axis or hinges,
and such plate or plates may have a gradual rising and falling motion imparted
by tappet or its equivalent, or the plate or plates may be stationary, the angle of
inclination being readily adjusted by screw shaft, according to the speed and throw
of the fans, so that the fuel shall be diverted and directed upon and over the whole
surface of the bars, the throwing of fuel upon and over the bridge being entirely
obviated.

page_text: Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the same in detail; and in order that the Invention may be fully under-
stood, I have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and
have marked the same with figures and letters of reference, the same letter referring
to the same part in the several views or Figures."
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of double-flued boiler having my apparatus attached.
Fig. 2 is side elevation of Fig. 1, partly in section.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are details drawn to an enlarged scale.
A is hopper or hoppers, the bottom or lower part of which is in communication
with a cylinder B, the under side of which is provided with an opening F for the
exit of fuel.
Within the cylinder is a roller C, caused to rotate slowly by gear wheels D, D¹,
D², and D³, or other driving apparatus; the periphery of the roller is (at intervals
apart) recessed, forming receptacles E within which coal (as the receptacle comes
under the hopper A) is received; the continued rotation brings the receptacles E
over exit opening F through the cylinder B, by way of which the fuel passes out to
the furnace, or to the mechanical stoker, and so as each recess E passes under the
hopper A it becomes filled with fuel to be discharged on reaching the exit
opening F.
When two-flued boiler or double furnace is to be supplied, there may be one of
such apparatus to each furnace or stoker, or one apparatus may supply both
furnaces or stokers, as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2; in the latter case there will be a
double incline G placed immediately under the exit opening F, so that part of the
fuel may pass down the incline to the right hand, and part down the incline
to the left hand. Or the receptacles may extend a portion of the length of the
roller, see Figs. 6 and 7; the receptacles on the right hand supply the furnace or
stoker on the right, the receptacles to the left supplying the left of the furnace or
stoker.
The receptacles may be of various forms, so as to vary the discharge from any one
receptacle, see Figs. 8 and 9.
It will be obvious, that the roller instead of being entirely enclosed within a
cylinder, as at Figs. 3 and 4, would answer the same purpose if partly enclosed
or embraced by a concave neck (as at Fig. 5) or concave bottom of the hopper.
In connection with the improved feed roller above described I employ for double-
flued boilers two "fuel fans" or rotary distributers H, H, partly enclosed in boxes,
and speeded by means of pulleys L.
The plate or plates J for diverting and directing the fuel thrown by the fan or
fans His placed within the flue and supported by a shaft or other axis or hinges K,
and such plate or plates may have a gradual rising and falling motion imparted by
tappet or its equivalent, or the plate or plates may be stationary, the angle of
inclination being readily adjusted by screw shaft M, according to the speed and
throw of the fans, so that the fuel shall be diverted and directed upon and over the
whole surface of the bars, the throwing of fuel upon and over the bridge being
entirely obviated.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would observe that in order to fully explain the application and
use of my Invention, it has been absolutely necessary to refer to and describe parts
which are not new, I would therefore have it understood that I limit and confine
my claims to,―
Firstly. I claim the recessed roller C, constructed and used as and for the purpose
described.
Secondly. I claim the deflecting plate J, applied in the manner and for the
decambed
purpose

page_text: Lastly. I claim the combination and use (when so combined) of the recessed
roller C and the deflecting plate J, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Smith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM WHITTAKER,
Pickup Croft Mill,
Burnley.
CHARLES SMITH. (L.S.)