Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Fuel into Continuous Kilns and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Fuel into Continuous Kilns
and the like.
I JOHN CRAVEN, of Westgate Common Foundry, Wakefield, in the County of
York, Engineer, 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 has for its object to provide apparatus by means of which
continuous kilns or the like which have to be supplied with limited quantities of
fuel at intervals can be very conveniently and efficiently supplied with fuel.
I will describe my invention as being used in connection with a kiln from which its
general application to analogous purposes will also be understood. According to
my invention I provide a container for a supply of the fuel and beneath this
I provide a portion which fits into the pipe passage or firing hole through which
the fuel is to be fed into the kiln and between the said container and the said
portion beneath it I provide a mechanical feeder or rotatable series of boxes or
receptacles in which the fuel is received and by the movement of which it is fed
to the kiln in firing. The series of boxes or receptacles is carried by an axle
A number
which projects and is provided with means by which it can be turned.
of firing holes can be supplied with fuel simultaneously by providing each of them
with such an apparatus and connecting the axes of the rotatable feeders so that
movement is simultaneously imparted to all of them.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with reference
to the accompanying drawings, a manner in which it can be carried into practical
effect.
Figure 1 represents in section the upper part of a chamber of a Hoffmann kiln
having five firing holes through its roof there being an arrangement of apparatus
according to my invention fitted into each hole and connected so that they are
simultaneously operated.
I have shewn one of the apparatus in section the others being similarly
constructed.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus and
Figure 3 is a view of the apparatus at right angles to that shewn in Figure 1.
I have shewn five of the apparatus connected together to be simultaneously
operated but I may use one or any number of the said apparatus as may be
convenient for the particular purpose for which it is to be used.
A is the container for fuel it having a cover a and at its lower part is mounted
the rotatable series of boxes or receptacles constituted by the wings 6 from the
axis B, the said axis being capable of rotary movement in bearings at the lower
part of the container A. Beneath the rotatable series of boxes or receptacles is
a contracted passage C and beneath this is an inverted cone shaped piece or
funnel D which is inserted into the firing hole it being provided with wings d to
fit against the sides of the firing hole and having a flange at d to rest on the top
of the firing hole. The axis B extends outside the bearings and is provided at
each end with squared holes 62 into which the ends of square coupling rods E can
be fitted so that the several axes are thereby connected together in such a way that
when one is turned the others are correspondingly turned. When therefore the
apparatus is placed in position in the firing holes as shewn in Figure 1 and the
shafts B are partially rotated fuel which has fallen from the container A. into

page_text: the box or receptacle beneath it is delivered into the feed hole it passing thereinto
through the inverted conical piece or funnel D. I have shewn four boxes or
receptacles in each series but any other convenient number may be used the
amount of movement given thereto at each charging operation being in accordance
with the number of boxes or receptacles in the series and the quantity of fuel to
be fed in. The rotary movement may be imparted by hand or power in any
convenient way for example by a lever and pawl and ratchet like a ratchet brace
or by a hand wheel as at or by means of a pinion and toothed wheel as at g.
When a series of firing holes has been charged the apparatus is removed to another
series and so on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what 1
claim is
1. Apparatus for feeding fuel into continuous kilns and the like the said
apparatus consisting of the combination of a container for fuel, a mechanical
feeder or rotatable series of boxes or receptacles and a part beneath adapted to be
fitted into the firing hole of the kiln or the like substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. Apparatus for feeding fuel into continuous kilns and the like the said
apparatus consisting of the combination of a container for the fuel a mechanical
feeder or rotatable series of boxes or receptacles and a conical or funnel shaped
part beneath adapted to be fitted into the firing hole substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. Apparatus for feeding fuel into continuous kilns and the like the said
apparatus consisting of devices such as are herein before described and claimed
provided with means by which they can be connected and with means whereby
rotatory movement can be given to all the mechanical feeders or rotatable series
of boxes or receptacles simultaneously substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting apparatus for feeding
continuous kilns or the like substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of March 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.