Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Fuel to Furnaces.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Fuel to Furnaces.
I, ADELBERT OSWALD MÜLLER, of Fremont, Nebraska, U.S.A., Inventor, do:
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in apparatus in
feeding fuel to furnaces; but is more especially designed for use with boilers and
arranged to introduce the fuel in a very simple manner and to distribute the same
uniformly in the fire box to ensure proper combustion and regular heating of the
boiler.
The invention comprises a suitable guide rail attached in front of the furnace.
doors in such manner that a feeding appliance may slide thereon and be operated
if desired by a rack, pinion, and winch handle.
The feeding appliance consists of a rectangular frame having guides at its sides
and bars extending across it. A rectangular fuel receptacle is adapted to.
reciprocate in the guides, and is made to fit the entrance to the furnaces, the
doors of which open inwards. The bottom of the receptacle is composed of
narrow strips extending across it and each journalled at its ends in the front
and rear part of the receptacle. At the front, each journal is fitted with a crank
connected by a tie-rod so that by operating one journal by a handle all of the
strips will be rotated. This may however be effected by pinions and a rack if
desired.
In operation thé fuel is put evenly into the receptacle and it is then pushed
forwardly over the bars of the rectangular frame (which bars act as rollers) so
that it enters the opening of the furnace and closes the same when the front part
of the receptacle is flush with the opening. The strips forming the bottom of the'
receptacle then fall open, as they have no bars beneath them, as when supported
upon the rectangular frame, and the fuel is permitted to fall upon the fire. By
means of the handle aforementioned the strips are then raised into a horizontal
position and the receptacle withdrawn. The feeding appliance can then be moved
in front of the next furnace and the action be repeated."
In order to prevent the fuel from clogging the receptacle a screen may be placed
over it if desired.
The whole apparatus can be raised out of position, or be readily removed if
desired to clean out the furnaces.
Dated this 4th day of February 1896.
:
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in, Apparatus for Feeding Fuel to Furnaces.
I, ADELBERT OSWALD MÜLLER, of Fremont, Nebraska, U.S.A., Inventor, 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:-
The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved feeding device
more especially designed for use with boilers and arranged to introduce the. fuel in

page_text: a very simple manner and to distribute the same uniformly in the fire box to insure
proper combustion and regular heating of the boiler.
The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a side
elevation of the same with the boiler front in section.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement as applied and with the
fuel carrier within the fire box in the discharging position. Fig. 5 is a plan view
of the same. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6-6 of
Fig. 4; and
Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the fuel carrier, shewing the bottom sections
journalled in bearings.
The boiler on which the device is applied is provided at its front end A with the
usual charge doors A', A 2, hinged at their upper ends to swing inwardly into the
fire box of the boiler. It is however preferable to provide additional trap doors
directly opposite and behind the doors A' A 2. These additional doors are
hinged to a framework on the inside of the lining (which is preferably cou-
structed of firebrick) and prevent the front doors from being warped by the
heat. Under the doors A¹, A 2, is secured to the outside of the front A, a rail B,
adapted to be engaged by hooks C formed on the inuer end of a frame C having
braces or legs C2 adapted to rest on the front A, as is plainly illustrated in the
drawings, so as to support the frame C in a horizontal position in alignment or
nearly in alignment with the bottom part of the feeding door.
The frame C is provided on its sides with guideways C 3 in which are fitted to
slide the sides D¹ of a fuel carrier D, made in the shape of a box at its front end
by raising a cross piece D 2 between the sides a suitable distance from the outer
end. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) The bottom of the box is formed in sections D3.
having trunnions D4 and D 5, of which the trunnions D4 are journalled in the
outer end of the box, (while the other trunnions D are journalled in the
crosspiece or partition D', as plainly illustrated in the drawings. The sections D³,
when closed, overlap, at their free ends, the pivot of the next following section,
so as to form a continuous closed bottom, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 3, to support
the fuel.
When the carrier D is in the outermost position, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, then
the free ends of the sections D³ rest on cross rods or rollers C, held in the sides of
the frame C, to prevent the said sections from opening as long as the fuel carrier is
in an outermost position.
Each of the trunnions D projects to the front of the partition D', and carries
at its outer end a pinion F in mesh with a rack G, mounted to slide transversely in
a bearing De, formed on the partition D2. One of the trunnions D' is extended
beyond its pinion F, and is formed with a square or oblique end to receive a crank
arm E, which, when turned, causes a simultaneous opening and closing of the
sections D, as the latter are all connected with each other by their pinions F and
the rack G.
As illustrated in Fig: 7 the trunnions D and D of the bottom sections D may
be journalled in the bearings H, pressed on. by springs. I, so as to yieldingly
mount the sections to permit the same to turn or yield transversely so that large
lumps of fuel can pass between the adjacent sections.
The operation is as follows:-When it is desired to introduce fuel into the fire
box, say through the door. A', then the frame C is shifted on the rail B to bring
the frame in alignment with the lower part of the door opening, as illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2. The fuel carrier is then in an outermost position with the sections D'

page_text: of its bottom in a closed position to permit of filling of the fuel' carrier with the
desired amount of fuel to be introduced into the fire box. When this has been
done the operator pushes on the outer end of the fuel carrier B, so as to move the
latter inwardly, whereby the door A' is opened and the box part of the fuel carrier
passes within the fire box, and when pushed into the fire box the full length, then
the end D' of the carrier fills the door-opening to prevent outer air from entering.
the fire box, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The outer portion of the said fuel.
carrier is now still in contact with the frame C, and consequently the fuel carrier
is supported thereby. The weight of the fuel on the sections D³ will now cause.
the same to open, as the said sections are no longer supported by the rollers C of
the frame C, the said sections D³ now swinging into a lowermost position, as
illustrated in Fig. 6. The fuel now passes between the open sections onto the
already burning fuel in the fire box. The fuel is evenly distributed within the fire
box, and consequently a low fire can be maintained in all parts of the fire box. As.
soon as the fuel is discharged the operator turns the crank arın E, so as to cause
the sections D to swing back into their approximately horizontal position, and
then the fuel carrier is pulled outward to permit the charge door A' to close again.
The frame C with the fuel carrier in an outermost position, is now shifted along
the rail B to the next charge door A, and then the fuel is placed into the box
of the fuel carrier after which the above described operation is repeated, that is,
the fuel carrier D is pushed inwards through the charge door A2 into the fire box,
and as soon as the hinged sections are released they swing open to permit the fuel
to drop into the fire box. The carrier is then closed at its bottom and pulled out
of the fire box.
In case of cleaning the fire box, the whole apparatus can be boisted and swung
upward to give access to the fire box for the purpose mentioned.
It will be seen that by the arrangement described, no heat whatever can escape
from the fire box, as the operation of charging or delivering the fuel is accomplished
in a very short time, and the doors A¹ and A' instantly close on removing the fuel
box from the fire box. It is further understood that the fireman cannot fill the
fire box higher than the lower edges of the sections -D at the time the latter are
open, as shewn in Fig. 6, so that considerable fuel is saved, as only a low fire can
be maintained. Furthermore the fireman is protected from the heat, as the latter
cannot escape from the fire box.
If two holes, for instance under a boiler are fired, it will be required to fire each
hole about once in fifteen minutes. It requires, say, one minute to fire each hole,
making about eight minutes an hour in which the doors stand open in the old way
of firing, making a total of one hundred and ninety two minutes in twenty four
hours, or three hours and twelve minutes. Assuming that ten boilers are in use,
the time in which the doors remain open in the ordinary way of firing amounts to
thirty two hours. It is evident from these facts that in this mode of firing nine
boilers will fully do the work, where it formerly required ten boilers to do the
work in the old way, and two men, not necessary practical firemeu, can easily fire
ten boilers.
To prevent clogging of the fuel prior to discharging it into the fire box, I prefer
to use a screen having a frame and bars running one way parallel, as shewn in
dotted lines, in Fig. 2. This screen is placed on top of the fuel carrier upon which
the coal is cast when loading the carrier, the bars being as far apart as the hinged
sections are when opened. Therefore any coal larger than the opening on the
hinged sections will remain on top of the screen, which can be removed before
pushing the carrier into the fire box, and thus prevent the coal from clogging in
the hinged sections of the fuel carrier. By the use of this screen the springs in
the hinged sections of the carrier can be dispensed with, as the clogging of the
coal has been overcome, and, therefore, it is not necessary that the hinged sections
should spread to allow coal to drop through when clogged between said hinged
sections.

page_text: . 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.) A fuel feeding apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be secured to a
boiler in front of the firing door so as to be stationary relatively thereto, and a fuel
carrier supported on the said stationary frame and fitted to slide thereon to pass.
into the fire box, substantially as described.
(2.) A fuel feeding apparatus comprising a frame provided with attaching,
devices whereby it may be secured to the boiler in front of the firing door so
as to be stationary relatively thereto, and a fuel carrier fitted to slide on the.
said stationary frame to pass into the fire box substantially as described.
(3.) The combination of the furnace having the firing door and a rail
adjacent thereto, the frame provided with hooks adapted to engage the said
rail and support the frame in front of the firing door, and the fuel carrier
fitted to slide on the frame to pass into the fire box, substantially as described.
(4.) The combination of the supporting frame secured to the boiler directly in
front of the firing door, the fuel carrying box fitted to slide on the said frame,
the pivoted bottom sections having pinions on their trunnions exteriorly of the
box, and a connection between the pinions to cause them to move in unison
substantially as described.
(5.) A fuel feeding apparatus, provided with a fuel carrier having a bottom made
in sections, and yieldingly mounted bearings carrying the trunnioned ends of the
said sections, substantially as shewn and described.
(6.) The combination with a furnace fitted with the herein described fuel feeding
apparatus, of an additional inner door to prevent the outer door from warping
substantially as described.
Dated this 20th don of Santamber 1896
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.