Improvements in Furnaces for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Furnaces for Steam Boilers.
I, EMIL EFRAN, of 1, Leopoldshof, Brünn, in the Empire of Austria, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The subject of the present invention is a mechanical arrangement for feeding
the combustible and for the charging of the fire grate, or a mechanical stoker,
with an automatic regulator operated by the pressure in the boiler.
The arrangement for feeding and charging comprises a hopper arranged above
a casing or box placed on the front part of the furnace and occupying the
entire breadth of this latter; a truck or waggon formed of a plate mounted upon
rollers running upon the upper face of this box or casing, being capable of
having a reciprocating movement imparted to it by means of two connecting
rods the heads of which form eyes or rings in each of which rotates an eccentric
keyed upon a shaft mounted parallel to the front face of the furnace, and
receiving motion through a pulley to which is coupled a loose pulley, by means
of any suitable transmission gearing. The truck or waggon, at each of its
courses or journeys, uncovers the lower orifice of the hopper, and a certain
amount of combustible falls out through an aperture formed throughout the
entire length of the above mentioned box or casing. Upon a curved plate
mounted at the front part of the furnace, this combustible falls down, and
slides upon a plate placed at the head of the fire-bars of the grate of the furnace,
at the level of this plate are provided several horizontal slides, occupying together
the entire width of the grate, and capable of sliding upon the said plate, each of
these slides having imparted to it a to and fro or reciprocating movement by
means of a rod or stem guided horizontally, and the extremity of which is pro-
vided with a pivot which engages in a groove formed in an eccentric plate
keyed upon the herein above mentioned shaft. The above mentioned movement
of the slides serves to constantly push the combustible, which falls from the
curved plate, upon the head of the bars of the grate. These latter are arranged
in steps, the bars in couples being capable of having a horizontal to and fro or
reciprocating movement imparted to them, by means of connecting rods jointed
on the one hand to a gudgeon fixed to each of the said couples of bars, and on
the other hand to an extension of an elliptical eye on the interior of which moves
an eccentric keyed upon the hereinabove mentioned shaft. The combustible
pushed by the slides and carried away by the movable fire bars, traverses the
entire length of the grate, the fire bars of which are supported loosely at their
rear extremities by a transverse piece or bearer, behind which is situated a
small grate upon which the combustible not consumed finally falls and finishes
burning, this last mentioned grate can be drawn forward under the first, in
order to cause the ashes to fall into the ash pit.
The apparatus is so arranged that the above described feeding or stoking of
the combustible will take place so long as the steam in the boiler does not
surpass a given pressure. The moment that this pressure is passed, a, regulator

page_text: causes the transmission strap or belt operating the above named shaft to be
shifted from the fixed pulley to the loose pulley, stopping in this manner the
feed and the movement of the slides and of the movable bars.
.
This regulator consists of a cylinder connected with the steam boiler and in
communication at its lower part, with the water chamber of that steam boiler,
and open at its upper part. This cylinder is provided with two radially arranged
tubes the one in front of or facing the other. In this cylinder a piston of a
certain length is capable of moving, the rod or stem of which is jointed or
coupled to a lever of the second kind carrying at its extremity a counterweight,
the said piston having two ways or passages, the one passing diametrically
through it and in the plane of the two tubes of the cylinder and the other drilled
or formed in a line with the axis of the piston and being bent or elbowed at
right angles so as to be rendered even with the cylindrical wall of the said piston,
this way or passage starting from the lower face of this latter.
So long as the pressure remains normal in the steam boiler, the piston will
remain at the bottom of the cylinder and the above mentioned two tubes are in
juxta position the one to the other, when this pressure surpasses the desired
degree, the water of the boiler having a pressure superior to the above mentioned
counter balance weight, causes the piston to rise. The curved tube or passage
then establishes communication between the cylinder and one of the tubes,
which is connected with a cvlinder the piston of which is in connection by
means of a lever, with a sliding rod or stem carrying a fork embracing the
driving belt of the apparatus. The water under pressure causes the said piston
to move as also the lever and rod or stem, and the belt is pushed upon the loose
pulley.
When the pressure in the steam boiler falls again or returns to its normal
condition, the piston of the first cylinder above mentioned again descends, and
the two tubes of that cylinder finding themselves again in communication allow
the water contained in the second cylinder to escape, the piston of this latter
again falls and the belt is brought back upon the fixed pulley which results in
the feeding of the combustible again taking place.
The lever operated by the second piston, at the same time that it pushes the
rod or stem of the striking gear or disengaging mechanism, closes the draught
damper or register of the furnace. It opens it when the piston again descends.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1899.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Furnaces for Steam Boilers.
I, EMIL EFRAN, of No. 1, Leopoldshof, Brünn, Austria, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to an apparatus for charging and feeding fuel to fire-
grates of boilers and the like, in connection with a regulator, automatically
actuated by the pressure of the steam generated in the boiler to which the
apparatus is applied.
In the annexed drawing:

page_text: a long
Section,
Fig. 3 a side-view of the apparatus; 1.
Fig. 4 & 5 are detail views of organs of the feeding device;
Fig. 6, 7 & 8 are views showing the regulator;
Fig. 9 & 10 show a slight modification of the actuating means of the slides.
The feeding.device consists essentially of a carriage W, moving backwards and
forwards under the funnel T, secured to the mountings F of the grate, and the
movements of which are effected. by means of two levers H'. and H³, actuated
by the shaft W3. The device for moving forward. the fuel consists of a series
of slides Sch, arranged, at intervals, over the whole width of the grate and
coming out at the opening H, provided in the mountings before referred to.
These slides are actuated by eccentric pulleys and continually push the fuel
forward on to a plate P and thence on to the movable fire-bars R', the move-
ment of which, in conjunction with that of the slides, sends the fuel forward on-
the grating. In this way, the fuel is submitted,, before combustion, to a dry
partial distillation. The gases evolved pass over the fuel at the back of the
fire-grate, thus consuming the smoke and effecting a more complete combustion.
The charging and feeding device continues to operate as long as the steam
pressure in the boiler does not exceed a certain limit. When however, this
pressure exceeds the fixed limit, the regulator comes into action. This regulator
consists of a weighted piston, actuated by water under pressure from the boiler,
allowing this water to pass under a second piston, the motion of which disen-
gages the shaft W, that actuates the device for feeding and moving forward
the fuel, whilst at the same time, it closes the damper of the flues. The parts
remain in this position until the pressure, in the boiler, falls below the fixed
limit, whereupon the said shaft again begins to revolve. The feeding and fuel-
moving devices work in the following manner:-The shaft. W³, actuated by
means of a strap arranged on the pulley R', is provided with a series of eccen-
tric EE, having grooves n. (Fig. 5),, in which the pivot Ze of a shaft Sp
engages. This shaft is screwed in the slide Sch, which moves in a corresponding
recess in the mountings. When the shaft W3 revolves, the slides have a recipro-
cating movement, communicated to them by the eccentrics, in the direction of
the length of the grating, so that they will continually and slowly push forward
the fuel, which falls from the loading or filling funnel, on to the inclined
plate P3, rolling in front of the said slides over the forward plate P* on to the
movable fire-bars. To relieve the slides from the strain of pressure necessary
to transport the fuel to the front plate of the grate and on to the fire-bars, as
well as to thoroughly ensure the forward movement of the fuel, the fire-bars
are provided with small steps, each alternate bar moving longitudinally, the
parts being so arranged that the steps of the movable fire-bars advance, relatively
to the steps on the stationary fire-bars, by a distance somewhat less than the
length of their course, so as to arrive, at the end of each stroke, a little behind
the next step of the stationary bar. These steps, therefore, with each stroke of
the movable bars, impel the fuel forward, depositing it behind the steps of
the stationary bars, upon which it is retained during the next forward movement.
of the movable bars."
To effect the movement of the alternate bars, the forward end of each movable
fire-bar fits over the shaft W carrying two rollers, or wheels R, running on
rails Sch¹ Sch, secured to the lower part of the grate mountings. The rear
ends of the said bars rest on another shaft Wa arranged on the rear support Re
of the grating. The support formed by the shaft W and the wheels R' is
actuated as follows:-The excentric hubs of the end cams, E¹ and E, are con-
nected with the levers H2 H', which turn on pivots 72, fixed in the mountings
and engage, by means of elongated or longitudinal slots, or eyes A2, A4, the
said hubs, said levers being joined at the lower end by connecting-rods St St³, to
the shaft W of the said support. When the fuel reaches the end of this grating,
it falls on a second grate R" where the combustion of the fuel which is not

page_text: completely burned, will be hastened. When this grate is drawn forward by
means of a hook inserted in the eye A, the fuel, lying upon it, will fall into
the space below the grate R", whence it can be withdrawn, as desired; the
stationary bars rest, in front, on the fixed support Rt and, behind, on the
support R
Instead of actuating the slides Sch by means of the cams E¹, E, and causing
the rods of the slides to engage circular grooves in said cams, I provide said
rods B (Fig. 9 & 10) with elongated eyes Ax, embracing cams E. The hub N,
the side plate Px and the cam-disk E are made integral with one another. The
side plate Py is secured by means of screws s, said plates Pc, Py, serving to hold
the rod-eye Ax in the vertical plane.
Under the loading funnel, is provided a small carriage W, the wheels R¹-R³
of which, run on the upper plate P of the mountings. The side and rear walls
of this funnel extend to the plate P₁ of the said carriage whilst the front wall
terminates at a certain height above this plate. When the carriage reaches
its extreme forward position, it closes the lower opening of the funnel and its
front edge K extends to a certain distance (according to the nature of the
fuel used) beyond the front wall of the funnel.
In consequence of this arrangement, the fuel settles on the carriage, with a
certain slope or incline. Now, when the carriage is moved back, the fuel de-
posited thereon will fall, through the opening Sp provided in the upper plate
of the mountings, upon the inclined plate P³, down which the fuel rolls till it
arrives in front of the feed-slides. When the carriage moves forward again,
it takes with it the fuel lying in front, and fresh fuel will fall on the carriage
from the funnel.
The motion of the carriage is effected as follows:-
To the carriage-plate are secured two bars St¹ S³, the forward ends of which
form slide-heads GP GP, which slide in grooves formed in the side-walls of the
mountings. The slide-heads are provided with pins Z Z3, which fit into the
eyes of the levers H¹ H³ which also turn on the pivot Z3 of the levers H³ H+.
The lower ends of the levers H1, H3, also provided with elongated eyes, engage
eccentric sockets n¹ n³, keyed on the drive shaft W³. In this manner, the
shaft W3 imparts a reciprocating movement to the carriage.
The chief part of the regulator is a piston o (Figs. 7 & 8), working in the
cylinder O open at the top and secured to the rear wall of the boiler or any
other stationary part. This piston is provided with two holes I, II, the former
of which passes through it in the line of its diameter, whilst the latter is a per-
foration at right angles thereto. The cylinder 0¹ communicates, through a
channel III, with the water-chamber of the boiler, so that water under pressure
may enter beneath the piston O. The latter is loaded by means of a weighted
lever 03. The weight Or is regulated, in such a manner that with normal
pressure in the boiler, the piston O will be equilibrated (Figs. 7 & 8) in which
position, the hole I corresponds to the two nozzles 03 04 of the cylinder 01, to
bring these nozzles into connection. The nozzle 03 is connected, by a tube p
with the nozzle 22, provided at the lowest point of the cylinder 2 (Fig. 6). In
this cylinder, works a piston q the rod q¹ of which, is jointed at its outer end,
to a lever r. The upper end of this lever is connected by the hinge s2 to the
bar s¹, which slides within stationary guides ss and carries the fork serving to
displace the strap not shewn. The lever is also connected with the guide t,
pivoted at t, the use of which is to guide the action of the hinge s in the direction
of the bar s¹, when the lever r is shifted.
The regulator operates as follows:-
When the steam-pressure exceeds a certain limit, the over-pressure, acting on
the water in the boiler, forces the piston O upwards, till it is arrested by the
stop of the weighted lever 02. In this movement, the horizontal part of the
hole II registers with the nozzle 03, allowing the water to pass from the boiler
by way of the tube 21 to the bottom of the piston q causing the latter to rise and

page_text: shift the strap of the drive-pulley, on to the loose pulley, so that the shaft W³,
and consequently the fuel-moving and feeding devices, will thereupon cease to
operate.
When the lever is moved, a finger, not shewn secured to its rear end, will
lift the counter-weight of the damper and consequently close it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In an apparatus of the class described, distinguished by a series of slides
arranged along the whole width of the fire-grate and actuated by eccentrics,
the said slides pushing the fuel forward and so causing it to fall on the inclined
bottom-plate of the grate-mountings and thence slowly on to the fire-bars, the
said slides ceasing to move as soon as the pressure in the boiler exceeds a certain
limit.
2. In an apparatus of the class described, the fire-bars, provided with steps
formed on their upper faces, each alternate bar being movable in the direction
of its length, which movement is affected by reason of said movable bars being
supported, at their rear ends on the shaft Wa, their forward ends being fitted
on the shaft of a support, provided with wheels running on rails, secured to the
grate-mountings, this support being actuated by levers H2 H fulcrumed on a
pivot and provided with elongated eyes A2 A+, which engage the eccentric
hubs of the cams E E, the. lower ends of the said levers being connected to
the shaft of the said support, by the rods St St³.
3. In an apparatus of the class described, the device for conveying fuel from
the loading funnel and which consists of a carriage provided with wheels R¹ R³,
running on the upper plate P of the grate-mountings, this carriage, during its
return course, discharging the fuel deposited upon it at a certain inclination, the
reciprocating motion of the said carriage being affected by means of two levers H¹
H fulcrumed on the pivot Z2 and connected at their upper ends to the carriage,
and at their lower ends, to eccentric sockets n n keyed on the drive-shaft W
4. In an apparatus of the class described, a regulator consisting of two
separate cylinders connected by a tube p¹, one of which contains a piston O with
two perforations, the said piston being moved, when the pressure in the boiler
exceeds a certain fixed limit, to allow water from the boiler to pass under the
piston g of the second cylinder, thus causing the last named piston, by a con-
nection rt, q', to put the feeding and fuel-moving device out of gear and at the
same time to close the flue-damper, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1900.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.