US1371498A

US1371498A - Locomotive-stoker

Info

Publication number: US1371498A
Application number: US247761A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nathan M Lower
Original assignee: LOCOMOTIVE STOKER CO
Current assignee: LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Co
Priority date: 1918-08-01
Filing date: 1918-08-01
Publication date: 1921-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1938-03-15

Description

N. M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER, APPLICATION FILED AUG- I. 1918. RENEWED AUG- 6. 1920.

1,371,498, Pa ented Mar. 15,1921.

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LOCOMOTIVE STOKER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 191a; RENEWED we. as, 1920.

Patented Mar. 15; 1921.

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Patenwd Mar. 15, 1921.

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vN. My LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER. APPLICATION FILED AUG- 1, 1918. RENEWED AUG. 6, 1920.

1,371,498; Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN M. LOWER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO LOCOMOTIVE STOKER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented iWIar. 15, 1921.

Application filed August 1, 1918, Serial No. 247,761. Renewed August 6, 1920. Serial No. 401,825.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NATHAN M. LOWER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Stokers, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. 7

The invention relates to improvements in locomotive stokers of the type shown in my pending application Serial No. 863,622, in which the fuel, after being transferred from the tender, is elevated throu h the locomotive cab by means of screw conveyers in order that it may be discharged into the fire-box, power being applied to the transferring and conveying devices b means of pawl and ratchet mechanism. atter somewhat analogous to that claimed herein is disclosed in my former application Serial No. 48,619, filed Sept. 2, 1915, and in a division thereof Serial No. 149,564, filed Feby. 19, 1917.

The present improvements relate to various details, including the means for controlling the ratchet and pawl mechanism, the conduit within which the elevating screw is housed, the mounting of the screw within the conduit, and the screw itself, as hereinafter particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the stoker as attached to the back head of the fire-box of the locomotive, some parts being removed;

Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section of the lower portion of the elevating conduit and screw;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the upper portion of the elevator;

Figs. 4: and 5 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 4-4 and 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the reverse controlling plate.

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional detail at the base of the elevating section of the stoker, the view being taken on. the line 99 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a detail of'the fuel stirring device at the upper end of the elevating screws.

Theback head of the fire-box of a locomotive is shown at 15, the usual hand firing door opening being indicated at 16. A suitably configured box-like casting 17 is located below the deck of the locomotive cab, and is provided with a rearwardly facing aperture 18 to which the transfer conduit (not shown), leading forwardly from the tender, delivers and through which rise the elevating conduits, here shown as two in number and designated, respectively, as 19, 20. While the invention is shown in connection with a stoker having a lurality of elevating conduits, the several eatures are equally applicable to a stoker having but a single conduit.

Within each of the elevating conduits, as 19, there is housed a conveyin screw 21, the lower end of which extends into the chamber of the casting 17, the walls of this casting forming a continuation of the conduit, such extension, however, being open,

' as indicated at 22, to permit the delivery of fuel through the opening 18 to the screw. The shaft 23 of the screw 21 is tubular and is loosely sleeved upon a drive shaft 24:, the upper end of which extends beyond the end of the conduit and the lower end of which extends through and beyond the castin 1? and is journaled in a bracket 25 depending from the casting 17.

A reciprocating engine 26, suitably mounted on the locomotive below the cab deck, is provided for driving the stoker. The piston rod 27 of this motor is attached to a rack bar having a set of gear teeth 28, which cooperates with a pinion 29 keyed upon the lower end of the shaft 24. This rack-bar is also provided with a second set of teeth cooperating with a pinion 30 fixed upon a shaft 31, for driving a conveyer (not shown) for transferring fuel to the chamber of the casting 17.

The shafts 23 and 24: are both supported upon an instanding flange 32 at the upper end of the conduit 19, in the following mannerz-A chambered head 33 rests and turns upon the flange 32, a wear plate 3 1 being interposed between these two parts. The bottom of the head 33 is provided with a depending annular flange 35, which fits tightly upon the upper end of the shaft 23,

A. ratchet wheel 37, having a drive fit upon the shaft 24, rests and turns upon the bottom of the head 33, an annular wear plate 38 being interposed between these two parts. The wheel 37 is locked to the shaft 24 also by means of a ring 39 fitted within a circumferential groove in the shaft and overlapping the upper face of the wheel. A. bushing 40, fitted within the upper end of the'shaft 23, forms a lateral bearing for the shaft 24.

Within the head 33 there are pivoted two pairs of spring-

advanced pawls

41, 42, which cooperate with the ratchet wheel 37 as many of such pairs of pawls being employed as may be desired. The springs may be applied to these pawls in any suitable manner, as shown each pair is provided with a helical spring 43 connecting the two pawls and urging both toward the teeth of the wheel. The shaft 24 is rotated in opposite directions or oscillated by the out and in strokes, respectively, of the motor iston and the rack-bar attached thereto. he pawls of each pair are alternatively engaged with the ratchet wheel, and consequently the head 33, and with it the screw 21, are turned intermittently for either raising or depressing the fuel within the conduit. If both pawls are disengaged from the ratchet wheel there is, of course, no movement of the screw.

The pawls of each pair are manually con trolled by means of a flange or plate 44, ex-

tending between them and depending from a plate 45 rotatably mounted on top of the.

head 33, and having an upstanding annular flange 46, loosely sleeved upon the projecting end 47 of the shaft 24,an annular grip member 48 being mounted upon this flange. Each of the plates 44 is provided with an oblique slot 49, into which projects a pin 50 extending inwardly from the side wall of the head 33. As the plate 45 is raised and lowered it is partially turned by the cammin action of the studs 50 upon the walls of t e slots 49. By reason of this turning movement of the plate 45 the plates 44 force one or the other of the pawls of each pair out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, a partial raising of the late holding both pawls out of service. hen the plate 45 occupies its lowest position, as in Fig. 8, the pawls 41 are in serviceand the screw 21 is gurped in the direction for elevating the When it is desired to stop the action of the screw the plate 45 is partially raised and may be held in that position by a s ringadvanced stud 51 carr ed by it and a apted nevaeee to enter an annular channel 52 inthe shaft 24. The end of the stud 51 is rounded, and the channel 52 is transversely concave in order that pressure in either direction upon the grip member 48 will disengage the stud from the channel. Inasmuch as it is rarely necessary to reverse the direction of the elevating screw except momentarily, it is not essential to provide a second channel for cooperating with the stud 51 to hold the plate 45 in its fully elevated position. The head 33 is provided with a cover plate 53 upon which the plate 45 rides, and which is secured to the head by means of bolts, as 54.

Each of the elevating conduits, as 19, 20, discharges laterally through a delivery nozzle, as '55, which enters the fire-box through a suitable aperture in the back head 15.

To prevent the fuel from packing in the upper end of the conduit, and to facilitate its delivery therefrom, the upper end of the screw, as 21., is provided with a plurality of stirrers taking the form of fingers 01' plates, and preferably with an inverted conical shield which deflects thefuel laterally and guards the bearing of the flan e 35 of the head 33 from dust and dirt. his shield is shown at 56 and may be simply a collar fitted u on the upper end of the screw shaft 23. Tile stirrers are shown in the form'of plates 57 depending from the in- As shown, theclined face of the shield. shield is formed of two semi-circular elements, each having a depending plate, as 57, at each end, the plates of the two sections being bolted together, as indicated at 58, for rigidly attaching the device to the screw shaft.

It is found in practice that extraneous matter, such as bits of iron, frequently spikes, intermixed with the fuel clogs the screw elevator by lodging between its rim and the wall of the conduit. Such a foreign substance is apt to be carried up by the lower turns of the screw, following the side margin of the aperture 22, until it meets the upper margin thereof, when, if of substantial size, it will either stop the screw or break the conduit. Itbecomes necessary to 'remove such articles by gaining access to the interior of the conduit, and for this purpose it is desirable to provide an easily removable closure for a lateral aperture in the conduit, and it is also important that the obstruction be caught in the vicinity of this aperture. I

These objects are accomplished'by providing the conduit 19 with a longitudinal aperture 59, so locatedas to be convenient of access. As shown in the drawings, it is at the side of the conduit which is remote from the back'head 15 of the fire-box. This aperture. preferably extends from the juncture of the conduit with the casting 17 to a point oppo site the discharge opening from which the fuel is delivered to the fire-box. A cover plate 60 is provided for this aperture, and while being suitably attached-the element of strength being considered-is easily removable. As shown it is held at its upper end by a screW-bolt setting through a lug 61, and is secured at its lower end by clips, as 62. 62. The plate 60 is also preferably provided with a sight aperture 63 at its supper end. which may be conveniently closed become intermixed with the fuel in such manner as to cause no further trouble. If. however the piece clings to. the screw flange :it is caught by the farther side wall of the aperture 51, which takes the form of a shoulder 65, and may follow this shoulder to its upper end without materially impeding the action of the Stoker. Arriving at the upper end of the aperture 59 it may be of sufficient. resistance to stop the engine. The sight aperture 63 may be utilized for discovering the cause of the trouble and its removal. or the plate 60 may be quickly disconnected to accomplish this purpose. Any extraneous matter which may work in between the screw flange and the conduit above the lower end of the latter will also be caught by the shoulder 65 in a similar manner.

Under certain conditions of the fuel it is found in practice that the frictional resistance between the fuel and the vane-of the screw exceeds the friction developed between the ascending mass of fuel and the conduit wall, with the result that the entire mass revolves with the screw withoutbeing advanced. This is particularly true when the fuel is comparatively fine and contains an excessive amount of moisture. The sl'ioulder 65 overcomes this difiiculty, as the fuel will enter the channel provided by offsetting outwardly the cover plate 60, and the shoulder has the effect of augmenting the surface resistance. thereby relatively increasing it beyond that of the frictional resistance upon the screw flange.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and l0, there is illustrated mechanism for intermittently and reversibly driving the shaft of a transferring conveyer (not shown) for supplying fuel to the elevating conduits. This mechanism, while substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 4. 5, 6 and 8, is somewhat differently organized. The

rack-bar attached to the piston rod 27, in addition to the set of teeth 28, is provided with a second-series of gear teeth 66, which cooperate with the pinion 30 mounted upon the short horizontal shaft 31, journaled in a suitable box 67 mounted on the frame of the locomotive and provided at its farther end with a ratchet wheel 68. A casing 69 incloses the ratchet wheel and is provided with an annular flange 70, journaled upon the shaft 31, a suitable bushing 71 being interposed between these parts. To the outer end of the casing 69 there is bolted a cover plate 7:2, preferably provided with a central stem 73 journaled in an aperture in the end of the shaft 31. and having upon its outer face a portion 74 of the shaft to be driven. here shown as one element of a universal joint.

Spring pawls mounted within the casing 69 cooperate with the ratchet wheel 68. These pawls, as T5. 76, are arranged in pairs, three pairs being shown. The pawls of each pair are so mounted as to drive the ratchet wheel in reverse directions. The spring for urging them toward the wheel may be mounted in any suitable manner. For this purpose there is shown a. helical spring 77, reacting between them. Associated with each pair of pawls is a lifting plate 78, having an oblique slot 79, as in the case of the plates 44. into which projects a pin set ting through the side wall of the casing 69. The several pawl lifting plates. as 78, extend through apertures in the radial wall of the casing 69. and are formed integral with a collar 81 sleeved and slidable upon the flange T0. The collar 81 is annularly channeled. as shown at 82, to receive studs 83 formed on the yoke arms 8% of a shipper lever 85 which may be conveniently positioned for hand control. any suitable means (not shown) being provided for holding the lever in any of its adjusted positions.

In the position of the parts as shown in the drawings. the pawl 76 for driving the ratchetwheel (38 in'the direction to advance the fuel is in service; the pawl 75 being held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by the plate 78. Outward movement of the plate 78 causes it to be cammed by the pin 80 in the direction to withdraw the pawl 76 and permit the advance of the pawl 75. In the intermediate position of the pawl-controlling plate both pawls are out of service and the ratchet wheel remains at rest. Further withdrawal of the plate 78 permits the pawl 75 to engage the ratchet wheel and drive it in the reverse direction.

Normally all the fuel-advancing mechanism is operated in unison. Should the fuel feed to the elevating conduits exceed their capacity. the shaft Tet is stopped by partially withdrawing the plate 78. Should the fuel feed through one of the elevating conduits be excessive, the conveyer therein may be stopped by disengaging its actuating means connecting the drive shaft with the screw, the screw and drive shaft being suspended from the upper end of the conduit.

2. Ina locomotive stoker, a fuel elevator comprising, in combination, awconduit, an elevating screw housed within the conduitand having a hollow shaft, a drive shaft inclosed within the screw shaft and suspended from the upper end of the conduit, and connection between the drive shaft and screw.

3. In a locomotive Stoker, a fuel elevator comprising, in combination, a conduit, having a bearing surface at its upper end, an elevating screw within the conduit and having a hollow shaft, a chambered head rotatably mounted on the upper end of the conduit and being fixed to the screw shaft, an oscillating drive shaft journaled within the screw shaft and projecting beyond the upper end thereof, a ratchet wheel fixed upon the projecting end of the drive shaft and supported upon the bottom of the head, and pawls carried by the head and cooperating with the wheel.

4. In a locomotive stoker, a fuel elevator comprising, in combination, a conduit, an elevating screw within the conduit and having a hollow shaft, a rotatable head at the upper end of the conduit fixed to the conveyer shaft, an oscillating drive shaft within the screw shaft, a ratchet wheelfixed upon the drive shaft and inclosed within the head, and a pair of spring-advanced oppositely facing pawls pivoted to the wall of the head and cooperating in alternation.

In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a fuel conveyer, an oscillating drive shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to one of such named members, a pawl carrier fixed to the other of such elements, a pair of oppositely facing spring-advanced pawls mounted on the carrier and cooperating in alternation with the ratchet wheel, a reciprocable plate mounted on the carrier and being located between the pawls and engageable therewith and having a slot oblique to the direction of its movement, and a pin fixed in the carrier and projecting into the slot.

6. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, an elevating conduit, a screw conveyor laterally as it reciprocates.

nevraee housed within the conduit and having a hollow shaft, an oscillating drive shaft within the hollow shaft and projecting beyond the same, a ratchet wheel fixed on the drive shaft, a pawl carrier fixed to the conveyer shaft, a pair of oppositely facing springadvanced pawls mounted in the carrier and cooperating with the wheel, a cap sleeved on the drive shaft and having a plate projecting between and engaging the pawls and provided with an oblique slot, and a pin fixed in the carrier and entering the slot.

7. In a locomotive Stoker, in combination, a screw conveyer for advancing fuel, an oscillating shaft for driving the screw, a ratchet wheel on one of said members, a pair of oppositely facing spring pawls associated with the other of said members and cooperating in alternation with the ratchet wheel, a plate interposed between and engageable with the pawls and being reciprocable transverse to the plane of their movement, and means for camming the plate 8. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a screw conveyer for advancing fuel, an os-. cillating shaft for driving the screw, a ratchet wheel on one of said members, a pair of oppositely facing spring pawls asso ciated with the other of said members and cooperating inalternation with the ratchet wheel, a plate interposed between and engage-able with the pawls, a collar sleeved upon the drive shaft and carrying the plate, and cam means for moving the plate laterallv as it is advanced and withdrawn by the sliding of the collar on the shaft.

9. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a screw conveyer for advancing fuel, an os- (-illating shaft for driving the screw, a ratchet wheel on one of said members, a pair of oppositely facing spring pawls associated with the other of said members and cooperating in alternation with the ratchet wheel, a plate interposed between and engageable with the pawls and having an oblique slot, a collar sleeved upon the drive shaft and carrying the plate, and a rela' tively fixed pin projecting into the slot.

10. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, an elevating screw, a conduit inclosing the screw and having a lateral opening, and a cover plate for the opening, the inner face of the plate being offset outwardly beyond the inner surface of the conduit wall whereby a shoulder is provided for arresting extraneous substances entered between the rim of the screw and the conduit wall.

11. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, an elevating screw, a conduit inclosing the screw and having a lateral opening exeraeea tion, a chambered body, a conduit rising from and open to the chamber of the body, the conduit having a longitudinal opening in its wall and the body having an internal shoulder in line with one margin of the opening, an elevating screw in the conduit and extending into the chamber of the body, and a cover plate for the longitudinal opening of the conduit and offset outwardly from the inner surface of the conduit.

13. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a fuel elevating screw, a laterally openable conduit inclosing the screw, and means for arrest-ing extraneous substances entered between the rim of the screw and the conduit Wall adjacent the lateral opening of the conduit.

14:. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a fuel elevating screw, a conduit inclosing the screw and having a longitudinal shoulder along its inner surface, a lateral opening adj aoent such shoulder, and a cover plate for the opening.

15. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a drive shaft, a ratchet Wheel secured to said Slllft, a pawl carrier surrounding said shaft, a pair of oppositely facing spring-advanced pawls mounted on the carrier and operating in alternation with the ratchet Wheel, a reciprocable plate mounted on the carrier and having a slot oblique to the direction of its movement, a pin fixed in the carrier and projecting into the slot, and means secured to the carrier to drive a conveyer screw.

NATHAN M. LOWER.