US1487332A - Reversing apparatus for heating furnaces - Google Patents

Description

March 18 1924.

G. 1H, ISLEY REVERSING APPARATUS FOR HEATING FURNACES l Filed Dec, 2s, 1913 :s sheets-sheet l.

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G. H. ISLEY REVERSINGVAPPARATUS F013 HEATING FURNAGES Filed Dec.

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March 18 1924. 1,487,332

G. H. lsLEY REVERSING APPARATUS FOR HEATING -FURNACES Filed nec. 26,v 1918 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ISLEY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 MORGAN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

REVERSING APPARATUS FOR HEATING FURNACES.

Application filed December 26, 19'18. Serial No. 268,391.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. IsLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in a Reversing Apparatus for eating Furnaces, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the apparatus which is used with the regenerative type offurnace for reversing the course through such a furnace of the burning gaseous fuel.

The present invention partakes, in part, of the principles of operation which characterize the reversing apparatus forming the subject matter of my United States Letters Patent No. 1,408,946, dated March 7, 1922. The present invention contemplates various novel and improved features in apparatus of this class, involving changes in the construction, arrangement, and mode of operation of the apparatus of my aforesaid Letters Patent, all of which improvements and changes are set forth in detail in the following description. In connection with said description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the reversing units which constitutes my invention.

Fig. Q is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, certain parts ybeing broken awayv to disclose more clearly the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating various applications of my invention to a regenerativeffurnace of well known type.

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the reversing apparatus.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

In my aforesaid Letters Patent there is disclosed the utilization in various forms of a selectively movable hood structure adapted to establish communication between different pairs of a series of alined flue terminals, and to be moved out of operative relation tol other flue terminals. Associated with certain of said flue terminals are swinging gravity-closed covers, each of which is adapted to be automatically opened by the movement of said hood structure into operative position with respect to its associated flue terminal. In said Letters Patent, various adaptations of the foregoingv principle to the reversal of combustion products in a furnace are illustrated; these range from the provision of three independent single hood structures, associated with three sets of coterminous furnace fiues, to the provision yof a four-part hood structure associated with a series of ten coterminous furnace lues.

The present invention is based upon the same principle, involving hood structures having a translatory motion, that is present in the invention of my aforesaid Letters Patent. As distinguished from the invention of said Letters Patent, the present invention contemplates a novel arrangement and disposition of parts whereby two compound hood structures, identical in all respects, are enabled to eect the operation of reversing a furnace, in such a manner as to permit the disposition of the reversing instrumentalities in close proximity to the regenerators of the furnace, thus simplifying and minimizing the construction of the flues. Other important objects and advantages of the present invention, including an operating mechanism for said hood structures, will be made clear as the description thereof proceeds.

As shown in the diagram of Fig. 5, which illustrates the application of my invention to a heating furnace,the heating furnace 1, of any well known type, is provided at it-s opposite ends with the usual gas regenerator passages 2, 2 and the usual adjacent air regenerator passages 3, 3', arranged in the manner common to devicesof this class. In the use of the duplicate reversing instrumentalities of my invention for such a furnace, five coterminous flues are arranged at each end ot the furnace, adjacent the respective regenerators, and a hood structure 1. et" is operativel;y disposed in connection with each set of Vline terminals. In each set ot said terminals.l as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the gas regenerator passages 2, 2 connect with gas regenerator lines 5, 5, and the air regenerator passages 3, 3 connect with air regenerator lines 6, 6. Between the air and gas regenerator fines 5, G and 5. G are disposed a pair of stack lines 7. T and 7. T. which are connected to a common stack passage 8. In alinement. with the tlue 'terminals above described are gas supply line terminals 9, 9; in Fig. 5 these and the adjacent gas regenerator terminals are disposed on the outside of the sets, while in Fig. 6. the arrangement is such that the gas lines are disposed on the inside ot eachset; it is obviously immaterial which arrangement is adopted.

Each of the duplicate reversing instrumentalities is of the construction shown in F .k 1, and 4, consisting essentiallv o'lr a pair ot hoods,` movable in unison, and each adapted to bridge over two adjacent tlue terminals olf its associated set, leaving alwa vs unbridged either the air '['lue 6, 6 or the gas tine 9, as the. case may be. It will be well understood that under `these conditions. with the reversing instrumentalities l. l in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and the passage of air and gas through the furnace 1 is from right to lett; when said instrumentalities are moved to their other positions, so as to cover the gas flue 9, and uncover the gas flue 9, the direction of the products of combustion through the furnace is reversed. The present invention is concerned with the provision of improved apparatus tor this purpose, together with a novel and etlicient operating mechanism tor such apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 3, a water seal casting l() is utilized to provide the several alincd tine terminals G, '7, T, and 9, which register with the corresponding passages provided in the lnickwork 11, the two terminals 7, i opening' from a single passage S. This water seal casting 10 provides a surrounding rim or flange 12, which is adapted to maintain a sul'licient depth of water around and between all of said flue terminals, as will be well understood. On opposite sides, near each end, the castingl 10 has bearing lugs or projections ill, which provide trunnions for the pivotal support oit bell crank levers 14, 14e, one near each ot the four corners ot the casting. @t these tour identical bell crank levers 1st, 1l, the two at one end of the casting are oppositelv disposed from those at the other end of the casting. In other words, in the position ot the parts shown in Fig. 2, the levers 11i at the lett hand end have their shorter arms directed downwardly, while the levers at the right hand end have their shorter arms directed upwardly.

The long arms ot these bell cranks 1l, 14 are utilized tor the movement: of a hood supporting structure 15, in the shape of a generallv rectangular framework, having a central transverse partition 1G. The sides and ends ot the structure 15 and also its partition 1li are provided with a depending flange 1T, that is adapted to dip beneath the Water in the casting 10 for the purpose of providing a seal, as hereinafter described. The structure 15 is adapted to support a pair of hoods 18, 18, which meet at the central transverse partition 1G of said structure. The snpptnling surface ot the structure 15, on which the edges of these hoods rest, is snitablv flanged, as at 19, 19', interiorly and exteriorlv, to make provision lor a sand seal or the like around the edges of said hoods, which prevents the escape of gas therefrom and at the same time makes said hoods rcadiljv and sej'nxrateljremovable, for the inspection and repair of the same or the parts that are covered thereby.

The structure 15 provides at each corner a lng 2') for the pivotal connection thereto ol" the long arms o'l" bell cranks 1l, la. These long arms of said bell cranks are parallel, and thus provision made for imparting to the structure 15 and hoods 18 a parallel motion with respect to the two axes of rotation of said bell cranks. The short arms of the bell cranks at opposite ends, which though parallel extend in opposite directions, have pivotallv connected thereto tubular links 21, 21 that extend toward each other. A rod 22 is telescopicallv carried by said links with its ends projecting into the bore ot' each one, so as to maintain them in alinement. Fach link Q1 terminates in a tlange or collar 23, as shown in connection with one of these links in Fig. 2. Said collars Q3 are adapted to slide in a tubular casing 2l which surrounds the adjacent ends ot' the two links Q1, 21. Between each collar 23 and the adjacent end of said casing is i confined a spring 25, which surrounds that portion ot its link 2l that extends into the casing.

In the position ot the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, with the structure 15 and the two hoods in their extreme right hand positions. the several springs two on each side of the apparatus, are under extreme compression, and are therefore tending, through thc collars Q23 and links 21. to rock the bell cranks 14 in a counter-clockwise direction. wing to the forces thus exerted by these springs, the act of moving the structure 15 and hoods 18 toward the left, about the centers ot' bell cranks 14, requires only a relatively small torce, in comparison to that which would otherwise be required to effect this combined translatory and lifting move- 1n`ent. Inl other words, by the arallel motion thusprovidedy for, the ten ency of the springs 25 is, at the inception of the movement, to draw the short arms of the bell cranks 14 together, thus minimizing the force required initially to raise the structure that is carried by the long arms of said bell cranks. The springs 25, as will be evident, reach the limit of their expansion toward each other when the long arms of the bell cranks 14 have reached a vertical position; under these conditions, the short arms of' said bell cranks, the links 21 and the tubular casing 24 all lie in the same horizontal plane, with the minimum distance between thev ends of said short arms. From this point on, the motion of translation of the hood structure is combined with a descending motion, by which the force of gravity is rendered available to compress the springs 25. At the end of this movement, as will readily be seen, the telescoping structure that connects the short arms of the bell cranks is again at the limit of its distention, but its position is the reverse of that shown in Fig. 2, that is, said telescoping structure is inclined in the oppositesdirection. In this way, a force is stored up to assist in the movement of the-hood structure back to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, which force becomes available for the initial lifting of said structure to thereby minimize the power required for its operation.

The power required for rocking the bell cranks 14 in the manner above described is obtained fromy a motor or other prime mover 26, on the shaft of which is mounted a pinion 27 in mesh with a gear 28 on a shaft 29. The latter carries a worm 30 which drives a worm wheel 31 on a transverse shaft 32, which is adapted to rotate normally in a clockwise direction, Figs. 2 and 3, for the actuation of the hood structure in the manner above described. Said shaft 32 carries at each end a crank 33, and each of these cranks 33 has pivotally attached thereto a connecting rod 34,y the other endsr of which are pivotally connected to the long arms of the adjacent bell cranks 14, at the points of connection of said long arms with the lugs 20 of structure 15. In this way it will be seen that a half revolution of the shaft 32 is adapted to effect one complete operation of the hood structure, in the act of reversing; as the cranks 33 move through the lower half of their travel, the hood structure is carried over to the left, from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, while when the cranks 33 move through the upper half of their travel, the mechanism is moved from its extreme left hand position back to the position illustrated in igs. 1, 2 and 3.

As in my aforesaid Letters Patent, each gas flue terminal 9, 9 is equipped with a swinging closure 35, and in the present instance said closure 35 is fast on a hollow trunnion shaft 36, the latter taking bearing in alined slots 37 of a pair of brackets 38 that are formed on the bottom of water seal casting 10, adjacent the flue terminal 9.

.The shaft 36 is fed with water from a supply connection 39, and the other end of said' sha-ft is connected by a coupling 40 with a water passage 41 that follows the rim of the closure 35, and discharges at 42 into the water seal casting 10. It will be seen that owing to the manner in which the hoods 18 are erected on the structure 15, the closure 35 is made easily and quickly available, for purposes of adjustment or repair, since it is possible to withdraw the hoods 18 without disturbing the base structure on which they are mounted. Furthermore, the covers 35 are readily replaceable, owing to the disposal of the shaft 36 in the open bearing slots 37.

Each cover 35 is formed with a projecting lug 43, for cooperation with a shoe 44 secured to the adjacent end portion of water seal flange 17. In the position of the parts illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, said shoe 44, bearing on the lug 43, holds the closure' 35 in raised position, and thus provides for the flow of gas from the flue terminalV 9 to the flue terminal 5, which latter is connected to the gas regenerator passage 2 of the furnace, Figs. 5 and 6. The movement of' the hoods 18 to their other or left hand positions as above described, for the purpose of reversing the furnace, allows the closure 35 to descend by gravity, so as'toco'ver and effectually seal the terminal 9. The arrangement of parts is such that the closure 35 moves its full distance downwardly and seals the terminal 9 before the flange-17 is entirely lifted out of the water in casting 10. In this way the escape of any gas past the fine terminal 9 during the operation of reversing is effectually prevented, since the closure 35 descends fully, and makes a water seal around said iue terminal before the water seal made by the flange 17 is broken.

lVith the reversing mechanism in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theY structure 15 is so disposedl as to maintain a damper or cover 45 in operative relation to the air regenerator fine terminal 6. This damper 45 is pivoted at 46 to a pair of lugs 47 that project from the end of structure 15, and the position of said damper may be controlled, manually or otherwise, by a chain or connection 48, so as to regulate the quantity of air which enters the furnace through the flue 6. It will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6 that when one of the reversing instrumentalities 4 is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the other reversing instrumentality 4 is necessarily in the other position,

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or reversed from the illustrated position. In this reversed position, the hood 18 will have been moved away from 'the flue terminal 9, and the latter will be covered and sealed by the closure 35; the flue terminal 5 will be connected by said hood 18 to the adjacent stack flue terminal 7; while the air regenerator flue terminal 6 will be connected by the other hood 1S to its adjacent stack flue terminal T. r)lie damper 45, under these conditions, will be carried into an inoperative position, beyond the terminals of all the flues.

It will be understood that the reversing instrumentalities d, d are identical in all respects; by the present arrangement, suoli instrumentalities, when provided in duplicate, are sufficient to talle care of the entire reversing function of a furnace. Each instrumentality functions with respect to both air and gas, in other words, the necessity for separate and independent air and gas valves is eliminated. Moreover, it will readily be seen that the mechanism herein specified lends itself either to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, where the gas supply is brought in at the ends, or to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, where the supply is brought in at the center. Under either of the above conditions, and also when the reversing instrumentalities are placed at the ends rather than at the side of the furnace, it will be clear that there is no hindrance against placing said instrumentalities in lose proximity to the air and gas regenerator passages of the furnace, which results in greatly reducing the lengths of the underground due construction in devices of this class, with a consequent reduction in the wastage of gas when the furnace is reversed.

For the control of motor 26, the shaft 32 has secured thereto, within a casing 49, a wheel 50, the rim of which rotates in contact with a pair of brushes 51 that are carried on an arm 52 which is loosely journalled on shaft The brushes 51 are in an electrical circuit which includes an automatically operated switch for causing the stoppage of the motor 26; this circuit is completed by the metallic rim of wheel when said brushes are in contact therewith. Said metallic rim has two fiber or non-con ducting inserts 53, located 180O apart; when either of these lie opposite and in contact with the brushes 5l, the electrical circuit is broken, and as a result the motor switch is opened so as to discontinue the operation of motor 26 after each half revolution of shaft 32, which, as above stated, is the amount of movement required for the reversal, in either direction, of the mechanism shown in Figs. i. 2 and 3. Under normal conditions therefore, with a predetermined setting 0f the arm that carries the brushes 5l, the starting of motor 2d to bring about the reversal of the apparatus, is followed by the automatic stoppage of said motor after the shaft 32 has made a half revolution, thus moving the hood structure either to the right or to the left, as the case may be.

Under certain conditions however, it may be desirable in the act of connecting the flue terminals 5 and 9, to swing the closure 35 only part way open, instead of all the way open, and thus to obtain a partial throt tling of the gas supply to the furnace. This may obviously be accomplished by manipulation of the arm 52 carrying brushes 51 so that the stoppage of motor 26 takes place earlier than normally, that is, before the shoe it-l moves the limit of its distance downwardly in the water seal casting l0. It is to be understood, of course, that this variation in the opening of cover in no wise affects the other functions of the mechanism, since such variation only occurs after the water seal has been completely established by flange 17. In this way it will be seen that the apparatus affords a means for interrupting the descent of the hood structure before the limit of such descent is reached, whereby to vary the volume of gas admitted to the furnace.

Provision is also made for controlling the position of cover 35 after the latter has been opened to its full extent in the normal or usual operation of the apparatus. This involves the running of motor 26 in the reverse direction so as to raise the hood structure a sufficient amount to allow the gravity closing of cover 35 to the point desired. To this end, the wheel 50 is provided with a fiber ring 54 having a segmental insert of conducting material which is adapted to be brought into contact with a pair of stationary brushes 56. The parts are so arranged that during the contact of both of these brushes with the metal insert 55, the motor 26 is subject to reversal of its direction by suitable agencies for this purpose, not shown, which may be conveniently located on the furnace floor, for manipulation by the operator. That is to say, the brushes 56 form part of an electrical circuit through which this reversal in the direction of the motor is accomplished, said electrical circuit being completed when both brushes are in contact with the segment 55. The range through which the motor is reversible is equivalent, approximately, to the range of movement of closure 35; in other words, the segment is of such a length, and is so disposed with respect to the brushes 56, that the motor reversing circuit is completed only in that part of the rotation of shaft 32 that procures the movement. of said closure. 1t will readily be seen therefore, that after the closure 35 has been swung upwardly to the limit of its movement by the complete descent of the hood structure, as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible for the operator on the furnace floor to start the motor 26 in the reverse direction, so as to cause a slight elevation of the hood structure and a consequent lowering of the closure 35. This action however, is limited by the duration of contact of both brushes 56 with the segment 55, and it cannot be continued past the point where the closure 35 cuts olf the flow of gas from the flue terminal 9.

I claim: n

1. The combination with a regenerative furnace, of reversing apparatus therefor constituted by two movable devices, each device, in one position, controlling the flow to said furnace of both air and gas and in the other position, controlling the flow from said furnace of products of combustion.

2. The combination with the air and gas passages of a regenerative furnace, of reverslng apparatus for said furnace constituted by two movable devices, each device providing for the inflow ofy gas and air and for the outflow of combustion products.

3. The combination with a regenerative furnace havinv a set of air and gas passages at each end, of reversing apparatus for said furnace constituted by two movable devices, one at each end of the furnace, for controlling respectively the corresponding set of assages, for the inflow of gas and air and the exit of combustion products.

4. A reversing mechanism for a regenerative furnace constituted by two movable reversing devices, each adapted for connection with both the air and the gas fines at each end of said furnace to control the inflow of gas and air and the exit of combustion products therethrough.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a set 0f furnace flues, of a frame member movable selectively into different positions with respect to the terminals of said flues an-d having a flange adapted to water seal different pairs of said terminals, and a hood detachably supported by said frame member, `and adapted to establish communication between the terminals that are water sealed by said flange.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a set of furnace fines, of a member movable selectively into different positions to water seal the terminals of different pairs of said fines, a cover for the terminal of o-ne of said flues adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of said member, and a hood detachably supported by said member for establishing communication between said pairs of water sealed terniinals.

7. The combination, with each set of air and gas and stack flue terminals of a regenerative furnace, of a movable reversing device therefor, a cover for one of said terminals adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of said reversing device, and

means carried by said reversing device for controlling theflow of air into another of said terminals.

8. The combination with each set of air and gas and stack flue terminals of a regenerative furnace, of a movable reversing device therefor, adapted to establish communication, selectively, between different pairs of said flue te-rminals, a self-closing cover for one of said terminals adapted to be opened by the movement 'of said device into operative relation to said terminal, and means carried by said device for controlling the flow of lair into another of said terminals.

9, The combination with a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device therefor having a parallel motion, and expansive means, made available by one portion of said motion, for providing a force adapted to assist in procuring another portion of said motion.

l0. The combination with a. regenerative furnace, of a reversing device therefor rhaving a parallel mot-ion, and expansive means, made available by the gravity component of said motion, for providing a force to assist in procuring the reverse portion of said motion.

ll. In a mechanical movement, a member constrained for parallel motion with respect to a pair of liXed centers, arms extending from said centers in opposite directions, and an expansible connection between said arms.

12. The combination with a regenerative furnace, of a movable reversing device therefor.l bell crank levers at each end of the latter, having corresponding parallel arms connected to said reversing device, whereby to constrain a parallel motion of the same, the other arms of said. bell cranks extending in opposite directions, and an expansible connection between the ends of said other arms.

13. The combination with a regenerative y furnace, of air, gas and stack flues leading from each end thereof, and terminating adjacent one another, and a single reversing device operatively related to each set of air, gas and stack flue terminals let. The combination with a regenerative furnace having a set of air andv gas fines at each end, of two duplicate reversing devices, each associated with the terminals of one of said sets of ilues, said two devices constituting the entire reversing means for said furnace, and means for operating said two devices to effect the reversal of said furnace.

I5. The combination with a regenerative furnace, of a set of air and gas ues for each end thereof, a pair of stack flue terminals interposed between the terminals of each pair of air and gas fines, a gas supply passage having a terminal adjacent the terminal of each gas flue, and movable means associated with each set of flue terminals for controlling the direction of the products of combustion through said furnace.

16. The combination with the two sets oi air and gas passages of a regenerative furnace, of a pair of stack fine terminals interposed between the terminals of each set of air and gas passages, a gas supply passage havinoF a terminal adjacent each gas passage terminal, and reversing means associated with each set of terminals.

17. The combination with the two sets of air and gas passages of a regenerative furnace, of a single stack passage associated with each of said sets, and having a. pair of terminals interposed between the terminals of said air and gas passages, a gas supply,7 passa-ge having a terminal adjacent each gas passage terminal` and a movable reversing unit operative With respect to each of said sets of terminals.

18. The combination with a regenerative furnace, of a movable reversing device therefor adapted in one position to connect said furnace with a supplg7 of gas, actuating means for said device, and means for controlling said actuating means to varv the suppl)7 of gas admitted through said device to the furnace.

19. In apparatus of the character described, the. combination with a set of furnace tiues, of a cover for the end of one of said fines, a movable reversing device operative with respect to said tlues, and adapted by its movement to open said cover, means for actuating said reversing device, and means for controlling said actuatingr means to var;7 the degree of opening of said cover.

20. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a set of fin*- nace fines, of a cover for the end of one of said iues, a movable reversing device operative with respect to said tiues. and adapted by its movement in one direction to open said cover, an actuating means for said reversing device normally operative in one directiorn and means for reversing said actuating means within a` predetermined portion of the movement. of said reversing device, wherebyv to vary the degree of opening of said cover.

2l. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a set of furnace iues, of a cover for the end of one of said fines, a movable reversing device operative with respect to said flues, and adapted by its movement in one direction to open said cover, an actuating means for said reversing device, normally operative to discontinue the movement thereof after a predetermined travel, means for controlling said actuating means, to obtain a predetermined opening of said cover, and means for reversing said actuating means to var v the position of said cover.

Q2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a regenerative furnace, of a single movable reversing device therefor adapted to control the inflow of both gas and air and the outflow of combustion products at one end of said furnace, and means associated with said device for segregating at all times the air and gas flowing therethrough.

23. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a set of air, gas and stack iiues of a regenerative furnace, of a single movable reversing device controlling the inflow of gas and air and the outflow of combustion products, and cooperating with said fines to reverse the travel of the products of combustion through said furnace, and means carried by said device for isolating, in all positions of said device, said air and gas fiues from each other.

Dated this fourteenth dav of December.

GEORGE H. ISLEY. iVitnesses NrLLIE I'THALEN, Gro. H. KENNEDY, Jr.

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