US1611812A - Furnace-stoking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 21 1926.

J. J., BRIDGEFORD FURNACE STOKING MECHANISM Filed March 17 -l92 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 Q 1 mm ww r J .m@ m

J. J. BRIDGEFORD FURNACE STOKING MECHANISM Filed March 17 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5] Mum 110a JJ'fimi ord in do ICE.

JOHN J. BBIDGEFGECD, OF EHILADELPHIA, PENN$YLVANIA.

FUEIQ'ACE-STOKENG MECHANISM.

Application filed March 17, 19%.

This invention relates to a furnace stoking mechanism, and particularly to an improvement upon the construction disclosed in my prior application filed December id, 1922, Serial Number 606,855, and comprises certain improvements thereon developed in the practical application and construction of the mechanism.

The invention provides means for the con struction of the several grate members as units adapted to be readily changed when necessary or desired and to permit of their retention in position without the use of screws or other attaching devices adapted to be affected by the heat of the furnace. it also provides for an improved form of actuating bar for the slice pins adapted to be formed as a unit and directly connected to the pins soas to eliminate difficulties incident to any lateral shift of the pins upon their actuating bar which might cause the members to be thrown out of alignment, and further eliminates the use of connecting links between the slice pins and the bar for actuating the same.

The invention also provides an improved means for stoking the furnace embodying the rearwardly and downwardly inclined series of shaking grates by providing means for feeding the fuel upon the upper grates of the series where the volatile gases are distilled from the fuel which is coked before starting on its movement downward upon the grate incident to the action of the rocking grate members and the slice pins.

The invention therefore has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of actuating means for the reciprocatory slice pins or plungers by which they are positively maintained in alignment with the apertures through which they pass formed in the fixed grate bars, and

their easy and convenient operation under al conditions effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the rocking grate members which are formed in detachable and separable units having an angular socket adapted to seat upon a cooperating bar mounted for oscillation to effect a rocking movement of these grate members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new construction of the dumping plates at the lower end of the grate series which are formed in units and detach Serial No. 699,933.

ably seated upon an actuating bar and also formed with a channelled and apertured body, permitting the free circulation of air therethrough to prevent warping or burning from any collected ash resting thereon.

@ther and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan of the mechanism removed from the furnace structure;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through such. a structure with part of the grate in elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a similar view on line i ii of Figure 2; V

Figure 5 is a detail perspective of the actuating bar for the slice pins;

Figure 6 is a similar view of the mounting for the rocking grate sections;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of these sections;

Figure 8 is a detail section through one of the dumping plates.

Like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the several fig ures of the drawings.

The general arrangement of the furnace is similar to that disclosed in my application above referred to and the grates as therein shown are assembled in two parallel series each of said series being formed of sections independently operable so as to more effectually provide for the downward feeding of the fuel from the front toward the rear of the furnace. The invention, however is not confined to such a specific arrangement as other adaptations of the assembled grate members may be used.

In the form of the invention here shown the numeral 10 designates the front plate of the furnace which is suitably mounted at one side of the usual ash pit 11 while the bridge wall thereof is indicated at 12. This front plate is provided with the fire door 13 of ordinary construction and immediately beneath the same the dead plate 14 is secured. This plate supports the side or hearing bars 15 for the grate units and these bars may be formed with a socket 16 at the forward end to engage with the dead plate 14. The bars are inclined rearwardly and downwardly and the lower ends 17 ill) thereof disposed in sockets 18 in the bridge wall where provision is made for their expansion and contraction under the heat conditions in the furnace. A suitable number of these bearing bars is provided for supporting the desired series of grates.

Extending intermediate of the bars 15 are fixed grate bars 20 which at their ends seat in sockets in the bearing bars, as shown at 21 in Figure 2. These fixed grates are formed upon their opposite side faces with a series of ribs 22 forming radiating fins and permitting the upward passage of air through the grate so as to properly effect a draft and prevent overheating of the bars. The fixed grate is formed at intervals with the apertures or sockets 23 through which the slicing pins or plungers 2% pass and said pins are properly spaced from the walls thereof to permit free reciprocation and incidental oscillation. These pins are preferably formed tubular as indicated at 25 in Figure 3 to prevent warping or distortion thereof when inserted into the body of incandescent fuel. The pins are, however, normally withdrawn below the body of the fuel and adapted to be projected upwardly by means of a crank shaft 26 which is pivoted at its opposite ends 27 in bearings 28 formed in the bearing bars 15 as shown in Figure 4. This crank shaft is formed at properly spaced intervals with pivoting lugs 29 adapted to cooperate with the apertured lower end 30 of the slice pins which are secured to the lugs by means of a pivot 31. The crank shaft is also formed with an operating arm 32 which is pivotally connected at 33 with a connecting bar 3-1 which provides for the simultaneous operation of a series of the slice pins. This connecting bar may be operated in. any desired manner, for instance by means of an operating bar or rod 35 extending to the front plate of the furnace where it is secured to a lever 36 by a pivotal connection 37.

A similar independent lever and connection is provided for each series of the slice pins which are substantially identical in construction. The formation of the crank shaft as an integral unit by casting or otherwise provides means for positively spacing and rigidly retaining the slice pins in proper alignment and also obviates the use of any link connections between the shaft and the pins, thus providing for positive and direct movement. The direct connection of the slice pins between the lugs upon the bar prevents any possibility of lateral displacement which was liable to occur when the pins were connected to the shaft by collars retained in position by fastening devices.

Intermediate of the fixed grates 20 or ad jacent thereto are a series of rocking grates adapted to be projected upward and to lift the fuel from the grate bars to prevent the formation of clinkers and sift down the fine ash between the bars. These rocking grates are formed of units 38 as shown in Figures 6 and each being provided with a series of radiating and air admitting ribs 39 upon the upper and one side face thereof. These units are also formed with an angular socket 40 adapted to seat upon a similarly formed bar 41 by which the rocking movement is imparted to the units of the grate. This bar is provided at its end with a plate 42 which is pivoted in the bearing bars 15 by means of a, pint-1e 43. These pivots are provided in the upper portion of the bars 15 and each of the rocking bars il is formed with a depending arm 4% pivotally mounted upon a connect-ing plate 4L5 from which an operating bar l6 extends to the front plate of the furnace where it is connected with an actuating lever i7 suitably mounted in a bearing 1-8 thereon. This construction of the rocking grate permits the units thereof to be removed whenever found necessary or desirable by simply lifting the same from the angular support and replacing as they are normally held in position by the body of fuel superposed upon the grate so that nofurther securing means are necessary.

he assembled rocking grates and slicing bars so far described effect a downward movement owing to the inclination of the grates and the ash and other waste is finally fed upon the dumping plates which are formed in separate units similar to the shaking grate members and adapted to be likewise removably sup sorted in position. These plates are formed with channels 51 upon their upper face and the base of these channels is apertured as at 52 so as to permit a passage of air through the plates to establish a proper draft and to prevent warping or distortion thereof. The plates are formed at one side with an angular socket adapted to be removably seated upon a cooperating bar 5% extending across the grate and formed with lever 55 con-- nected for operation at the front of the furnace by a rod or bar 56 extending to an independent pull handle 57 which may be re tained in position by a latch device 57 engaging a seat on the bar By these means the dumping plates may be operated independently of either the slicing bars or rocking grates and each of these members is likewise independent in its operative action so that fuel upon the upper portion of the grate may be lifted and fed downward until a proper bed is secured at the lower portion thereof. Under some conditions it may be desirable to shake and clear the lower portion of the bed more frequently than the upper and this independent operation of the several series of shaking grates and slice pins permit such action.

Cal

is formed with a discharge plate 62 by which the fuel is deposited upon substantially the first three of the shaking grates.

The hopper may be of any preferred con-v struction but a desirable form embodies the end walls 63 which are formed with a slideway to receive the damper or gate 65 which is thereby spaced from the front wall of the furnace for a suflicient distance to permit the connection therewith of the operating links 66, these links being pivoted to a plate 67 mounted upon one end of an operating lever 68 supported upon a bearing post 69 and provided at its opposite end with a manually operable connection 70 depending therefrom.

The end walls of the hopper are also formed with a seat or socket 71 which receives a cross plate 72 adapted to prevent the contact of the body of fuel with the face of the gate or damper 65 which would affect its free operation and the pivoting post 69 extends upward from this plate as shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of the stoker the fuel passes from the hopper throughthe opening in the furnace front by raising the slide therein, and is deposited upon the upper series of grates where the volatile gases are distilled and pass over the incandescent bed of fuel upon the lower portion of'the grate, being thus consumed to increase the temperature of the furnace and prevent smoke. The fuel is thus coked before beginning its downward feed upon the inclined grates and such feeding is accomplished by the suc cessive operation of the rocking grates and slice pins. These grates by their movement into the fire bed prevent the formation of clinkers, sift down the fine ash and close up the walls in the fuel bed as the coked fuel is fed downward. This is further assisted by the operation of the slice pins and the group of pins and grates at the upper portion of the furnace are first actuated until a proper bed of fuel is deposited over the entire body of the grate. These slice pins effectually prevent the formation of clinkers by breaking them into small particles, and such matter being lighter than the fuel is quickly fed downward toward the dumping plates at the lower end of the grate from which all ash and unburned material may be dumped into the ash pit.

The ribbed construction of both the rock ing and stationary grate elements permits afree draft through the fuel to effect complete combustion thereof, and the construction of these elements permit their ready removal and replacement as found desirable or necessary. This is particularly important in connection with the rocking grates which are formed from a plurality of units assembled upon a rock shaft and adapted to be lifted directly therefrom when in normal position.

The invention also presents an improved construction of actuating shaft for the slice pins embodying crank member at the opposite ends thereof and integrally formed connections directly to the pins so as to insure a positive movement and prevent lateral displacement.

The same desirable element of replacement is presentedin connection with the dumping plates which are formed in sections having sockets to removably interlock with the shaft upon which they are mounted. The construction of these dumping plates and their shaft is such as to remove the shafts from the fire and to prevent the expansion and contraction of the plates which are channeled and apertured to permit free circulation of air therethrough.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made both in the construction and assemblage of the grate members and slice pins without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a grate comprising a series of shaking bars, stationary bars intermediate said shaking bars and having openings therein, fuel penetrating members guidingly supported by said sta tionary bars for movement thereth-rough into and out of the fuel bed, an actuating shaft having crank arms at its opposite ends, and means thereondirectly pivoted to the penetrating members intermediate of said ends.

2. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a grate comprising a series of shaking bars, stationary bars intermediate said shaking bars and having openings therein, fuel penetrating members guidingly supported by said stationary bars for movement therethrough into and out of the fuel bed, a shaft having crank arms pivoted at its opposite ends, lugs upon said shaft directly pivoted to the lower ends of said penetrating member, and an operating lever carried by said shaft.

3. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a fixed grate bar supported at its opposite ends and provided with a series of intermediate apertures, slice pins disposed to reciprocate through said apertures and having reduced lower ends, a crank shaft pivoted at its opposite ends provided intermediate thereof with a series of spaced lugs directly pivoted to said pins, and an actuating lever from said crank shaft,

4. In a furnace stoker mechanism, the combination of side supports, a series of spaced fixed grate bars mounted thereon, slicing pins projectible through said bars, an operating shaft for said pins mounted in the side supports and directly pivoted to said pins, a series of rock shafts mounted in the side supports intermediate of the fixed grate bars, and a plurality of shaking grate units having an open socket detachably mounted upon said rock shafts.

5. In a furnace stoker mechanism, the combination of side supports, a series of spaced fixed grate barsmounted thereon, slicing pins projectible through said bars, an operating shaft for said pins mounted in the side supports and directly pivoted to said pins, a series of rock shafts mounted in the side supports intermediate of the fixed grate bars, a plurality of shaking grate units having an open socket detachably mounted upon said rock shafts, a supporting shaft pivoted in the side supports beyond said fixed and shaking grate members, and a plurality of dumping plates With open sockets replaceahly mounted upon said supporting shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN J. BRIDGEFORD.

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