US1805477A - Grate support - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1931. i G. B. ASHWORTH GRATE SUPPORT Fil ed June 26, 1928 Patenteel lv'iay, 19, 1931 GEORGE nnsnwon-TH, on

NT) orrice 4 1 4 YORK ene SUQPORT Application filed me 26,

pensive structure 1 of such character, which will be readly applicable in fireboxes-of present standard type, and which,in service, will be unafiected by distortion of thefirebox and will make air tight joints therewith.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth. H

In the accompanying drawingsz Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, on the line a a of Fig. 2, through a grate support em bodying the invention, applied in a locomotive firebox; Fig. 2, a half plan or top view thereof, with the firebox in section on the line b b of Fig. 1; Fig. 3,'a vertical transverse section, on the line 0 '0 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a similar section, on an enlarged scale, on the line (i d'of Fig. 2, and; Fig. 5, a similar section, on the. line 6 e of Fig. 2. c

, In the practice of he invention referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, and to its application in a locomotive firebox, the composite members of the grate support arecomprehended in an integral structure, which is cast in metal, the heat resisting qualities of which are such as to reduce to a minimum. thetendency to distort and cramp the grate bars. The grate support, 2, is a' quadrilateral frame, conforming, in plan view, to the firebox, 1, in which it is applied, the water legs of said firebox being closed,at bottom, by a mud ring, 1a, in the ordinary manner. The frontand rear members of the support, are connected by an integral centre member, 2a.

The grate resting upon the support, may be of any suitable and preferred character,and

in thisinstance is shown as'of the rocking type and comprising'a plurality of slatsor flat bars, 3. Means for suspending the grate upon the support, 2, are formedthereon, these being, for the rocking grate shown, a plurality of trunnions, 2?), upon which the grates may be rocked by a shaker, in the usual manner. The entire grate support -structure, 2,

. inner sheet, H

attachedltothe, mud ring, through lugs,

20,depending from the side members and pro jectmgioutwardly therefrom,below the mud "ring, to which they are secured by studs, 2d, ".tapped'into it. The lugs, 20, also serve for the attachment of the side sheets of the ash pan. a I 1 For the purpose offle'nsuring air tightv closure betweenzthe side and end members of the, support or grate frame and the inside sheetsj'ofthe firebox,-sealing plate strips, 4, are la1d on thetopsof the side and end mem- -bers1of thesupport," with one of their edges contacting withthe firebox sheets, and are welded or otherwise secured in place, on the frame. ;It is well known in locomotive practice the drafts of cool air leaking in from the margins '-,,Of' the grate produce undesirable contraction of the areas of the inner firebox sheetsjsubjected to such drafts, hastening the breaking down of such sheets. Where the grate frameis-set in place as a unit,-it is J impossible tov make a snug fit with the fire box sheets, due toithe irregular contour of the sheets, and of the grate frameitself. If ,the frame .ismovedto. one side to closeithe gap, it will open awider gap on the other side...:"Whereseparate'cast sidebars are used forsupporting the grate bars dilficult chipping operationmust beresorted to, to insure a .proper fit. j The present invention: enables a snug fit'to be madeby merely adjusting the, thin'sealing strips 4, into proper engagement withthe innerv sheet after the grate frame has been installed and welding them in .place. The invention. therefore, provides a commercial and convenient means of: effectively closing gaps betweenithe frame and the lathe integral support structure above described, the side andcentre members are g fixedly spaced apart by-the end members,

thereby providing and maintaining a predetermined clearance for the rocking ofthe grate bars, anadva-ntage not-presented m the ordinary construct-10min which the side and centre members are separately applied, with V the result of allowing movement of one relativelyto another, on account of warpa-ge, or ,distortionlof the fire-box due to pressure or heat. Such movement occurs to the extent that the grate bars become cramped and prevented from rocking, or, if sufiicient force is applied, will be displaced.

It is, further, in the application of the invention, possible to assemble all the grate bars in the support, before locating it in the firebox, which attains the advantage of checking the grate bar clearance much more conveniently than if all the parts were installed in operative position in the firebox. A further advantage is the elimination of the front and rear brackets necessary to position the centre member in present practice; If the firebox should be of such width as to require more than the two parallel'rows of rocking grate bars herein shown, the invention" is equally well adapted to the conditiomas additional centre support members, spacedand joined in the integral structure by the-end members, will only be required The invention claimed and desired to be P secured by Letters Patent is: V

1. Ina locomotive, the combination'of a steam boiler firebox having inner and outer sheets; a grate support structure therein, comprising side and end members disposed within the walls of the boiler and connected to same for support; and separately formedsealing plates, located on the tops of the side and end members, and contacting with the adjoining firebox sheet.

2. In a locomotive, the combination of a steam boiler; a grate support structure, comprising side and end membersattaehable-as a unit within the walls of the boiler andconnected to same for support; and'a plurality of separately formed sea-ling plates'disposed on the members and contacting withthe adjoining boiler wall.

3. In a locomotive, thecombination of a steam boiler; agrate support structure attachable as a unit within the walls of the boiler and connected to same for support, comprising side and center members spaced apart and connected by end members; and separately formed sealing plates located on the tops of the side and end members, and contacting with the adjoining boiler wall.

4. In a locomotive, the combinationof 'a steam boiler; a grate support structure atwall and supporting brackets pro 'ecting horizontally from the structure an secured to the bottom of the boiler, adapting the structure to be inserted as a unit from the bottom of the boiler.

6. In a locomotive, a firebox having a sheet metal inner Wall; a. unitary grate support loosely fitting within the fire box providing spaces therebetween; means for rigidly securing the grate support detachably to the fire box extending beneath the grate support; and sheet metal sealing plates spanning the spaces between the grate support with the interior walls of the fire box.

7 In a locomotive, a fire box having a sheet inner wall; a unitary grate support loosely. fittingwithin the fire box providing spacestherebetween; means for rigidly securing thegrate support detachably to the fire box extending beneath the grate support; and sheet metal hermetically-sealed sealing ates spanning thespaees between the grate support with the interior walls of the fire box.

GEORGE B. ASHWORTH. 1

tachable as a'unit within the walls of the boiler-and connected to same for support, comprising side and end members; and separately formed sealing plates located on the tachable as a unit within the walls of the boiler and connected to same for support, comprising side and end members; separately formed sealing plates disposed on the members andcontacting with the adjoining boiler

Images