US1821944A - Oil-burning fire-box - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1931. R. MODELL OIL BURNING FIRE BOX File d Dec. 7. 192a 3 Sheets-Sheet l .1": Enl- MODELL Sept. 8, 1931.

1711! yumm FIRE BOX led Dec.

1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm $06M 91600066,

wi/hwao l atent ed Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES ROBERT MODELL, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA OIL-BURNING FIRE BOX Application filed December The invention relates to improvements in furnace fire-boxes and more particularly to those which are used in connection with boilers. Oil burners in connection with locomotives, crane engines, steam shovel engines, etc., not only produce excessive smoke under present conditions, but consume a great deal more fuel than is necessary, by permitting numerous unburned fuel units to escape.

forming the smoke. Moreover, after the burners are turned off for a length of time and again lighted, the furnaces are prone to back-fire due to ignition of oil left upon the bottom of the fire-box incident to cutting the burners off.

The objects of my invention are to provide a new and improved construction for economizing in fuel and reducing the discharge of smoke, and to make provision whereby the bottom of the fire-box cannot be flooded with oil when the burners are turned off.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through the furnace of a locomotive boiler (preferably a passenger or switch engine) showing the novel construction of the firebox bottom.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the tire-box bottom as indicated by line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the fire-box bottom on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views on lines 44 and 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is another longitudinal sectional View showing the construction which is preferably followed in connection with the fireboxes of freight, crane, steam shovel and analogous engines in which smoking is not so objectionable.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. (3, the brick fire-box bottom being shown in end elevation in Fig. 7.

7, 1823. Serial No. 324,516.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclmive, F denotes the fire-box of a locomotive boiler B, T has reference to the lire-tubes at the rear end of the lire-box, and l) designates the usual door at the front end of se -bo. The tire-box bottom 10 is prefers fiat and it is with the construction of this bottom and the arrangement of the furl-supply means, that the present invention concerned.

Formed longitudinally within the bottom extcnc. .g substantially from back to crcof, between its upper and lower no fine 11. Also formed longiin the bottom 10 at opposite sides of n la-1e l1 and between the upper and lower 3' said bottom, are two flame-return the three tiues 11-42 being in comi .n at their front ends by a transverse tpiuuvflue i3 which, like the other times, is

formed between the upper and lower of the refractory bottom 10. Two lonnal slots 14' extend from the rear ends runs 12 through the upper side of the bottom 10.

The rear end of the flue 11 has its bottom d'uvnwardly offset, providing a vertical barrier 15, and the portion 16 of said flue bottom vehind said barrier, declines rearwardly to an opening 17. A main burner 18 extends through the rear wall of the firebox in posit on to direct fuel and flame forwardly in the tine 11, and under said main burner, a pilot-tanner 15) also extends through said well. This pilot-burner is positioned in opposed relation with the barrier 15 so that the flame projected forwardly from said pilothurit-er will strike said barrier and not only maintain the latter at high temperature, but deflect upwardly, so that as soon as fuel is discharged from the front end of the main burner 18. it will he vaporized and ignited. When lighting the pilot-burner, it is necesv to insert a quantity of fuel-saturated te or the like into the opening 17 to iniiially heat said pilot-burner 19. The pilotburner 19 will be kept burning as long as the boiler is in service. It is to be ignited one hour before the boiler is to be used.

The flame and any fuel units not yet ignited, pass forwardly in the flue 11 and as the bottom 10 becomes highly heated, the unburned fuel units become more and more volatilized, so that by the time the flame has traveled rearwardly through the flues 11 to the slots 14, all of said fuel is aflame and the flame is discharged into the fire-box F which is almost completely filled by said flame. It will thus be seen that a construction has been provided which will effect economy in fuel, which will be highly efficient, and will be practically smokeless, due to the thorough combustion which takes place.

The construction so far described is preferably used in the boiler furnaces of passenger and switch engines, in connection with which the smoke from oil burners is now most objectionable. However, use of this form of the invention is not restricted to any par ticular form of furnace.

Another advantage for the construction so far described, may be explained. 'hen the burners 18-19 are turned otf. any oil discharging therefrom as the supply finally cut off, cannot pass the barrier 15 and will drain down the bottom portion 16 of the flue l1, and discharge through the opening 17. Hence, there is no quantity of oil loft in the flue to ignite and cause trouble when an attempt is made to again light the burners.

The form of construction shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 is preferably used in such EireboXes as those commonly employed on heavy freight engines, crane engines and steam shovel engines. In these views, the ref actory fire-box bottom 20 is longitudinally channeled and the main and pilot-burners 18a-19a extend through the rear wall of the fire-box above the upper side of said bottom. A barrier wall 15a however, is provided across the rear central portion of the bottom 20 with its upper edge above the aXis of the burner 19a, whereas said edge of the barrier wall 15a is below the avis of the main burner 18a. Hence, while flame from the pilot-burner 19a will strike the barrier 15a, maintaining the latter at high temperature and deflecting upwardly to ignite fuel from the burner 18a, the forward blast of fuel and flame from this main burner 184, Will for the most part pass over said barrier. However, some flame from the main burner 18a will continually play upon the barrier 15a to maintain it at high temperature and this is also true in connection with the burner 18 and the barrier 15 above described. Maintaining this highly heated part 15 or 154 immediately in advance of the main burner assists in initially gasifying the fuel and insuring proper combustion.

Behind the barrier wall 15a, is an opening 17a, and a portion of the fire-box bottom 24) behind said barrier, declines to said opening. Hence, any oil dripping from the burners when they are turned off, cannot pass the barrier 15a but is drained out through the opening 17a. Consequently, the bottom 20 annot. be covered with a film of oil to ignite and cause a flare-back or back-fire when the furnace is again lighted. \Vhen initially lighting, a quantity of fuel-saturated waste or the like is inserted into the opening 17 a to initially heat the pilot-burner 19a. 7

The form of construction just described will be highly efficient and economical in fuel consumption, but will produce a great deal more smoke than the construction first described. Hence, it is preferable that it be used only where smoke is not so objec tionable.

On account of the excellent advantages existing from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

I claim l. A furnace fire box having a refractory bottom, a longitudinal flame flue extending from back to front of said bottom between he upper and lower sides thereof, return flame flues extending longitudinally of said bottom between its upper and lower sides, a tr: nsverse flame flue between the upper and lower sides of said bottom placing the front ends of the longitudinal flame flues in communication with each other, and flameescape openings from the rear ends of said flame return flues through the upper side of said bottom; together with a burner mounted at the rear end of the first named flue for diiecting flame and fuel under pressure into the same.

A structure as specified in claim 1; the rear end of the bottom of the first named flue being provided with a downward offset to provide a vertical barrier and being rearwardly declined. behind said barrier, and a pilot burner mounted to direct flame against said barrier, said tire-box bottom having an o iening' at the rear end of said declined portion of said flue bottom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ROBERT MODELL.

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