US1942819A - Combined stoker and firedoor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1934. P. A KETcHPl-:L 1,942,819

COMBINED STOKER AND FIREDOOR Filed. Oct. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 9 1934 P. A. KETCHPEL COMBINED STOKER AND FIREDOOH Filed ost. 6. 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 v ATTORNEY,

segments 29 which have their adjacent faces curved and are secured to a ilexible member 30 as by means of the rivets 3l. The opposite ends 32, 32a of the plate- like portion 27 and 33, 33a of the segments 29 are received in the races 34, 34a. in the sidewalls 35, 35a, respectively, which are formed as a part of the door frame F secured to the backwall 13 for receiving the sliding door C. The sidewalls 35, 35a extend rearwardly from the lower portion of the door frame F and are spaced apart a distance equal substantially to the width of the stoker discharge conduit mouth portion. The point where these side walls extend rearwardly from the lower portion of the door frame in effect constitutes the extreme upper edge of the fuel supporting portions of the side walls of the discharge conduit and the extensions thereabove form a frame for the door C and do not function as fuel supporting walls of the conduit. Adjacent this point and near the upper marginal edge of the ring opening a transverse bar 82 forms a tie between the side wall extensions constituting the door frame F. The contiguous edges of the upper end of the rear wall, the transverse bar 82 and that portion of the side walls 35, 35a therebetween form an aperture in the upper side of the discharge conduit. It will be noted that the horizontal distance between the longitudinal extremities of the aforesaid aperture is greater than the longitudinal horizontal distance across the feed conduit adjacent the lower extremity of said aperture, which lower extremity is, of course, the

upper edge of the rear wall of the conduit and the other extremity is formed by the transverse bar 82. The door C forms a movable closure for the aperture and as such also may be considered as a redoor for the ring opening 12.

The door C may be power operated and for this purpose a motor cylinder 36, housing a piston 37 is attached to the door frame F. The piston 37 is operatively connected to a lever 38 which is fulcrumed as at 39 and connected to the flat plate-like portion 27 of the door C as by means of the roller 40 which is received by the channelled portion 4l of the lever 38. A handle 42 extending outwardly from said lever 38 is provided for the manual operation of the door C which may be retained in an opened position by means of the latch 43 engaging the lug 43a formed with said door. Pressure fluid, such as compressed air, is supplied to the motor cylinder 36 by the lead 44 for power operation of the door.

A control mechanism, generally indicated at 45 controls the supply of compressed air for the opening of the door C and is also arranged to interrupt the operation of the Stoker in a manner as will now be described.

The control mechanism 45 comprises a body 46 encasing the chambers 47 and 48 which house the valves 47a and 48a respectively. A lead 49 supplies compressed air to the chamber 47 for admission to the lead line 50 when the valve 47a. is raised as by means of the lever arm 51 movable by pressure on the pedal arm 52. Steam is supplied by the pipe 53 to the chamber 48 from whence it passes into the pipe 54 for supplying steam for the Stoker prime mover, diagrammatically shown at M. The valve 48a is provided with a stem 55 to which is secured a spring 56. The spring 56 rests on an extension 51a of the lever arm 5l and is of a suitable strength, to cause the valve 48a to be seated, against the pressure in the steam pipe 53 when the lever arm 51 is raised.

Suppose now, that the Stoker is in operation delivering fuel to the firebox and the door C is closed, and the fireman wishes to open the door. He depresses the pedal arm 52, causing the free end of the lever arm 51 to be raised. The lever arm 51 in its upward movement contacts the spring 56, pushes it, together with the attached valve stem 55 and valve 43a upwardly to seat the valve 48a, thereby interrupting the passage of steam from the steam supply pipe 53 to the pipe 54 and as a result halting the operation of the stoker. Futher, pressure of the pedal arm 52 will cause the lever arm 5l to compress the spring 56 so that the lever arm 51 may travel upwardly a sufficient distance to unseat the valve 47a, allowing compressed air to pass from the lead 49 into the lead 56 for opening the door C directly, or, as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described more in detail, to supply compressed air to the motor cylinder 36 through a regulating valve 57 which serves to connect pressure fluid lines 53 and 59, each of which branches from the steam pipe 53 and to connect the compressed air lines 50 and 44.

The regulating valve 57 comprises a cylinder 70 housing a valve member 7l therein which is provided with the piston 69 and the stem 6l recessed as at 62 so that when the piston 60 is moved upwardly, the pressure fluid lines 58 and 59 are in communication with each other. A fluid line 63 branches from the pressure fluid line 58 and communicates with a chamber or header 64 at the rear of the discharge conduit 17, the header 64 being arranged to issue blasts of pressure fluid forwardly therefrom at about the plane of the distributor plate 19 for projecting into the firebox the column of fuel which is above the truncated portion 24 of the discharge conduit, prior to the opening of the flredoor C.

Branching from the steam pipe 53 is a lead 65 which supplies steam to the pressure fluid head 20 as through the lead lines 23 which branch from said lead 65. The fluid leads 63 and 65 are connected by a check valve 66 which normally seated as shown in Figure 2 by the pressure in the lead 65. The fluid leads 58, 59 and 65 are provided with the valves 56a, 59a and 65a respectively, the valve 58o. being normally closed, and being opened only when it is desired to project forwardly the fuel in that portion of the discharge conduit mouth portion rearward of the steam head independently of the use of the regulating valve. The valve 59a is preferably opened to admit a higher pressure of steam into the lead 59 and hence into the recess 62 of the valve stem 61 than is allowed to pass through the valve 65a. of the pressure head lead 65.

The cylinder 70 of the regulating valve 57 is covered by a cap 72 having an atmospheric opening 73 in the flange 74 communicating with said cylinder and is provided with a recess 75 suitable to accommodate the extension 77 of the piston 60. A controllable valve 78 is threaded into the cap 72 to control the size of the atmospheric opening 79 which is in communication with said recess 75.

By referring to Figures 2 and 3 and 5, it will be observed that when the pedal arm 52 is depressed to interrupt the operation of the Stoker driving engine, a further pressure thereon will cause the lever arm 51 to raise the valve 47a providing communication between the compressed air line 49 and the lead 50 and permitting compressed air to enter the lead 50 from the lead 49 thereby raising the piston 60 and the stem 61 thereof. The upward movement of the piston 60 will then the rear thereof.

connect the pressure fluid leads 58 and 59 Gaus-contiguous edges of said rear and side walls deing the relatively high pressure of steam to enter the branch lead 63 for supplying steam to the chamber 54 for projecting into the firebox the column of fuel above the distributor plate 19 at At the same time, the higher steam pressure in the lead 63 will unseat the check valve 66 as shown in Figure 3, thereby admitting higher steam pressure to the pressure fluid head 20 for assisting the projection of fuel into the rebox. A short interval after the valve member '7l in its upward movement has effected communication between the leads 58 and 59 through its recessed portion 62, it effects in its continued upward movement, communication between the compressed air lines and 44 when the piston is raised above the point at which the line 44 opens into the cylinder '70. Communication between the lines 50 and 44 being established, compressed air passes from the line 50 into the line le and thence to the motor cylinder 36 for opening the door C.

It will be understood that the upward movement of the piston 60 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3 will be almost instantaneous due to the atmospheric opening '73 thus allowing the pressure uid leads 58 and 59 to be connected quickly, permitting steam to pass from the supply pipe 53, through the lead 59, into the cylinder 70, then successively through the leads 58 and 63 to the header 64, from which steam is emitted for projecting the fuel forwardly which is rearward and above the plane of the distributor plate. The further upward traverse of the piston 6) will be at a slower rate of speed commensurate with the size of the atmospheric opening '79 as controlled by the valve 78 for allowing the air in the recess '75 to be compressed and evacuated by the upward movement of the extension '7'7 of the piston 60. Thus, after the pressure fluid leads 58 and 59 are quickly connected, they will remain in communication with each other for an interval of time, as regulated by the valve '78, sucient to project all of the fuel forwardly which is rearward of the distributor plate and above the plane thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a new and useful upwardly and downwardly movable redoor having a flexible portion w lich is especially adapted for use as a hood or roof of a stoker discharge conduit mouth portion. The iiredoor being arranged so that when the firedocr is moved vertically, the lower portion thereof, which is necessarily flared rearwardly to serve as a roof for the stoker discharge mouth, is arranged to be raised in the manner as described, thereby occupying but little space in the cab rearward of the boiler backwall.

It will also be apparent that I have provided a novel Stoker control mechanism in conjunction with a pressure fluid operated door which is particularly useful and advantageous for use with stok-ers which discharge fuel through the firing opening closed by a firedoor forming a roof for said Stoker discharge mouth.

While but one ferm of the invention is illustrated, others are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims,

l claim:

l. ln a iirebox having a wall provided with a ring opening, a stoker conduit communicating with said opening, said conduit including a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of said rea-r wall and above the lower marginal edge of said firing opening, the

lining an opening extending upwardly and forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall and terminating near the upper marginal edge of said iring opening, and a door comprising flexibly related segments arranged to form a closure for said opening and to be raised from covering position to expose the opening.

2. In a iirebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker conduit communicating with said opening, said conduit including a rear wall terminating at its upper end below the level of the upper half of the firing opening, side walls extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of said rear wall above the level of the lower half of the firing opening, conduit being provided with an aperture opposite the firng opening extending from the upper edge of said rear wall upwardly and forwardly and terminating near the upper marginal edge of the ring opening and being defined by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls, and a door for said aperture, said door comprising exibly related segments and arranged to be raised from covering position to expose the firing opening,

3. In a nrebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker conduit communicating with said opening, said conduit including a rear wall and side walls extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of said rear wall and above the lower marginal edge of said nring opening, said sidewalls having the edges of their extended portions curving upwardly and forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall to points adjacent upper marginal edge of the ring opening, a race in each of said side walls following the contour of the curved edges thereof, a door forming a closure for the opening described by the curved edges of said side walls and the upper edge of said rear wall said door comprising flexibly related segments and being arranged to be received in said races and means for moving said dior along said races.

e. In a rebox having a wall provided with an opening therein for hand and Stoker firing, a stoker riser conduit communicating with said firing opening, said riser conduit including a rear wall term nating at its upper endl below the level of the upper half of the firing opening, side walls extending upwardly beyond the edge of said rear wail above the level of the lower half of the firing opening, said conduit being provided with an aperture opposite the firing opening extending from lthe upper edge of said rear wall upwardly and forwardly and terminating near the upper marginal edge of the firing opening and being deiined by contiguous edges of said rear and side walls, and a movable door when closed forming a closure for the aperture formed by the contiguous edges of the rear and side walls and forming together with said walls a closure for that portion of the riser conduit adjacent the firing opening.

5. In a fireoox having a wall provided with an opening therein for hand and stolrer firing, a Stoker riser conduit communicating with said ring opening, said riser conduit including a rear wall terminating at its upper end below the level of the upper half of the firing opening, side walls extending upwardly beyond the upper edge of said rear wall above the level of the lower half of the ring opening and spaced apart a distance to include the `ring opening therebetween, said conduit being provided with an aperture opposite the firing opening extending from the upper edge Va Stoker riser conduit communica* f beyond the upper edge oi said the firing opening, side walls e. d up ear wall icc as far as the upper rn rginal ed e of tlc-e opening and spaced apart -a distance to the firing opening therebetween, said conduit reing provided with an aperture opposite tl opening extending from the upper edge rear wall upwardly and orwardiy and tern l ing near the upper marginal edge oi the P opening and being defined by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls, and movable door when closed forming a closure ier :ne aperture formed by the contiguous edges of the rear and side walls and forming together with walls a closure for that por ion or the riser conduit adjacent the firing opening.

'7. In combination, a rebox having a backhead with a firing opening therein, a Stoker rise conduit in communication with the firing opening, said conduit having iront, rear and side walls, the upper end portion of the front wall extending forwardly into the lower portion of l the ring opening and the upper end of the rear opening and in register with the ng opening,

and a movable door when closed forming a closure for the aperture formed by the contiguous edges of the rear and side walls and ior g together with said walls a closure for that portion tion of the front wall or the cond it, when open exposing the entire portion part of the firing opening above the upper portion of the iront wall of the conduit.

8. In combination, a iirebox having a wall with a firing opening therein for hand and stoker iring, a stoker riser conduit in communication with the firing opening, said conduit having front, and side walls, the upper end portion of iront wall extending forwardly into the lower portion of the ring opening and the upper end of the rear wall being spaced from and terminating above that portion of the front wall extending into the firing opening and below the level of th upper half of the iiring opening, said side walls extending to Said rebox wall and beyond and above said rear wall to a height above the level of the lower half of the firing opening and spaced apart a distance to include the ring opening therebetween, said conduit being proided 'with an aperture opposite the firing opening extending irom the upper edge of said rear wall upwardly and forwardly and terminating near the upper marginal edge of the firing opening being dened by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls, and a movable door when closed iornfing closure for the aperture formed by the contiguous edges or" the rear and side walls and forming together with said walls a olosure for that portion of the nring opening above the upper end portion of the front wall of the conduit, door when open completely exposing that part of the ring opening above the upper end portion of the iront wall of the conduit.

9. In a rebox having a wall provided with a ring opening therein for hand and stoker ring, a Stoker conduit in communication with the lower portion or" said firing opening, said Stoker conduit at its delivery end including a rear Wall and side walls extending beyond and above the upper edge or" said rear wall and above the lower marginal edge of said ring opening, and a redoor having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said iredoor forming a closure for the upper portion of said firing opening and the lower portion of said iredoor forming a closure for the opening dened by the contiguous edges of Said rear and side walls.

"0. a rrebox lia-ving a wall provided with a open "f ther i for hand and Stoker rin communication with the rn ci firing opening, said Stoker t iti: delivery end including a rear wall g beyond and above the wall and above the lower firing opening, and a fireupper and lower portion, the rtion saiVA redoor being substantially o1 wien rebox wall and forming a clothe upper portion of said iring opening and t e lowei portion or said redoor extending diy roin said upper portion of the reforming a closure for the opening dey the contiguous edges lof said rear and side walls.

li. In a iirebox having a wall provided with a opening therein for hand and stoker ni a ,Stoker conclu: rigidly secured with said inbox wail c^' unicating with the lower portion of said ring opening, said stoker conduit at its de* y including a rear wall and side walls e: edge oi s id having an r rpor ton or" said iredoor forming a closure for the ripper port- .i of said ng opening the lower portion of said door ormng a closure for the opening donned by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls.

l2. in a nrebox hcvirg a wall provided with a firing for hand Stoker ring, a stoker conduit rigidly secured with said it and communicating with the lower portion o said opening, said stoker conduit at its delivery end including, a rear wall and side walls extending beyond and above the upper edge of rear wall and above 'the lower marginal or" J opening. Aedo-oi' having an and loi Ar portion, the upper portion of said nredoor being suostantially parallel with said irebox wall and ng a closure for the upper portion of said firing opening and the lower portion of said firedoor extending rearwardly from said upper portion of the redoor .Law f al).

on, the upper p arand forming a closure for the opening defined by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls.

13. In a rebox having a wall provided with a firing opening therein for hand and Stoker nring, a stoker conduit in communication with the lower portion of said opening, said stolrer conduit at its delivery end including a rear wall and side walls extending beyond said rear wall, said side walls having edges oi their extended portions curving upwardly and forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall to points adjacent the riring opening, and a nre door having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said firedoor being substantially parallel with said firebox wall and forming a closure for the upper portion of said firing opening and the lower portion of said nredoor extending rearwardly from said upper portion of the rlredoor and forming a closure for the opening donned by the contiguous edges of said rear and side walls.

14. n a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening therein for hand and Stoker nring, a Stoker conduit in communication with the iiring opening, the stolzer conduit having side walls including fuel supporting portions which extend above the upper terminus of the rear wall of the stoker conduit and above the lower marginal edge of the ng opening, the upper edges of said fuel supporting portions of the sidewalls terminating below the upper marginal edge of the firing opening, and a iiredoor having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said firedoor forming closure for the upper portion of said firing openiig above the upper edges of said fuel suppor'mg portions of the sidewalls and the lower portion of said redoor extending rearwardly from said upper portion of the iiredoor forming a wall of the stolrer conduit between said fuel supporting portions of the sidewalls and forward of the upper terminus of said rear wall.

15. In a flrebox having a wall provided with a ring opening therei for hand and Stoker ring, a Stoker conduit in communication with the firing opening, said stolzer conduit at its delivery end including a rear wall and walls, said sidewalls including fuel supporting portions extendiniT beyond and above the upper edge of said rear wall and above the lower marginal edge of said ring opening but terminating below the upper marginal edge thereof, the conduit opening forwardly into said ring opening between said fuel supporting portions of the sidewalls and opening upwardly between said fuel sup'- porting portions of the sidewalls and the plane of the r-ebox wall and the upper edge of the rear wall, said last named opening being defined by the contiguous edges of the rear wall and the fuel supporting portions of the side walls, and a firedoor having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said nredoor forming a closure for the upper portion of said firing opening above the upper edges of said fuel supporting portions of the side walls and the lower portion of said redoor forming a closure for the opening defined by the contiguous edges of said rear wall and said fuel supporting portions of the sidewalls.

16. In a iirebox having a wall provided with a firing opening therein for hand and Stoker ring, a stoker conduit communicating with the firing opening, said stoker conduit at its delivry end including a rear wall and side walls havfu-el supporting portions extending beyond and above the upper edge of said rear wall and above the lower marginal edge of said firing opening but terminating below the upper marginal edge thereof, the conduit opening forwardiy into said firing opening between said fuel supporting portions of the side walls and opening upwardly between said fuel supporting portions of the side walls and the plan-e of the flrebox wall and the upper edge of said rear Wall, said last named opening being defined by the contiguous edges of tl e rear wall and the fuel supporting portions of the side walls, and a redoor having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said iiredoor being substantially parallel with said firebox wall and forming a closure for the upper portion of said firing opening above the upper edges of said fuel supporting portions of the sidewalls and the lower portion of said redoor extending rearwardly from said upper portion of the iiredoor and forming a closure for the opening donned by the contiguous edges of said rear wall and said fuel supporting portions of the side walls.

17. In a nrebox having a wall provided with an opening therein for hand and Stoker firing, a stolrer feed conduit extending upwardly and forwardly to said firing opening, said conduit having in its upper portion opposite and remote from said firing opening an aperture constituting a manhole for entry into the rebox and for hand ring of fuel, said aperture extending downwardly below the level of the upper half of said firing opening and upwardly above the level of Irhe lower half of said firing opening, said conduit having sidewalls extending upwardly above the lower marginal edge of said aperture and above the level of the lower half of the firing opening and spaced apart a distance to include the firing opening therebetween, the horizontal distance between the vertical planes passing through the longitudinal extremities of said aperture being greater than the longitudinal horizontal distance across said conduit adjacent the lower extremity of said aperture, a door closing said aperture extending forward of the transverse vertical plane passed through the interior upper edge of the forward wall of the feed conduit.

PAUL A. KETCHPEL.

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