US2009450A - Grate structure - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1935.

J. W.,HULSON GRATE STRUCTURE 2 SheetsSheet 2 awveutoz 172772021 20.17u2s0n Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The invention relates to grate structures of the general type having parallel fire-supporting ridges, grooves extending longitudinally between said ridges to receive and disperse the draught air, andtuyere openings for delivering draught air to said grooves. With such grates, the ridges are prone to fuse and scale, particularly in the higher range of draughts and when the grate is subjected to the soaking temperature" encountered when very little draught air is being supplied, for instance, during stand by service on stationary boilers and locomotives held under fire.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the above difficulty by the provision of an improved structure in which the air discharged from the grooves flows upwardly and laterally from them in contact with the ridges, thereby so bathing said ridges with the ingoing air as to maintain them at a safe temperature.

A further object is to provide for imparting a whirling motion to the air as it leaves the grooves thereby more intimately mixing it with the combustible gases to better support combustion.

A still further aim'is to provide, in accordance with accepted practice, for constructing the improved gate from finger bars and finger plates.

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

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view partly broken away and in horizontal section. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the finger plates, the finger bar being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but showing a different form of construction.

Fig. 5' is a vertical sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a portion of a grate is shown including a plurality of finger bars such as I0 and a plurality of contacting finger plates II mounted upon each bar, the various bars and plates being preferably connected with each other 'in the manner disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,500,920, issued July 8, 1924 to myself and William F. Bradley.

Each finger plate I I includes an elongated firesupporting ridge I2 which is transversely convex as denoted at I3. Integral with the opposite sides of the ridge I2 respectively and projecting laterally from the base portion of said ridge are two flanges I4 of identical size and shape, said flanges extending throughout the length of the ridge I2. Integral with the inner portions of 5 these flanges I4 and the base portion of the ridge I2 is a central vertical longitudinal supporting web I5 which is provided with a suitable hub I6 mounted upon the finger bar I0.

The ridge I2 is of a width considerably greater than the thickness of the web I5 so that both said ridge and the flanges I4 project laterally in 'opposite directions from. said web. In these projecting portions, tuyre openings I1 are formed for conducting draught air from the ash-pit into the air-receiving grooves G which are formed between the ridges I2 when the various finger plates II are positioned upon the finger bar III. The air discharged into the grooves G is discharged upwardly and laterally from these grooves, and due to the transverse convexity of the ridges I2, the air will flow laterally over and constantly bathe said ridges, keeping them at such a temperature as to prevent fusing and scaling. To facilitate this flow of air, each ridge I2 is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves I8 which preferably lead from its opposite sides to points near the longitudinal center of the ridge.

It will be observed that the delivery ends of the tuyere openings I! are in opposed relation at opposite sides of the grooves G so that the dis charging streams of draught air strike each other head-on. This causes dissipation of the streams and the discharging air flows not only directly upward from the grooves G but laterally along and in contact with the convex surfaces I3 of the ridges I2. Preferably, alternate tuyere openings at either side of each groove G are relatively large and small as shown, and the relatively small openings at one side of each groove are directly opposite the relatively large openings at the opposite side thereof. By thus admitting opposing streams of different sizes, I have found that the air is violently whirled as it is discharged from the grooves G, thereby facilitating intimate mixture with the combustible gases and insuring better combustion. This difference in relative sizes of opposed tuyre openings, need not be carried out entirely throughout the length of each finger plate II, in which connection it is to be observed that the relation of relatively large and small openings is not shown at the central portions of the various finger plates, to provide a more even distribution of metal and a stronger structure.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the finger plates l9 are very similar to those shown in my U. S. Patent No. 1,715,294 of May 28, 1929. Each plate is provided with a relatively high step 20 and a comparatively low step 2| so that when the plates are assembled, they provide the grate with longitudinal fire-supporting ridges and with draught air receiving and dispersing grooves between said ridges. The high steps 20 have the corners thereof toward the grooves rounded as denoted at 22 so that each ridge is given a. transversely convex form for the same purpose as above described. The openings 23 which admit the draught air into the grooves G are preferably alternately large and small with the large openings at either side of each groove directly opposed to the small openings at the opposite side thereof, for whirling the air as above explained.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided an exceptionally simple and inexpensive construction which will not only overcome the prior difiiculty with regard to fusing and. scaling of the ridges, but will promote more thorough combustion. As excellent results have been obtained from the specific constructions shown, they are preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may of course be made.

I claim: I

1. A grate having parallel fire-supporting ridges, air grooves extending longitudinally between said ridges, and tuyre openings at opposite sides of said grooves for conducting draf t air into said grooves and forcing said air upwardly and laterally from said grooves, the tuyere openings at each side of each groove being alternately large and small with the large openings opposed to the small openings to whirl the air as it discharges from the grooves, said ridges being transversely convex to allow the air to completely bathe said ridges as it discharges upwardly and laterally from said grooves.

2. A grate having parallel fire-supporting ridges, air grooves extending longitudinally between said ridges, and tuyere openings at opposite sides of said grooves for conducting draft air into said grooves and forcing said air upwardly and laterally from said grooves, the tuyere openings at each side of each groove being alternately large and small, with the large openings opposed to the'small openings to whirl the air as it discharges from the grooves, said ridges being transversely convex and having transverse air conduct 'ing grooves leading from opposite sides thereof,

allowing the air to completely bathe said ridges as it discharges upwardly and laterally from said grooves.

3. In a grate, a finger bar, a plurality of contacting finger plates mounted thereon, said finger plates being shaped to provide parallel fire-supporting ridges and air conducting grooves extending longitudinally between said ridges, said finger plates having tuyre' openings at opposite sides of said grooves for conducting draft air into said grooves and forcing it upwardly and laterally from said grooves, the tuyere openings at each side of each groove being alternately large and small with the large openings opposed to the small openings to whirl the air as it discharges from the grooves, said ridges being transversely convex to allow the air to completely bathe said ridges as it discharges upwardly and laterally from said grooves.

4. In a grate, a finger bar, and a plurality of contacting finger plates mounted thereon, said finger plates being shaped to provide parallel firesupporting ridges and air conducting grooves extending longitudinally between said ridges, said finger plates having tuyere openings at opposite sides of said grooves for conducting draft air into said grooves and forcing it upwardly and laterally from said grooves, the tuyere openings at each side of each groove being alternately large and small with the large openings opposed to the small openings to whirl the air as it discharges from the grooves, said ridges being transversely convex and having transverse air-conducting grooves leading from opposite sides thereof, allowing the air to completely bathe said ridges as it discharges upwardly and laterally from said grooves.

5. A finger plate comprising an elongated firesupporting ridge having opposite substantially vertical longitudinal sides, two longitudinal flanges integral with said opposite sides of said ridge respectively and projecting laterally-from the base portion of said ridge, and a central vertical longitudinal supporting web integral with said base portion and said flanges, said ridge being of a width considerably greater than the transverse thickness of said web, said flanges and said base portion of said ridge being formed with tuyere openings leading from the lower sides of said flanges through said opposite sides of said ridge.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5; the upper side of said ridge being transverselyconvex.

7. A structure as specified in claim 5; the upper side of said ridge being transversely convex and having transverse air conducting grooves leading from said opposite sides of said ridge.

8. A structure as specified in claim 5; said tuyere openings being alternately large and small for the purpose set forth.

9. A structure as specified in claim 5; the up-- per side of said ridge being transversely convex, said tuyre openings being alternately large and small for the purpose set forth.

10. A structure as specified in claim 5; the upper side of said ridge being transversely convex and having transverse air conducting grooves leading from said opposite sides of said ridge, said tuyre openings being alternately large and small for the purpose set forth.

JOHN W. HULSON.

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