US2053751A - Stoker - Google Patents

Description

4 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1936. E. A. TURNER STOKER Fild July 17, 1931 INI/ENTOR.

QM/11M if!! 515555.51. l nn $595541 154445151125442 E. A. TURNER Sept. 8, 1936.

STOKER Filed July 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 uwm.wiwi/@wwwwww/iwi@ lill Il! l n @KI N Q @In w f mw Nn l \\l/ I\!I| E. A. TURNER Sept. s, 1936.

STOKER Filed July 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 NVENTOR.

Sept. 8, 1936.

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E. A. TURNER sT'oKER Filed July 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented sept. s, 193e UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE STOKER Application July 17, 1931, Serial No. 551,378

21 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers for general application and more particularly in some of its details to stokers especially adapted for use in connection with locomotives both large and small such as road and switcher engines.

It is the general object of the invention to improve and perfect the construction of the elements of a stoker and to provide a new advantageous combination thereof resulting in an improved stoker possessing a minimum of moving or wearing parts compactly positioned so as to occupy but little space on the locomotive and tender and arranged to transfer fuel in a. loose state from the source of supply to the fire in a direct route. In carrying out this general object of the invention it contemplates, among other features, the provision of a sectional feed conduit mounted against the underside of the locomotive and tend; er decks passing fuel from vthe tender fuel bunker to a distributor at the firing opening in the backwall of the locomotive firebox above the firebox grate, the feed conduit and distributor being disposed wholly beneath and below the plane of the locomotive and tender decks.

Another object is to provide in a locomotive stoker of the above characteristics an improved arrangement of rigidly mounted feed conduits so disposed as to permit relative movement between the locomotive and its tender, and one embodying an improved riser fuel casing arranged to receive fuel by power or manual delivery from the tender fuel bunker or other source of supply.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention which consist in the combination and arrangement of the parts and in certain features of construction will become apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side View of the rearward portion of a locomotive and the forward portion of its tender with some parts in vertical longitudinal section and' others in elevation, and with the stoking mechanism therefor shown in similar section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the stoker mechanism shown in Figure 1 with portions of the locomotive and tender shown conventionally;

Figure 3 is a section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. l with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating another modified form of the invention tive and its tender or other steam generating de- 10 vice, thereby occupying when installed on a locomotive no space whatever in the cab and a minimum of water space on the tender.

. For purposes of description the invention as embodied in three different practical forms will 'v be described and illustrated as applied to a locomotive, but it will be understood that its use is not so limited, inasmuch as it is capable of adaptation to other steam generating devices such for example, as boilers for steamboats and stationary v power plants.

On the drawings thelocomotive is represented at A, its tender at B and the articulated coupling member therebetween at C. The locomotive is equipped with a frame IIJ upon which there is mounted a-rebox I I having a backwall I2 with a firing opening therein at I3. I4 represents the firebox grates and I5 the locomotive cab which is provided with a floor I6. The tender B is provided with the conventional fuel bunker I'I and water compartment I8 mounted upon the frame I9. The fuel bunker has a centrally apertured floor which is sometimes termed the tender deck. This deck is in about the same horizontal plane as the cab deck I6. The fuel is conveyed from the fuel bunker I1 to the firebox I I by stoker mechanism as hereinafter fully described.

The preferred form of the invention is shown in Figures 1 toY 5. Referringl to these figures the Stoker mechanism as a whole is represented at D. It consists primarily of a locomotive unit E and a tender unit F. The latter unit comprises a trough 2I disposed within a water tight compartment 22|! and being rigidly fixed by suitable attachment means, not shown, through laterally extending flanges 22, 22a to the underside of the tender deck 20. The trough communicates with the fuel bunker through the elongated opening 23 of the floor 20. Shiftable plates 24 are mounted between the trough and the floor for controlling the passage of fuel from the bunker into the trough. The trough 2| terminates adjacent the front portion of the tender where it carries a to a point on the locomotive beneath the cab deck I6. There the tubular extension delivers fuel to the locomotive unit E.

The locomotive unit E comprises a hopper-like riser casing 25 substantially V-shaped in vertical and horizontal cross section, which casing extends forwardly and upwardly from a point adjacent the articulated coupling member C through the ring opening I3 into the lrebox II where in a distributor member indicated as a whole at 21 forms the forward end portion of the casing and is disposed a sufficient height above the grates I4 to permit the fuel to be spread thereover in aerial paths. The ring opening I3 is elongated in order to receive in its lower portion the forwardend of the riser casing 26 and to permit through its upper portion the manual firing of fuel from above the cab deck I6. Ihat portion of the opening above the deck is closed by any suitable firedoor represented at 28. The riser casing 26 is provided with a vertically disposed apertured rear wall 29 and vimperforate sidewalls 3U and 3l which slope inwardly and downwardly from their top marginal edges to form a substantially V-shaped hopper having an arcuate shaped bottom wall 32. This bottom wall extends forwardly and upwardly from the rear wall 2S in a substantially straight line through the firing opening I3 to the distributor 21, and the sidewalls 30 and 3| extend forwardly and inwardly from the rear wall 29 through the opening I3 to the distributor 21. This construction forms a peculiarly shaped riser casing which may be said to be V-shaped in vertical and horizontal cross section with the vertex of the riser being disposed at the firing opening I3 or within the firebox II. A flange 33 extending laterally in a horizontal plane from the upper marginal edges of the back and sidewalls of the riser casing provides means to Ywhich the deck I6 is attached, forming a support for the cab deck, and at the same time, forms an open mouth 34 in the riser casing normally closed or covered by the deck I6.

In other words, the deck constitutes a top wall for the riser casing 26 rearward of the backwall I2. This covering deck is provided with a hinged portion 35 through which access may be had into the riser or through which fuel may be delivered by hand.

An opening 3B is formed in the riser casing backwall 29 to receive. the tubular extension 25 of the tender unit F. This extension as best shown in Figure 1, projects through the wall 29 into the casing 26. To prevent loss of fuel between the aforesaid parts and to prevent admission of air through the opening 36 a flanged sleeve 31 is mounted on the vtubular extension 25 and is held in a covering position over the opening 36 by the compression spring 38 which seats against the flange 39 of the extension.

The conveying means for advancing fuel from the bunker to the iirebox consists of a screw conveyor 40 which rotates in the trough 2I and a screw conveyor 4I mounted within the riser casing 26. The latter screw is driven from its rearward end by worm gearing consisting of a worm wheel 42 mounted on the screw shaft 43 which wheel is' driven by a transversely extending worm 44 coupled at 45 to a shaft 48 of the prime mover 41, and which worm at its opposite side is mounted in a clutch member 48 arranged to engage clutch teeth 49 on a worm 50. This worm drives a worm wheel 5I which transmits power through the joint 52 for driving the trough screw conveyor 40 as will presently appear. A rocker arm 53 is provided to engage or disengage, as may be desired, the worm 50 with the worm 44, and hence,

with the prime mover 41. All of the aforesaid gearing is mounted within a gear housing 54 formed integral with the riser casing 26. Suitable covers as at 55 and 56 are secured to the gear housing 54 in positions to permit access to and removal of the gearing.

The screw 40 is driven from its rearward end through gears 51 and 58 mounted within the gear housing 59 formed integrally with the trough 2I, which gears are partly held in position by the removable cover SD. Power is transmitted to the " gears 51 and 58 through the shaft 6I at its forward end connected to the universal joint 52 mounted on the shaft 62 of the worm wheel 5I. Thus, it will be seen both screws 40 and 4I are driven from the common prime mover 41 through gearing arranged to permit the screw 4U to be cut out of operation independently of the conveyor 4I. This is desirable because any foreign material in the fuel that is likely to clog the Stoker will be confined in the tender unit F, inasmuch as there is no place for a clog to occur in the locomotive unit E.A Therefore, it is necessary, should the tender unit F become clogged by foreign matter, to provide such means as heretofore described to place. this unit in inoperative relation with the locomotive unit. By so doing the fuel can be fed manually from the fuel bunker into the riser casing through the hinge cover of the deck IG and the screw 4I utilized to advance the fuel to the distributor 21 which will function to spread the fuel over the rlre and thereby make it un'- necessary for the stoker operator to do all the work of firing when the tender unit of the stoker is inoperative.

In normal operation, in the preferred form of the invention, fuel from the bunker I1 falls 'through the opening 23 of the tender deck 20 provided by the slidable plates 24 into the trough 2I from which it is advanced by the screw conveyor 46 forward into the riser casing 26 where the fuel falls in loose form and by gravity from the end of the tubular extension 25 directly on to the screw conveyor 4I which then advances the fuel forwardly and upwardly in a substantially straight course into the rebox II where the fuel is received by the distributor member 21. This member consists of a rearward arcuate shaped head portion 63 flanged at 64 for attachment to a similarly shaped flange 65 at the forward end of the riser casing 26. The head 63 is cored at 66 to receive a supply of pressure fluid from the supply line 61. The pressure iiuid is discharged from the head through any suitable number of nozzles or openings 68 arranged in the arcuate face of the head B3 to issue a fan shaped blast over and above the plate-like extension 69 which as shown is integral with the head 66. The flanges 10 and 1I at the forward end of the riser casing form in effect rearward extensions of the plate 69. These extensions together with the forward end of the riser casing 26 and the distributor member 21 are protected from the fire within the box I I by the apertured protecting wall 12 formed above the grate I4.

In this preferred form of the invention as heretofore described it will be understood that while the locomotive unit E, and the tender unit F of the stoker mechanism are rigidly secured respectively to the locomotive and the tender, their construction is such as to permit articulation of the parts. Articulation is provided by making the opening 3G in the riser backwall 29 of sufficient size to permit movement of the tubular eX- tension 25 with the tender B. For this same reameansgthrough the lateral flanges IIB extending 'from the upper .marginal portions of the upright vson the riser casing 26 flares laterally at its rearl.ward end.

A modification of the preferred form of the invention is shown in Figure 6. In this form the tender unit of the stoker comprises a trough rigidly secured to the underside of the tender deck 20. The trough at its forward end is connected with a telescoping extensible .tubular conduit indicated as a whole at 8|. This conduit comprises a rearward section 82 universally connected at 83 with the trough 80, and the forward section 84 universally connected at 85 with the rear wall 86 of a riser casing 81. The conveying means on the tender comprises the rearward screw section 88 and the forward screw section 88a jointed at 89 in thevicinity of the joint 83 of the conduits. This construction permits articulation between the parts of the Stoker mechanism of the locomotive and Iof the tender. The riser casing 81 of this form of the invention differs from that of the preferred form in that the distributor as shown at 90 is disposed rearward of the stream of fuel advanced by the riser screw 9|. The distributor head 80 receives pressure fluid from anyysuitable number of supply lines 90a. This fluid is discharged through nozzles or openings 92 arranged to discharge a fan-shaped blast against the fuel stream across the mouth or front end portion of the riser casing. This end of the casing as in the preferred form of construction is protected from the fire by the protecting wall 12. In all other respects this form of the invention is similar to the preferred form.

Another modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures '7 and 8. This form is particularly applicable to small road or switcher locomotives.

Referring to the aforesaid figures the tender B has a water compartment |00 and a fuel bunker |0| separated by suitable partition plates as at |02. The partition plates guide the fuel in the bunker to the forward end portion thereof adjacent thefuel gate |03. Just rearward of the gate the floor |04 of the tender is apertured at |05 through which aperture fuel falls by gravity into the chute or spout |06. The flow of fuel is controlled by a slidable plate |01. The fuel passing through the chute |06 is received in the riser casing indicated generally at |08. The chute |06 is flanged at |09 for attachment to the floor 20 and it is disposed in a small compartment |I0 formed in the front portion of the tender beneath the fuel bunker. To insure free flow of the fuel by gravity from the fuel bunker |0| into the riser casing |08, the chute |00 is disposed at an acute angle greater than 45 degrees from a horizontal plane or the floor |04. The riser casing |08 is iixedly secured to the locomotive A as will presently appear.

The lower end portion of the riser casing is made in the form of an open mouthed hopper I This hopper extends beneath and surrounds the lower end portion of the chute |06. It flares sufllciently to permit relative movement between the locomotive and tender, and at the same time, to receive all of the fuel from the chute without loss or overflow. From the-hopper portion the riser extends forwardly and upwardly into the firing opening l2 in the backwall I3 of the firebox H4. The firing opening is elongated to receive in its lower portion the forward end of the riser casing and to permit through its upper portion manual firing of fuel above the cab deck H5, This deck forms a top wall or cover for the risercasing and is attached thereto by any suitable fastening wallsi I 1 `of the riser casing. The distributor member ||8 at the front end of the riser casing may be formed the same as the distributor `21 of the preferred form of the invention, and likewise the construction of the protecting wall ||9 and the rebox grate |20, may be the same.

In this and the previously described forms of the invention, brackets |2| and |22 secure the forward end of the riser casing to the frebox backwall a'nd the lower end portion of the riser casing is supported from the locomotive frame |23 by any suitable supporting means such as the plate |24. Thus, the riser casing forms a support for its covering floor or cab deck.

As in the other forms of the invention a screw conveyor is employed to advance the fuel through the riser casing. This conveyor is shown at |25 and is driven from its rearward end through suitable gearing at |26', This gearing is mounted within a housing |21 integrally formed with the casing |08 and at one side it is flanged to carry the prime mover |28. In operation of this modification of the invention the fuel from the bunker |0| flows by gravity through the opening |05 controllable by the plate |01 into the chute |06 from which it passes into the hopper of the riser casing |08 where the fuel is then advanced in a substantially straight course through the riser casing into the firebox by the screw conveyor|25 operating at a rate of speed sufficient to prevent accumulation of fuel in the hopper. As the fuel enters the firebox'it is received bv the distributor |8 .which spreads it over the fire in aerial paths as heretofore described in con-4 nection with the preferred form of the invention.

Preferably, the riser screw of each embodiment of the invention Vis inclined at an angle of less than 45 degrees'from the horizontal at which angle of inclination the screw will .elevate fuel without exterior pressure being applied to the fuelV stream.

Those familiar with stokers will recognize that the invention in the embodiments shown represents a highly simplified stoker construction very effective VVand ellicient in operation and one wherein Ya minimum of moving parts may be ernployed. It has the advantage of distributing the fuel fro-m a distributor disposed at the firing opening within the iirebox combined with the delivery of fuel through the iirebox backwall, and with all of the mechanism including the distributor' if desired being disposed beneath the locomotive and tender decks or similar decks or firing floors of other steam generating devices. Another advantage is that fuel may be conveyed from the source of supply to the flre in a loose form free from excessive grinding and pulverizing pressures.

I claim: Y

l. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate'and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening'in said backwall extending above and below said floor, a riser fuel casing, said riser casing being V-shaped in vertical cross section and being locatedV wholly below the plane of said floor and at its forwardv end extending into said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grate, the sidewalls of said casing converging forwardly and flaring upwardly and'its bottom wall sloping forwardly and upwardly to form `a casing of less cross sectional area at its forward end than at its rearward end, means in said casing for forwardly advancing fuel therethrough and a fuel receiving opening into said casing above the rearward end of said fuel advancing means and below the plane of said fixing floor.

2. 'In combination, a frebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a nring oor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall, a riser fuel casing extending into said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grate, that portion of said casing rearward of the iirebox backwall being disposed wholly beneath said firing floor, said casing comprising lforwardly converging sidewalls, anv arcuate shaped bottom wall sloping forwardly and upwardly to form with the sidewalls a casing of less cross sectional area at its forward end than at its rearward end, a transverse rear wall, said firing floor forming a top wall for said casing, a fuel receiving opening in said casing at its rearward end portion, a screw within said casing mounted approximately coextensive with said bottom wall, said fuel receiving opening being above the rearward end of said screw and below the plane of said firing floor, said screw advancing the fuel in a substantially straight course through said casing, and means at the forward end of said casing for receiving the fuel and proiecting the same over the firebed in said rebox.

3. In combination, a firebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall, a riser fuel casing inclined upwardly toward the backwall, said casing communicating with said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grate, said casing at its rear portion being of greater cross sectional area than its forward portion and said rear portion being disposed beneath said floor, said floor forming a top covering for that portion of said casing mounted therebeneath, a transverse rear wall for said casing, a main feed opening into said casing through said rear wall, an auxiliary feed opening into said casing through said floor, a screw mounted within and approximately coextensive of said casing arranged therein to advance the fuel therethrough in a substantially straight course and distributing means receiving the fuel advanced through said casing for projecting the same over the rebed in said firebox.

4. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall. a V-shaped riser fuel casing inclined upwardly toward the backwall, said casing located wholly below the plane of said floor and at its forward end extending into said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grate, said casing comprising forwardly converging sidewalls, an arcuate shaped bottom sloping forwardly and upwardly to form with the sidewalls a casing of less cross sectional area at its forward end than at its rearward end, and a transverse rear wall, said firing floor forming a. top wall for said casing, a main feed opening into said casing through said rear wall, an auxiliary feed opening into said casing through said oor, and a feed screw mounted along said arcuate bottom of the casing for receiving fuel from said feed openings and advancing the same forwardly into said firing opening.

5. In combination, a rebox having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall extending above and below said floor, a riser casing inclined upward toward the firing opening and at its forward end opening upwardly in said firing opening and extending rearwardly from said backwall, the greater portion of said riser casing rearward of said backwall being disposed wholly beneath said firing floor, said riser casing at its rearward end being V-shaped in vertical cross section and having laterally extending flanges extending from the upper marginal edges of its sidewalls for attachment to said floor, said floor forming a top wall for the rear portion of said casing and provided with an aperture and a door therefor affording access into said casing, a rearward transverse wall for said casing having an opening therein for the introduction of fuel. and means in said casing for conveying fuel therethrough and delivering it into said firing opening.

6.y In a stoker for a locomotive having a cab deck and a tender provided with a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel transfer conduit beneath the fuel bin, an upwardly inclined hopper-like riser casing mounted beneath the locomotive cab deck, an opening in the rear wall of said riser casing, a conduit extension communicating at its rear- Ward end with said transfer conduit and extending forwardly and passing freely through the opening in said riser casing rearwall, a flange circumscribing' said extension intermediate its ends, a flanged tube slidably mounted on the forward end of said extension between said first named flange and the riser casing rear wall, and a spring seated between said first named flange and said slidably mounted flanged tube for maintaining 'said flanged tube in contact with said riser casing rear wall.

'7. In a locomotive provided with a rebox having a backwall and a cab deck extending rearwardly thereof, a firing opening in said backwall extending above and below said cab deck, a riser casing mounted on the locomotive opening at its forward end through the lower portion of the ring opening, said riser casing having a sloping arcuate base inclined upward toward said rebox, upright diverging sidewalls, a rear wall, an open top and flanges extending laterally from the upper edges of said sidewalls and rear wall for supporting the locomotive cab deck.

8. In a locomotive provided with a rebox having a backwall, a cab deck extending rearwardly thereof, a ring opening extending above and below said locomotive cab deck, a hopper-like riser casing substantially V-shaped in cross section mounted beneath said locomotive cab deck and inclined upward toward said nrebox, and means formed with said V-shaped riser casing for supporting the cab deck thereupon, said cab deck forming the roof portion of said riser casing.

9. In a locomotive provided with a rlrebox having a backwall, a cab deck extending rearwardly thereof and a tender for said locomotive provided with a fuel bin, a stoker including a fuel transfer conduit beneath the fuel bin of said tender, a screw in said transfer conduit, a firing opening extending above andbelow said locomotive cab deck, a hopper-like riser casing substantially V- shaped in cross section mounted beneath said locomotive cab deck for receiving fuel from said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly through the lower portion of said firing opening, and means formed with said V- shaped riser casing for supporting the cab deck thereupon, said cab deck forming the roof portion of said riser casing.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a Stoker riser casing for a furnace in the form of a unitary ing floor portion and said rear and sidewalls terminating in approximately the samel plane.'

11. As a new article of manufacture, a stoker riser casing V-shaped in vertical and in longi-V tudinal horizontal cross section, said casing being` lof greater cross sectional area at its` rearward end than at its forward end and comprising upright longitudinally extending forwardly converging sidewalls, an arcuate shaped bottom sloping upwardly .from its rearward end to form a common vertex with said sidewalls at their forward ends, and an upright transverse rear wall apertured for the introduction of fuel to the casing, the vertical height of said sloping bottom being approximately equal to the vertical height of said rear wall.

l2. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall, a riser fuel casing extending into r,said firing opening Aand terminating above the Ylevel of said grate, the greater portion ofk said casing rearward of the lrebox backwall being disposedwholly beneath said firing floor, said casing being V-shaped in vertical and horizontal cross section, the sidewalls thereof converging forwardly and flaring upwardly and its bottom wall sloping forwardly and upwardly to form with said sidewalls a common vertex at the forward end of the casing, means disposed in said casing for advancing fuel therethrough into said firing opening, a fuel receiving opening into said casing above the rearward end of said fuel advancing means and below the plane of said firing floor and means for passing fuel into said casing through said fuel receiving opening.

13. In combination, a iirebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall extending above and below said fioor, a hopper-like riser casing mounted beneath the plane of said firing floor, said oasing being inclined upward toward the rebox and at its forward end extending into said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grate, said casing having upwardly diverging sidewalls and a rear wall, said firing fioor forming a closure for the opening in said hopper-like casing rearward of the backhead defined by the upper marginal edges of said hopper sidewalls and rear wall.

14. In a locomotive provided with a rebox having a backwall and a firing opening therethrough and a tender for said locomotive provided with a fuel bin, grates in said rebox, a cab deck extending rearwardly from said backwall in a plane above said grates, said firing opening extending above and below said deck, a hopper-like riser casing mounted beneath the plane of said cab deck, said casing being inclined upward toward the iirebox and at its forward end extending into said firing opening and terminating above the level of said grates, a screw in said riser casing arranged to convey fuel therethrough, said riser casing having upwardly diverging sidewalls and a rear wall, said firing floor forming a closure for the opening in said hopper-like casing rearward of the backhead defined by the upper marginal edges vof said hopper sidewalls and rear wall, the rear wall of said hopper having an opening therein above the lower end of the screw in said hopper for the introduction of fuel, a fuel transfer conduit mounted beneath theffuel bin of the tender extending forwardly and delivering through the opening in saidhopper rear wall and a screw conveyor in said transfer conduit.

15. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending therefrom,V said backwall having a firing opening therein adjacent said'fioor, a riser casing extending forwardly and upwardly from beneath said floor into the lower portion of said firing opening and terminating above said grate, that portion of said riser casingV rearward of the backwall being disposed beneath said Aiioor and that portion withinthe firing opening being positioned wholly below vthe 'extended plane of thev firing floor and opening upwardly to discharge fuel insaid plane, a screw in said riser casing for advancing the fuel therethrough, the delivery end of said screw terminating at the discharge opening of the riser casing whereby the fuel is'advanced by the impelling iiights of the screw to the point of emission from n the riser casing, and` means at the upwardly opening lend of saidriser4 casing for distributing fuel in aerial pathsover said grate. l v

16. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending therefrom, said backwall having a firing opening therein adjacent said floor, a riser casing extending forwardly and upwardly from beneath said floor into the lower portion of said firing opening and terminating above said grate, that portion of said riser casing rearward of the backwall being disposed beneathV said iioor and that portion within the firing opening being positioned wholly below the extended plane of the firing floor and opening upwardly to discharge fuel in said plane, means in said riser casing for advancing the fuel therethrough, and means at the upwardly opening end of said riser casing subjacent the forward edge thereof and disposed below the aforesaid extended plane acting on the fuel spilling over said forward edge for distributing the fuel in aerial paths over said grate.

17. In combination, a locomotive and a tender each having a deck, said decks lying in approximately the same horizontal plane, said locomotive having a flrebox provided with a grate and with a backwall having an opening therein above the grate and adjacent the locomotive deck and said tender having a fuel bin above the tender deck, means for transferring fuel from said fuel bin to said rebox including a conduit system positioned wholly below said decks communicating with the fuel bin and opening upwardly in said firing opening above said grate, said conduit system arranged with the point of initial feeding thereto from the fuel bin and the point of final discharge therefrom in the firing opening positioned in approximately the same level, said transferring means also including a screw conveyor in the discharge portion of said conduit system, the extended axis of said screw passing through the discharge opening of the discharge portion of said conduit system, and means at the upwardly opening end of the conduit system for distributing the fuel in aerial paths over said grate.

18. As a new article 0f manufacture, a Stoker riser casing for a furnace in the form of a unitary member comprising a sloping arcuate floor portion, upwardly extending diverging side walls, and a rear wall apertured for the introduction of fuel to the casing, the upper marginal edges of said sloping floor portion and said rear and side walls terminating in approximately the same plane. Y

19. In combination, a firebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall above the level of said grate, a

stoker fuel discharge casing extending forwardly from beneath said firing floor into the firing opening and terminating above said grate, that portion of said casing rearward of the backwall being disposed beneath said floor and that portion within the firing opening being positioned wholly below the extended plane of the ring floor and opening upwardly to discharge fuel, a screw in said riser casing for advancing the fuel therethrough, the extended axis of said screw passing through the discharge opening of the riser casing, and means at the upwardly opening end of said riser casing for distributing fuel in aerial paths over said grate.

20. In combination, a firebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a firing floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall above the level of said grate, a riser fuel casing extending forwardly from beneath said firing floor into the firing opening and terminating above said grate, that portion of said easing rearward of the backwall being disposed beneath said firing floor and that portion within the firing opening being positioned wholly below the extended plane of the ring floor and opening upwardly to discharge fuel, and means in said casing for forwardly advancing fuel therethrough, said casing opening upwardly through said firing floor and opening rearwardly below said firing iioor above the rearward end of said fuel advancing means.

21. In combination, a rebox provided with a grate and having a backwall and a ring floor extending rearwardly therefrom, a firing opening in said backwall above the level of said grate, a riser fuel casing, said riser casing being V-shaped in vertical lcross section and extending forwardly from beneath said `firing floor into the firing opening and terminating above said grate, that portion of lsaid casing rearward of the backwall being disposed beneath Said firing floor and that portion within the firing Opening being positioned wholly below the extended plane o f the firing floor and opening upwardly to discharge fuel, the side walls of said casing converging forwardly and flaring upwardly, and means in said casing for forwardly advancing fuel therethrough, said casing opening upwardly through said ring floor and opening rearwardly below said firing floor above the rearward end of said fuel advancing means.

E.v ARCHER TURNER.

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