US2128940A - Stoker mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1938.

w. T. HANNA STOKER MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M M S TY N m m2 w T Mm ,m ram fi Sept. 6, 1938. w. 'r. HANNA STOK'ER MECHANISM Filed April 28. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR William T. Hanna ATTORNEYS 44k HQ M Sept. 6, 1938. w. T. HANNA 2,128,940

STOKER MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR William 1? fianna ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention pertains to mechanism for distributing fuel over a fire bed. Although the embodiments of the invention chosen for illustration are particularly adapted for the distribution of coal, and the like, overthe fire bed of a locomotive, the invention is adapted for dispersing and distributing solid particles of other kinds for other purposes. I

In stokers for spreading fuel over the fire box of the locomotive the fuelusually flows from the locomotive tender to a hopper located therebelow, and thence it is moved through a conduit or passageway to the fire box. From the mouth of this passageway the fuel is spread as uniformly as possible over the entire area of the fire bed by fuel distributing mechanism preferably employing a fluid blast as fuel impelling or conveying'means. The distributing mechanism is located relatively close to the fire bed and so 20 is exposed to the intense heat of the fire. It is thus subjected to damaging effects to which other parts of the stoking mechanism are not exposed. Such being the case, it is desirable to have the parts comprising the distributing mechanism protected against the damaging effect of high temperature in so far as possible, and also to make them readily replaceable in the event of damage. It is one of the objects of this invention to provide for such replacement.

Further, fire boxes in different locomotives vary in dimensions, the inclination of the back heads vary, and the nature and condition of the fuel may change from day to day. On one locomotive the distributing mechanism may necessarily be located relatively low in a long fire box, while in another it may necessarily be located relatively high in a short fire box. In each, the direction of, and the force with which the fuel is impelled from the distributing mechanism will vary. To compensate for these variables, it is desirable to provide for adjustment of certain of the parts of the distributing mechanism so that a. particular stoker model may be adjusted to supply various types of fire boxes and operatev on fuel of different characteristics, as to size, moisture content, etc. It is another object of this invention to provide for such an adjustment of the parts of the distributing mechanism.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial, Number 679,548, series of 1925.-

The invention accordingly consists in the fea- 55 tures of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 shows a distributor plate in cross-section, and shows in side elevation a blast chamber associated with the distributor plate. A steam inlet port going to the blast chamber is shown in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is a staggered vertical section of a back-head of a fire box and showing a modification of the means for mounting a distributor plate shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several drawmes.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a fire box is generally indicated at I, having the usual back head 3 provided with a firing opening 5 embraced by a fuel supply housing I which is part of a mechanical stoking mechanism, such as is described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 286,222, filed June 18, 1928, now Patent 2,044,001, June 16, 1936. Fuel coming froma source of supply is forced to rise through elevating conduit 9 to housing 1 and to flow through the firing opening Mounted inthe firing opening 5, and properlyassociated with the mouth of housing I, is fuel distributing mechanism, generally indicated at I3, for distributing fuel (coming from the conduit 9) over the fire bed of the fire box.

The distributing mechanism comprises, in part, a blast chamber, generally indicated at l5. Referring to Figure 3, the blast chamber comprises -a body portion ll having channels l9 and 2| connected respectively with upwardly extending hollow side arms 23 and 25. Referring to Figure 2, the side arms are preferably pivotally connected to pipes 21 and 29 extending through the housing I and forming pivoted supports for the blast chamber. Pipes 2! and 29 are preferably respectively supplied with low and high pressure steam. The pivot connection permits or swinging the chamber back and out of the firing opening into the housing where it is more accessible for cleaning or replacement. The down ward'swing of the chamber in the firing Opening 55 is limited by contact with the front edge of housing 1.

Fuel entering firing opening 5 from the mouth of housing I and passing over blast chamber I5 is screened by (Figures 2 and 3) a plurality of radially diverging fingers 3 I, the tops of which slope downwardly and forwardly toward the fire box. The fingers, as a unit, form a grating, the top edges forming the bars of the grate, and openings 33 therebetween forming the openings between the bars of the grate. With this arrangement, larger pieces of fuel ride over the tops of the fingers, and smaller particles fall through the openings, the increasing width of the openings eliminating any tendency for particles of fuel to become wedged between the fingers.

As shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the fingers are provided with passageways 35 connected with channel 21 (which extends the length of body portion ll) so that high pressure steam coming from the hollow arm 25 flows through the passageways. Thus, each finger is, in effect, a nozzle directing a jet of steam into the fire box, the jets together forming a high pressure sheet blast. Larger pieces of coal falling off over the ends of fingers 3| are caught in the blast jets emitted therefrom, and impelled to the various sections of the fire bed.

The fuel not falling over the ends of fingers 3| falls through openings 33 between the fingers, and for distributing this fuel the blast chamber is provided with a sheet jet of steam located below the plane of the fingers (referring to Figure 3) emitted from a slot 31 connected with the low pressure channel or chamber 19. The bottom of chamber I9 is formed by a plate 39 se cured to the lower surface of body portion H by screws, or the like (not shown), and slot 31 is formed by a cut 38 running the length of the plate. Slot 3'lthus forms an outlet for the low pressure steam, the steam being emitted in the form of a sheet jet beneath the high pressure jets from fingers 3|. As described, this sheet jet propels fuel falling through openings 33 to the various points of the fire bed.

As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, chamber I5 is preferably provided at either side of the fingers 3| with jets 43 connected with the high pressure chamber 2| for reaching rearward portions of the fire box (not shown).

From the foregoing it is evident that the high pressure jets issuing from the fingers 3! are adapted to handle the larger pieces of coal, and the low pressure sheet jet is adapted to handle the finer particles, the jets at the extreme sides of the blast chamber handling both the fine and large fuel and conveying it to the respective corners of the fire box. Now, to aid these jets in controlling the direction of the forward movement of the fuel, beneath the blast chamber there is preferably located a distributor plate, generally ndicated at 49, and forming part of the distributing mechanism I3. The plate is preferably slightly spaced from the blast chamber which is held slightly above the plate by its supports so that the plate may be raised and lowered within limits, such adjustment affording the desired flexibility of operation above discussed as being desirable.

The upper surface of the plate (referring to Figure 2) may be considered as divided into a central portion 5| having a plane surface, side grooved surfaces 53-53 and rear-most surfaces 55-55. These various surfaces coact with the steam jets located above them to control the angle (with respect to the horizontal) at which the fuel is shot from the distributing device. Thus, by varying the angle of the upper surface of the plate with respect to the horizontal, the fuel may be caused to fall nearer or farther from the device. Thus, ready adjustability of the angle of the plate is a desirable feature.

Further, the distributor plate extending as it does into the fire box is exposed to the high temperature existing therein, and accordingly is subject to relatively rapid deterioration. For this reason it is desirable to make it as rugged as possible and to provide for ready replacement of the plate.

To these ends, ready interchangeability and adjustability of the distributor plate is provided for by the novel manner in which it is mounted on the conduit 9, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Extending from the under forward side of conduit 9 are spaced stationary supports 63 forming two points of a three-point support, and serving as a lower (fulcrum) support for the under surface of the distributor plate. The supports 63 terminate in spherically shaped ends 65 which make rocking contacts with the under surface of plate 49 at raised portions 6'! extending therefrom and having machined surfaces.

From the bottom surface of plate 49 and at the outer sides of raised portions 61 (referring to Figures 1 and 2) ears or projections 56-56 extend downwardly to secure the lateral position of the distributor plate and to insure the proper alignment of the raised portions with the ends 65.

Extending from the rear of plate 49 is a triangular section 51 provided with opening 6| surrounded by a raised portion having a spherical surface 62. Threaded down through a hole 58 in a forwardly extending lip portion of housing 1, and forming the third point of the threepoint support, is a screw 59. The screw 59 has a threaded portion for threading into the hole 58, and the threaded portion terminates in a shoulder 60, from which extends a stud portion 64 having a diameter less than that of the shoulder and threaded portion. The stud end of screw 59 has free entrance into hole 6| of plate 49, the shoulder 60 contacting with spherical surface 62 to limit the entrance and provide a universal contact. Thus, the screw forms the upper support for the distributing plate, shoulder 60 providing the support and stud end 64 securing the lateral position of the rear end of the plate and the alignment of the shoulder and raised portion 62.

By vertically adjusting the position of screw 59 with respect to the housing, the angle of the plate with respect to the horizontal may be adjusted. After adjustment the screw may be locked in position by means of a nut H, countersunk in a hole 13 in the lip of the housing. And further, by withdrawing the stud end 64 from hole 6| into threaded hole 58, the distributor plate may be quickly and easily removed. Dur- I ing removal and replacement of the plate the blast chamber may be swung back out of the firing opening into housing I.

areas-4o pin insuring alignment and the sleeve providing the support. The sleeve is threaded into hole 58 of housing I and may be locked in any position of vertical adjustment by means of a set screw 19 threaded into a hole 8| in housing I. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a hexagonal head 83 adapted to receive a wrench, or

the like, and countersunk in hole 13. I'he lower end 85 of the sleeve is unthreaded and coacts with the raised spherical surface 62 of plate 49 to provide a contact therebetween. By vertically adjusting the sleeve 11 in the threaded hole 58, the position of the distributor plate may be adjusted. To hold the distributor plate in position with respect to its various supports, pin 15 is dropped through sleeve 11 and hole SI of plate 49.

An advantage of this modification is that the plate may be removed by simply raising the pin 15 into the sleeve, disengaging it from the hole BI; and a new plate replaced and secured by reinserting the pin-all without varying the adjustment of the sleeve 11 which determines the position of the distributor plate.

The efliciency of distributing device i3 is fur ther improved by making the plate more resistant to the damaging effect of the heat of the fire, thereby increasing its life, To this end it is provided at its forward face with an apron 52 extending downwardly from the forward edge. This apron, made with a relatively thick crosssection, re-enforces the forward edge of the plate and tends to, prevent its warping under the influence of the heat, and also prevents radiant rays of the fire from reaching the rear portion of the distributor plate and its support.

As various embodiments might bemade of this invention, and as various changes might be made in the construction herein described, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative andfnot in a limiting sense.

I claim:

- 1. In a stoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passagewaycomprising means for directing jets of steam into the firebox to distribute the fuel therein, the'steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means for mounting said distributor plate beneath said steam jets by a three-point sup port comprising two stationary spaced lower fulcrum supports having contact with the underside of said distributing plate, and a third vertically adjustable upper support having contact with the upper surface of said distributing plate, said last contact being displaced from a line joining said two lower contacts, the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said upper support.

2. Instoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid'fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel therein, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam-jets in .the distribution; in combina tion, means for mounting said distributor plate beneath said steam jets by a three-point support comprising two stationary spaced lower fulcrum supports having contact with the underside of said distributing plate, and a vertically adjustable upper support comprising a threaded and a distributor plate for aiding surface of said plate stud having a reduced end portion and a shoulder at the juncture of the threaded and reduced portions, said reduced portion having entrance. into a hole provided in said distributor plate,

the shoulder limiting the entrance and providing contact between the adjustable support and the plate, the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said upper support, the limited entrance of the reduced portion into said plate preventing accidental removal of the plate from its stationary supports, but permitting ready removal of the plate from the lower supports when the reduced portion is removed from the hole of the plate.

3. In stoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel therein, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means-for mounting said distributor plate beneath said steam jets by a three-point support comprising two stationary spaced lower fulcrum supports having contact with the underside of said distributing plate, and a vertically adjustable upper support contacting the upper surface of said plate, retractable means associated with said adjustable support adapted to be moved into interlocking contact with said plate for securing proper positioning of said plate with respect to said supports, said retractable means being retractable from contact with the plate to permit ready removal of said plate from said supports for replacement purposes, and the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said adjustable support. V

4. As an article of manufacture, a distributor plate for use in connection with stoker mechanism, including means for distributing fuel over a fire bed, and having means for supporting a distributor plate, said distributor plate being cast the forward edge of the distributor plate having a downwardly extending apron for protecting the plate and its supports from the damaging efl'ects of the high temperature of the fire bed, the under having raised, machined surfaces for contact with lower supportsof said supporting means, and having downwardly extending guides for insuring the desired position of said plate, the upper'surface of the rearward central portion of said plate having a raised, spherical surface to provide a contact between an upper support of said supporting means, and having a hole therein for receiving a pin associated with said upper support for securing the lateral position of said plate.

5. In stoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel therein, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means for mounting said distributor plate beneath said steam jets, comprising lower fulcrum supports having rolling contact with the underside of said distributing plate, a vertically adjustable upper support comprising an externally. threaded sleeve extending downwardly from said ing through said sleeve and having entrance into a hole provided'in said distributor plate for maintaining the desired operative relation between said plate and upper support, said pin being retractable to permit of ready and complete removal of said plate from its supports for replacement purposes.

6. In stoking apparatus, having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel thereinto, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means for mounting said distributor plate be neath said steam jets by a three-point support comprising two stationary spaced fulcrum supports having contact with one side of said distributing plate, and a third vertically adjustable support having contact with the other side of said distributing plate, said last contact lying at the vertex of a triangle defined by the three contacts, the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said adjustable support.

'7. In stoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel therein, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means for mounting said distributor plate beneath said steam jets by a three-point support comprising two stationary spaced lower fulcrum supports having contact with the underside of said distributing plate, and a third vertically adjustable upper support having contact with the upper side of said distributing plate, said last support lying at the vertex of a triangle defined by the three supports, the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said upper support, and the withdrawal of said upper support from contact with said plate permitting the complete, ready withdrawal of said plate from the supports for replacement purposes.

8. In stoking apparatus having a passageway for feeding solid fuel to a fire box, and fuel distributing. means associated with the outlet of said passageway, comprising means for directing jets of steam into the fire box to distribute the fuel therein, and a distributor plate for aiding the steam jets in the distribution; in combination, means for mounting said distributor plate benneath said steam jets comprising lower supporting means extending forwardly from below said passageway, and an upper support comprising a pin member extending through a lower wall portion of said passageway from the inside thereof into a hole provided in said distributor plate for maintaining the desired position between said plate and uppe support, said pin being retractable to permit of ready and complete removal of said plate. from its supports for replacement purposes. I

9. A locomotive stoker having a conduit for conveying solid fuel to a firing opening of a firebox, in combination, a fuel distributing plate located within the firing opening, lower supporting means extending forwardly from the underside of said conduit for providing fulcrum contacting support for the underside of said distributor plate, means extending downwardly from said conduit from the inside thereof and providing a stop for contacting the upper side of said distributing plate, and said downwardly extending means being vertically adjustable from within said conduit to rock said plate about the lower supporting means to adjust the angle of the distributor plate.

10. A locomotive stoker having a conduit for conveying solid fuel to a firing opening of a firebox, in combination, a fuel distributing plate located within the firing opening, means for supporting said distributing plate comprising a pair of supports extending forwardly from the underside of said conduit and having rounded supporting surfaces for contacting with machined surfaces on the underside of said distributing plate, and a. third vertically adjustable support having contact with the other side of said distributing plate, said last contact lying at the vertex of a triangle'defined by the three contacts, the angle of said plate with respect to the horizontal being adjustable by the vertical adjustment of said adjustable support. 7

11. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a conduit for feeding fuel to a fuel entrance of a locomotive firebox, a fuel distributing plate, means for supporting said plate comprising fulcrum supporting means extending forwardly from the underside'of said conduit and means extending downwardly from said conduit from the in side'thereof for preventing turning of the plate about the fulcrum supporting means, said downwardly extending means being adjustable with respect to said conduit from the inside thereof for adjusting the angle of said distributor plate with respect to the horizontal, and means extending through said downwardly extending means into said plate for preventing horizontal movement of said plate, and being freely slidable in said downwardly extending means.

12. In a locomotive stoker, in combination, a conduit for feeding fuel to a fuel entrance of a locomotive firebox, a fuel distributing plate,

means for supporting said distributing plate comfrom the inside thereof for adjusting the angle of said distributor plate with respect to the horizontal means for locking said means in its adjusted position, and means freely slidable in said downwardly extending means and extending therethrough into said plate for holding it against horizontal movement.

13. A locomotive stoker having a conduit for conveying solid fue L' to a firing opening of a firebox, in combination, a fuel distributing plate located within the firing opening, lower supporting means extending forwardly from the underside of said conduit for providing resting support for the underside of said distributor plate, a. sleeve threaded through said conduit wall from the inside thereof to a point therebelow for contacting the upper side "of said distributor plate to provide a stop, said sleeve being adjustable with respect to said conduit to adjust the angle of the distributor plate with respect to the horizontal, and a pin loosely exending through said sleeve and entering a hole in said distributor plate for maintaining the sleeve and plate in the desired operative relationship.

14. As an article of manufacture, a. distributor plate for use in connection with stoker mechanism, said stoker mechanism including means for distributing fuel over a fire bed, and having means for supporting said distributor plate, said distributor plate being cast in a single generally rectangulariy shaped piece, the forward edge of the distributor plate having a downwardly extending apron for protecting the plate and its supports from the damaging effects of the high temperature of the fire box', the under surface of said plate having raised, machined surfaces for contact with lower supports of said supporting means, and having downwardly extending guides beside said machined surfaces for abutting the sides of said supporting means for insuring the desired positioning of said plate, and having a machined surface on the top adapted to contact with another support of said supporting means.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA.

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