US2138363A - Locomotive stoker - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1938.

E. A. TURNER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed May 7. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Nov. 29, 1938.

E. A. TURNER LocoMoTIvE sToKER original Filed May 7, 19:52

5 Sheets-'Sheet 2 INVNTOR.

NOV- 29, 1938. E. A. TURNER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed May 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Edwin Archer Turner, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc. (1922), New York, N. `Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 7, 1932, Serial No.'609,808 Renewed November 9, v1937 11 Claims. (Cl. 110-104) My invention relates to improvements in locoent vpractice and its main object is to dispense motive or other stokers of the type, in which the with the necessity for special means to urge or fuel, after being transferred from the tender, is force the fuel from the elevator screw into the elevated through the locomotive cab by a single ring opening, and atthe same time, to provide upright screw elevator disposed more nearly verfor continuous and uninterrupted feeding of the tical than horizontal and is delivered into the fuel tothe .distributing means. In carrying out rebox firing opening Where the fuel is received this object, the invention contemplates the proby a distributing means and projected over the visio-n of'manual `and power firing through the rebed. conventional primary firing opening of the lire- In apparatus of .this character it has been box. In carrying `out the invention, it was dis- 10 customary hereto-fore to dispose the elevator Acovered that by disposing the elevator conduit screw substantially perpendicular or to slightly at anangle between the two critical angles of incline it from the vertical toward the rebox, 45 and 70 with the horizontal, and more then providing means at the upper or discharge specifically by arranging the elevator conduit lo end of thescrew to urge or force the fuel into the at an angle of substantially 65 with the horil5 iring opening onto the distributing means. The zontal, the disadvantages of the general types of means for urging or forcing the fuel from the stokers above discussed will be eliminatedto a discharge end of the screw into the firing openlarge extent. ing n some instances comprises mechanism such Another object ofthe invention is the provision as pusher vanes, plungers or auxiliary screws of an improved distributing means in which the20 acting to change the direction of the movement individual parts are assembled in a manner to of the fuel from a vertical to a horizontal plane. be held in normalvposition by their own weight Such mechanism adds weight to the sto-ker, is and whereinno fastening means rsuch as bolts, expensive to maintain and troublesome to oprivets, etc. are employed. More specifically, it erate. is one of the'purposes of the invention to pro- .25

In other instances, the aforesaid means for Vide a fuel deflecting plate or member disposed urging or forcing the fuel as described consists above the fuel stream adjustable about an axis in curving or otherwise forming the hood portion transversely ofthe primary firing opening which of the elevator conduit directly over the disdeector plate `is held in position by its own charge end of the elevator screw whereby the weight in'a. riband socket arrangement permit- 30 Walls of the conduit direct the fuel into the firting' the plate to be removed or replaced without ing opening. Where the hood portion is formed the necessity of loosening or detaching any faswith a sharp curve pulverization of the fuel octening members. curs and if formed to minimize the pulveriza- It is a furtherv object to provide in apparatus tion the hood portion then occupies so much of this character an improved elevator conduit35 space that the conventional rebox ring openand cover plate Ytherefor of the type shown in ing must be made much larger. Either constructhe United States Letters Patent to N. M. Lower, tion is objectionable in stoker installations to No. 1,371,498 granted March 15, 1921. the smaller types of locomotives because undue Other objects of the invention resides in the 40 pulverization of the fuel causes excessive stack form of the individual parts, in their relation 40 loss and the large hood portion will not fit the one with the other and in the general combinasmall firing openings and at the same time, pertion of the parts, all of which objects of the inmit manually ring of the fuel through the same vention will be more clearly understood from the opening. In another general form of locomodetail description to follow hereinafter when read tive stoker an elevator conduit is disposed at an in connection with the accompanying drawings 45 angle to the horizontal of less than 45 having wherein, an elevating screw therein for delivering fuel to Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical seof the ring opening, and in some instances the tion -through the rear portion of a locomotive elevating screw has been omitted. This type of with the stoker device of the invention applied stoker occupies considerable space in the locothereon shownv in similar section; 50 motive cab, protrudes through the rear portion Figure 2is-a rear end elevation of the sturcture of the cab deck, and is a serious drawback parof Figure 1 taken on the irregular line 2-2 ticularly in small locomotives. thereof;

The present invention seeks to obviate the Figure 3 is a plan sectional view taken on the above described disadvantages of past and presline 3-3 ofFigure 1; 55

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the distributor means of the invention and is taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figurel but taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan sectional view through the rebox primary opening and `the stoker housing portion taken on the irregular section line 6 6' of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a plan cross sectional view turned at taken through the cylindrical portion of the Stoker elevator taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure "I but taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View of a portion similar to Figure 2, showing a modification; and

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9 showing a still further modification.

Referring descriptively to the embodiment of the invention, it is illustrated on the drawings as applied to a locomotive A having a rebox I0 provided with a backwall II through which fuel is introduced onto the grates I2 through the conventional primary ring opening I3 disposed above the deck I4 of the cab I5. As is customary the firebox is mounted above the locomotive underframe I6 and its rear wall portion is supported therefrom by the expansion plate I1.

The Stoker device comprises a transfer conveyor B including a transfer conduit I8 enclosing the screw I9 for advancing the fuel from the tender (not shown) to the elevator conduit C through which the fuel is raised by the elevator screw 23 and delivered to distributing means indicated as a whole at D acting to scatter the fuel in aerial paths over the firebox grates I2. Continuous rotary motion is imparted to the screws I9 and 2G from a motor or Dake engine E. For this purpose the motor drive shaft 2l is connected by a double universal joint 22 to the driven shaft 23 extending transversely of the axis of the elevator screw and housed within a casing 24 at the lower end portion of the elevator conduit. A worm 25 on the driven shaft 23 meshes with a worm wheel 26 on the screw shaft 2 to revolve the elevator screw 20 and a second worm 28 driven from the shaft 23 through a clutch 29 meshes with a worm wheel 30 which carries the rearwardly extending shaft 3| which may be coupled to any suitable form of shafting for driving the transfer screw I9 from its rearward end in any well known manner,

As will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the elevator con-duit C which comprises the lower cylindrical portion 32 and the upper housing portion 33 is supported solely from the backwall II by means of the bracket 34 and the bolts as at 35 passing through the flange 35 of the housing. Thus it will be understood that the double joint 22 permits relative longitudinal movement between the elevator conduit C and the motor E which is rigidly mounted on the extension bracket 31 of the underframe I3. This construction is necessary due to the movement of the rebox over the frame caused by the expansion and contraction of the boiler and its parts.

The transfer conveyor B at its forward end is mounted within a rearwardly opening extension 38 at the lower end portion of the elevator conduit C. These parts are held in engagement by the connecting pin 39. From the extension 38, the cylindrical portion 32 of the elevator conduit slopes forwardly and upwardly toward the backhead I I and at its upper end opens upwardly into the lower end of the housing 33. If desired, the cylindrical and housing portions of the elevator conduit may be formed integral, but preferably, though not necessarily, these portions are formed as separate conduit members with the walls of the lower end of the housing portion 33 formed to receive the upper or discharge end of the cylindrical conduit portion 32. It is important as will presently appear, that the side walls 40, 40a of the housing portion 33 should extend laterally outward from a point adjacent the discharge end of the cylindrical conduit portion 32, and thence upwardly an-d inwardly to form the top wall 4I. The rear wall 42 of the housing 33 slopes forwardly and upwardly a suitable distance, as will be explained hereinafter, beyond the cylindrical conduit portion 32. As the rear wall 42 approaches the top wall 4I, it may be inclined inwardly toward the backwall II to conserve space in the cab I5. This rear wall is apertured as at 43 opposite the primary opening I3 to provide what may be termed a secondary firing opening through which fuel may be fired manually onto the distributing means D or directly into the rebox I0 if desired. A closure or door 44 of any well known type may be employed to cover the aperture 43.

In most installations, it is preferable, although in others it will not be necessary, that the housing portion 33 should embrace and open into the primary firing opening I3. A discharge ledge 45 provided in the housing 33 and extending transversely across the primary opening I3 forms with the upper wall4I a mouth 46 through which the fuel is introduced by power means, or manually into the primary firing opening.

In carrying out the main object of the invention the inclination of the elevator conduit is an important feature. By suitable experiments and layouts I have found that highly advantageous results are procured by inclining the elevator conduit C and particularly its cylindrical portion 32 and the screw 20 therein toward the backhead II at an acute angle from the horizontal within a range from 45 to 70. As illustrated on the drawings the axis of the screw 23 forms an acute angle from the horizontal of 65, and at this inclination of the screw 20 the objects of the present invention are best obtained. This inclination, or any other within the aforesaid range, of the cylindrical portion 32 and the screw 2U when delivering upwardly directly into the housing portion 33 with the walls of the latter as shown forming an upward extension of the discharge end of the cylindrical conduit portion and enclosing an unobstructed space within the confines of the extended walls of the cylindrical portion such as to have a cross sectional area at least as great as the cross sectional area of the discharge end of said cylindrical portion for a short distance beyond the upper marginal edge of said cylindrical portion, will permit the column of fuel emerging from said cylindrical portion to assume within the housing 33 its own angle of repose and break away or roll forwardly in the direction of the primary firing opening over the discharge ledge 45 on to the distributing means D. By this relation of the parts the fuel stream is caused to change its direction of ow from a forward and upward direction to a forward and downward direction without the necessity for or assistance of any mechanism or other directing means such as has been employed in the past.

Further, in carrying out the main object of the invention, it is considered important also that the upper or discharge end of the screw 20v should terminate as shown at a point below the lower marginal edge of the aperture 43 and also below the dischargeledge 45 as well as at a point adjacent the lower inner ends of the diverging Walls 4U and 40a of the housing portion 33. This arrangement of the parts insures that the fuel emerging from the cylindrical conduit portion 32 will rise freely and move upwardly and laterally in the housing portion 33 to form a laterally spreading fuel stream of equal proportions throughout, moving upwardly in loose form within the housing portion to form its own angle of repose with the discharge ledge 45 over which the fuel will roll forwardly and downwardly on to the distributing means D. The described inclination of the elevator conduit C and the relation of its parts provides a very compact structure, such as occupies a minimum of space within the cab l and as may be utilized with the conventional form of rebox primary opening, or if desired, a slightly enlarged primary opening but yet one that may be much smaller than the primary firing openings required for other stokers of the type here disclosed.

Those familiar with locomotive and stoker construction will understand that should the elevator conduit C be disposed at an angle from the horizontal of less than 45, while it would not need a larger firing opening it would, however, occupy a great deal more space within the cab above the deck I4; and should the elevator conduit C be inclined at an angle substantially greater than '10 from the horizontal, the fuel emerging from the lower cylindrical portion 32 would necessarily rise vertically a much greater distance within the housing portion 33 before it would assume its own angle of repose, and that under certain conditions the fuel stream would not of itself assume an angle of repose and would therefore, require means for urging or forcing the fuel from the housing portion into the primary firing opening. This would necessi tate materially enlarging the primary firing opening or the provision'of complicated mechanism, either and both of which are objectionable. These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention which contemplates as one of its important features the disposition of the elevator conduit C as heretofore stated, at an angle of inclination between 45 and *10 from the hori- Zontal.

A novel construction of the distributing means D cooperates with the structure of the elevator conduit C in furthering compactness of the general design and is such that it contributes and further aids in enabling the stoking device to be employed with a relatively small primary firing opening. For this purpose the distributing means comprises the distributor head 41 and the distributor table 48 and the former carries depending lugs 49 and 49a received in recesses or slots 5D and 50a respectively, formed in the front wall 5l of the housing conduit portion 33 below the discharge ledge 45. The overhanging weight of the head 41 serves to hold the lugs in engagement with the recesses. Any number of suitable chambers 52 communicating with the jet openings 53 may be provided in the distributor head for receiving pressure uid from supply pipes as at 54,-the jet openings being arranged transversely across the forward face of the distributor head to project a blast or blasts of pressure fluid across the distributing table 48 for scattering fuel over the fire box grates :12. A fastening arrangement holds the firing table in position with the distributor head. One or more pins or lugs 55 depending from the underside of the table 48 are received in slots or recesses 56 in the ledge 51 extending forwardly from the head 41 beneath the table '48. This pin and slot arrangement prevents longitudinal movement between the table and the head, and the rearwardly eX- tending arms 58 ofthe table 48 bear against the underside of thehead 41 to prevent downward movement of the table and thus serve with the pin and slot arrangement to maintain the table 48 in aligned position with the distributor head. It will be observed that no fastening means, such as bolts or rivets or the like is required to hold the distributor parts in normal position. Each of the parts 41 and 48 may be removed or inserted through the aperture 43 in the rear wall 42 of the housing conduit portion 33. This may be done without the necessity of dumping the fire or cooling off the firebox.

Where space permits, it is desirable to employ a fuel covering plate or top deflector plate S5 disposed over and above the distributing means D. This plate acts to hold the finer particles of fuel, that ordinarily might be carried off by the draft of the firebox, within the zone of action of the pressure fluid distributing blast discharging from the distributor head 41. In order that the deector plate 60 will not interfere with the movement of the fuel from the housing 33 into the primary ring opening it is disposed in a level above the angle of repose of the fuel stream.

' A novel rib and socket arrangement detachably secures the deflector plate in the position as shown. This arrangement comprises the sockets B l 6 l a, opening rearwardly and inclined forwardly and downwardly at the side walls of the houslng portion 33 to receive the ribs 62, 82a formed with the defiector plate 60. From this construction it will be understood that the overhanging weight of the deiiector plate 6U serves as the sole means for holding the plate in engagement with the sockets. By opening the firedoor 44, the fuel deflector plate 6l) may be easily and readily1 withdrawn or inserted through the aperture 43 which is of greater width than the width of the deflector plate. Thus, should the Stoker operator or other mechanic desire to manually feed fuel directly into the firebox onto the grates l2 or should it be desired to enter the firebox for inspection purposes, both can be accomplished by merely withdrawing the deflector plate 6U from engagement with the sockets 6l, Bia. If desired, sockets such as that shown at 90 in Figure 9 may be formed one in each side wall of the housing portion 33, to receive lugs such as 9|, which are formed with the deflector plate 6U. A still further modification of this feature is shown in Figure l0, wherein the deector plate l60 is provided with sockets such as 92, which engage ribs such as 93 formed with each side wall of the housing portion 33. But the construction as illustrated is preferable, wherein the sockets are provided in shaft members 63, 63a extending through the side walls of the housing conduit portion 33 to be adjustable about their axes extending transversely to the primary opening. The outer ends of the shaft members B3, 63a are threaded and carry the nuts 64, 64a respectively. By loosening the nuts 64, 64a, the deector plate 6D may be adjusted to any desired angle of inclination over and above the distributing means D and then maintained in the desired position by tightening the aforesaid nuts against the washersv'65, 65a. In effect, the

deflector plate 60 comprises a part of the fuel distributing means. Thus, it is clear that each element of the distributing means is held in engagement by a pin and slot or rib and socket arrangement such as to permit ready replacement or insertion of the parts through the secondary firing opening 43 with aminimum of labor and time.

Referring to Figures l and 2, the deflector plate is mounted Within the housing conduit portion- 33 intermediate the lower and upper marginal edges of the secondary firing opening 43 to pro'- vide a space above and below said plate whereby fuel may be fed manually through the lower portion of said secondary opening beneath said plate onto the fuel distributing blast and whereby inspection of the re can` be made through the space provided in the housing above said plate.

As fully described in the aforesaid patent to Lower it is well recognized that with stokers employing elevator conveyors disposed more nearly vertical than horizontal, means must be provided to prevent rotation of the fuel with the elevator screw. In the Lower patent an offset cover plate was provided for this purpose and it was so formed as to trap or insure the lodging of extraneous or foreign material which may be caught between the screw vane and the wall of the conduit, at the bottom of the cover plate where by removing the cover plate the foreign material might be found and removed. In the conduit construction of my invention, I provide the lateral opening l@ extending upwardly from the extension portion 38 of the elevator conduit C with an offset cover plate 'H which constitutes an improved form of cover plate inr that instead of trapping and holding the extraneous matter at the bottom of the plate for removal by the operator the form of conduit and cover plate as here disclosed serves to provide a groove 'l2 receiving the extraneous matter in which such matter may be elevated or raised with the fuel and gradually work out into the main body of the fuel to be elevated therewith without clogging or stalling the stoker device. In other words, instead of providing a shoulder to catch and hold the extraneous matter, the cover plate l! of this invention provides an upwardly and inwardly tapering groove to receive the foreign material whereby such material will either fall downwardly into the extension portion 38 of the elevator conduit to be again picked up by the screw 20 and carried through with the fuel, or the fuel being elevated in the groove 12 will in turn carry with it the extraneous matter without clogging the conveying mechanism. From Figures 7 and 8 it will be observed that the lower end portion of the cover plate 'Il is offset outwardly from the inner wall of the conduit 32 a greater distance than at its upper end. This relation thus forms the tapering keyway or groove for the purposes heretofore explained.

From the foregoing it will be recognized by those familiar with the art that a very compact and highly advantageous stoking device has been provided that will carry out the objects of the invention and that various modifications in the form and relation of the parts may be made without departing from the sub-stance of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a Stoker the combination with a firebox, having a primary ring opening, of a housing having its transverse wall remote from said firebox apertured opposite the primary firing opening, means for delivering a stream of fuel from the housing into the primary opening, said housing between its apertured wall and the firebox being provided with sockets opening in the direction of the apertured wall, and a fuel defiecting plate extending into the primary opening and being disposed above the fuel stream, said plate at its ends adjacent the rear side thereof formed to snugly engage said sockets and the overhanging weight of said plate serving as the sole means for holding the plate in engagement with the sockets.

2. In a stoker the combination with a firebox, having a primary firing opening, of a housing mounted externally of the firebox communicating with the primary opening and having its transverse wall remote from said iirebox apertured opposite the primary firing opening, means for delivering a stream of fuel from the housing into the primary opening, said housing between its apertured wall and rebox being provided with transverse shaft members mounted to be adjustable about an axis extending transversely of the primary opening, said shaft members having sockets formed there internally of said housing, the sockets opening in the direction of the apertured wall, and a fuel deflecting plate extending into the primary opening and being disposed above the fuel stream, the ends of said plate adjacent the rear side thereof being formed to snugly engage said sockets and the overhanging weight of said plate serving as the sole means for holding the plate in engagement with the sockets.

3. In combination, a rebox having a wall with a ring opening therein, a housing mounted externally of the wall and communicating with said firing opening, means for delivering a stream of fuel from the housing into the firing opening, said housing being provided with sockets disposed above the fuel stream, the sockets being inclined forwardly and downwardly toward said firing opening and opening rearwardly, and a fuel deflecting plate in the housing extending into the firing opening and being disposed above the fuel stream, the ends of said plate adjacent the rear side thereof being formed to snugly engage said sockets and the overhanging weight of said plate serving as the sole means for holding the plate in engagement with the sockets.

4. In a stoker the combination with a rebox, having a firing opening, of a housing mounted externally of said rebox and communicating with said ring opening, a fuel deflector in said housing extending into said firing opening above the normal path of the fuel, and supporting means for detachably mounting the deflector in said housing including a pair of lug elements and a pair of socket elements, the housing carrying one pair of said elements and the deflector carrying the other pair of elements, said deflector by its own weight maintaining engagement between said lug and socket elements.

5. In a stoker the combination with a rebox, having a firing opening, of a housing mounted externally of said rebox and communicating with said firing opening, a fuel defiector in said housing extending into said firing opening above the normal path of the fuel, and supporting means for detachably and adjustably mounting the deflector in said housing including a pair of lug elements and a pair of socket elements, a pair of shafts journalled in said housing carrying one pair of said elements, said shafts each being adjustable about an axis extending transversely of said firing opening, said defiector carrying the other pair of elements and by its own weight `maintaining engagement between said lugrand socket elements.

6. The combination with a locomotive rebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a housing mounted-on said wall and communicating with said opening, said housing having an apertured lrea-r wall opposite said opening, a redoorfor closing the aperture in said rear wall, a Stoker conduit ,portion opening upwardly into the bottom of said housing, means for moving fuel through said conduit portion, a distributor head at the upper end of said conduit portion for issuing pressure fluid blasts, a distributing table forward of said head and extending into said firing opening, and a plate supported in said housing forward of and between the upper and lower marginal edges of the aperture in the housing rear wall and extending therefrom into said opening, the forward end of said plate being spaced over and above said table and substantially midway between the top and bottom marginal edges of said opening whereby the opening is divided into an upper and a lower portion, said distributor head being arranged to discharge blasts of pressure duid through the lower portion of said opening between said table and said plate, the rearward end of said plate being spaced downwardly from the top of said housing thereby providing a passage through the upper portions of said housing and firing opening for inspecting the fire when said redoor is opened.

'7. In combination, a rebox having a backhead with a ring opening therein, a forwardly inclined Stoker elevator conduit mounted on the locomotive with its axis disposed approximately on the vertical medial plane of the i'lrebox comprising a lower cylindrical portion and an upper housing portion, said housing portion communicating with said ring opening and including top and side walls embracing said firing opening, a forward wall, and a rear wall having an aperture opposite said opening, a firedoor movabiy mounted on said housing portion constituting a closure for the aperture in the rear wall, said cylindrical portion of the elevator conduit opening upwardly into the housing portion, a screw conveyor in said elevator conduit at its upper end terminating at a point below the lower marginal edge of the aperture in the rear wall of said housing portion, the axis of said screw conveyor being disposed at an acute angle between 45 and '70 from the horizontal, distributing means disposed at said ring opening forward of said screw conveyor, said housing portion surmounting the discharge end of said lower cylindrical portion, the walls of said housing portion forming a continuation of the walls of said lower cylindrical portion, the forward wall terminating below the upper half of the firing opening and above the lower edge thereof, and the rear and side walls extending above the upper edge of the forward wall whereby the column of fuel advancing through the elevator conduit beyond the upper end of said forward wall is unsupported at its forward side so that the fuel will roll or drop forward into the zone of action of said distributing means, the rear wall forming a support for the column of fuel in said housing portion against rearward movement when the iredoor is open, a fuel deecting plate positioned over said distributing means above the normal path of the fuel, and supporting means for detachably mounting said deiiector plate in said housing portion of the conduit including a pair of lug elements and a pair of socket elements,

having al primary firing opening therein, of a housing mounted externally ofthe rebox oom- .municating-.witn and lembracing the :primary opening and having a transverse wall remote from said rebox apertured opposite the primary opening, a distributing means associated with said housing comprising a distributor head and a distributor table, means comprising a lug and slot arrangement for detachably securing said distributor head to the housing, means comprising a lug and recess arrangement for detachably securing said distributor table to the distributor head, a fuel deector member spaced over and above said distributing means, and supporting means for detachably mounting said deflector member in said housing intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the opening in said transverse wall including a pair of lug elements and a pair of socket elements, the housing carrying one pair of said elements and the defiector member carrying the other pair of elements, said deflector member by its own weight maintaining engagement between said lug and socket elements, said distributor head, distributor table and deilector member being removable through the opening in said transverse wall of the housing.

9. The combination with a rebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, of a stoker conduit communicating with said firing opening and a fuel distributor member at the discharge end of said conduit, said distributor member carrying a downwardly extending lug and said conduit having an upwardly opening socket at its discharge end receiving said lug, said socket securing said distributor member against movement in any but an upward direction and said distributor member being secured in its operative position solely by engagement ofthe lug in said socket.

10. In a stoker, a fuel conduit having a discharge mouth provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion at each side thereof, means for projecting fuel forwardly from said mouth portion, a plate-like member having a surface forward of said discharge mouth extending transversely and in the direction of flow of the projected fuel stream and being so disposed as to be contacted by the projected fuel stream,

a lug at each side of said plate-like member arranged to fit upon a corresponding inclined position of said discharge mouth for directing said plate-like member into its operative position, a stop element for limiting downward movement of said plate-like member with respect to said inclined portions, and means for restraining said lugs fro-m movement normal to said inclined por'- tions.

11. The combination with a locomotive rebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a housing mounted on said wall and communicating with said opening, said housing having an apertured rear wall opposite said opening, a firedoor for closing the aperture in said rear wall, a stoker conduit portion opening upwardly into the bottom of said housing, a distributor at the upper end of said conduit portion for issuing pressure fluid blasts toward said rebox, means for moving fuel through said conduit portion into the Zone of action of said pressure fluid blasts, and a Aplate supported in said housing forward f and ranged to issue blasts of pressure uid through the lower portion of said opening beneath said plate, the rearward end of said plate being spaced downwardly from the top of said housing thereby providing a passage through the upper portions 'il of said housing and ring opening for inspecting the fire when said redoor is opened.

E. ARCHER TURNER.

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