US2145261A - Refuse incinerating furnace - Google Patents

Description

Jan, 31, 193%. T. J. HILER 2,1452% REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Filed July 13,. 1934 7 Shets-Sheet l 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Themasi/W'Yen 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

T. J. HILER REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Filed July 13, 1934 Jan. 31, 1939.

R E m H IJ T REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Filed July 15, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 7770/7705 J. M/er".

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31, 1939. T. J. HILER REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Filed July 13,. 1.934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I R. E; Md m m w 7 ATTORNEY.

REFUSE INCINERATI-NG FURNACE Filed July 15; 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31, W39. T. J. HILER REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Filed July 13, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 All: v

; QJTOR. a. 159/6? ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFUSE INCINERATING FURNACE Application July 13, 1934, Serial No. 734,913

7 Claims.

The invention relates to incinerator furnaces and relates more particularly to a new and improved dumping grate structure for refuse incinerators, as well as providing for improved combustion within and the discharge of material from said furnace.

The use and operation of large incinerator furnaces which involve the handling and disposal of considerable quantities of municipal refuse material, has heretofore presented certain serious disadvantages which this invention is designed to obviate. The relatively large size of the furnace requires the presence of a correspondingly large grate structure and the weight of the material in the combustion chamber which is supported by the grate, renders it difiicult to obtain eificient and periodic dumping of the grate to discharge the consumed residue of materials as desired from the furnace. In order to compensate for the weight of the materials supported by the grate, the dumping portion of the latter has heretofore constituted a relatively small proportionate area of the entire grate of the refuse incinerator. While promoting ease of operation in the manipulation of the dumping grate portion, such arrangement is objectionable for the reason that a considerable quantity of the materials are not discharged but are retained in the combustion chamber by the stationary portions of the grate. This results in undue clogging of the furnace and otherwise interferes with efiicient operation of the same and necessitates shutting down at frequent intervals to permit the combustion chamber to be cleared of accumulated and burned residue. Were the dumping section of the grate made of large enough area to constitute practically the entire grate section, the discharge from the furnace would be efiicient and complete, but the effort required for operation of the grate would be excessive by reason of the weight of the entire contents of the combustion chamber being supported by the dumping grate. To reduce the size of the grate necessitates a corresponding reduction in the size of the furnace, and this is objectionable for the reason that large incinerator furnaces are necessary to adequately care for the voluminous quantities of municipal ref-use.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of an incinerator furnace in which a larger dumping grate structure is designed for manipulation with a minimum of effort and in which the entire weight of the refuse is not supported by the dumping portion of the grate. The grate is otherwise designed to direct the remaining portions of the refuse toward said dumping grate section to insure the complete discharge of the materials from the combustion chamber when desired through the dumping portion of the grate.

A further object of the invention is the provision of control means for regulating the admission and quantity of air for supporting combustion in the furnace, thereby providing for complete incineration of the materials within the combustion chamber as well as their complete discharge therefrom. This results in an improved incinerator furnace which is especially adapted for continuous operation and the disposal of large quantities of municipal refuse or the like.

A still further object is to provide new and improved mechanism for supporting, balancing and operating the dumping grate structure.

In addition to the general objects recited above the invention includes among its objects such other improvements and advantages in construction and operation as are found to obtain in the structure and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and showing, for purposes of exemplification, a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrated instance or instances:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on line ll of Fig. 2, and showing the improved grate structure in plan view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts of the furnace structure being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the furnace structure taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation of the operating lever for the dumping grate.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the grate structure as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a modification of the grate structure of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the grate illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5 but showing a still further modification.

In said drawings, l indicates generally the incinerator furnace having a refractory lining 2 and charging openings 3 disposed above the combustion chamber 4 of the furnace. One wall of the incinerator, which may be the front Wall thereof, is preferably provided with an opening 5 having a main closure member 6 and auxiliary hinged closure I. The grate structure of the incinerator may be inspected or repaired, and the material being reduced may be stirred or agitated if desired through the medium of the described aperture or opening 5.

The grate structure of the incinerator consists of a plurality of spaced stationary or fixed grate bars 8 suitably supported at their opposite ends by fixed longitudinal bearing bars 9 in turn bolted to or otherwise supporting as at I l oppositely disposed and parallel spaced transverse bearing bars l0, Ina.

The bars 9 in turn are mounted in or supported by any suitable fixed portion Ha of the lower furnace structure or masonry. As best seen in Fig. 2 the longitudinal bearing bars 9 are constructed to support at their upper portions respectively the lower and inner ends of fixed front and rear inclined grate bars 12 and l2a, the upper ends of said inclined grate bars being supported respectively by front and rear fixed dead plate members l3 and I4 arranged adjacent to or constituting parts of the front and rear walls of the furnace. The rear dead plate member l4 may extend for the full length of the furnace grate structure, while the front dead plate member 13 may constitute the lower supporting surface of the front aperture 5. The inclined or sloping fixed grate bars l2 and |2a constitute in effect a trough to conduct and direct the material to be incinerated to the centrally disposed movable portion of the grate structure to be described, and the front stationary grate bars l2 may be in part supported against the refractory lining 2 constituting the front wall of the furnace or incinerator (Fig. 2).

As best seen in Fig. 1, each longitudinal hearing bar 9 is provided with a pair of spaced bearings or trunnion members l5, l5a secured thereto. The transverse bearing bars l0, Illa, are provided with centrally disposed hubs or bearing blocks l6, 16a disposed centrally of and in horizontal alignment with front and rear opposite pairs of fixed bearing members l5, 15a. A pair of aligned dumping grate members I! are pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the trunnions or bearing members; [5, IB and a corresponding pair of aligned dumping grate members I la are similarly mounted on the bearings l5a, 16a. The aligned dumping grate members i! are preferably bolted together as at H! to swing as a unit on the bearings T5, I 6 and the two grate members I la are preferably similarly secured together to swing as a unit on the bearing members [5a, 16a.

A rocker shaft I9 is journaled in bearings secured to or forming an integral part of the transverse bearing bar Ill beneath the grate structure and a rocker shaft I 9a is similarly journaled in suitable bearings secured to or constituting an integral part of the bearing bar Illa. The outer ends of the rocker shafts l9, 19a project through suitable bearings in the furnace wall and each shaft has keyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereto an operating lever 20b disposed within convenient access on the exterior of the incinerator furnace. The arrangement and operation of each rocker shaft with respect to connected pairs of dumping grate sections I1 and Ha is identical and a description of the operation and structural relation of the rocker shaft I!) with respect to the dumping grate sections i! will sufiice for the corresponding rocker shaft I 9a and grate sections Ila. A pair of spaced arms 2| are keyed to the rocker shaft l9 and each arm is provided at its outer end with a screw threaded stem 22 which is longitudinally *iustable relative to the arm by means of a threaded lock nut or the like 23 engaging the stem and bearing against arm 2|. The outer end of each stem 22 is pivotally secured as at 22a to the ends of a pair of companion link members 24, the opposite ends of said links being in turn pivotally secured as at 25 to a depending ear member, one secured to or constituting an integral part of each dumping grate section 11. The rocker shaft I9 is further provided with a pair of oppositely projecting substantially depending arm or lever members 26 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to said rocker shaft and pivotally secured at their outer ends as at 21 to a pair of companion spaced link members 28, the lower end of said link members being apertured for the reception therebetween of a counterweight supporting rod 29 designed to support thereon a plurality of recessed and aligned counterweight members 39. The tendency of the counterweights 33 is to maintain dumping grate sections ll, Ila

in substantially horizontal or closed position as best seen in full lines in Fig. 3. In such position the arms 2|, rods 22 and link members 24 are in a substantially straight line constituting a toggle joint and the tendency of the grate sections to open under load conditions is resisted by the straight and extended toggle and the weight of the elements 39 which tend to maintain the dumping grate sections horizontal and locked in closed position.

The toggle joints are prevented from breaking upwardly either by bars 2411 on the grates or such means supplemented by ledges 30a to provide an additional safeguard against upward breaking of the toggles. The ledges 30a are beveled at their upper parts to prevent ash accumulation.

When it is desired to dump the contents of the incinerator furnace, either or both of the rocker shafts 19, I911 are rocked on their bearing supports by means of the operating levers 20b, the latter being within convenient reach of an attendant standing on the operators platform 3| on the outside of the incinerator. The weight of the parts is proportioned and balanced so that a slight exertion on the part of the operator is sufficient to rock either or both of the shafts l9 and Kid on their respective bearings to lift the counterweights and break the toggle mechanism at the pivotal points 22a. The companion pairs of grate sections are then swung downwardly on their hinges assisted by the weight of material supported thereby and assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This results in a complete or partial discharge as desired of the incinerator contents into the hopper 32, from which the incinerated material is conveyed or conducted to any desired point of collection (not shown). A reverse movement of operating levers 20b straightens the toggle mechanism and returns the respective pairs of dumping grate sections H, Ha to closed position to receive a fresh charge of material to the combustion chamber through the charging opening 3 of the incinerator. Preferably the outer end of each rocker shaft l9, l9a. is provided with a fixed or keyed ratchet member 33 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 34 .pivotally secured at 35 to any conveniently l0- cated fixture on the exterior of the furnace wall. The function of the pawl and ratchet mechanism is to maintain the respective pairs of dumping grate sections in closed position as long as desired after the operating handle 20b has been swung nto closed or normal position, without attention on the part of the operator. The grate sections may be returned to dumping position after the pawl 34 is released from engagement with the ratchet 33 to permit the lever 20b to be swung to dumping position, assisted by the counterweights 30.

The angle of the inclined or sloping stationary grate sections 12, In is such as to direct all of the material within the combustion chamber 4 of the incinerator toward the dumping sections I1, Ila, without manual raking, upon opening of the sections II, Ha, thereby resulting in a complete discharge of the entire contents of the incinerator when desired into the discharge hopper 32.

Preheated air for supporting combustion is admitted to the hopper chamber 36 beneath the grate structure through a suitable inlet 31 in the rear wall of the furnace, the admission of said air being controlled as desired by means of a butterfly valve 38 pivotally mounted in said aperture. From the hopper chamber the air is introduced through the grates I I, lid and also into oppositely disposed secondary chambers 39 on opposite sides of the grate structure, the admission of the air to said axillary chambers being controlled by butterfly or other valves 40 pivotally mounted in the entrance openings of said chambers. If desired the secondary air chamber 39 may consist of a single endless or annular chamber completely surrounding and beneath and adjacent the grate structure. From the secondary chambers 39 the regulated quantities of air enter the combustion chamber 4 through the interstices of the inclined sloping stationary oppositely disposed grate bar members I2, IZa.

It will be observed that the described arrangement of the air chambers and the valve control therefor insures the admission of any desired and regulated amount of air for supporting combustion in the incinerator chamber 4 depending upon combustion conditions within said chamber. After the charge of refuse or other material has been completely incinerated the residue is discharged by manipulation of the dumping grate members into and through the hopper 32, after which a fresh charge of material to be incinerated is admitted through the charging opening 3 at the top of the incinerator. As an alternate procedure the combustion within the incinerator may be continuous and the dumping grate members II, I'ia may be independently or simultaneously actuated to discharge the incinerated material as the same accumulates on the grate members, the feed of fresh material through the charging opening 3 being regulated in accordance with combustion conditions within the furnace. It will be further apparent that the stationary sloping grate members I2, I2a insure the movement of the refuse material to the dumping grate members I'I, I'Ia, thereby providing for complete evacuation of the combustion chamber when operating conditions require.

The described incinerator and grate construction provides new and useful improvements and economies in the complete combustion and ready discharge of garbage or other materials to be incinerated through a greater dumping grate area while retaining the feature of the fixed grate structure, provision being made for more convenient discharge of the ash and completely burned materials from the fixed grate structure, the regulated admission of air for supporting combustion along the furnace walls within the furnace, as well as insuring that the materials within the combustion chamber are conducted by gravity from the fixed grate structure to the dumping portion of the grate and the ash hopper for discharge at the proper intervals. It will also be apparent from the foregoing that arrangement of the grate in oppositely disposed pairs of dumping grate sections with their pivotal axes parallel and the free outer downward swinging edges of the sections of the pairs adjacent each other between the pivotal axes of the pairs, and a surroundingv grate area of fixed grate bars provides for a relatively large centrally disposed center dumping grate area which may exceed the doming limit of the incinerated charge of garbage and refuse within the incinerator chamber (determined by the size of the incinerator. chamber and the average physical condition and angle of repose of the charge), so that when the grate is opened the charge tends to collapse and dump itself without poking, and so that when the grate is closed the load is supported without requiring adaptation of the dumping grate portion to take up the major stresses of the incinerator load, since the surrounding fixed grate bar area may still transmit the major portion of such stresses directly to the furnace foundation.

In operation, the incinerator charge tends to dome over the dumping grate and form a self sustaining arched dome bridging the grate with the ends of the arches supported by the stationary grate structure. The dumping grate area in exceeding the doming limit of the incinerated charge sustains but a minor portion but an essential portion of the weight of the charge necessary to the support of the dome. When the grates are opened and their support for the minor portion of the weight of the charge withdrawn from between the two sides of the doming charge, the charge collapses of its own weight and discharges itself without poking; The double dumping grate structure for such purpose has the advantage over a single dumping grate that these grates of necessity are of great Weight themselves, and were they made as a single grate the weight of the grate itself would be excessive for practical operation. Further, with the large area involved, the leverage exerted by a single grate of the length required for the same purpose would be out of all proportion to the advantage attained in exceeding the doming limit, since the eifort re and IQ, inner portion of which is cast integral with the spaced arms 2 I and also with the levers or arms 26. The arms 2 i omit the adjustment means shown in Figs. 1-5, and are pivotally connected directly with the links 24'. The link members 28' are in pairs and these links and the beara ings 2% are beyond the dumping grate, the bearings 26 being directly beneath and suspended from the longitudinal bearing bars 9. In the modification of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the fixed grate bars are only slightly inclined and on one side only, and the grate structure is approximately on a level with the dead plate l3 and the bottom of the poker opening 5. The arrangement shown in Figs. 1-5 with the grate structure below the bottom of the poker opening 5 and with the steeply inclined fixed grate bars is however preferred for the reason above given and for the further reason that by making the horizontal plane of the grate nearer to the floor level 3| below the poker opening 5, the operator will not have to bar upwardly with great physical exertion.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the weights 3B are connected with the roller arm 2!" by a chain 28" attached to a lug 28 on arm 2|" and passing over a chain guide and support 26". The arms 2 l are provided with a roller 24 engaging the bottoms of bars 24a on the grate sections l1 Ha, to lift the grate. To prevent the arms 24" from raising the grates too high, the lugs 28" are mounted for movement with arms 2| so that the lugs 28" will strike against a stopping shoulder 30" when grates l1, Ila are substantially in horizontal alignment.

The invention as hereinbefore set forth or exemplified, by the above illustrative instances, may be variously embodied or practiced within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

What is claimed is:

1. A dumping grate for refuse incinerators, comprising a stationary grate portion, opposite pairs of dumping grate members hinged adjacent said stationary portion for swinging movement relative thereto, a pair of companion rocker shafts one disposed beneath each pair of grate members, toggle lever mechanism connecting said shafts respectively with said pairs of grate members, a counter-weight lever-means supported by each of said shafts, the counterweight lever means and their respective toggle-lever mechanisms being fixed to their rocker shafts so as to extend in substantially diametrically opposed directions from each other on opposite sides of the axis of the rocker shaft therefor for maintaining the toggle mechanism extended with the dumping grate members loaded in closed position and for balancing the grate members in any unloaded open position of the same, and means for independently rocking said shafts to break said toggle mechanism and swing said grate members to dumping position against the action of said counterweight.

2. A dumping grate for refuse incinerators, comprising a stationary grate portion, a dumping grate portion hinged adjacent said stationary portion for swinging movement relative thereto, a rocker shaft disposed beneath said grate, toggle lever mechanism connecting said shaft with said dumping grate portion, a counterweight levermeans supported by said shaft, the counterweight lever-means and the toggle-lever mechanism being fixed to the rocker shaft so as to extend in substantially diametrically opposed directions from each other on opposite sides of the axis of the rocker shaft for maintaining the toggle mechanism extended with the dumping grate portion loaded in closed position and for balancing the dumping grate portion in any unloaded open position of the same, and means for rocking said shaft to break said toggle mechanism and swing said dumping grate portion to dumping position.

3. A dumping grate for incinerator furnaces comprising a stationary grate portion, opposite pairs of dumping grate members hinged to said stationary portion for swinging movement relative thereto, a pair of companion rocker shafts one disposed beneath each pair of grate members, toggle lever mechanism connecting said shafts respectively with said pairs of grate mem bers, means for adjusting said toggle mechanism relative to said dumping grate members, a plurality of counterweight levers fixed at spaced intervals along each of said shafts and operatively connected with each other by counterweight supports and counterweights therefor, the togglelever mechanism and the counterweight levers therefor being fixed on the rocker shafts so as to extend in substantially diametrically opposite directions from each other on opposite sides of the axis of the rocker shaft therefor for balancing the weight of said grate in any unloaded open position and for maintaining the toggle mechanism extended with the dumping grate members loaded in closed position, and means for independently rocking said shafts to break said toggle mechanism and swing said grate members to dumping position.

4. In combination with an incinerator furnace having a charging opening and a combustion chamber, a grate device for supporting the bed of fuel to be incinerated in the combustion chamber, said grate device comprising an outer marginal fixed grate bar portion marginally surrounding an inner dumping grate bar portion on all sides, the width of a fixed marginal grate area at any point on all marginal sides of the dumping grate area being much less than half of the length of the axis of the whole of the dumping grate area at that point and the inner dumping grate bar portion having an overall area sufficiently large to include the rest of the length of the longitudinal axis of the grate area at said points and thereby being adapted to exceed the average doming limit of an incinerated charge within the combustion chamber with the fixed grate structure thereby being adapted to relieve the inner dumping grate portion of the major stresses of the combustion chamber incineration load; and means for actuating the dumping grate portion of the grate de vice; the inner dumping grate bar portion being centrally disposed relative to the fixed grate bar portion and comprising pivotally mounted downwardly swinging grate bars and being otherwise free of fuel bed load supporting members that would tend to prevent collapse of the incinerator load upon the downward swing of the dumping grate bars, whereby the incinerated materials may be discharged by gravity withdrawal of residual minor part of the required support to maintain the dome of the charge.

5. In an chamber, a grate device for supporting burning refuse in the combustion chamber, said grate device comprising a fixed marginal grate structure and an inner dumping grate portion, the inner dumping grate portion comprising oppositely disposed pairs of dumping grate-bar sections pivotally mounted for downward swinging dumping movement, and the fixed marginal grate structure surrounding the dumping grate portion on all sides and comprising grate bars, the width of a fixed marginal grate area at any point on all margins of the dumping grate area being much less than half of the length of the axis of the Whole of the dumping grate portion at that point to provide for a large central dumping area adapted for exceeding the average doming limit of incinerated charges in the combustion chamber surrounded by fixed grate area adapted to relieve the doming limit exceeding dumplng grate porincinerator having a combustion tion of the major stresses of the incinerator cham- 75 ber load; the inner dumping grate portion being otherwise free of fuel-bed load supporting members that would tend to prevent collapse of the incinerator load upon the downward swinging of the dumping grate sections.

6. In anincinerator having a combustion chambena grate device for supporting burning refuse in the combustion chamber, said grate device comprising a fixed marginal grate structure and an inner dumping grate portion, the inner dumping grate portion comprising oppositely disposed pairs of dumping grate-bar sections pivotally mounted for downward swinging dumping movement, and the fixed marginal grate structure surrounding the dumping grate portion on all sides and comprising grate bars, the width of a fixed marginal grate area at any point on at least three-fourths of the marginal sides of the dumping grate portion being much less than half of the lengthof the axis of the whole of the dumping grate portion at that point to provide for a large central dumping area adapted for exceeding the average doming limit of incinerated charges in the combustion chamber surrounded by fixed grate area adapted to relieve the doming limit exceeding dumping-grate-portion of the major stresses of the incinerator chamber load; the inner dumping grate portion being otherwise free of fuel-bed load supporting members that would tend to prevent collapse of the incinerator load upon the downward swinging of the dumping grate sections.

7. In a refuse incinerator having a combustion chamber, a grate device for supporting burning refuse in the combustion chamber, said grate device comprising an inner group of oppositely disposed dumping grate sections pivotally mounted for downward swinging dumping movement with the pivotal axis of the sections parallel and the free outer downward swinging edges of the sections adjacent each other, and an outer fixed marginal grate structure surrounding the inner dumping grate area on all sides; the width of a fixed marginal grate area at any point on at least three-fourths of the marginal sides of the dumping grate area being much less than half of the length of the axis of the whole of the dumping grate area at that point to adapt the inner dumping area to effectively exceed the average dcming limit of incinerated charges and the outer fixed grate area to marginally support the major stresses of the incinerator chamber loads so that when the dumping grate is opened and its support of a minor but essential part of the weight of the charge is withdrawn the charge may tend to collapse and dump itself without substantial poking; companion rocker shafts for the dumping grate sections; toggle mechanism on one side of the rocker shafts connecting the same and the dumping grate sections; counterweight levermeans on the opposite side of the rocker shafts for counterbalancing the grate sections in opening and closing the same; and means for rocking the rocker shafts.

THOMAS J. HILER.

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