US2189401A - Stoker mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1940. .1. w. MYERs l sToxER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April v25, 1930 Feb. 6, 1940. .1. vv. MYERS STOKER MEGHANISM v Original Filed April 25, 1930 3, Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1940. J. w. MYERS 2,189,401

STOKER MECHANISM Original Filed April 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 John W Mya/45 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES STOKER MECHANISM John W. Myers, Roanoke, Va., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dela- Ware Original application April 25, 1930, Serial No. 447,365. Divided and this application April 1, 1935, Serial No. 14,064. Renewed January 24,

, 11 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 447,365, filed April 25, 1930, for Locomotive stokers, now Patent No. 2,007,095, issued July 2, '1935.

The present invention relates to stokers for locomotives or other steam boilers and it appertains particularly to improved means for deflecting and distributing the fuel.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for conveying fuel. in a single stream to a receiving chamber or distributing means, and there dividing the single stream into a plurality of streams acted upon by projecting means disposed rearward of the fuel.

Another object of the invention consists in providing the chamber to which the fuel is delivered for discharge into the furnace with a pivvotally mounted vane dividing the chamber into a plurality of compartments, the vane being movable so as to vary the respective sizes of the compartments.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of improved means for operating the vane mounted in the fuel receiving chamber.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fuel deilector vane comprising a plurality of sections pivotally mounted at their adthe chamber and the firing opening.

More specific objects reside in the advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig, 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stoking apparatus together with adjacent parts of the locomotive and tender;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the central portion of the tender of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the forward end portion of the stoking apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, parts thereof being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

lFig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I--T of Fig. 4, with some parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of the rear portion of one of the vanes together with the adjacent portion ofthe vane operating mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational View of a modified form of the vane;

Fig. l1 is a plan view of the vane illustrated in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.v

Throughout the description and claims, the terms "forward and rearward and similar terms are used relative to the direction of delivery of the fuel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates a portion of a locomotive, which may be of any desired construction, and 2 the locomotive tender having a coal bin defined by the inclined walls 3 and gates 4.

Underlying the floor of the tender is a fuel receiving trough-like conduit 5 into which coal may gravitate from the tender through an opening 6. This opening extends for substantially the entire length of the coal bin and may be closed when desired by a plurality of slidably mounted doors 1 which are so arranged that they may be drawn forward one at a time as the coal is consumed to present a relatively small opening in the desired position in the floor of the bin. 'Ihe conduit 5 may be rigidly supportedbeneath the floor of the tender in any suitable manner.

Extending toward the locomotive from the forward portion of the tender conduit 5 is a conduit I for transferring the coal from the tender to the locomotive. The forward end of the transfer conduit projects into a conduit I I rigidly mounted upon the backhead I2 of the locomotive boiler and this last named conduit -extends upwardly and communicates with a chamber I3 projecting into the fire box opening I4 formed in the boiler backhead. The transfer conduit I0 and the conduit Il form in effect a delivery conduit which at one end receives fuel from the tender conduit and at the other end delivers fuel to the fire box.

The Vrear portion ofthe transfer conduit I0 eX- tends beneath the floor of the tender and is enlarged as at I5 to form a hopper forreceiving coal directly from the tender through an opening I6 formed in the floor of the latter. This opening may advantageously be closed by a door I1 hiugedly mounted along one edgethereof. The rear end of the .transfer conduit is preferably supported by the forward portion of the tender conduit and is connected thereto so as to have universal movement with respect thereto. However, to prevent the transfer conduit from rotating axially it may be conveniently provided with a screw I8 or any other suitable means which extends into a slot I9 formed in the upper surface of the adjacent portion of the tender conduit, the slot extending longitudinally of the axis of the latter. The forward end of the transfer conduit is supported by the upwardly extending conduit I I and in order that it may have universal movement with respect thereto it is provided with a sleeve spherically curved on its outer surface to cooperate with a correspondingly curved portion of the conduit II. The transfer conduit is slidable with respect to the sleeve 20 so that upon the uncoupling of the locomotive and tender it may be readily withdrawn from the conduit II.

Spiral conveyors 2l and 22 are respectively disposed within the tender and transfer conduits for advancing or feeding the fuel therethrough. The rear end of the transfer conveyor extends into the hopper I5 to advance the fuel delivered to the latter through the tender conduit 5 or through the opening I6 in the floor of the tender. Furthermore, the rear end of the transfer conveyor is offset below the adjacent portion of the tender conveyor so that the coal advanced by the latter will fall by gravity onto the former.

'Ihe conveyors are rotated through the intermediacy of a plurality of gears disposed within a box 23 at the rear end of the tender conduit. 'I'he motive power may be furnished by a suitable motor, shafting and gearing, not shown here but as fully disclosed and described in my parent application, for driving a gear 21 splined upon a shaft 28 which extends forwardly from the box 23 and is universally connected by shafting 29 to the transfer conveyor 22. In this manner the transfer conveyor 22 is at all times connected to the driving motor. The rear portion of the shaft of the tender conveyor extends into the gear box 23 and is provided with a gear 30 which is freely rotatable thereon and in mesh with gear ',21. For imparting movement to the tender conveyor through the intermediacy of the gears 21 and 30 a clutch member 3| is slidably keyed to the shaft of the conveyor. This clutch member is provided with inwardly projecting lugs or teeth 32 adapted to cooperatively engage outwardly projecting lugs or teeth 33 formed on the gear 30. Although any suitable means may be employed for operating the clutch I have illustrated a rock shaft 34 journalled in the side walls of the gear box upon which is rigidly mounted a bifurcated member 35 having inwardly lprojecting pins or lugs 36 which extend into a peripheral groove 31 formed in the clutch member. The shaft 34 may be rigidly pro vided with an arm (not shown) which may extend forwardly so as to be easily manipulated by an operator.

To prevent the tender conveyor from becoming clogged due to the presence of large lumps of coal a crushing member 40 is disposed adjacent the forward portion of the conveyor. It is preferred, also, to equip the hopper I5 with a crusher 40a of the same construction so that the coal delivered directly to the hopper from the tender may also be broken up.

In order to prevent spilling or the escape of coal from the upwardly extending conduit II when the transfer conduit is withdrawn therefrom upon uncoupling of the tender and locomotive, means is preferably employed for sun porting the coal therein. In the present embodiment of the invention this means comprises a member having a plurality of fingers or the like 46 movable into the lower portion of the conduit. To conveniently maintain the member 45 in an inoperative position it may be disposed within a housing 41 formed integrally with the conduit. A pin 48 is preferably cooperable with one of the fingers of the member to prevent the latter from being moved accidentally into the conduit While the stoker is in operation.

The fuel receiving chamber I3 has a portion extending rearwardly from the backhead of the boiler which constitutes a continuation of the conduit II and is preferably secured thereto by bolts 49. This rearwardly extending portion is open at top and bottom but is formed with side walls 5I) and an upwardly inclined rear wall. The

bottom opening of the chamber communicates with the conduit II while the top opening communicates with the firing opening I4 to equalize the draft conditions in the chamber and the firing opening to avoid creating an intense draft in the chamber such as would interfere with the propelling action of the fuel distributing blast to be hereinafter described. The forward portion of the chamber extends through the re box opening and is of box-like shape having the side walls 50a. and top and bottom walls or plates 5I and 52, respectively, forming a discharge mouth for the conduit II. Projecting forwardly from the bottom wall 52 is a distributor plate 53 from which the coal is discharged into the fire box. As the distributor plate is subjected to the intense heat within the iire box it is preferably detachably secured to the bottom wall by pins 54 so that it may be easily disconnected therefrom and a new one inserted in its place. The pins 54 extend through rearwardly projecting extensions 55 of the distributor plate and through adjacent portions of the wall 52 which are recessed as at 56 -to receive theiextensions 55.

Disposed within the chamber I3 are a plurality of substantially vertical vanes or members 51 dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments and in effect splitting the single fuel stream rising from the conduit into a plurality of streams. Each of the vanes is provided with oppositely projecting trunnions 58 which extend into aligned openings formed in the top and bottom walls 5I and 52 of the box-like portion of the chamber. 'I'hese trunnions are preferably in the form of screws so that they may be disconnected from the vanes to permit removal of the latter from the chamber.

As it is often desirable to supply a greater amount of coal to one portion of the fire box than to another, means is employed whereby the vanes may be moved to vary the respective sizes oi the compartments which they define. In the present embodiment of the invention a plurality of means is employed so that the vanes may be shifted independently of each other. Each of these means comprises a screw-threaded shaft 59 extending transversely of the chamber and a nut member 60 cooperable with the rear portion of the adjacent vane. The outer ends of the shafts are journalled in the adjacent side walls of the chamber while the inner ends thereof are journalled in an inwardly projecting lug 6I formed integrally with the rear wall of the chamber. 'I'he forward ends of the nut members 60 are provided with jaws 62 for receiving therebetween the adjacent portion of the associated vane. To maintain the jaws in spaced relation and at the same time to prevent the nut member from ro tating around the shaft a ller block 63 is prefer- CFI ably interposed between the jaws and extends into a slot 64 formed in the rear portion of the vane.

This construction results in a rather loose connection between the vanes and their operating members which 4is particularly desirable as it permits the vanes to move slightly laterally to enable the coal to readily pass on opposite sides thereof. By rotating the shafts 59 by handles 65 with which they may be respectively provided the size or capacity of the compartments may be varied to control the quantity of coal delivered to different portions of the fire box. Thus if it is desired to supply a greater amount of coal to the center portion of the fire box than to the side portions thereof the rear ends of the vanes may be moved to increase the 'distance between them, thereby increasing the capacity of the center compartment and insuring delivery of more coal to the center of the fire box. On the other hand, if it is desired to supply a greater amount of coal to the side portions of the re box than to the center thereof the ends of the vanes may be moved toward each other to increase the capacity of the side compartments.

Projecting inwardly into the fuel receiving chamber through the rear wall thereof into the path of movement of the fuel is a steam nozzle 66. This nozzle is preferably of box-like shape and its bottom wall inclined upwardly from the rear of the chamber I3 so as to not unnecessarily impede the rise of the coal in the upwardly extending conduit I I. The interior of the nozzle is divided by partition walls 61 into a plurality of compartments, the number of compartments in the nozzle corresponding to the number in the fuel chamber. Each of the nozzle compartments is provided with a plurality of outlet openings 68 and an inlet opening 69, the latter communieating with a steam pipe 10 having a control valve 1I. In order that the steam blast issuing from the opening 68 will not scatter the coal from one compartment to anothervand in order to prevent the coal from packing under the vanes the openings 68 are so arranged that the steam will meet the coal at about the same time the coal rises to the lower edges of the vanes. As best shown in Fig. 3, the openings 68 in the stream nozzle 66 are below the horizontal medial plane of the mouth of the discharge conduit II defined by the side walls 50a and top and bottom walls 5I and 52. As the steam fans out upon leaving the nozzle the lower edges of the vanes preferably taper or incline downwardly from adjacent the nozzle to the forward portion of the chamber I3.

Just beneath the steam nozzle there is an opening 12 in the rear wall of the chamber I3 for admitting air thereto. The draft of the locomotive combined with the draft created by'the steaml blast will draw suiiicient air through this opening tof/prevent the coal from packing under the nozzle and to assist in carrying the coal forward to the steam blast.

The forward portion of each of the vanes is in the form of a deflector 13 having curved portions which extend laterally from the body portion of the vane. Since the deilecting portions of the vanes are subjected to the intense heat lugs 14 and the portion 15 being formed with registering apertures to receive a connecting bolt or pin 16. The pins 16 form a tight nt so that the deflectors 13 are not moved by impingement. of the fuel projected through the chamber I3; however, the reectors may be moved manually independently of the body portions of the vanes.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the principal figures of the drawings, the deiiector consists of a curved plate, the axis of curvature of which is preferably vertical. The lower edge of the plate inclines upwardly and outwardly from adjacent the bottom wall of the box-like portion of the chamber I3 to adjacent the top wall thereof whereby it will be seen that the deflector extends laterally of the vane a greater distance adjacent its upper portion than adjacent its lower portion. Thus the coal engaging the upper portion of the deflector is directed at substantially right angles to the vane toward the back corners of the fire box while the coal engaging the lower portion thereof leaves the chamber in a. substantially straight line. As coal engaging intermediate portions of the deflector leaves the chamber at varying angles it will be evenly distributed over the entire grate area of the fire box. A vane of this type is particularly effective when coal which is more or less finely divided is used because the steam blast will tend to blow the coal toward the top of the chamber as it is being propelled therethrough. The top wall 5I serves to limit upward movement of fuel which is carried thereagainst by the expanding blasts of pressure fluid which issue from the steam nozzle 66. 'I'his wall 5I also cooperates with thel deflector 13 in preventing fuel which strikes the upper portion of the deectors from ricochetting in an upward direction where it can A,

be carried oif unconsumed by the locomotive draft.

When coal having a large proportion of lumps is used, the form of the deflector illustrated in Figures l10 to 12 is preferably employed. This type of deflector primarily differs from the other in that it extends laterally of the vane'a greater distance adjacent the lower edge thereof than adjacent the upper edge. Furthermore instead of being of plate form this deflector is formed with a plurality of stepped portions 11 which are of progressively increased width from adjacent the bottom of the chamber I3 to the top thereof. Also the lower step of the steps 11 tapers inwardly from its outer edges toward the vane so that the coal engaging the lower step will be projected from the chamber at a greater angle to the vane than the coal engaging the upper ones. Y

I claim:

1. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an approximately horizontally disposed fuel receiving chamber having an upward intake opening and an outlet opening adapted for the delivery of fuel to a furnace, means for feeding fuel to the intake opening of said chamber, a substantially vertical longitudinally extending vane pivotally mounted in said chamber dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments each open at one end to receive fuel through said upward intake opening from said feeding means and open at the opposite end for discharge of fuel to the furnace, a deflector pivotally mounted on the forward end of the vane on an upright axis, said deflector curving forwardly and laterally from the forward end of said vane, the length of said deflector in successive cross sections from its lower to its upper end being progressively greater, said deflector being adapted for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane, and means at the rear of said compartments for projecting fuel forwardly therethrough and outwardly from the outlet opening of the chamber.

2. The combination in a stoking apparatus, of a fuel chamber having an outlet opening adapted for the delivery of fuel to a furnace and an inlet opening remote from the said inlet opening, means at the rear of said chamber for projecting fuel forwardly therethrough and outwardly from the outlet opening of the chamber, a vane in said fuel chamber extending substantially in the direction of delivery of fuel therethrough, said vane comprising a rearward portion mounted for pivotal adjustment about its forward end, and a forward portion carried by said rearward portion and arranged for bodily movement therewith about the axis of the pivotal mounting of said-rearward portion, said forward portion being mounted at its rearward end on said rearward portion for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said rearward portion.

3. In a. stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, a deflector mounted on an upright axis on the end of said vane within said portion for pivotal adjustment, and means for adjusting said vane about its pivot.

4. In a staking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a fuel delivery chamber mounted thereon, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver horizontally into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion for horizontal adjustment, a deflector mounted for horizontal pivotal adjustment on the end of said vane within said portion, and means for adjusting said vane about its pivot.

5. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into 'the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, and a deflector mounted on the end of said vane Within said portion on an upright axis forward of the upright pivotal axis of said vane for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane.

6. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, a

deector mounted on the end of said vane within said portion on an upright axis forward of the upright pivotal axis of said vane for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane, and means for adjusting said vane and said deflector about the axis of said vane.

7. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, a deflector mounted on an upright axis on the end of said vane within said portion for pivotal adjustment, means for adjusting said vane about its pivot, and fuel projecting means in said chamber acting against the fuel emerging from said conduit at the sides of said vane,

8. In a stoking apparatus; in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit.,v a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion of said chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, means for adjusting said vane about its axis, a deflector mounted on the end of said vane within said portion on an upright axis forward of the upright pivotal axis of said vane for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane, and fuel projecting means in said chamber acting against the fuel emerging from said conduit at the sides of said vane.

9. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuel conduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit the conduit being adapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted to deliver forwardly into a firing opening furnace, a pair of laterally spaced upstanding longitudinally extending vanes at the delivery end of said conduit in the path of the fuel for dividing the rising column of fuel into a plurality of streams, said vanes extending into the delivery portion of said chamber, a deflector at the forward end of each of said vanes curving laterally from the plane of said vane, said defiectors curving away from each other, the forward ends of said deflectors being a substantial distance in the furnace and means at the rear of said vanes arranged to emit a blast of fluid under pressure against the rising fuel for projecting it through said chamber and said firing opening, said defiectors being adapted to intercept and laterally deflect a portion of the projected fuel to the rear corners of the furnace.

10. In combination with a furnace having a wall with a ring opening therethrough, a stoker fuel discharge conduit communicating with said firing opening, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said discharge conduit, the forward end of said plate being a substantial distance in the furnace forward of said furnace wall, means rearward of said plate for projecting fuel thereacross into the iirebox, a pair of laterally spaced deflectors disposed immediately over said plate and inward of the side edges thereof, each of said deiiectors curving forwardly and laterally away from the other toward a lrespective side edge of the plate, the forward ends of said deectors being a substantial distance in the furdeectors being mounted for pivotal movement about an upstanding axis and means for moving said deflectors about said upstanding axes, said cleectors being adapted to intercept and laterally deflect a portion of the projected fuel to the rear corners of the furnace.

11. In a furnace having an upright wall provided with a firing opening therethrough, a stoker fuel discharge conduit communicating with said furnace through said firing opening, and means for urging fuel through said discharge conduit.

in combination, a pressure fluid jet head at the lower portion of said firing opening, said pressure fluid jet head having a wall, said wall being apertured below the horizontal medial plane of the mouth of said discharge conduit for the emission of a laterally distended pressure fluid blast against the fuel delivered thereto from said discharge conduit for projecting the fuel toward the furnace, a wall formation disposed above the level of said jet head and extending across substantially the width of said firing opening, fuel diverting means for distributing fuel laterally including a pair of oppositely directed laterally yspaced elements disposed beneath said wall formation and arranged with their outer ends extending forward of the upright furnace wall and with the inner ends thereof extending rearwardly of the outer ends and spaced inwardly of the lateral limits of said wall formation, said wall formation limiting upward movement of such portions of the fuel which are carried thereagainst by the pressure fluid blast issuing from said jet head, and operable means for controlling the fue] distributing action of said diverting means.

JOHN W. MYERS.

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