US2399490A - Heater - Google Patents

Description

H. LANGE ri 3U, H946,

HEATER Filed Jan. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Shree? l H. LANGE pril 3@ R946. l

HEATER Filed Jan. l2, 1942 2 Sheets-Shee. 2

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 ange HEATER Henry Lange, Quincy, Ill., assigner to The Quincy Stove Manufacturing Company, Quincy, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 12, 1942, Serial No. 426,398

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-73) This invention relates in general to stoves, and more particularly to improvements in radiant heaters.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a heater of simplified construction having a iirepot of materially greater depth than has been employed heretofore to increase the fuel capacity of the heater, and which includes means for uniformly supplying primary air throughout the entire outer area of the repot, and separate means for supplying preheated secondary air around the upper peripheral portion of the firepot, in quantities proportional to the amount of primary air supplied, for effecting complete combustion of the gases emanating from the fuel, whereby the efficiency of the heater is greatly increased.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a heater of a single adjustable member for controlling the total amount of air to be made available to the primary and secondary air supply means, whereby the ratio between the primary air and the secondary air supplied to the flrepot will remain constant at all times to insure eflicient combustion under all conditions of operation of the heater. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide a heater in which the rate of combustion may be varied through an unusually wide range to enable any heating demand made thereon to be effectively met by virture of the aforesaid single adjustable control member and the novel primary and secondary air supply means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel repot construction in such a heater comprising aplurality of interchangeable, vertically disposed sections or staves which so interlock as v to eliminate the necessity of cementing the same together, while permitting relative movement due to expansion and contraction, and which may be used for iirepots of different diameters.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a heater of a novel grate structure which is mounted on ball-bearings to facilitate oscillation in a horizontal plane and includes a central portion movable horizontally relative to thelmain part of the grate to effect a dumping action.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a, vertical sectional view of a radiant heater embodying the features of the instant invention:

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the heater of Fig. 1 taken through the iirepot;

Fig. '3 is a perspective view of one of the repot sections or staves, with the central portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken through a portion of the flrepot adjacent the grate structure; and

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of two of the firepot sections or staves mounted in cooperating relationship.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the lower part of the preferred embodiment of the radiant heater disclosed therein comprises an ash-pit of any suitable construction which is illustrated as being made up of a cylindrical member or drum I I having an inwardly extending circumferential flange I2 formed at the lower end thereof to which a plate I3 is secured to close the bottom of the ash-pit. The heater is supported by means of a plurality of leg members Iii which may be attached in any desired manner to the ash-pit drum I I. At the front end, the drum II is provided with an aperture I5 (Fig. 1) which is adapted to be closed by a door I6 hingedly secured in any suitable manner to the drum. The door IIS is provided with apertures Il which may be entirely closed or opened to any desired degree by means of an adjustable winged closure member or draft plate I8 pivotally mounted upon the door. A flange I9 (Fig. 1) is formed integrally with the drum II and is disposed interiorly of the drum adjacent the upper end thereof. At circumierentially spaced points adjacent the legs I4, inwardly extending lugs 2I areprovided, for a purpose to be described hereafter, which are also formed integrally with the drum I I and are disposed below or as an extension of the ange I9.

The grate structure of the instant heater comprises an annular, inwardly sloping ring member 22 (Figs. 1, Zand 4), a main grate member 23 mounted thereon for oscillation in a horizontal plane, and an apertured slide or dump plate 2li mounted below the grate member 23 for horizontal sliding movement relative thereto. Asbest seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the ring 22 is provided with a horizontally disposed circumferential ange 25 having recessed lugs 26 formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in circu'mferentially spaced relationship to each other. Also formed integrally with the flange 25 and equally spaced from each other around the ring 22 are three supporting lugs 21 which rest upon the associated lugs or shoulders 2| of the drum II to support the grate structure thereon. Each of the lugs 21 is provided with an aperture 28 (Fig. 4) of a, size corresponding to the space between adjacent lugs 26, the latter' together with the lugs 21, comprising supports for the firepot structure to be hereinafter described.

Extending inwardly from the ring 22 and depending downwardly therefrom are three bearing brackets 25 equally spaced from each other around the ring and disposed in radial alignment with the supporting lugs 21. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 4, each of the bearing brackets 29 is provided in its upper surface with an elongated channel 3l for receiving ball-bearing 32 and limiting the movement thereof circumferentially of the ring 22. The several ball-bearings 32 function to marginally support the main grate member 23 which rests thereon and is restrained against upward movement relative thereto byy an inwardly extending nger 33 (Figs. 2l and 4) formed integrally with the ring 22. The main grate member 23 is thus free. to oscillatev horizontally relative. to the supporting ring 22, through a limited distance.

The main grate 23 is provided with a central discharge aperture 34 (Figs. 1 and 2). A pair of slide supporting brackets 35 formed integrally with the grate member 23 are disposed below the plane of the latter and extend inwardly from the side walls of the aperture 34. The slide or dump plate 24 is slidably mounted upon these brackets 35 for horizontal movement relative to the main grate member 23. A centrally disposed slot 36 in the slide 24 normally engages a depending lug 31 formed at the forward end of the grate member 23 to guide and limit such horizontal movement of the slide relative to the grate member. A pair of fingers 38 formed integrally with the grate member 23 extend inwardly from the side walls of the aperture 34 and are spaced rearwardly a short distance from the brackets 35. The slide 24 terminates at each side in a rearwardly extending rail 39 cooperating with the brackets 35 and fingers 38 to maintain the slide in proper horizontal position until the same is withdrawn forwardly for substantially its full distance of travel to expose or completely open the central aperture 34 in the main grate member 23, The length of the slot 36 in the Slide 24 is such as to permit continued forward movement of the slide relative to the grate member 23 to carry the rear ends of the rails 39 forwardly past the upper restraining fingers 38. The slide 24 may then be pivoted downwardly at its forward end on the brackets 35 to clear the lug 31 to enable removal of the slide from the main grate member 23. The slide or dump plate 24 is provided at its forward end with a suitable handle 4| (Fig. l) which is disposed in alignment with the aperture I inthe drum Il for ready access by opening of the ash-pit door I6. The handle 4I thus functions as a manually engageable member for oscillating the main grate member 23 and slide 24 relative to the supporting ring 22, and for reciprocating the slide 24 relative to the grate member 23. It will, of course, be understood that both the main grate member 23 and slide or dump plate 24 are provided with suitable apertures, in addition to those previously described, to enable the upward passage of air therethrough and the discharge into the ash-pit of ashes or the like accumulated on the grate.

The repot provided in the instant heater is mounted upon the supporting ring 22 of the grate structure and' comprises a plurality of identical sections or staves indicated generally by reference numeral 42. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that each of the repot sections or staves 42 comprises a channel-shaped member having one relatively straight side wall 43 and a curved side wall 44 extending outwardly beyond the wall 43 and terminating in a laterally extending flange 45. ,The side Walls 43 and 44 are joined by a central rib or curved portion 46, and the upper end of the channel member is closed by a sloping top wall 41. Each of the lrepot sections or staves 43 is also provided with an inwardly disposed and downwardly extending shoulder 48 at its lower end and an outwardly disposed and upwardly extending lug 49 at its upper end formed integrally therewith. Adjacent the lower end of the sloping top wall 41, the central. portion 46 is provided with a pair of apertures 5| extending therethrough.

As previously described and as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the several sections or staves 42 comprising the firepot of the instant heater are mounted vertically in cooperating and interlocking relationship with each other upon the supporting ring 22 of the grate structure. In this operative position, the lower ends of the side walls 43 and 44, the flange 45 and the central portion 45 of the several sections 42 rest upon the circumferential flange 25 and the lugs 26 of the ring 22, with the shoulders 48 disposed in the apertures between the lugs 26 and the apertures 28 in the supporting lugs 21- The spacing of the lugs 25 and the apertures 23 is such that adjacent ones of the repot sections or staves 42 will be retained their lower ends with their d associated side walls 43 and 44 in spaced relationship to each other as shown in Fig, l. The upper ends of the staves 42 are retained in contacting relationship with each other in a manner to be later described. The walls 43 and 44 of each adjacent pair of staves 4Z, together with the flange 45, form a vertically disposed primary air channel 52 communicating with the ash-pit through the recess provided in the associated lug 26 of the ring 22 and tapering or decreasing in width upwardly. The outer surfaces of the several flanges 45 lie in the saine circular plane by virtue of. each of the staves 42 being recessed along the outer edge of its side wall 43 for a distance equal to the thickness of the flange 45, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Each of the repot sections or staves 42 also defines a secondary air passage or channel 53 (as best illustrated in Fig. 1) which communicates at its lower end with the ash-pit and is closed at its upper end by the top wall 41. Each of the secondary air channels 53 communicates at its upper end with the interior of the repot by means of the apertures 5|.

The lower ends -of the several repot sections or staves 42 are retained against outward movement by a main heating drum 54 which rests at its lower end upon and is supported by the flange I9 of the ash-pit drum l I. The lower edge of a main top or dome-like cap member 55 slidably engages the inner surface of the heating drum 54 and is provided with an outwardly extending, circumferential flange 55 (Fig. 1) which rests upon the upper edge of the heating drum 54 to support the top thereon. An inner stave retaining cap member or auxiliary heat deflecting top 51 rests at its lower edge upon the upper end walls 41 of the several repot sections or staves 42. The diameter of the lower edge of this auxiliary top 51v is such as to provide just sufficient space between the same and the lower marginal portion of the main top 55 to accommodate the upper lugs 49 on the staves 42. The

auxiliary top 51 is cut away at 58 (Fig. 1) to provide access to the interior of the heater through a suitable feed opening 59 provided in the main top 55. A closure member or feed door 6| which is hingedly secured in any suitable manner to the main top 55 and normally closes the feed opening 59. The auxiliary top 51 is also provided with an aperture 62 coinciding with a suitable flue outlet 63 formed integrally with the main top 55.

With the above described construction, it will be seen that the repot sections or staves l2 are so retained in proper position by means of the supporting ring 22, the heating drum 54 and the top members 55 and 5l as to eliminate the necessity of cementing the same together. At the same time, limited relative movement between the staves 42 is permitted to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof due to temperature changes, which may vary over a wide range. Since all of the firepot sections or staves 42 are identical, they are readily interchangeable, This greatly facilitates assembly of the instant heater, as well as replacement of any desired section or sections thereof. The novel .construction of the firepot sections 42 also permits their use in firepots of different diameters.

As will be appreciated from the illustration of Fig. 1, the repot formed by the several sections 42 is of materially greater depth than has been employed heretofore, so that the fuel capacity of the heater is very greatly increased, In use, the heater is charged through the feed openings 59 and 58, and sufficient fuel is normally introduced to completely fill the flrepot. Primary air for combustion is supplied through the grate structure in the usual manner and also throughout the entire outer area of the repot through the agency of the primary air channels 52. At the same time, secondary air is supplied through the channels 53 and apertures 5| to the upper part of the lrepot to insure complete combustion of the gases emanating from the fuel, and due to the path of travel of the secondary air so supplied, it will be preheated before delivery to the interior of the repot. As a result of these several factors, the efficiency of the instant heater is very materially increased.

Since all of the air supplied to the repot for combustion can come only through the ash-pit, and since the supply of air therethrough is directly controllable by the adjustable draft plate I8, the rate of combustion of the fuel may be varied through an unusually wide range to enable any heating demand made upon the heater to be effectively met. For example, the draft plate I8 may be substantially closed to reduce the burning rate of the fuel to a point where the heat output is negligible, but an even rate of combustion will be maintained even under such conditions. Whenever the demand occurs for an in creased output of radiant heat, the draft plate IB may be opened to immediately supply a greater quantity of air for combustion. The tapered primary air channels 52 allow the air to be uniformly distributed throughout the entire outer area of the repot to insure uniform combustion at all points. And the ratio between the primary air thus supplied and the secondary air supplied at the upper end of the repot by the channels 53 and apertures 5l will remain constant at all times to insure complete and perfect combustion under all conditions of operation of the heater.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A stove comprising a heating drum, an ashpit structure below the same, a top closure for the drum, a grate structure above the ashpit providing vertical marginal passages for air from the ashpit, and a rebox lining in the drum above the grate comprising a plurality of similar vertically arranged drum lining members provided with means at the ends thereof co-acting with said grate and top closure structure for preventing inward displacement of said members, said members each having an inner wall and a pair of side walls defining a secondary air duct along a vertical portion of the drum and a flange extending laterally from one of said side walls and arranged to contact the drum and the other side wall of the next adjacent lining member and cooperating With said last mentioned side wall to provide a primary air duct communicating along the inner face thereof with the rebox for distributing air to the fuel in the rebox, said channels being open at the lower ends and in direct communication through said air passages of said grate with said ashpit for admitting air from the latter to said primary and secondary air channels.

2. A stove comprising a heating drum, an ash pit structure below the same, a top closure for the drum, a grate structure above the ash pit providing vertical air passages through the same, and a fire box lining in the drum comprising a plurality of similar vertically arranged members above the grate and each comprising an inner vertical wall and a pair of vertical side walls spacing the inner wall inwardly from the drum and defining a vertical secondary air channel, one of said vertical walls of each lining member having a longitudinal ange extending laterally from the respective wall and disposed between the drum surface and the longitudinal edge of the adjacent side wall of a contiguous lining member, said adjacent side walls of contiguous lining members having contacting portions at the upper ends and being spaced apart throughout the balance of the length thereof to provide primary air channels between said adjacent lining members that communicate throughout the length thereof with the fire box, said inner walls of said lining members having air ports adjacent the upper ends communicating with said secondary air channels, said primary and secondary air channels all communicating at the lower ends with air passages in said grate structure whereby air from the ash pit can rise through the primary air channels for distribution to a fuel bed on the grate structure and can rise through the secondary air channels for distribution through said air ports over the upper end of the fuel bed.

HENRY LANGE.

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