US2425101A

US2425101A - Sectional grate

Info

Publication number: US2425101A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1947-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1964-08-05

Description

Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONAL GRATE Elmer Adam Kuntz, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,886

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a grate assembly comprising a carrier bar and a plurality of replaceable grate sections releasably mounted thereon. For the purpose of disclosure the present description is directed specifically to a rocking grate for locomotives but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in various types of grates for various fuel-burning devices, including both stationary and traveling grates.

The general object of the invention is to provide a relatively light combination of carrier bar and grate sections that is inherently air cooled sufficiently to prevent sagging from overheating, is easily assembled, and when assembled is both unified structurally and positively locked against accidental disassembly.

The carrier bar is formed with at least one longitudinal shoulder for releasable engagement by the grate sections, the grate sections being successively manipulated into engagement with the shoulder and then moved longitudinally of the carrier bar into final position. In such constructions heretofore employed in the art, the individual grate sections are commonly first tilted at an assembly station on the carrier bar and then swung into upright position for engagement with the longitudinal shoulder or shoulders of the carrier bar. The usual disadvantage is that the grate section last to be mounted is not as efliciently engaged with the carrier bar as the other grate sections and, moreover, remains at or near the assembly station where it may be tilted out of engagement with the carrier bar by shock or some incidental force. A special object of my invention is to prevent such accidental release of the last assembled grate section and to provide just as efficient engagement for the last grate section as for the earlier assembled grate sections.

In general this special object is attained by providing each grate section with at least two transverse downwardly extending anchoring walls, forming the carrier bar with two assembly entrances spaced accordingly, and providing a. key to block movement of the assembled grate sections towards the two entrances.

Other objects of the invention, including objects relating to the specific construction and arrangement of such a key, will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled grate, partly .in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carrier bar;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the assembled grate;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the assembled grate taken as indicated by the line 4-4; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a grate section.

The grate assembly shown in the drawings includes a carrier bar generally designated ii] on which is removably mounted a plurality of grate sections each generally designated l l. Each grate section i I has a body portion l2 which is shown as flat, but may be of other configurations. Each grate section It also has two spaced transversely positioned downwardly extending anchoring portions preferably in the form of relatively thin Walls it cut away to provide two wall elements to lie on opposite sides of the carrier bar.

The carrier bar IQ is shaped at its opposite ends to provide the usual collars l6 and grate rocker trunnions ii, the trunnions being designed to rest rotatably in complementary sockets in some suitable grate frame (not shown). The body of the carrier bar l0 comprises two longitudinal webs 29 positioned apart from each other to form a longitudinal air-cooling space 2|. The two webs 2B are interconnected by the integral end portions of the carrier bar and also by two low lying integral walls 22, the two walls 22 being the upper portions of two downwardly extending shaper'or rocker arms 23. Each of the rocker arms 23 is shown with a transverse bore 25 for pivotal connection with a suitable reach bar in the wellknown manner.

At least one, and in the preferred construction both, of the longitudinal webs 20 provides suitable longitudinal shoulders that are to be releasab-ly engaged by the anchoring portions or anchoring walls l3 of the grate sections. While the lower edges of the two webs mayserve as such engagement shoulders, I prefer to form the webs with longitudinal ribs 26 on their outer faces, each rib providing a downwardly facing engagement shoulder 21. walls I3 of the grate sections l I is suitably recessed or otherwise shaped to provide a complementary shoulder 28 for anchoring engagement with the rib shoulder 21. In assembled position the weight of the grate section I I is divided between the two carrier bar webs 20 and may be carried directly by the ribs 26 on the sides of the Web or may, as indicated in the drawings, be carried on the top edges of the webs.

To permit mounting and dismounting of the Various grate sections H, the engagement shoul- Each of the transverse anchoring ders 21 are interrupted to provide two spaced entrances corresponding to the two spaced anchoring walls [3 of a grate section, the two spaced entrances constituting an assembly station at which the grate sections may be successively moved into and out of engagement with the carrier bar ID. For example, as shown in the drawings, each of the ribs 26 may be interrupted to provide two spaced gaps or assembly entrances 30 and 3] thereby dividing the engagement rib into a relatively long main portion 32, a short intermediate portion 33, and a short end portion 35 adjacent one of the collars l6.

A grate section II may be placed in upright attitude as indicated by the dotted position 36 in Fig. 1, and moved directly downward to a position with the anchoring walls 13 of the grate section extending through the entrances 3fl and 31;

from which position the grate section may be moved leftward as viewedin 1 to a position of final assembly on the carrier bar. As indicated in Fig. '1, all but the last grate section II to be mounted on the carrier bar lil engages the main rib portion 32 with both of its twoanchoring walls I3 but the last grate section to be mounted on the carrier bar engages the main rib; portion 32 with one of its anchoring walls '113 and engages the intermediate rib -portion 33 with'its second anchoring wall. Becausethe two anchoring walls l3 of the last grate se'ction are spaced a substantial distance apart, the weight of the carrier b ar l 0 'may be lightened by making the entrance re t rel w ajas shown,-v J

jIfhe body portions l2 of fthefgrate sections H are provided with numerous'apertures 3! to permit air iiow 'upward through the grate assembly anda feature o m finve io'n 1 h? la' i' s o number of the apertures 31 infcommunication with the cooling space lljof the carrierbar so that the c o ing "s'pac'eiin combination witha'pl llality of theaperturesi'l provides ior upward flow of in jsuilicient volume to keep the "carrier bar frornfbecorning so 'overheat'ed 'as'to sag under the weight imposed thereon.

Preferably 'as indicated in Fig. 4 the longitudinal 'w ebs Zi l of 1th e carri' r bar are inclined inwardly 'sfofthat in cross "section the "coolin space "2 I "narrows progressively upwardly. to progressively increase the velocitypi theffioolingjair currentsjfonn aximum cooling efiect'towardsftl ije upper edges of the supporting webs 'Zil. It will be noted that the wh'ole of the'assembled grate is designed to favor highly effective air cooling, being of open construction withext'ensive cooling surfa'ees. The'anchorin'gwalls 'l3 oi the grate sections as well asthe 'iongitudinalfribsof the ear i r b3 1 3? la yi y t i hl exposed areas and servenot only as functional structure butfal'so as cooling fins.

leasably retain the assembled grate sections in the desirable assembly position "shown in "Fig. 1. In the preferred practice of my invention "when the gr'ate sections I iare'in'finfal "assemble'd'positions as shown in'F-ig. 1, they define with the carrierbar Hi what may be termed akey 'space 33 into which akey' 4D or'other suitable means may be inserted as a positive block against movement of the assembled grate'sectionstowards the'rib entrancesSQ and3l. Itwill be noted that thelast-mountedgratesection 'II i'njits assemble'd position "overhangs the "narrower entrance 30 and that the key space 38 'is directly ny suitable meansmay be employed. tore The key 40 may be, as shown, in the form of a plate similar in profile to the grate sections II, the plate having a thick head portion 4| to occupy most of the width of the key space 38. After the grate sections II are in their final assembled positions, the described arrangement is such that the key 40 may be tilted as indicated by the dotted position 42 in Fig. 1 and while in this tilted attitude may be advanced diagonally into the key space 38, the leading portions of the inclined key passing into the narrowed entrance 30. If necessary, the end portion 35 of the engagement rib 26 on each side of the carrier bar may be beveled as shown at 43 to provide clearance for inserting the tilted key.

Thetilted key 40 is stopped by contact with the upper edges of the carrier bar webs 20 and is so proportioned that the center of gravity of the key lies substantially below the level of such contact. As a result of its low center gravity, the key, when released in it's tilted position, tends to swing into the normal upright position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. As the key swings from its tilted position to its normal upright position, it automatically enters into locking engagement with the end portion 35 of the rib. Once in normal locking position the key has an inherent gravitational tendency to maintain that position at all times.

It is important to note that the last grate section [I to be mounted on the carrier bar I0 is just'as effectively and positively anchored to the carrier bar as the preceding three grate sections and cannot be tilted or jarred out of engagement. Whenever it is necessary 'or desirable to replace one of the assembled grate sections, the key 40 is manipulated out of the key space 38 to permit the reverse ordisassmbly procedure. It is not difiicult to tilt the "key manually and withdraw the key'and yet thedegree to which the key must be tilted-for withdrawal and the inherent gravitation'altendency toiresistsuch tilting effectively prevent accidental dislodgement of the key.

The preferred form of my'invention described in specific detail herein will suggest to those skilled in the 'art various changes I and substitutions under'my basic'concept and I reserve the right to all such departures from my description that properly lie withinthe scopeof my appended claims.

I claim: i v e U 1. In a grate *of the character described, the combination of a plurality of grate sections each having af body portion to support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extending anchoringportionsacarrier bar to receive and support sai'dgrate sections, said carrier'bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage sai'cl anchoring portionsof the grate sections, said engagement shoulder being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a-grate section simultaneouslyinto andout 'of positions from which the grate sections maybe moved longitudinally of'the" grate bar into'lndividual engagement with saidshoulder, said plurality of g'rate sections when in assembled positiondefining'withsaid carrier bar'a space in the path or movement of thef-gratesect-ions towards said shoulder entrances, and-a" key to fit into said space for blocking movement of the ass'emlble'd grate sections towards said shoulder entrances, said key resting on said carrier "bar above ftl'ie center of gravity of the 'key'to have'an inherent tendency to maintain a locking position, saidk'e'y being insertable into said space at a position tilted fromsaid locking position and being adapted for automatic engagement with the carrier bar upon gravitational rotation from the tilted position to its locking position.

2. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a plurality of grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions, said anchoring portions being set inwardly from the transverse edges of the grate section, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, said carrier bar being formed with trunnions and adjacent collars at each end, said carrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage said anchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions or a grate section simultaneously into and out of positions from which the grate sections may be moved longitudinally of the carrier bar into individual engagement with said shoulder, one of said entrances being spaced longitudinally of the carrier bar from one of said collars to leave a short locking portion of said shoulderadjacent the collar, said plurality of grate sections when in assembled position overhanging said entrance nearest said collar and defining with said collar a key space in the path of movement of the grate sections towards said entrances-and a key for insertion in tilted attitude into a positionoccupying said space and extending into one of said entrances, said key being shaped to rest on said carrier bar above the center of gravity of the key whereby the key rotates gravitationally from said tilted attitude into locking engagement with said locking portion of the shoulder.

3. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a carrier bar, the body of which comprises two spaced longitudinal webs forming an inner longitudinal cooling space, at least one of said webs having a longitudinal engagement shoulder interrupted to provide two assembly entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar, a plurality of grate sections for assembly on said carrier bar, each of said grate sections having a body portion to support burning fuel and having two spaced downwardly extending transverse anchoring portions formed for engagement with said shoulder, said anchoring portions being spaced for simultaneous movement into said entrances, said plurality of grate sections when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of the grate sections towards said entrances, and a key for insertion in tilted attitude into a position occupying said space and extending into one of said entrances, said key being shaped to rest .on said carrier bar above the center of gravity of the key whereby the key tends to rotate gravitationally from said tilted attitude into a normal position in said space, said key being adapted for engagement with the carrier bar when in said normal position.

4. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a plurality of grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent to the ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center line thereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, said carrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage said anchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder or shoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a grate section simultaneously into and out of positions from which the grate sections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individual engagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sec tions when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, said space and the longitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagement of both anchoring portions of each of said grate sections with said shoulder being small as compared to the width of the gratesection, and a relatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, for blocking movement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar.

5. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a plurality of grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent to the ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center line thereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, said carrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage said anchoring por tions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder or shoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a grate section simultaneously into and out of positions from which the grate sections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individual engagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sections when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, said space andthe longitudinal movement necessary to eiTect the engagement of both anchoring portions of each of said grate sections With said shoulder being small as compared to the width of the grate section, and a relatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, for blocking movement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar, said key being insertable into said space from a tilted position and then rotated to a locking position,

6. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a plurality of grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent to the ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center line thereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, said carrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage said anchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder or shoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spaced longitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a grate section simultaneously into and out of positions from which the grate sections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individual engagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sections when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, said space and the longitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagement of both anchoring portions of each of said rate secti ns with. sai shoul r b i mall as o pared to he Width o the ate se tion, an a relatively narrow key, insertable within said mal space. tor b ock n mevemerit oi he a mhie te e t ons wa d sa d sh u d r tr inees a a ng n e l k e a ement with said carrier bar, said lgey having a portion adapte o e pon t e ear ie ba and a do w rd depending anchoring portion, said latter portion e ng ada ed to pas hro h n o ai e tranoes in the shoulder when the key moved into s t on while i t d wit e ect to he car ier b r. and. t e swun o its n al lo positio wi h the ane erme nor en i sa d e i engagement h th shb lde ei the c ier arl, .In rate of t e e are r d ribed). he eenii e a plur i q g ate s c io s e h. ha ing a b y P rt n 9 supp r burnin fii e n t qe eed de d t din h riiepriien o t d edi t to t ends o t grate se tions on opposite sides of the center line mer te a a: in reeei e and sup or said grate bar into individual. engagement with Sai shouldensaid plurality of grate sections when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of the grate sec,- tions toward said shoulder entrances, said space and the longitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagement'of both anchoring portions of each of said'grate'sections with said shoulder be:- in sma'll; as compared to the width of the rate section, and a relatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, for bloqking movement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar.

ELMER' ADAM aeFEaii QEe. Q IE The following references are of record in the file'of this patent: