US261992A - Boiler-furnace grate - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. BOWERS.

BOILER FURNAGRGRATE.

Patented Aug.1, 1882.

N. PEIERS. Plww-Lnho n her. washin wn. DJ;

' N EDLS E PATENT 'Y'FFIGE.

WILLIAM BOWERS, OF O ARBO NDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-FURNACE- o. RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 261,992, dated August 1, 1882. Application filed June 22, 1852. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern: F

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BOWERS, of Carbondale, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boiler-Furnace Grates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in grates for steam boiler furnaces of the class in which the grate-bars are pivoted independently in bearings and, are provided with interlocking teeth, by the action of which, when the bars are tilted, the clinkers and ashes are torn to pieces and permitted to pass between the bars, while the ignited fuel is at the same time thoroughly shaken and agitated.

.The object of my invention is, first, to proride for amore ready and perfect admission of air to the tire by making the grate-bars of peculiar shape; further, to insure against clogging of the bars by the lodgment of clinkers between the same; further, to increase the strength of the bars and prevent warping and twisting without unduly increasing their weight; and, in general, to produce a simplyconstructed, durable, and effective-- grate at small cost. i

l The invention consists partly in the peculiar quadrant-shaped grate-bars, tapered to an edge around the curve or are and having a straight upper edge; further, in the construction of the frame of the grate, by which in a sectional grate material is economized and lightness secured; further, in the peculiar compound lever for oscillating all the grate bars simultaneously in the same direction 5 and, finally, in the general construction and arrangement of the various parts and in their several combinations, all fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a grate composed of two sections. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of four grate bars and their connecting-le ers, showing them. at their limit of motion in one direction. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the lines 00 w and y 3 Fig. 4. is a bottom view of a single grate-bar.

' The grate for a boiler-furnace may be composed of an y desired uumberof sections, accordin g to the size and shape of the boiler. In Fig.1 I have represented two of such sections, A A,

as forming the grate. Each section is composed of end bars, B, bolted to side bars, 0 O,

the endand side bars beingpreferably formed projecting therefrom at right angles, forming prongs which extend on opposite sides of the rib and interlock with corresponding teeth in the next bar. These prongs are about four inches in length from the center of the rib, as I have found that it is not desirable for them to penetrate the fuel on the grate to agreater depth, as shown in Fig. 4, each tooth of the grate-bar-by which I mean the two oppositely- The depressions in the bar 0 are l The l placed quadrantshaped prongs referred to,

which, taken together, form a single semicircular projection-is a top plan view of a nar-' row lozenge shape, the ends or corners being sharp. The bars taper from the plane top equally on all sides to the sharp-curvededge, but on top have a plain flat surface. The teeth of adjoining bars, when in position, fit closely together, as shown in the drawings, while the teeth on the last bar at each end mesh with stationary quadrant -shap.-d teeth E E, cast with the end bars, B B. Each grate-bar is provided withtrunnionset 4, by which it isjournaled. in the bearings in the side bars 0 O,

the trunnions on one side, howevcrpoccupying less than half of the bearing-surface of the grooves in the side bar 0, the remainder of the space being filled by the trunnions on the gratebars which form the next section, A. These trunnions are prevented from coming in contact by the partition 5. While the bar C is on its upper surface of nearly twice the width of the bar 0, yet, in order to admit air to the greatest extent possible, such bar is tapered, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby making it much lighter and economizing material.

The grate-bars are oscillated simultaneously by a compound lever, G H. The arm G is pivoted tohangers 7, secured to or cast with the grate-bars. The arm G passes through the ash-pit and furnace-door through a narrow slot in the latter. 0n the outside of the furnace is supported a standard, 8, and to this standard is pivoted the arm H, which is also pivoted to the outer end of G. The end of the arm H may be formed into a hand-lever, or said arm may be provided with a socket to receive a suitable detachable lever, by either of which devices motion is communicated to the gratebars. By this compound-lever arrangement the bar G is given a direct reciprocation, and consequently works in a narrow slotin the wall or door of the ash-pit. Hence the necessity of opening the door, in order to operate the lever, with the accompanying shower of ashes and dust, (particularly wherea blast is employed,) is entirely obviated. Since each bar is provided with a hanger to which therod G is pivoted, itfollows that all the bars are given a simultaneous inclination in the same direction, as shown in Fig. 2, causing interlocking prongs of adjoining bars to move in opposite direction, those of one bar being depressed, while those on the other are elevated. I have found in practice that this movement effects a more complete and thorough tearing and grinding of the fuel than result when interlocking prongs movesimultaneously in the same direction, since in the latter case the equal risingof the bars simply raises and lowers the fuel without thoroughly agitating it, while in my device a portion of the fuel drops while the remainder is lifted, and, the teeth penetrating the fuel, the whole mass is thoroughly shaken. By the peculiar shape of my grate bars three direct ad vantages are obtained: First, the central rib and semicircular or doublequadrantsha-ped teeth are of such depth that their strength is greatly increased, and they are prevented from the warping and twisting incident to-the narrow bars in general use; second, that while the bars fit so closely on their upper surfaces as -to afford a firm support for the fuel, yet, on account of the beveled or tapered shape of the teeth, wide open spaces are left below for the admission of air to the fuel; and, third, that clogging of the grate by clinkers is prevented, since the spaces between the teeth widen downwardly. It also results from constructing the teeth with a fiat top that sharp ends or corners are formed, which penetrate the mass'of fuel and thoroughly agitate it.

It will be noticed that the hangers and levers for operating the bars are placed under and in line with the teeth. A clear air-space is thus permitted between the end of the grate-bars and the side walls, and the levers and fixtures form no obstruction to the admission of air to the tire. By utilizing the bar 0 as a support for the trnnnions of both sectionsI economize metal, while I provide also a more solid framework than if separate side bars were used, while by tapering the said side bars downwardly I increase the air-space below the grate.

I prefer to use independent shakingdevices for each gratesection; but it will readily be observed that by making proper connections all the bars in the different sections may be shaken simultaneously.

I have found that the agitation of the bars in my grate disposes so effectually of the ashes, clinkers, and other refuse that no meansfor dumping the grate are necessary. I am thus enabled to economize fuel to a very great extent.

Having described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a grate composed of two or more sections, A A, the combination of the end bars, B B, having stationary quadrant-shaped teeth E, the side bars, (3 O G, and a series of gratebars pivoted in bearings in such side bars and having interlocking teeth.

2. The described grate-bars. having the central rib, 2, and a series of semicircular or double-quadrant-shaped teeth, E, adapted to interlock with corresponding teeth on adjoining bars, in combination with means for simultaneously oscillating such bars.

3. A grate-bar composed of a central rib, 2, and a series of teeth, I, set at right angles thereto, such teeth having the flat lozengeshaped upper surface, sharp corners, and being beveled to an approximately semicircular lower edge, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a furnace-grate, the side bar, 0, having the divided bearing-grooves in its upper face and constructed of a tapered or beveled cross section, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BOVVERS.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. MEAD, F. L. MIDDLETON.

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