US2685853A - Furnace ash conveyer and disposal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1954 M. SCHLICK FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. ALBf/PT M JCHL/CA Aug. 10, 1954 A. M. SCHLICK FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALBERT M JCHL/C/r ATTORNEY 10, 1954 A. M. SCHLICK 2,685,853 Y FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 I5 JNVENTOR. Fi 4 v ALBERT M. 5CHL/C/f Aug-410, 1954 A. M. SCHLICK 2,685,853

FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

ATTOR/Vfy outlet pipe.

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM Albert M. Schlick, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application August 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,250

This invention relates to an ash conveyor, protem, or some external point, and simultaneously breakup any large chunks or clinkers which may be present, a spray of water being utilized to sluice the ashes through the pipes leading to the sewer or other. outlet.

The unit may be mounted in a furnace, with the hopper mounted below the grates, to receive the ashes.

The removal of ashes from furnaces, and particularly the smaller home-heating furnaces has always been a troublesome problem,

When the ashes are removed by hand, frequent shoveling is necessary. The shoveling of ashes is a laborious operation, and tends to raise dust which gets into theair and spreads through the house, and unless extreme care is taken,

spreads overthe furnace room floor, necessitat.

ing frequent cleaning.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an ash conveyor and disposal unit which will remove the ashes from the furnace, break up any large chunks or clinkers, which may be present, and sluice the ashes through an outlet pipe, into,

and simultaneously subject them to a water spray, which will sluice the ashes through the A major object is to providean ash conveyor and disposal mechanism, which can be produced and" installed in the furnace, at relatively low. cost, and can be operated, maintained and serviced by relatively unskilled persons, over sustained periods; f I v The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of my invention, together with the description of the construction and the method of installation, and operation thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention. 7

In the drawings: 7 I

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through the assembledash conveyor, processing unit, and disposal mechanism. r g

Fig.2 is a' plan view of the assembled unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the spiral con.- veyor, processing unit, and housing,. taken at 3'3, Fig. 1, and a partial side elevation of the unit.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section "througha 6 Claims. (Cl. 110165) furnace, with the ash conveyor and processing mechanism installed.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section through the furnace, of Fig. 4, and a plan view of the ash conveyor and processing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the conveyor mechanism and furnace, similar to Fig. 5, showing the. conveyor drive motor and drive shafts.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through one of the blades of the spiral rotor, taken at 1-1, Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction, installation, and operation of the furnace ash conveyor and disposal mechanism, is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

The ash conveyor unit, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, is mounted in a cast housing 10, which may be located in the ash-pit of a furnace I I, a hopper l2 guiding the ashes from the grate, through an opening I 4, in the housing, to a rotary spiral conveyor 15 and processing unit, supported in a substantially frusto-conical opening 16, formed in the housing. The spiral conveyor could be cast of steel, bronze or other high-strength material.

The extension end I9, of a long tubular shaft 20, formed integral with, or attached to the spiral conveyor, may be trunnioned in a shouldered bushing 2|, fitted to the rear wall 22, of a cap 23, threadably attachedto the rear end of the housing, by means of internal threads formed in the cap, which fit the external threads 24, formed in the tubular end of the housing, as indicated in Fig. 1. A plurality of substantially radial holes 25, may be provided around the outer circumference of the cap, the holes receiving pins of a conventionaltype of spanner wrench, to tighten'or adjust the cap.

. In place of the radial openings 25, a plurality of flats may be formed around the outer circumference, or the contour of the rear wall 22, of the cap, may be made in the form of a hexagon, or of other suitable contour to fit the opening in the conventional type of wrench.

The front spiral blade 21, of the spiral conveyor, may be supported by the frustum conical edge of the wall 28, of the housing, at the forward end, the entire rear portion of the housing interior being enlarged to form a frusto-conical area, the sides of the frusto-conical area clearing the balance of the spiral blades 30, in the conveyor unit. g

The ashes which are dropped from the furnace grate are directed by the sloping walls of the hopper l2, to a central opening 3! formed in the hopper, in communication with the space surrounding the rear blade 30a of the conveyor.

The diameter of the spiral blades 30 is progressively reduced from the rear blades 39a to the front bearing tooth 21, the pitch of the blades being progressively, simultaneously reduced firom rear to front.

This progressively reduces the space 32, between the blades, from the space 32a, between the two rear blades, and the space 32c, between the front blade Elle, and the front bearing blade 21. the blade breaking the ashes up into smaller particles, and simultaneously compressing the ashes into a smaller volume, thereby increasing the velocity of the ashes as theyleave the front blade and enter an opening 34, formed :in a tubular connection 35, threadably attached to a tubular extension 36, formed integral with the forward end of the housing, by means of the external threads 31, cut in the housing extension, which fitthe internal threads of the tubular connection.

A plurality of long grooves'38, of semi-circular or other suitable cross-section, may he formed around the opening in the housing wall, as indicated in Fig. l, the grooves coacting with .a'series of V-shaped, or other suitable iorm of notches Ml, cut "in 'the circumference of the .spiral blades, .as indicated in Figs. '6 and 7,'to break up any large chunks, or clinkers, formed on the grate, and mixed with the ashes, when the rotor is revolved, the movement of the blades, and the progressively reduced space between them, breaking the ashes up into smaller particles.

Water may be fed through'a longpipe 4 I, which is connected by a'fitting 32, to a Swivlex or other suitable form of flexible coupling 43, the opposite end of which may be threadably attached to the end of the shaft extension by means of .a coupling 44, the water bein-gfed through a cylindrical passage 45, formed in the tubular shaft 20 of the conveyor, to a plurality of small, substantially radial angular openings, or nozzles 48, formed in the outer wall of the forward extension 41, of the shaft, the wall 48, formed at the forward end of the shaft extension, sealing the passage G5,, and directing the 'flow of water through the small radial openings 36. Where additional water volume is required, an additional small opening may be formed in the wall 48, of the shaft extension, in substantial alignment with the central passage 55.

The angular openings 45, located at .the end of theshaft-extension, act as nozzles in .deflec't ing the water from the central passage 4'5. The combined area of the openings 46 would be less than that or the passage '45, at the center of the shaft extension, thus increasing the velocity of the water stream, as it leaves the angular nozzle openings.

The pressure of the water stream iii-striking the small radial openings 18 in the. shaft extension, forms a fine, substantially conical spray, which contacts the ash stream, .as it passes .from the outlet blade Z'Lof the spiral conveyor, to the tubular connection 35.

The velocity of the water spray, at the outlet openings, combined with the velocity of the ash stream, as it leaves the spiral conveyor, under pressure, sluices the mixture of water and ashes through the tubular connection 35, thence through an opening in pipe 49, Fig. 6, the outlet end 59, of which, may be connected to the sewage system of the house, .or to some other point for storage or removal, where the ashes are to be used as fill, or for other purposes.

If at any time, the water supply is temporarily shut off, the pressure on the ash stream, generated by the spiral conveyor blades, and the velocity imparted by the pressure, would force the ash stream through the outlet pipe -'over a sustained period, without assistance from the Water stream.

The spiral conveyor l5 may be driven by an electric motor 5|, having a built-in reduction gear 52., incorporated therewith, the motor reduction gear being connected to a long shaft 53, trunnionedzin fa pair of brackets 54, formed integral with, or attached to, the housing [0, by a coupling 55, a-shear'pinfifi, or other suitable type of torque-limiting device being provided on the motor shaft extension 51, tolimit the load which may be imposed on the motor, should the conveyor be stopped'by chunks of coal or other obstructions lodging in the grooves 38, formed in the housing, and the notches 40 .formed in the spiral blades, as indicated in Fig. '7.

A spur, .hel-ical or other suitable form of pinion 60., mounted at the opposite end of the shaft '53, drives a mating gear '61, mounted on the extension end 19, ofthe spiral conveyor shaft, a Woodrufi key 62, or other suitable type of key or locking device, being used to connect the gear to the shaft.

As indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and .6, the entire unit maybe mounted in the ash-pit of a furnace, the walls 63, of which, are of circular or other form of cross-section.

The .hopper l2 maybe located in substantial alignment with a circular or other form of ring 64, mounted in the furnace'wall, below the grate bars, .an auxiliary extension hopper 65, of frustoconical outline, fitting into the upper end of the hopper I 2.

A substantially circular .ring 65, .formed integral with the upper end of the extension hopper may be attached to the furnaceiring 54 to support the extension hopper.

opening maybe formed in the wall of the hopper "[2, at the front end of the'hopper, in substantial alignment with the furnace door, .as indicatedin Figs. 1, 2...and Asa flap or door Ill, attached to the hopper by means of a hinge Til, beingmountedibetween a pair of side guides .12, attached to theihopper wall, .as indicated .in Figs. 4 and '5.

A window 73, made of mica .or other fire-resistant, transparent material .may'be mounted in a frame Iormedin the upper portion of the flap 1B.

Undernormal conditions the flap is held in the closed position, shown in Fig. 1, by acoiledtorsion spring 714,.or other type of closing-device, the :upperarm 15 of the springpressi g againstthe flap.

.A hook or loop. 76, or other suitable .form of connection, may beprovided at the upper end of the hopper, door '10, .a flexible cable ll, which passes over a grooved pulley l8, .rotatahly supported on the housing [0, by a bracket .19, being utilized .to manually open the hopper door.

.A latch (not shown) maybe provided at the upper end of the flap it, to retain the flap in the contour of the other The flow-of water through the passage 45, in

' the conveyor shaft, may be started or stopped by trolled by an electrically-operated solenoid 83,

mounted on the valve housing, the solenoid opening the valve either directly by means of a rod 84, mounted in the center of the solenoid coil, or through a linkage mounted within the valve housing,- when the solenoid is energized.

The flow of current to the solenoid may be controlled by the controller or starter of the motor 5|, which actuates a switch (not shown), which in turn, controls the flow of current to the solenoid,- thus opening the water supply valve simultaneously with the starting of the conveyor drive motor 5!.

The unit while shown in a furnace of circular,

cross-section may be adapted for use in any other type of furnace. I

The auxiliary hopper. 65, shown in Figs. 4. and 5, may be constructed to fit furnaces of square, rectangular or any other cross-section, the lower end of the auxiliary hopper being of frusto-conical form to fit the hopper l2, of the ash-disposal unit.

Where the unit is mounted in a furnace of square, rectangular or other polygonal cross-section, the hopper. [2 may be made of similar crosssection', instead ofcircular, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The housing l0 may be attached to the bed of the furnace by a plurality of legs 85, attached to or formed integral with the housing, the legs being bolted to the furnace bed by a plurality of bolts 86, or attached thereto by other suitable means.

The diameter and spacing of the blades of the spiral conveyor and processing unit, may be varied to suit the requirements of a particular application, the size and spacing depending upon the speed of rotation of the conveyor, the pressure and velocity required in the ash stream, and the amount of ashes to be removed in a'given time interval. 1

- The form, size and number of grooves 38, formed in the housingwall, may be varied depending upon the type of grate, the type of furnace used, and the size of the clinkers or other large chunks, which may come into the ash pit with the ashes.

The number, size and form of the v-notches formed around the bladesof the spiral conveyor may also be varied considerably to suit the requirements of a, particular application," or installation. V Y The notches may be formed in all of the blades of thespiral conveyor or confined to the rear blades 30 w and .3flb,. of-the conveyor, the outer conveyor blades being left smooth. j 1' The hopper door or flap may be made of sub: stantially trapezoidal contour, 'as indicated in Fig. 3, orof any other suitable contour, depend ing upon the size of theopening in'the hopper, the size and form of the flap, and the method of attaching the flap to the hopper.

1 The motor, may be fitted with a built-in'reduction gear, "or a motor,'driving a separate reduction gear unit, may be substituted therefor.

' Where a slow-speed moto'ris used thereductiongear may be eliminated entirely, the pinion and gear between the motor shaft and the shaft of thespiral conveyor, reducing the conveyor shaftspeed. vqt l 6 It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various further modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention Without departing from the spirit and. scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveying solid materials of irregular form, comprising a tubular housing, the interior of said housing being of substantially frusto-conical form, said housing having an openin;; through one side thereof, a hopper fitted to said housing opening, feeding the solid materials therethrough, the interior of said housing having a plurality of longitudinal grooves of arcuate cross-section therein, a conveyor rotatably mounted in said housing, the conveyor having a plurality of narrow edged spiral blades of progressively reduced diameter formed along the longitudinal axis thereof, each blade of said con.- veyor having a plurality of substantially radial V-notches cut across the outer circumference thereof, each notch cutting entirely through the blade edge, saidconveyor being adapted to receive the solid materials through the housing opening, the conveyor blade notches being operative to coact with the housing grooves to simultaneously break the solid materials up into smaller particles, the conveyor blades being operative to compress the solid materials, and deliver the materials through an outlet opening formed in said housing, an outlet conduit attached to said housing, said spiral conveyor having a longitudinal passage formed therethrough, with a plurality of angular openings communicating with said longitudinal' passage, and'means supplying a. stream of water through said openings, the rotaryspray from said angularopenings sluicing the broken material stream along the conduit.

2. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveying ashes of irregular form from a furnace, comprising a tubular housing, the interior of said housing beingof substantially frusto-conical form, the interior-of said housing having a plurality of longitudinal grooves of substantiallysemi-circular cross-sectiontherein, a spiral conveyor rotatably mounted in said housing, said conveyor having spiral blades of progressively reduced diameter formed along the axis thereof, the diameter and pitch of the blades of said conveyor being progressively reduced from the inlet end to the outlet, each of said conveyor 4 blades having'a plurality of substantially radial V-notches cut across the outer circumference thereof, the v notches being cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal conveyor axis, the notches in the blades of the conveyor coacting with the grooves in the housing wall to breakthe ashes up into smaller particles, the reduced space between the conveyor blades, compressing the ashes, the blades at the reduced diameter of the conveyor delivering the ash stream through an outlet opening formed in the housing, an outlet conduit connected to said open ing, and means for supplying and directing a water spray into said conduit, the water spray coactin with the conveyor blades to sluice the ashes from the conveyor outlet along the conduit. 3. An apparatus 'for progressively breaking .up,

compressing and conveying ashes of irregular form from a furnace, comprising atubular hous-. ing, the interior of said housing being of substantially: frusto-conical form, theinterior of said "conveyor coacting withthe grooves'inthe'housing wall to break the ashes up into smaller particles, said #conveyor being adapted -to simultaneously compress the'ashes and deliverthe ashes through an outlet opening formed in the 'housing. a "hopper adapted to receive the ashes and direct *them 'toward the conveyor, an outlet conduit connected to said housing opening, said conveyor sha'ft having a, longitudinal passage formed there- 'through, with a plurality of nozzle "openings in communication withsaidp e f d in the outlet end of said shaft, means supplying .a stream of Water through said openings, means flexibly connecting the supply source -to the-conveyor shaft, and .means starting and shutting ,off .the water supply, the rotary-spray from said openings coacting with -the conveyor blades to sluice the ash stream from the'conveyor outlet along .the conduit.

4. Anapparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveyingsolid materials of irregular form; comprising-a tubular housing, the interior of said :housing being of substantially frusto-conical form, a :spiral conveyor of Truste conical form, having spiralblades offprogressively reduced diameter formed along'the axisthereof, rotatably :supported in said housing, $118W311 of "said 'housing, "around the conveyor, having a plurality of substantially radial, longitudinal grooves formed therein, the blades of 1 said conveyor having a :plurality of radial -V-shape'd notches formed through "the outer circumference thereof, said'v shaped notches coaoting with the grooves :in "the housing to break the :solid materials up into smaller particles, said conveyor being adapted to simultaneously compress the solid materials, 1 and deliver the broken materials, through anoutlet'opening :formed in'the'housin'g, arhopper adapted to collect the solid materials, and direct them toward the-conveyor blades, 1 one wall of said hopper having :an openingfformed therethrougnmeans closing said opening pivotally'attached to thehopper, means retaining said olosingmeans inthe 'closed'position, andLan' outlet conduit attached :to the housing in communication with thelhousingopening said solid material stream :passing from the conveyor through the outlet opening, thencethrough the conduitpthe progressively reduced diameter of the conveyor blades being operative to force the broken material stream from the conveyor outlet through the conduit.

:5. rln apparatus'for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveyin ashes of irregular formfrom =a furnacacomprisin'g a tubular housing, the interior of said housing being of substantially frusto-coni'c'al form,-the interior of said housing having aiplura'lity'of longitudinal grooves of substantially semi-circular cross-sectionthere in, :a spiral conveyor or frusto-conlcdl contour 8 :rotatably mounted within lthe housing, said :conyeyor having spiral blades o'f progressively "reduced diameter iformed :along ath'e axis thereof, a shaft formed integral "with said ricon veyor, a motor adapted to "drive said :conveyor 'shaft, means *operativly connecting the motor shaft to the conveyor r'shaft, means reducing the "speed "of said motor, the pitc'h-ofith'e blades of saidcom -veyor being progressively reduced from the =inlet end to the'outletiendgeachiotsaid conveyor lilades having a plurality of v n'o't'ches out through the outer circumference -thereof, the ll-notches being located ina directionperpendicular to the longitudinal blade "axis, the blade V-'notches being "operative to coast with the longitudinal *housingtgrooves tobreak the ashesup into smaller particles, a substantially cylindricalshaftdorrihid integral with said conveyor, saidconveyor blades compressing the ashes into Zth'e reduced space between the blades, the ashes being delivered at the outletend of said conveyor #through an openingtformed in the housing, ahopper attach'ed to said housing, said hopperireceiving the "ashes and directing them toward the inlet end of the conveyor,-a conduit attached'to thei housing incommunication with said housing opening, saidconveyorshaft having a longitudinal passage formed therethrough, with a iplurality r of substantially radial openings in 'communication'yviththe longitudinal passageg formed adjacent the end of *the shaft, means directing a liquid stream through said openings, :rneans flexibly connecting the liquid supply line'to theconveyor shaft, the'rotary spray from saidopeningsgcoadting with the'con- 'veyor blades tos'luice the :a'sh stream from the conveyor ou'tlet along the conduit.

6. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveying solid materials of irregular :form, comprising a tubular "housing, with 'a :liquid supply line iconnected "to the housing, the interior of said housing being of substantially frusto conical form, "the frusto oonica'l interior of said "housing having a plurality "oi longitudinal :grooves :of substantially semicircular cross-section therein, a spiral conveyor of frusto con'ical contour 'rotatably :mounted 'in the interior-of the housing, said conveyor having a plurality of relatively narrow edged blades or progressivelyreduced diameter formed along "the axis thereof, the pitch "of the blades being progressively reduced from the inlet to the outlet end, each of said conveyor "blades having a plurality Iof V-rn'otches cut through the outer circumferen'ce thereof, -the v-notch'es being out in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal "conveyor axis, a shaft formed integral with said c'onveyor blades, the conveyor blade notches being operative to ooactwith the housing grooves to break the solid materials up into smaller particles, said blades simultaneously compressing the material into the reduced space between the blades, and delivering the material at the outlet end, through an opening formed in the housing interior, a-conduit attached to the outlet end of the housing, incommunication with the interior thereof, said conveyor shaft having a longitudinal passage formed therethroug-h, with a plurality ofsubstantially :radial openings inseammunication with the longitudinalpassage, formed adjacent the end-of the-shaft,-mean's directing a stream of water through said openings, means flexibly connecting the liquid sup'ply time to the conveyor shaft, the rotary spray f'roin said openings coacting with the conveyor blades to force the material from the conveyor outlet, through Number Name Date the conduit. 1,476,260 McFeely Dec. 4, 1923 1,698,113 Van Brunt Jan. 8, 1929 References Cited in the file of this patent 1,714,11 7 Williams May 1, 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,883,578 Cody Oct. 18, 1932 t 1,988,473 Bennett Jan. 22, 1935 Number Name J 2 2,069,940 Burton Feb. 9, 1937 1910 2,121,229 Halter June 21, 1938 985480 Wallis i 1911 2,124,317 Schweickawt July 19, 1938 10 2,367,558 Badenhausen- June 16, 1945 1,085,001 Anderson et a1. Jan. 20, 1914

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