US3010450A - Incinerator apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 Filed May 5, 1959 J. J. CAMPBELL INCINERATOR APPARATUS Jbi n James O a 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 Filed May 5, 1959 J. JACAMPBELL INCINERATOR APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jb/uz Jbmas Cam vied ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 J. J. CAMPBELL 3,010,450

INCINERATOR APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1959 iNvEN'r R" John James Campell BYZZMAV/KM ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 J. J. CAMPBELL 3,010,450

' INCINERA'I'OR APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3/ I +J hn James 'a i zg gl I wwm 'ped or deposited violently on the said grate.

United Smtcs Patent Ofice 3,0liiA50 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,450 INCINERATOR APPARATUS John James Campbell, Huntington, N.Y., assignor to Morse Boulger Destructor Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1959, Ser. No. 811,034

9 Claims. (Cl. 126-462) This invention relates to an incinerator apparatus of the type commonly used as a means of disposing of combustible wastes such as garbage, newspaper or like combustible trash. This invention relates to improvements over United States Patent No. 2,514,657, granted July 11, 1950, to W. S. Martin et all.

More particularly, this invention relates to a novel grate assembly for use in an incinerator of the type described. Still more particularly, this invention relates to an incinerator and novel dump grate assembly therefor which provides highly efi'icient processing of'waste materials while at the same time eliminating certain conditions common to dump assemblies heretofore known, which conditions result in frequent break-downs in such known assemblies.

This invention relates further to a novel dump grate assembly in waste incinerators or the like, which assembly permits repairs to be made to the grate actuating assembly without interrupting the operation of the incinerator.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to an incinerator grate and actuating mechanism therefor having novel means to prevent damage to said actuating system resulting from the sudden discharge onto said grate of unduly heavy masses of waste material.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a grate of the type described and operating mechanism therefor having an additional safety factor as compared with other grates heretofore known by reason of the capacity of such grate to avoid premature dumping occasioned by the deposit on such grate of undue weights of waste material, or ocassioned by power failure in the grate actuating mechanism.

In accordance with known incinerating practice, refuse which may comprise an admixture of combustible and non-combusdtible wastes is depositedon a stoked fire bed for a period of time calculated to consume the combustible portions thereof. As the debris is consumed, it is distributed onto a dump grate or dump grates by a power stoking arm or other expedient. Periodically, the dump grates are tilted to deposit the ashes into an ash pit and from there into an ash gate for collection by trucks. Some materials remaining on a dump grate have a tendency to fuse together or coke up and form a somewhat integrated, agglomerated mass. The formation of such integrated mass is a factor which interferes with efficient dumping and processing of the residue of the incinerating operation.

A further complication in the use of incinerating devices heretofore known is the frequent shut-down necessitated by undue strain being transmitted to the dump grate actuating system by ash and refuse which is drop];

Sue break-downs are often encountered where a hydraulic actuating mechanism is employed for operating the dump grate since shocks imparted to the grate are, in such known actuating assemblies, transmitted to the hydraulic system.

Furthermore, in the event of failure of such known hydraulic systems, the weight of the dump grate plus the material supported thereby may be suflicient to cause a dangerous premature dumping of the hot ash on the grate.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a novel incinerator dump grate assembly and operating mechanism therefor.

A further object of this invention is to provide such dump grate assembly and operating mechanism having the desirable properties of partially disintegrating and dislodging fused or coked ash materials prior to dumping the same into the ash pit.

A further obiect of this invention is to provide a dump grate and hydraulic operating mechanism therefor wherein shocks imparted to the grate by descending ash and refuse will not be transmitted to the said hydraulic system.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulically operating dump grate assembly for incinerators or the like wherein hydraulic failure or loss of pressure in the hydraulic system will not result in premature dumping of ash material accumulated on the grate.

To attach these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof in which- FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through an incinerator assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified partial section taken on the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a further magnified elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 showing the orientation of the operating assembly when the grates are in dumping position;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the grate operating assembly with a grate dogging element locking the grate in horizontal position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of the dump grates and operating assembly therefor;

FIGURE 7 is a magnified plan view of the grate and grate actuating assembly taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the lines 88 of FIGURE 7, illustrating the various positions assumed by the dump grates.

The dump grate and operating assembly therefor have, for convenience, been illustrated in connection with an incinerator assembly in accordance with that shown in United States Patent to Martin aforementioned. It should be understood, however, that the novel dump grate apparatus and mechanism therefor may, with the aid of modifications well within the skill of workers in the art, be adapted for use with any sort of incinerator or burning furnace.

Describing generally the operation of the illustrated inoinerator mechanism, refuse which may comprise combustible materials such as waste paper, rags and the like, admixed with non-combustible articles, such as glass, cans and so forth may be periodically dropped from a central overhead charging port in the roof of the incinerator assembly (not shown) onto a stationary compound dome or head which, by reason of its shape and purpose is, for convenience of description, termed a Christmas tree tuyere 10. The purpose of the Christmas tree head is to provide a weight bearing support at the center of the heap of rubbish to be burned and, at the same time,.to serve as a tuyere, through which air, preferably heated, is carried into the pile. Such air passage is made possible by the sectional construction of the so-called Christmas tree, the marginal portions dividing sections 11, 12, 13 serving to permit such air passage. The combustion area 14 of the incinerator is, in accordance with known practice, surrounded by a fire wall 15. Access to the interior of the combustion chamber 14 is provided above and below the burning level by circumferentially spaced furnace doors 16 and "17, respectively.

The lowermost section 18 of the head is provided with a plurality of stoker arms 19 which extend radially from section 18 and are rotated slowly by motor M which, by way of example, maybe of the order of five to ten revolutions per hour, said arms serving to agitate and aerate refuse to promote higher burning efliciency thereof,

and to move the burning refuse radially outwardly onto j portions 20, 21, and the Christmas tree head 10 to the heap of refuse, said heated air promoting drying of the refuse at upper levels in the pile and burning of the dried refuse at lower portions of the pile "and on the.

hearth and grate members aforesaid.

Periodic dumping of the grate members 21 in a manner crank lever 36 is keyed to the shaft 30, which shaft, at

its outer end, is preferably provided with a keyed shank of irregularly contoured area, such as a hexagonal shank, as best seen in FIGURE 6, to provide a positive driving connection between the lever 36 and the shaft 30.

The end of the shaft 30 may be provided, in addition, with a retaining lever 37, likewise keyed to rotate with the said shaft, the lever 37 including, at its radially extended portion, a retaining socket 38 for purposes which will appear hereafter.

A dog member 39 is pivotally secured to the bracket member 34, a retaining part 40 being provided on said bracket to prevent the dog from shifting into the path of the grate actuating mechanism, as will be described.

A second axially directed bracket 41 is bolted or otherwise afiixed to the outer side of the fire Wall 15- in proximate relation to the end plate bracket 34. The toggle link assembly '42 is connected between flange -43 of the bracket 41 and crank lever arm 36, the pintle member 44 assuring a pivotal fit of the lower links 45 and the flange 43, with the pintle 46 providing the pivotal securement of the upper links 47 to the crank lever arm 36.

A double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 50 is interposed between the central junction 51 of the toggle link assembly 42 and the reinforced bracket 52, bolted or otherwise secured to a flange 53 extending laterally from the firewall 15. The hydraulic assembly .50 is of conventional design and comprises a piston rod member 54, reciprocably slidable within a cylinder member 55. Hydraulic input and exhaust lines L" and L" lie above and below the extreme positions ofthe head to be hereinafter more fully described serves to discharge V the completely consumed refuse to the ash pit 22, leaving the burning and dump grate members free for receiving the further charge of incompletely combusted wastes.

The frequency of discharge of ash from the grates 21 to the ash pit 22 is controlled so that the quantum of ash in the pit 22 will be suitable in size for loading onto trucks which may be driven beneath the ash pit'gate 23 and loaded by opening such gate. 7 v V The dump grate members 21 which are located at the lowermost outer periphery of the combustion chamber in such known structures, it is frequently necessary,

where excessive agglomerating, caking or coking takes place, to provide supervisory personnel who must reach through one of the doors 16, 17 and dislodge the caked or integrated mass to permit it to fall to the ash pit. The improved dump grate assembly of this invention, in addition to the other advantages to be hereinafter pointed out, breaks or crushes such caked or integrated masses, thus assuring highly efficient dumping of ash materials and reducing to a minimum the supervisory personnel necessary for attending to the operation of the incinerator.

As best seen from FIGURE 2, the grate members 21 of the instant incinerator assembly are generally of truncated triangular form and are radially directed toward the center of the Christmas treetuyere 10. Each grate 21 is provided with a trunnion shaft 30 keyed to rotate with the grate, the said trunnion shaft being generally horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted to the frame by spaced bearing parts 32, 33, affixed to the frame. The

bearing part 33 is preferably formed on an end plate bracket 34, bolted or otherwise secured at a pointroutside the fire wall 15 of the incinerator assembly.

(not shown) of the piston rod member 54, said assembly 50 being adapted to shift the piston rod member 54 outwardly or contract thelatter inwardly of the cylinder 55 depending upon the selective introduction of hydraulic fluid into the cylinder by means of lines L or L.

The operation of the dump grate mechanism will be described by making particular reference to FIGURES 3. 4, 5 and 8.

' In FIGURE 4, the dump grates 21 are shown in the vertical or fully dumping position in dot and dash lines. To raise the grates 21 to the horizontal burning position, hydraulic fluid under pressure, by known means, is introduced into the lines L", causing the piston rod members 54 gradually to extend from the cylinder 55. The gradual extension of piston rod members 54 willcause the crank levers 36 of the left hand assembly and the right hand assembly, as seen in FIGURE 4, to rotate, respectively, clockwise and counter-clockwise, such rotary motion being transmitted through shafts 30 to grate members 21. 7 It is important to note that in extending from the dumping position of FIGURE 4 to the horizontal burning position shown in FIGURE 3, the links 45, 47 of the toggle assembly 42 pass from one side of a pre-dead center orientation with respect to each other to an orientation to the other side or past-dead center, that is to say, the junction 51 of the said links initially lies to one side of a line between the pintle members 44, 46 and in the final or horizontal burning position lie to the other side of said line.

When the links 45, 47 are in dead center or longitudinally aligned position, the maximum rotation of the crank lever 36 and grates 21 will be achieved. As shown in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 8, this position of maximum rotation results in an elevation of the grate members 21 to a few degrees above the final horizontal position of said grate members, with maximum mechanical advantage. With the links 45, 47 in longitudinally aligned or deadcenter position, further extension of the ,piston 54 will break the links beyond dead center position and cause the grates 21 to be lowered to the horizontal burning position. It is important to note that when the grate 21 is in the final horizontal burning position, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, the piston head (not shown) is in extended limiting position, lying against the inner end part of cylinder 55.

To assure accurate coordination of the position of the grate 21 and the full extended position of the piston member 54, a variable threaded coupling 60 is provided between the central junction 51 of the toggle assembly 42 and the piston 54.

With the grates 21 and actuating assembly therefor in the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, hydraulic pressure may be relieved from the cylinders 55 without fear of the grates 21 accidentally returning to dumping position under the influence of heavy loads of waste or refuse. The non-self-reversing orientation of the grates 21 is due to the fact that the turning movement of the grates and their refuse load, acting through crank lever 36, urge the toggle link assembly 42 to close in a direction which would tend to move the junction 51 of the toggle linkage further away from the cylinder part 55, i.e. in the past-dead center position. Since the piston rod member 54 is in a limiting position in said cylinder 55, such further outward movement of the junction 51 is prevented by the limiting extended position of the piston rod member 54 with respect to cylinder 55. Furthermore, it will be readily recognized that shocks transferred to the grate 21 by masses of refuse charged into the combustion chamber will not be imparted to the hydraulic system since the only effect of such shock or impact will be to draw the head of the piston 54 against the end stop provided by the cylinder 55. The disassociation of shocks on the grate in the system above described should be contrasted with the efiect of impacts upon dump grates of systems heretofore used, the effect of such impacts being to transmit a sudden, enormous back pressure throughout the entire hydraulic system of such other assemblies.

Furthermore, the novel dump grate operating assembly herein described, in dispensing with the necessity for maintaining hydraulic pressure during the burning cycle, permits intermittent use of the hydraulic pump assembly, thereby effecting economies in operation and upkeep of the latter.

If desired, the hydraulic assembly 50 may be entirely removed for inspection or repair, by pivoting the dog 39 to cause the end part thereof to lie in the socket 38 of the lever 37. When thus dogged, movement of the grates 21 will be prevented since the torque of the grate will be applied against the stationary dog 39.

To shift the grates 21 from the burning position shown in FIGURE 3 to the dumping position of FIGURE 4, it is merely necessary to apply the source of hydraulic fluid through the lines L. The initial movement of piston 54 will cause the links 45, 47 to straighten from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to a dead center position, such initial movement of the piston being accompanied by a slight initial raising of the grates 21 as shown in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 8. As the piston 54 continues to reciprocate inwardly of the cylinder 55, the toggle assembly will cause the crank arm 36 and its associated grate 2-1 to be lowered to the downward vertical position shown in FIGURE 4. The initial raising of the grates 21 which precedes the lowering thereof is extremely eflicacious to assure eificient dumping since the initial raising of the grates tends to break an interfused mass lying against the grates, the weight of refuse above such grates acting as a fulcrum or breaking moment for such inter-fused mass.

The total effect of the upward and subsequent downward movement of the grates 21 tends to flex such interfused mass first upwardly and then downwardly, assuring dumping of all but the most stubborn aggregate of ash.

As will be readily understood from the foregoing description, the grate actuating assembly, in efifect, causes the grate members 21, in proceeding from dumping posiposition to dumping position, to be horizontally oriented in two parts of each cycle. It will be readily recognized, however, that the advantages in breaking of inter-fused materials and in relieving the hydraulic system from strain during burning are realized only Where the grate member is permitted to pass through an initial horizontal orientation and the junction 51 of the toggle mechanism 42 is advanced from one side of a dead center or pre-dead center position of the toggle links to the other side of said dead center or past-dead center position.

Accordingly, the term horizontal burning position as herein used shall be interpreted as meaning the pastdead center position whereby the desirable breaking and self-restraining features heretofore described are achieved.

The above described assembly provides highly efficient dumping action as compared with assemblies heretofore known by reason of the novel initial crushing action provided thereby.

Accidental dumping or transmission of shock loads from the grate to the hydraulic actuating assembly is eliminated in the novel assembly herein described, thus decreasing upkeep costs and reducing the number of supervisory personnel necessary to operate the assembly.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

'1. In an incinerator mechanism including a frame, a grate assembly comprising a grate member supported to be pivotal about a horizontal axis, a lever means keyed to rotate with said grate, toggle link means having one free end secured to said lever means at a point eccentric to said axis and the other free end secured at a fixed position to said frame, and motor means operatively associated with said toggle link means and adapted to shift said grate to the dumping and burning positions thereof by shifting the links of said toggle means through a locus of angular orientations to both sides of a dead center alignment thereof.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the junction of said toggle link means is disposed at one side of said dead center alignment when said grate is in horizontal burning position and at the other side when said grate is in dumping position.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said links pass through dead center alignment in shifting from the horizontal burning to the dumping position thereof and said grate is elevated with respect to the horizontal at said dead center position.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said motor means comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly mterposed between said link means and a fixed point on said frame.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said piston is disposed at a limiting position in said cylinder when said grate is in horizontal burning position.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein the weight of said grate and debris carried by said grate urges said piston toward said limiting position when said grate is in the horizontal burning position thereof.

7. In an incinerator, a dump grate assembly comprising an incinerator frame, bearing means on said frame, a horizontally disposed trunnion shaft supported in said bearing means, a grate member carried by said shaft, a crank lever keyed to said shaft, toggle link means having one free end pivotally secured to said lever and the other free end pivotally secured to said frame, linear acting motor means operatively associated with said toggle link means and adapted, upon extension and contraction, to shift the central junction of the links of said toggle means through a locus of positions to both sides of a dead center alignment of said links, said junction being arranged to lie to one side of said dead center alignment at the horizontal burning position of said grate and to the other side of said dead center position in the dumping positions of said grate.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein there included stop means operatively associated with said toggle link means and effective in the horizontal burning position of said grate to limit movement of said junction in the direction of advance of said junction when said grate is moved from the dumping to said horizontal burning 5 position.

' 9. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said motor means and stop means comprise a double acting hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly wherein said piston is adapted to lie inlimiting position in said cylinder 10 when said grate is in horizontal burning position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wood t July 31, 1900 Foresman May 19, 1931 Hartland Feb. 9, 1932 Bennett Feb. 9, 1937 Lyons Dec. 1, 1953

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