US622515A - Furnace and mechanical stoker therefor - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 4; I899.

W MCCLAVE FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STOKER THEREFOR.

(Apphcatmn filed May 10 1598) I1 Sheets-Sheet I,

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No. 622,5!5. Patented Apr. 4, I899. w. McCLAVE. FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STDKER THEREFOR.

(Application filed May 10, 1898.)

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No.622,5l5. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

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FURNACE AND MECHAMUAL STOKER THEREFOR.

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mmnmmmmlmumlmnummmlnmwWiililililiiilfi Pa'tented Apr. 4, [899.

W. MCCLAVE. FURNACE AND MEGHANICAL STOKER THEREFOR.

(Applicfition filed May 10, 1898.)

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Patented Apr. 4, i899.

No. 622,5I5.

w. McBLAVE. FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STUKER THEREFOR.

(Application filed. May '10, 1898.)

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NVENTQR Patented Apr. 4. I899.

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FURNACE AND MECHANICAL'STOKER THEREFOR.

(Application filed May 10, 1898.)

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Patented Apr. 4, I899.

W. MGCLAYE. FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STOKER THEREFOR.

(Application filed May 10, 1898.)

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[WITNESSES No. 622,5l5. Patented Apr. 4, I899. W. MCCLAVE.

FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STOKER THEREFOR.

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w. McCLAVE. FURNACE AND MEGHANIGAL STOKER THEREFOR (Application filed MA? 10. 1898.) (No Model.) ll Shams-Sheet 9.

INVENTOH No. 622,515. Patented Apr. 4, I899. w. McCLAVE. FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STOKE THEREFOR.

(Application filed May 10, 1898.)

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No. 622,5I5. Patented Apr. 4, I899. w. McCLAVE.

FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STDKER THEREFOR.

(Application filed May 10, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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"team STATES ATENr trims.

\VILLIAM MOOLAVE, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE AND MECHANICAL STOKER THEREFGR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,515, dated April 4, 1899.

' Application filed May 10, 1898. fierial No. 580,272. (No model.)

.To ctll whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LlVILLIAM MCCLAVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces and Mechanical Stokers Therefor; and I do hereby .declare the following to be a full, clear, and we act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in furnaces and stokers therefor; and it consists in a furnace provided with a suitable feedhopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, mechanical means for automatically rocking the grate-bars slightly forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, said means being capable of being adjusted to give the grate-bars a greater movement in an upward and backward direction from the general plane of the feed movement for the purpose of cutting out clinkers and ashes or entirely dumping the fire, the gratebars when rocked in an opposite direction returning to the general plane of the feed movement.

The invention also consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts in reference to the cut-out and means for operating the same and to the construction of the dead-plate and the slides in the front wall of the f urnace,and to certain other details of construetion and arrangements of the furnace, as will be hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through a furnace constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of a portion of the same, parts being shown in section to better reveal the construction. Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical section through the grate employed in my improved furnace, looking toward the front thereof and showing the dead-plate and the lower part of the hopper. Fig. 4 represents a detail longitudinal section through my improved rocking grate,showing the gratebars rocked forward. Fig. 5 represents a similar view of the grate, but showing the grate-bars rocked to the rearward, so as to cut out the clinkers and ashes. Fig. 6 represents a detail front elevation, 011 an enlarged scale, of the link or yoke used to operate the gratebars. Fig. 7 represents a detail perspective view of the dead-plate, portions of the sections of the said dead-plate being removed to show the supporting structure beneath the same. Fig. 8 represents a detail longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the said deadplate. Fig. 9 represents a detail transverse section through the said dead-plate and supporting structure. Fig. 10 represents an enlarged detail front elevation of the slide used for closing the slots in the front of the furnace through which the operating-rods pass. Figs. 11 represents a detail vertical section through the same. Fig. 12 represents a detail horizontal section through the slide for sealing the ash-pit where the rods pass through the front of the furnace. Fig. 13 represents a perspective view of one of the grate-bars employed in myimproved furnace, a portion of the fingers or leaves being removed to better illustrate the body portion thereof. Fig. 14 represents an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism for producing an intermittent movement in the cut-out mechanism at the lower end of the grate. Fig. 15 represents a different way of mounting the sealing-slide upon the front of the furnace. Fig. 16 represents an enlarged detail front elevation of a double link used for operating the grate-sections. Fig. 17 representsa side elevation. of the link used for operating the grate-sections, the shaft being shown in cross-section. Fig. 18 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the grate and a portion of the furnace, showing the manner of connecting the grate and cut-out directly with the yoke upon the operating-shaft. Fig. 19 representsa detail fragmentary view of the grate, showing the fuel-bearing surfaces in the same plane and illustrating the spaces between the said sections when the grate is in this position. Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the bridge-Wall bearing-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a furnace; 2, a feed-hopper; 3, an inclined grate; i, an ash-pit; 5, a movable floor, and 6 represents a coal floor or bin.

In constructing a furnace having an in clined grate the sections of which are adapted upon the ends of the grate-bars.

to feed the fuel downwardly it is advantageous to construct the parts of the grate so that the moving parts will not overlap one another in order that the material composing the parts may not be subjected to an unnecessary amount of heat.

In constructing my furnace I mount the grate-bars upon carrier or journal bars, as 7. The upper forward ends of the said journalbars are preferably hook-shaped and adapted to engage supporting-brackets, as 8, secured to the inner face of the front of the furnace 9. The rear lower ends of the said journal-bars are also preferably formed with hooked engaging portions which rest upon hearing plates or bars, as 10, mounted in the brickwork of the bridge-wall f the furnace. The upper edges of the journal-bars are provided with aserics of journal hearings or boxes, as 11, adapted to receive the journalsformed While a furnace may only employ one grate-section or row of grate-bars, as is common in furnaces employing inclined grates and stokers, yet I prefer to form the grate-surface of two or more grate-sections or rows of grate-bars. For the purposes of illustration I have shown in the drawings a grate composed of two sections or rows of grate-bars. The journal or carrier bars 7 7 are thus three in number, two being located upon the outer edges of the grate-surface and one being interposed between the two rows of grate-bars. Grate-bars, as 12, having ournals, as 13, formed upon their .ends, are mounted between the journal-bars,

the said journals resting in the bearings 11 in the upper edges of the said journal-bars. By this construction all of the grate-bars are free to rock with respect to the said journalbars. While the journal-bars may be composed of body portions having fixed fingers secured thereto, yet I preferably form each of the grate-bars of a body portion, as 14, having sockets to receive the stems 15 of fingers or leaves 16. The fingers 16 are arranged so as to form a close grate-surface, and the upper edges of the said fingers carry a series of teeth 17 upon eachside of the central web of the finger. lVhile these teeth 17 may be straight in contour, yet I prefer to give them a slightly-curved shape, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of the'drawings. The partitions between the sockets formed in the body portions of the grate-bars are extended below the lower edge of the said body portion to form supporting-hangers 18 for a continuous succession of journals 19 along the entire length of the lower edge of the grate-bar. This, it will be seen, not only forms a series of journals below the whole length of the grate-bar, but adds greatly to the strength of the body portion ofthe bar, in addition to affording an opportunity of securing the rocking means to the said bars at any point between the ends thereof. The

journals 19 upon the under edges of the gratebars are adapted to be engaged by means of a rod or bar 20, having sockets formed in their upper edges, as 21, toreceive the said journals. The said bar 20 is provided at its upper and lower ends with journal-bearings which completely surround the journals upon the upper and lower grate-bars of the grate, as at 22 22. This affords a means of supporting the bar 20 in place and holds it so that the sockets 21 will engage all of the journals 19. It will be seen by this arrangement and construction that by moving the bar 20 longitudinally the grate-bars will all be rocked upon their journals simultaneously. The journal-bars are tied together by means of stationary cross-bars, as 23, which are provided with dovetailed end portions adapted to engage corresponding portions formed in the faces of the journal-bars. The stationary tie-bars 23 are preferably provided upon their rear and under surfaces with a series of teeth, as 24, which present a broken line of metal surface to support the fire at that point. The forward faces of the said stationary tie-bar 23 are preferably made ooncaved to permit of the rocking movement of the lower grate-bars. The rear faces of the fingers are also made concaved to permit of the rocking of the cut-out bar mounted to the rear of the same. The space between the upper grate-bar and the front 9 of the furnace is occupied and covered by a dead-plate, as 25, the said dead-plate being composed of a series of plates 26, which rest upon and are fastened to a supporting grid or frame 27. The said supporting-frame is secured by its vertical portion 28 to the front plate 9 of the furnace, the fingers of the said frame or grid extending backwardly and downwardly to conform to the under surface of the plates 26. Laterally-extendin g supporting-fingers,as 29, are also form ed upon the said rearwardly-extending fingers and serve as an additional support to the said plates. Strengtheningwebs 30 are preferably formed beneath the fingers to give them sufficient strength. The plates 26 are preferably provided upon their meeting edges with offsets, as 31, adapted to fit into corresponding offsets formed upon the next adjoining plate. As seen in Fig. 10, these meeting edges of the plates 26 are preferably arranged immediately over the rearwardly-extending fingers of the supportingframe 27. This construction operates to practically seal the crevices between the plates, so that an under-grate blast would not be able to escape through the said dead-plate. In order to prevent the plates 26 from sliding forward out of place, depending lugs, as 32, are formed upon their under surface, which engage the fingers 29. Other lugs, as 33, are

also formed upon the under surface of the plates 26 and engage the spaces between the ends of the fingers 29, so as to prevent any longitudinal movement of the plates 26 with respect to the supporting-frame. The said lugs 33 are preferably provided with apertures which are adapted to receive lockingpins, as 33*,which extend beneath the fingers .shaft practically one structure.

29 and lock the said plates against displacement.

In order to close the space between the lower end of theinclin ed grate and the bridgewall and to provide a means for cutting out clinkers and ashes at that point, I mount oscillating or rocking cut-out bars, as 34, the

said bars being journaled at their ends in the journal-bars 7 in the same manner as the grate-bars. The cutout bars 34 are preferably formed in a similar manner as the gratebars l2that is, they are formed of a body portion having sockets to receive the shanks of fingers or leaves 35. The leaves 35 are formed in an approximately S shape in side elevation, the rear upper surface of the said cut-out bars having a convex upper surface adapted to fit, when rocked, the under surface of the bridge-wall at that point and the rear surface of the connecting-bar 23. The forward portions of the upper edges of the fingers 35 of the cut-out bar are provided with a depressed or concaved portion, forming a depression into which the ashes and clinkers may drop when the said cut-out bar is oscillated to the position shown in Fig 4 of the drawings. The entire upper edges of the fingers 35 are provided with teeth, as 36, similar to the teeth upon the grate-bars.

In order to give a reciprocating movement to the bar 20 and an oscillating movement to the cut- out 35,1 mount a power rock-shaft 37 in suitable bearings, as 38, upon the front 9' of the furnace. This shaft 37 is adapted to be rocked by any suitable means. (Not shown in the drawings.) A member, as 39, is attached to the shaft 37, said member having actuating arm portions which extend upwardly and downwardly from said shaft. This member 39 is preferably made in the form of a yoke or link, as shown in the drawings. In order to secure the member 39 when constructed in the form of a link or yoke readily in place in the said shaft, it is formed with shaftsections, as 40, upon each side, the said sections having bolting-flanges, as 41, formed upon the ends thereof. These bolting-flanges meet corresponding boltingflanges 42 42, formed upon the shaft 37, and are bolted thereto, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus making the link and A journal 43 is mounted in the said link 39 and is provided at its ends with shoes 44, which {it and partially inelose the sides of the link, the whole structure forming a slide to move in the said link. In order to insert the journal 43 in place, an aperture, as 128, is formed in one of the sides of the link 39, and by lifting the shoes to a point opposite the said aperture the journal may be pushed through the said aperture into place. As the journal is nearly always below the said aperture when in use, it will be securely held in position. The journal 43 may be moved to any point in the link 39, so as to regulate the throw of the parts connected therewith, and in order 44. One of the said journalsnamely, the a journal 50is preferablya screw, which can be put into place after the double cam has been interposed between the shoes. It will be apparent that by turning the double cam in one direction the shoes will be released from their pressure against the shaft 39 and the journal can be moved to any point within the said link. By again turning the double cam 45 the shoes can be clamped against the sides of the link 39, and thus hold the journal 43 in its adjusted position. A connecting link or rod, as 51, engages the journal 43 at one end and extends through the front 9 of the furnace and to an arm 52, se cured to a rock-shaft 53. The end of the link 51 which engages the journal 43 is preferably formed with an open hook, as 54, which rests upon the said journal 43 and moves therewith. The rock-shaft 53 is mounted upon bearings secured to the inner face of the front 9 of the furnace preferably, the said rock-shaft carrying also near its outer ends arms or levers 55. The arm 52 is preferably located upon the central line of the furnace and imm ediatelybeneath the middle journal-bar 7 and is shorter than the levers 55. The levers 55 are arranged upon either side of the lever 52 and are connected, by means of rods orlinks 56, with eyebolts 57, the ends of the said rods 56 being preferably screw-threaded to engage corresponding screw-threaded holes or openings in the said eyebolts. As the rock-shaft 37 is actuated it will cause the rod 51 to oscillate the rock-shaft 53, and the said shaft 53 will communicate its motion through the arms 55 and the rods 56 to the bars 20, thereby causing the said bars to be reciprocated longitudinally, and thus rock the grate-bars. It will be apparent that by regulating the throw of the rock-shaft the movement of the grate-bars can be regulated as may be desired. I find that it is preferable to rock the grate-bars so that their forward edges will drop only a short distance and rise again when it is desired to feed the fuel gradually down the grate. When accomplishing this movement, the journal 43 is preferably so clamped in the link 39 that it will give only a slight movement to the parts, and for this purpose it is moved to and clamped at a point slightly above the center of the rock-shaft 37, as clearly seen in the drawings. Sometimes it is desirable to cut out the entire portion of the fire, composed largely of ashes and clinkers, and drop the same directly into the ash-pit. For

this purpose the journal 43 may be released and drop to the lower part of the link 39, as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This draws the link 51 forward to such an extent that it rocks the upper edges of the grate-bars rearwardly and forms wide spaces between the said edges of the grate, as will clearly appear in said Fig. 5. This permits the ash and clinker to drop upon the body portion of the grate-bars. When the shaft 37 oscillates, the bars will be rocked forward again, so as to permit the ash and clinkers to drop into the ash-pit. This cut-out action maybe repeated two or three times, if desired, in order to thoroughly cut out the clinkers, or if it is desired to dump the whole fire quickly it may be continued several times, thus rapidly effecting this purpose. It is obvious that the extent of the cut-out movement of the gratebars may be regulated by moving the slide in the link or yoke at a greater or less distance below the center of the rock-shaft.

A11 important feature in my grate is the arranging of the grate-bars so that the upper fuel-surface of each grate-bar occupies less than the space between two adjoining bars when the fuel-surfaces of the grate-bars are approximately in the same inclined plane, so as not to overlap either of the said adjoining bars, as is common in inclined grates heretofore used. WVhen rocking the grate for producing the'ordinary feed of the fuel,the gratebars, preferably in their highest movement, occupy a position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which the front edge of each grate-bar is practically in a vertical line with the rear edge of the bar in front of it. The

. bars, however, may be rocked so that in their highest movement their surfaces are practically on the same inclined plane. The carrier or journal bars 7 are preferably made with the upper edge conforming to the general contour of the grate-bars when in their upper position, as will clearly appear from the drawings. It will also be observed that with my construction and-arrangement of a yoke, link, or member which extends above and below the power rock-shaft and a member which is adjustable in or on the yoke, link, or member, so that after the grate-bars have been rocked to a cut-out position, and when they are rocked in an opposite direction they will return .to the plane of the feed movement and not below the same, which result is very important and could not be accomplished with power means but for the adj ustability of the slide member to which the rod or rods attached directly or indirectly to the grate-bars are connected. If power mechanical means for operating thebars were employed and the grate-bar-connectin g means was not adjustable, it is obvious that the gratebars would be rocked as far below the plane of feed movement as above, a result which is not desired in'a furnace of this character.

In order to feed the fuel in the proper manner'to the inclined grate 3, the hopper 2, of

grate forms an important feature of my invention, and the means for oscillating the same, in connection with its shape, contribute to the useful and important functions of the device. In order to cut out the ashes from the bottom of the grate, it will be evident i that it is necessary to rock the cut-out bar 35 considerably farther than it is necessary to rock the grate-bars for the feeding motion. The cut-out bar is connected by means of a link or rod 84 with a lever or arm 85, pivoti ally mounted-to the inner face of thefront 9. The said arm 85 is also connected by means of a link or rod 86 with an arm 87, secured to the rock-shaft 37 outside the front of the furnace. The arm 87 is made of sufficient length to impart the necessary movement to the connecting-links for rocking the cut-out bar 35 sufficiently to effect the cutting and discharge of clinkers and ashes from the lower end of the grate. The rod or link 86 is provided with an open bearing, as 88, which is adapted to engage a wrist-pin or journal 89, secured to the arm 87. This permits of the rod 86 being disengaged from the arm 87 by raising the rod or link 86. The end of the rod 86 is extended a short distance beyond the open bearing 88 and is slightly curved, so as not to strike the wrist-pin 89 as the arm 87 swings back and forth. It is preferable not to rock the cut-out bar 35 continually, but to 1 allow itperiods of rest, and when the clinker and ash have formed and begun to gather at the lower end of the grateto operate the cut out to remove the same. This enables me to make a full and positive cut-out, or nearly so,

of the clinker which forms upon the gratesurface and to make a rocking movement of greater extent than could be used if the bar was rocked continually. In order to accomplish this intermittent operation of the rocking cut-out, I mount a ratchet disk or wheel, as 90, upon the front 9 of the furnace, exteriorly thereof, and I also secure a pawl, as 91, to rock-shaft 37 by pivoting the same to a lug or projection, as 92, secured to said shaft. The lower end of the pawl 91 is provided with a hooked engaging portion, as 93, which rests upon the periphery of the ratchetwheel 90. Upon one side of the ratchet 90 is formed a cam projection, as 94, the said cam 1 roller or trolley-wheel, as 100, the said grooved roller engaging the under side of the rod 86, as clearly seen in the drawings. It will be evident from this construction that as the shaft 37 is rocked the pawl 91 will be carried forward, so as to engage one of the teeth on the ratchet-wheel 90 and pull it around upon its pivotal point. The continual rocking of the shaft 37 will thus operate to rotate the ratchetwheel by means of a step-by-step movement. W hen the roller 98 engages the depressed portion of the cam 94, the lever 86 will be allowed to engage the pin 89 and cutout 35 will be oscillated to cut out the ashes at the bottom of the grate. 08 leaves the depression 95 and rides up upon the higher portion of the cam 04:, the spring-' arm 90 will lift the arm 86 out of engagement with the pin 89 and permit the arm 87 to vibrate without affecting the cut-out mechanism. While the operation of the ratchetwheel 00 will be affected as above described, yet it may be desirable to employ some means of preventing the possibility of the ratchet wheel 90 turning backwardly. For this pur pose I may mount apawl or dog, as 101, upon the front end of the furnace in such a manner as to engage the teeth of the ratchet 90 and prevent the said ratchet-wheel from moving in a reverse direction. It will be apparent that by means of the curved extended end portion of the lever 86 when the said lever is dropped upon the pin 90 the said pin can slide upon the under side of the rod until it finds the bearing 88, when it will readily engage the same to operate the cut'out. It will be noted that by the shape of the cut-out bar 35 when it is rocked in its forward position the rear concaved surface thereof will bridge the space between the stationary tiebar at the base of the grate and the bridgewall. When it is rocked in the other direction, the concaved surface of the said cut-out bar will recede beneath the overhanging portion of the bridge-wall and the concaved surface of the said bar will be presented to the ashes and clinkers, which may drop therein. When the bar is again rocked into its forward position, the ashes thus cut out will be free to drop into the ash-pit. An important feature of this part of the device is the arrangement of the said bar, so that when it rocks to the rear by the time the rear edge of the concaved portion reaches the upper surface of the stationary tie-bar and begins to permit the ashes to drop through the front edge of the said concaved portion will be sufficiently high to prevent the ashes running through, while the said cut-out bar is being turned to receive its full charge of ashes. This practically precludes the possibility of any run of ashes or burning fuel through the space between the stationary tie-bar and the bridge-wall. 1Vhile the drawings show the cutout bar when in its normal position as having its convex surface forming the firesurface, yet it will be apparent that by ad- WVhen the rollerjusting the lever 86 with respect to the rockshaft 37 the concaved surface of the said cutout bar may be normally upward to form the fuel-supportingsurface. It will be seen from the description that the cut-out bar will not be operated continuously, but that there will be quite an interval between the oscillations of the said cut-out bar, the length of the said period being regulated by the length of the high portion of the periphery of the cam 94.

In a grate of this character when it is desired to use an under-grate blast it is necessary to seal the ash-pit as far as possible, and for this purpose I have constructed a means for permitting of the movement of the operating-rods which pass through the front of the furnace without allowing the draft to escape at that point. As seen in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 of the drawings, the rods are adapted to pass through slots, as 102, in the front of the furnace. Opposite the slots 102 on the outer face of the front of the furnace are secured plates, as 103 104:, the said plate 104 having a recess formed therein, as at 105, to receive a slide,as 106. A slot, as 107, is formed through the plates 103 1041, which coincides with the slot 102 in the front of the furnace. This slot is made of sufficient length to permit of the full movement of the rod which passes through the same. In order to completely close the said slot and yet permit of the movement of the rod, the slide 106 is provided with an opening, as 108, which surrounds'the operating-rod, so that the slide is carried up and down by the movement of the said rod. The edges of the aperture or opening 108 are preferably beveled or rounded, as shown in Fig. 17, so as to permit of a slight rocking movement of the rod which passes through it without leaving any appreciable space between the parts. It can be readily seen that by this construction the slots through which the operating-rods have to pass can be practically sealed no matter to what position the operating-rods are moved therein. It will be obvious that the inner plate 103 can be dispensed with and that the outer plate 104 can be secured directly to the front of the furnace, as illustrated in Fig. 22 of the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 1b and 17 of the drawings, there may be a separate operating-rod connected with each grate-section or rows of grate-bars for rocking the same. This necessitates the use'of two rods for connecting the grate-rocking arms 55 with the link in the rock-shaft 37. In this construction it will be necessary to widen the link, as 122, the said link being sufficiently wide to receive two journals between its sides, the said journals being adapted to engage and operate connecting-links, as 123 123, for rocking the grates. In this construction also the journals are adapted to be separated by means of a spac ing-sleeve, as124. The said sleeve maybe secured to the journal-rod by means of a pin, as 125. The shoes, as 126, are made the same as the shoes 44 heretofore described. llhe ICC IIO

double cam, as 127, is like the cam 45, but is made of greater length, so as to extend from one shoe to the other. It will be apparent that the operation of these parts will be precisely the same as in the case with the shoes 44 and the cam 45, already described.

It will be seen that the intermediate bars 55 and the rock-shaft 53 may be dispensed with, if desired, and the operating-rods be connected from the rock-shaft 53 directly with the longitudinal bar 20 and the cut-out 35 without departing from the spirit of my invention, as illustrated in Fig. 25. v This necessitates the use of longer slots'through the front 9 of the furnace and correspondingly longer slides for sealing the said openings. The construction employing the rock-shaft 53 and the arms 55 is therefore a preferable one, as it does not produce such a vertical movement in the connecting-rods.

Another feature of my invention is the providin g of the overhanging projection part of the bridge-wall with a supporting-plate so constructed as to present a'broken line of metal to the heat of the furnace. For this purpose I construct a bridge-wall-supporting plate 129 with a series of slots cut in its forward edge which break up the continuous line of metal, as seen in the drawings. This construction prevents the warping or cracking of the said supporting-plate under the action of the heat.

It will be apparent from the above description that I am enabled to produce a furnace with a stoking apparatus comprising a feeding-hopper and a moving grate-surface which is adapted to continually feed the fuel downwardly and an apparatus which is able to cut out a portion of the fire-surface or cut out along the whole length of the fire-surface. The said apparatus is also so constructed as to be capable of dumping the whole fire, if necessary. It will also be evident that the parts are simple and of such a form as to be strongly made and not exposed unnecessarily to the heat of the fire.

I make no claim under this application to the specific construction of the hopper and movable floor, as the same form the subject of divisional applications of this application filed by me on the 12th day of September, 1898, and serially numbered, respectively, 690,789 and 690,790, and while I make no claim for these constructions specifically in this application, yet they constitute one practical means of enabling me to successfully carry out the features of my furnace, which constitutes the claimed subject-matter of this application.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a furnace, the combination of a suit able feed-hopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, mechanical means for automatically rocking the, bars slightly'forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, said means being capable of being adjusted to give the grate-bars a greater movement in an upward and backward. direction from the general plane of the feed movement for the purpose of cutting out clinkers and ashes or entirely dumping the fire, the gratebars, when rocked, in an opposite direction, returning to the general plane ofthe feed movement.

2. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, means for automatically rocking the bars slightly forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, and means for Varying the feed of the fuel, said means comprising a yoke or link attached to a power-shaft, a slide adjustable upon the yoke and connected with the connecting rod or rods which operate the grate bars, and means for holding the slides in any adjusted position, substantially as described.

3. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, means for automatically rocking the bars slightly forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, and means for varying the feed of the fuel, said means comprising a yoke or link attached to a power-shaft, a slide adjustable upon the yoke and connected with the connecting rod or rods which operate the grate-bars, and a cam for clamping the slides in an adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate composed principally of moving grate-bars, a cut-out located at the lower end of the grate, a moving me chanical element for moving the said gratebars, and means for transmitting motion continuously from the said mechanical element to the said grate-bars and intermittently from said element to the cut-out.

5. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate composed principally of rocking grate-bars, a rocking cutout located at the lower end of the grate, a moving mechanical element for rocking the said grate-bars and the cutout, and means for transmitting a rocking motion continuously from said mechanical element to the said grate-bars and intermittently from said element to the cut-out.

6. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable feed-hopper, an inclined grate composed of movable bars, a power rock-shaft, means connected with the power rock-shaft and the grate-bars for rocking the latter, a rocking cut-out located at the lower end of the grate, and means connecting the cut-out with the power rock-shaft which means are independent of the meansconnecting the power rockshaft with the rocking grate-bars.

7. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable feed-hopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, mechanical means for automatically rocking the bars slightly forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, said means being capable of being adjusted to give the grate-bars a greater movement in an upward and backward direction from the general plane of the feed movement for the purpose of cutting. out clinkers and ashes or entirely dumping the fire, the gratebars,when rocked, in an opposite direction, returning to the general plane of the feed movement, a rocking cut-out located at the lower end of the grate, and means for operating the cut-out independent of the means for feeding the fuel down the grate.

8. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable feed-hopper, an inclined grate composed of rocking grate-bars, mechanical means for automatically rocking the bars slightly forward and backward to feed the fuel down the incline, said means being capable of being adjusted to give the grate bars a greater movement in an upward and backward direction from the general plane of the feed movement for the purpose of cutting out cliukers and ashes or entirely dumping the fire, the grate-bars, when rocked, in an opposite direction, returning to the general plane of the feed movement, a rocking cut-out located at the lower end of the grate, and means for antomatically and intermittently operating the cut-out independent of the means for feeding the fuel down the grate.

9. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate, a rocking outout, and means for automatically roekin g said cut-out at the desired time, said means comprising a rod connected at its lower end to said cut-out, and so constructed at its upper end as to be operated by a power-shaft at the proper time to rock the cut-out, a ratchetwheel, a pawl connected to the power-shaft and engaging the ratchet-wheel, a cam on one face of the ratchet-Wheel which is formed with a depression, a pivoted arm carrying a roller at its outer end which latter bears and travels on the cam, an arm connected to the pivoted arm and provided with a trolleywheel at its outer end,which latter bears upon the under side of the rod which is connected to the cut-out, the construction and arrangement being such that the ratchet wheel will be slowly revolved by the power-shaft through the pawl, and the cut-out-operating rod will he kept out of connection with the powershaft until the roller on the pivoted arm enters the depression in the cam, at which moment the cutout-Operating rodwill be operated by the power-shaft and the cut out thereby rocked back and forth to cut out the clinkcrs and ash,which operation will be continued until the roller has passed out of the depression in the cam, substantially 'as described.

10. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, a rocking cut-out, an inclined grate composed of rocking bars, a stationary tie-bar attached to the journal-bars of the .grate at its lower end, the said bar being grated on its top and on the upper portion of its rear side, and slightly concave 011 said rear side to adapt it to the movement of the cut'out, the said rocking cut-out being arranged between the bridge-wall and the stationary end bar of the grate, said cut-outbeing formed with an upwardly-curved bridging portion, which practically bridges the space between the bridge-wall and the stationary'end bar of the grate-when the cutout is operated in one direction, and also formed with a lower portion extending forward of the upper portion, and which when the out out is operated in the opposite direction will bridge the space between the stationary tiebar of the grate and the bridge-wall and form a pocket, and means for operating the gratebars and the cut-out, substantially as described.

11, In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate, a rocking outout, and means for automatically rocking said cut-out at the desired time, said means comprising a rod connected at its lower end to said cut-out, and provided at its upper end with a depression, a rock-shaft carrying an arm provided with awrist-pin which is adapted to engage the depression inthe cut-outoperating rod, a ratchet-wheel, a pawl connected to the rock-shaft and engaging the ratchet-wheel, a cam on one face of the ratchet-wheel which is formed with a depression, a pivoted arm carrying a roller at its outer end, which latter bears and travels on the cam, an arm connected to the pivoted arm and provided with a trolley-wheel at its outer end which latter bears upon the under side of the rod which is connected to the cut-out, I the construction and arrangement being such that the ratchet-wheel will be slowly revolved by the rock-shaft through the pawl, and the depression in the cut-out-operating rod will be kept out of engagement with the wrist-pin on the arm connected to the rock-shaft until the roller on the pivoted arm enters a depression in the cam; at which moment the cut out-operating rod will be operated by the power-shaft and the cut-out thereby rocked back and forth to cut out clinkers and ash, which operation will be continued until the roller has passed out of the depression in the cam, substantially as described.

12. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable hopper, an inclined grate, a dead-platesupporting frame interposed between the hopper and the grate, a portion of said frame being made up of broken or short lines of metal, and an inclined dead-plate composed of comparatively short sections of metal with a space between each section, each section being provided with a centrally-arranged apertured lug and pins which pass through the,

IIO

incline, means for varying the feed of the able member in any adjusted position, sub- 1 fuel and effecting the cut-off movement, said stantially as described.

means comprising a member attached to a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my power rock-shaft and having actuated arm signature in presence of two witnesses.

5 portions which extend upwardly and down- I T wardly from said shaft, a member adjustable I MCCLAVIL' upon the main member and connected di- WVitnesses: rectly or indirectly by a rod or rods with the JOHN L. FLETCHER,

grate-bars, and means for holding theadj ust E. T. FENWIOK.

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