US804883A - Furnace. - Google Patents

Description

No. 804,883. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. W. B. RUGGLES.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1901.

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No. 804,883. I v PATBNTED NOV. 21, 1905. w. B. RUGGLES.

FURNAGB.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1901.

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. RUGGLES, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RUGGLES-COLES ENGINEERING COMPANY.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed September 6, 1901. Serial No. 74,549.

1'0 ctl whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. RUceLEs,residing at Bayonne, in' the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to the construction of a machine which may be used for drying or carbonizing different substances and in various other ways; and its object is to provide a new and improved construction in machines of this class which shall be strong, durable, and efiicient in obtaining the desired results.

Further objects and advantages of my construction will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

My invention is clearly illustratedin the accompanying drawings, which, with the reference characters marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view partly-in vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and partly in elevation. Fig. 4: is a transverse section on line 4: 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the hopper and scraping-bar. Fig. 6 is a section on line as w of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing the lap-joint between the dome-sections.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

The exterior framework (4, of brick, masonry, or other suitable material, is lined at points where it is subjected to the action of the heat with fire-brick b. Theframework is substantially circular in cross section, as shown, and the refractory lining is circular save at points where it is extended from a circular line to embrace the discharge-stack, 8:0. Supported in an antifriction step-bearing 5 with suitable packing devices 6 in the center of said framework is a vertical shaft 7, carrying at its upper end a gear 8, through which it is adapted to be revolved from the gear 9 upon the horizontal shaft 10, which carries a pulley 11, driven from any suitable source of power. Boxes 12,carried by I-beams 13 13, extending across the top of the machine and resting upon the framework at their ends, furnish bearings for such shaft. The upper end of shaft 7 has a bearing in the long collar or sleeve 14, which has side bosses 15 15, resting upon the I-beams. Surrounding said central shaft is a flue which leads air from the top of the machine beneath the grates 16, which form the fire-bed of the furnace, situated in the lower part of the machine, by which are generated the gases and various products of combustion which act upon the material to be dried or carbonized. This material is exposed to the action of the gases in a hearth which is revolved above said grates, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The flue surrounding the central shaft is made up in sections and comprises an upper tube 17, supported from the I-beams in any desired way, a central section the walls of which are formed by flanges of the hearth, and a lower,

section 18, of tile or fire-brick, adjacent to the grates. This lower section of tile is supported upon the ring 19, which is carried by rods or posts 20, placed at intervals about the lower ends'of the vertical shaft, so as to leave free passage for air from the said lower section of the flue to the under side of the grates. These grates are supported at their outer ends upon an inwardly-projecting part of the outer framework, as shown, and at their inner ends by a rib or annular flange 22, projecting from the ring 19. Sockets for the lower ends of posts 20 are provided in the ring 23. A horizontally-disposed hearth 24, which is to carry the material to be treated, is supported by the shaft 7 and revolves there-' with through a set-screw connection or otherwise. This hearth may have a peripheral flange, as shown, or may be of any other desired form, the peripheral flange not being essential. The diameter of said hearth to secure the best results should be approximately the inner diameter of the surrounding casing or shell, leaving just enough room for clearance, so that the periphery 'of the hearth may fit closely up to the fire-brick throughout the greater portion of its extent. The hearth comprises a central hub 25, surrounding and connected to the shaft 7, and radial ribs 26 26, connecting such hub to the main body of the hearth. Upwardly and downwardly exthrough the continuous passage of cool air,

and thereby prevent the breaking down of the shaft and the injurious etfect due to the great heat to which it would otherwise be subjected, and which is thus borne by the outer walls of the flue. I thus at the same time provide a means for cooling the central shaft and a conveniently-located and effective draftflue for the fire.

On one side of the grate the fire-brick is built up in the form of a vertical circular wall 29, producing a fire-wall which separates the fire-bed at this point from the adjacent parts. This fire-wall may be increased in thickness, if desired, and it will of course be understood that the proportions of various parts shown are not obligatory.

The dome or head of the machine is formed of wedge-shaped sections of tiling 30, resting with their one ends upon projections from the upper end of the casing, as at 31 31. and with their other ends upon arib or flange 32, encircling the tube 17 These wedge-shaped sections are shown as curved upward, thereby providing a dome, properly so called; but they may be of any desired form, such as will provide a tight head for the machine. The different sections are lap-jointed, except at certain places, as will be hereinafter described. In Fig. 1 these lap-joints are indicated by dotted lines. A hopper 33 passes down through the dome in position to discharge into the hearth 24, and the dome-sections on each side thereof have smooth sides, so as to fit flush up against the flat sides 34 35 of said hopper. By this construction I provide a sectional head for the machine, the lap-joints of which render it substantially gas-tight. In assembling the various parts may be laid together and the two sections 0 (Z adjacent to the hopper slipped in last, whereby tightness of joints at all places will be secured and at the same time a device provided which may be readily assembled and as readily taken to pieces for the purpose of inspection of the interior of the machine, renewal of parts, &c. It should be noted that the rib or flange 32 is not essential for supporting the inner ends of dome-section 30. Such sections are so shaped as to form an arch which will support the dome even against the smooth sides of the tube 17 The hopper or chute 33 at its inner end fits closely up to the tube 17 and at the outer end is built into the fire-brick. casing, as at 36.

This construction is shown in Fig. 4. Thus the hopper forms a substantially tight partition across one radius of the hearth, extending from the surface of said hearth up through the dome. The hopper, which is shown in de tail in Figs. 5 and 6, has a feed-opening 37 on one side, the extent of which can be varied by the sliding gate 38, which is controlled by the screw-threaded rods 39 39, passing through internally-screw-threaded lugs 40 in thesliding gate, and guiding-lugs 41 in the upper end of the hopper and having hand-wheels 42 at their ends. On the other side of said hopper a scraping-bar 43 is pivoted on the rod 44, which rod is mounted in suitable lugs attached to the hopper. A set-screw 45, projecting from the hopper underneath the scraping-bar, may be used to adjust the position of this bar. As noted above, the surrounding casing or shell of fire-brick through the major portion of its extent surrounds closely the hearth, leaving just room enough between for clearance. At one side of the hopper, however, an opening 46 is left for the passage of products of combustion, heated gases, &c., from the firebed beneath to the upper side of the hearth, and likewise a passage through which material which has been removed from the hearth by the action of the scraping-bar 43 as said hearth revolves may be discharged to a screw conveyer 47, placed in suitable position to catch the material thrown out by the scrapingbar. It will be obvious that instead of this screw conveyer an endless belt may be used to remove the material, or it may be allowed to drop down and accumulate and be removed in any desired way. On the other side of the hopper the fire-brick extends outward away from the hearth, providing a passage 48 to the lower end of the smoke-stack 49. The doors 50 and 51 furnish access to the screw conveyer and hearth, respectively. The doors 51 furnish access to the fire-grates.

Motion is communicated to the screw conveyer by the sprocket-Wheel 52 on the end of this shaft and a chain 53 passing over the sprocket-wheel 54 on the end of shaft 10.

The mode of operation of my invention will now be apparent. The material is fed into the hopper, whence it passes in a continuous stream to the revolving hearth and is carried around in the direction of the arrow-head shown on Fig. 4 until it reaches the scrapingbar, by which it is removed to the screw conveyer, whence it is delivered to any suitable point. The action is continuous throughout, it only being necessary to refill the hopper at intervals. A fire having been kindled on the fire-bed, the products of combustion, heated gases, &c., pass up through the opening 46 to the upper side of the hearth, and as the hop-'- per forms a partition extending entirely across the hearth and up to thedome adja-' cent to the mouth of said opening the gases are deflected thereby and pass around the hearth in the reverse direction of its rotation finally passing out through the smoke-stack. In such passage around the hearth the heated gases will act upon the material carried by the hearth, the results obtained depending upon the nature of the material and in some cases upon the nature of the gases generated or used in connection with such material. A marked advantage of this construction is that the heated gases when hottest act upon the bottom of the hearth and through the same and when partially cooled pass directly over and in contact with the material to be carbonized, thus equalizing the temperature to which the upper and lower sides of the material are exposed. Another advantageous feature lies in the fact that the material is moved in a direction contrary to the direction of movement of the heated gases and is thus exposed to a greater volume'of the same in a given time. It will be obvious that instead of using the furnace construction shown to generate heated gases for acting upon the material such gases might be conveyed to the machine from an exterior point through pipes or otherwise and that various changes can be made'in details in the embodiments of my invention without departing from the scope thereof. Certain features of my invention might be embodied in machines of different classes than those herein mentioned, their use not being limited to the precise combinations described.

My invention in whole or in part may be used, moreover, for avariety of purposes, such as drying sand, grain, or cement, carbonizing tank-offal, chemical-containing dregs and the like, for any of the various uses to which a roasting, oxidizing, or calcining furnace may be put, and for such other purposes as its construction, Whether with slight modifications or not, adapts it. I am not limited to any particular use, as the range of utility of such a device is wide.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a vertical shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a hearth carried with the shaft, a grate situated beneath said hearth, and afiue surrounding the shaft arranged to conduct air from the top of the machine to a suitable point below the grate.

'2. In a drying or carbonizing furnace in combination, a vertical revoluble shaft carrying a hearth for the reception of the material to be acted on, fire-grates situated beneath said hearth, and a flue surrounding said shaftopening beneath said grates whereby the shaft is kept cool by the inflow of air to supply a draft for the fires.

3. In combination, the shaft 7 the sectional such shaft and having flanges 27 and 28 forming the central section of said flue, and a suitable fire-bed situated beneath said hearth adjacent to and communicating with the lower end of said flue.

4:. In combination, a casing or shell of refractory material, a central vertical shaft revolubly supported within such casing, a hearth carried with such shaft, a grate beneath such hearth and a flue in connection with said shaft for conducting air beneath such grate such that the shaft is kept cool by the passage of the air.

5. In combination, a shaft, a receptacle thereon, a fire-bed situated adjacent to such shaft in position to supply heat or heated gases to material carried in said receptacle, and a flue for supplying a draft for the fire-bed, which flue surrounds such shaft whereby said shaft is protected from the heat by the passage of the air therearound.

6. In a machine of the class described, a casing or shell of refractory matefial, a shaft revolubly supported within such casing, a hearth carried with such shaft, a fire-bed beneath such hearth, the construction and arrangement being such that an inclosed space is provided above said hearth except at points where openings are left for the passage of products of combustion from the fire-bed to the upper side of said hearth and for the discharge of such products.

7. In combination, a casing or shell of refractory material, a shaft revolubl y supported within such casing, a hearth carried with such shaft and having its periphery in substantially close proximity to said casing except at a point where a passage is left between the two whereby heated air or gases supplied from below may be led to the upper surface of said hearth, a stack for the discharge of such gases adjacent to said passage, and a deflector between such passage and stack, whereby the stream of heated gases striking such deflector may be caused to flow around the hearth acting upon the material carried thereon and may be finall y discharged through the stack.

8. In combination, asuitable casing or shell, a shaft supported therein, a hearth wholly supported by such shaft, the construction and arrangement being such that the space above the hearth is inclosed by the-casing, save atapoint at which an opening is provided for the admission of heated air or gases, a second opening at which such gases may be discharged, and a deflector situated adjacent to the firstmentioned opening and between it and the second opening.

9. In combination, a suitable casing or shell, a shaft supported therein, a hearth supported by such shaft,said casing providing an inclosed space above such hearth except at points where heated gases may be introduced above said hearth and be discharged therefrom, and a hopper for conveying material to said hearth, said hopper being situated between said introduction and discharge points and extending through said casing with its lower end terminating adjacent said hearth.

10. In a roasting or drying furnace, a casing,

gases from said opening are caused to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before being discharged through the stack.

11. In combination, a suitable casing or shell, a shaft supported therein, a hearth carried by such shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth except at adjacent points at which heated gases may be introduced above said hearth and be discharged therefrom, and a hopper for conveying material to be treated to said hearth situated between said introduction and discharge points, and extending across said inclosed space between the supporting-shaft and the casing, whereby said hopper acts also as a deflector causing the gases entering at the one point to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before discharging at the other point.

12. In combination, a suitable casing or shell,a central shaft supported revolubly therein, a hearth carried by such shaft of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the casing, but such that it is revoluble therein, said casing being provided witha passage-way whereby heated gases may be supplied to the upper side of said hearth, said casing being also provided with an opening adjacent to said passage-way for the discharge of said gases, a hopper situated between said passage-way and said opening and acting also as a deflector for the gases entering said passage-way, and a scraping-bar attached to said hopper for removing the material from said hearth.

13. In combination, with a revolubly-supported hearth, a hopper discharging into said hearth, and a scraping-bar attached to said hopper and resting on the surface of the hearth.

14. In combination, the hopper 33, having discharge-outlet 37, and the scraping-bar 43, connected to said hopper said discharge-outlet and scraping-bar being on opposite sides of said hopper.

15. In combination, the hopper 33, having discharge-outlet 37, a scraping-bar 4:3 pivoted to said hopper, and set-screw 45, for adjusting the position of said scraping-bar.

16. Inaroasting or dryingfurnace, an outer casing, a vertical shaft revolubly supported in said casing, a hearth carried with such shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth save at points through which heated gases may pass to the upper surface of said hearth and be discharged therefrom, a deflector arranged between said points whereby gases entering at the one point are caused to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before being discharged through the other, means for feeding material to beacted upon to the hearth, and means for removing it therefrom.

17. In a roasting or drying furnace, an outer casing a vertical shaft revolubly supported in said casing, a hearth carried with such shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth save at points through which heated gases may pass to the upper surface of said hearth and be discharged therefrom, a deflector arranged between said points whereby gases entering at the one point are caused to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before being discharged through the other, means for feeding the material to be acted upon to the hearth, and means for removing'it therefrom in a continuous stream.

18. In a roasting or drying furnace, an outer casing, a vertical shaft revolubly supported in said casing, a dome surrounding said shaft inclosing the upper end of said casing, a hearth carried with such shaft, a fire-bed beneath said hearth, an opening in the side of' said casing through which products of combustion may pass to the upper surface of said hearth, a stack for discharging such products of combustion located adjacent to such opening, a hopper for conveying material to said hearth located between said opening and said discharge-stack, a scraping-bar for removing the material from said hearth, and a continuous conveyer in position to receive the material from the scraping-bar.

19. In a device of the class described, acylindrical shell 6, a central shaft 7, a hearth 24 carried by such shaft, a dome composed of sections 30 3O fitted together with lap-joints, a hopper 33, passing through said dome, and the dome members 0, d, on each side of said hopper having their sides flush therewith.

20. In a device of the class described, in combination with a suitable casing, a central member supported within said casing, and provided with an outwardly-projecting annular flange, and a dome for closing the top of said casing, said dome being composed of sections supported at one end from said casing, and at the other end upon said flange, substantially as and for the purposes described.

21. In combination, a driving member, a source of heat, a hearth, a hopper, continuously-acting means actuated by said driving member whereby material will be transferred from said hopper to said hearth and exposed to the action of said source of heat, and

means for removing said material from said hearth.

22. In combination, a driving member, a furnace having a source of heat, a hearth and a hopper therein, continuously-acting means actuated by said driving means whereby material may be transferred from said hopper to said hearth exposed to the action of said source of heat, means operated by said continuously-acting means for removing said material from said hearth, and means for conveying said material from said furnace.

23. In combination, a movable hearth, a source of heat adapted to act upon the lower surface thereof, and means whereby a heattransferring medium may be guided from the lower over the upper surface of said hearth in a direction contrary to the direction of movement thereof.

24. In combination, a casing, a hearth, a source of heat, and a hopper, said hopper being adapted to supply material to said hearth and guide the heat emanating from said source.

25. In combination, a casing, a hearth, a source of heat, and a hopper, said hopper being adapted to supply material to said hearth and guide theheat emanating from said source around said hearth.

26. In combination, a casing, a movable hearth, a source of heat, and a hopper, said hopper being adapted to supply material to said hearth and guide the heat emanating from said source around said hearth in a direction contrary to the direction of movement thereof.

27. In adevice of the class described, a casing, a hearth, and a hopper adapted to feed a layer of material of adjustable depth thereto, said hopper being adapted to guide a heating medium about said hearth.

28. In a device of the class described, a casing, amovable hearth, and ahopper adapted to feed a layer of material of adjustable depth thereto, said hopper being adapted to guide a heating medium aboutsaid hearth in a direction contrary to the direct-ion of movement of said hearth.

29. In combination, a casing or shell of refractory material, a shaft revolubly supported within such casing, a hearth carried with such shaft and having its periphery in substantially close proximity to said casing, a passage between said hearth and said casing whereby heated air or gases supplied from below may be led to the upper surface of said hearth, a stack for the discharge of such gases adjacent said passage, and a deflector between said passage and stack whereby the stream of heated gases striking such deflector may be caused to flow around the hearth, acting upon the material carried thereon and may be finally discharged through the stack.

30. In combination, a suitable casing or shell, a shaft supported therein, a hearth wholly supported by said shaft, the construction and arrangement being such that the space above the hearth is inclosed by the casing, an opening for the admission of heated gases between said hearth and said casing, a second opening at which such gases may be discharged, and a deflector situated adjacent the first-mentioned opening and between it and the second opening.

31. In combination, a suitable casing or shell, a shaft supported therein, a hearth carried by said shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth, adjacent openings leading into said inclosed space above said hearth at which heated gases may be introduced and be discharged therefrom, and a hopper for conveying material to be treated to said hearth situated between said introduction and discharge openings and extending across said inclosed space between the supporting-shaft and the casing whereby said hopper acts also as a deflector causing the gases entering at the one opening to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before discharging at the other opening. 7

32. In aroastingor drying furnace, an outer casing, a vertical shaft revolubly supported in said casing, a hearth carried with and wholly supported by said shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth, openings leading into said inclosed space through which heated gases may pass to the upper surface of said hearth and be discharged therefrom, a deflector arranged between said openings whereby gases entering at the one opening are caused to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before being discharged through the other, means for feeding material to be acted upon to the hearth, and means for removing it therefrom.

33. In a roasting or drying furnace, an outer casing, a vertical shaft revolubly supported in said casing,a hearth carried with and wholly supported by said shaft, said casing providing an inclosed space above said hearth, open- 7 ings leading into said inclosed space through which heated gases may pass to the upper surface of said hearth and be discharged therefrom, a deflector arranged between said openings whereby gases entering at the one opening are caused to travel substantially the entire area of the hearth before being discharged through the other, means for feeding the material to be acted upon to the hearth, and means for removing it therefrom in a continuous stream.

34. In combination, a casing, a hearth, and a hopper adapted to supply material to said hearth and guide a heating medium over the surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I afflX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. RUGGLES. Witnesses:

H. M. SEAMANS, I.V. SooTT.

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