US831145A - Fuel-feeding apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTEIS SEPT. 1a, 190e.

J., CRAWFORD. FUEL PB BDING APPARATUS. i

ArPLIoATron rmzn mm1?. 1965.y

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.A

'll www? PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

J. CRAWFORD.

FUEL PEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG,17, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN CRAl/VFRD, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON FUELvFEEDlNG: APPARATUS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. i8, 1906.

pplicatiou led August 17, 1905. Serial No. 274,585.

To ai?, whom t may' concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Apparatus;

and l do hereby declare the-following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference bping had to the accompanying EO drawings, forming a part of this specification,

and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to apparatus for feeding fuel to furnaces, land more especially to apparatus for continuously feeding relatively fine and cheap grades of fuel, as

pea7 buckwheat, or screenings of coal, al-

,though the apparatus is well adapted for feeding fuel of higher grades, especially where the fuel isreduced to a small'size, either intentionally or by reason of previous handling.

The object of the invention is to improve the apparatus or appliances by which the fuel is fed into the furnace and distributed over the grate, whereby a more even distribution is secured and a more thorough and effective commingling ofthe fuel with the oxygen-supplying fluid is effected without the necessity of employing mechanical means for effecting the admiXture and projecting the fuel into the furnace.

The invention consists, primarily, in a pair of hinged or pivoted distributers adapted to be` oscillated vertically about their axes in substantial parallelisrnand between which the fuel isadmitted in position to be ejected by an impelling medium-such, for instance,

as air under pressure, ordinary steam, or-

superheated steam.

The invention further consists in the employment of distributing means movable to direct the fuel nearer to or farther from the front of the furnace in connection with a spreader or duct foradmitting superheated steam or other elastic medium under pressure,

distributing means, whereby it will eect the projection of the fuel at a substantially uniform anglewith relation to the distributing means.

` The invention` further consists in a. distributing means for the fuel inconnection with a spreader for admitting steam or elastic medium under pressure, said spreader having its discharging-apertures extending around the fuel-supply passage from side to said spreader being movable with theA side, whereby the fuel will be projected by said medium in radial lines.

The'invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be 6o hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a steam-boiler furnace embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the lower distributer-plate, showing the preferred arrangement of spreader. Figs. 4 7o and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing modified arrangements of the injector-pipe or g spreader. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail vertical sections showing a modification of the distributer mechanism.

Like letters in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The furnace itself may be of any'preferred or well-known construction, and consequenly it is not deemed necessary to illustrate details of construction. In said drawings, however, the front plate A of the furnace is shown, together with a small section of one of the grate-,bars B and transverse bearer C and a portion of theI boiler-setting D. The front plate A of the furnace is, as usual, provided with a door a for the and a door a for the ash-pit.

The furnace-door is preferably of such size' as to ill only the lower portion of the open- 9o ing usually provided for feeding fuel to the furnace, the portion of such opening above the door o; being filled or closed by plates having a fuel opening therein through which the fuel to be handled by the feeding mechanism enters the furnace. As illustrated, the immediate opening for the admission of the fuel is formed in a plate or plates E E bol-ted to the front of the furnace at the top of said door-opening, so as to be conmo veniently and easily removed or replaced should occasion require. The ,fuel-opening lmay be formed between the plates E E for which purpose the 'upper edge of the lower plate is vpreferably notched, and outside of the opening o formed an evener-plate F is secured. lhis evener-plate forms the outlet of a' chute G, through which the fuel drops by gravity or is drawn by the distributing mechanism hereinafter described, and rio whereby the evener may be tipped or angularly adjusted, so as to permit the fuel to enter at the proper transverse angle to effect even distribution. Thus if it be found that more than a due proportion of the fuel is feeding tothe right or left hand side of the furnace 'the evener is adjusted to overcome the difficulty. The chute G is usually made.

1n two or more sections, like a stove-pipe, only fla' ter, so as to be easily removed or examined, andthe evener may have a rim or lip to which the chuteis fastened by rivets or otherwise.

Within the furnace and in position to re- I' ceive the fuel passing in through' the front plate is a distributer, which in the preferred construction is formed, essentially, of two distributer-plates H and H', pivotally mounted at orl near their front edges and so connected as to swing vertically while maintaining their substantial parallelism, whereby the fuel entering between them may be directed toward the front or rear portion of the fur- 'nace,land thus .an even distribution .of the fuel from front to reary be effected. As illustrated,fthe distributer-plate H is rovided" with" arms h, one at each side, whic project through' slots between the front plates E and v Eand are provided with notches or recesses adapted totake a bearing on the edge h of the plate E-toconstitute the pivotal supports for'the-distributer-plate. The arms project in front of the furnace in position to coperate with mechanical appliances for imparting the vertical oscillatory movements t'o the distributer-plate, and in the preferred construction the mechanical appliances consist of a pair of cams I, mounted on a owerdriven shaft I journaled in brac ets i,

which may be attached to or form aninte-y gral part of ythefront plate E. The lower distributer-plate H is pivotally supported v by hook-shaped' bearings h2, which coperate with eyes or. loops h3 on the inner side of the front plate E, and the two distributer-,plates H and H .are connected 'for simultaneous movement by a link or other suitable connection, such as indicated at K in Fig. 2, whereby vwhen the power-driven shaft I is rotated the motion imparted to one distributer-plate will be transmitted to the other and both f plates Vwill be caused to swing in a vertical vplane, as shown clearly by the full and dotted nes in the figure ofthe drawings last above referred to.

ZI-he fuel entering the furnace between the distributer-plates is preferably projected over the grate-bars by a steam jet or jets adapted to enter the furnace at a point below the entering fuel, so as to lift the same and become thoroughly commingled therewith -during the passage of lthe fuel and steam beand consequently an even distribution may be maintained with a substantially uniform movement of the distributer.

As shown, the lower distributer-plate H is provided with a fuel-sup orting table H2, over which the fuel travefs) after it first enters the distri-buter, and immediately around this fuel-supporting table H2 is the spreaderduct Vfor admitting ste'am or elastic Huid under pressure, saidyduct beingextended from one side of the fuel-opening around said supporting-table to the opposite side. In Figs. 2 and 3 the duct is inthe form of a curved pipe L, having the jet-orifices arranged so as to project the fuel radially from the fuel opening or table, as indicated by the radial lines in Fi 3. By this arrangement of the injector uct the fuel may be admitted through a comparatively narrow aperture or an aperture much shorter thanfthe width of the furnace and at the same time bedistributed evenly to both sides as well as to the center of the furnace. The supporting-table H2 is usually cast integral with the lower distributer-plate.

Obviously it is not essential vthat the injector-duct should extend in a curved line, inasmuch as a substantially radial projection of the fuel from the fuel-'opening may be secured by an angular arrangement of the duct, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 4 and 5, and hence I do not wish to be limited herein to the particular form of duct, although the radial arrangement'of the orifices is thought to be essential.

Obviously instead of operating both plates of the distributer by connecting them together, as described said plates may be operated directly from the power connection. Thusv in Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated an arrangement wherein the lower 'plate H is provided with arms M, extending through the lower front plate E and curved upwardly, so as to vbe depressed by the operating-cams. In

this form the arms M contact wlth the under vsides of the arms h, and the cams operat,

ing on the arms h will cause the two plates of the distributer to be oscillat'ed in unison and .lOO

IOS I IZO ' line of furnaces.

. tance to permit of the effectual and ready permit of the use of a very small motor or enaeaiae e in substantial parallelism. T he distributerj plates may be varied from their parallelism by a set-screw i 2, passing up through each of the .lower arms near their ends till it bears upon the under side of the upper arms, and the plates may beheld in place by suitable stops-such, for instance, as the pins m. Y @bviously the operating mechanism maybe made adustable in any well-known manner in order to vary the throw of the distributer, and said distributer may be balanced by weighting the arms in front or substantially balanced in order to reduce the power required for operating the same and to gine for operating the power-shaft of a long In setting the distributer it is desirable that the two plates constituting the same should be spaced apart only a suflicient disprojection of the fuel from between the same, and at their ends nearest the front of the furnace the space should be such that the action of the spreader-jet for admitting elastic fluid under pressure will create a partial vacuum, which will operate to draw the fuel in through the feed-opening and cause the same to advance over the supporting-table of the. distributer into position to be acted on by the elastic fluid issuing from the jet-orifices, and herein is the oflice of the set-screw, as before mentioned.

To increase the effect and give direction to the fuel, ribs or flanges are formed on the plates of the distributer-as shown, for instance, at N-where the upper plate is provided with depending ribs or flanges extending forwardly, but at the same timeleaving sufficient space at the sides of the distributer for the escape of fuel, lf the fuel strikes the side walls of the furnace, a straighter duct or fewer side jets are used;y vThe throw of the fuel is regulated by the steam-valve letting on more or less force. The distributer-plates may have ribs to prevent warping, if necessary.

The power-shaft l may in addition to the cam l be provided with a pulley ,0, from which a belt 0 may pass toca suitable elevator for raising the fuel from the bin and discharging' the same into the u per end of the duct or the hoppers or chute i.

In operation the fuel fed' to the hoppers passes down by gravity and is drawn into the furnace through the feedopening in the front plate, passing thence into the distributer and forwardly over the spreader, which latter taking it on the fly through the action of the elastic fluid under pressure projects the fuel forwardly' out from between the two plates of the distributer and over the gratears of the furnace. The movement of the distributor in 4'a vertical plane will distribute the coal uniformlv from front to rear of the.

furnace, and by reason of the radial projection of the fuel by the spreader the sides of the furnace will be equally supplied.

Obviously any of the usual appliances einployed for regulating the feeding of fuel from the hopper may be used in connection with the present invention, as well as any of the usual appliances for preventino' the entry of air through the fuel-feeding orifice should the fuel itself fail to lill or block the passage or should such preventing be necessary.

As illustrated in the drawings, the hopper for the fuel is located some distance from the front of the furnace; but this is done in order to prevent confusion in the drawings, as in practice the .hopper is brought in close to the furnace at its lower end and the connection between the hopper and the discharge-orifice correspondingly reduced in length, whereby the fuel will enter the furnace by gravity without the necessity of employing means other than the suction of the spreader for advancing the fuel. The up er end of the chute or hopper G should be raced out from the front of the boiler ashort distance that the fuel may not drop perpendicularly, but slide down one side into the furnace, which the curved shape of the pipe will permit it to do'. y

The distributer-plates and other parts of the invention may be kmade any length, breadth, or shape to fit or accommodate the furnace to be equipped.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.

1. In an apparatus for feeding fuel to furnaces, the combination with a distributer, movable vertically, to direct the fuel toward the front or rear of the furnace, of a fuelsupply duct opening into said distributer, a power mechanism for moving the distributer and a spreader having jet-orifices arranged to project the fuel radially from the distributer; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for feeding fuel to furnaces, the combination with the fuel-supply duct and s reader having jet-orifices, of a distributer aving fuel-directing surfaces arranged above and below the fuel-supply duct and spreader, and mechanical means for moving said distributer in a vertical plane, to distribute the fuel from the front to the rear of the furnace; substantially as de-l scribed.

3. ln an apparatus for feeding fuel to furnaces, the combination with a fuel-supply duct, of a distributer having top and bottoni fuel-directing surfaces, between which the supply-duct is adapted to discharge, means located between the fuel-directing surfaces for projecting the fuel from said distributor and means for imparting a vertical oscillatory movement to said distributor while the fuel is being projected therefrom for dis- "having-a duct for` discharging Ythe fu'el into the furnace, offa distributer having'top landbottorn Yfuel-directin surfaces between 'thefu'ehenters't 'e furnace,- means for projecting'dthe' fuel from the distributer em'-v 'dying radially arranged 'jet-orifices, and means for firn' arting ya vertical oscillatory movement-.to te'distributer.,

5. Inanfapparatus for feedingfuel to furnace's,` the-'combination vwith the ydistributer embodying'l 'top. and bottomy J plates -vhingednear their forward edges to oscillate in a Ver v tical planewand'y mehanical mea-ns for oscillating said platea-of a fuel-'supplylk-duct `discharging-between the forward edgesvofsaid plate'sfand means located-between'the v-dis-` tributer-pglates for projecting :the fuel from thedistrl uter while it 1s' being oscillated saidI means embodying-an.- elasticlfluid-discharge tributary While maintaining the substantial parallelism of -the plates, of a--fuel-supply. ening 'into the furnace betweeny the naces;-th%e`combination with the distributer-l oric'ein 'proximity to` the "lower plate and 1 foyer whichthe fuel-passes into the furnace.l

6. In 'anfappara'tus for "feeding fuel to furn'aces,v thecombination withl thefdistributer embodying-'topand bctfticm` plates' hinged near their forward edges to osc1llate in a Ver tical'v plane'v and-means Vfor oscillating said disduct o forwar. *edges of thefplatesand 'a spreader `embodyingJdischargeeorifices for an elastic fluid under pressure and moyable with the` distributer to maintain the 'angularzrelation between the distributerfand yorifices during the-"oscillatien fof the distrbuter.

7 .1 In an apparatus forfeeding fuel yto furenbodyinfg tcp and bottom plates hinged near their forward ledges-tc' osclllate in aver-y tical planeI -th'e lower plate embod inga fuelsup ortingtable; -an aspreader' aving v jetori ces forsupplying-elastic fluid under ressureYin-l 'roximity to the edge of said tab e, of means or=oscillatingtlie said distributer and a' fuel-su ply-discharge duct openingv into said 'distri'buter'.between-'their forward edges substantiallyy as described.'v y

8.v In anI apparatus'for 'feedingffuel to furnaces,A thecombination'withv the distributer embodying' topf and'i bottom# plates hinged near their forward edges tol oscillate inaver'f tical plane, a-ilcwer plate'embodyingith'e fueli ssl-Max f iices radia ly arranged Aaround said fuel-su porting table and means for oscillating said. distributer, of a fuel-supply having-a duct forclischar ing fuel between said plates and over.y

described. l

9. Inan apparatus forfeed-ing fuel to furnaces, the. ,combination with .the distribnterembodying top zand. .bottom plates` hinged.A

tical plane, la duct for supplying. elastic fluid,

with said distributer and having radially-ar--` ranged discharge-orifices, of.. a :fuel-supply.

scribed.

10. In an apparatus for feeding fuel to fur-` naces,- the f combination .with the ldistributer embodying' top and.A bottom4 plates hinged.A

tical. lane in unison operating-armsprojec ing t ough the support for .the plates, and. means located between the'plates-and movable. therewith. for projecting lthez'fuel fromy between the plates, of-a power-shaft. hai/ing operating-cams co eratlng with Asaid-farms tooscillate the distributer, and a fuel-sup ly hating a discharge-duct opening into theidlss tributar4 between .the top and bottom plat-,es` thereof substar-itiallyl as described.-

11. In an ap aratus for feeding fuel :tofu-rf: naces,` thel com ination with thedistributer,

foradmitting the Afuel 'to the distributerand: adjustable angularly to raiseor lower oneend of theaperture with relation to .the other and; therebyvv control the lfuel fed-.1 to v the y sidesw efe the furnace; substantially as described.

12;- In lan .ap aratus vfor feeding fuel to fura. naces, the combination .withthe front-1 plate, having "an aperture vtherein and the )distributer: on the inner .side of said platefof a fuel-x supply7 andan evenery mounted on saidfront late, and having an aperture therein, .form- A lng-the dischar e-ductof the fuelsupply-said evenerbeing a justable to raise or lower one. end ofthe aperture-:With relation tothe other? andzthereby control'the-fuelrfed to the sides of.A the' yfurnace substantially asy described. v JOHN` CRATJVFORQD.-v

l Witnesses: v

NERISSAJ." STARK.; Hf O. MacDomiLn.`v

suppo'rtiny table, a spreader-havfingf-fjet-oriw-z.

the fue -supportrig table; substantial-ly as.-

underpressure mounted on and movable.

having its discharge Abetwee'ntlre .outer edges 'of the distributer-plates; substantially-as dea;

near their forward edges to csclllate' in a vernear their forward edgesl to. oscillate ina :ver-.n-

of a fuel-supply duct-and Aan evener havingiaifl transverselyextending discharge,- aperture IOO

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