US2073213A - Stoker - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937.

H. E. LIPPERT STOKER Filed Oct 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 27 26 25 A? H March 9, 1937. H. E. LIPPERT STOKER Filed Oct, 24, 19:53

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March 9, 1937. E. LIPPERT 2,073,213

STUKEB Filed Oct. 24;1955 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1937. H. E. LIPPERT 5 Sheets-SheetA S TOKER i /IIIIIIII/I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/III Filed Oct. 24, 1953 19ml], II II V Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers, and particularly to stokers of the class which transfer fuel from a source of supply and deliver it to an opening in a wall of a firebox from which opening it 5 is scattered in aerial paths to the firebed on the grates.

In stokers of the foregoing character, it is customary to provide a throat, forwardly extending branch or mouth portion at the discharge or delivery end thereof. The direction of movement of the fuel through the stoker is usually changed at this mouth portion immediately before it is delivered to the scattering or distributing means. In practice, an indentation or recess is provided in the bottom of the mouth portion, and a distributor head is fitted within this recess to form a riifie in the mouth portion over which the fuel passes. A distributor plate, located forwardly of the distributor head, is attached to the mouth 20 portion, in some instances, by fastening means in contact with fuel moving through the stoker. The provision of the above mentioned recess in the mouth portion necessitates machining several surfaces on the stoker part forming or containing the mouth portion and several surfaces on the distributor head, to assure a close fit of these parts and thus prevent leakage of fuel. Renewal of a distributor plate secured to the stoker by fastening means in contact with the fuel is a dirty task, since it requires removal of the fuel from a part of the stoker conduit in order that the fastening means be exposed.

Some of the objects of this invention are, to eliminate a riiile and recess in the bottom of the mouth portion, mount a distributor head exteriorly of the mouth portion upon and in contact with a single straight wall, and attach a distributor plate to the stoker adjacent the top of the mouth portion; by which construction many 9 machining operations are eliminated, thus decreasing the cost of manufacture, and the distributor head and plate can be readily and easily assembled and dismantled for repairs and replacement, since the fastening means for these parts are accessible to facilitate the same. In accomplishing the foregoing advantages, it is another object to provide a structure wherein the distributor head extends through the distributor plate and rearward thereof, whereby pipe lines for delivering pressure fluid to the distributor head can be secured in the bottom of the head.

Other objects are, to provide a new and improved stoker fuel distributor, and provide fuel distributing apparatus having simplified means for positively discharging fuel to the rear corners of the firebox.

On the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a locomotive showing the invention applied thereto, with parts of the invention shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the rear end of a locomotive and the forward end of a tender having the improved stoker in position thereon, with parts of the stoker broken away to illustrate the drive mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the discharge end of the stoker and a portion of the locomotive backhead,

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, with a part of the stoker fuel distributing apparatus broken away,

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification to the discharge end of the stoker,

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken online 1-! of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 6, with a part broken away,

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 8 and shows modified fuel distributing apparatus, I

Fig. 10 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3 and illustrates an adjustable fuel directing rib in the discharge end of the stoker,

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 4 showing another modified form of fuel distributing apparatus,

Fig. 12 illustrates another modification to the discharge end of the stoker, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view disclosing still another modified form of the stoker.

Like numerals and reference characters in the various figures on the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the letter L designates a locomotive having a firebox ll provided with grates l2, and a backhead or back Wall [3 having a firing opening I4 therein. A cab l5 has a floor or deck l6 slightly below the firing opening, and a frame I! supports the firebox and cab. A tender for the locomotive is designated by the letter T (Fig. 2). shown and described as installed in a locomotive and tender, it is to be understood that its application is not limited thereto.

A horizontal conduit H,-composed of a trough While the invention is herein l8 and a tubular intermediate conduit section l9, communicates with and opens forwardly into the lower end of a riser conduit, indicated as a whole by the letter R, through the rear wall, 20, of the latter, the axes or centerlines of the conduits H and R being in the vertical central plane of the firing opening, the locomotive and the tender.

A portion of a water compartment, 2!, of the tender is separated from the remainder thereof by plates 22 to form a rectangularly shaped compartment 23 which serves to house the trough I8. The trough which may be rigidly secured to the tender in any desirable manner, opens upwardly to receive fuel from a fuel bin or bunker (not shown) in the tender.

The intermediate conduit section I9 is connected at its rear end by a ball and socket joint 24 to the forward end of the trough, and its forward end is slidably mounted in a ball 25 secured in a socket 26 carried by the riser conduit, whereby the intermediate conduit section can move universally with respect to both the trough and riser conduit to facilitate the flexibility between the locomotive and tender.

The riser conduit is arranged parallel to the backhead and secured at its upper and lower ends thereto. It comprises, generally speaking, a base casting 21, an elevator casing 28 mounted upon the base casting and extending above the cab deck, and a nozzle casing or hood member 29 telescoped on the upper end of the elevator casing. The base casting 21 is substantially L- shaped forming an elbow which connects the intermediate conduit section 19 with the elevator casing 28. A laterally extending arm 30 on each side of the base casting rests upon and is fixed to a bracket 3| which in turn is rigidly secured to the locomotive backhead. The base casting may be further supported upon the frame of the locomotive by means of an upright plate 32.

The riser conduit hood member 29 comprises parallel side walls 33 spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of the elevator casing, a curved rear wall 34 connecting the side walls, an L-shaped flange 35 extending outwardly from each of the side walls and having their longer legs 36 disposed in a transverse plane and their shorter legs 31 extending forwardly toward the backhead, a top wall 38 composed of a forward horizontal flat section 39 and a rearward flat section 40 inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the firing opening, a lower cylindrical portion 4| having an annular recess 42 opening downwardly, and a wall 43 extending forwardly from the cylindrical portion 4| and forming with the side walls 33 and the section 39 of the top wall, a mouth portion 44 opening forwardly into the lower portion of the firing opening [4. A firedoor 49 closes the upper portion of the firing opening.

The upper end of the elevator casing is adapted to be inserted loosely within the recess 42 in the hood member. The cylindrical portion 4| is provided with a plurality of lugs 45 having threaded holes into which studs 46 are secured. These studs extend through holes in lugs 41 on the elevator casing, which holes are made to align, respectively, with the threaded holes in lugs 45. The depth of recess 42 is slightly less than the distance from the top edge of the elevator casing to the lugs 41, and when the nuts 48 are turned on the studs to fasten the elevator casing to the hood member, the top edge of the elevator casing will contact with the end of the recess 42, lugs 45 and 41 remaining spaced from each other. By this arrangement it is necessary to machine only the top edge of the elevator casing and the. end of the recess, and it is apparent that a tight seal against leakage of fuel into the locomotive cab can thus be made between these two surfaces of relatively small area.

The top of the hood member 29 is detachable to permit removal of a helical fuel transfer screw 50 from the riser conduit, when this screw is to be repaired or replaced by a new one. The curved rear wall, 34, of the hood member forms an upward continuation of the rear part of the lower cylindrical portion 4|; and the forward part of cylindrical portion 4| and wall 43 connect the parallel side walls 33. An angle iron 5| at each side of the firing opening has one leg fixed to the backhead in any desirable manner, and the other leg rigidly secured to the adjacent L-shaped flange on the hood member. The wall 43, which forms the bottomv of the mouth portion, projects forward of the front faces of the transverse legs, 36, of the attachment flanges 35, and is provided with a depending relatively narrow flange 52 having a vertically disposed straight front face on which a substantially bar-shaped distributor head 53 exterior of the mouth portion is mounted.

The distributor head is arranged transversely of and is the same length as the width of the mouth portion 44. It consists of a top wall having an upper surface 54 arranged in a horizontal plane passing through the front top corner, 55, of the bottom of the mouth portion, a flat rear wall 56 in contact with the flange 52, a front wall 51 slightly offset rearwardly at its lower portion, partition walls 58 for forming a plurality of chambers 59 in the distributor head, a bottom wall provided with bosses 60 having threaded holes or apertures opening downwardly into which pipe lines 6| are secured, and a laterally projecting lug 62 on each end of the head. The pipe lines 6| correspond in number to the number of chambers in the distributor head, and serve to deliver fluid under pressure to the chambers from any preferred source. Jet openings 63 are drilled in a horizontal row in the front wall, 51, of the head so that at least one jet opening will communicate with each of chambers 59. The distributor head can be secured to or removed from the hood member from a position outside the firebox and in the locomotive cab, as attachment bolts 54 which extend through the projections or lugs 62 on the head also extend through the transverse legs, 36, of the flanges 35 in order that nuts can be turned on the ends of these bolts which are exposed in the cab. The bolts 64 extend through flanges 35 adjacent the bottom of the mouth portion and the outer surfaces of the parallel side walls 33. By having the upper surface of the distributor head lie in a horizontal plane through the front corner, 55, of the mouth portion, it is apparent that the head does not form a riffle over which the fuel passes, and since the distributor head is located exteriorly of the mouth portion it is necessary to machine only one straight surface on each of the head and hood members to provide a close fit between these parts.

Extending forwardly through the firing opening from a point immedately beneath the jet openings 63 is a distributor plate 65 having at the rear thereof and on each side an upstanding ear 66 containing a hole arranged to align with holes in projections 61 located on the front surface of transverse legs, 36, of flanges 35 in proximity to the top of these flanges, the parallel side walls 33 and the mouth portion. A bolt at each side' of the mouth portion extends through the hole in one of the ears 66 and the hole in the adjacent projection 61 for hinging the distributor plate to the hood member, and the overhanging weight of the forward end of the plate causes the rear edge 58 of the plate to butt against the front wall of the distributor head. It can be understood that either the distributor plate or head can be detached from the hood member without the necessity of detaching the other, and the fastening means for the plate are located so that the latter can be readily replaced from a position in the comotive cab, merely upon opening the firedoor. A continuation, 69, of each parallel side wall 33 may be provided on the hood member to prevent fuel from falling off the sides of the head 53.

The distributor plate consists of a broad central horizontal fiat portion 10 having a forward part cut away allowing fuel to fall onto the firebox grates directly beneath the plate, and a depressed portion ll at each side of the central portion, arranged to form channels which gradually increase in depth from their rear ends to their front ends and also turn laterally at their front ends. The jet openings at the ends of the row of jet openings in the head 53 are drilled to align with the channels in the plate (Fig. 4) and also drilled in a manner to discharge a jet or blast of pressure fluid downwardly into the channels (Fig. 7), or stated in other words, the forwardly extended axes of the end jet openings are inclined downwardly and intersect the plane of the top surface of the distributor plate, whereby fuel will positively be carried into the channels and directed laterally to the rear corners of the fireboX. The distributor plate 65 is recessed at its rear end to fit around the front and sides of the distributor head 53.

The top front ledge, 86, of the distributor head, over which the fuel falls onto the plate 65, is parallel to the backhead. The distributor plate and mouth portion 44 extend equal distances on each side of the vertical median plane through the firing opening, and the axis of elevator screw 50 is contained in this plane.

The helical fuel transfer screw 50 extends throughout the base casting and elevator casing, and a similar screw 12 is arranged within the horizontal conduit H. The upper end of screw 50 preferably terminates at a point not above the bottom wall of the mouth portion and is free of shaft bearings, and its lower end is attached to a stub shaft 13 journaled in suitable bearings, including a bearing 14 integral with the base casting and extending upwardly within the same.

The fuel transfer screws are driven by a double acting two cylinder steam operated engine 15 mounted on the locomotive frame apart from the stoker conduit and at one side thereof, and power transmission mechanism. This mechanism comprises a short shaft 16 composed of telescopic sections one of which is universally jointed to the crank shaft of the engine, gearing Tl operatively connecting shaft IS with the front end of a relatively long shaft 18 extending from the locomotive to the rear end of trough l8 on the tender, gearing 19 operatively connecting the rear end of shaft 18 with the fuel transfer screw 12, and gearing 80 operatively connecting the elevator screw with the shaft 18 at a point intermediate gearing 11 and gearing l9. Gearing includes a worm and a worm gear 8|, the worm gear being fixed on the stub shaft secured to the elevator screw 50. The twosets of gearing 11 and 80 are enclosed in a gear box 82 attachedto the'underside of thebase casting. Short shaft lfiis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive, and the shaft 18 extends longitudinally of both the 1000- The fuel is elevated in the riser conduit by the elevator screw and the upwardly advancing column of fuel delivered from the upper end of the screw is flattened and directed in a mass of uniform height to the ledge 86 by the inclined. section, 40, of the top wall of the hood member, from which ledge it drops onto the distributor plate 65 and is discharged to all parts of the firebed by blasts of pressure fluid issuing from jet openings 63. By referring'to Fig. 3 it can be understood that as the upwardly advancing fuel rises in the hood member its upward movement is obstructed by the inclined 'wall 40 and the fuel is directed forwardly toward the distributor plate through the mouth portion 44. The frictional resistance to the movement of fuel through the mouth portion on each side of the central vertical plane of the firing opening is substantially the same.

In some instances, as when the elevator screw extends above the bottom wall of the mouth portion, fuel may be delivered unevenly from the upper end of the screw to the distributorplate. To remedy such a condition the top wall of the hood member may be formed or provided with a depending fuel directing rib 8'! (Fig. 5) located centrally of the top wall 95 to prevent more fuel being discharged to one side of the plate than the other. Fig. 10 illustrates a fuel directing rib 88 arranged in the hood member adjacent the top wall 96 thereof. The rib 88 has a shaft 91 pivoted centrally of and extending through the top wall. A lever 89 is attached to the rib shaft for manually adjusting the position of the rib. In Fig. 11 an adjustable fuel directing rib 90 is shown in the firing opening pivoted to the distributor 'plate 98 at each side of the distributor head 99. If preferred, a fuel directing rib 9| may be formed on the bottom wall I00 of the mouth portion centrally thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig, 9 the distributor head I0! and plate I02 are shown as being constructed so that parts 92 and 93, respectively, thereof will extend exteriorly of the firebox and into the locomotive cab, whereby the head and plate can each be attached to the surface of the hood member exposed in the cab. Fig. 13 discloses a hood member I03 having a central part, 94, of the bottom wall of the mouth portion substantially narrowed, permitting the elevator casing to be located close to the backhead.

I claim:

1. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stoker member provided with a mouth' portion in communication with said opening; fuel distributing apparatus com" prising a bar-shaped distributor head mounted at the bottom of the mouth portion, said head having-a projection on each end thereof, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to said member, the'top surface of said head forming a continuation of the bottom inside surface of the mouth portion, and a distributor plate hinged to said member adjacent the top of the mouth portion and having its rear edge butted against the front of said head, the front wall of said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure fluid across said plate and being offset below the jet openings to receive the rear edge of said plate.

2. In combination with a locomotive provided with a cab, a firebox having a firing opening, and a stoker fuel delivery member provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firing opening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a distributor head'mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, said head having a projection on each end thereof and a series of jet openings for the emission of pressure fluid, means for delivering pressure fluid to said head, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head and provided with an upstanding ear on its rear end at each side of the head, said series of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head and the plate to said member, the fastening means for the head engaging said projections and the fastening means for the plate engaging said ears, at least one of the fastening means being exterior of the path of the fuel and arranged whereby the part fastened thereby can be manually attached to or removed from said member independently of the other part and from a position in the cab.

3. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stoker member provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firing opening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a bar-shaped distributor head mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, said head having a projection on each end thereof and a series of jet openings for the emission of pressure fluid, means for delivering pressure fluid to said head, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head and provided with an upstanding ear on its rear end at each side of the head, said series of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head and the plate to said member, the fastening means for the head engaging said projections and the fastening means for the plate engaging said ears.

4. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stoker member provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firing opening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a chambered bar-shaped distributor head mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion and being substantially the same length as the width of the mouth portion, said head having a projection on each end thereof, a series of jet openings for the emission of pressure fluid and an aperture opening downwardly from a chamber therein for the admission of pressure fluid, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head and provided with an upstanding ear on its rear end at each side of the head, said series of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid across said plate, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to said member, and means engaging said ears for attaching the plate to said member above said head.

5. In a stoker, in combination with a locomotive having a cab and a firebox having a firing opening, a riser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portion communicating with said opening and having outwardly extending flanges for attachment of said conduit to the firebox, a distributor head at the bottom of the mouth portion rigidly secured to said conduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head and attached to said conduit adjacent the top of the mouth portion, said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure.

fluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head and plate to the conduit, each of the fastening means being exterior of the path of the fuel and arranged whereby the head and plate can be manually secured to or removed from the conduit independently of each other and from a position in the cab, and the fastening means for the head extending through said flanges.

6. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, a riser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portion communicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mounted on said conduit at the bottom of the mouth portion, said head having a projection on each end thereof, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to said conduit, and a distributor plate hinged to said conduit and extending forwardly from said head, the front wall of said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure fluid across said plate and being offset below the jet openings to receive the rear edge of said plate, and said plate being recessed at its rear end to fit around said head.

7. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, a riser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portion communicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mounted at the bottom of the mouth portion and having a projection on each end thereof, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to said conduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head into the firing opening, said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure fluid across said plate, an upstanding ear on the rear end of said plate at each side of the head, said plate being recessed to fit around the head and hinged to said conduit at the top of the mouth portion by means engaging said ears.

8. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, a riser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portion communicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mounted at the bottom of the mouth portion and having a projection on each end thereof, means engaging said projections for attaching said head to said conduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head into the firing opening, said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure fluid across said late, an upstanding ear on the rear end of said plate at each side of the head, said plate being recessed to fit around the head and hinged to said conduit at the top of the mouth portion by means engaging said ears, whereby the overhanging weight of said plate causes its rear edge to butt against the front wall of said head and the plate is held to said front wall by its own weight.

9. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stoker member provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firing opening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a distributor head mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, said head having a projection on each end thereof and a series of jet openings for the emission of pressure fluid, means for delivering pressure fluid to said head, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head and provided with an ear on its rear end at each side of the head, said series of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head and the plate to said member whereby the head and plate can be manually secured to or removed from said member independently of each other, the fastening means for the head engaging said projections, and the fastening means for said plate engaging said ears for hinging the plate to said member.

HENRY E. LIPPERT.

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