US1066005A - Fire-box door for steam-boilers. - Google Patents

Description

A. G. ELVIN. FIRE BOX 13003 FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1907.

Patented July 1, 1913.

2 BH'EETFSHBET 1.

wnulsslsw am mail.

A. e. BLVIN. FIRE BOX DOOR FOB STEAK BOILERS.

APPLIOATIOK FILED FEB. 5, 190? Patented July 1, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES ALBERT G. ELVIN, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-BOX DOOR FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1 1913.

an Application filed February 5, 1907. Serial No. 855,877.

To all whomit may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT G. ELviN, of Frunklimin the county of Venango' and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire- Box Doors for Steam-Boilers,' of which improvement the following is a description.

The object of my invention is to provide a firebox door which shall be of simple, inexpensive, and durable Construction and ready adaptability in connection-with steam boilers of the locomotiveand other standard types, and which may be operated either manually or by power as desired, and by the application of Which,lab0r in tiring and consumption of fuel may be substantially re duced, and deterioration of boiler flues and other parts incident to the use'of doors of the ordinary construction be prevented.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is, a front View, in elevation, of a firebox doorappliance', illustrating an application of my invention; Fig. 2, a view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the,

salne'and through the adjoining portion of the rear water wall of a steam. boiler; Fig. 4, a vertical central section, on an enlarged Scale, through the lower portion of the cylinder and its lower head, showing the operating valve as unseated for the supply of fluid tofithe piston; Fig. 5, a similar view, showing the operating valve as seated for the exhaust of fluid from the piston; Fig. 6, a horizontal section through the cylinder and piston; and, Fig.7, a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the lower poition of the cylinder and its lower head, taken at right angles to Figs. 4 and 5.

In the practice of my invention, I secure to the rear water Wall, 1, of a locomotive .or other steam boiler, surrounding the firing opening, 2, thereof, a door frame, 3, which is of substantially rectangular form, and provided with lugsflt, which abut against the water wall, 1, and are slotted horizontally to inclose studs 5, fixed in said wall, to which the door frame is firmly connected by nuts, 5, engaging threads on said studs. 'Ihe longitudinal horizontal slots of the lugs enable the studs, 5, to he set -in such positions in the water will as to be clear of stay bolts therein. central opening is formed in thedoor frame and an operncndcd throat or casing, 7, corresponding substantially in contour with, and surrounding-the firing opening, is formed around said cen tral opening, on the inner side of thedoor frame, said throat abutting at its end farther from the door frame, against the water wall, and a shoveling plate, 8, pro: jects from thedoor frame into the firing opening, to protect the firebox sheets from injury by blows from the firemans shovel. An oil cantray, 3, is connected to the top of the door frame, and affords a convenient support for oil cans &c.

An upper door section, 9, and a lower door section, 9*, each of which is a hollow or chambered casting of substantially rectangular form, are fitted to slide vertically in guides, 10, bolted to the sides of the door frame, the door sections fitting accurately on their abutting edges whenclosed, and the joint between them being preferably formed on an incline as shown in Fig. 3. The space within the lower section is open at its top and bottom, and that within the ing, 7. The interior of the door sections 1 thus forms anair space, through which, when they are closed, air is drawninto the firebox, and in which the air is highly heated before passing into the firebox,.with the resultant advantages of protecting the door sections from becoming too hot and being thereby soon warped or burned out, and of promoting combustion and preventing the formation of smoke, furnishing a supply of heated air to the gases evolved from; the combustion of the fuel in the firebox. The upper section is made heavier than the lower, in order to assist in closing.

The door sections, 9, 9, are moved from and toward each other, to open and close, respectively, the outer end of the throat or casing, 7, by means of levers, 19,, 12, pivoted by pins'or bolts, 13, to one side of the farther from the arms, 14, 14 and an op-. crating handle, 18, is for-medon the outer end of one of the arms, as the n per arm, '14, by the movement of whic handle,

through the engagement of the curved slots,

foot of the fireman, if'desired.

- with'a piston, 28, provided with suitable In order to enable the door sections to be held at their maximum distance apart,

so as to expose the jentire'o ening of the throat, 7, as when cleanlng a re, or to partially expose said opening, as for admitting air above the grates when itis desired to. check the draft through the boiler tubes, a latch shaft, 19, is journaled in a bearing, 20, on the-side of the door frame opposite that to which the levers, 12, 12*, are pivoted, said shaft carrying, on one of its ends, a latch, 21', adapted to engage one of a set of hooks or'projectio-ns 22, on the upper door section, 9, and carrying, on its opposite end, an operating handle, 23, which may be thrown back against a stop, 24:, on

the door frame, to hold the latch in such position that it cannot engage the'hooks during ordinary firing or'during such periods as it is not desired to keep the door sections at a greater or less distance apart.

The construction above described affords desirable facilities for quickly and conveniently effecting the opening and closure, either total orpartial, of the throat, 7, as required in the operations of firing, cleaning fires, or checking draft, as well as for protecting the movable, door sections from injury by the heat of the-firebox and for affording a supply of heated air above the grate. To further facilitate the effective performance of its functions, it is, however, preferably supplemented by means for operating the door sections by fluid pressure, as air or steam, and a construction for this purpose, which has been found in practice to be advantageously operative, is herein exem lified and will-now be described.

vertical fluid pressure operatin' cylinder, 25, is bolted 'to the side of ,t e door frame, 3, which adjoins the segment gears, 17, 17, of the door section levers, and is closed at its upper and lower ends by heads,

26, 27. The cylinder, 25, is cut away on its side next the segment gears, so as to allow them to project-into it, and is fitted packing rings, 29, near its lower end. A longitudinal recess is'formed in .the piston,

' 28, above its packing rings, and provided with a rack or plurality of teeth, 39, engaging the teeth of the segment gear, 17, of the lower door section. V Upward unevement is imparted to the piston by fluid pressure, which is preferably compressed air, admitted to its lower end through a supply The supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from the piston are effected by an operating valve, 33, which is of the lift or puppet type, and is fitted to move horizontally 111 a chamber, 34, in the lower cylinerating valve therein, are constantly exposed to the fluid pressure in the supplf pipe, the operating valve being, consequently, niiirmally held seated by said pressure The operating valve is formed on or fixed to a eylinolricat site-n1, 35, which projeets outwardly through a corresponding bore in the lower cylinder head, in the di* rection of the door frame, and abuts against a downwardly projecting arm, 36, on a rock shaft, 3?. journaled on said frame. The rock shaft, 37, carries a horizontally proice-ting arm, 38, which bears against one arm of a double armed lever, 39, journaled on a pin, i fixed in the door frame below the lower door section, andthe opposite arm of said lever is connected to the inner arm of a double ari'ned treadle lever, 41, journaled (n the lower portion of the door frame. The'outer arm of the treadle lever is bent downwardly to a level slightly above that of the deck or firing floor of the boiler,

and carries a treadle, 42. By downward pressure of his foot upon the treadle, 42, the fireman can, through the lever system above described, unseat the o crating valve, and; upon the release of sue pressure, the valve will he reseated by the pressure from the supply pipe acting upon it in its cham ber,

A central supply passage, 43, is formed in the valve stem, 35,, said passage communicating by radial ports, 44, with the valve chamber, 34, when the operating valve is unseate d, and extending to radial ports, 45, leading into an annular peripheral groove or channel 46, in the valve stem. In all positions oi the operating valve and stem, the channel, 46, registers with a main supply and exhaust port, 47, leading through the lower head, 27, into the cylinder, 25, and,

.nary exhaust passage, 49, is formed in the wall of the cylinder, said passage opening thereinto by a port, 50, located slightly below the level of the bottom of the piston, 28.

when at. the upper extremity of its traverse, and, the lower end of the preliminary exhaustpassage opens into the cy-hndncal the door sections apart or der head, 27, which chamber, and the op;

bore in which the valve stem, 35, works, at such a oint in the length thereof as to register with the channel, 46, of said stem, and, through'said channel, with the final exhaustport, 48, when the operating valve is seated. The area for traverse of fluid through the port, 47, is madeless than thatthrough the preliminary exhaust passage, and is varied, as desired, by a regulating valve, 51', formed on the'end of an adjusting screw, 52, en gaging a thread in the lower head, by the movement of which screw, the valve, 51, may be caused to close the port, 47, either entirely or to any desired degree.

In the operation of theappliance, when not fitted with a power actuating mecha nism, or in the event of the derangement of such mechanism, the desired movement, either total or partial, of the door sections,

. is effected by the fireman by application of hand pressure to the handle, 18, or foot. pressure to the tread, S)". The door sections aresubstantially balanced, and can therefore be moved more easily and conveniently than doors of the ordinary type.

W'hen utilizing a power actuating mechanism, substantially as described, the fireman places his foot on the treadle, 42, and there by depresses the outer end of the lever, 41,

which, through the lever, 39, and rock shaft, I

37, and its arms, transmits the applied pressure to the stem, 35,0f the operatingvalve, 33, and unseats said valve. Operating fluid is thereby admitted to the cylinder, 25, below its piston, 28, through the ports, 44, passage, 43, ports, 45, peripheral channel, 46, and port, 47, the pressure of the fluid raising the piston to the limit of its upward traverse, in which, through the gearing and door sections, it moves the door sections away from one another the limit of their traverse, and fully opens or uncovers the firing throat channel, 7. Said channel re- .mainsopen only so long as the pressure of the firemans foot is maintained on the treadle, and, upon the release of this pressure, the operating valve is immediately seated by the pressure in its chamber, 34. The upper end port, 50, of the preliminary exhaust passage, '49,'has previously been uncovered by the piston passing above it, and

the lower end of said passage has, by the seating of, the operating valve, been brought into communication with the channel, 46, and final exhaust port, 48.. The port 47, is

alsoopento the channel, 46, and final exhaust port, 48. The operating liuid is therefore exhausted from the cylinder, and the piston is forced down by the spring, 32,

bringing the door sections to their normal closed position insits downward moi-'ement. The preliminary exhaust being open before the piston commences'its downward stroke, the larger portion of the operating fluid below the piston will be immediately released,

thereby allowing the door sections to be quickly started in their closing movement,] and as the port, 50, is closed by the piston in passing it, the remainder of thedownward stroke of the piston and the resultant movement of the door sections will be'made more slowly, owing to the comparatively restricted discharge opening, through the port, 47, as regulated by the valve, 51. The piston will be thus, in a substantial degree, cushioned, so that while the door sections start to close quickly, they will come together easily and without shock.

The construction of the appliance is such as to involve comparatively few working parts, and these are of such character that they can be substantially made and are protected from liability to breakage and from damage by the access of dirt, The operation of the door sections, either by the power of the fireman or by fluid pressure, is quick, simple, and easy, and the automatic closure of the door sections when'the fluid pressure i'nechanisin is used, effects the substantial advantage of compelling single shovel tiring, the advantage of which practice, in econtunizing fuel, perfecting combustion, and reducing firebox and flue repairs, has been universally recognized in railroad service. The benefit of the supply of hot air afforded by the hollow door sections is a further advantage attained in the application of the improvement. i 1

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a fire box door appliance,'the com binat-io-n of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box and having an opening of dimensions and contonr proper to surround a fire boxdoor 'opening, vertically sliding upper and lower hollow or chambered door sections, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the chambered door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace, said door sections being titted to traverse on the door frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, and means for simultaneously moving Said door sections in opposite directions. v

2. In a tire box doo-r'appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for taneously moving said door section-sin opposite directions.

3. In a fire box door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box, an open ended throat or channel projecting from said frame and adapted to surround a fire box door opening, a shoveling plate projecting from the frame above the bottom of the throat o-r channel and extending beyond the inner end thereof, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sec tions fitted to traverse on the frame in direction to cover and uncover the outer end of the throat or channel, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace, and means for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions.

4. In a fire box door ap liance, the combination of a supporting rame adapted'for connection to a steam boiler fire-box, an open ended throat or channel projecting from said frame and adapted to surround a fire bo'x' door opening, lugs projecting from the frame above'and below the throat or channel and provided with longitudinal slots for the reception of studs to secure the frame to the tire box, verticallysliding upper and lower normally abuttin hollow door sections fitted to traverse on te frame in direction to, cover and uncover the outer end of the throat or channel, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the. furnace, and means for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions.

5. In a firebox door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box, and having an opening of dimensions and contour pro-per to surround a firebox d or opening, two hollow or chambered door sections, each having passages for the admission and discharge of air, said door sections being fitted to traverse on the door frame in direction to cover and un over the opening therein, two levers, each pivoted to the door frame on one side of a door section and having a curved slot. adjoining its free end, pins fixed to the door sections and engaging the slots of the levers, intermeshing gears fixed on the levers concentrically with their pivots and meansfor operating one of the said gears.

6. In a firebox door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a Steam boiler fire-box, an open ended, throat or channel projecting from saidfiinme and adapted to surrounda firebox door opening, two ho-rmally abutting door sections fitted to traverse on said frame each pivoted to the door frame on one side of a door section and having a curved'slot adjoining its free end, pins fixed to the door sections and engaging the slots of the levers, intermeshing gears fixed to the levers concentrically with their pivots, and means for operating one of said gears.

7. In a tire box door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box and having an opening of dimensions and contour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace, mechanism for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions, and a fluid pressure device'connected with and actuating sa-id mechanism.

8. In a tire boxdoor appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box, and having an opening of dimensions and contour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower hollow or chambered door sections, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the chambered door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace,

said door sections being fitted to traverse on the door frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, mechanism for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions, and a fluid pressure d evice connected with and actuating said mechanism.

In a fire box door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame for connec tion to a steam boiler fire-box, an open ended throat or channel projecting from said frame and adapted to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to cover and uncover the outer end of said throat or channel, the'lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the holelow door sections and the upper section having anopening for the discharge of air into the furnace, mechanism for simultaneously moving-said door sectionsin opposite directions,-and a fluid pressure device connected with and actuating said mechanism.

1.0. In a tire box door appliance, thecom bination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box, and

having'an opening of dimensions and con- .tour proper to surround a firebox door opening, movable upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, the lower sec tion having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow' door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of I air into the furnace, two levers, each pivoted to the door frame on'one side of a door section and having a curved slot adjoin- 11. In a fire box door appliance, the com- I bination of a supporting frame adapted forconnection to a steam boiler fire box and having an opening of dimens ons and contour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door section and the uppersection having an opening for: the

discharge of air into the furnace, mecha 'nism for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston working therein and actuating the door section moving mechanism, an operating valve controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to and from said piston, and a spring bearing on said pistonand acting to effectits traverse in direction opposite to that effectedby the action of fluid pressure.

12. In a fire box door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box and having an opening of dimensions and con- Q and, when seated, exhausts fluid pressure tour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to:

therefrom, and which is continuously sub ject to fluidsupply pressure, a lever system for unseating the operating valve, and

by fluid pressure to exhaust lower normally abutting hollow a spring bearing on the piston and acting to effect its traverse in direction opposite to that effected by the action of fluid pressure, l3. in a fire box door appliance, the combination of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire box and having an openingof-dimension s and con-- tour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lowernormally abutting hollow door sections r fitted to traverse on said frame in direction. to coverand uncover the opening therein, and the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to 'the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace,

.meclia nisinfor simultaneously moving saiddoor sections in opposite. directions, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston working therein and actuating the door section moving mechanism, an operatin valve which, 'when-unseated, ad'mits fluid pressure to the piston,- and, when seated, exhausts fluid pressure therefrom, and which is continuously snbject to fluid supply pressure, alever system, one member of which contacts with the operating valve, means, as a treadle, for'unsea-ting the operating who through the lever system, and a spring bearing on the piston and acting, when the operating valve is unseated, to effect the-traverse of the piston in direction opposite to that effected by the. action of fluid pressure.

14. In a fire box door appliance, the cornbination'of a supporting frame adapted for connection to a steam boiler fire-box and having an opening of dimensions and contour proper to surround a fire box door opening, vertically sliding upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sections fitted to traverse on said frame in direction to cover and uncover the opening therein, and the lower section having a passage for;

the admission of 'air to the hollow door sec tions and the upper section having an i ing for the discharge of air into the furnace,

mechanism for simultaneously moving said j 7 door sections in oppos te directions, a fiunl pressure cylinder having-aj direct supply and exhaust port, a piston lwdrking therein and actuating the door section moving mechanism, a preliminary exhaust port leading into thecylinder adjacent to the limit oftraverse of the piston, a final exhaust'port, an operating valve controlling all of'said ports and continuously subjected to fluid supply pressure, and means for unseating the operating valveto admit fluid pressure to the piston and permitting it to be reseated fluid pressure froni'the piston.- 15. Ina fire box doorappliance, the combination of vertically sliding up er and cor sec tions, and the lowensectionhaving a pas-- bination of vertically sliding upper and l0W('I normally abutting hollow door sec-- tions, and the lower section having a pas sage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air into the furnace, mechanism for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston Working therein and actuating the door section moving mechanism, an automatically seating operating valve controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to and from the piston, an adjustable regulating valve interposed between the operating valve and the piston, and means for unseating the operating valve.

17. In a tire box door appliance, the combination of vertically sliding up r and lower normally ahutting hollow oor sections, and the lower section having a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the di arge of air into the furnace, mechanism for simultaneously mov ing said door sections in opposite directions, a fluid pro ire cy inder, a piston Working therein and actuating the door section moving mechanism, an automatically seating operating valve controlling, when unseated, the supply of fluid to the piston for effecting its movement in opening the door sections, and controlling, when seated, the free exer section having haust f fluid from the piston st the beginning of its movement coincident with the closure of the door sections, and a comparatively restricted exhaust of fluid during the remainder of its movementin the same direction, and means for unseating said oper' ating valve.

18. In a firebox door appliance, the combination of vertically movable upper and lower normally abutting hollow door sec tions, the lower section havir g a passage for the admission of air to the hollow door sections and the upper section having an opening for the discharge of air-into the furnace,

mechanism for simultaneously moving said door sections in opposite directions, a fluid pressurocylinder, a piston Working therein and actuating ,the door section moving mechanism, a tread closing one end of the cylinder, and provided with an operating valve chamber and a cylindrical bore for an Operating valve stem, a fluid supply pipe leading into the valve chamber, a main supply and exhaust port leading from the cy- 7o lindrical bore into the end of the cylinder, a preliminary exhaust port leading from said bore into the cylinderin a plane adjacent to the limit of outward traverse of the piston, a final exhaust port leading from said here. to the atmosphere, an operating valve adapted to seat in the valve chamber at the inner end of said bore, a stem fixed to said valve and fitting in and passing through said bore, and having a peripheral groove or channel adapted to register with the ports aforesaid, a longitudinal passage in said stem having radial ports at its ends leading to the periphery of the stem adjacent to the valve and to the radial groove or channel, respectively, and means for unseating the operating valve.

ALBERT Gr. ELVIN,

lVitnesses:

B. A. KRENZ, F. WV. MAR'rIn.

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