Stoker construction and drive system therefor

Claim 2

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of spaced stationary grates mounted on said support frame, a first plurality of movable grates spaced along said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of movable grates spaced along said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on each side of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said second plurality of movable grates, first means for supplying fluid under pressure to the front end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, second fluid supply means for supplying fluid to the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, said first and second fluid supply means being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, means for selectively communicating said first and second fluid supply means with said source of fluid under pressure, means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, and means communicable with said source of fluid under pressure for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the rear end of said first fluid cylinder assembly while closing said means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies.

Claim 3

A stoker construction according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the rear end of said first fluid cylinder assembly is operable responsive to a predetermined condition of the piston of said first fluid cylinder assembly.

Claim 4

A stoker construction according to claim 1, including a first means for sensing a predetermined position of the piston of the first fluid cylinder assembly and second means for sensing a predetermined position of the piston of said second fluid cylinder assembly, and wherein said means for selectively communicating the rear end of said first fluid cylinder assembly with said source of fluid under pressure is operative responsive to said first and second sensing means.

Claim 5

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of stationary grates spaced on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said second plurality of movable grates, a first fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, a second fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, a third fluid supply line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, said first and second fluid supply lines being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for selectively communicating said first And second fluid supply lines with said source of fluid under pressure, a valve disposed in said third fluid line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, a fourth line communicable with said source of fluid under pressure and the rear end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, and a valve disposed in said fourth fluid line.

Claim 6

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of stationary grates spaced on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said second plurality of movable grates, a first fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, a second fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, a third fluid supply line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, said first and second fluid supply lines being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for selectively communicating said first And second fluid supply lines with said source of fluid under pressure, a valve disposed in said third fluid line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, a fourth line communicable with said source of fluid under pressure and the rear end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, and a valve disposed in said fourth fluid line.

Claim 7

A stoker construction according to claim 4, including a first means for sensing a predetermined position of the piston of said first fluid cylinder assembly, and a second means for sensing a predetermined position of the piston of said second fluid cylinder assembly, and wherein said valve in said third fluid line is normally in the open position and is operable to close responsive to said first and second sensing means, and said valve in said fourth fluid line is normally in the closed position and is operable to open responsive to said first and second sensing means.

Claim 8

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of spaced stationary grates mounted on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said second plurality of movable grates, first means for supplying fluid under pressure to the front end of said first fluid assembly, second fluid means for supplying fluid to the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, said first and second fluid supply means being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, means for selectively communicating said first and second fluid supply means with said source of fluid under pressure, means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies while closing said means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies.

Claim 9

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of spaced stationary grates mounted on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said second plurality of movable grates, first means for supplying fluid under pressure to the front end of said first fluid assembly, second fluid means for supplying fluid to the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, said first and second fluid supply means being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, means for selectively communicating said first and second fluid supply means with said source of fluid under pressure, means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies while closing said means intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies.

Claim 10

A stoker construction according to claim 6, wherein said means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies is operative responsive to a predetermined condition of the piston of one of said fluid cylinder assemblies.

Claim 11

A stoker construction according to claim 6, including a first means for sensing first predetermined positions of the pistons of said fluid cylinder assemblies and second means for sensing second predetermined positions of the pistons of said fluid cylinder assemblies and wherein said means for selectively communicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies with said source of fluid under pressure is operative responsive to said first and second sensing means.

Claim 12

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of spaced stationary grates mounted on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a first fluid supply line communicating with tHe front end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, a second fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, a third fluid supply line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, said first and second fluid supply lines being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for selectively communicating said first and second fluid supply lines with said source of fluid under pressure, first and second valves disposed in said third fluid line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, a fourth fluid line including a valve intercommunicating said first fluid supply line and said third fluid line between said first and second valves in said third fluid line, and a fifth fluid line including a valve intercommunicating said second fluid supply line and said third fluid line between said first and second valves in said third fluid line.

Claim 13

A stoker construction comprising a support frame, a plurality of spaced stationary grates mounted on said support frame, a first plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a first set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, a second plurality of spaced movable grates mounted on said support frame and disposed between a second set of alternate spaces between said stationary grates, wherein movable grates are disposed on opposite sides of each stationary grate, and means for reciprocating said movable grates including a first fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a second fluid cylinder assembly having a piston operatively connected to said first plurality of movable grates, a first fluid supply line communicating with tHe front end of said first fluid cylinder assembly, a second fluid supply line communicating with the front end of said second fluid cylinder assembly, a third fluid supply line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, said first and second fluid supply lines being communicable with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for selectively communicating said first and second fluid supply lines with said source of fluid under pressure, first and second valves disposed in said third fluid line intercommunicating the rear ends of said fluid cylinder assemblies, a fourth fluid line including a valve intercommunicating said first fluid supply line and said third fluid line between said first and second valves in said third fluid line, and a fifth fluid line including a valve intercommunicating said second fluid supply line and said third fluid line between said first and second valves in said third fluid line.

Claim 14

A stoker construction according to claim 9, including first means for sensing a first set of predetermined positions of the pistons of said fluid cylinder assemblies and second means for sensing a second set of predetermined positions of the pistons of said fluid cylinder assemblies, and wherein said first valve of said third line normally is open and adapted to close and said valve in said fourth line normally is closed and adapted to open responsive to said first sensing means and said second valve of said third fluid line normally is open and adapted to close and said valve of said fifth fluid line normally is closed and adapted to open responsive to said second sensing means.

Claim 15

A stoker construction according to claim 9, wherein said valves in said third fluid line normally are open and are electrically operable to close, said valves in said fourth and fifth fluid lines are normally closed and are electrically operable to open, said first valve of said third fluid line and said valve in said fourth fluid line are provided with a first electrical circuit, said second valve of said third fluid line and said valve of said fifth fluid line are provided with a second electrical circuit and wherein said first electrical supply circuit includes a first limit switch normally in the closed position adapted to be opened responsive to the maximum forward travel of the piston of said second cylinder assembly and a second limit switch normally in the open position adapted to close responsive to the maximum rearward travel of the piston of said first fluid cylinder assembly and said second electrical circuit having a first limit switch normally in the open position adapted to be closed responsive to the maximum rearward travel of the piston of said second fluid cylinder assembly and a second limit switch normally in the closed position adapted to be opened responsive to the maximum forward travel of the piston of said first fluid cylinder assembly.