GB2177191A

GB2177191A - Improvement in or relating to solid fuel combustion appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2177191A
Application number: GB08516062A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Michael Lake
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-25
Filing date: 1985-06-25
Publication date: 1987-01-14
Also published as: GB8516062D0; GB2177191B; DE3619769A1

Abstract

A cleaning mechanism for a solid fuel combustion appliance 1 includes a cleaning element 20 in the form of a two part bar, one part 21,22, being pivotally connected to the other and the upper part being articulated to a reciprocable support member 12. Upon movement of the support 12, the pars of the bar pivot with respect to one another and to the support member 12 thereby giving a comprehensive sweeping motion to clean the sides of the flueway 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in or relating to solid fuel combustion appliances This invention concerns improvements in or relating to solid fuel combustion appliances.

In particular the present invention has reference to a mechanism for cleaning the flueways of such appliances and to a solid fuel combustion appliance incorporating the mechanism.

Our co-pending U.K. Patent Application No.

8209335 (2117509) discloses a mechanism for this purpose, but primarily concerns the use of a flexible cleaning member which in a preferred embodiment is constituted by a chain. Whilst that earlier design of mechanism has been shown to function satisfactorily in terms of flueway cleaning efficiency, use has highlighted aspects where the efficacy of the cleaning member could be enhanced. One of those aspects relates to the degree to which the sides of the flueway are in fact purged of particulate deposits. As will readily be appreciated, a chain comprising links necessarily presents a discontinuous cleaning profile to the sides of the flueway and thus there has been a tendency towards the formation of ridges of deposits where interconnecting links have been unable to sweep the flueway sides in contact therewith.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for cleaning the flueways of a solid fuel combustion appliance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a solid fuel combustion appliance incorporating the cleaning mechanism.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a mechanism for cleaning a flueway of a solid fuel combustion appliance includes a support member having suspended therefrom an elongate heat resistant cleaning element for extending into the flueway, the cleaning element comprising a bar formed in at least two parts depending one from the other and being pivotally interconnected, and the support member being attachable to the appliance and actuable externally of the appliance to move the cleaning element within the flueway whereby in use the at least two parts af the bar pivot relative to one another and to the support member to effect a sweeping action upon the sides of the flueway.

The support member may be in the form of a framework which may be adapted to carry a plurality of cleaning elements each associated with a respective flueway of the appliance.

The bar constituting the cleaning elements may conveniently comprise two parts pivotally interconnected midway along the bar, the relatively upper part being suspended from the support member in an articulated manner. The pivotal interconnection may allow movement between the parts in more than one place, a universal coupling or joint being provided for the purpose.

The parts of the bar may be flat strips of metal or in an alternative form may be cruciform in cross-section.

By way of example only, one form of mechanism for cleaning a flueway of a solid fuel combustion appliance and a solid fuel combustion appliance incorporating the mechanism according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a solid fuel combustion appliance incorporating the cleaning mechamism; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a detail of the cleaning mechanism; and Figure 3 is a motion diagram of the cleaning element of the mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown in cut away section a part of a solid fuel combustion appliance 1 including a body 2 having a top 4 incorporating a flue pipe 6 with which communicates internally of the body 2 a plurality of flueways 8 formed in a boiler section 10 of the appliance 1. The appliance may be of the underfeed stoker type including the overfire arch 11 attached to the underside of the boiler section. A support member in the form of a framework 12 is positioned within the body 2 superjacent the flueways 8 for reciprocal movement relative thereto in a horizontal plane thereabove. An actuating handle 14 is attached to the framework 12 and is located externally of the body 2.

In the drawing of Fig. 1, there is illustrated a plurality of cleaning elements 20 each suspended from the framework 12 in articulated fashion and extending downwardly into a respective flueway 8 for essentially the entire length thereof. Each member 20 is in the form of a bar in two parts 21, 22 pivotally interconnected as at 24 to give universal movement between the parts.

Fig. 2 shows a bar of cruciform cross-section whilst the bar of Fig. 1 is made of flat metallic strips.

In operation, when it is desired to clean the flueways 8 of any particular deposits adhering to their sides, the framework 12 is actuated, using the handle 14, to give reciprocal movement thereto. As can be seen from the motion diagram of Fig. 3, reciprocal movement of the framework 12 causes the parts 21, 22 of the cleaning element bars 20 to swing relative to the framework and to each other, pivoting about the point 24 thus affording a full sweeping effect upon the sides of the flueways. With a fully universal suspension point and interconnecting pivot point, a swivelling and swinging action can be effected and thus with a bar of cruciform cross-section efficient and efficacious cleaning is achieved.

The present invention thus provides a simple and yet effective and improved means of cleaning the flueways of a solid fuel combustion appliance.

Claims

1. A mechanism for cleaning a flueway of a solid fuel combustion appliance including a support member having suspended therefrom an elongate heat resistant cleaning element for extending into the flueway, the cleaning element comprising a bar formed in at least two parts depending one from the other and being pivotally interconnected, and the support member being attachable to the appliance and actuable externally of the appliance to move the cleaning element within the flueway whereby in use the at least two parts of the bar pivot relative to one another and to the support member to effect a sweeping action upon the sides of the flueway.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the support member in on the form of a framework adapted to carry a plurality of cleaning elements each for association with a respective flueway.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 in which the bar comprises two parts pivotally interconnected midway along the bar, the relatively upper part being suspended from the support member in an articulated manner.

4. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims in which the parts of the bar are flat metallic strips.

5. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the parts of the bar are cruciform in cross-section.

6. A mechanism for cleaning a flueway of a solid fuel combustion appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A solid fuel combustion appliance including a body in which is defined a combustion zone leading to at least one flueway, and a mechanism for cleaning the said at least one flueway, the mechanism including a support member mounted on the body, the support member having suspended therefrom an elongate heat resistant cleaning element extending into the flueway, the cleaning element comprising a bar formed in at least two parts depending one from the other and being pivotally interconnected, and the support member being actuable externally of the appliance body to move the cleaning element within its associated flueway whereby in use the at least two parts of the bar pivot relative to one another and to the support member to effect a sweeping action upon the sides of the flueway.

8. A solid fuel combustion appliance including a mechanism for cleaning a flueway thereof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to accompanying drawings.