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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 10 (May 1, 1929.)

Mechanically Operated Stoker

Mechanically Operated Stoker.

The mechanical stoker is operated by an independent horizontal two-cylinder, double - acting steam engine. (Illustration No. 4.)

The floor of the bunker is provided with an opening 18in. wide, extending from the front to the rear slope sheet of the bunker, and is covered by slide plates. The first plate is pulled forward leaving an opening through which coal falls into
Illustration No. 4.

Illustration No. 4.

page 54 the conveyor. Coal is then carried by the Helicoid conveyor screw through the crushing zone, where it is forced against the crusher-casting of the screw, and is broken to a suitable size—approximately 2 1/2in.—then passed on to the transfer hopper, where it is divided equally (or unequally, as desired) according to the position of the dividing rib between the two elevators, as set at the discretion of the fireman. These elevators then raise the coal and drop it into distributor tubes, which are fitted into elbows and extend through holes in the firebox back on each side of the fire-door. Continuously operating steam jets, located in the elbows, blow the coal through the tubes. These tubes are fitted with distributors which deflect and spread the coal evenly over the entire fire.
Illustration No. 5.

Illustration No. 5.

The whole unit is controlled by the fireman, the speed of the engine being so regulated as to deliver coal to the firebox at any desired rate.

It is claimed that this type of stoker fires coal of all classes more economically than can be done by hand. Coal of all sizes can be used, as this unit automatically crushes it to the desired size.