# US 2014/0150697 A1 · Moving grate device, method, and system for combustion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150697 A1 - Document ID: US20140150697A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,233 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: New England Wood Pellet LLC - Applicants: New England Wood Pellet LLC - Inventors: Steven J. Walker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150697A1 ## CPC - F23B 30/02: with movable, e.g. vibratable, fuel-supporting surfaces; with fuel-supporting surfaces that have movable parts - F23B 50/00: Combustion apparatus in which the fuel is fed into or through the combustion zone by gravity, e.g. from a fuel storage situated above the combustion zone - F23H 3/02: internally cooled - F23B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING ONLY SOLID FUEL (for combustion of fuels that are solid at room temperatures, but burned in melted form, e.g. candle wax, C11C5/00, F23C, F23D; using solid fuel suspended in air F23C, F23D1/00; using solid fuel suspended in liquids F23C, F23D11/00; using solid fuel together with fluid fuel or with solid fuel suspended in air, simultaneously or alternately, F23C, F23D17/00) - F23H: GRATES (inlets for fluidisation air for fluidised bed combustion apparatus F23C10/20); CLEANING OR RAKING GRATES ## Abstract A solid fuel conveying system is presented. The system includes a low power agitating grate. The grate has a surface for burning solid fuel in a burner, such as a downdraft burner. The grate includes a rotating camshaft and a plurality of movable grate elements. Each movable grate element has a cam end and a slide end. A cam bore passes through the grate element cam end, and a slide bore passes through the grate element slide end. A slide pin passes through each movable grate slide bore. A plurality of cams are disposed along the rotating camshaft, with each cam disposed within a cam bore in one of the plurality of movable grates elements. A camshaft drive rotates the camshaft, thereby moving each grate element in accordance with the orientation of the cam passing through the corresponding cam bore of that grate element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An agitating grate, comprising: a movable grate element comprising: a solid fuel supporting surface; a bottom surface disposed substantially opposite said solid fuel supporting surface; a first side; a second side disposed substantially opposite said first side; a cam end; a slide end disposed substantially opposite said cam end; and a cam bore disposed substantially at said cam end, said cam bore passing through said movable grate element between said first side and said second side; a first rotating camshaft disposed through said cam bore; and a first cam lobe disposed upon said first rotating camshaft, said first cam lobe disposed within said cam bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The agitating grate of claim 1, wherein said movable grate element further comprises an air passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The agitating grate of claim 2, wherein said air vent further comprises: a first aperture in said movable grate element solid fuel supporting surface; a second aperture in said movable element; and an air channel passing through said movable grate element between said first aperture and said second aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The agitating grate of claim 1, further comprising a stationary grate element adjacent to said movable grate element, wherein said stationary grate element further comprises a solid fuel supporting surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The agitating grate of claim 4, wherein said stationary grate element further comprises an air vent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The agitating grate of claim 5, wherein said air vent further comprises: a first aperture in said stationary grate element solid fuel supporting surface; a second aperture in said stationary element; and an air channel passing through said movable grate element between said first aperture and said second aperture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The agitating grate of claim 1, further comprising: a movable grate element slide bore disposed substantially at said slide end, said slide bore passing through said movable grate element between said first side and said second side; and a stationary slide pin disposed through said movable grate element slide bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The agitating grate of claim 7, further comprising: a second rotating camshaft disposed through said slide bore; and a second cam disposed upon said second rotating camshaft, said second cam disposed within said slide bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The agitating grate of claim 1, wherein said solid fuel supporting surface is disposed at an incline angle with respect to a horizontal reference, said incline angle in relation between said cam end and said slide end. ### Claim 10 A method for agitating a burner grate, comprising the steps of: providing a camshaft; providing a movable grate element comprising a cam end, a slide end, a cam bore disposed substantially at the cam end, and a slide bore disposed substantially at the slide end; providing a cam disposed along the rotating camshaft, said cam disposed within said cam bore in said movable grate element; and rotating said camshaft with a camshaft drive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein rotating is controlled with a motor. ### Claim 12 A solid fuel transport system comprising: a solid fuel feeder comprising a chute configured to accommodate a solid fuel pile; and a conveyer configured to receive solid fuel from said solid fuel feeder and convey said solid fuel away from said solid fuel feeder and convey said solid fuel to a destination, wherein said conveyer further comprises: a movable grate element comprising a cam bore; a rotating camshaft disposed through said cam bore; a first cam disposed upon said rotating camshaft, said first cam disposed within said cam bore; and a camshaft drive configured to rotate said rotating camshaft.