Block & Carpet Feeders

I have an idea what a block feeder looks like, but what does a carpet feeder look like.
I'm guessing it's a flat piece of sheet metal, but how would that feed coal?
I hear the block feeder will jam but the carpet feeder won't, why. ( just can't beat a Losch )

My Keystoker 90 is a push block, never had a jam in 4 years.

Here's a carpet feeder:
Pretty much impossible to jam.

LoschStoker wrote:I have an idea what a block feeder looks like, but what does a carpet feeder look like.
I'm guessing it's a flat piece of sheet metal, but how would that feed coal?
I hear the block feeder will jam but the carpet feeder won't, why. ( just can't beat a Losch )

You're right LoschStoker, It's just a piece of sheet metal (carpet) that moves up and down the ramp feeding coal onto the grate. You can't jam it because it's too thin to get stuck. Fines can get stuck undernieth it, causing problems. And the little tiny motor/gear box combo wares out kind of quickly but all in all it's inexpensive and fiarly reliable.
If you can see that aluminum block at the bottom of this Harman Mag stoker hopper. All you need is a large piece of chestnut coal down in there and that will jam it. Or a rock, wire nut, piece of wood, ect... It is near impossible to jam a Losch or a Yellow Flame.

-Don

Thanks guys
So they can use the carpet type because of the steep slope.
The block type on a level grate like Keystoker or uphill grate like the Harman.

I was wondering how hard it would be to make stoker unit.
The grate should be the easiest part.
Just what I need another project!

So, are you going to build another stoker to put in the Losch? If you do, don't for get to post pictures!

This is the conversion I'm working on now.
Here's the link, Yellow Flame to Tri-Burner Conversion. What Do You Think?

-Don

I don't have the Losch anymore sold (gave it away) to a guy in Lancaster.
I got my coal, barley, at Werts in Mechanicsburg.
Werts Losch has been running 50 years non stop, he may have replaced the motor.

The carpet feed can jam due to clinkering. Because nothing is pushing the coal very hard, clinkers don't always get pushed off the end, and can cause "plowing" of unburned fresh coal over the sides. For me it was mainly an issue when running hard with red ash coal.

Mike

Mike,

You are right about the clinkering but, that only stops the clinker from being pushed off the grate and therefore the coal moving down the grate. It doesn't stop the feeder from moving and therefore dosn't cause any mechanical damage or the breaker to pop. A fine point I know, but I just wanted to point that out.

-Don

x2. I just didn't want the OP to think there weren't any potential issues with the carpet-type.

Mike

LoschStoker wrote:I don't have the Losch anymore sold (gave it away) to a guy in Lancaster.
I got my coal, barley, at Werts in Mechanicsburg.
Werts Losch has been running 50 years non stop, he may have replaced the motor.

I will have to try out Wertz Coal if they have barley, maybe they have buck too? It looks like they are about an hour and 20 min away from me but, it would be worth it to try some different coal!

-Don

If you go to Werts, look at his Losch stoker, I believe it's been running nonstop for 50 years.
Let me know if I'm right.