Abstract: An improvement for use in a coal stoker is disclosed. The improvement device is used with a common stoker generally including a hopper operatively connected to and aligned with a base box forming an ash pit. The base box, through its sides sloping downward from the hopper, supports a ramp. The lower part of the ramp is a perforated fire grate while the upper section is a plate that extends through the hopper bottom. A fan effecting a forced draft through the grate is operatively connected to a motor. The improvement comprises a linear reciprocation action carpet that overlies generally the length and width of the plate. The carpet's movement is effected by its connection to the motor. When coal is fed into the hopper and the movable carpet is activated by the motor, the carpet will move in a linear reciprocating direction. The coal falling on the carpet from the hopper will continually advance in an even flow from the carpet's leading edge onto the perforated grate.

Abstract: An operator's console is used to produce, and control the storage of, bend data including: bend number, linear position, rotational position, bend angle and final bend number. The bend data is inserted either manually via a keyboard or by a reader reading a suitable data source (e.g., an optical reader reading punched cards). After all of the bend data is produced, checked and stored, the operator's console displays the first set of bend data. The operator then manually moves the tube, both linearly and rotationally, until the tube is suitably positioned. Encoders mounted so as to detect the rotational and linear position of the tube create related linear and rotational position displays during manual positioning. When the tube reaches the appropriate linear and rotational positions, linear and rotational brakes are actuated and lock the tube in position. When the tube is appropriately positioned (brakes locked), the encoder (actual tube position) displays correspond to the related memory displays.