Abstract: A reciprocating bearing assembly is disclosed for supporting a stoker grate carriage in a reciprocating stoker of the type having a stoker grate housing, a plurality of stationary and movable grates and a drive mechanism to reciprocate the grate carriage and movable grates of the stoker to provide a stoking action, the bearing assembly including a stub shaft fixed to the stoker housing, a bearing member journaled on the shaft with means for permitting limited angular and axial movement of the bearing member with respect to the shaft, and a downwardly opening guideway mounted on the grate carriage and engageable with a bearing surface on the bearing member to permit reciprocation of the guideway with respect to the bearing surface of the bearing member.

Abstract: A stoker consisting of a support frame, a first plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of grates mounted on the support frame, a second plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of grates mounted on the support frame, each set of the second plurality of sets of grates being interposed between the set of the first plurality of sets of grates and another set of grates, each of the sets of grates consisting of a plurality of transversly spaced grates, each of the grates having an underside surface for seating the grates and an upper surface for supporting a grate of a longitudinally successive set of grates, each transversely successive pair of grates having laterally projecting, overlapping flanges providing a tortuous air passageway between such successive pair of at least one each of the flanges terminating at a point disposed in spaced relation to the underside surface of the grate to provide a substantially longitudinal air passageway between transversely successive grates, and means for reciprocating the se