Frederick L. Dornbrook (April 4, 1875 – May 17, 1967) was an American

mechanical engineer Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...

and inventor, who was chief engineer of the Power Plants of the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, now part of

WEC Energy Group WEC Energy Group is an American company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that provides electricity and natural gas to 4.4 million customers across four states. Subsidiaries Wisconsin * We Energies, the umbrella name for Wisconsin Electric Power ...

. He was especially known as pioneer in the use of

pulverized coal Coal dust is a fine powdered form of which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal. It is a form ...

, and in 1949 was awarded the

ASME Medal The ASME Medal, created in 1920, is the highest award bestowed by the ASME (founded as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Board of Governors for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". The award has been presented every year ...

. Dornbrook was born in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

as son of John Dornbrook and Henrietta (Schultz) Dornbrook. After regular education, he started his lifelong career at the

Wisconsin Electric Power Company WEC Energy Group is an American company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that provides electricity and natural gas to 4.4 million customers across four states. Subsidiaries Wisconsin * We Energies, the umbrella name for Wisconsin Electric Power ...

, where he worked for five decades at its Power Plant department. He worked his way up from coal passer, fireman, oiler and assistant engineer to chief engineer of operation. Eventually he was appointed superintendent of power plants and chief engineer of power plants—Wisconsin Electric Power Company.1948 Distinguished Service Award: Fred Dornbrook - College of Engineering
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering, 2017. Accessed 2019-09-10. In 1948 the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering awarded him a Distinguished Service Award. In 1949 the

ASME The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing ...

awarded him the

.''Industrial Heating,'' Vol. 17. 1950. p. 70

Selected publications

* Dornbrook, F.L. "Developments in Burning Pulverized Coal." ''Mechanical Engineering'' 70, 967–974 (1948) ;Patents, a selection * Dornbrook, Frederick L.
Safety appliance for steam-boilers
" U.S. Patent No. 1,293,730. 11 Feb. 1919. * Dornbrook, Fred L.
Boiler soot-blower
" U.S. Patent No. 1,337,828. 20 Apr. 1920. * Dornbrook, Fred L.
Apparatus for handling pulverulent materials
" U.S. Patent No 1,844,642, 1932. * Dornbrook, Fred L.
Supplementary auxiliary apparatus for prime movers
" U.S. Patent No 2,347,471, 1944. * Dornbrook, Fred L.
Steam turbine control mechanism
" U.S. Patent No 2,409,024, 1946.

References

1875 births 1967 deaths American mechanical engineers People from Wisconsin ASME Medal recipients {{US-mechanical-engineer-stub