US3554143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for thermolytic destructive distillation of carbonaceous materials, including the recovery of certain products therefrom
Assignee: KENT B KNOX
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Filing: 1969-01-03
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A system for treating carbonaceous material, particularly garbage and refuse by destructive distillation to reduce the material to ash, in an expeditious manner, while recovering usable byproducts therefrom, such as gas, tars, oils, greases, acids, and fly ash, and destructively burning the odoriferous gases and other pollutants present in the garbage and refuse, and progressively and continuously moving the material through a plurality of heating chambers in the system, in batches, and utilizing the processing heat, which would normally be discharged to atmosphere from the stack, to dry and heat incoming refuse and garbage in heat exchange relation so as to consume a minimum of fuel for the maximum amount of refuse and garbage processed, and producing some or most of the fuel gas required in operating the system, or even more than the fuel requirement. Further, the spent flue gases are utilized to heat water in heat exchange relation to produce steam. Inasmuch as no odor is given off by the system, and due to the fact that only a small amount of land space is required for installation, the system can be installed in populated areas, close to the source of refuse and garbage.
Inventors
- 👤 Elbert A Rodgers
- 👤 Thornton C Huddle
- 👤 Kent B Knox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:41
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/02; C10B; C10B53/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
11 words
closing the drying chamber to retain the refuse and garbage therein;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
providing a vapor outlet for directing vapor outward from the carbonization chamber; k. supplying heat to the carbonization chamber to carbonize the refuse and garbage therein;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
providing a vapor outlet foR directing vapor outward from the burning chamber; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 1; and including supplying the drying chamber with additional heat from a second source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
a sealing gasket in said gate body and surrounding the transverse opening formed therein;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
closure means operable to discharge ash from said burning tank; and f. said refuse and garbage adapted to be heat processed in each of said tanks simultaneously by the heat from said furnace and said flues and adapted to be progressively directed through the next lower closure upon introduction of additional refuse and garbage into said drying tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
perforate arms secured to each said hollow shaft and being in fluid communication therewith;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
burners associated with each of said flues for producing combustion within each of the respective flues, to produce dehydration of refuse and garbage within said drying tank; b. a tank mounted below said drying tank for carbonizing refuse and garbage;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
said motor-driven rotary loader being adapted to rotate through an arc to sequentially move one of the receptacles thereof from a loading position to the discharge position; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
closure means operable to discharge ash from said burning tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
a stuffing box surrounding each said hollow shaft and forming a seal therefor near the lower end of said tank, with said hollow shaft to extend outward therebelow;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
said power means connected in driving relation with said agitator; f. a loader being in communication with the uppermost tank;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
closure means intermediate adjacent tanks for selectively isolating material in each tank; d. an insulation jacket surrounding and covering the tanks and being a spaced distance outward therefrom to form a passage between said tanks and the insulation jacket;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
supplying a source of water to the heat exchange tank to pass around the piping system in heat exchange relation; b. connecting the vent stack in fluid communication with the piping system in the heat exchange tank so as to condense the vapor passing therethrough; and c. directing heated water from the condenser tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
directing vapor therefrom into a furnace for burning and to nullify at least some of the odors of the odoriferous vapor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
operator means associated with each said shaft for moving said shaft arcuately; c. a rotary fluid seal on the lower end of said shaft; and d. an air conduit connected with said rotary seal of each said hollow shaft for directing air under pressure therethrough and into said carbonizing tank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
a stuffing box surrounding each hollow shaft and forming a seal therefor near the lower end of said tank, with the hollow shaft extending outward therebelow;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
mechanically actuated discharge means to move said refuse and garbage from the receptacLe of said loader into the uppermost of said tanks. 43
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
rollers mounted on opposite longitudinal sides of said gate to support said gate for reciprocating movement;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 2; and including the steps of: a. providing flues in the drying chamber; and b. creating combustion within the flues of the drying chamber to supply the additional heat to the drying chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
discharging ash of the combustible refuse and garbage from the burning chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
providing a vapor outlet for directing vapor outward from the drying chamber; h. forming an insulation jacket to surround and cover the chambers and being a spaced distance outward therefrom for passage of heat upwardly between the chambers and the insulation jacket;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system as defined in claim 1; and including the vapor from the chambers is directed to a burner in the furnace to provide fuel for combustion to supply the source of heat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
a track on each longitudinal side of said hollow gate body on which said rollers are adapted to roll;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
operator means associated with each said hollow shaft for moving each said shaft arcuately; c. a rotary fluid seal on the lower end of said shaft; d. an air conduit connected with said rotary fluid seal of each said hollow shaft for directing air under pressure therethrough and into said carbonizing tank; e. said lowermost tank being a burning tank;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
8 words
complementary ends of said tracks being wedge shaped;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system as defined in claim 4; and including directing the products of combustion upward in conduction relation around the burning chamber, the carbonization chamber and drying chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
a reciprocating operator attached to said gate and extending longitudinally outward through said gate body to move said gate along said track;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system as defined in claim 1; and including the additional step of introducing air under pressure into the burning chamber of a closed system to supply oxygen in a metered amount to maintain controlled combustion at a predetermined heat for a predetermined length of time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
110 words
said rollers adapted to move off said wedge-shaped ends of said tracks when said gate is in one position, to position said gate in sealing relation with said gasket around said opening; and b. clamping means on said elongated hollow body of said gate to move said gate into sealing engagement with said gasket when said clamping means is in one position, and to release said gate for reciprocation thereof within the hollow portion of said gate body when said clamping means is in another position to enable said gate to be moved upwardly and longitudinally away from the opening to permit passage of refuse and garbage through the opening.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 1; and including the additional steps of: a. providing a condenser which connects with the vapor outlet of at least one of the chambers; b. providing a scrubber for directing odoriferous vapor and condensate thereinto; c. providing a further condenser; d. directing the vapor from the scrubber into the further condenser;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 7; and including the additional steps of: a. providing a heat exchange tank;
Claim 33
Independent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system which apparatus comprises: a. a support for upright structural members; b. upright structural members mounted on said support; c. a plurality of tanks mounted on said structural members and arranged at different elevations, one above another;
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 9; wherein a. the uppermost of said tanks has flues passing therethrough, one end of which flues terminates exteriorly of said insulation jacket, the other ends of which flues terminate within the confines of the space between said insulation jacket and said tanks; and b. burners associated with each of said flues for producing combustion within the respective flues, to produce dehydration of refuse and garbage within said uppermost tank.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 9; wherein a. a tank is mounted on said upright structural members and is supported thereby below said uppermost tank and forming a carbonization tank; b. hollow shafts are journaled within said carbonization tank for arcuate movement;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system; as defined in claim 9; wherein said lowermost tank is a burning tank;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system as defined in claim 9; wherein said loader, which is in communication with said uppermost tank, is a motor-driven, rotary loader;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by a thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 9; wherein: a. said tanks supported on said structural members comprise three tanks;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed system, as defined in claim 9; wherein: a. at least some of said closure members in said tanks are sliding gates comprising;
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for reduction of combustible refuse and garbage to ash by thermolytic destructive distillation in a closed System as defined in claim 15; wherein said clamping means is a cam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |