Method and apparatus for refuse incineration

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by supplying additional combustion air to said chamber, the said additional air being under sufficient pressure and directed downwardly towards the surface of said molten bath and the refuse floating therein.

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the depth of said molten bath is additionally controlled by tapping molten slag from said chamber.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the refuse is subjected to partial incineration in an auxiliary furnace prior to being charged into said combustion chamber.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the refuse is exposed to the hot gaseous products of combustion produced in said combustion chamber.

Claim 7

Apparatus for processing refuse containing a random mixture of combustible and inert materials comprising: a. means defining a furnace chamber, b. a supply of slag material located at the base of said chamber, c. heating means for heating said slag material to convert the same to a molten bath, said heating means being positioned at a level beneath the surface of said bath, d. means for depositing a charge of waste material onto the surface of said molten slag bath, the ambient temperature in said chamber and the temperature of said molten slag bath being sufficiently elevated to incinerate the combustible material in said charge and to melt the inert materials in said charge with any molten metal residue being ultimately collect at the base of the chamber, e. means for supplying heated combustion air to said chamber by introducing air at the base of said chamber beneath the surface of said bath and allowing the air to rise to the surface of said bath, and f. means for tapping off the metal molten residue collected at the base of said chamber.

Claim 8

Apparatus for processing refuse containing a random mixture of combustible and inert materials comprising: a. means defining a furnace chamber, b. a supply of slag material located at the base of said chamber, c. heating means for heating said slag material to convert the same to a molten bath, said heating means being positioned at a level beneath the surface of said bath, d. means for depositing a charge of waste material onto the surface of said molten slag bath, the ambient temperature in said chamber and the temperature of said molten slag bath being sufficiently elevated to incinerate the combustible material in said charge and to melt the inert materials in said charge with any molten metal residue being ultimately collect at the base of the chamber, e. means for supplying heated combustion air to said chamber by introducing air at the base of said chamber beneath the surface of said bath and allowing the air to rise to the surface of said bath, and f. means for tapping off the metal molten residue collected at the base of said chamber.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means defining said furnace chamber includes a bottom member, a wall member extending upwardly from said bottom member, and a roof member supported by said wall member at a position spaced vertically from and overlying said bottom member.

Claim 10

The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for depositing a charge of waste material in said furnace includes a vertical loading duct communicating with an opening in said roof member, a pair of vertically spaced gate members in said duct, said gate members, when in the closed position, cooperating with said duct to define a loading chamber, means for depositing a charge of waste material in said loading chamber when the uppermost of said gate members is in the open position and the lowermost gate member is closed, whereupon a reverse adjustment of said gate members will result in said charge being deposited in said chamber, with said uppermost gate member preventing escape of heated air and combustion gases through said loading duct.

Claim 11

The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by additional means in said wall member directing a flow of combustion air downwardly towards the surface of said molten bath.

Claim 12

The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further characterized by auxiliary furnace means for preheating and partially incinerating the refuse prior to charging the same into said furnace chamber.