Refuse disposal system

Claim 2

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and an inner and an outer section each having conveyor means therein operative upon rotation of said chamber to transport shredded materials in a sinuous path in said inner and outer sections between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting said residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 3

A refuse disposal system according to claim 1 wherein said means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature includes: a heater disposed at the input end of said combustion chamber; and wherein said combustion chamber conveyor means is operative to transport said shredded materials during a portion of said sinuous path toward said heater.

Claim 4

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; said rotary combustion chamber including an outer conically shaped section having a smaller end thereof in communication with said residue chamber; an inner conically shaped section disposed within said outer section in spaced apart relationship therewith and having a plurality of perforations through the wall thereof; a first helical vane provided on the inner surface of said inner section of a pitch operative upon rotation of said combustion chamber to cause conveyance of shredded materials from the smaller end thereof toward the larger end; and a second helical vane provided on the inner surface of said outer section of opposite pitch to the helical vane provided in said inner section to provide upon rotation of said combustion chamber conveyance of material from the larger end of said outer section to the smaller end thereof; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said coMbustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 5

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; said rotary combustion chamber including an outer conically shaped section having a smaller end thereof in communication with said residue chamber; an inner conically shaped section disposed within said outer section in spaced apart relationship therewith and having a plurality of perforations through the wall thereof; a first helical vane provided on the inner surface of said inner section of a pitch operative upon rotation of said combustion chamber to cause conveyance of shredded materials from the smaller end thereof toward the larger end; and a second helical vane provided on the inner surface of said outer section of opposite pitch to the helical vane provided in said inner section to provide upon rotation of said combustion chamber conveyance of material from the larger end of said outer section to the smaller end thereof; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said coMbustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 6

A refuse disposal system according to claim 3 wherein said combustion chamber further includes a tapered portion provided on the smaller end of said inner section and operative to define the flow of air and gases into said residue chamber.

Claim 7

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having a substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber, and including a helical vane provided on the inside surface thereof and of a pitch which decreases from the input end thereof to the output end thereof to provide a progressively increasing rate of travel of materials therein upon rotation of said drying chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 8

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having a substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber, and including a helical vane provided on the inside surface thereof and of a pitch which decreases from the input end thereof to the output end thereof to provide a progressively increasing rate of travel of materials therein upon rotation of said drying chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 9

A refuse disposal system according to claim 5 wherein at least one rotary drying chamber further includes a second helical vane provided on the inside surface thereof and interleaved with the other helical vane therein along a predetermined portion of said chamber adjacent the input end thereof.

Claim 10

A refuse disposal system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one rotary drying chamber includes means for introducing forced air into respective points along the length thereof.

Claim 11

A refuse disposal system comprising: a rotary combustion chamber having an input end adapted to receive materials to be incinerated, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed colinearly with said combustion chamber and having an input end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber, and an output end having one or more openings for removal of unconsumed materials therefrom, and having conveyor means therein for transporting material from said combustion chamber along the length thereof to said output end; an enclosure provided around said residue chamber and having a first portion for collecting gases of combustion from said residue chamber, and a second portion for collecting ash from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having an input end and an output end, a portion adjacent the output end thereof being arranged in proximity to said combustion chamber in a position to be heated by radiation therefrom, said drying chamber having one or more helical vanes provided therein for transporting along the length thereof material introduced into the input end thereof, said one or more vanes being operative to provide slower material travel in the portion of said drying chamber proximate to said combustion chamber; means for introducing forced air into said at least one drying chamber at a plurality of points along the length thereof; means for conveying dried material from the output end of said at least one drying chamber to the input end of said combustion chamber; and means for providing independently controllable rotation to each said combustion, residue and drying chambers.

Claim 12

A refuse disposal system comprising: a rotary combustion chamber having an input end adapted to receive materials to be incinerated, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed colinearly with said combustion chamber and having an input end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber, and an output end having one or more openings for removal of unconsumed materials therefrom, and having conveyor means therein for transporting material from said combustion chamber along the length thereof to said output end; an enclosure provided around said residue chamber and having a first portion for collecting gases of combustion from said residue chamber, and a second portion for collecting ash from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having an input end and an output end, a portion adjacent the output end thereof being arranged in proximity to said combustion chamber in a position to be heated by radiation therefrom, said drying chamber having one or more helical vanes provided therein for transporting along the length thereof material introduced into the input end thereof, said one or more vanes being operative to provide slower material travel in the portion of said drying chamber proximate to said combustion chamber; means for introducing forced air into said at least one drying chamber at a plurality of points along the length thereof; means for conveying dried material from the output end of said at least one drying chamber to the input end of said combustion chamber; and means for providing independently controllable rotation to each said combustion, residue and drying chambers.

Claim 13

A refuse disposal system according to claim 8 wherein the output end of said at least one drying chamber is in closed fluid communication with one input end of said combustion chamber such that forced air from said drying chamber flows into said combustion chamber.

Claim 14

A refuse disposal system according to claim 8 wherein said combustion chamber includes: an outer conically shaped section and an inner conically shaped section disposed within said outer section in spaced apart relationship therewith, said inner section having a perforated wall surface, said outer section having a smaller end in communication with said residue chamber; a first helical vane provided on the inner surface of said inner section of a pitch operative upon rotation of said combustion chamber to cause conveyance of materials from the smaller end thereof toward the larger end; and a second helical vane provided on the inner surface of said outer section of opposite pitch to the vane of said inner section to provide upon rotation of said combustion chamber conveyance of material from the larger end of said outer section to the smaller end thereof.

Claim 15

A refuse disposal system according to claim 10 wherein said residue chamber includes an elongated perforated cylindrical tube having an input end in communication with the smaller end of said outer section, and having a helical vane on the inside surface of said tube operative upon rotation of said tube to convey the residue of materials from said combustion chamber along said tube toward the output end thereof.

Claim 16

A refuse disposal system according to claim 11 wherein said at least one rotary drying chamber includes: an elongated cylindrical tube; a helical vane provided on the inner surface of said tube substantially along the full length thereof and having a pitch at the output portion of said tube which is shorter than the pitch at the input portion of said tube; a plurality of air passages provided circumferentially around said tube and extending axially therealong, each of said passages communicating with the interior of said tube at one or more respective points along the length thereof; and means for introducing forced air to said plurality of passages during rotation of said tube.

Claim 17

In a refuse disposal system which includes a combustion chamber for incinerating refuse materials and apparatus operative for collecting solid residue and gases of combustion, a rotary drying chamber for drying refuse materials as they are conveyed to said combustion chamber, said drying chamber comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube having an input end adapted to receive refuse materials, and an output end; means for supporting said tube for rotation about its cylindrical axis; a helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube substantially along the length thereof and having a pitch along a portion adjacent the output end of said tube which is shorter than the pitch along a portion adjacent the input end thereof to provide slower material travel near the output end of said tube; a plurality of air passages disposed circumferentially around said tube and extending axially along the length thereof said passages communicating with the interior of said tube at respective points along the length thereof; and means for introducing forced air into said passages during rotation of said tube.

Claim 18

In a refuse disposal system which includes a combustion chamber for incinerating refuse materials and apparatus operative for collecting solid residue and gases of combustion, a rotary drying chamber for drying refuse materials as they are conveyed to said combustion chamber, said drying chamber comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube having an input end adapted to receive refuse materials, and an output end; means for supporting said tube for rotation about its cylindrical axis; a helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube substantially along the length thereof and having a pitch along a portion adjacent the output end of said tube which is shorter than the pitch along a portion adjacent the input end thereof to provide slower material travel near the output end of said tube; a plurality of air passages disposed circumferentially around said tube and extending axially along the length thereof said passages communicating with the interior of said tube at respective points along the length thereof; and means for introducing forced air into said passages during rotation of said tube.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube is of a pitch which continuously decreases from the input end to the output end thereof.

Claim 20

The invention according to claim 13 including a second helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube and interleaved with said helical vane provided therein along a predetermined portion of said tube commencing at the input end thereof.

Claim 21

The invention according to claim 13 including: a plurality of angle irons attached around the outside surface of said tube and each extending coaxially along the full length thereof, said angle irons and outside surface of said tube defining said plurality of air passages; a plurality of openings through said tube at spaced apart positions along the length of angle irons for providing communication between said air passages and the interior of said tube.

Claim 22

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; said at least one rotary drying chamber including an elongated cylindrical tube having an input end and an output end; a helical vane provided on the inner surface of said tube substantially along the full length thereof and having a pitch near the output end thereof which is shorter than the pitch near the input end thereof; a plurality of air passages provided around the outside of said tube, each of said passages communicating with the interior of said tube by means of a plurality of openings provided in the wall thereof at respective positions along the length of said tube; and fluid coupling means at the input end of said tube for introducing forced air into said plurality of passages during rotation of said tube; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful coNstituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 23

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, and conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber with one end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and including conveyor means therein for transport of materials from said combustion chamber through said residue chamber; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; said at least one rotary drying chamber including an elongated cylindrical tube having an input end and an output end; a helical vane provided on the inner surface of said tube substantially along the full length thereof and having a pitch near the output end thereof which is shorter than the pitch near the input end thereof; a plurality of air passages provided around the outside of said tube, each of said passages communicating with the interior of said tube by means of a plurality of openings provided in the wall thereof at respective positions along the length of said tube; and fluid coupling means at the input end of said tube for introducing forced air into said plurality of passages during rotation of said tube; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful coNstituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 24

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end, and an inner and an outer section each having a helical vane therein and operative upon rotation of said chamber to convey said shredded material in said sinuous path in said inner and outer sections to the output end of said combustion chamber; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber and including an elongated perforated cylindrical tube having an input end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and having a helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube and operative upon rotation of said residue chamber to convey the residue of said shredded material along said tube toward the output end thereof; meansdisposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.

Claim 25

A refuse disposal system comprising: means for shredding conglomerate refuse materials into a generally uniform material blend of shredded material having substantially uniform size and burning characteristics; a rotary combustion chamber having an input end, an output end, conveyor means therein for transport of shredded materials in a sinuous path between said input end and said output end, and an inner and an outer section each having a helical vane therein and operative upon rotation of said chamber to convey said shredded material in said sinuous path in said inner and outer sections to the output end of said combustion chamber; means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined operating temperature within said combustion chamber; a rotary residue chamber disposed adjacent said combustion chamber and including an elongated perforated cylindrical tube having an input end in communication with the output end of said combustion chamber and having a helical vane provided on the inside surface of said tube and operative upon rotation of said residue chamber to convey the residue of said shredded material along said tube toward the output end thereof; meansdisposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting solid residue from the combustion process; means disposed in operative arrangement with said residue chamber for collecting gases from the combustion process released from said residue chamber; at least one rotary drying chamber disposed adjacent said combustion and residue chambers and having conveyor means therein for transporting shredded material from said shredding means to the input end of said combustion chamber; means for directing forced air into said at least one drying chamber, said combustion chamber and said residue chamber; and apparatus for removing harmful constituents of the gases from said gas collecting means prior to release of gas into the atmosphere.