US3785304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the thermal reduction of rubber or plastic material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-13
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for thermally reducing rubber or plastic materials in which the rubber or plastic material is comminuted to a predetermined size and it is then subjected to primary combustion in the lower portion of a first chamber with the gases and distilled combustible vapors in the upper portion of the first chamber being subjected to secondary combustion and with the still only partially oxidized gases then being conducted to a second chamber and admixed with further air for tertiary combustion and the combustion thereof completed and with these last hot gases being used as the heat input for a boiler, such as a waste heat boiler. Automatic controls are provided to control the temperature in the upper portion of the first mentioned chamber to within predetermined limits and a further control is provided to insure substantially complete combustion in the second mentioned chamber, and with a bare minimum of excess air. This method and apparatus is not suitable for generally municipal waste disposal.
Inventors
- 👤 K Stookey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:30
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23G; F23G5/00; F23G5/08; F23G5/14; F23G5/16; F23G7/00; F23G7/12; F23G2207/00; F23G2207/10; F23G2207/101; F23G2207/103; F23G2207/30; F23J; F23J2217/00; F23J2217/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a process for thermally reducing waste material, especially waste material of which at least a substantial portion is plastic or rubber-like material; charging the material into the lower portion of a first chamber and igniting the material and passing primary air upwardly through the material to cause primary combustion, supplying secondary air to the first chamber above the charge of material therein to cause secondary combustion to develop heat necessary to substantially gasify the vapors in the first chamber above the said charge, regulating the amount of secondary air to said first chamber to control the temperature in said first chamber, conveying gases from the upper region of said first chamber to a second chamber, supplying tertiary air to said second chamber to cause tertiary combustion, conveying gases from said second chamber, and recovering heat from the gases leaving said second chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a process for thermally reducing waste material, especially waste material of which at least a substantial portion is plastic or rubber-like material; charging the material into the lower portion of a first chamber and igniting the material and passing primary air upwardly through the material to cause primary combustion, supplying secondary air to the first chamber above the charge of material therein to cause secondary combustion to develop heat necessary to substantially gasify the vapors in the first chamber above the said charge, regulating the amount of secondary air to said first chamber to control the temperature in said first chamber, conveying gases from the upper region of said first chamber to a second chamber, supplying tertiary air to said second chamber to cause tertiary combustion, conveying gases from said second chamber, and recovering heat from the gases leaving said second chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes sensing the temperature of the gases in the upper portion of said first chamber, and adjusting the amount of secondary air supplied to said first chamber to maintain said sensed temperature below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes detecting the fuel content in the gases leaving said second chamber, and adjusting the amount of tertiary air supplied to said second chamber to obtain complete combustion of said fuel content.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes sensing the temperature of the gases in the upper portion of said first chamber, adjusting the amount of secondary air supplied to said first chamber to maintain said sensed temperature below a predetermined maximum, detecting the carbon monoxide and any unburned fuel content in the gases leaving said second chamber, and adjusting the amount of tertiary air supplied to said second chamber to maintain the said carbon monoxide and unburned fuel below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes the supplying of steam to the lower portion of said first chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes supporting the said charge on a grate disposed near the lower end of said first chamber, supplying said primary air to the space beneath said grate, and confining the flow of air through said grate to the central portion thereof to prevent channeling of the air along the periphery of the said charge resting on said grate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes creating a turbulent condition in the region of introduction of said secondary and tertiary air into said first and second chambers to promote admixing of the air with vapors and the said gases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 which includes passing the gases from said second chamber through a waste heat boiler to effect said recovery of heat from the gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 8 which includes detecting the oxygen content of the gases leaving said tertiary chamber, and adjusting the supply of tertiary air to said second chamber to maintain said oxygen content with predetermined limits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 8 which includes cleaning the gases from said waste heat boiler to extract unwanted material therefrom, and exhausting the cleaned gases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 2 in which said predetermined maximum temperature is not greater than about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 3 in which said predetermined maximum amount of fuel content is not greater than about one-half per cent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for the thermal reduction of waste materials, especially waste materials of which at least a substantial portion is plastic or rubber-like, a vertical first chamber and grate means therein near the bottom to support a burning charge of waste material, means for blowing primary air upwardly through said charge to maintain primary combustion in the charge on said grate means, means for supplying secondary air to said first chamber above said charge to maintain secondary combustion in said first chamber in the space above said charge, control means for regulating the amount of secondary air to said first chamber to control the temperature in said first chamber, a second chamber, a connector leading from near the top of said first chamber to said second chamber to convey combustible gases from said first chamber to said secondary chamber, means to supply tertiary air to said second chamber to maintain tertiary combustion therein, and means connected to said second chamber to receive burned gases therefrom and operable to extract heat from said gases.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for the thermal reduction of waste materials, especially waste materials of which at least a substantial portion is plastic or rubber-like, a vertical first chamber and grate means therein near the bottom to support a burning charge of waste material, means for blowing primary air upwardly through said charge to maintain primary combustion in the charge on said grate means, means for supplying secondary air to said first chamber above said charge to maintain secondary combustion in said first chamber in the space above said charge, control means for regulating the amount of secondary air to said first chamber to control the temperature in said first chamber, a second chamber, a connector leading from near the top of said first chamber to said second chamber to convey combustible gases from said first chamber to said secondary chamber, means to supply tertiary air to said second chamber to maintain tertiary combustion therein, and means connected to said second chamber to receive burned gases therefrom and operable to extract heat from said gases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes conduit means leading into said first chamber above said charge for the said supply of secondary air, valve means in said conduit means, temperature sensing means in the upper portion of said first chamber, and said control means operated by said temperature sensing means and connected in controlling relation to said valve means and operable to adjust the supply of secondary air to maintain the temperature in said first chamber above said charge below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 in which said conduit means include conduits connected to said first chamber at circumferentially spaced points, and a supply header connected to said conduits.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said conduits open tangentially into said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes detector means to sample the gases leaving said second chamber to detect the amount of fuel content therein, and means under the control of said detector means and operable for controlling the supply of tertiary air to said second chamber to maintain the said amount of fuel content below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes conduit means opening into said second chamber for the supply of tertiary air thereto, valve means in said conduit means, detector means connected to receive gases leaving said second chamber and to detect the amount of fuel content therein, and control means under the control of said detector means and connected in controlling relation to said valve means and operable to adjust the supply of tertiary air to maintain the said amount of fuel content below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said means to extract heat from the gases leaving said second chamber comprises a waste heat boiler.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 19 which inclUdes means to clean the gases leaving said waste heat boiler.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said grate means comprises an imperforate peripheral portion and an apertured central portion whereby said primary air is caused to pass through the central part of said charge.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes valved conduit means opening into said first chamber beneath said grate means for the supply of said primary air, and valved steam line means also opening into said first chamber beneath said grate means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes feed means comprising an upwardly extending duct, and vertically spaced seal gates in the duct to permit waste material to be introduced into said first chamber without loss of gases from the upper part of said first chamber by sequential operation of said gates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 which includes means to supply air under pressure to the space between said gates to purge gases therefrom which enter the space when the lower one of said gates is opened.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 in which the movement of said valve means is retarded in at least one of the opening and closing directions thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
172 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 which includes first conduit means leading into said first chamber above said charge for the said supply of secondary air, first valve means in said first conduit means, temperature sensing means in the upper portion of said first chamber, and first control means operated by said temperature sensing means and connected in controlling relation to said first valve means and operable to adjust the supply of secondary air to maintain the temperature in said first chamber above said charge below a predetermined maximum, second conduit means opening into said second chamber for the supply of tertiary air thereto, second valve means in said conduit means, detector means connected to receive gases leaving said second chamber and to detect the amount of fuel content therein, and second control means under the control of said detector means and connected in controlling relation to said second valve means and operable to adjust the supply of tertiary air to maintain the said amount of fuel content below a predetermined maximum.
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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |