Portable combustion apparatus

Claim 2

A combustion apparatus especially adapted to burn low ash, moderately high heat content material such as wood waste products, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing havIng a longitudinal axis and comprising a front portion, a back portion and at least two upwardly reaching side walls, b. said housing having a substantially open top area and providing a first lower combustion zone and a second combustion zone positioned above said first combustion zone in said open top area, c. a first longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate an upper side portion of one of said side walls and arranged to direct a curtain of air laterally and inwardly in a first direction having a substantial horizontal component across said top area into said second combustion zone, d. a second longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate a second upper side portion of said housing and arranged to direct a second curtain of air generally laterally and inwardly across said top area into said second combustion zone in a second direction having a substantial horizontal component generally opposing said first direction, and e. said first and second curtains of air having a velocity sufficient that the curtains interengage at said second combustion zone to form counter rotating intermixing air currents to accomplish substantially complete combustion of said combustion products.

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second air discharge means each extends along at least a substantial length of its related side wall to provide substantially complete air barriers across said open top area on opposite sides of said second combustion zone.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said side walls have upwardly extending wall cooling air passage means interconnecting with said first and second air discharge means, whereby cooling air passing upwardly through said side wall air passages is discharged through said air discharge means to provide said air curtains.

Claim 5

The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein there is for each side wall a structure defining a plenum chamber extending substantially the length of its related side wall at a lower portion thereof and interconnecting with said wall cooling air passages to provide air thereto.

Claim 6

The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said housing comprises a lower grate connecting to said side walls and positioned below said first combustion zone, said grate having air passages therein interconnecting with at least one of said plenum chamber so that air is supplied from said plenum chamber to said grate passages.

Claim 7

The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said grate has air opening means to direct air from said grate passages upwardly through said first combustion zone to enhance burning of said material.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein there is at the lower portion of said housing a grate having bottom through openings to permit an updraft of air through said first combustion zone and to allow passage of ash and other inert residues to the ground surface below, said grate having air passages therein for the flow of cooling air therethrough, and exit openings to discharge the air from said air passages upwardly through said first combustion zone to enhance burning of said material.

Claim 9

The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein there is at the lower portion of said housing structure defining a plenum chamber interconnecting with said grate passages to supply air thereto.

Claim 10

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said side wall means comprises a plurality of connected side wall panels, each of which is made up of a refractory material having an inner face directed to said combustion chamber and an outer face, each of said panels having upwardly extending air passages therein connecting with said first and second nozzle means to supply air thereto, said side panels each having reinforcing means located outwardly of said air passage means so as to maintain said reinforcing means at a temperature substantially below that in said combustion chamber.

Claim 11

A mobile combustion apparatus especIally adapted for on-site burning of low ash, moderately high heat content material such as wood waste products, said apparatus comprising; a. a mobile frame having laterally spaced wheel means for travel; b. a generally hopper shaped housing having a longitudinal axis and comprising a front portion, a back portion and at least two upwardly reaching side walls; c. said housing having a relatively wide substantially open top area, with said side walls slanting downwardly and inwardly to a relatively narrow bottom section, said housing providing a first lower combustion zone and a second combustion zone positioned above said first combustion zone at said open top area; d. a first longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate an upper portion of one of said side walls and arranged to direct a curtain of air laterally and inwardly in a first direction having a substantial horizontal component across said top area into said second combustion zone; e. a second longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate a second upper side portion of the other of said side walls and arranged to direct a second curtain of air generally laterally and inwardly across said top area into said second combustion zone in a second direction having a substantial horizontal component generally opposing said first direction, and f. said first and second curtains of air having a velocity sufficient that the curtains interengage at said second combustion zone to form counter rotating intermixing air currents to accomplish substantially complete combustion of said combustion products.

Claim 12

A mobile combustion apparatus especIally adapted for on-site burning of low ash, moderately high heat content material such as wood waste products, said apparatus comprising; a. a mobile frame having laterally spaced wheel means for travel; b. a generally hopper shaped housing having a longitudinal axis and comprising a front portion, a back portion and at least two upwardly reaching side walls; c. said housing having a relatively wide substantially open top area, with said side walls slanting downwardly and inwardly to a relatively narrow bottom section, said housing providing a first lower combustion zone and a second combustion zone positioned above said first combustion zone at said open top area; d. a first longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate an upper portion of one of said side walls and arranged to direct a curtain of air laterally and inwardly in a first direction having a substantial horizontal component across said top area into said second combustion zone; e. a second longitudinally extending air discharge means located proximate a second upper side portion of the other of said side walls and arranged to direct a second curtain of air generally laterally and inwardly across said top area into said second combustion zone in a second direction having a substantial horizontal component generally opposing said first direction, and f. said first and second curtains of air having a velocity sufficient that the curtains interengage at said second combustion zone to form counter rotating intermixing air currents to accomplish substantially complete combustion of said combustion products.

Claim 13

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein there is at the lower portion of said housing a grate having bottom through openings to permit an updraft of air through said first combustion zone and to allow passage of ash and other inert residues to the ground surface below, said grate being positioned inwardly of and between said wheel means, whereby ash material falling through said grate does not damage said wheel means, said grate having air passages therein for the flow of cooling air therethrough and exit openings to discharge the air from said air passages upwardly through said first combustion zone to enhance burning of said material.

Claim 14

The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein there is at a lower portion of said housing structure defining a plenum chamber interconnecting with said grate passages to supply air thereto, said plenum chamber structure being spaced laterally of said grate means.

Claim 15

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second air discharge means each extends along at least a substantial length of its related side wall to provide substantially complete air barriers across said open top area on opposite sides of said second combustion zone.

Claim 16

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said side walls have upwardly extending wall cooling air passage means interconnecting with said first and second air discharge means, whereby cooling air passing upwardly through said side wall air passages is discharged through said air discharge means to provide said air curtains.

Claim 17

The apparatus as recited in claim 14, said apparatus defining two lower laterally spaced plenum chambers extending substantially the length of said apparatus, and interconnecting with said wall cooling air passages to provide air thereto.

Claim 18

The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said housing comprises a lower grate extending between said side walls and positioned below said first combustion zone, said grate having air passages therein interconnecting with at least one of said plenum chambers so that air is supplied from said plenum chamber to said grate passages.

Claim 19

The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said grate has air opening means to direct air from said grate passages upwardly through said first combustion zone to enhance burning of said material.

Claim 20

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wheRein said side wall means comprises a plurality of connected side wall panels, each of which is made up of a refractory material having an inner face directed to said combustion chamber and an outer face, each of said panels having upwardly extending air passages therein connecting with said first and second nozzle means to supply air thereto, said side panels each having reinforcing means located outwardly of said air passage means so as to maintain said reinforcing means at a temperature substantially below that in said combustion chamber.

Claim 23

The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising directing pressurized air into lower plenum chambers and then upwardly through said wall cooling passage means.

Claim 24

The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising directing pressurized air upwardly through a bottom portion of said first combustion zone to enhance combustion therein.