Metering apparatus for incinerator ash pit

Claim 2

In an incinerator including a combustion chamber for burning waste material or fuel, an ash pit extending vertically downwardly from the combustion chamber for the reception and passage therethrough by gravity flow of burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids, and a conveyor mechanism for communicating generally with the bottom of the ash pit for successively removing the burnt materials from the ash pit; the improvement therewith of means positioned generally medially of the ash pit for receiving the burnt solid materials from the combustion chamber and for successively metering the burnt materials to the conveyor mechanism for successive removal from the ash pit to prevent clogging and jamming of the conveyor mechanism, said means comprising: a first set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the ash pit and being fixedly secured at the ends thereof to the sides of the ash pit above the conveyor mechanism; a second set of generally horizonally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the ash pit slightly above said first set of chains; and means for carrying and reciprocating Said second set of chains with respect to said first set of chains for causing the burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped particles to successively work their way through and move between the chains of said first and second sets by moving individual chains away from each other and toward each other through the sagging and flexible construction thereof during the reciprocating action of said second set of chains and thereby successively meter the burnt solid materials to the bottom of the ash pit for reception and successive removal by the conveyor mechanism.

Claim 3

In an incinerator, as set forth in claim 1, in which said chains of said first and second sets are positioned in groups of chains in which each chain of each group is slightly spaced apart from each other and in which each group is spaced a greater distance apart from adjacent groups, and in which said groups of said first and second sets are generally staggered with respect to each other so that the chains of said groups in one of said sets generally covers the spacing between said chains of said groups of the other of said sets when said second set is stationary and not reciprocating.

Claim 4

In a controlled air incinerator, including a combustion chamber having a controlled combustion environment therein for burning waste material or fuel, an ash pit extending generally vertically downwardly from the combustion chamber for receiving therefrom and passing therethrough to the bottom thereof by gravity flow burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural bridging characteristics, and a conveyor mechanism communicating with generally the bottom of the ash pit for successively removing the burnt solid materials therefrom; the improvement therewith of: means positioned generally medially of the ash pit for receiving the burnt solid materials as they pass downwardly through the ash pit from the combustion chamber, for causing bridging and accumulation of the burnt solid materials upwardly therefrom through the ash pit for providing an air barrier within the ash pit to prevent the passage of undesirable air into the controlled environment combustion chamber and a heat barrier against the heat in the combustionn chamber, and for selective actuation for selective metering of the burnt solid materials therethrough and to the bottom of the ash pit for reception by the removal conveyor mechanism to prevent clogging and jamming of the conveyor mechanism; and the ash pit comprising a section extending above said bridging and metering means of less cross-sectional dimensions than the length of said bridging and metering means for aiding in the briding action of the burnt solid materials thereon and a section below said metering means of greater cross-sectional dimensions than said bridging and metering means for aiding in the metering thereof.

Claim 5

In a controlled air incinerator, including a combustion chamber having a controlled combustion environment therein for burning waste material or fuel, an ash pit extending generally vertically downwardly from the combustion chamber for receiving therefrom and passing therethrough to the bottom thereof by gravity flow burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural bridging characteristics, and a conveyor mechanism communicating with generally the bottom of the ash pit for successively removing the burnt solid materials therefrom; the improvement therewith of: means positioned generally medially of the ash pit for receiving the burnt solid materials as they pass downwardly through the ash pit from the combustion chamber, for causing bridging and accumulation of the burnt solid materials upwardly therefrom through the ash pit for providing an air barrier within the ash pit to prevent the passage of undesirable air into the controlled environment combustion chamber and a heat barrier against the heat in the combustionn chamber, and for selective actuation for selective metering of the burnt solid materials therethrough and to the bottom of the ash pit for reception by the removal conveyor mechanism to prevent clogging and jamming of the conveyor mechanism; and the ash pit comprising a section extending above said bridging and metering means of less cross-sectional dimensions than the length of said bridging and metering means for aiding in the briding action of the burnt solid materials thereon and a section below said metering means of greater cross-sectional dimensions than said bridging and metering means for aiding in the metering thereof.

Claim 6

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 2, in which said bridging and metering means comprises a first set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the ash pit and being fixedly secured at the ends thereof to the sides of the ash pit above the conveyor mechanism, a second set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the ash pit slightly above said first set of chains, said first and second sets of chains being so positioned for causing the bridging and accumulation of the burnt solid materials thereon and upwardly through the ash pit, means for carrying and selectively reciprocating said second set of chains with respect to said first set of chains for breaking the bridging of the burnt solid materials in contact with said sets of chains for causing the burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped particles to successively work their way through and move between the chains of said first and second sets by moving individual chains away from each other and toward each otheR through the sagging and flexible construction thereof during the reciprocation action of said second set of chains and thereby successively meter the burnt solid materials to the bottom of the ash pit for reception and successive removal by the conveyor mechanism, and means for selectively actuating said reciprocating means for timed, periodic metering action of said metering means for removal of the burnt solid materials while maintaining an accumulation of burnt solid materials above said bridging and metering means to provide the air barrier.

Claim 7

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 4, in which said chains of said first and second sets are positioned in groups of chains in which each chain of each group is slightly spaced apart from each other and in which each group is spaced a greater distance apart from adjacent groups, and in which said groups of said first and second sets are generally staggered with respect to each other so that the chains of said groups in one of said sets generally covers the spacing between said chains of said groups of the other of said sets when said second set is stationary and not reciprocating.

Claim 8

In a controlled air incinerator including a combustion chamber having a controlled combustion environment therein for burning waste material or fuel, charging means for charging the combustion chamber with waste material or fuel, an ash pit extending generally vertically downwardly from the combustion chamber for receiving therefrom and passing therethrough to the bottom thereof by gravity flow burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural bridging characteristics, and a conveyor mechanism communicating with generally the bottom of the ash pit for successively removing the burnt solid materials therefrom; the improvement therewith of: means positioned generally medially of the ash pit for receiving the burnt solid materials as they pass downwardly through the ash pit from the combustion chamber, for causing bridging and accumulation of the burnt solid materials upwardly therefrom through the ash pit for providing an air barrier within the ash pit to prevent the passage of undesirable air into the controlled environment combustion chamber and a heat barrier against heat in the combustion chamber, and for selective actuation for selective metering of the burnt solid materials therethrough and to the bottom of the ash pit for reception by the removal conveyor mechanism to prevent clogging and jamming of the conveyor mechanism; and means operatively connected with said metering means and operatively connected with and activated by said combustion chamber charging means for initiating a timed cycle of periodic metering action of said metering means for selective removal of the burnt solid materials while maintaining an accumulation of burnt solid materials above said bridging and metering means to provide the air barrier.

Claim 9

In a controlled air incinerator including a combustion chamber having a controlled combustion environment therein for burning waste material or fuel, charging means for charging the combustion chamber with waste material or fuel, an ash pit extending generally vertically downwardly from the combustion chamber for receiving therefrom and passing therethrough to the bottom thereof by gravity flow burnt solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural bridging characteristics, and a conveyor mechanism communicating with generally the bottom of the ash pit for successively removing the burnt solid materials therefrom; the improvement therewith of: means positioned generally medially of the ash pit for receiving the burnt solid materials as they pass downwardly through the ash pit from the combustion chamber, for causing bridging and accumulation of the burnt solid materials upwardly therefrom through the ash pit for providing an air barrier within the ash pit to prevent the passage of undesirable air into the controlled environment combustion chamber and a heat barrier against heat in the combustion chamber, and for selective actuation for selective metering of the burnt solid materials therethrough and to the bottom of the ash pit for reception by the removal conveyor mechanism to prevent clogging and jamming of the conveyor mechanism; and means operatively connected with said metering means and operatively connected with and activated by said combustion chamber charging means for initiating a timed cycle of periodic metering action of said metering means for selective removal of the burnt solid materials while maintaining an accumulation of burnt solid materials above said bridging and metering means to provide the air barrier.

Claim 10

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 6, in which said means for actuating said metering means for timed, periodic metering action of said metering means includes a temperature sensor positioned in the ash pit for deactivating said actuating means and stopping the timed metering action of said metering means in the event the temperature in said ash pit exceeds a predetermined level which indicates that the accumulation of burnt solid materials above said bridging and metering means has reduced to a point where the air barrier and heat barrier provided thereby may be broken.

Claim 11

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 4, in which the incinerator includes a charging means for charging the combustion chamber with waste material or fuel, and in which said means for selectively actuating said reciprocating means of said second set of chains comprises electrical circuit means connected with said reciprocating means of said second set of chains for actuating and deactuating operation thereof, switch Means operatively associated with said combustion chamber charging means for being actuated thereby during a charging operation of the combustion chamber for activating said electrical circuit means and actuating said reciprocating means for said second set of chains, timing means connected in said electrical circuit means for maintaining said electrical circuit means activated for a predetermined period of time after actuation thereof by said charging means switch means and for deactivating said electrical circuit after a predetermined time period to deactuate operation of said reciprocating means for said second set of chains to stop operation of said metering means, and temperature sensing means positioned in the ash pit and connected with said electrical circuit means for deactivating said electrical circuit means after actuation thereof by said charging means switch means in the event the temperature in the ash pit exceeds a predetermined level and indicates that the accumulation of burnt materials on and above said bridging and metering means has reduced to a point in which the air barrier and heat barrier provided thereby may be broken.

Claim 12

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 8, further including adjustable control switch means connected with said sensing means in said electrical circuit means for selectively varying the predetermined temperature level of operation of said temperature sensing means.

Claim 13

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 4, in which said means for carrying and selectively reciprocating said second set of chains comprises a pair of spaced-apart, elongate, generally parallel shafts extending through apertures in opposed walls of the ash pit for back and forth reciprocating linear movement and having opposite ends of said chains of said second set secured thereto for movement therewith, driven mechanical linkage means connected with said shafts for moving said shafts in their linear reciprocating movement, and motor means connected with said mechanical linkage means for driving said mechanical linkage means and being operatively connected with said means for selectively actuating said reciprocating means for being activated thereby for timed, periodic driving of said shafts through said mechanical linkage means.

Claim 14

In a controlled air incinerator, as set forth in claim 10, in which said pair of shafts comprise hollow shafts having a plurality of spaced-apart, generally upwardly directed air nozzle means extending therefrom, and in which a compressed air supply conduit is connected with said shaft for supplying compressed air to the interior of said hollow shafts for passage out of saidi nozzle to supply under fire air up through the ash pit and into the combustion chamber of the incinerator.

Claim 15

In a material handling apparatus having a generally vertically extending, enclosed passageway for the passage by gravity flow of solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural briding characteristics; the improvement of means positioned generally medially of the passageway for receiving the solid materials as they pass downwardly through the passageway for causing bridging and accumulation of the solid materials thereon and upwardly therefrom through the passageway and for selective actuation for successive metering of the solid materials therethrough to the bottom of the passageway, said means comprising: a first set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the passageway and being fixedly secured at the ends thereof to the sides of the passageway; a second set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the passageway slightly above the first set of chains, said first and second sets of chains being so positioned for causing the bridging and accumulation of the solid materials thereon and upwardly through the passageway; and means for carryiNg and selectively reciprocating said second set of chains with respect to said first set of chains for breaking the bridging of the solid materials in contact with said sets of chains for causing the solid materials which may include irregular-shaped particles to successively work their way through and move between the chains of said first and second sets by moving individual chains away from each other and toward each other through the sagging and flexible construction thereof during the reciprocating action of said second set of chains and thereby successively meter the solid materials to the bottom of the passageway.

Claim 16

In a material handling apparatus having a generally vertically extending, enclosed passageway for the passage by gravity flow of solid materials which may include irregular-shaped solids and which have natural briding characteristics; the improvement of means positioned generally medially of the passageway for receiving the solid materials as they pass downwardly through the passageway for causing bridging and accumulation of the solid materials thereon and upwardly therefrom through the passageway and for selective actuation for successive metering of the solid materials therethrough to the bottom of the passageway, said means comprising: a first set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the passageway and being fixedly secured at the ends thereof to the sides of the passageway; a second set of generally horizontally-disposed, sagging, flexible, spaced-apart chains extending across the passageway slightly above the first set of chains, said first and second sets of chains being so positioned for causing the bridging and accumulation of the solid materials thereon and upwardly through the passageway; and means for carryiNg and selectively reciprocating said second set of chains with respect to said first set of chains for breaking the bridging of the solid materials in contact with said sets of chains for causing the solid materials which may include irregular-shaped particles to successively work their way through and move between the chains of said first and second sets by moving individual chains away from each other and toward each other through the sagging and flexible construction thereof during the reciprocating action of said second set of chains and thereby successively meter the solid materials to the bottom of the passageway.

Claim 17

In material handing apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, in which said means for carrying and selectively reciprocating said second set of chains comprises a pair of spaced-apart, elongate, generally parallel shafts extending through apertures in opposed walls of the passageway for back and forth reciprocating linear movement and having opposite ends of said chains of said second set secured thereto for movement therewith, driven mechanical linkage means connected with said shafts for moving said shafts in their linear reciprocating movement, and motor means connected with said mechanical linkage means for driving said mechanical linkage means.

Claim 18

In material handling apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, in which said chains of said first and second sets are positioned in groups of chains in which each chain of each group is slightly spaced apart from each other and in which each group is spaced a greater distance apart from adjacent groups, and in which said groups of said first and second sets are generally staggered with respect to each other so that the chains of said groups in one of said sets generally covers the spacing between said chains of said groups of the other of said sets when said second set is stationary and not reciprocating.