Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In an apparatus for treatment of refuse, which apparatus includes a rotatable drum having an inlet end and an outlet end, a perforated drum wall section adjacent the outlet end for separation of refuse pulverized by rotation of the drum, and vane means within said drum at the perforated wall section which direct refuse back toward said inlet end as said drum rotates, the improvement which comprises: a furnace means which is adapted to burn and at least partially consume the non-pulverized refuse which emerges from the outlet end of said drum; means for directing the non-pulverized refuse which emerges from the outlet end of said drum to said furnace means; steam generating means coupled with said furnace means to produce a supply of steam in response to heat supplied by said furnace means; steam turbine means connected with said drum to cause rotation of said drum; and means for directing at least a portion of said steam supply to said steam turbine means to power the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In an apparatus for treatment of refuse, which apparatus includes a rotatable drum having an inlet end and an outlet end, a perforated drum wall section adjacent the outlet end for separation of refuse pulverized by rotation of the drum, and vane means within said drum at the perforated wall section which direct refuse back toward said inlet end as said drum rotates, the improvement which comprises: a furnace means which is adapted to burn and at least partially consume the non-pulverized refuse which emerges from the outlet end of said drum; means for directing the non-pulverized refuse which emerges from the outlet end of said drum to said furnace means; steam generating means coupled with said furnace means to produce a supply of steam in response to heat supplied by said furnace means; steam turbine means connected with said drum to cause rotation of said drum; and means for directing at least a portion of said steam supply to said steam turbine means to power the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said drum has a ring gear mounted thereon and wherein said steam turbine means includes a driven gear in meshing engagement with said ring gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 further including means for directing at least a portion of said steam supply into said drum adjacent the inlet end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing the non-pulverized refuse to said furnace means includes separator means for segregating different types of said non-pulverized refuse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said separator means includes pneumatic separator means for separating said non-pulverized refuse into lighter and heavier constituents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said separator means includes magnetic separator means for separating ferrous and non-ferrous portions of said refuse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 further including comminuting means for reducing the non-ferrous portions into particulate form.