US1232724A - Garbage-crematory. - Google Patents

Description

R. L. SEELBACH.

GARBAGE CBEMATORY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-24,1913.

Patented July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTUF: flaw/9 f hY .ATT F1 F1 N E. r 23 \MTNEESEEI 21 7 QWM/ fl R. L. SEELBACH.

GARBAGE GREMATORY. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 24-, I913- 1 1 M fy io Patenteu July 10, 19M,

2 3HEETS-SHEET 2 dunkll @TATlEd PANT RUDOLPH L. SEELBACH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GARBAGE-GRENATORY.

nesaraa.

Application filed September 24, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUDOLPH L. SEEL- EACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garbage- Crematories, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a crematory which is more particularly designed for drying and cremating garbage or refuse such as that which is gathered in cities from hotel and domestic kitchens etc. so that the residue may be utilized as fertilizer.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient crematory of this character whereby garbage may be quickly, economically and thoroughly dried or me mated and without emitting any disagreeable odors in the neighborhood in which the crematory is installed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of a garbage crematory embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Figs. 3, 4L and 5 are vertical cross sections taken in the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional front view of the coupling tube whereby the retort or drying and cremating drum and the chimney may be connected or disconnected.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

The garbage to be dried, cremated or treated is delivered into a retort which is movable so as to constantly shift the material therein and the interior of this retort is heated so that the material is thoroughly dried, burned, cremated and pulverized, suitable for fertilization. In its preferred organization this retort is constructed in the form of a hollow drum which turns about a horizontal axis and the wall of this drum preferably tapers from its large central part toward its reduced opposite ends and is preferably built up of such materials that the heat is confined therein and the same will not burn out rapidly by the high temperature which is maintained therein. For this purpose the wall of the retort or drum is preferably constructed of an outer shell 1 of metal such as steel, an intermediate heat insulating layer 2 of asbestos or similar material, and an inner refractory lining 3 such Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July MD, 1 1% 7.

Serial No. 791,532.

as fire brick, fire sand or vitreous material which resists disintegration. The material to be dried, burned and cremated may be introduced into this retort or drum in any suitable manner but preferably through one or more openings formed in the wall thereof each of which is normally closed by a door or lid a which is pivotally connected with the retort and also provided with an outer wall of metal, an intermediate layer of asbestos and an inner lining of fire brick, fire sand or the like, similar to the wall of the retort. As shown in the drawings, three of such. doors are provided on one side of the wall of the retort although a different number may be employed depending upon the size of the retort.

At its front end the retort is closed by a head 5 and at its rear end the same is provided with an outlet for the waste gases and steam and dust or light material which may escape with the gases and steam from the retort. At its rear end the retort is provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange 6 which together with the head at the front end of the same confines the heavier materials within the retort. The escape of materials from the ends of the retort is further checked or prevented by reason of the tapering form of the same from the central to its opposite ends which construction tends constantly to cause the material to move from the opposite ends of the retort toward its central part. The interior of the retort may be heated to a high temperature by various means but preferably by an oil and air burner 7 which projects rearwardly through a central opening 8 formed in the front head of the retort and delivers a flame axially through the retort from the front to the rear end thereof. As the retort turns while loaded with material to be dried and cremated and the burner is in operation, the material is constantly lifted on one side of the retort and permitted to fall through the central part thereof upon the lowermost portion or bottom of the same so that the batch of material is tumbled about in the retort and all parts of the same are thoroughly mixed and exposed to the heat of the flame and the entire mass becomes thoroughly dried out and cremated and reduced to a fine powder in which condition it is suitable for use as a fertilizer for soil.

After the mass of garbage has been thoroughly dried, cremated, mixed and pulverized, the same is removed therefrom and replaced by another batch of garbage which is to be dried and cremated. The removal of the dried and cremated material from the retort may be effected in a variety of ways but this is preferably done quickly, conveniently and economically by bringing the retort to rest while its filling or inlet openings are on the underside thereof in which position it is only necessary to open the lids of these inlets and remove the contents of the retort through the same into a pit 9 or receptacle arranged immediately below the retort.

The retort may be mounted. for horizontal rotation by any approved means, those shown in the drawings being suitable and comprising two pairs of supporting rollers 10, 10 mounted on a suitable frame 11 and engaging with the underside of the peripheral part of the drum or retort at the front and rear ends thereof and on opposite sides of the center of rotation. Longitudinal displacement of the retort on these rollers is prevented by providing the same with annular grooves 12 on its periphery which receive the edges of the supporting rollers.

The rotation of the retort may also be effected by any well known and practical means but it is preferable to employ for this purpose the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise an external gear rim 13 mounted circumferentially on the front end of the retort, a worm shaft 14 journaled transversely in hearings on the front part of the frame 11 and provided with a worm 15 engaging the underside of the gear rim and a motor 16 operatively connected with the worm shaft. This motor is preferably electrically operated although any other type of motor may be employed such as a steam, gas or gasolene engine.

During the operation of drying and burn ing material in the retort a considerable quantity of combustible gas and steam is developed by the heating of the garbage through the medium of the flame of the burner which is ignited by the burner flame and its heating or drying effect added to that of the burner, thereby eff cting a saving of fuel for this purpose. The bulk of the material which is dried and cremated also becomes carbonized while in the retort and remains therein until thoroughly and uniformly reduced to a flaky or finely divided condition.

The non-combustible or waste gases and steam-as well as the fine, light or fluffy material or dust which is generated in the re tort by the drying of the garbage escapes through the outlet at the rear end of the retort. Means are therefore provided for carrying these waste gases and steam into the upper part of the atmosphere so as to avoid any objectionable odors in the vicinity of the machine and means are also provided for removing from these waste gases and steam any fine dust which may have been section or passageway 18 which is adapted to comn'umicate at its front end with the rear end of the retort and an upright section or passageway 19 communicating at its lower end with the rear end of the horizontal passageway and opening at its upper end into the outer atmosphere at a suitable height from the ground. The retort is preferably detachably connected at its rear end with the chimney or stack so that this end of the retort may be uncovered and rendered accessible for the purpose of admitting workmen into the retort for repairing the interior of the same when this becomes necessary. By this means the fire brick, fire sand, vitreous or refractory material which lines the interior of the retort may be conveniently renewed whenever they are burned out and it also permits of readily inspecting the interior of the retort and cleaning the same out. This detachable connection between the retort and the chimney is preferably so constructed that these parts need not be moved relatively to each other and it is preferable for this purpose to employ a coupling tube 20 which is capa ble of horizontal longitudinal movement and guided at its rear end on the chimney by sliding this end to the front part of the chimney fiue while the front end of the coupling tube or pipe is movably supported by means of rollers 21 secured to the underside thereof and running on ;a track 22. The joint between the coupling tube and the retort is preferably made by providing the front end of this tube with an annular rabbeted seat 23 which receives the rear end of the retort. While the parts are thus assembled an uninterrupted or unbroken communication is established between the retort and the chimney but when access is desired to the retort through the rear end thereof this is possible by first moving the coupling tube rearwardly during which movement this tube is guided at its rear end in the front end of the chimney and at its front end on the track and, its rabbetted seat is disengaged from the retort so as to form an entrance space between the same.

As the dust laden gases and steam ass through the fine of the chimney or stac'lcthe dust or fine particles which have been carried along by the gases and steam are removed therefrom, this being preferably accomplished by interposing one or more screens in thepath of the dustladen air,

whereby the gases and steam are permitted to pass through the chimney but the dust separated therefrom. As shown in the drawings, a primary main screen 24; is employed for this purpose which is adapted to be moved transversely from the exterior of the chimney into and out of the path of the gases and steam and dust particles in the horizontal section of the chimney. For this purpose this section of the chimney is pro vided with suitable guideways 25 for receiving the primary main screen. As the dust accumulates upon the primary main screen it falls from the same upon the bot tom of the adjacent part of the horizontal flue section immediately in front of this screen. In order to permit of conveniently removing the dust collected on the bottom portion of the chimney in front of the primary main screen this bottom portion is constructed in the form of one or more trap doors 26 which are normally arranged in a horizontal position to receive the dust from the main screen 24 but which when sulliciently loaded with dust or small particles may be turned so as to discharge this dust into a pit 27 arranged immediately below these trap doors. From this pit the dust may beremoved as desired while the trap doors 26 have been returned to their normal horizontal position and the operation of the machine is continued.

WVhen the primary main screen becomes clogged with dust to such an extent that it is desirable to clean the same in order to maintain the highest efficiency of the apparatus this can be done by temporarily withdrawing this screen by any means laterally from the lower horizontal chimney section and cleaning the meshes of this screen. While the main primary screen is thus temporarily removed from the chimney a primary supplemental screen 28 is employed in the chimney to intercept any dust particles which are carried along with the spent gases .or steam and thereby prevent any such particles from reaching the outer atmosphere. This supplemental screen is arranged in the lower horizontal chimney section in front of the primary main screen and is preferably so mounted that the same can be shifted into an inoperative position while the primary main screen is in operation but can be shifted into an operative position preparatory to removing the primary main screen from the chimney for cleaning purposes. The preferred means for accomplishing this end consists in pivotally mounting the primary supplemental screen upon the horizontal part of the chimney by an aXle or shaft 29 and providing this shaft outside of the chimney flue with a handle 30 so that this supplemental screen can be either turned into a vertical position,.as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, when the same is required for use, or 'into a horizontal position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the same is not required.

In addition to the primary main and sup plemental screens, secondary main and sup plemental screens may be employed for re peating the operations of separating the valuable dust particles from the waste gases and steam before they escape to the atmosphere. This secondary main screen 31 is preferably mounted to slide horizontally into and out of the path of the gases and steam and dust in the vertical rear portion of the chimney by providing this part of the chimney with a horizontal transverse guideway 32 for receiving the secondary main screen, and the secondary supplemental screen 33 is pivotally mounted upon a horizontal shaft 34: within the vertical chimney section immediately below the sec ondary main screen so that this last mentioned supplemental screen may either be shifted into a horizontal position across the chimney flue, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, when the secondary main screen is removed for cleaning purposes, or the second ary supplemental screen may be shifted into a vertical inoperative position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the secondary main screen is in its working position.

Any dust particles which are removed by the secondary main and supplemental screens fall from the latter when a considerable amount has accumulated thereon and are deposited upon the bottom of the chimney flue immediately below the same which bottom is movable and preferably consists of two trap doors 35 which are normally in a horizontal position for receiving the dust from the secondary main and supplemental screens but which can be temporarily turned downwardly for discharging the dust therefrom into a pit 36 immediately below the same. While the doors 35 are in their operative position the dust may be removed from the pit 36 in 'any convenient manner.

The meshes or openings in the primary main and supplemental screens are preferably comparatively coarse while those of the secondary supplemental and main screens are somewhat finer, whereby the work of separating the dust from the spent gases is divided between these screens and a greater opportunity is afforded for thoroughly separating the dust from the waste gases and steam without interrupting the operation of the machine.

During the initial portion of the opera tion of drying a batch of garbage while the same is comparatively wet considerable spent vapors and gases are generated at which time it is desirable to provide a com paratively unobstructed passageway through the chimney to permitthese spent gases and vapors to escape and thus facilitate the drying operation of the material. As the drying operation progresses and gradually less moisture is present in the material, it is desirable to reduce the area of the passageway of the chimney so as to permit of confining the heat within the retort to a greater extent and thus promote the drying operation. This regulation of the passageway through the chimney is preferably eifected by means of a primary damper 37 pivotally supported in the horizontal section of the chimney immediately in rear of the primary main screen and a secondary damper 38 arranged in the vertical portion of the chimney immediately above the secondary main screen. By turning one or both of these dampers so as to obstruct the passageway of the chimney more or less the draft through the chimney may be regulated as required to suit the changing conditions of the material and the heating effect upon the same in the retort. It is therefore possible by this means to dry the garbage thoroughly and thoroughly mix and comminute the mass expeditiously and economically.

For the purpose of enabling the attendant to observe the operation of the retort the chimney is provided with a peek hole or observation opening 39 at the front end of its horizontal portion, which opening is normally closed by a plug 40, as shown in Fig. 1.

If desired, the agitation of the garbage within the drum while heating the same may be facilitated for expediting the cremation and disintegration of the material by providing suitable agitating means within the drum. As shown in the drawings, this is preferably effected by means of one or more agitating rods or bars 41 arranged lengthwise within the drum adjacent to the inner side thereof and each supported at its ends in openings in the head and flange of'the drum and removably secured thereto by screw nuts 42 so that these rods may be re newed when burned out.

This garbage drier or crematory is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, the same has no parts which are liable to get out of order by the rough usage to which the same is likely to be subjected, the same can be operated with the expendistituents and without contaminating the surrounding atmosphere so that no objection can be urged against the installation of this machine in any locality for sanitary reasons.

I claim as my invention:

.1. A garbage crematory comprising a retort having the form of a hollow drum which has its axis arranged V horizontally and which rotates about said axis and which has its ends reducedin diameter while its central part is enlarged, which has a door in the side of its enlarged central part for the introduction of the material to be re duced into the retort and the removal of the same therefrom after it is reduced, and which has its front end practically closed and its rear end practically open the full diameter of the drum, means for introducing a heating agent into the closed end of the drum, and means for delivering the vaporous and gaseous products from the open end of the drum.

2. A garbage crematory comprising a retort having the form of a hollow drum which has its axis arranged horizontally and which rotates about said axis and which has its ends reduced in diameter while its central part is enlarged and which has its front end practically closed and its rear end practically open thefull diameter of the drum, means for introducing a heating agent into the closed end of the drum, a chimney having an inlet at its lower end, and a detachable connection between the open end of the drum and the inlet of the chimney comprising an axially movable coupling tube having one end constructed to slip into said chimney inlet and its other end constructed to slip over the open end of said drum.

lVitness my hand this23rd day of Sep- TI-IEO. L. Porr, ANNA HEIGIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D.'G.

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