US331779A - Chaeles j - Google Patents

Description

(No ModeL) G. J. EAMES.

CRBMATION FURNAGE.

No. 331,779. Patented Deo. 8,1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Erica CHARLES J. EAMES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CREMA-rloN-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,779, dated December 8, 1885.

' Application led December 9, 1884. Serial No. 149,854. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. EAMEs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cremation-Furnaces; and I hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figurel is a front elevation showing the end of the retort, the muftle-door, and the induction-pipes for charging the retort with air or oxygen at the close of the process of incineration. Fig. 2is avertical longitudinal section on the line :v fr, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y y, Fig. 2, showing the fines for the products of combustion, Src., which lead to a suitable stack. Fig. 4 is a view of a fire-brick corpse-bed.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of cremation-furnaces, and has for its objects to protect the body during incineration from the direct contact of the dames and products of combustion, so that no extraneous matter may become mingled with the ashes of the subject, to protect the ashes of the subject during the nal stages from the drafts and currents of the furnace proper, so that the same may not be disturbed; to provide means for readily handling the corpse when introducing it into the retort, and for withdrawing and securing the ashes thereof, and to provide means for expediting and insuring complete incinera tion.

To this end it consists in a retort or muffle having perforations in its top, or top and end, above the body-line, said perforations tapering and widest at the outer surface of the retort, so as to maintain more or less pressure in the retort, and in providing a hollowed reclay bed or platform for the support of the corpse within the retort and the reception of the ashes.

There are minor novel details of construction which will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the outer walls of the furnace, within which, just below the crown or arch A', are longitudinal fines a, communicating by ports a with the fire-chamber B,surrounding the retort or mufde-chamber. The longitudinal iues a terminate in vertical fines a,arranged in the rear end wall of the furnace, and these in turn deliver into a common due, n.3, dotted line, Fig. 3, which leads to a suitable stack.

Within the re-chamber B, and spanning the same, are suitable arches, b, or equivalent supports for the retort, and below the same is arranged the grat-e Z1', which may terminate in a dead-plate or closed surface, b2, occupying a space of two or three feet below the front end of the retort or muffle D.

Below then fire-grate b is the ash -pit b3, which has its opening at the rear end of the furnace, (or opposite from the retortdoor,) and saidvopening is closed by a detachable or movable door, c, which can be withdrawn to employ the natural draft of the furnace, or closed to employ an artificial draft or blast," for which purpose the door is perforated and provided with a blast-pipe, C.

In the rear wall of the furnace just above the grate-level is a firing and charging door, E, for introducing fuel and kindling the iire inthe furnace, and at one or more levels above the same are smaller ports c, each closed by an appropriate stopper,which ports may be employed for feeding in additional fuel when a suitable bed of coals has been established on the grate-bars.

The fuel-doors, stoppers, 85o., may be luted np when closed, if desired or found necessary.

D indicates the muffle or retort, which is preferably some nine (9) feet (more or less) in length, of D form, about thirty-six (36) inches Wide at the base, and thirty-two (32) inches in height, and perforated upon its upper surface above the body-line, as at d, and also by preference at its end, as at d. By the term body-line as used herein I mean the plane in which the body rests when in the retort. These perforations are preferably tapering or wider at the outer surface of the retort than at the inner, so as to maintain a pressure within the retort, but at the same time permit IOO the expansion of the gases escaping from the retort, so that they may disperse and mingle With the contents of the fire-chamber and be consumed. I fmd that a diameter for the holes d d of one-eighth to one-fourth inch atthe inner end, and from an inch to an inch and a half at the outer end serves the purpose intended very well. This retort or muffle is set in the furnace, as hereinbefore specified, with its mouth or open end at the opposite end of the furnace from the firing doors, and its mouth is closed by a lid or cover, d2, provided with a peep-hole, d3, through which the interior of the retort can be inspected, and a pipe or port, d4, through which air or oxygen can be admitted or forced into the retort to- Ward the close of the incineration process.

F indicates the corpse bed or platform upon which the subject rests. This bed is formed of Va-slab of fire-clay or othery highly refractory material-soapstone or similar substance- Which will resist high heats,- said slab hollowed upon its upper surface, as at f and having upon its under surface ball-grooves f for the reception of refractoryballs g.

The construction being substantially of the character before specified, the incineration of the subject will be conducted as follows: A fire being built in the fire-chamber and urged either by the direct draft or -a blast until the retort D has reached the proper temperature, the body is placed on the refractory corpsebedand inserted in the retort, being pushed to the inner or perforated end thereof. The cover of the retort is then applied and luted. The gases, &c., liberated and generated Will maintain a limited pressure in the retort D, and, as they gradually escape, Will be thoroughly disseminated through the products of combustion being burned therein, and passing with the Waste and noxious gases through fines a a a3 to the stack. Toward the final stage of the process, which altogether will -not exceed an hour lor an hour and a half duration, air or oxygen may be introduced into the retort through the pipe or port d, which Will not only serve to preserve a pressure in the retort and prevent the influx of products of combustion, but Will furnish the means of completing the incineration, so that the ashes will be of uniform character and color.

v If desired, disinfecting and bleaching gases may be introduced into the retort through the pipe d4; but if there has'been a perfect ineineration of the body, by the means hereinbefore specied, there will be no need of further treatment.

When incineration is completed, the corpsebed F- can be withdrawn Without Waiting for the retort to cool, as is now practiced, the ashes may be gathered from the hollow bed, andthe bed and retort Will be ready for the reception of another subject.

I have herein described the retort as set in a furnace using solid fuel; but it is evident that the retort and its adj uncts can be used in conjunction with furnaces employing gaseous fuel and Siemens regenerator-chambers ,without departing from the spirit of -my invention.

Having thus set forth the nature, operation, and advantages of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a furnace or rechamber, of a cremation-retort having aseries of perforations arranged above the bodyline of the retort, which perforations increase in diameter from the inner to the outer surface of the retort, and deliver into the firechamber, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. .A corpse-bed for cremation-retorts, consisting of a refractory slab hollowed out on its upper surface, substantially yas specified.

3. A corpse-bed for cremation-retorts, consisting of a refractoryv slab hollowed on its upper surface, and having ball-grooves on its under surface, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4,. In a cremation-furnace, the combination, with` a retort or muffle perforated above the body-line, of a corpse-bed consisting of a refractory slab mounted and movable on refractory ball-rollers, substantially as and for the purposes specied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two Witnesses, this 9th day of December, 1884.

CHARLES J. EAMES.

llfitnesses:

F. W. RITTER, Jr., C. J. EAMES, Jr.

Images