US3682115A

US3682115A - Portable disposal apparatus for combustible waste and refuse

Info

Publication number: US3682115A
Application number: US89294A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elbert A Rodgers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-11-13
Filing date: 1970-11-13
Publication date: 1972-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-08

Abstract

A system for disposing of combustible waste by an apparatus which may be vehicle mounted for movement over the terrain to places where combustible waste and refuse is located and the material burned without the necessity of transporting the raw waste and refuse many miles to an incinerator,land fill, or dump. The apparatus is vehicle mounted and has a crusher and chopper associated with a blower to reduce the waste and refuse to a burnable mass which is directed into a perforate receptacle within a combustion chamber, and, after igniting with an auxiliary fuel, the unburned gases are withdrawn from the combustion chamber and directed through burners to sustain combustion by burning the products of combustion which have not been fully consumed, which products of combustion are condensed to remove oils and tars and the gas therefrom is directed back into the combustion chamber to sustain combustion and to nullify the odoriferous gases. The residual tars, oils, and condensed liquids are removed from the condenser tanks from time to time.

Description

United States Patent Rodgers [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] PORTABLE DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTIBLE WASTE AND [57] ABSTRACT REFUSE A system for disposing of combustible waste by an ap- Inventor: Elbert A. Rodgers, 4520 Spencer paratus which may be vehicle mounted for movement Dr., Wichita Falls, Tex. 76308 over the terrain to places where combustible waste and refuse is located and the material burned without [22] Filed 1970 the necessity of transporting the raw waste and refuse [21] Appl. No.: 89,294 many miles to an incinerator,land fill, or dump. The

apparatus is vehicle mounted and has a crusher and chopper associated with a blower to reduce the waste "110/8 8 and refuse to a bumable mass which is directed into a o n a [58] Fleld of Search .,.1 10/7, 8 R, 8 A, 8 Ci llgllCg, and after igniting with an auxiliary fuel the unburned v gases are withdrawn from the combustion chamber and directed through burners to sustain combustion by [56] Reterences cued burning the products of combustion which have not UNITED STATES PATENTS been fully consumed, which products of combustion are condensed to remove oils and tars and the gas 3,371,629 3/1968 Engdahl et al ..1 10/8 therefrom is directed back into the combustion g g 'g g chamber to sustain combustion and to nullify the ran 6 'Ih 1 tars, d

3,357,380 12/1967 Siracusa ..110/s ems gases e S Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Attorney-Wayland D. Keith l t t 1. II n mlllllllllllllllln I 1/ "i llllllllll.\lllllllll-nllllllllllll densed liquids are removed from the condenser tanks from time to time.

9Clains,8DrawingEgures PATENTEDAus 8 1912 SHEU 1 BF 2 illllllllrllll I,

minimum $NVENTOR ELBERT A. RODGER S FIG 2' HIS AGENT PmNTEUAus 8 I972 3,682.1 l5

SHEETZUFZ lNVENTOR ELBER T A, RODGERS HIS AGENT PORTABLE DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTIBLE WASTE AND REFUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a self-contained, vehicle mounted system for shredding, crushing and chopping combustible waste into an easily bumable mass, blowing this mass into a perforate combustion chamber for processing into ash, with a portion of the gaseous products being condensed into usable oils, tars and liquids with the uncondensed portion of the gas being used as fuel to promote combustion after the burners have been initially ignited. It is desirable to provide a portable system for disposing of combustible waste and refuse, which is substantially self-contained, the products of combustion produce a minimum of pollution and also minimize the amount of residual matter to be disposed of. Heretofore, it has been diflicult to provide an effective system for disposal of combustible waste and refuse at the place where such material is received, or within a local zone where the material may be brought, and then the unit moved to another zone for collection of the combustible waste and refuse, and maintain the apparatus within a size that is readily movable.

The disposal of combustible waste and refuse has long been a problem, and various devices have been proposed for this purpose heretofore; however, it is believed that the present apparatus overcomes many of the difficulties encountered in the prior art, due to the simplicity of construction of the present unit, and to the self-sustaining of the combustion, once the unit is put into operation.

Prior Art The following US. Pat. Nos. are from the prior of which the applicant is aware:

2,862,462 Brandt et al. Dec. 2, 1958 2,961,977 Coleman Nov. 29, 1960 2,977,903 Purdy Apr. 4, I961 3,37l,629 Engdahl et al. Mar. 5, 1968 3,503,347 Marr, Jr. Mar. 3 l, 1970 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device provides a portable apparatus to reduce combustible waste and refuse to gas, oils, tars, liquid, ash, and to nullify odoriferous gases, which apparatus has a shredder to prepare the material for controlled combustion in a combustion chamber. This chamber is initially fired by an auxiliary fuel until the gas from the material being directed into the combustion chamber is burned, thereby producing gas to sustain combustion to enable the combustible waste and refuse to be reduced to gas, oils, tars, liquids and residual ash, the oils, tars. The liquids are condensed from pas passing through condensers from the combustion chamber. The gas is used by the burners in the combustion chamber, with the resultant ash being disposed of through grates and the oils, tars and liquids being drained off for future refining and use.

The gas being discharged from the combustion chamber is refined in condensers and directed through the burners into the heated combustion chamber to nullify the odors of the odoriferous gas. The heavy solids are diverted into a chamber without passing into the combustion chamber.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a portable disposal apparatus for combustible waste and refuse which may be moved from place to place to gather combustible materials and reduce the material to ash, condense gas into oils and tars and other liquids, and to use the refined gas as a fuel to produce combustion within the combustion chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable system for the disposal of combustible waste and refuse which system has a shredding, crushing and chopping arrangement to prepare the combustible material for quick combustion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable disposal system for combustible waste and refuse wherein the apparatus may be operated with a minimum of personnel, whether on location or moving from place to place.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable disposal system for combustible waste and refuse, the combustion chamber of which is protected against damage by the provision of both pressure and suction relief valves.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable apparatus for disposal of combustible waste and refuse, which apparatus is mounted, as a self-contained unit, on a wheeled vehicle.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a portable apparatus for disposal of combustible waste and refuse, which, during the operation thereof, nullifies odoriferous gases and reduces the combustible material to ash, oils, tars and liquids with a minimum of the gases escaping into the atmosphere as a pollutant.

A final object of the invention is to provide a portable unit for collection and disposal of combustible waste and refuse which is simple in construction, low in the cost of manufacture and operation, and which is easy and efl'ective to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a vehicle, showing a waste and refuse disposal apparatus, for combustible material, mounted thereon, with parts broken away and with parts shown in section to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. I, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pressure and suction relief valve as viewed from 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a rear end elevational view of the vehicle mounted waste and refuse disposal apparatus, with parts broken away and with parts shown in section to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a front view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the waste and refuse disposal apparatus, the vehicle wheels not being shown;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the shredder, the chipper, and

the blower fan associated therewith, and showing a heavy waste disposal valve mechanism with a chamber a receive the heavy waste, such as metal, glass and the FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2, of a suction-blower arrangement for removing obnoxious pollutants from the combustion chamber and the discharge of these through the burners, and to dirgct combustible gases into the combustion chamber; an

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of the chamber of the waste and refuse disposal apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral l designates generally a vehicle, such as a truck, trailer or the like, on which the waste and refuse disposal apparatus, designated generally at 2, is mounted. The waste and refuse disposal apparatus is self-contained on the vehicle, and the various electrical motors, associated with the operation of the unit, are powered either from the vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted, or, if on a trailer, from the tractor or truck which pulls the apparatus.

The apparatus 2 has an elongated housing to form a substantially closed, rectangular chamber 4, which, in the present instance, has a rounded top 6 to form a receiving chamber for the waste and refuse directed thereinto for combustion, therein.

The vehicle 1 has a platform 8 extending rearwardly of the housing 4, on which platform a crusher, chopper and blower unit, designated generally at 10, is mounted, such as the brush chipper and blower used by many municipalities and tree eradicators, one of which is the Mitts and Merrill brush chipper. This unit 10 shreds, crushes and chops the material which is introduced into hopper 12, where the lighter shredded material is blown upward through conduit 14 into the upper portion of the housing 4, which forms the combustion chamber.

The shredder and blower unit 10 is powered by an electric motor 16 which drives the shredder and blower to create a suction on the hopper 12. The air and the lighter waste and refuse are discharged upward through conduit 14, with the heavier solids, such as metal, glass, and the like, falling downward into chamber 18 when the diverter valve 20 is in the position as shown in full outline in FIG. 6. The chamber 18 has doors l9 thereon, when the diverter valve 20 is in the position shown in full outline in FIG. 6. Normally, when the blower fan is not in operation, the diverter valve 20 will be in the position shown in full outline in FIG. 6, and will yield sufficiently, as shown in dot-dash outline in FIG. 6, to allow air, waste and solids to pass upward thereby, however, when the heavy solids fall onto diverter valve 20, they will be diverted into chamber 18. The diverter valve 20 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 21 and a weighted lever 22 extends outward from the shaft 21 to allow the diverter valve to be opened in accordance with the pressure exerted thereon and to drop into seated position, as shown in FIG. 6, when the blower 10 is inoperative. However, the counterweighted lever 22 may be moved to the position as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1 to maintain the valve in open position, if desired.

The conduit 14 enters the upper portion of housing 4 to direct the waste and refuse over the area of the combustion chamber, when the blower and chopper unit 10 is in operation and the

diverter valves

20 and 24 are open. The diverter valve 24 may be used to selectively direct the refuse throughout the length of the housing 4, and when the housing is charged, the diverter valve 24 is moved to the position as shown in FIG. 1, by counterweighted lever 26, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8. A lever 26 is pivotally mounted on axis 28 on the lower portion of housing 4, which lever is pivotally connected to a linkage 30 which pivotally connects to a bell crank 32, which bell crank is pivotally mounted on shaft 34 on the rear end of housing 4. The bell crank 32 connects with a linkage 36 which pivotally connects to lever 38 to rotate shaft 40, which shaft is pivotally mounted in the upper portion of housing 4 and on which shaft 40 is mounted a diverter valve 24 to close the upper end of conduit 14, when in one position and to open the upper end of the conduit, when in another position. The diverter valve may be regulated to divert the combustible refuse into a perforate receptacle, designated generally at 42, which receptacle is formed by perforate plates 44-44 and 4646, which are spaced inward from the end walls and side walls of housing 4.

Supports 51 are mounted on the floor 50 of housing 4 and support a perforate grate 48, which grate closes the lower end of the receptacle 42, either by being in abutting relation with or being welded to plates 44-44 and 4646, which perforate grate is spaced upward from the floor 50 of the housing 4 so as to form a plenum 49 into which the ash is sifted through perforate grate 48, also the plenum 49 may serve to direct air thereinto and through ventilation openings 52 in clean-out door 54.

The clean-out door 54 is hinged at 56 and has a latch 58 to normally maintain the door in closed position, however, the outer portion of the door 54 has a longitudinally movable portion 60, which portion 60 has openings 62 formed therein to register with openings 52, when in one position, and to be out of register with openings 52 when in another position, which will close openings 52. The door portion is slidable between guide rails 64 and may be moved by an outwardly extending projection 66 which is attached thereto. When the door 54 is open, access is had below the grate 48 to remove the ash from plenum 49 and through opening 47 to remove the noncombustible material from the upper side of the grate 48. While the grate 48 is shown to be perforate, it is to be understood that this is representative of a grate, and any conventional grate may be used, such as a mechanically actuated dumping grate, such as shown in the patent to Engdahl et al., US. Pat. No. 3,371,629. Furthermore, the floor 50 of housing 4 may have an opening in the lower portion thereof, which is closed by a door, which door may be opened and closed to drop the ash from the plenum 49 in a conventional manner, such as shown in the patent to Marr, Jr. et al., US. Pat. No. 3,503,347. This construction is considered conventional and not part of the invention, so neither the mechanically actuated grate or the ash dumping door has been illustrated.

The housing 4 has burners 68 extending through each longitudinal side thereof and through the perforate plates 46-46 on each side of the receptacle 42 in sufficient number to provide sufficient heat to consume the combustible material within the perforate receptacle 42. The burners 68 are of the tube type, and are open to atmosphere exterior of the walls of the housing 4, and as the fluid being used as fuel passes through pipes 70, inward from auxiliary fuel tank 72 through line 74 and valve 76 to initially ignite the combustible waste within receptacle 42. After the initial ignition by auxiliary fuel, such as butane or propane, the valve 76 may be closed and the blower 78 started, which will withdraw by suction combustible gaseous fluid from the chamber within housing 4 through pipe 80, check valve 82, and through condenser tank 84, and with the pipe 80 extending below the surface 86 of a liquid therein, the gases discharging from chamber of housing 4 will be condensed and most of the odor therefrom will be absorbed in the liquid with the uncondensed gas flowing outward through pipe 88 and downward into a second condenser or scrubber tank 90, below the level of liquid 92 therein, with the second liquid bath condensing additional liquid from the gases flowing therethrough, with the residual gas passing upward and into pipe 94 and into the suction side of blower 78, which blower is driven by motor 79 to direct the gas therefrom through check valve 96 into pipe 98 which connects with pipe 70 which leads to burners 68, which burners are arranged in staggered relation on each side of housing 4. The gas outlet in the burners is directed toward the respective discharge ends 69 of burners 68 into receptacle 42, which arrangement will cause oxygen laden air to be drawn into the open end of the burners, which is exterior of the housing 4. A liquid level gauge 87 is provided on the condenser tank 84 to determine the liquid level within the tank 84 and a liquid level gauge 91 is provided on condenser tank 90 to determine the level of the liquid 92 therein.

A temperature gauge 100 is provided exterior of housing 4 with the thermocouple element 102 extending into the receptacle 42 so the temperature within the combustion chamber may be readily determined.

A pressure gauge 104 is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber within housing 4, which chamber is such that a pressure may be maintained thereon, when desired.

A vacuum release valve 106 is provided in the upper portion 6 of housing 4, which valve has a perforate ear 108 thereon through which a shaft 110 extends to pivotally mount the valve for swinging action. A torsion spring 112 surrounds the shaft 110 and is in bearing relation with the stationary portion of the upper portion 6 of the housing 4, so as to urge the valve 106 into seated engagement with gasket 114. While a substantial clearance is shown between the valve 106 and shaft 110, FIGS. 1 and 3, for the sake of clarity in showing the operation of the valve and the spring, it is to be understood that this is not drawn to scale, as the valve is in relatively tight fitting relation within the openings 116 in the neck 1 18 which extends above the upper portion 6 of the housing 4. The valve 106 is spring loaded to maintain the valve closed until a predetermined vacuum is exerted within chamber of housing 4, at which time the valve will swing downward, as indicated in dot-dash outline in FIG. 1, so in event of sudden chilling of housing 4, as by rain or snow, the walls of the housing 4 will not be collapsed, due to a partial vacuum being formed within the housing.

A pressure relief valve 120 is fitted within neck 118 on the upper portion 6 of housing 4 and is pivotally mounted on the common shaft 110, with the vacuum release valve 106, and a torsion spring 122 surrounds shaft 110, with one end of the spring being in bearing relation with the portion 6 of the housing 4 and the other end of the torsion spring 122 being in bearing relation with pressure relief valve 120 to urge the valve 120 into closed position, as shown in full outline in FIGS. 1 and 3, with a gasket 124 being positioned intermediate the valve 120 and an outstanding shoulder 126 of the neck 118. Upon pressure in housing 4 reaching the maximum operating pressure, the tension of torsion spring 122 will permit the valve to be opened, as shown in dot-dash outline, FIG. 1, to permit gas to escape from the housing 4.

The heat of combustion in chamber 42 is so controlled, by the heat generated by burners 68, which heat is controlled by

valves

24, 106, 120 and air admission openings 52 in the dcmr 54 in the lower portion of the shell 4 that waste and refuse gives off the maximum amount of gas before final consumption reduces it to ash. The temperature and pressure indicators permit the heat and pressure to be controlled in a series of heating steps to yield the greatest amount of usable gas with the least pollutants.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE The present disposal device for combustible waste and refuse is mounted on a wheeled vehicle 1, and if on a truck, is driven from place to place, or if a trailer, is pulled by a tractor to the place where combustible refuse or waste is to be disposed of. The device may be positioned in a central location for a desired period and the combustible waste and refuse is brought to the device for disposal of the material in a particular vicinity. The unit may then be moved to another area to dispose of waste and refuse, as the device is completely portable and independent of any auxiliary facility.

With the combustible refuse and waste disposal device moved to a location where it is desired to dispose of waste and refuse, the material to be consumed by the device is directed into hopper 12 and through the crusher, chopper and blower into conduit 14, where the light weight combustible material is directed into the receptacle 42 and spread evenly thereover by diverter valve 24 until the receptacle 42 is sufficiently charged to start the burning operation. The diverter valve 24 is then closed, or partially closed, and the crusher, chopper and blower is turned oft", and the valve 76 is opened to direct gas or other suitable fuel from tank 72 into burner 68 and with the burners 68 ignited and with the combustion started within the chamber of housing 4, the motor is started to operate the blower 78, which will withdraw unconsumed products of combustion from the chamber of housing 4 below the liquid level 86 with the gas passing out through pipe 88 below the liquid level 92 in condenser tank and with the gas passing upward through pipe 94 into suction side of blower 78, the gas will be directed through check valve 96 and pipe 98 into pipe 70 and be discharged outward through jets in burners 68 in the direction of combustion chamber in receptacle 42 and with the combustion started, the valve 76 is closed.

With combustion taking place within the combustion chamber of housing 4, additional combustible material may be injected from time to time to promote the combustion by introducing the material through hopper 12 and crusher, chopper and blower until the combustion chamber is fully charged, whereupon, the diverter valve 24 may be closed, or partially closed, and the same repeated until all the combustible material is disposed of. The heavy solids, which are noncombustible, will be too heavy to be discharged through conduit 14 by air pressure from blower unit 10, therefore, this heavy .material will drop downward and be diverted into chamber 18 by diverter valve 20. When the chamber 18 is filled with noncombustible material, doors 19 may be used for removing the noncombustible material therefrom.

If there is an excessive expansion of gas the excess gas will be discharged through pressure relief valve 120, however, it is proposed that the pipe 80 be of sufficient size to remove all the gases from the combustion chamber within housing 4, as rapidly as they are created and directed through the

condenser tanks

84 and 90 to condense the greater portion of these gases, to remove the oils, tars and liquids therefrom. Odors from gases are, for the most part, removed, and the gas is directed back into the combustion chamber where it is reburned to furnish fuel for combustion and to nullify substantially all odor therefrom. The oils, tars and liquids are removed periodically from the condenser tanks through

outlets

85 and 89 respectively.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, which includes;

a. directing combustible waste and refuse into a chopper and shredder,

b. directing the chopped and shredded waste and refuse through a conduit into a perforate combustion chamber until the chamber is charged to a predetermined capacity,

c. providing burners in the combustion chamber,

1. providing a conduit between the combustion chamber and the burner,

d. igniting the refuse in the combustion chamber,

e. directing flammable gas to the burner within the combustion chamber to promote and sustain combustion therein,

f. discharging ash from the combustion chamber,

g. providing at least one condenser tank,

1. condensing a portion of the gas into a liquid within said condenser tank, and

2. maintaining the liquid level the condenser tank above the discharge end of the conduit leading from the combustion chamber.

2. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 1; including the step of a. directing flammable gas from the combustion chamber into the condenser tank.

3. A method of reducing waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 1; including the steps of v a. providing a scrubber tank,

1. providing for fluid communication between the scrubber and condenser tanks,

b. exerting a suction on the scrubber and condenser tanks to withdraw flammable gas therefrom.

4. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 1; including the step of a. directing flammable gas from the combustion chamber into the burners within the combustion chamber to promote and sustain combustion therein.

5. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 1, and including the steps of a. providing at least two condenser tanks connected in series relation within the conduit leading from the combustion chamber to the burner,

l. condensing a portion of the gas intoa liquid within the condenser tanks, 2. 2. maintaining the liquid level within the condenser tanks above the discharge ends of the conduit leading from the combustion chamber, and

b. withdrawing liquid from the condenser tank to maintain a predetermined liquid level within the condenser tanks.

6. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 5; including the step of a. directing flammable gas by suction into the conduit leading from the upper portion of the condenser tank and directing the flammable gas therefrom under pressure into a conduit leading to the burner.

7. A vehicle mounted apparatus for disposal of solids and reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and gas, which apparatus comprises;

a. a wheeled frame,

b. a substantially closed housing mounted on said wheeled frame,

c. perforate plates mounted within said housing to form the sides of and a bottom for a combustion chamber,

d. a shredder, chopper and blower mounted on said wheeled frame,

1. a hopper to receive waste and refuse, which hopper is connected with said shredder, chopper and blower, in transfer relation,

2. a conduit leading from said shredder, chopper and blower to the upper portion of said housing and in fluid communication therewith,

3. a trap associated with said conduit to receive heavy solids thereinto,

4. a valve associated with the discharge end of said conduitfor controlling the discharge of waste and refuse into the perforate combustion chamber of said housing,

e. at least one burner passing through said housing and through one of said perforate plates into said combustion chamber to create heat therein,

f. a fuel conduit connected to said burner,

l a fuel supply connected to said fuel conduit,

2. a control valve within said fuel conduit to control the supply of fuel to said burner,

g. a condenser tank mounted on said wheeled frame,

h. a gas pipe leading from the upper portion of said housing into said condenser tank,

1. said condenser tank adapted to be filled with a liquid to a level above the discharge end of said gas pipe,

2. a gas discharge pipe leading from the tion of said condenser tank, and

3. a valve in the lower portion of said condenser for withdrawing liquid from said condenser 8. A vehicle mounted apparatus as defined in claim 7; wherein a. a vacuum relief valve is mounted on said housing and is in fluid communication therewith,

b. a pressure relief valve is mounted on said housing and is in fluid communication therewith, and

c. a suction device is connected to said gas discharge pipe leading from the upper portion of said condenser tank for withdrawing gas therefrom and directing the gas into a gas pipe connected to said fuel conduit leading to said burner.

9. A vehicle mounted apparatus as defined in claim upper por- 7; wherein a. said perforate plate forming the grate in said combustion chamber is spaced upward from the bottom of said housing to form an ash receiving chamber therebelow,

1. said perforate plates, which form the sides of said combustion chamber, being spaced inward from the sides of said housing,

b. at least one door on said housing, which door, when open, will give access into the combustion chamber above said perforate grate and into said ash receiving chamber below said grate,

c. said door having openings formed therein for admitting air into said housing, above and below said grate, when said door is closed, and 1. closure means associated with said door to selectively regulate the amount of air admitted through said openings in said door into said housing.

Claims

1. A method of reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, which includes; a. directing combustible waste and refuse into a chopper and shredder, b. directing the chopped and shredded waste and refuse through a conduit into a perforate combustion chamber until the chamber is charged to a predetermined capacity, c. providing burners in the combustion chamber, 1. providing a conduit between the combustion chamber and the burner, d. igniting the refuse in the combustion chamber, e. directing flammable gas to the burner within the combustion chamber to promote and sustain combustion therein, f. discharging ash from the combustion chamber, g. providing at least one condenser tank, 1. condensing a portion of the gas into a liquid within said condenser tank, and 2. maintaining the liquid level within the condenser tank above the discharge end of the conduit leading from the combustion chamber.

2. maintaining the liquid level within the condenser tank above the discharge end of the conduit leading from the combustion chamber.

2. a control valve within said fuel conduit to control the supply of fuel to said burner, g. a condenser tank mounted on said wheeled frame, h. a gas pipe leading from the upper portion of said housing into said condenser tank,

2. a gas discharge pipe leading from the upper portion of said condenser tank, and

3. a trap associated with said conduit to receive heavy solids thereinto,

3. a valve in the lower portion of said condenser tank for withdrawing liquid from said condenser tank.

3. A method of reducing waste and refuse to ash, liquid and flammable gas, as defined in claim 1; including the steps of a. providing a scrubber tank,

4. a valve associated with the discharge end of said conduit for controlling the discharge of waste and refuse into the perforate combustion chamber of said housing, e. at least one burner passing through said housing and through one of said perforate plates into said combustion chamber to create heat therein, f. a fuel conduit connected to said burner,

7. A vehicle mounted apparatus for disposal of solids and reducing combustible waste and refuse to ash, liquid and gas, which apparatus comprises; a. a wheeled frame, b. a substantially closed housing mounted on said wheeled frame, c. perforate plates mounted within said housing to form the sides of and a bottom for a combustion chamber, d. a shredder, chopper and blower mounted on said wheeled frame,

8. A vehicle mounted apparatus as defined in claim 7; wherein a. a vacuum relief valve is mounted on said housing and is in fluid communication therewith, b. a pressure relief valve is mounted on said housing and is in fluid communication therewith, and c. a suction device is connected to said gas discharge pipe leading from the upper portion of said condenser tank for withdrawing gas therefrom and directing the gas into a gas pipe connected to Said fuel conduit leading to said burner.

9. A vehicle mounted apparatus as defined in claim 7; wherein a. said perforate plate forming the grate in said combustion chamber is spaced upward from the bottom of said housing to form an ash receiving chamber therebelow,