US3785303A

US3785303A - Portable debris incinerator

Info

Publication number: US3785303A
Application number: US00285030A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Hopkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-30
Filing date: 1972-08-30
Publication date: 1974-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-15

Abstract

A portable incinerator for use in burning debris, for example, obtained in right-of-way clearing operations, has an incinerating region vertically enclosed by a pair of sidewalls and end walls in a rectangular configuration. The container is mounted on a pair of hollow skids which are longitudinally divided into two air channels. The longitudinal sidewalls of the container are formed from two spaced-apart plates which form an air passage. The upper end of the outer plate is open to form an air inlet. The bottom end of the air passage communicates with one of the fluid channels in the skids. Air is drawn through the sidewalls from the top into the first fluid channel in the skids by a fan operably connected to the skid channel. Feed air is supplied to the incinerator through ports in the skids adjacent the bottom of the sidewalls, which ports communicate with the second air channel in the skids. The exhaust from the fan supplies the feed air to the skid channels. The fan exhaust air is also directed to a pair of plenums mounted on top of the sidewalls. These manifolds have ports which direct a curtain of air over the top of the container to prevent smoke and ash from rising out of the container. The fan is mounted adjacent one of the end walls, which is constructed from three parallel spaced plates. The spaces between the three plates form two manifolds for the intake and exhaust from the fan.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Hopkins Jan. 15, 1974 PORTABLE DEBRIS INCINERATOR [76] Inventor: Henry R. Hopkins, 7201 92nd St., SE, Merder Island, Wash. 98040 22 Filed: Aug. 30, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 285,030

[52] US. Cl 110/8 R, 110/19, 110/119 Primary ExaminerKenneth W. Sprague Attorney-Christensen & Sanborn [57] ABSTRACT A portable incinerator for use in burning debris, for example, obtained in right-of-way clearing operations,

has an incinerating region vertically enclosed by a pair of sidewalls and end walls in a rectangular configuration. The container is mounted on a pair of hollow skids which are longitudinally divided into two air channels. The longitudinal sidewalls of the container are formed from two spaced-apart plates which form an air passage. The upper end of the outer plate is open to form an air inlet. The bottom end of the air passage communicates with one of the fluid channels in the skids. Air is drawn through the sidewalls from the top into the first fluid channel in the skids by a fan operably connected to the skid channel. Feed air is supplied to the incinerator through ports in the skids adjacent the bottom of the sidewalls, which ports communicate with the second air channel in the skids. The exhaust from the fan supplies the feed air to the skid channels. The fan exhaust air is also directed to a pair of plenums mounted on top of the sidewalls. These manifolds have ports which direct a curtain of air over the top of the container to prevent smoke and ash from rising out of the container. The fan is mounted adjacent one of the end walls, which is constructed from three parallel spaced plates. The spaces between the three plates form two manifolds for the intake and exhaust from the fan.

23 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to burning devices and more particularly to an incinerator employing an air curtain, force fed oxygenating air, and air cooled walls.

Objects of the present invention are to provide: an incinerator with air cooled sidewalls; an incinerator with an air curtain for preventing escape of smoke and hot ash and for promoting complete combustion of debris in the incinerator; an incinerator with removable end panels suitable for modular interconnection of a plurality of incinerators, an incinerator which feeds oxygenating air to the burning debris; an incinerator which incorporates intake and exhaust plenums into the container structure; an incinerator which employs a water nozzle to assist in preventing hot ash from escaping the container; an incinerator with an air cooled, debris supporting grating; and an incinerator employing auxiliary heat exchangers in the walls for increasing the heat dissipation capacity of the incinerator and also for supplying heat to related activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an incinerator comprising a housing means defining an incinerating region. The housing means includes a wall having a fluid passage therein, a top opening and a bottom structure for supporting material being incinerated. A first means for directing a curtain of air over the incinerator is located adjacent the top opening. A second means.

for admitting oxygenating feed air into the housing means is located in the housing means. A. third means circulates air through the cooling passage in heat exchange relationship with the wall. In one aspect the third means is also capable of directing air from the fluid passage to at least one of the first andsgcond means. In another aspect the housing means also includes means for supporting the housing means for movement over the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present invention can be acquired by reading the ensuing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a pictorial elevation view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in cross-section of one of the inner sidewalls;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along section line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged'cross-sectional view, partially broken away, of the apparatus of the present invention taken along section lines 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken ts sctjqnl t'e.19:19am...

2 FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG 5 taken along section line ll-1I;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a portion of one of the sidewalls showing the installation of an auxiliary heat exchanger; and

FIG. 13 is a pictorial isometric view of the apparatus of the present invention employing an auxiliary heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the incinerator, generally designated 10, includes on a first section supported by skids 12 and a second section supported by skids 14. An incinerating container 16 is mounted on the skids l2 of the first section. The skids 14 support a centrifugal fan 18, an engine 19 to drive the fan, intake duct 20 and exhaust duct 22. The intake and

exhaust ducts

20 and 22 connect with a manifold 24 connected to and supported by the first section including skid 12. The intake ducts 20 connect with a manifold 28 incorporated into the container 16 which draws air through sidewalls 26 of the container 16. This air is utilized for cooling the sidewall 26. The exhaust 'ducts 22 connect with a manifold 24 in turn connected .78 mounted on the top of the sidewalls 26. The plenums 78 contain ports which direct a curtain or air over the top of the container 16 to prevent smoke and hot ash from escaping from the incinerator l0. Debris is supported by a grating 30 incorporated into the container 16,.

In the isometric view of FIG. 3 the fan 18 and engine 19 have been omitted for clarity. The skid 12 of the incinerator 10 is composed of four elongate plates formed into a rectangular cross-section. Since the incinerator is substantially symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal plane, the same reference numbers will be used to describe similar structures on each side of the apparatus. Skids 14 are connected to skids 12 by suitable fastening means and can be constructed to be removable if desired. A plate 34 divides each of the skids 12 into two

fluid passageways

36 and 38. Structural beams 40 and mounted on top of each of the skids 12. An outer sidewall 42 and an inner sidewall 44 are affixed to the upright channels 40. The outer and

inner sidewalls

42 and 44 are spaced-apart and held apart by spacing channels 46. The space between the outer and

inner sidewalls

42 and 44 forms an air passageway 48 along the entire length of height of each of the sidewalls 26. A slot 50 is located in the upper portion of each of the outer sidewalls 42. Slot 50 serves as an air intake for the air passageway 48 in the sidewalls 26. The bottom of the air passageway 48 communicates through openings 52 with passageway 36 in the skids 12.

,Ml. A.- ...v. .i v V V c Manifolds 28 and 24 form part of an end wall struc- The passageway 36 communicates with an opening 54 in the end of skids 12. Opening 54 in turn is in fluid communication with manifold 28 which connects through coupling 56 to the intake ducts 20 of the fan 18 (shown in FIG. 1). Exhaust from the fan 18 is fed from the exhaust duct 22 into opening 60 of manifold ture, generally designated 64. A portion of the fan exhaust enters a lower cham be r 66 of manifold 24 and fold 24 in theend w allfiueture 64. Divider plate 74 serves to split the air fiow entering opening 60 between the lower chamber 66 and an upper chamber 76. The exhaust air from the fan entering the upper chamber 76 of manifold 24 enters a pair of plenums 78 mounted on top of each Bfiii sidewalls 26. The air enters the ple nums 78 through openings 80. A plurality of ports 82 are located in the plenums 78 to direct the pressurized air within the plenums inwardly and at a predetermined angle downwardly from the top of the sidewalls 26. The air flowing from ports 82 will meet substantially in the center of the container 16 to form an air curtain over burning debris within the container.

An end wall 84 joins the far ends of sidewalls 26. The end wall 84 includes a vertical plate closing off the end of the container 16 and a plurality of vertical fins 86. Fins 86 maintain debris a fixed distance from the inner surface end wall 84. Fins 86 will also enhance cooling of the end wall 84. Although not shown, end wall 84 is removably fixed to sidewalls 26 so that additional containers 16 including skids 12 can be joined in a modular fashion to double the capacity of the incinerator.

A plumbing network including a pipe 88 surrounds the top of the container 16. Four nozzles 90 situated at each of the upper corners of thecontainc IQ provide a sp ray of nohfiamniable li duid substantially over the entire top portion of the container 16. The nonflammable liquid is prefereably water supplied through pipe 92 from a suitable source. The water spary serves to hold down the particulate fly ash and other matter which can escape through the air curtain provided by air from the ports 82.

The incinerator is designed so that the air used for cooling the walls of the container 16 is in turn utilized for the air curtain and for oxygenating feed air. Since the air used in cooling the walls of container 16 is heated, it will not have to be heated again before it is fed to the interior of the container 16 as feed air. This results in conservation of energy and more complete burning than could be realized ifa cold air source were utilized for the feed and curtain air.

The material of construction for the preferred embodiment is a high quality steep plate. If desired, a heat resistant paint can be applied to exposed surfaces to prevent rust formation. Because the apparatus is designed to be air cooled, the necessity of using firebrick liners has been eliminated. This decreases the overall weight of the apparatus and likewise significantly reduces maintenance problems.

In the plan and elevation views of FIGS. 4 and 5, the exhaust conduit 22 from the fan 18 connects the opening 60 in the manifold 24. The intake duct ii cludes a riser 96 which connects to a junctionbox 98. JuriEtTon'bbx 08 bastards anadjustable slide valve 100 which can be adjusted from a fully clo sedto a fully open po sition. Riser 96Eoritains a valve 101 which can be adjusted from a closed to an open position to allow direct intake of atmospheric air. The volume of air flowing through the sidewall cooling passageway 48 can be modulated by manual adjustment of valves and 101 to vary the mixture of air from the side walls and from the atmosphere. Junction box 98 connects with another horizontal conduit 102 which connects to the intake port of the fan 18 (FIG. 1). The fan 18 is supported on a pallet 104 in turn supported by the rear skids 14.

A plurality of spaced tubes 106 connect with the skids 12. The interior air passages 108 in tubes 106 communicate with the passageways 38 in the skids 12. The ends 110 of the tubes 106 are alternately tapered in opposite directions so that air from the passageway 38 will pass alternately 7 through the tubes 106 in alternate directionsfhus providihg cooling refine tubes 106. Longitudinal rails 112 rest at right angles on top of tubes 106. Rails 112 support the debris dropped in the container 16 from the top. Mr

As seen in FIG. 6, the tubes 106 and rails 112 provide a grating for burning debris. Preferably, the entire container 16 is positioned over an earthen pit 114 or the like, into which ash from burned debris can drop. Of course, if desired, a plurality of log chains or the like, can be interconnected and positioned under the container 16. These log chains can extend outwardly from under the container 16 so that they can be pulled back and forth, thus providing a means for removing ash from under the container 16.

A fire is started inside the container 16 by first starting the fan to form the air curtain and to feed air to the interior of the container. A suitable flame source is then inserted through tubes 115 mounted in sidewalls 26. A door 116 is pivotally mounted on walls 26 to cover tubsTiS after the fire has been started. Thereafter, the fire is self-sustaining as long as additional fuel in the form of debris is added to the fire.

The constructon of sidewalls 26 can be seen in the cross-section view of FIG. 6. The inner walls 44 are mounted on top of the skid section 12 and are fastened thereto. Likewise, the bottom of the outer walls 42 are spaced from and similarly fastened to the top of skid section 12. The air passageway 48 between the inner and

outer walls

42 and 44 communicates with the slot 50 provided at the upper end of the walls 26. Air is drawn in the direction of arrows 118 downwardly through the sidewalls 26 and into the air passageways 36 in the skids 12.

Air supplied from manifold 24 (FIG. 3) to the air curtain plenums 78 is directed from the ports 82 outwardly between

vanes

120 and 122. Referring to the enlarged view of FIG. 7, the upper vane 120 is fixedly mounted to plenums 78 and is reinforced by flanges 124. The lower vane 122 is pivotably mounted by suitable hinges 126 to the plenums 78. An adjustment bracket 128 allows for an angle variation in the lower vane 122. Bracket 128 is of conventional construction and includes a slotted bar pivotally connected to plenums 78 and a threaded fastener connected to vane 120 and slidably mounted in the slotted bar. Thus air flowing from ports 82 past the

vanes

120 and 122 can be adjusted to flow from a slightly downward angle to a relatively sharp downward angle. The adjustable flow direction of the curtain air allows the depth of the air curtain to be varied depending upon, among other things, the type of material being burned and wind conditions.

The air forced into passageway 38 in skids 12 is ejected from ports 70 formed in theupper and inner side of the skids 12. A deflecting vane 132 directs the air issuing from port 70 in the direction of arrow 130. This assures that oxygenating feed air is directed toward the center of the container 16 to assure full and complete burning of debrisresting on the rails U2.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the fan exhaust conduit 22 is shown connected to the manifold 24 by suitable fasteners 136 at opening 60. Air entering manifold 24 through opening 68 is divided by divider plate 74 and flows into the upper chamber 76 and the lower chamber 66.

The air from the upper chamber 76 flows into the air curtain plenums 78. The air from the lower chamber 66flows into the passageways 38 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which supply the feed air nozales 70. The heated air which flows downwardly through passageways 48 in the sidewalls 26 passes through ports 1136 into the passageway 36 in the skid 12. The air flows via'ssefi'i'ng 54into thei n ani fold 2847675 3665751 16. 6, the divider between

passageways

36 and 38 in the skids 12 is mounted at an angle. A warped plate 138 connects the divider plate 34 with the partition 140 forming part of the opening 68.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIGS. and 11, the construction of the end wall structure 64 is illustrated. The inner wall 142 has on its inner side a plurality of ribs 86 (FIG. 5) similar to the opposite end wall 84. Deflector vanes 114 are suitably mounted to direct the air flow toward the openings 80 in the air curtain plenums 78. The divider plate 74 is horizontally situated and affixed to the inner wall 142. A second set of vanes 148 direct the air flowing below divider plate 74 toward the openings 68 into the passageways 38 of the skids 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, an outer wall 150 forms the outer casing for manifold 24, which communicates with the opening 54 in the top of skids 12 to withdraw air from the passageways 36. The opening 60 admits air from the fan to the upper and

lower chambers

76 and 66 of the manifold 24. The housing 152 which forms opening 60 extends outwardly a small distance from the manifold 24. A slot (not shown) between housing 152 and wall 150 provides a guideway for a gate 154. Gate 154 can be adjusted in the direction of arrows 156 into various positions to modulate the flow through opening 60 into the manifold 24.

Referring now to FIG. 12 an alternate embodiment to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the construction of the container 158 is similar to that previously described, however, the inner wall 160 has formed in it a plurality of vertical slots 162 which are horizontally spaced from each other. Mounted between the inner wall 160 and the outer walls 164 are heat exchanger coils 166. Hot gases from debris burning within container 158 pass through the slots 162 in heat transfer relationship with the heat exchanging coils 166 via inlet and outlet conduits 168 and 170 (FIG. 13). A heat transfer fluid flowing through coils 166 will provide cooling of the walls of the container 158. In this embodiment of the invention, an additional heat exchanger 170 is connected to the inlet and outletconduits 168 and 170. If desired, road oil or other fluid to be heated can be pumped through the heat exchanger 172. Thus, the provision of an auxiliary heat exchanger, such as heat exchange coils 166, provides a dual function, additional and increased cooling for the incinerator and the use of heat which would otherwise be wasted to the atmosphere.

The present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment and an alternate therefor. Those of ordinary skill in the art. after reading the fore going specification, will be able to effect various changes, alternations, and substitutions of equivalents without departing from the original concept of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention be limited only by the definition contained in the apes qei eim What is claimed is:

1. A portable incinerator comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart inner sidewalls, and a pair of spaced-apart end walls connected to said sidewalls vertically enclosing an incinerating region,

a second sidewall spaced outwardly from each of said inner sidewalls to form a passageway therebetween, said second sidewallsjhaving a fluid intake opening located adjacent the top thereof,

a skid mounted under each of said sidewalls, each said skid having a plurality of ports located adjacent said inner sidewalls for directing oxygenating air into said region, each said skid having a first fluid channel therein communicating with each said passageway and a second fluid channel therein communicating with said oxygenating air ports,

a plurality of bars spanning the space between and connected in spaced-apart relationship to said skids,

a plenum mounted on the top of each of said sidewalls having a plurality of ports therein and including vane means for directing a curtain of air from said ports across the top of said incinerating region,

fan means having an exhaust port and an intake port, said exhaust port in fluid communication with each of said plenum and said second fluid channel in each said skid, said intake port in fluid communication with said first fluid channels in each said skid.

2. An incinerator comprising:

housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a wall having a fluid passage therein, a top opening and a bottom structure for supporting material being incinerated,

first means located adjacent said top opening for directing a curtain of air over said incinerating region,

second means located in said housing means for admitting oxygenating feed air into said housing means, and

third means for circulating cooling air through said fluid passage in heat exchange relationship with said wall and for directing air from said fluid passage to at least one of said first and second means.

3. The incinerator of claim 2 further comprising:

fourth means located adjacent said top opening for directing a spray of nonflammable liquid over said supportstriicturel' V 4. The incinerator of claim 3 wherein said fourth means is so constructed in relation to said first means to direct said spray above said curtain of air.

5. The incinerator of claim 2 wherein said wall comprises a pair of spaced sidewalls connected to a pair of spaced endwalls, each of said sidewalls comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced outwardly from said inner wall, said inner and outer walls defining a fluid passage therebetween.

6. The incinerator of claim wherein said third means comprises a fan means having an intake and an outlet, said intake being in fluid communication with Said flu d Pa sa e in ach isaid sidew lls Said a l being in fluid communication with both said first means and said second means to supply air thereto.

7. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises:

plenum means mounted on each of said sidewalls adjacent said top opening, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with each of said plenum means, each of plenum means having a plurality of openings extending in a longitudinal array along said top openings,

a first vane mounted on each of said plenum means above said openings and a second vane mounted on each of said plenum means below said openings, said first and second vanes so constructed in relation to said openings to direct air issuing from said openings above said incinerating region to form said curtain of air, and

means on each of said plenum means mounting one of said first and second vanes for adjustment toward and away from the other of said first and second vanes to vary the height of said air curtain above said region.

8. An incinerator comprising:

housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a pair of spaced sidewalls and a pair of spaced endwalls connected to said sidewalls, a top opening, a first skid mounted under one of said pair of sidewalls and a second skid mounted under the other of said pair of sidewalls, and a bottom structure for supporting material to be incinerated, said bottom structure comprising a plurality of bars spaced from each other and connected to said skids, each of said sidewalls having a fluid passage therein,

second means located in said housing means for directing oxygenating feed air into said incinerating region, and

third means for circulating air through said fluid passages in heat exchange relationship with said sidewalls.

9. The incinerator of claim 8 wherein each skid has a first fluid channel therein, said first fluid channel being in fluid communication with the fluid passage in the respective sidewall under which said skid is mounted, and wherein said third means comprises fan means having an intake and an outlet, said intake being in fluid communication with said first fluid channel in each skid.

10. The incinerator of claim 9 wherein each skid has a second fluid channel therein, said second fluid channel in each skid being in fluid communication with said outlet of said fan means and being in fluid communication with said second means, said fan means thereby capable of supplying said second means with air.

11. The incinerator of claim 10 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of openings in each skid, said openings placing said second fluid channel in each skid in fluid communication with said incinerating region, and a vane so associated with said openings on each skid to direct air from said openings toward said incinerating region.

12. The incinerator of claim 10 further comprising means for supporting said fan means including first and segond sk id eglension members, said fl s t skid extension member mating with an end of said first skid and said second skid extension member mating with an end of said second skid, each skid extension member having third and fourth fluid channels therein, said intake of said fan means being in fluid communication with said first fluid channels through respective one of said third fluid channels, said second channels through respective ones of said fourth fluid second channels through respective ones of said fourth fluid channels.

13. The incinerator of claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said fan means is positioned adjacent one of said endwalls, said one endwall comprising a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced outwardly from said first wall portion, said first and second wall portions defining a fifth fluid channel therebetween, said inlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with said third fluid channels through said fifth fluid channel.

14. The incinerator of claim 13 wherein said one endwall further comprises a third wall portion spaced outwardly from said second wall portion, said second and third wall portions defining a sixth fluid channel therebetween, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with said fourth fluid channels through said sixth fluid channel.

15. The incinerator of claim 8 wherein each of said bars has ends and a passage therethrough, said passage being in fluid communication with said second fluid channels in said skids, each of said bars having means on the ends thereof for directing air from said second fluid channels through said passage in each of said bars.

portable incinerator comprising:

housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a wall having an air passage therein, a top opening, a bottom structure for supporting material in said incinerating region, and means for supporting said housing means for movement over the ground,

third means for circulating air through said passage in heat exchange relationship with said wall.

17. The incinerator of claim 16 wherein said housing means comprises first and second spaced sidewalls connected to a pair of spaced endwalls, said first and second sidewalls each having an air passage therein, said housing means including first and second members forming a portion of said first and second sidewalls, respectively, each of said first and second members having a first air channel therein, said first air channel in said first member being in fluid communication with said air passage in said first sidewall, said first air chan' nel in said second member being in fluid communication with said air passage in said second sidewall, each of said sidewalls having an air intake in fluid communication with said air passage, and wherein said third 7 means comprises a fan means having an intake and an outlet, said intakebe inginfluid communication with each of said first air channels.

18. The incinerator of claim 17 wherein each of said first and second members has a second air channel therein, said second means being in fluid communica- F P hfi dwonqat shawl id m qtpi said fan means being in fluid communication with each said second air channel thereby supplying air from said air passages to said second means.

19. The incinerator of cliam 17 wherein the outlet of said fan means is in fluid communication with said first means thereby supplying air from said air passages to said first means.

20. The incinerator of claim 18 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of spaced apertures in each of said firstand second members, said apertures being adjacent said incinerating region, said second means further comprising a vane so associated with said apertures on each of said members to direct air issuing from said apertures toward said incinerating region 21. The incinerator of claim 17 further comprising valve means associated with said first air channels for adjusting the flow of air therethrough.

22. The incinerator of claim 18 further comprising valve means associated with said second air channels for adjusting the flow of air therethrough.

23. The incinerator of claim 16 further comprising auxiliary heat exchange means mounted in heat exchange relationship with said wall, and means for circulating a heat exchanging fluid through said auxiliary heat exchange means.

3? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 'No. 3,785,303 Dated January 15, 1974 'Inventor(s) Hefiry R. Hopkins It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

F- Claim 12 (Column 8) line 12, "one" should read I --ones--.-

Claim 12 (Column 8) lines 13 through 15 should be deleted and the following substituted therefor -fluid channels, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with said second channels through respective ones of said fourth fluid channels.--

Signed and sealed this 7th day of May 1971;.

(SEAL) Atte st:

EDWARD Z LFLETCI RJR. v C. MARSHALL DAIIN Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A portable incinerator comprising: a pair of spaced-apart inner sidewalls, and a pair of spacedapart end walls connected to said sidewalls vertically enclosing an incinerating region, a second sidewall spaced outwardly from each of said inner sidewalls to form a passageway therebetween, said second sidewalls having a fluid intake opening located adjacent the top thereof, a skid mounted under each of said sidewalls, each said skid having a plurality of ports located adjacent said inner sidewallS for directing oxygenating air into said region, each said skid having a first fluid channel therein communicating with each said passageway and a second fluid channel therein communicating with said oxygenating air ports, a plurality of bars spanning the space between and connected in spaced-apart relationship to said skids, a plenum mounted on the top of each of said sidewalls having a plurality of ports therein and including vane means for directing a curtain of air from said ports across the top of said incinerating region, fan means having an exhaust port and an intake port, said exhaust port in fluid communication with each said plenum and said second fluid channel in each said skid, said intake port in fluid communication with said first fluid channels in each said skid.

2. An incinerator comprising: housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a wall having a fluid passage therein, a top opening and a bottom structure for supporting material being incinerated, first means located adjacent said top opening for directing a curtain of air over said incinerating region, second means located in said housing means for admitting oxygenating feed air into said housing means, and third means for circulating cooling air through said fluid passage in heat exchange relationship with said wall and for directing air from said fluid passage to at least one of said first and second means.

3. The incinerator of claim 2 further comprising: fourth means located adjacent said top opening for directing a spray of nonflammable liquid over said support structure.

4. The incinerator of claim 3 wherein said fourth means is so constructed in relation to said first means to direct said spray above said curtain of air.

6. The incinerator of claim 5 wherein said third means comprises a fan means having an intake and an outlet, said intake being in fluid communication with said fluid passage in each of said sidewalls, said outlet being in fluid communication with both said first means and said second means to supply air thereto.

7. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises: plenum means mounted on each of said sidewalls adjacent said top opening, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with each of said plenum means, each said plenum means having a plurality of openings extending in a longitudinal array along said top opening, a first vane mounted on each of said plenum means above said openings and a second vane mounted on each of said plenum means below said openings, said first and second vanes so constructed in relation to said openings to direct air issuing from said openings above said incinerating region to form said curtain of air, and means on each of said plenum means mounting one of said first and second vanes for adjustment toward and away from the other of said first and second vanes to vary the height of said air curtain above said region.

8. An incinerator comprising: housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a pair of spaced sidewalls and a pair of spaced endwalls connected to said sidewalls, a top opening, a first skid mounted under one of said pair of sidewalls and a second skid mounted under the other of said pair of sidewalls, and a bottom structure for supporting material to be incinerated, said bottom structure comprising a plurality of bars spaced from each other and connected to said skids, each of said sidewalls having a fluid passage therein, first means located adjacent said top opening for directing a curtain of air over said incinerating region, second means located in said housing meaNs for directing oxygenating feed air into said incinerating region, and third means for circulating air through said fluid passages in heat exchange relationship with said sidewalls.

12. The incinerator of claim 10 further comprising means for supporting said fan means including first and second skid extension members, said first skid extension member mating with an end of said first skid and said second skid extension member mating with an end of said second skid, each skid extension member having third and fourth fluid channels therein, said intake of said fan means being in fluid communication with said first fluid channels through respective one of said third fluid channels, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with said second channels through respective ones of said fourth fluid channels.

16. A portable incinerator comprising: housing means defining an incinerating region, said housing means including a wall having an air passage therein, a top opening, a bottom structure for supporting material in said incinerating region, and means for supporting said housing means for movement over the ground, first means located adjacent said top opening for directing a curtain of air over said incinerating region, second means located in said housing means for directing oxygenating feed air into said incinerating region, and third means for circulating air through said passage in heat exchange relationship with said wall.

17. The incinerator of claim 16 wherein said housing means comprises first and second spaced sidewalls connected to a pair of spaced endwalls, said first and second sidewalls each having an air passage therein, said housing means including first and second members forming a portion of said first and second sidewalls, respectively, each of said first and sEcond members having a first air channel therein, said first air channel in said first member being in fluid communication with said air passage in said first sidewall, said first air channel in said second member being in fluid communication with said air passage in said second sidewall, each of said sidewalls having an air intake in fluid communication with said air passage, and wherein said third means comprises a fan means having an intake and an outlet, said intake being in fluid communication with each of said first air channels.

18. The incinerator of claim 17 wherein each of said first and second members has a second air channel therein, said second means being in fluid communication with each said second air channel, said outlet of said fan means being in fluid communication with each said second air channel thereby supplying air from said air passages to said second means.

20. The incinerator of claim 18 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of spaced apertures in each of said first and second members, said apertures being adjacent said incinerating region, said second means further comprising a vane so associated with said apertures on each of said members to direct air issuing from said apertures toward said incinerating region.

21. The incinerator of claim 17 further comprising valve means associated with said first air channels for adjusting the flow of air therethrough.