Improvements in and relating to Destructor Furnaces.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1900-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Destructor Furnaces.
We, JOHN WILKIE, Engineer, and BEAMAN & DEAS, LIMITED, Destructor Manu-
facturers, both of 109, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to destructor furnaces such as may be employed for the
destruction of town's refuse. Its chief objects are to obtain a more complete
combustion of the articles and substances treated; to economise space and
thereby reduce cost; to more fully utilise the heat given out by such a furnace;
and to provide means for charging the fuel or refuse to the hearths without the
necessity of handling.
In carrying these improvements into effect two of the furnaces or cells are
arranged end to end at their firebridge ends, sufficient space being left between
their respective bridges to form a combustion chamber. This chamber is provided
with a lateral or other opening so that the flame, gases, and other products of
combustion may be led out or conducted to a steam generator, or be otherwise
utilised. One steam generator may, if desired, be employed with each pair of
cells.
Several pairs of such cells may be arranged in series, and more than one such
series may be arranged parallel with each other.
A pair of cells constructed as described may be furnished with means or
devices by which it may be isolated at any time from its steam generator. To
enable this to be done the bottom of the combustion chamber may be provided
with or consist of a false bottom or other removable part. Should it be desired
to cut out the steam generator the outlet to it from the combusion chamber
is closed and the false bottom or the like is removed so that the chamber opens
into a suitable flue. Other equivalent devices may be employed for diverting
the flames and the like from the generator and causing them to take another
course.
The hopper by means of which the refuse or fuel is fed to the hearth is in two
parts or consists of two hoppers one above the other. The upper one is adapted
to have the contents of a cart tipped directly into it. Between the two is or are
arranged a door or doors which may be operated in any suitable manner either
when it is desired to permit the passage of material from the upper to the lower
hopper, or when it is desired to cut off such supply. The lower hopper is also
provided at its lower end with a door by means of which its contents may be fed
to the hearth. The upper hopper may be furnished with a screen or with a grid
to prevent bulky articles passing to the lower hopper.
Dated this 22nd day of August AD 1899

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Destructor Furnaces.
I, JOHN WILKIE, late of 109, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., and at
present of the Atlantic Works, City Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster
Engineer, and BEAMAN AND DEAS, LIMITED, of 109, Victoria Street, Westminster,
S.W., Destructor Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to destructor furnaces, such as may be employed for the
destruction of town's refuse. Its chief objects are:-To obtain a more complete
combustion of the articles or material treated to economise space and thereby
reduce cost; to more fully utilise the heat produced in such furnaces; and to
provide means for charging the fuel or refuse upon the furnace hearths without
the necessity for handling.
In carrying these improvements into effect, two of the furnaces or cells are
arranged end to end at their firebridge ends, sufficient space being allowed
between their respective fire-bridges to form a secondary combustion chamber
which is provided with a lateral or other opening through which the flame, gases
and other products of combustion may be led to a steam generator, to an appliance
for otherwise utilising their heat, or to a chimney. One steam generator may,
if desired, be employed in conjunction with each pair of cells.
Several pairs of such cells may be arranged in series, and a plurality of such
series may be arranged parallel with each other.
Any pair of cells arranged as above described, may be furnished with appliances
by means of which they may be isolated from the steam generator or other
heat utiliser. To enable this to be done, the bottom of the secondary combustion
chamber may be provided with a bye-pass to the main flue, which bye-pass is
ordinarily closed. When it is desired to cut out the steam generator, or the heat
utiliser, the flue leading to it is closed and the bye-pass is opened.
The hopper by means of which the fuel or refuse is supplied to the furnace
hearth may be constructed in two parts or of two superposed hoppers. The upper
hopper or part is adapted to have the contents of the collecting carts tipped directly
into it. A door is arranged between the upper and the lower parts, the opening
and the closing of which controls the passage of the material to the lower hopper.
Similarly, the lower end of the lower hopper is provided with a door the opening
and closing of which controls the supply of material to the hearth.
The upper
hopper may be provided with a screen or grid to prevent bulky articles passing
to the lower hopper.
In the accompanying drawings to which reference is hereinafter made,
Figure 1 shows a plan partly in section;
Figure 2 a longitudinal section;
Figure 3a section in the direction of the line -, Figure 1:
Figure 4 a section in the direction of the line y-y, Figure 1; and
Figure 5 a plan view of the hopper slides.
The individual cells or furnaces A A¹, are arranged in line one with the other,
so that their fire-bridges B B', are opposed, and the space between the fire-
bridges is enclosed so as to constitute a secondary combustion chamber C. There
is thus only one single secondary combustion chamber in communication with two
otherwise separate cells or furnaces. In small installations, one such pair of cells
and a single secondary combustion chamber may be used alone as an elementary
unit.

page_text: The products of combustion from the secondary combustion chamber can be
led direct to the furnace of the steam generator D), or to any other suitable
apparatus or appliance, such as a refuse drier, in connection with which their
heat may be utilised. From the steam generator or other heat utilising apparatus
or appliance, the gases may pass into the main flue F, through the openings G, G,
and thence to the chimney.
In larger installations, various combinations and arrangements of the units may
be employed. For example, as shown by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, two units may
be arranged in series, parallel with two other units in series, thus comprising a
compact installation of four units and eight cells. In Figure 1, one series of
four cells or two units is shown in full plan, and the other as seen in a horizontal
section taken just above the grate level.
Any of the heat utilising apparatus or appliances may be cut out for repairs
or for other purposes, by removing a false bottom I, which is constructed in
each of the secondary combustion chambers: by closing a sliding door J and thus
separating the secondary combustion chamber from the heat utilising space; and
by closing the damper K, one of which controls each opening G. The heat
utiliser is thus isolated, and the hot gases pass direct from the secondary com-
bustion chamber by the bye-pass flue H, to the main flue F. The false bottom I,
the slide J, and the damper K, may, as will be well understood, be substituted
by other equivalent devices.
Passages may be constructed under the cells for economy in brick-work,
and Q. which is normally closed, to provide a passage for the removal of deposits
from the heat utilising space. Separate furnaces V, V, may be provided for
heating the steam generators with ordinary fuel.
In the construction of the cells illustrated by the drawings, the air necessary
for the combustion of the refuse is supplied under pressure. through the
grates g. 9, and the closed ash-pits L L. from the pipes M, M, which are in com-
munication with a blower, fan or the like. The supply of air to the chamber C
for secondary combustion is derived from the external atmosphere, through
passages N, N, formed in the fire-bridges as is already practised. The pressure
supply in each ash-pit is derived from the main pipes M, M, through branch
pipes M, M, Figure 2.
A convenient form of hopper through which the refuse may be fed to the cell
without permitting the escape of the hot gases, has below it an extension O. the
upper and lower parts of which are respectively fitted with hori-
zontal sliding plates P. P¹, Figure 5. When the upper plates are
separated or opened, the refuse previously thereon falls upon and
is arrested by the closed lower plates, and then occupies the extension 0.
The upper plates are then closed and the lower ones are opened, whereupon
the refuse enclosed in O falls into the cell. The lower plates are then closed and
the operation may be repeated as required. The refuse is tipped from the carts
direct into the hoppers R, R, the upper parts of which may be provided with
grids to prevent the entrance of articles too large to pass into the cells. The
plates P, P may be separated or opened in a variety of different ways, as is well
understood. As shown by the drawings, each plate of the (pairs) of plates P, P¹
is fitted with a screwed nut T. T of which one, T, may have a left handed thread,
and the other T, a right handed thread. Into these there is fitted a rod S having
correspondingly screwed parts, and having fitted on its outer end a wheel U by
means of which the rod may be turned by a handle or by a chain or the like. If
the rod be turned in one direction the plates will approach and close the opening,
and if turned in the opposite direction. the plates will be separated. If it be
objected to have the rod S across the centre of the opening, the rod and nuts may
be duplicated, one set being arranged on one side, and the other on the opposite
side of the plates, both sets being positively geared together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
--
1. A multiplex refuse destructor consisting of a plurality of elementary units,
each of which units is composed of two cells with a separate hopper, fire-grate
and fire-bridge for each cell, arranged end to end with their fire-bridges opposed
and includes between the fire-bridges a secondary combustion chamber, in com-
bination with apparatus arranged in contiguity with the said chambers and
utilising the heat therefrom, and the necessary flues openings and passages for
the hot gases, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a refuse destructor, an elementary unit consisting of two complete cells
arranged end to end with their fire-bridges opposed, and including a secondary
combustion chamber constituted between the two fire-bridges, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In a refuse destructor, the construction and arrangement of two cells end
to end with a space between their opposed fire-bridges which is enclosed in such
a manner as to constitute a secondary combustion chamber, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20
1000
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.