Improvements relating to Refuse Destructors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements relating to Refuse Destructors.
I, ALFRED JOHN LIVERSEDGE, of Clock House, Arundel Street, in the County
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in destructors for burning town's
refuse and similar material, and has for its object an efficient and economical
destructor whereby the combustion of the refuse shall be more complete and the
production of useful heat shall be greater than when employing the destructors
generally in use at the present time. The invention also has for its object
improved means for storing and feeding the refuse to, and for the removal of
clinker or ashes from, the furnace; whereby labour is reduced.
According to my invention I arrange the furnace cells in "pairs." or sets
which may be grouped together, preferably two pairs or sets in each group. Each
set or group of cells is provided with a supplementary combustion chamber or
gas mixing and dust depositing chamber. The bridges separating the cells
from one another and from the supplementary combustion chamber, permit the
said cells and chamber to communicate, and the supplementary combustion
chamber communicates by suitable means with the point of utilization of the
heat, such for instance as a steam generator. The bridge between the supple-
mentary combustion chamber and the set or group of cells, is provided with a
supplementary air duct connected to the forced draught air supply. Such supple-
mentary air ducts may also be provided in the bridges between the cells, if re-
quired. A forced draught of air is preferably introduced into closed ash pits
below the fire grates, and to prevent too great a fusion of clinker on the grates,
I provide means for introducing a jet of steam between the fire bars, generally
towards the end stages of the combustion, which steam in addition to facilitating
the removal of clinker also adds to the available heat by becoming decomposed
by the incandescent residue in the grate.
Each "pair" of cells comprises an approximately rectangular chamber pro-
vided with an arched crown. There may or may not be openings in the crown for
charging the refuse to the grates, but in any case there are openings in the side
of the chamber for the removal of clinker or for the charging of refuse, and
for obtaining access to the supplementary combustion chamber for the removal
of dust or the introduction of carcases or other large material which is not con-
veniently destroyed in the cells. Ash pits with doors giving access to them,
and suitable fire grates upon which the refuse is burnt, are also provided.
The rectangular chamber is divided into three compartments by transverse
walls or bridges. Two of these compartments are preferably equal in size, are
placed next to each other and form the cell chambers proper of the " pair."
The third compartment, which is at one end of the rectangular chamber, forms
the supplementary combustion or gas mixing and dust depositing chamber, and
serves both cells of the "pair." The cell chambers proper are each divided hori-
zontally by being fitted at a suitable height with fire bars forming a grate upon
which the refuse is burnt. The ash pits under the grates, may be either closed
or open accordingly as a forced or natural draught is to be used.
The trans-

page_text: verse walls or bridges separate the ashpits entirely from one another and from
the supplementary combustion chamber, they also separate the two grates from
one another and from the combustion chamber, but they are not carried right
up to the arched crown of the main or rectangular chamber, thus permitting a
free passage of the gaseous products of combustion from the spaces above the
grates into the supplementary combustion chamber; the gases from the cell
most remote from the supplementary combustion chamber passing through the
other cell on their way to the said combustion chamber.
I may combine two pairs of cells formed as above, into a group of four
by placing them back to back in such a manner that the supplementary_com-
bustion chambers unite to form one chamber common to the group. Or I may
make such combination of cells by placing the "pairs." side by side in one line,
with the combustion chambers united to form one common chamber, but by
their sides instead of by their ends as occurs when the pairs of cells are placed
back to back.
66
"
:
The group so formed may be combined with a steam generator by attaching
the boiler directly to the supplementary combustion chamber, in the one case at
the side and in the other case at the end of said chamber. Preferably, how-
ever, I connect the underside of the boiler with a group of cells by means of
a throat or short passage. The advantage of this latter arrangement is that
it permits an opening controlled by a suitable damper, to be made in the side,
or preferably in the bottom, of the throat, which opening leads to a bye pass
flue through which the gaseous products of combustion may be conducted when
not required to pass under the boiler.
The supplementary combustion chamber provides a very perfect means for
mixing the gases arising from the burning refuse, these gases must pass through
the said chamber and the possibility of objectionable. smells being emitted by
the chimney shaft is thereby reduced.
As aforesaid, a supplementary air duct connected to the forced draught air
supply is provided in the firebridge next the supplementary combustion chamber.
The forced draught which is controlled by a suitable valve, ensures the effec-
tiveness of the supplementary air duct at all times. When the supply of air
through the firebars is deficient, as is frequently the case in the early stages of
the combustion, a regulated quantity of air under pressure may be passed
through this air duct. The air duct in this bridge is sinuous or otherwise
arranged in such manner that the air in flowing through said duct may become
well heated by contact with the hot bridge, and then issue from suitable orifices
into the supplementary combustion chamber. These orifices are arranged so
that the air may escape in small fine streams or jets in different directions so
as to become thoroughly mixed with the products of combustion.
To prevent the escape of any objectionable gases produced during the opera-
tion of clinkering, I provide a funnel shaped collector situated immediately
above the point where the clinkering operation is carried on, and connect this
collector with the suction side of a fan for generating the forced draught.
For the purpose of conveniently storing refuse and for conveying and feeding
it to the cells, I usually provide a low level bunker running the whole length of
the destructor. A system of railway leads from this bunker to the cells, and
special trucks or wagons are provided for the conveyance of the refuse from
the bunker to the cells. The bunker is usually filled by carts tipping directly
into it from a platform carried to a suitable height, or it may be filled by an
arrangement of elevators which would permit the carts to discharge their con-
tents at the ground level. The discharging side of the refuse bunker is at about
the same level as that of the firegrates and has a line of rails (or an over-head
railway) running alongside its entire length. This railway has turntables or
turnouts at, intervals as required, the whole being so disposed that the trucks
can be filled at any point of the bunker and conveyed to any cell of the system.
The trucks have their bottoms slightly variable as to height and so arranged

page_text: that they do not rise higher than the level of the firegrates. This variation
in the height of the bottoms of the trucks may be effected by any suitable mech-
anical means, such for instance as by a screw, or by springs which are com-
pressed when refuse is in the trucks. When filled with a charge of refuse at
the bunker, the truck may remain at any convenient point of the rail system
until required. When a cell requires to be re-charged the loaded truck is run
alongside the said cell, and the contents of said truck are pushed directly on to
the firegrate, the empty truck being run back to the bunker for a further
charge.
The arrangement of the cells in groups of four enables the refuse in any one
cell to be submitted to a preliminary drying. This drying is effected partly by
heat radiated from the flames arising from the refuse burning on the adjoining
grates, and partly by contact with the hot firegrate and the hot walls of the
cell. The drying may be accelerated by permitting a slight current of air from
the forced draught pipe to pass through the refuse. As soon as this drying
is carried as far as may be judged necessary, the full air blast is put on, when
the refuse will usually burst at once into flame. Thus one or two of the cells
in a group" may act as preliminary drying hearths whilst the remaining cells
of the group are in full blast. As a rule three of the cells may be kept in full
blast, whilst whenever it is necessary to accelerate the combustion with a view
of generating an extra quantity of steam or of getting rid of an accumulation
of refuse, all the cells of a " group" may be maintained for certain periods in
full blast.
66
To remove the dust and effluvia which arises about the tipping platform
where the refuse is being discharged from the carts or wagons, I place air col-
lectors at a low level, practically along the edge of the tipping beam, so that
the dust and effluvia are drawn downwards and not upwards as when employing
the air collectors heretofore generally used. These air collectors may comprise
grids placed in the bottom or along the sides (or both) of the refuse bunker
and connected to a chamber running under the bunker, which chamber is in
turn connected with the suction side of the air blast fan in such a manner that
air is drawn through the mass of refuse as it lies on the bunker. In this way
I may not only draw downwards dust and effluvia which would otherwise remain
suspended in the house above the bunker, but I may effect a very appreciable
drying of the refuse as it lies in the bunker.
The doors closing the openings to the cells, are preferably constructed of cast
iron and provided with a special lining on their inner faces in order to resist
the great heat to which they are subjected. This special lining consists of a
stout layer of netted slag wool or similar non-conducting material, over which
is placed one or more pieces of stout woven wire netting to which netting is
applied a plaster of fire-clay or of fire-clay and any suitable cement. This plaster
is well pressed into the meshes of the netting and thereby maintained in
position.
As it is important that the doors of the cells should not be opened oftener
than is absolutely necessary, I provide in the face of the principal door of each
cell, one or more small supplementary doors sufficiently large to admit a bar
or tool for spreading the refuse upon the grate as often as may be required.
To prevent the admission of an excess of cold air to the supplementary combus
tion chamber when the main doors to the cells are opened for clinkering or
charging, suitable dampers are provided whereby any required cell or cells may
be more or less cut off from the supplementary combustion chamber. These
dampers are placed between each pair of cells and the combustion chamber, and
may also be placed between the cells. The dampers are preferably arranged
to slide horizontally in grooves or chases on the tops of the firebridges. When
the dampers are not required for use they can be withdrawn so as not to be ex-
posed to the flames. I preferably construct these dampers in a manner similar
to that described above with reference to the cell doors,

page_text: For the rapid and convenient removal of the clinker from the cells, suitable
barrows, trucks or wagons provided with lugs or eyebolts to which an elevating
chain can be attached, are provided. A pneumatic hoist or other simple mech-
anical apparatus may be employed for raising these trucks clear of the floor or to
an elevated railway leading to the outside of the building. By this means the
clinker trucks are raised to a suitable height above the ground and the clinker
may be discharged upon a bank or directly into carts instead of being spread
in thin layers upon the ground as is usual.
The above described apparatus enables the usual dead hearths for drying the
refuse, to be dispensed with, each firegrate becoming in turn a preliminary
drying hearth. Should dead hearths be required, however, I provide these
by widening the main or rectangular chamber and thus affording space at the
ends of the fire grates upon which to form the dead hearths. I make these dead
hearths flat or nearly so with vertical sides, and raise them some distance above
the firegrates, thereby increasing their capacity for a given area and facilitating
the transference of the refuse from the dead hearths to the fire grates. The re-
fuse may be charged upon. the dead hearths through openings in the crowns of
the cells, or through side openings.
When the cells are provided with these dead hearths and arranged in one line,
a supplementary door may be placed in the opposite side of the main or rect-
This
angular chamber to that upon which the clinkering doors are situated.
supplementary door permits the introduction of a tool for shifting the refuse
from the dead hearth to the fire grate.
It is obvious that instead of arranging the cells or hearths in sets of two, such
sets may comprise three or other convenient number of cells which communicate
as above described and are provided with a common supplementary combustion
chamber.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ALFRED JOHN LIVERSEDGE, Clock House, Arundel Street, Strand, Con-
sulting Engineer, 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in destructors for burning town's refuse
& similar material & has for its object an efficient & economical destructor
whereby the combustion of the refuse shall be more complete & the production
of useful heat shall be greater than when employing the destructors generally
in use at the present time.
The invention also has for its object improved means for storing & feeding
the refuse to, & for the removal of clinker or ashes from, the furnace; whereby
labour is reduced. In order that my invention may be clearly understood &
readily carried into effect, I append a series of drawings as follows:
Sheet 1 shows a square group of my improved destructor cells in which two
pairs of cells are placed back to back. Figure of this sheet is a longitudinal
vertical section & Figure 2 a horizontal section.
Sheet 2 shows a line group of my improved cells in which the cells are placed

page_text: side by side in one line. Figure 3 of this sheet is partly a vertical transverse
section & partly a vertical elevation. Figure 4 of this sheet is a horizontal
section.
Sheet 3 illustrates my improved arrangements for storing refuse intended to
be cremated & for charging the refuse into the destructor cells.
this sheet is a transverse sectional elevation & Figure 6 a plan.
Figure 5 of
Sheet 4 illustrates my improved arrangement for manipulating the clinker
resulting from the cremation of the refuse after the clinker is withdrawn from
the cells.
In the following description of my invention I refer in greater detail to these
drawings by means of the reference letters & figures which I have added to
them;
According to my invention I arrange the furnace cells in pairs or sets which
may be grouped together, preferably two pairs or sets in each group. (Sheets 1
& 2).
Each set or pair of cells is provided with a supplementary combustion chamber
or gas mixing & dust depositing chamber. (Sheets 1 & 2
A).
The bridges (B B¹ Sheets 1 & 2) separating the cells from one another & from
the supplementary combustion chamber permit the said cells & chamber to
communicate & the supplementary combustion chamber communicates by a
suitable throat or passage (C Sheets 1 & 2) with the point of utilization of the
heat, such for instance as a steam generator. The bridge between the supple-
mentary combustion chamber & the set or pair of cells is provided with a supple-
mentary air duct (D Sheets 1 & 2) connected to the forced draught air supply.
(E Sheets & 2). Such supplementary air ducts may also be provided in the
bridges between the cells if required. Whilst my cells may be worked solely
by the aid of a natural draught produced by a chimney shaft, a forced draught
of air is preferably introduced into otherwise closed ashpits (F Sheets 1 & 2)
below the firegrates for the purpose of promoting rapid & complete combustion &.
to prevent too great a fusion of clinker on the grates, I provide means of in-
troducing a jet of steam between the firebars, generally towards the end stages
of the combustion, which steam in addition to facilitating the removal of
clinker also adds to the available heat by becoming decomposed by the incan-
descent residue in the grate. The steam may be introduced at any convenient
point into the ashpits below the firegrates.
Each pair of cells comprises an approximately rectangular chamber provided
with an arched crown. There may or may not be openings in the crown for
charging the refuse to the grates but in any case there are openings as shown
at G on Sheets 1 & 2, in the side of the chamber for the removal of the clinker
or for the charging of refuse; also an opening or openings as shown at H on
Sheets 1 & 2 for obtaining access to the supplementary combustion chamber
for the removal of dust or the introduction of carcases or other large material
which is not conveniently destroyed in the cells. Ashpits as shewn at F on
Sheets 1 & 2 with suitable doors giving access to them, & suitable firegrates
(L Sheets 1 & 2) upon which the refuse is burnt, are also provided.
The rectangular chamber is divided into three compartments by transverse
walls or bridges. (B B' Sheets 1 & 2). Two of these compartments are pre-
ferably equal in size, are placed next to each other & form the cell chambers
proper of the pair. (M M³ Sheets 1 & 2). The third compartment, which is
at one end of the rectangular chamber, forms the supplementary combustion
or gas mixing & dust depositing chamber (A Sheets 1 & 2) & serves both cells
of the pair. The cell chambers proper are each divided horizontally by being
fitted at a suitable height with firebars forming a grate upon which the refuse
is burnt. The ash pits under the grates may be either closed or open accordingly
as a forced or natural draught is to be used. The transverse walls or bridges
separate the ash pits entirely from one another & from the supplementary com-
bustion chamber, they also separate the two grates from one another & from

page_text: the combustion chamber, but they are not carried right up to the arched crown
of the main or rectangular chamber, thus permitting a free passage of the
gaseous products of combustion from the spaces above the grates into the supple-
mentary combustion chamber; the gases from the cell most remote from the
supplementary combustion chamber passing through the other cell on their way
to the said combustion chamber. I may combine two pairs of cells formed as
above, into, a group of four by placing them back to back in such a manner
that the supplementary combustion chambers united form one chamber common
to the group. (Sheet 1).
66
دو
"
Or I may make an alternative combination of cells by placing two "pairs
side by side in one line, with the combustion chambers united to form one com-
mon chamber, but by their sides instead of by their ends. This combination
is illustrated by the figures on Sheet 2.
The " group so formed may be combined with a steam generator (R Sheets 1
& 2) by attaching the boiler directly to the supplementary combustion chamber,
in the one case at the side & in the other case at the end of the said chamber.
Preferably, however, I connect the underside of the boiler with a group of cells
by means of a throat or short passage. (C Sheets 1 & 2). The advantage of
this latter arrangement is that it permits an opening controlled by a suitable
damper, to be made in the side, or preferably in the bottom, of the throat, which
opening leads to a bye pass flue through which the gascous products of combus-
tion may be conducted when not required to pass under the boiler.
The supplementary combustion chamber provides a very perfect means for
mixing the gases arising from the burning refuse, these gases must pass through
the said chamber & the possibility of objectionable smells being emitted by the
chimney shaft is thereby reduced.
As aforesaid, a supplementary air duct (D Sheets 1 & 2) connected to the
forced draught air supply is provided in the firebridge next the supplementary
combustion chamber. The forced draught, which is controlled by a suitable
valve, ensures the effectiveness of the supplementary air duct at all times.
When the supply of air through the firebars is deficient, as is frequently the
case in the early stages of combustion, a regulated quantity of air under pressure
may be passed through the air duct.
The air duct in this bridge is sinuous or otherwise arranged in such manner
that the air in flowing through said duct may become well heated by contact
with the hot bridge, & then issue from suitable orifices into the supplementary
combustion chamber. These orifices are arranged so that the air may escape
in small fine streams or jets in different directions so as to become thoroughly
mixed with the products of combustion. To prevent the escape of any objec-
tionable gases produced during the operation of clinkering, I provide a funnel
shaped collector situated immediately above the point where the clinkering
operation is carried on, & connect this collector with the suction side of a fan
for generating the forced draught.
For the purpose of conveniently storing refuse & for conveying & feeding it
to the cells constructed under this invention, I usually provide a low level
bunker running the whole length of the destructor. (A Sheet 3). A system
of railway (B Sheet 3) leads from this bunker to the cells & special trucks
(C Sheet 3) or wagons are provided for the conveyance of the refuse from the
bunker to the cells. The bunker is usually filled by carts tipping directly into
it from a platform carried to a suitable height, or it may be filled by an arrange-
ment of elevators which would permit the carts to discharge their contents at
the ground level. The discharging side of the refuse bunker is at about the
same level as that of the firegrates & has a line of rails (or an over-head rail-
way) running alongside its entire length. (B Sheet 3). This railway has turn-
tables or turnouts at intervals as required, the whole being so disposed that the
trucks can be filled at any point of the bunker & conveyed to any cell of the
system.

page_text: The trucks may have their bottoms slightly variable as to height but so
arranged that they do not rise higher than the level of the firegrates. This
variation in the height of the bottoms of the trucks may be effected by any suit-
able mechanical means, such for instance as a screw, or by springs which are
compressed when refuse is in the trucks. When filled with a charge of refuse at
the bunker, the truck may remain at any convenient point of the rail system
until required. When a cell requires to be re-charged the loaded truck is run
along side the said cell, & the contents of said truck are pushed directly on to
the firegrate, the empty truck being run back to the bunker for a further charge.
The arrangement of the cells in groups of four enables the refuse in any
one cell to be submitted to a preliminary drying. This drying is effected partly
by heat radiated from the flames arising from the refuse burning on the adjoin-
ing grates, & partly by contact with the hot firegrate & the hot walls of the
cell. The drying may be accelerated by permitting a slight current of air from
the forced draught pipe to pass through the refuse. As soon as this drying is
carried as far as may be judged necessary, the full blast is put on, when the
refuse will usually burst at once into flame. Thus one or two of the cells in a
group may act as preliminary drying hearths whilst the remaining cells of
the group are in full blast. As a rule three of the cells may be kept in full blast,
whilst whenever it is necessary to accelerate the combustion with a view of
generating an extra quantity of steam or of getting rid of an accumulation of
refuse, all the cells of a group may be maintained for certain periods in full
blast.
"
To remove the dust & effluvia which arises about the tipping platform where
the refuse is being discharged from the carts or wagons, I place air collectors at
a low level, practically along the edge of the tipping beam, so that the dust &
effluvia are drawn downwards & not upwards as when employing the air
collectors heretofore generally used. These air collectors may comprise grids
(D Sheet 3) placed in the bottom or along the sides (or both) of the refuse bunker
& connected to a chamber (E Sheet 3) running under the bunker, which chamber
is in turn connected with the suction side of the air blast fan in such a manner
that air is drawn through the mass of refuse as it lies on the bunker. In this
way I may not only draw downwards dust & effluvia which would otherwise
remain suspended in the house above the bunker, but I may effect a very appreci
able drying of the refuse as it lies in the bunker.
The doors closing the openings to the cells are preferably constructed of cast
iron & provided with a special lining on their inner faces in order to resist the
great heat to which they are subjected. This special lining consists of a stout
layer of netted slag wool or similar non-conducting material, over which is
placed one or more pieces of stout woven wire netting to which netting is applied
a plaster of fireclay or of fireclay & any suitable cement. This plaster is well
pressed into the meshes of the netting & thereby maintained in position. As
it is important that the doors of the cells should not be opened oftener than is
absolutely necessary, I provide in the face of the principal door of each cell one
or more small supplementary doors sufficiently large to admit a bar or tool for
spreading the refuse upon the grate as often as may be required.
To prevent the admission of an excess of cold air to the supplementary com-
bustion chamber when the main doors to the cells are opened for clinkering or
charging, suitable dampers are provided whereby any required cell or cells
may be more or less cut off from the supplementary combustion chamber. These
dampers are placed between each pair of cells & the combustion chamber & may
also be placed between the cells. The dampers are preferably arranged to slide
horizontally in grooves or chases on the tops of the firebridges. When the
dampers are not required for use they can be withdrawn so as not to be exposed
to the flames. I preferably construct these dampers in a manner similar to that
described above with reference to the cell doors.
For the rapid & convenient removal of the clinker from the cells, suitable bar-

page_text: rows, trucks or wagons provided with lugs or eyebolts to which an elevating chain
can be attached are provided. (A Sheet 4). A pneumatic hoist or other simple
mechanical apparatus (B Sheet 4) may be employed for raising these trucks
clear of the floor or to an elevated railway (C Sheet 4) leading to the outside
of the building. By this means the clinker trucks are raised to a suitable height
above the ground & the clinker may be discharged upon a bank or directly into
carts instead of being spread in thin layers upon the ground as is usual.
The above described apparatus enables the usual dead hearths for drying the
refuse to be dispensed with, each firegrate becoming in turn a preliminary dry-
ing hearth. Should dead hearths be required, however, I provide these by
widening or lengthening the main or rectangular chamber & thus affording
space at the ends of the firegrates upon which to form the dead hearths. (P
Sheets 1 & 2) I make these dead hearths flat or nearly so with vertical sides &
raise them some distance above the firegrates, thereby increasing their capacity
for a given area & facilitating the transference of the refuse from the dead
hearths to the fire grates. The refuse may be charged upon the dead hearths
through openings in the crowns of the cells or through side openings.
When the cells are provided with these dead hearths & arranged in one line,
a supplementary door (S Sheet 2) may be placed in the opposite side of the
main or rectangular chamber to that upon which the clinkering doors arc
situated. This supplementary door permits the introduction of a tool for shift-
ing the refuse from the dead hearth to the fire grate.
It is obvious that instead of arranging the. cells or hearths in sets of two,
such sets may comprise three or other convenient number of cells which com-
municate as above described & are provided with a common supplementary
combustion chamber.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in connection with refuse destructors is :-
1. In furnaces for the combustion or destruction of refuse the combination of
two or more cells separated from each other as to their ashpits & also as to their
firegrates but communicating in their upper portions substantially as & for the
purpose specified.
2. In furnaces for the combustion or destruction of refuse the combination of
two or more cells separated from each other as to their ashpits & also as to their
firegrates but communicating in their upper portions, with a separate supple-
mentary combustion chamber, substantially as & for the purposes described.
3. In cells for the combustion or destruction of refuse, the construction of a
supplementary air duct in the bridge communicating with a source of air supply
under pressure, substantially as & for the purposes specified.
4. In cells for the combustion or destruction of refuse, the construction of
clinkering or charging doors having small supplementary openings & doors on
their faces, substantially as & for the purposes specified.
5. In a refuse destructor, the combination of a refuse storage bunker with
distributing & charging trucks, the bottom or discharging end or side of the
bunker being substantially at the same level as the bottom of the trucks & both
at substantially the same level as the firegrates of the cells, as & for the pur-
poses specified.
6. In a refuse destructor the combination of an overhead railway with elevat-
ing apparatus & clinker trucks or barrows having provision for attachment to
the elevating apparatus substantially as & for the purposes specified.
A. J. LIVERSEDGE,
Applicant.