Improvements in Destructors for Burning Night-soil and other Refuse.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Destructors for Burning Night-soil and other
Refuse.
I, Lieutenant-Colonel ROBERT HENRY FRANCIS RENNICK, Commanding
18th Bengal Infantry, Stationed at Silchar, Cachar District, India, 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 destructors for burning night-soil and other refuse,
and has for its object to cause such refuse to consume itself and in doing so to
serve as fuel while the process of combustion is going on, and will be best
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus constructed according to this
invention,
Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line 2-2 Figure 1,
Fig. 3 a vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 a vertical section on the line 4-4 Figure 1.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the body of the furnace the walls of which at the lowest part a around the
ash-pit B, are of one thickness, at the part a' surrounding the furnace proper C
preferably of less thickness, and at the part a² forming the flue D of preferably
still less thickness. The chambers B and C are preferably of the same area
throughout their height and the flue D tapers from the size of C to a somewhat
smaller area at its upper part as shown in the drawings. The ash-pit B is provided
with two openings B₁ B, the former at the front of the furnace being preferably
larger than the latter (B²).
The chamber B is substantially divided from C by a series of arches E between
every two of which is left a space or channel e¹ of preferably about two inches in
width. This series of arches E forms the floor or grate upon which the burden to
be consumed is supported. The front of the furnace C is formed with the
opening F by means of which access to the interior may be had for kindling
purposes. Besides the opening F the furnace C is provided in each wall with
narrow slits G G₁ for the insertion of a poker or other suitable implement for
stirring the charge. The slits G' in the said walls of the furnace C extend down
to preferably a lower level than the slits G in the back and front of the furnace
and these slits G₁ are directly opposite the spaces or openings E' between the
arches E in the roof of the ash-pit B. Hare Tor angle-iron or equivalent bars
which are inserted in the direction of their length into the slits G₁ and pass
through the openings E' and at their ends are supported on the wall A at the
lower ends of the slits G', these bars when so inserted blocking the openings E¹
and when removed leaving the openings clear.
Supported upon the arches E on suitable legs I' is a platform I constructed
preferably of sheet-iron plates rivetted or otherwise secured to a suitable angle-
iron or other frame. The upper surface of this platform is practically on the same
level as the crown of the opening F.
At the upper part a² of the furnace is provided the charging opening A' fitted
with a suitable door A2 and over the outlet end of flue D is provided a roof or
cover J preferably constructed of corrugated iron and supported on columns J¹
built into the brickwork of the furnace. K is an inclined floor or platform by
means of which the refuse to be destroyed in the before described apparatus is
brought to the charging opening A¹ and introduced into the furnace, the refuse

page_text: being brought to the opening A preferably in barrows or like apparatus which
may be readily tilted or emptied of its contents over the dwarf wall A' at the
inside of the opening A' without fear of the barrow itself falling into the furnace.
It is preferred that the before described furnace be built in such position that
the openings F and B' are presented to the prevailing direction of the wind.
In preparing the before described apparatus for incinerating a charge the
door A is opened or removed and the furnace filled with wood or other readily
combustible material up to and preferably slightly above the surface of the
platform I, leaves, grass and other such rubbish being preferably strewn and spread
over the wood to a thickness of say six inches. The night-soil which is by
preference such as has been previously treated on the dry earth system or with
which has been mixed a small quantity of dry earth or ashes produced by the
destructor (if its consistency be too loose) is then thrown in with more grass
and rubbish mixed with it until it is charged up to the level of say the lower
edge or middle of the door A. The wood first thrown in is then lighted through
the opening F and allowed to burn until the contents of the chamber C D are
formed into a big dry cake which gradually burns and descends towards the lower
part of the furnace.
If the draught is to be increased the opening B2 of ash-pit B is closed and if
the ashes are to be loosened the bars H are withdrawn from the openings E¹
and a poker or equivalent implement is introduced through any of the slits G G¹
and stirred about in the mass within the furnace the ash thereby dropping down
into the ash-pit B from which it may be removed from time to time through the
opening B' to be subsequently used as manure or mixed up with other night-soil to
be burnt again in the furnace.
In case the fire should be accidentally extinguished sufficient fuel can be
introduced through the door F and under platform I for re-kindling it the plat-
form I being specially provided for supporting the main body of the charge within
the furnace so as to provide a space at the inside of the platform I to enable fresh
fuel to be introduced when necessary;. this would be impossible if the platform I
were not provided and the charge allowed to come down to the floor of the
furnace.
The body of the destructor instead of being formed of masonry or brickwork as
before described may be constructed of iron and in other respects modified without
departing from the essential features of the invention. The process of incineration
is carried out in the before described apparatus without any smell arising
therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,-
1. In apparatus such as described the combination with a body such as A of a
furnace floor dividing the ashpit B from chamber C D thereof consisting of arches
such as E and bars such as H temporarily closing the openings or spaces El
between the arches E substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described the division of the ashpit from the furnace by
arches such as E between which are formed passages or openings such as E¹
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with a furnace and ashpit
such as CB separated from each other by arches such as E of stirring openings
such as G G substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In apparatus such as described the combination with a furnace-chamber and
ash-pit such as C B separated from each other by arches such as E having spaces
such as E between them of a platform such as I supported on the arches
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete refuse
destructor substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of September 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.