Improvements in Apparatus or Furnaces for Burning Refuse Matter or other Materials.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus or Furnaces for Burning Refuse
Matter or other Materials.
We, FREDERICK FRANCIS BENNETT, of Victoria Building, Victoria Street, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and JOHN PHYTHIAN, of Cross Street,
Manchester, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be'
as follows:-
This invention relates to furnaces or apparatus known as destructors for destroying
by heat or combustion refuse material such as, ashpit refuse, market refuse, street
sweepings, sludge, excretion, or other combustible or partly combustible matter.
In the working of such furnaces it is well known that a high degree of heat is
desirable and our invention is designed to provide for the working of the apparatus
without a great reduction of heat at any time consequent upon clinkering or
recharging the furnaces.
It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with a number of furnaces or
cells connected together and with a central discharge flue and provided with a
movable grate or grates so that the grate may be moved from one cell or furnace to
the next and thus allow of the central cell or furnace being always maintained at the
maximum temperature.
In carrying out the invention we construct the apparatus with several preferably
three cells or furnaces each with a separate ashpit and arched or other suitable form
of top. These furnaces or cells are set side by side or in line with communication
between each of the side ones and the central one so that the products of combustion"
from these pass into or over the central cell or furnace.
The grate for these furnaces is movable and extends over two thus the grate may
alternately be moved from one side to the other so that the central and one or other
of the side cells or furnaces will always be in operation together. We at present
prefer to construct the grate of ordinary fire bars mounted in a movable framework
capable of travelling to and fro on rollers, or it may be provided with wheels running
upon rails. The width of this grate is equal to that of two of the cells or furnaces.
Partitions of brick work or other solid material are built upon the movable framework
to divide the said grate into two or more compartments corresponding with the cells
or furnaces and to prevent any material which is carried thereon falling off.
Instead of level grates an endless grate working over drums at each end may be
used, such a grate might extend the whole or part of the length of the combined
furnaces or cells.
The grates are moved backwards and forwards as desired by a rack and rack wheel
or by any other suitable means either by hand or by power.
The several cells or furnaces may be placed on the same or at different levels.
The ashpit under the centre cell or furnace is provided with an air inlet for a forced
draught and it communicates at either side with the adjacent ashpit by an air passage
controlled by a damper. A passage may also lead from it to deliver air at the top
back or other part of the furnace which becomes heated in its passage through the

page_text: each of the cells B being provided with a separate ash pit C, and an arched roof or
top D, but with a single flue E common to all.
The three furnace cells B are set side by side preferably in the same plane, with
communication between each of the side ones, and the central one so that the
products of combustion from these pass into or over the central cell to the flue E.
For the three furnace cells B we provide a hearth with two grates F and G, the
fire bars g of which are mounted upon rails or in a frame H, capable of being moved
to and fro over the rollers h. The grate F is separated from the grate G by a
partition or bridge K of fire brick, and partitions of fire brick are placed at each
end. The rails or frame H which carry the fire bars g are moved to and fro by a
rack I and pinion l. Instead of the rollers h the frame H may be provided with
pulleys to travel over fixed rails.
The grates F and G extend over two of the furnace cells B, and may be moved
from one side to the other, one grate always occupying the centre cell, and the cells
to either side of the central one being alternately left empty. Thus the central
furnace cell and one of the side furnace cells are always in operation together.
Instead of level grates, an endless grate working over drums at each end may be
used, such a grate might extend the whole or part of the length of the combined
furnaces or cells.
If desired the outer furnace cells may be placed at a different level to the central
furnace cell but we at present prefer to place all on the same level.
The ash-pit C under the central furnace cell B is provided with an air inlet for a
forced draught of air to feed the furnace, and the central ash-pit communicates at
either side with the adjacent ash-pits C by an air passage c controlled by a
damper c¹, which can be closed or open to allow the air to pass to whichever side is
in operation, or each ashpit may have the draught applied independently of the
other. Air inlet passages may be provided at the top of the arch, or at any suitable
place to admit air to aid combustion if considered desirable.
The flue E leads from the top of the central furnace cell B, the products of
combustion from the side cells passing over the central one to enter the flue. The
front of the several furnace cells B are fitted with clinkering doors N, through which
the fires can be raked and cleaned, and the two furnace cells at either side are
provided with refuse or fuel inlet doors P at the back, through which they are
charged. The refuse inlet P to each furnace cell is thus placed on the ground level,
and the flue E may be caused to run below each inlet to assist in drying the
material.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a steam generator is placed above the furnaces to
utilize the gases passing from the furnace for raising steam. If desired, the boiler
can be placed at the side or end of the destructor, but we prefer the arrangement
shown.
When the destructor A is in operation, the fires are burning upon the two grates F
and G in the central cell and in one side cell, the other being empty. The central
one attains a maximum heat and when it requires recharging, the grate is moved to
bring the fire which was in the central cell into the empty side cell, and that which
was in the other side cell into the centre, thus without cooling the central cell or
furnace, a fresh charge is brought into it which had been gradually increasing in
heat. The grate that has been moved into the empty cell is then clinkered and
recharged, and the blast turned on to it, when it gradually increases in
temperature, the products of combustion from it passing over the hotter fire in
the centre, until that in its turn requires recharging and thus the side cells are
alternately recharged, and the grate moved to carry the charge into the central
cell, while the central cell is always maintained at a maximum temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A furnace or destructor for burning refuse or other material, constructed with