Improvements in and connected with Crematory Apparatus applicable for House Sanitation and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Crematory Apparatus
applicable for House Sanitation and the like.
A communication from abroad by ISAAC DAVID SMEAD, of Toledo, in the County
of Lucas, State of Ohio, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 that class of devices used for the reception and disposal
of human excrement, and the invention consists in providing one or more closets
with a furnace having a desiccating chamber in which the fecal matter is deposited
and subjected to the combined action of a current of air and heat, and from which
chamber the gases, foul odours, etcetera, are conveyed by the current of air to the
fire of the furnace and consumed, as hereinafter more fully described.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, showing the general construction and
mode of operation of an apparatus designed for this purpose, the section being on
the line ae of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a transverse longitudinal section, on the line y-y of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the rear portion of the apparatus, showing a fan
applied thereto, and
Figure 4 is a rear end view of the same.
The object of this invention is to provide a sanitary closet or series of closets for
use in buildings, more especially where there are many occupants, such as hotels,
hospitals, school buildings and public buildings of all kinds, as well as .private
residences, by which the generation or evolution of foul or poisonous gases and
disease-producing germs by the process of putrefactive fermentation shall be
effectually prevented, and by which all odours, gases and germs, in case any exist,
shall be destroyed by the action of heat; and by which, also, the fecal deposits
shall be desiccated or dried, and carbonised or burned, instead of being conveyed
by water through sewers or drains into rivers or streams, and thus prevent the
pollution thereof and the spread of disease thereby.
To accomplish these desirable results, an apparatus is constructed substantially
on the plan shown in Figure 1, in which is shown a large cast iron furnace, provided
with two horizontal compartments or chambers, the upper chamber P being for the
reception of the deposits, and being termed the desiccating chamber, the lower
chamber R being the combustion chamber, this latter having a fire pot B of any
desired form located at its front end, with a fuel door n at the front, and with an ash
pit below, provided with a door n', as shown, the ash pit being separated from the
fire chamber by a tight transverse partition at all points, except at the fire-grate, so
that all air and gases, which are brought into the ash pit, (as hereinafter explained)
are compelled to pass through the fire on entering the combustion chamber.
The desiccating chamber P is connected with the closet on the floor or floors
above, by large metallic tubes I', as shown in Figure 1. It has a door n² at its
front end, said door being provided with a register to regulate the admission of air
to the chamber, and, at its rear end, this chamber P is connected by one or more
large pipes F with the ash pit, as shown..
The bottom of the desiccating chamber P is composed of a metallic pan "D",
which extends underneath all the closets, and a plate e filling out the space between
ts front end and the front wall of the furnace, this plate e being provided with an

page_text: opening and having a slide d arranged to close the same, and which has a handle
extending out through the front, by which the slide can be moved whenever
desired.
.
The pan D has its bottom inclined towards the front, for the purpose of causing
the liquid portion of the deposits to accumulate at the end nearest the fire, where
it will be subjected to the greatest heat, and more rapidly evaporated. The pan D
has been shown as being deeper at its front end to give the necessary inclination to
its bottom, but it is obvious that it may be made of uniform depth its entire length,
and be set inclined.
In order to empty this pan of its contents after they have been dried and
carbonised, a scraper S is arranged within it, which, as shown in Figure 2, extends
across the pan. This scraper is connected at each of its ends to an endless chain e,
one at each side of the pan, these chains e passing around pulleys p at the rear end
of the pan, and from thence to and around sprocket wheels secured upon a
transverse shaft t at the front of the chamber, this shaft being provided with a
crank i, by which it can be operated from the exterior. This shaft may be mounted,
as shown, upon the outer wall of the furnace, or be located within the chamber, in
which latter case one of its ends will project through the side wall and have the
crank applied so that it can be operated from the exterior.
The scraper will, of course, be made fast to the lower part of the two chains e,
so that, when the crank is turned in the proper direction, the scraper will be drawn
along to the front end of the pan, shoving the contents along before it, and over
the front end of the pan, the slide d being opened at such times, so that the
contents will fall through the opening upon the fire in the grate, below, where, if
not previously reduced to ashes, they will readily be consumed.
In order to permit the escape of smoke or products of combustion, the combustion
chamber R is provided with a smoke pipe or flue E, which leads to a vent stack or
pipe C, which should extend out above the roof, and which should be provided with
means for creating a strong draught upward. In large buildings, this vent stack is
preferably built of brick, and has a stack heater or small furnace located within it
to rarefy the air and create a draught, or a fan may be used for that purpose.
small buildings, the vent flue may be of metal, and a Bunsen gas burner be used for
creating a draught, or any similar means.
In
In order to prevent the escape of odour or gases from the desiccating chamber
upward into or through the closets, when the fuel or ash pit door is opened, the
desiccating chamber P is connected with the vent stack C, by a direct flue or pipe H,
as shown in Figure 1. In this flue or pipe H, a valve or damper of any suitable
kind is located, so weighted or hung that it will normally close said flue, and compel
the air and gases from, the desiccating chamber to pass through pipes F to the ash
pit, and thence through the fire to the combustion chamber.
In Figure 1, this valve is shown arranged to turn on journals at its sides, and as
having a weight W attached to one edge to render it self-closing. To one of its
journals, which projects through the side of the pipe, is secured a crank arm,
which is connected to a crank arm on the end of a rod I, which is mounted
loosely in suitable bearings in rear of and on a line with the top of the hinged lids
of the closet seats. This rod is provided with a series of rigid arms V, one for
cach lid, as shown in Figure 1, these arms resting loosely over the lids when the
latter are shut down, so that, whenever any one of the lids is raised, the lid, acting
on the arm v, will turn the rod I and cause its crank to draw on the chain m and
thereby turn the valve and thus open the direct draught flue H, and permit the
air and gases to pass from the desiccating chamber direct to the vent stack. The
instant the seat lid is closed, the valve will automatically close the flue H, and
thereby cause the air and gases to pass from the desiccating chamber through
pipes to and through the fire, and which will always be the case, except when a
seat lid is raised or the furnace door is opened.
Another chain, cord or wire m¹ is also connected to the crank arm of this valve f
and extended to the front of the furnace, where it passes over a pulley, and, being

page_text: extended downward in front of the furnace doors, has its lower end made fast to the
base or any stationary object; so that, whenever either of the furnace doors is
opened, it will press against the chain and thereby turn the valve and open the
direct draught fuc H. Instead of having the chain m³ extended down in front of
the doors, a rod like that used with the scat lids may be mounted vertically in
bearings at the front, it having arms arranged to be hit by either of the doors
when opened, the upper end of the rod being provided with a crank arm which will
be connected to the valve by a chain, cord, rod or wire, and thus the opening of
any one of the furnace doors will be made to automatically open the direct draught
flue H.
It is obvious that eccentrics may be substituted for the crank arms, both on the
valve and the rods I, and be made to operate the same; also that various other
well known mechanical devices may be used to operate the valve, the only requisite,
in that respect, being that the direct draught flue H shall be automatically opened
by the act of raising any of the closet lids, or the opening of any of the furnace
doors. It is obvious that the valve may be hinged to open and close like a door,
or be made to slide, as may be preferred, these being mere mechanical details to be
determined by the constructor or mechanic, and in no manner affecting the principle
or mode of operation of the invention.
In order to consume or burn the air, gases and odours, which will temporarily
pass through the direct draught flue H, either of several plans may be adopted:
A small furnace may be arranged within the flue H, or in an enlargement of the
same, or at the mouth of the same in the vent stack, in such a manner as to burn
the gases and odours as they pass along the flue. Gas burners will preferably be
used for this purpose, the burners being composed of a series of perforated pipes,
arranged in a series of successive rings at intervals along the flue; or they may be
composed of a series of pipes extending lengthwise of the flue, and arranged
parallel with each other at intervals around its interior; or they may be arranged
in series at right angles to each other crosswise of the flue; or one or more
such burners or perforated pipes may be arranged longitudinally along the centre
of the fluc.
In all cases, these burners will preferably be constructed to operate on the
principle of a Bunsen burner, as is done in gas ranges, in order to produce a more
intense heat with the minimum of gas; and, whatever their form or style, they
should be of such a size, in relation to the flue, as will prevent the escape of any of
the gases and odours without their passage through the flame of the burners.
Where gas burners are thus used, the valve of the gas supply pipe will be connected
with the valve of the direct flue H in such a manner that, whenever the valve is
moved to open said flue, the gas will be turned on automatically, and, when the flue
is closed, the gas will be in like manner automatically shut off, there being left a
small flame, sufficient to ignite the burners when the gas is turned on again.
Another and still more economical plan is to locate the stack heater at a point
above the direct draught flue H, within the vent stack, and extend the flue or
pipe H direct to this stack heater, so that the contents of said flue H will be
conveyed direct into the stack heater, and be consumed. By this means, the fire,
used for creating a draught in the vent stack, is also made to consume the escaping
gases and odours. Another advantage of this latter arrangement is that the
products of combustion, escaping from the furnace, will be subjected to the heat of
the stack heater, so that, in case any of the gases or odours were not completely
consumed by their passage through the furnace fire, they will be, by being brought
in contact with this second fire.
A stack heater thus arranged is shown in Figure 1, the heater being preferably
composed of a series of gas burners constructed as above described, though it is
obvious that other styles of heaters may be used, if desired. Where gas is present
and cheap, it is preferred, as being most convenient and requiring the least
attention, and also because the heat can be regulated as desired and kept

page_text: continuous, day and night. So, too, it is obvious that gas may be used for heating
the furnace proper.
The burning of the gases, etcetera, which escape at intervals through the direct
flue H, is more important where these closets are used in hospitals, or wherever
disease-propagating germs are likely to exist. In ordinary cases, it will not be
required, for the reason that the deposits are so quickly desiccated, dried and
charred, as to prevent the possibility of putrefactive fermentation, without which
disease-propagating germs will not exist, unless the closets be used by persons
already affected by diseases thus propagated, and, even in such cases, the germs
will be destroyed by the heat of the desiccating chamber, if kept sufficiently hot.
Hence there is little or no danger of germs being conveyed to the outer atmosphere,
through the direct draught flue; and, where such danger does exist, it can be
readily remedied by the above precaution.
It will be understood that, when the apparatus is in use, a fire will be kept
continuously in the furnace, and the door n of the fire chamber, and also the door n
of the ash pit, will be kept closed, the air for supporting combustion being drawn
through the desiccating chamber, and from thence through the pipes F to the ash
pit, as indicated by the arrows.
As the fire in the furnace will, of course, heat the desiccating chamber also,
the air, as it passes through the same, will be more or less heated, thereby
increasing its affinity for moisture; and, as the contents of the pan will also be
heated, thereby tending to expel and evaporate the fluids and moisture therein, it
will be seen that the current of air, as it passes through the desiccating chamber,
will take up and carry along with it, the moisture, and all gases and odours arising
from the heated contents of the pan, together with all disease-propagating germs,
if any such chance to be present, the whole being conducted to and through the
fire of the furnace, by which means they will be completely destroyed, the products
of combustion escaping through the vent stack to the outer atmosphere in an
innocuous and inodorous condition.
In Figures 3 and 4, a fan is shown arranged to draw the air and gases from the
desiccating chamber, and force it through the fire, thereby creating a forced
draught also for the fire; but, in practice, this has not been found necessary; for,
with a suitably built vent stack having a heater located therein, the draught has
been found ample for the successful operation of the apparatus, the draught being
such ordinarily that, when a closet lid is raised, there is a strong current or draught
down through the seat into the desiccating chamber.
As a general rule, the body of the apparatus is made of cast iron, formed in
sections arranged to be bolted together, thus enabling it to be made of any
desired length, and adapted to a greater or less number of closets to suit all sizes
and styles of buildings. By this method of construction, they can be made com-
plete at the factory, then shipped in parts and be readily set up wherever desired.
As shown in Figure 1, the main body of the furnace or apparatus in rear of the
ash pit is supported by a series of metal rods or posts a, the upper ends of which
fit loosely in sockets in bearing plates, while their lower ends are provided with
screw threads fitting in foot pieces b, so that, by turning the rods or posts, they
can be adjusted to compensate for any inequalities in the floor or surface on which
the apparatus may be set, and secure a uniform bearing or support.
The sections will be provided with flanges, by which they can be securely
bolted together, suitable cement or fireproof packing being used to render the
joints air tight, so as to prevent the escape of any gas or odour. In practice, it is
found, however, that, with a properly constructed and heated vent stack, the
draught is such that air will be drawn into the furnace at any opening or crevice
that may exist, so that, when properly arranged, there is no possibility for the
escape of the gases or odours therefrom, except through the outlets provided for
that purpose.
While, for the reasons stated, it is preferable to construct the apparatus of metal,

page_text: it is obvious that it may be constructed of masonry, the fire chamber being
preferably lined with fire brick; and, where a very great number of closets is
required as, for instance, at barracks or military posts, or in very extensive
factories such a construction may be preferable, the principle or mode of operation,
of course, being the same.
The details of construction may be varied in many particulars, without departing
from the spirit of the invention. For instance, in the smaller sized apparatus,
the pan D, instead of being immovable and provided with the scraper as above
described, may be mounted on trunnions or journals at its front and rear ends, so
that it can be turned over to empty its contents into the combustion chamber, a
hand scraper being used to draw the contents forward to the fire, the bottom of
the combustion chamber, in such case, being made flush with the top of the fire
pot, to enable the material to be readily drawn upon the fire. Where the pan is
thus mounted on trunnions, they should be located about midway between the top
and bottom of the pan, so that it can be more easily turned over, the pan being
provided with lateral flanges at its upper edge, and similar bars or ribs being
secured to the side walls of the furnace, they being so arranged that the flange on
one side of the pan will rest upon said rib or bar, while the flange on the opposite
side will be under the rib or bar on that side, thus forming a comparatively close
joint all around, and yet permit the pan to be turned on its trunnions far enough
to empty it of its contents, and then be turned back to its normal position, ready
for use again. Where the pan is thus mounted, a small door may be provided
in one of the side walls to enable the attendant to insert a tool for turning the
pan; or chains or levers may be arranged within the chamber above or below, and
be connected with a lever outside, and be made to tip the pan and return it to
position.
Or, in small apparatus for private residences, the pan may be made stationary,
and the contents be removed by a hand scraper inserted through the door ², they
being drawn forward and allowed to fall through the opening upon the fire below.
It is preferable, however, to arrange the pan and scraper as shown in Figure 1, as
it is more convenient, and avoids the necessity for opening the doors, which it is
desirable to avoid as much as possible, in order not to interrupt the draught from
the desiccating chamber to the fire.
In Figure 1, a deflecting plate o is shown arranged to throw the current
downward in the ash pit, the object being to cause it to enter the fire at all parts
uniformly, but it is obvious that this may be omitted. It is also obvious that the
pipes F may be arranged to enter at the sides of the fire pot, and thus avoid
having the current enter the ash pit at all, the only requisite, in that respect, being
that the current of air, drawn through the desiccating chamber, with its accom-
panying gases and odours, shall be delivered to the fire in such a manner as to be
consumed or burned.
It will, of course, be understood that the closet seats may be located part on one
floor and part on the floor or floors above, it only being necessary to extend the
tube I of cach closet, wheresoever located, directly down to the desiccating
chamber. These tubes I are preferably made straight, and as large in diameter
as may be convenient, so that the deposits may drop direct into the desiccating
chamber, and avoid adherence to the walls of the tubes.
The operation of the apparatus is briefly as follows:-
A fire is started in the combustion chamber, the air being supplied through the
ash pit door in the usual manner until the apparatus has become warmed and a
draught fully established.
When this has been done, the register in the door of the desiccating chamber
is opened and the ash pit door closed tight, when air will enter and pass through
the desiccating chamber and from thence through the tubes F back to the ash pit, and
up through the fire, the products of combustion passing from the fire through the
combustion chamber, and from thence into and up the vent stack in which a
Iraught has been already created as hereinbefore described.

page_text: The closets being then used in the usual manner, the deposits therefrom will
be received and retained in the pan, where they will be subjected to the action
of the heat, and of the constantly passing current of air, the combined operation
of the heat and air serving to desiccate or dry them, so that after a little time the
heat may be made to char, carbonise, or even to burn them to ashes, if a sufficient
heat be kept up. At intervals, when found necessary, or the pan becomes filled,
its contents, whether merely baked.or charred, or reduced to ashes, will be removed
to the fire as above described, the resulting ashes mingling with those of the grate,
and being removed with them.
The advantages or benefits of this method of treating and disposing of fecal
matter, with their attendant odours, gases and germs in a sanitary point of view
are great and will be readily understood. One of its principal benefits is, that by
quickly drying the deposits, it prevents the generating of disease propagating
germs, as it is a well established fact that moisture is necessary to their propaga-
tion and further, that heat, if of the requisite degree, is the most effective means
known for destroying such germs as may exist, however produced.
:
This method also dispenses with the use of water and the attendant complica-
tion of water pipes, valves and other fixtures and finally, it avoids the carrying
of the deposits into the sewers, where they decompose and generate foul and
poisonous gases which enter dwellings and permeate the atmosphere of cities to
the great injury of health.
It also prevents the fouling of streams and rivers by the entrance of such matter
from the sewers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of treating fecal matters and gases or odours arising therefrom,
in which the excreta are subjected to the desiccating action of a current of air in
one chamber or compartment, and simultaneously to the action of heat in another
chamber, and in which the desiccating air and gases or odours are conducted to
the fire that heats the apparatus.
2. In apparatus for treating fecal matters substantially as described in Claim 1,
the following, each substantially as described :-
(a). A direct draught flue to the vent stack, (or to equivalent exhausting
apparatus), from the fecal chamber provided with a valve or damper, so
arranged that, when the closet lids, or the furnace doors, are opened, the
gases are allowed free exit to the exhausting apparatus, but at other times
have to pass to the fire.
(). A subsidiary heating apparatus, preferably of Bunsen gas burners to
burn the gases escaping directly as in Clause (a).
(c). A pan, reversible or otherwise, for receiving the fecal deposits, having a
constant current passing over its surface, a heating device below preferably
supplied with air by said current, and means for scraping out the desiccated
contents at intervals preferably into the furnace.
3. The apparatus as a whole substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.