Patent ID: 8291897

Claim:
A melter kettle in combination with a system for feeding materials into the melter kettle which combination comprises: a melter kettle having a top; a hopper for receiving material to be fed into the melter kettle; a material transport tube having one end coupled to the hopper and another end coupled to a material feed inlet in the top of the melter kettle; a rotatable auger in the material transport tube for moving material therethrough; a flame conductor assembly provided in the top of the melter kettle remote from the hopper for releasing any flames or gasses that build up in the melter kettle; and an air intake duct provided in the top of the melter kettle through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material, wherein the air intake duct can be operated remotely to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.