US2962987A - Incinerators - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1960 J. w. HEBERT ETAL INCINERATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Fab. 1'7, 1955 INVENTORS JOHN W. HEBERT HENRY L. couzs PAUL R. SCHUBERT BY ama/V9m a.

ATTORNEYS .FIG.7

Dec. 6, 1960 J. w. HEBERT ETAL 2,962,987

INCINERATORS Filed Feb. 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN W. HEBERT HENRY L. COLES PAUL R. SCHUBERT M ATTORNEYS 1960 J. w. HEBERT ETAL 7 INCINERATORS Filed 17., 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 4

3 INVENTORS JOHN W. HEBERT HENRY L. COLES PAUL R. SCHUBERT BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent O INCINERATORS John W. Hebert and Paul R. Schubert, Bay City, and

Henry L. Coles, Houghton, Mich., assignors to Ca]- cinator Corporation, Bay City, Mich.

Filed Feb. 17, 1955, Ser. No. 488,889

22 Claims. (Cl. 110-8) This invention relates to domestic incinerators, and more particularly to an incinerator in which means is employed for catalytically oxidizing odor-bearing fumes, smoke, and other combustibles which are commonly released to atmosphere.

The problem of air pollution in cities of any size and particularly cities in which there is a concentration of industry, is today of increasing concern. Many cities have been sufficiently concerned with the problem to adopt or consider the adoption of ordinances prohibiting the operation of household incinerators which release fumes, smoke, fly ash and the like to the atmosphere. Accordingly for many years experimenters have sought to develop an incinerator which will consume these normal off gases of incineration and release primarily non-noxious carbon dioxide to atmosphere.

A very workable incinerator which will accomplish a virtually complete combustion of all refuse, trash, and garbage charged to the incinerator has been described in our co-pending application Serial No. 488,888 which is filed of even date herewith. The instant application is directed to certain useful and novel improvements in incinerators of this type.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design an incinerator incorporating means for very efiiciently and effectively catalytically combusting fumes and gases with a minimum restriction of their normal flow to the flue so that the possibility of creating back pressures in the combustion chamber under various conditions and in various stages of incineration is completely eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an incinerator of the type mentioned which is particularly designed to meet the conditions and problems which arise in the combusting of garbage and refuse. The normal products of such combustion include a fairly high percentage of particulate foreign matter which is noncombustible, considerable flyash, often a heavy smoke, and fumes having strong and undesirable odors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an incinerator with means for oxidizing or combusting odorbearing gases and the like without flame by means of a catalyst which is maintained at an activation temperature by burner means so located as to be unaifected by sudden increases in the velocity of the flue gases or turbulences in the smoke layer of the flue gases which would tend to starve or smother the flame.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the type described which has a novel cooperation with other elements in the incinerator and will occupy space which is normally provided in incinerators without requiring extensive changes in the design thereof.

Another object of the invention is to design an incinerator in which a maximum of particulate matter such as flyash, and non-combustible foreign matter is filtered out of the gas stream prior to the time the stream reaches the catalytic surfaces so that there is relatively little deposition to decrease their effectiveness.

A further object of the invention is to design an 2,962,987 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 incinerator in which the unburned fuel gases from a primary burner in the combustion chamber are directed to a secondary burner which is integrated with a catalytic unit to maintain catalytic elements at a temperature suflicient to permit catalytic oxidation of the off gases at temperatures substantially below their normal combustion temperatures.

Another object of the invention is to design an incinerator with a catalytic unit in which olf gases of incineration flow evenly through the catalytic unit, and the heat thereof and the heat of catalytic combustion, is evenly distributed throughout the catalytic surface so that all portions thereof are maintained within a defined temperature range.

A further object of the invention is to design an incinerator in which primary and secondary burners are provided which are particularly adapted to an incinerator such as described.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an incinerator of simple, practical, and economical design which is durable in construction and highly reliable in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a part sectional, side elevational view of the incinerator.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional, rear elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional, top plan view of the burner shield only. a

Fig. 4 is a part sectional, top plan view of the catalytic unit only.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing in detail the flame retention torch type burner which is employed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the burner shield taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary reduced side elevational view showing the catalytic unit mounted in the flue pipe of an incinerator.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention a letter I generally designates a downdraft household incinerator, such as in the previously mentioned co-pending application, which includes as usual an outer housing 10 provided with insulation 11.

Mounted within the housing 10 and spaced from the walls thereof to define a perimetral air passage 12 there between is an inner casing 13. The bottom 14 of the incinerator is open to the passage 12 as at Ma and fresh air will flow upwardly in the passage 12 and across the top wall 13a of the inner casing to the interior of the casing 13. This air is admitted through slotted openings 15 in a door frame 16 which connects an opening 17 in the top wall of the casing 13 with a like opening in the upper wall of the housing 10. The latter mentioned opening is provided with a hingedly mounted door 18 which may be of the same type as shown in Patent No. 2,596,178 so that it can be swung open to permit the charging of the interior of the casing or combustion chamber 19 on guides 21 and a rod 22 connected to lugs 23 on the grate has a knob 24a thereon so that it may be readily reciprocated to clear ashes off the grate into an ash drawer 24 therebelow.

Mounted on the front wall 13b of the inner casing is a burner shield S which encloses a burner head H which is particularly adapted to use with the instant incinerator. The shield S includes an annular plate 26 which is secured to the wall 13b, the plate 26 and the wall 13b being provided with openings to admit the mixing tube 27 of the burner head which is threaded as at 28 into a regulating valve 29. The latter valve 29 is, of course, supplied by a fuel line leading to a source of fuel gas supply.

The mixing tube 27. of the head H which is illustrated in detail in Fig. includes an annular wall 27a which forms a fuel gas orifice 30 and has circumferentially spaced primary air inlets 31 rearward of the wall 13b in the air space 12. The front end of'the tube 27 terminates in a delivery tube portion 32 and'a surrounding nozzle 33 is threaded on the tube 27 at 34. Provided in the nozzle is an inwardly projecting wall or fuel issuing surface portion 35 which defines an orifice .36 constituting a continuation of theportion 32. The wall 35 is however recessed as at 37 and angularly disposed circumferentially spaced ports 38 lead from the orifice 36 to this recessed portion of the nozzle. The end of the nozzle is toed inwardly as at 39 and it will be seen that fuel gas from the ports 38 form flames which are directed inwardly by the portion 39 of the nozzle and tend to prevent the main flame in front of the orifice 36 from lifting and being snuffed out. The instant burner head is particularly suited to fashioning an elongated flame which will impinge upon the opposite wall of the shields. A pilot tube 40 which furnishes a pilot flame so that the burner can be lit when ever desired has an associated thermocouple 41 electrically connected to the valve 29 which would shut off the gas supply to the tube 40 if the pilot flame should go out.

The shield S which will now be described is surrounded with wrapped garbage and the like and is constructed so that it deflects portions of the flame outwardly to the wrapped garbage or refuse and still admits ample air to the burner head H to support combustion. Extending rearwardly from the plate 26 is an inversely disposed U-shaped header or hood 42 having laterally turned flanges 42a. Lower side members 43 are also provided with laterally turned flanges 43a and welded between the flanges 42a and 4311 are transversely disposed angular plates or spacers 44 which form the predominately perforate sides of the shield'S. The plates 44 which are vertically inclined include integral upper and lower flanges 44a and 44b respectively welded to the flanges 42a and 43a and it will be seen that the flanges 44a are outward of the flanges 44b so that the shield is wider at its bottom than at its top. Each spacer 44 has an inwardly and forwardly angled section 44c and a lateral section 44d and clearly portions of the flame will be deflected outwardly to reach refuse along the sides of the shield. The lateral portions 44d of the spacers 44 prevent the material charged to the incinerator from crowding the sides of the shield and smothering the flame. The flanges 43a terminate short of the rear ends of the lower side members 43 and a rear header 45 fits over the rear ends of the members 43 and the rear end of the hood 42. The header 45 has a rectangular'outlet fitting 46 and clearlyunburned fuel gases not consumed by the flame from the burner and heated air in the shield will pass to the header 45 for delivery to an angular gas vent and heat supply tube 47 which leads out of the combustion chamber proper to a catalytic unit C which is mounted in the upper rear portion of the chamber. The shield S is, as noted, tapered from its upper end to ,its lower end so matter will not tend to collect thereon, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 extends substantially the full length of the grate 20. The front end of the shield S is closed by side plates 48 with flanges 48a joined to the flanges 42a and 43a. These plates 48 and lateral plates 49 prevent the charged material from packing into the shield around the burner H.

A detachable rear screen wall 50 partitions the interior of the inner casing as shown, the vent tube 47 leading rearwardly through an opening 51 in this screen. The catalytic unit C which is of generally rectilinear configuration comprises a lower wall 52 having a fitting 53 received in the upper end of the vent tube 47, side walls 54, a front wall 55 provided with an opening 56, a rear wall 57 provided with an opening 58, and an insulated cover 59. A plate 60 horizontally partitions the unit C to separate the upper catalyst containing portion thereof through which the off gases pass from the lower portion thereof which houses a burner 61. The burner 61 which is disposed above the vent tube 47 includes a tubular manifold provided with a plurality of reduced heads 62 which have flame ports communicating with the interior of the burner manifold 61. A fuel supply line 63 feeds the burner 61 from a suitable source of fuel gas supply and a pilot tube 64 has a pilot flame-for lighting the burner 61 when a valve 65 in the line 61 is set to admit gas through the line 63 to the burner.

Provided in the partitioning plate 60 is a transversely slotted opening 66 leading to free space in the upper part of the unit C between two screen magazines 67 and 68. Flanged spacers 69 (see Fig. 4) separate the magazines 67 and 68 which comprise rectilinear casings 70 and 71 respectively with openings 72 provided in the front and rear walls thereof to permit passage of the off-gases therethrough. The magazine 67 has five filtering screens 73- 77 spaced apart at their edges by vertical and lateral rods 78, and is as noted designed to remove flyash and particulate non-combustible foreign matter from the off gases of combustion proceeding through the unit C. To best accomplish this result it is desirable for the gases to take a tortuous or undulating path through the screen unit to slow their rate of flow somewhat and accordingly the mesh of these screens is arranged as shown in Fig. 2. Diagonal mesh screens are preferably employed and the screens are arranged so that the diamond-shaped interstices are alternately horizontally and vertically disposed. For instance, the interstices of the screens 73, 75, and 77 will be horizontally disposed while the interstices of the screens 74 and 76 will be in vertical disposition. Thus, when the off gases of combustion proceed through the screens 73-77, they will be successively turned from right to left or from left to right upwardly or downwardly. These changes of direction will slow down the travel of the gases as desired so that the screens will remove most of the entrained flyash and particulate non-combustibles.

The magazine 63 similarly has screens 79-81 separated by vertical and lateral spacer rods 82 and these screens must not only serve to filter out any remaining flyash and the like but because of their proximity to the catalytic magazines 83 and 84 must be capable of being readily heated to an overall white-hot condition in which they radiate heat to the units 83 and 84. These screens which are also formed with diamond-shaped interstices which are alternately arranged vertically and horizontally in the successive screens 79-1 are preferably formed of a highly heat conductive and non-corroding metal such as stainless steel. If the screens 79-81 are uniformly white hot clearly the gases passing through the upper portion of the unit C will be heated to substantially the same de gree as will those passing through the lower portion of the chamber closer to the burner 61.

The catalytic magazines 83 and 84 which are employed will not be described in detail since they may comprise the units shown in Fig. 3 of and described in Patent No. 2,658,742 issued to Harold R. Suter and Richard J. Ruff. Broadly, such units comprise ribbons of platinum coated metal disposed between a pair of'screen members as shown in this patent and in the instant. application two of such 'will combust the unburned fuel gas.

units may be employed. Obviously I do not intend to restrict the invention to the catalytic magazines mentioned and clearly other suitable units may also be employed. To obtain optimum catalytic oxidation of the off gases a baffle plate 85 which extends from the partitioning wall 60 to a point which is approximately two thirds of the height of the magazine units 83 and 84 is provided immediately to the rear of the unit 84 to divert the flow of gases upwardly through the units 83 and 84 prior to permitting their passage to the flue fitting 86. The latter duct member 86 fits, of course, over the opening 58 in the rear wall 57 of the unit C. The flue fitting 86, unit C, andtube 47 may be said to comprise flue means leading from the shield S with tube 47 comprising lower flue means and the fitting 86 comprising upper flue means. The tube means 47 and unit C may also be referred to as wall means leading to the upper flue means 86, or wall means forming a secondary chamber into which the off gases of combustion and any unburned fuel gases are passed for consumption.

To permit ready removal of the matter filtered out by the screens 73-77 the lower end of the magazine 67 and the partitioning wall .60 may be slotted as at 87 so that this flyash and the like will fall into a chamber 88 formed by partitioning the lower section of the unit C as at 89. The front section 52a of the bottom 52 of the unit C may be hingedly connected to the rear section thereof as at 90 so that the section 52a can be swung down to dump the collected matter.

In operation refuse and preferably wrapped garbage are charged to the chamber 19 and will fit along the sides of the shield S as well as on top thereof. As previously noted the spacer plates 44 will prevent the material from packing so snugly around the shield as to prevent air for combustion from reaching the burner H and will also deflect portions of the elongated flame from the burner outwardly to the material at the sides of the shield S. The undeflected portion of the flame, or portion not employed to consume the material, which impinges on .the header 45 of the shield S as previously noted, is in part available to enter fitting 46 and tube 47 to supply heat aiding the combustion of the oif gases of combustion of the material charged and any unburned fuel gases. The off gases of combustion from the material charged will rise in the chamber 19, drying non-ignited matter as they proceed, to the front of the unit C whence the screens 73-77 will cause them to take a slowed, tortuous path of travel which will permit the screens ot filter out the great majority of the entrained flyash and other particulate matter. Heated air and fuel gas not burned at the burner H will be conducted through the vent tube 47 to the burner 61 which The flue means 86 may be said to be in communication with the shield S in the sense that it receives products from the shield S.

Initially after the burners H and 61 are lit, and prior to the time refuse is charged to the incinerator, the

heated air from the shield S will aid the burner 61 to rapidly heat the screen magazine 68 and catalytic units 83 and 84 to the required temperature which should be suificient so that all gases proceeding through the unit are within the range of 750 to 1200 F. In the early stages of incineration when much of the material in the combustion chamber 19 is drying and heavy odor bearing at the ports 62 will not be snuffed out or smothered when the travel of the flue gases is increased considerably during the middle stages of incineration or when burning a charge consisting mainly of paper.

In the units 83 and 84 the combustibles including all odor bearing fumes and gases are completely consumed and the product passed out to atmosphere through the duct outlet 86 will be principally carbon dioxide. The screens 79-81 and plate aid in distributing the flow of gases evenly through the catalyst units and aid in maintaining them at uniform temperatures which promote the flameless catalytic oxidation thereof. While these members are arranged to slow up the gases they do not sufficiently restrict their flow so that back pressures are set up in the combustion chamber.

In Fig. 7 the unit C is shown mounted'in the fluepipe 91 of an incinerator instead of within the incinerator proper. The catalytic unit C employed in this instance is of identical construction with the unit C which has been described. The fiue pipe 91 leads into the inner casing (not shown) in the incinerator to deliver the products 7 the combustion chamber which would unfavorably affeet the process of primary combustion therein.

It is to be understood that the foregoing drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as illustrative of the invention only and not as restricting the scope of the appended claims. It should be emphasized that various changes within the spirit and principles of the invention may be made in the various elements which comprise the invention without departing from the scope of these claims.

We claim:

1. In an incinerator for cornbusting refuse, garbage, and the like, a casing defining a combustion chamber, a burner therein, a shield for said burner, a catalytic housing in said casing and open from one end thereof to the other to provide a flow path for the off gases of combustion in said chamber, a catalyst in said housing in the path of said gases, a secondary burner in said housing located out of the flow path of said gases but in communication therewith to heat the said gases to a temperature sufficient to promote their catalytic oxidation, and a substantially closed duct connecting said shield with the housing adjacent the secondary burner to convey unburned fuel gas and heated air to said latter burner.

2. In an incinerator for cornbusting refuse, garbage, and the like, a casing defining a combustion chamber, a burner near the bottom thereof, a catalytic housing in said casing near the upper end thereof, said housing being horizontally partitioned to provide an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the upper chamber being open to said combustion chamber and to the exterior of said casing to provide a flow path for the off gases of the combustion in' said combustion chamber, a secondary burner in the lower chamber of said catalytic housing in communication with said upper chamber but disposed out 7 and the like, an outer casing, an inner casing therein defining a combustion chamber, said inner casing being spaced from said outer casing to define a perimetral air passage therebetween, a horizontally extending burner in the lower portion of said chamber, a shield for said burner having a closed top and perforate sides, said sides being formed by spaced apart plates extending laterally outward beyond said top, the outer and inner casings having respectively aligned openings in walls thereof near the upper ends thereof, a catalytic housing mounted in said openings and having an opening in the face adjacent the combustion chamber and in the opposite face thereof to provide a flow path for the off gases of the combustion in said chamber to the exterior of said casings, catalyst means in said housing in said flow path, a burner in said housing out of the said flow path but in communication therewith, and a duct leading from the end of said shield opposite said burner in the combustion chamber into said housing adjacent the burner therein.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which the plates which form the sides of said shield are inclined outwardly so that the shield is of greater width at its bottom than at its top.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 in which the plates which form the sides of the shield are angular and deflect portions of the flame from the shielded burner outwardly.

7. In a catalyst unit for catalytically oxidizing the OE gases of garbage and refuse combustion, a housing having front, rear, top, bottom and side walls, a partitioning Wall dividing said housing into an upper and a lower chamber, the front and rear walls having aligned openings communicating with the upper chamber to provide a flow path through the housing for said off gases, filtering screens in said upper chamber in the said path adjacent the front wall of said housing, a catalytic member in the said path adjacent the rear wall of said housing, and a burner in said lower chamber, said partition wall having a slotted opening therein above said burner to permit the latter to heat the gases passing through above it to a temperature sufiicient to promote catalytic oxidation in said catalytic member.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said screen and catalytic members are spaced apart, the partitioning wall has a slotted opening communicating with the space between them, and at least one heat radiant screen capable of being heated to uniform white hot condition is provided immediately in front of said catalytic member.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said lower chamber is partitioned so as to form a compartment under said screens, said first mentioned partitioning wall has an opening under said screens to permit filtered out flyash to settle to said compartment, and said compartment has a removable member permitting emptying thereof.

10. The combination defined in claim 7 in which a baffle member blocking the lower portion of said flow path so as to cause said gases to flow upwardly through said catalytic member is provided immediately rearwardly of said catalytic member.

11. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like, a casing providing a combustion chamber, means for drying and igniting material charged to said chamber, a flue, a catalyst housing in said casing having a pair of openings therein one of which communicates with the said chamber and the other of which communicates with the flue so as to provide a flow path for the off gases of combustion in said chamber, a burner chamber in said housing in communication with the flow path of said gases but out of the path thereof, a burner in protected position therein heating the passing gases, filtering screen means disposed in the housing in the path of the gases between the'opening communicating with the combustion chamber and the opening communicating with the flue, and a catalyst unit in the path of the gases between the screen means and opening communicating with the flue.

12. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending hood mounted in said chamber; grate means in said combustion chamber under said hood for supporting refuse, garbage, and the like adjacent the hood; burner means having a fuel issuing orifice with a generally horizontally disposed axis generally parallel with said hood mounted in said combustion chamber above said grate means and substantially immediately below said hood for issuing a fuel fluid in a longitudinal stream to provide an elongate, torch-like flame; said burner means terminating short of the extent of said hood so that said hood extends longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said burner means to overlie said flame; flue means for receiving combustion gases from said combustion chamber and in communication with the space substantially immediately below said hood to receive flame therefrom; and diverter fin members, supported from said hood longitudinally outward of said burner means, extending transversely crosswise of the hood and leading from the hood toward the axis of the fuel issuing orifice into the path of the flame, for deflecting portions of said torch-like flame laterally outwardly relative to said hood to different portions of said combustion chamber.

13. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending hood portion mounted in said combustion chamber; burner means supported in said casing substantially immediately under said hood portion and having a terminal fuel issuing surface portion with a generally horizontal axis generally parallel with said hood portion for issuing a fuel fluid in an axial, longitudinal stream providing an elongate, torch-like flame; said hood portion for said burner means extending longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said fuel issuing surface portion to protect the flame; grate means in said combustion chamber for supporting a charge of garbage or refuse adjacent said hood portion; flue means for receiving combustion gases from said combustion chamber and in communication with the space substantially immediately below said hood portion to receive flame therefrom; at least one deflector member, supported longitudinally outward of said fuel issuing surface portion, extending transversely to the axis of the fuel issuing surface portion and leading toward the axis of the said fuel issuing surface portion into the path of the flame, for deflecting a portion of said torch-like flame from the body thereof transversely outwardly relative to said hood portion to engage the said adjacent charge of garbage or refuse; and means supporting said deflector member.

14. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending hood portion mounted in said combustion chamber; burner means supported in said casing substantially immediately under said hood portion having a terminal fuel issuing surface portion with a generally horizontal axis generally parallel with said hood portion for issuing a fuel fluid in an axial, longitudinal stream providing an elongate, 'torchlike flame; said hood portion for said burner means extending longitudinally a substantial distance from said fuel issuing surface portion to protect the flame; flue means for receiving combustion gases from said combustion chamber and in communication with the space substantially immediately below said hood portion to receive the flame therefrom; deflector means supported within said casing and having surface extending on each side of the axis of said fuel issuing surface portion; and grate means supported within'said casing and including a portion below said fuel'issuing surface portion arranged to support garbage, refuse, and the like laterally adjacent said deflector means; said deflector means surface on each side of the axis being supported in said casing longitudinally outward of said fuel issuing surface portion and extending transversely to the axis of the fuel issuing surface portion into the path of the flame for deflecting portions of said torch-like flame transversely in opposite directions outwardly relative to said hood portion to engage the garbage, refuse, and the like supported adjacent the hood portion.

15. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending shield mounted in said combustion chamber; grate means in said combustion chamber for supporting garbage, refuse, and the like adjacent said shield; flue means communicating with said combustion chamber and receiving combustion gases therefrom; said flue means having a section extending within said chamber communicating with said shield to receive flame therefrom; burner means supported in said casing within said shield having a terminal fuel issuing surface portion with a generally horizontal axis for issuing a fuel fluid in an axial, longitudinal stream providing an elongate, torch-like flame; said shield for said burner means having flame protecting wall means with a top section and side sections extending longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said fuel issuing surface portion to protect the flame; said shield having at least one passage therein longitudinally outward of the said fuel issuing surface portion with a flame portion directing surface extending transversely to the axis of the fuel issuing surface portion and the path of the flame for diverting a portion of said torch-like flame transversely outwardly relative to said shield to engage the garbage, refuse, and the like supported adjacent said shield.

16. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; flue means leading from said combustion chamber; a generally horizontal, longitudinally extending hood mounted in said combustion chamber; burner means supported in said casing substantially immediately under said hood having a terminal fuel issuing surface portion with a generally horizontal axis generally parallel with said hood for issuing a fuel fluid in an axial, longitudinal stream providing an elongate, torch-like flame; said hood for said burner means extending longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said fuel issuing surface portion to pro tect the flame; wall means for receiving combustion gases forming a generally vertically disposed chamber within said combustion chamber; said wall means leading from a location of communication with the space substantially immediately under said hood to receive flame therefrom to said flue means; at least one deflector supported within said casing and having a deflector surface supported longitudinally outward of said fuel issuing surface portion; grate means supported within said casing and including a portion arranged to support garbage, refuse, and the like adjacent said deflector; said deflector extending transversely to the axis of the said fuel issuing surface portion and leading into the path of the flame for deflecting a portion of said torch-like flame outwardly relative to said hood to engage the garbage, refuse, and the like supported adjacent said deflector.

17. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing defining a combustion chamber; flue means communicating with and leading from said combustion chamber; -a generally horizontal, longitudi-' nally extending hood mounted in said combustion chamber and extending across said chamber; grate means in said combustion chamber under said hood for supporting refuse, garbage, and the like adjacent the hood, burner means supported in said casing substantially immediately under said hood having a generally horizontal, terminal fuel issuing surface portion generally parallel with said hood for issuing a fuel fluid in a longitudinal stream providing an elongate, torch-like flame; said hood for said burner means extending longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said fuel issuing surface portion to protect the flame; wall means for receiving combustion gases within said combustion chamber and forming a passage communicating'with said flue means, said wall means having one end remote from said flue means adjacent said hood and receiving flame from said burner; said hood having at least one deflector mounted thereon with a surface supported longitudinally outward of said fuel issuing surface portion, extending transverse- 1y to the axis of the fuel issuing surface portion and leading into the path of the flame, for deflecting a portion of said torch-like flame outwardly relative to the fuel issuing surface portion and the flame issuing therefrom.

18. In an incinerator for combusting refuse, garbage, and the like; a casing providing a primary combustion chamber; wall means forming a separated, secondary chamber for receiving combustion gases within said casing; flue means communicating with and leading away from said secondary chamber out of said casing; a generally horizonal, longitudinally extending shield communicating with said secondary chamber mounted in said primary combustion chamber and extending toward said secondary chamber; grate means in said primary combustion chamber for supporting refuse, garbage, and the like adjacent the shield; burner means supported in said casing within said shield having a terminal fuel issuing surface portion, with a generally horizontal axis generally parallel with said shield for issuing a fuel fluid in an axial, longitudinal stream providing an elongate, torch-like flame directed toward said secondary chamber; said shield for the burner means extending longitudinally a substantial distance beyond said fuel issuing surface portion to protect the flame; and at least one surface portion outward of said burner means forming the marginal wall of an opening in said shield for expelling a portion of the torch-like flame outwardly relative to the shield to engage and combust adjacent refuse in the primary combustion chamber while another portion of the flame proceeds from the shield to the secondary chamber.

19. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said fin members are spaced longitudinally along said hood portion.

20. The combination defined in claim 16 in which means is incorporated in said vertically disposed chamber for slowing the flow of off gases through said vertically disposed chamber and aiding burning of oif gases of combustion from said combustion chamber.

21. The combination defined in claim 18 in which means is incorporated in said secondary combustion chamber for combusting 01f gases of combustion from the primary combustion chamber.

22. The combination defined in claim 18 in which means having a surface for breaking up the'flow of 011? gases is provided in said secondary chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 11 UNITED STATES PATENTS Clark May 6, 1941 Schadek June 3, 1941 ODay Jan. 3, 1950 Walker Sept. 12,1950 5 Hebert July 31, I951 Suter et a1 Nov. 10, 1953 12 Martin June 21, 1955 Triggs June 5, 1956 Poole Sept. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 22, 1936

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