US805256A - Garbage-incinerator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. G. BRANCH. GARBAGE INGINBRATOR. APPLIOATION FILED mm: 22, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l 5/ v. QrQAWV N0. 805,256. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

' J. G. BRANCH.

GARBAGE INGINERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GARBAGE-INCINERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 28,1905. Serial No. 267,413.

To all whom it ntcw concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. BRANCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garbage-Incinerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garbage-incinerators of that type embodying water-grates in operative relation to ordinary fire-grates and adapted to receive the garbage and avoid dumping or depositing the latter directly on the fire or fire-brick of the furnace or furnaces.

The main advantages of the present construction of incinerator are that there is no odor or dust, but complete sanitation; no sorting or handling of garbage at the plant required; no auxiliary furnace or checker-work necessary; no swill or liquid garbage poured into the furnace; no uneven distribution of heat in the furnace; no threaded joints in the water-grates exposed to direct heat, and no waste of fuel through the stack, but all heat utilized for power purposes.

The incinerator plant is composed of two separate units or furnaces set at right angles to each other and so connected by a bypass that either one or both can be fired and the waste gases therefrom led under a battery of boilers for power purposes before escaping into the stack. The first unit or furnace is so connected with the second unit or furnace that the gases and heat from the former are led into the latter immediately in rear of the bridge-wall, thereby insuring complete combustion of all unconsumed particles of garbage and offensive gases. The two furnaces are provided with two separate sets of gratebars, one above the other, the upper gratebars being of the water type and of a particular arrangement, and thereon the garbage is dumped. These water-grates are connected at the sides of the furnaces to two headers and in the center to a single larger header. Through these headers and connecting watergrates the feed-water is pumped to the boilers of the power apparatus, thus securing a perfect circulation and preventing the gratebars from burning out. This arrangement also does away with the necessity of a feed- .water heater for the boilers, and the water may be taken directly from a city main by a suitable connection with the tubular grates and from the latter pumped in heated condition to the boilers of the power apparatus.

The improved incinerator plant has other details of construction which render the same convenient in operation and efiective in performing the function desired, and among others may be particularly mentioned openings for stoking the garbage on the upper or water grates and swillpans located in the ashpits under the lower grates, into which the liquid garbage may run and become evaporated by the heat of the furnace itself.

Other advantages both from a standpoint of structure and operation will be hereinafter more fully specified, and to demonstrate the practicability of the improved incinerator plant a preferred form of the apparatus included therein is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front side elevation of a garbage-incinerator plant embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a larger scale and showing the garbage receiving and incinerating furnaces in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the plant, showing the garbageincinerating furnaces in horizontal section. Fig. lis a detail section showing a portion of the sheet-metal inclosing casing for the incinerating-furnaces and the angle-iron structure for connecting the parts of said casing. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail cross-section of one of the water-grates, showing the manner of constructing the latter.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The plant embodying the features of the invention preferably includes a battery of boilers 1, which are shown in the present instance as three in number and having as many furnaces 2 thereunder, the latter being individually communicative, through the medium of flue connections 3, with a main breeching or conduit 4 entering a stack at, which preferably has a considerable elevation. Cooperating with this battery of boilers and furnaces are incinerating-furnaces 5 and 6, particularly embodying the features of the invention and from either one or both of which the products of combustion and gases pass into the furnaces 2 under the boilers 1 to serve as a heating means for the boilers or as additional fuel and to obstruct the escape thereof and the odors incidental thereto from the stack into the surrounding atmosphere. This utilization of the products of combustion and gases from either one or both of the inclneratmg-furnaces 5 and 6 is economical in the generation of power for various mechanical uses, and by the use of this form of plant a twofold advantage is gained and consists in the consumption of garbage, cremation of dead bodies of animals and other refuse with perfect sanitation, and the employment of the residue gases and products of combustion as a heating means for power-generating apparatus.

Though the complete organization of the plant as just specified is preferred, especially in large cities or municipalities, it will be understood that the incinerating-furnaces may at times be used alone and directly connected to a stack or to any other conduit medium.

The incinerating-furnaces or crematories 5 and 6 are duplicate in construction and arrangement of the elements included therein, and the furnace 5 is disposed in a plane at right angles to the furnace 6,the rear extremity of the said furnace 5 being formed as a part of the side wall of the furnace 6, as at 7.

Each furnace 5 and 6 has an inclosing wall 8 of suitable thickness and material and of sufficient strength to permit garbage and other vehicles or receptacles to be moved on or over the top thereof for dumping or deposit purposes. The top of each furnace at an intermediate point has garbage-receiving hoppers 9 adjacent to one side and at the opposite side a dead-animal-receiving hopper 10 of greater diameter, the several hoppers 9 and 10 being normally closed by tight-fitting caps or covers 11. In the front extremity of each furnace is a suitably-arched bridge-wall 12, and below the plane of the same is a lire-grate 13 of any preferred form and accessible by doors 14. Below the fire-grate 13 the usual ash-pit 15 is provided and also rendered accessible by doors 16. Immediately in advance of the bridgewall 12 and at an elevation above the plane of the fire-grate 13 is a garbage or refuse receiving grate composed of a series of downwardly-inclined tubular members 17 connected at their outer ends to tubular headers 18, held in the side walls of the furnace, and at their inner ends to a depressed header 19, having a greater diameter than the headers 18. The tubular members or grate-bars 17 and the headers 18 and 19 constitute a tubular grate, through which water circulates. The tubular garbage or refuse receiving grate is disposed under the hoppers 9 and 10 and is accessible for'cleaning purposes through the medium of a rear door 20. The tubular garbage or refuse receiving grate can also be readily reached for cleaning and other purposes by a series of doors 21 in the rear end of the furnace. As clearly shown by Fig. 2, the front extremities of the central and one side header are connected to a feed-water inlet 22, which may be attached to a city main or any other source of supply, and secured to the rear terminal of the remaining side header and its companion header at the opposite porsoazse tion of the furnace is a feed-water outlet 23, adapted to be connected to the battery of boilers in any suitable manner to supply the said boilers with heated water and by this means dispensing with the necessity of a feedwater heater for the boilers. A suitable pump may be used for forcing the water into the boilers from the outlet connection 23. Each furnace also has a series of liquid-hoppers 2 1 at one side, which communicate at their lower terminals with removable swill-pans 25, disposed transversely under the garbage or refuse receiving grate or resting on the bottom of the furnace. The swill or liquid which is deposited in the hoppers 2e and passes into the pans 25 is evaporated by the heat of the furnace itself, and the gases generated by such evaporation of the swill or liquid pass out with the remaining gases. At any time desired these pans can be quickly removed and cleaned. It is also frequently necessary to stoke the garbage or refuse on the tubular grates, and for this purpose openings 26, having suitable covers, are formed in the sides of each furnace.

The fire-grates of the furnaces are of the ordinary type used for firing coal and all made interchangeable throughout. In the construction of the tubular grates, including the members 17 and the headers 18- and 19, the said tubular members are first threaded into the lower or central header l9 and then expanded into the upper side headers 18, thus exposing only two threaded joints to the direct heat of the gases. The advantage of having the tubular grates for receiving the garbage and other refuse downwardly inclined toward the center of the furnace is to bring the garbage nearest to the greatest point of heat and at the same time prevent clinkers from coming in contact with the sides of the highly-heated furnace, to which under other conditions they would adhere.

As before noted, either one or both incinerating-furna'ces 5 and 6 may be operated, and when both furnaces are in use the gases and products of combustion pass from the rear of the furnace 5 through an opening 27 into the furnace 6 immediately in rear of the bridgewall 12 of the'latter and under the tubular garbage or refuse receiving grate of the said furnace 6. By this means the gases and products of combustion from the furnace 5 are more intensely heated and taken up in the furnace 6 and pass, with the gases from the latter, through an opening 28 into the adjacent furnace 2 under the first boiler 1 of the battery of boilers and circulate under thesaid battery of boilers for heating the water in the latter to produce steam and power and finally escape into the main conduit or breeching 4 and then pass into the stack 1. Between the rear portion of the inner side of the furnace 5 and the rear extremity of the adjacent side of the furnace 6 is a by-pass conduit or flue 29, having a damper 30 near the wall of the I connected by angle-irons 34:. The several defurnace 5. The opening 27, forming communication between the rear of the furnace 5 and the furnace 6, will also be provided with a suitable damper 31 at times to control the joint operation ofthe two incinerating-furnaces. When the two incinerating-furnaces are in operation, the damper 30 of the bypass 29 is closed, thereby forcing the gas and products of combustion from the furnace 5 to pass into the furnace 6 directly in rear of the bridge-wall 12 of the latter furnace, as heretofore explained. If the furnace 5 alone is in operation, communication with the furnace 6 through the medium of the opening 27 is closed and the damper 3O opened, and under such arrangement the gases and products of combustion are liberated from the rear of the furnace 5 through the by-pass 29 and pass into the rear of the furnace 6 and then escape through the opening 28 into the adjacent furnace of the battery of boilers. It is also possible to use the furnace 6 alone without operating the furnace 5, and under these conditions the dampers 30 and 31 will be closed. When both furnaces are in operation, it will be obvious that the incinerating capacity of the plant is materially increased and the gases and products of combustion passing into the furnaces 2 of the battery of boilers 1 have a considerable volume, with increased effectiveness as a heating means for said battery of boilers. At the rear of each furnace, as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 2, an offset or break 32 is provided which forces the gases from the upper garbage or refuse receiving grates to pass down into the lower portion of the furnaces before escaping from the latter. By this means the unconsumed gases from the upper, cooler, and shorter furnace are forced down into the hotter and longer furnace below, where all gases are mingled and entirely consumed before being discharged from the first furnace into the second or from the second furnace into the boiler-furnaces, thus insuring more perfect combustion and aiding the draft. Furthermore, by introducing the heated gases immediately in rear of the bridgewall of the furnace 6 both the combustion and draft are greatly increased. This same point of introduction of the gases will also be carried out with respect to the furnace 2 under the first boiler 1.

It is proposed to use either natural or mechanical draft in connection with the furnaces, it being preferred to employ mechanical draft established by the usual means or through the medium of steam-jets. It is also preferable to have a platform structure over the top of the furnaces, onto which the garbage-carts are driven to permit the garbage to be directly dumped into the incinerating-furnaces.

The entire incinerating structure, including both furnaces, is inclosed by a sheet-iron casing 33, '(see Fig. 4,) having the parts thereof tails of construction, however, may be varied and the proportions and dimensions modified at will to accommodate plant structures having varying capacities.

Ash-doors 25 are also provided on both sides of the incinerating-furnaces in line with the Swill-pans, as. clearly shown by Fig. 1. The breechingt at regular intervals between the connections 3 will be provided with dampers 1 to permit the use of one or more of the boilers l, as may be desired. The opening 28 in the rear wall of the furnace is connected by a flue or conduit 28 with the boilers, said conduit continuing under the boilers and through the furnaces of the latter, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to deliver the products of combustion and gases from either one or both of the incinerating-furnaces to the most advantageous points within the said boiler-furnaces, and to entirely out off the incineratingfurnaces from the boiler -furnaces or battery of boilers and permit the latter to be used independently of the said incinerating-furnaces a damper 28 is suitably ar ranged in the opening 28 or in the flue 28*and exteriorly operative.

The advantages of the improved incinerating-furnaces and cooperating power-generating devices are manifold and have heretofore been partially set forth. One of the most essential advantages in the operation just explained is complete combustion and destruction of all offensive gases with an even distribution of heat throughout the entire area of each of the furnaces 5 and 6, thus insuring the destruction of all garbage dumped into the rear end of each furnace as fully as the garbage deposited near the fire. Convenience in arrangement and economy in expense of installment are also material points in view of the fact that any type of boiler in the battery of boilers may be used. The headers and water grates or members 17 are similar to those used in the ordinary downdraft-furnaces, and the remaining elements can all be bought in the open market and do not require aspecific construction to adapt them for use in the furnaces. No firebrick or tile is used in connec-' tion with the garbage-receiving grates, and the inconvenience resulting from the liquid or moist garbage contacting with highly-heated brick or tile is obviated.

The several parts of the incinerating-furnaces will be constructed in the most convenient and practical inanner; but a preferred construction or arrangement of the watergrates is illustrated by Fig. 5. As before described, the tubular members or grate-bars 17 are threaded into the intermediate or central enlarged header 19, and in applying the said tubular members or grate-bars they are inserted through openings 35 and 36 at diametrically opposite points in the outer headers 18, the upper ends of the said grate-bars being expanded into the lower openings 36 of said outer headers. The outer openings 35 have closing-nipples 37 and are of such diameter that the grate members 17 can be inserted therethrough and also through the openings 36, and after assemblage of the grate-bars in the manner set forth the nipples are applied to the said outer openings.

The most essential feature of the improved apparatus is the right-angular arrangement of the incinerating-furnaces 5 and 6, and the advantage gained by such disposition of the furnaces is the increased length of travel given the heated gases, permitting the incinerating-furnace 6, or second unit, to not only consume the unburned gases from the first furnace 5, but also to assist the draft and permit an easy firing of all the furnaces of both units. Another important advantage is the arrangement of the incinerating-furnaces in operative relation to the battery of boilers and their furnaces for practical employment or utilization of the waste gases for steamraising purposes, yet have the parts so constructed that the battery of boilers may be used alone at times when the incineratingfurnaces are not in operation. It has been found that no incinerating plant can be very successful if it does not provide for a utilization of the Waste gases and of the disposition of the incinerating-furnaces in angular relation as specified, whereby waste gases are given a greater range of travel and cumulative in the second incinerating-furnace or the latter nearest to the battery of boilers. Outer water jackets are also dispensed with, and the disadvantages incident to such jackets are overcome in the present incinerating-furnace structure by non-use of such devices. The use of an auxiliary furnace is not required in the present structure, and consequently the expense in this direction is further avoided, as well as the unsatisfactory operation of auxiliary furnaces.

The ashes deposited in the bottom of the incinerating-furnaces may be profitably disposed of and used for fertilizing purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An incinerating-furnace having a firegrate at one extremity, a garbage or refuse receiving grate disposed intermediatcly thereof and at a higher elevation than the [iregrate, a rear offset below the plane of the garbage or refuse receiving grate having an outlet means therethrough, the offset being in rear of both grates and reducing the vertical extent of the rear portion of the furnace and the outlet therethrough forming the sole escape for the products of combustion of both grates, and a second incinerating-furnace arranged at an angle to the first-named furnace and having communication with the outlet means through the said offset, the second incinerating-furnace also having rear outlet means.

2. An incinerating-furnace having "a firegrate at one extremity, a garbage or refuse receiving grate disposed intermediately thereof and at a higher elevation than the firegrate, a rear offset below the plane of the garbage or refuse receiving grate having outlet means therethrough, the offset being in rear of both grates and reducing the vertical extent of the rear portion of the furnace and the outlet therethrough forming the sole escape for the products of combustion from both grates, a second incinerating-furnace of similar construction arranged at an angle to the first-named furnace and having communication with the outlet means of the latter, and a by-pass connecting the outlet means of the first-named furnace and the rear extremity of the second furnace.

3. An incinerating-furnace having a firegrate at one extremity, an intermediate garbage or refuse receiving grate disposed at a higher elevation than the fire-grate, garbage or refuse receiving hoppers in the top of the furnace directly over the intermediate grate, a part of said hoppers having a greater diameter than the remaining ones, swill-pans removably disposed under the intermediate grate, and conduit means communicating with the pans and accessible from the exterior of the furnace.

4. An incinerating-furnace plant comprising individual incinerating-furnaces disposedin planes at right angles to each other and having flue communication between the rear of one furnace and the side of the other, the furnaces being capable of independent use and each having rear outlets provided with closing means, a battery of power-generating boilers and furnaces, the latter having direct communication with the rear outlet of one incinerating-furnace, a by-pass provided with closing means and connected to the rear of both incincrating-furnaces, whereby one or both of the latter furnaces may cooperate with the battery of generating boilers and furnaces, and outlet-conduit means forthe boiler-furnaces.

5. A plant of the class set forth consisting of incinerating-furnaces having flue communication with each other, power-generating mechanism comprising abattery of boilers and furnaces, the latter having direct communication with one of the incinerating-furnaces, and an exteriorly-located by-pass connected to one of the incinerating-furnaces and also communicating with the boiler-furnaces, the flue between the incinerating-furnaces and the by-pass having closing means.

6. A plant of the class set forth consisting of angularly disposed incinerating furnaces provided with communicating means to direct the gases and products of combustion of one to pass into the other, power-generating boilers and furnaces having direct communication with one of the incinerating-furnaces, an exteriorly-located by-pass connected to the other incinerating-furnace and also to the boilerfurnaces, and means for cutting off communication between the incinerating-furnaces and between the latter and the boiler-furnaces to permit independent operation of either of the incinerating-furnaces and the boiler-furnaces or of the boiler-furnaces independent of the incinerating-furnaces.

7. In a plant of the class set forth, two independently-operative incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to each other and having an opening directly between them and an exteriorly-located by-pass means connecting the same and located exteriorly of both furnaces, whereby either one or both furnaces may be operated, and power-generating boilers and furnaces having direct communication with one of the incinerating-furnaces and also in communication with the by-pass and adapted to receive the gases and products of combustion from either one or both of the said incinerating-furnaces.

8. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to each other and having communicating means consisting of openings in the rear of one furnace and through the side of the remaining furnace, and an exterior by-pass conduit connecting the rear portions of the two furnaces, combined with powergenerating boilers and furnaces in communication with the incinerating-furnaces, the latter and the power-generating furnaces being capable of independent operation.

9. Two incinerating-furnaces arranged in planes at right angles to each other and each having a fire-grate near the front extremity and an intermediate garbage or refuse receiving grate, an opening being formed between the rear end of one furnace and the side wall of the other furnace adjacent to the garbagereceiving grate, whereby the gases and products of combustion of one furnace may pass into the other, the furnace receiving the gases and products of combustion from the other also having a rear outlet means, an exteriorlylocated by-pass connected to the rear portions of both furnaces, means for cutting off communication between the furnace and also shutand power-generating boilers and furnaces with which one of the incinerating-furnaces has direct communication, the outlet connections of the tubular grates being connected to the boilers, the boilers and their furnaces and the incinerating-furnaces being capable of independent operation.

11. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to each other and each having a fire-grate and a garbage or refuse receiving grate, the rear end of the one furnace and the one side wall of the other furnace having a communicating opening therethrough, and both furnaces also connected by a by-pass conduit provided with a damper, the furnace having communication with the rear extremity of the remaining furnace being. provided with outlet means.

12. Two incinerating-furnaces disposed in planes at right angles to each other and having similar fire and garbage or refuse receiving grates, the garbage-receiving grates being tubular and having water inlet and outlet means at opposite extremities, the two furnaces having communicating means so that the gases and products of combustion of one will pass into the other for consumption, and powergenerating boilers and furnaces with which one of the incinerating-furnaces also has communication, the outlet connections of the tubular grates being attached to the boilers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH Gr. BRANCH.

Witnesses:

N. L. FRosT, WILLIAM R. HUDSON.

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