Abstract: A cremator having a pivotable hearth and a secondary moveable hearth displaceable along a primary chamber and a secondary chamber is disclosed. The pivotable hearth is rotated by means of an exterior hydraulic cylinder coupled to a pivotable hearth. The primary and secondary chamber are separated by an interior wall having a lower portion in close contact with the secondary moveable hearth. Means are provided for moving the secondary hearth from an initial position to sequentially a downward position, a sideways position, an upward position and a final sideways position corresponding to the initial position.

Abstract: A cremator is provided with a primary cremation chamber and a secondary cremation chamber adjacent to and in communication with the first chamber. A method of cremating bodies utilizing the apparatus disclosed wherein a body is eighty percent consumed in the primary chamber and is then moved to the secondary chamber wherein it is consumed together with the by-products of the cremation of a second body in the primary chamber. Cremation in the secondary chamber utilizes the heat of combustion of the second body in the primary chamber to increase the efficiency of the system.