Hopper Patents (Class 110/108)
  • Patent number: 10076733
    Abstract: A system and a method that utilizes wet proppants when creating fracturing fluid by receiving wet fracturing sand at a surge tank, vibrating the wet fracturing sand located within the surge tank, liquefying the wet fracturing sand within the surge tank based on the vibration, and metering the liquefied wet fracturing sand from the surge tank to a blending tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Morris, Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Michael Bateman, Neal Jensen
  • Patent number: 10022686
    Abstract: A system and a method that utilizes wet proppants when creating fracturing fluid by receiving wet fracturing sand at a surge tank, vibrating the wet fracturing sand located within the surge tank, liquefying the wet fracturing sand within the surge tank based on the vibration, and metering the liquefied wet fracturing sand from the surge tank to a blending tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Morris, Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Michael Bateman, Neal Jensen
  • Patent number: 9750366
    Abstract: A container for a beverage-preparation device includes a storage chamber for pulverulent material, a discharge opening in a chamber wall, a conveying element which extends in a direction of transport, adjoins the opening, is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and is situated in the chamber, and a dispensing duct which adjoins the opening, is situated at least partly outside the chamber, has a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal direction which runs at an angle with respect to the transport direction, the conveying element extending at least substantially as far as the dispensing duct. A flexible elongate scraping member is rotatably connected to the conveying element by its first end and extends in the longitudinal direction from the conveying element into the dispensing duct. The scraping member, which may be configured to be helical, prevents pulverulent material from sticking against the inner wall, while ensuring good conveying and metering action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: BRAVILOR HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Yann Mabrouki
  • Patent number: 9140448
    Abstract: A vibratory feed mechanism for pellet fuel combustion device provides a spring-mounted feed plate communicating with a fuel reservoir and vibrated by an electric motor carrying an offset counterweight to move pelletized fuel from a first position on the feed plate to a feed orifice defined in the feed plate for communication of the pelletized fuel to a metering channel and a drop tube for conveyance to a fire pot. A control board communicating with an igniter, at least one thermocouple, a combustion fan, and the electric motor allow a user to set a desired parameter which controls the rate of pelletized fuel feed and temperature and operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Mark D. Freeman
  • Patent number: 8893878
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pump that includes a first belt and a second belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of a passage there between. There is an inlet at one end of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, with a passage length that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The passage defines a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the passage inlet. A hopper includes an interior space that terminates at a mouth at the passage inlet. At least one screw is located within the interior space of the hopper and includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 8640633
    Abstract: A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house includes a firebox for burning biomass fuel, and a grate within the firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon. A distributor assembly may positioned within the firebox and is located directly above the grate. The distributor assembly includes a distributor plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a distributor arm above the distributor plate that is movable relative to the distributor plate to cause biomass fuel supported on the plate to pass through the apertures and fall onto the grate. The furnace system may include a hopper assembly that defines a well for receiving a volume of biomass fuel for delivery to the grate or to the distributor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Jimmie C. Raley, Jeremy S. Lord, Timothy A. Mann, Gerald D. Stimson, Anthony B. Tranquill, Charles E. Wood, Donald W. Cox
  • Patent number: 8479720
    Abstract: A new and useful heating device is provided, that is particularly characterized by the efficient way it provides combustion of a carbon based fuel (e.g. wood). A vertically oriented combustion chamber is configured with a relatively narrow, lower portion, a relatively wider upper portion, and a vertically oriented wall structure defining the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Oscar Enrique Figueroa
  • Patent number: 8393281
    Abstract: A particle feeder is provided for feeding small particles at a uniform low feed rate. In some embodiments, the particle feeder includes a primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir, and a valve. The primary reservoir encloses an internal volume for holding particles and defining a hole through a bottom surface thereof. The valve includes a rod enclosed within and extending through the volume defined by the primary reservoir. The rod is movable between an open position, wherein particles can flow through the hole, and a closed position, wherein the rod blocks the hole. The actuator controls the movement of the rod between the open position and the closed position. The secondary reservoir has an internal volume, and a conduit for connecting the internal volume of the secondary reservoir with the internal volume of primary reservoir, such that particles can flow from the secondary reservoir into the primary reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Wei-Yin Chen, George Gowan
  • Publication number: 20110259253
    Abstract: A design and method of operation for the floor of solid fuel boilers is described. The combustion region includes a stepped-floor that improves combustion in the lower furnace. In some embodiments, the fuel is moved between the steps of the floor by a gas, rather than by mechanical means, and the fuel is moved from an upper to a lower step as it is burned. In some embodiments, the steps are fixed steps having a layer of a refractory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Higgins, Eugene Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7976593
    Abstract: A gasifier and gasifier system based on the gasifier, which contains as a major component, a novel feed system for feeding organic materials into the burn pile of the gasifier. The gasifier feed system is a horizontal auger driven feed system that feeds directly through a ceramic elbow into the furnace without having to auger the feed through significant vertical elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Heat Transfer International, LLC
    Inventor: Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 7861707
    Abstract: A pellet stove utilizing gravity feed and natural draft more effectively and efficiently burns pellet fuel while producing less air pollution and ash. In one embodiment, the pellet stove has a primary combustion area comprising a burn unit removably disposed in the vent tube, a feed tube defining a fuel chamber above the burn unit and a secondary combustion area, comprising a burn box defining a secondary burn chamber, below the burn unit. The burn unit has a removable receptacle which defines a primary burn chamber that receives pellet fuel from the fuel chamber and discharges substantially burned fuel to the secondary burn chamber for additional burning. Openings in the burn box, pellet receptacle and vent tube draw air into the burn chambers. A control mechanism controls the air flow to regulate the heat generated by the pellet stove. The pellet stove can be manufactured in various aesthetically pleasing designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Gary Wisener
  • Publication number: 20100251973
    Abstract: A fluid heat exchange system with a fluid flow circuit having a heat exchange fluid flow loop, a heat absorption component (as in a domestic hot water tank inclusive of small commercial use tanks as in tanks of 20 to 120 gallons), a heat exchanger and preferably also a pump. A controlled and automated fuel supply source based heater (as in a pellet stove) is in heat passage communication with the said heat exchanger. A control unit triggers activation of the pump upon fluid in the heat absorption component reaching or dropping below a preset temperature, and the fluid flow circuit is arranged such that, during times of non-activation of the pump, fluid is free to flow in a unidirectional flow within the fluid circuit based on thermodynamic temperature differentials alone. A retrofitting of a domestic hot water tank is also featured preferably making use of preexisting drain and safety vent porting for in-feed and out-feed porting in the exchange loop side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth A. DONGO, Timothy CURRAN
  • Patent number: 7762199
    Abstract: A feeder assembly (28) for projecting solid fuel, such as coal (24), into a combustion chamber (11) of a furnace (10) includes a distributor (44) and a feeder (42) disposed in a housing (40). The distributor (44) includes a rotor (48) having blades (46) extending outwardly therefrom, and the rotor (48) is rotatable to project the solid fuel into the combustion chamber (11). The feeder (42) includes a conveyor assembly (50) for providing the solid fuel to the rotor (48). The housing (40) includes an aperture (41) disposed therein, through which the solid fuel is projected into the combustion chamber (11). The housing (40) also includes a portion (45) movable between: a first position wherein the aperture (41) is open to allow the solid fuel to be projected into the combustion chamber (11), and a second position wherein the movable portion (45) closes the aperture (41) to shield the rotor (48) from heat emitted from the combustion chamber (11) and allow maintenance and/or replacement of the distributor (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Richard M. Matysik, James C. Nelligan, Todd L. Albertson, Michael J. Grochowski
  • Patent number: 7686011
    Abstract: The invention relates to heating units mounted on a window of an existing building. Flue gases are expelled outside of the building without the need for wall modifications or an extra chimney. The actual burn chamber is mounted on a window mounting unit with an interior support which extends into the building thereby heating the air inside the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: United States Stove Company
    Inventor: Paul Williams
  • Patent number: 7624690
    Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: eco/Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: E. Larry Beaumont, Edward P. Champagne, Joseph A. Giardina, Chester L. Halek, Joseph W. McCarthy, Kevin J. O'Rourke, E. Scott Porter, Mark N. Rice, Kevin G. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 7621227
    Abstract: A granular biomass burning furnace for use with any appropriate granular biomass, such as grains, cherry pits, etc. The furnace includes a three stage heat exchanger, a fuel injector, a fuel stirrer, an ash ejector, a wash down system, a three stage air inducer, a fuel igniter, and supporting components. The unit includes a computer controller which controls all aspects of the operation of the unit based on information from sensors located throughout the unit. The unit includes a smart logic thermal controller to adjust the output heat of the unit via a variable speed air inducer. The three stage heat exchanger system includes a spiral water jacket surrounding the burn pot, a plurality of heat exchanger baffles in the unit, and a fine finned heat exchanger at the top of the unit. The air inducer provides air to the burn pot from three directions to promote complete combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin K. Sterr
  • Publication number: 20090092465
    Abstract: A multiple hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the shaft furnace by rotating a distribution member about a central axis of the shaft furnace and at least two hoppers arranged in parallel and offset from the central axis above the rotary distribution device. Each hopper has a lower funnel part ending in an outlet portion and each hopper has a material gate valve with a shutter member associated to its outlet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Guy Thillen, Claude Thinnes, Jeannot Loutsch
  • Publication number: 20090087284
    Abstract: A three hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the furnace by rotating a distribution member about the furnace central axis and a first, a second and a third hopper arranged in parallel above the rotary distribution device and offset from the central axis. A sealing valve housing is arranged between the hoppers and the distribution device. It has a top part with a first, a second and a third inlet respectively communicating with the first, the second and the third hopper. A first, a second and a third sealing valve are provided in the top part. Each sealing valve includes a flap which is pivotable between a closed sealing position and an open parking position. The sealing valve housing also has a funnel shaped bottom part with an outlet communicating with the distribution device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Guy Thillen, Jean Gidt, Patrick Hutmacher
  • Patent number: 7461604
    Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: eco/Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: E. Larry Beaumont, Edward P. Champagne, Joseph A. Giardina, Chester L. Halek, Joseph W. McCarthy, Kevin J. O'Rourke, E. Scott Porter, Mark N. Rice, Kevin G. Rousseau
  • Publication number: 20080282946
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for high temperature heat treatment of combustible material comprising a pyrolysis chamber (41) and a combustion chamber (42). The full combustion of the combustible material produces gas at high temperature that is sent to the pyrolysis chamber in order to raise the temperature of pyrolysis. This associated to the introducing water vapour, through a duct (6), and of air, through a duct (7), in pyrolysis chamber (41) produce semiwater gas that is then burnt in combustion chamber (42) by feeding a current (8) of a fluid containing oxygen to raise the combustion temperature in order to carry out the process to temperature that assures the molecular break of the totality of the toxic substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Enzo Morandi
  • Patent number: 7426891
    Abstract: A simplified energy producing system that utilizes natural animal waste and/or by-products and converts such waste into a usable clean energy source. The system incorporates a grinder/dehydration system, waste transport, a holding container, fuel air regulator, and a novel combustion heat regulator in combination. Thus, after the waste has been treated, combusted and incinerated, intense heat is produced that is usable via heat exchange for production of electrical energy and also a fine fly ash is produced usable for environmentally friendly purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald E. Loving
  • Patent number: 7305924
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering biomass fuel to a structure through an external wall of the structure is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hopper disposed within a delivery vehicle. The hopper includes an inlet disposed on its top surface to receive biomass fuel and an outlet located proximate the bottom of the hopper to release the fuel by opening a gate valve. A delivery hose is connected to the hopper outlet at one end and is sealably connectable at its other end to an externally accessible coupling disposed on an external wall of the structure to which fuel is to be delivered. The coupling is connected on the interior side of the external wall to a delivery pipe that connects to a fuel bin for storing the biomass fuel. Sensors within the bin can signal the operator when the level of fuel within the bin reaches a preselected level, allowing the operator to stop delivery when the bin is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Step Saver, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J Steffl, Joel W. McCoy
  • Patent number: 7128004
    Abstract: A supplying apparatus supplies a combustible material capable of enhancing the sealing effects of a supplying system for supplying a combustible material, such as combustible wastes, to a fluidized-bed chamber, stably supplies a combustible material having an undefined shape, and reduces cost for installation. A facility is also provided for gasifying a combustible material using the supplying apparatus for supplying a combustible material, and a method of gasifying combustible materials is also provided. The supplying apparatus supplies a combustible material onto the fluidized bed of a fluidized-bed gasifier chamber or a fluidized-bed combustion chamber. A screw conveyor is inclined, with transportation of the combustible material directed upward, at an angle of 20 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less with respect to a horizontal plane, causing a bed material to flow into a conveyor casing of the screw conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Tatsuya Hasegawa, Katsutoshi Naruse, Yasuhiro Sawada, Koh Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6928936
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for feeding pulverized coal to a furnace, such as a drop tube furnace. The feeding system consists of a feed hopper, a pneumatic vibrator positioned on the periphery of the feeder hopper, a needle valve arrangement in the said feed hopper, a depth gauge micrometer, a distribution chamber with primary and secondary airline at the bottom of the said feed hopper. Adjusting the pressure of compressed air allows setting of the frequency of vibration of the pneumatic vibrator. The needle valve arrangement in conjunction with the vibratory hopper controls the feed rate. The rate of coal flow is measured by the depth gauge micrometer. The distribution chamber with primary and secondary airline at the bottom of the said feed hopper allows uniform mixing of air with coal before being charged into the furnace reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Ashis Mukherjee, Subhasis Biswas, Manish Kumar, Santi Gopal Sahu, Nandita Choudhury, Ashim Choudhury, Kalyan Sen
  • Publication number: 20040231574
    Abstract: An apparatus 1 for disposal of wastes comprises a measuring hopper 2 for measuring a charging amount of a waste to be disposed such as domestic wastes, industrial wastes or the like or a charging amount of a solid fuel such as coke, coal or the like, a charging hopper 3 for charging the waste and the solid fuel respectively measured with the measuring hopper 2, a melting furnace 4 for melting the waste charged from the charging hopper 3 at a high temperature to conduct detoxification thereof, and a charging damper 5 arranged between the charging hopper 3 and the melting furnace 4 and having a multistage sluice valve system 9 capable of charging the waste and the solid fuel charged in the charging hopper 3 into the melting furnace 4 without outflowing of a furnace gas to exterior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Shouichi Kume
  • Publication number: 20040129262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner for solid fuel containing a space for a solid fuel to be burned, in which solid fuel space the flow of gas is arranged to be possible. The burner comprises at least one fire pipe (3,13) inside the solid fuel space, through the wall of which a possibility for gas flow is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Paulu Pieti
  • Patent number: 6739331
    Abstract: A charcoal dispensing system for storing and dispensing charcoal. The charcoal dispensing system includes a bin member being designed for receiving and storing charcoal. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the bin member. The dispensing assembly is designed for permitting charcoal to be dispensed from the bin member when the dispensing assembly is actuated by the user. A receiving member is selectively coupled to the bin member. The receiving member is in communication with the dispensing assembly whereby the receiving member is designed for receiving the charcoal dispensed by the dispensing assembly. The receiving member is designed for being carried by the user to dispense the charcoal into the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Frederick Cohen
  • Patent number: 6386124
    Abstract: A waste treatment system for solidifying and increasing the speed at which manure would dry. The waste treatment system includes support members; and also includes an elongate tubular member being mounted upon the support members and having an inlet end and an outlet end and having a bore being disposed therethrough; and further includes a waste holding/compressing assembly being mounted to the elongate tubular member; and also includes an incineration/discharge assembly being disposed in and about the elongate tubular member for incinerating waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Dale T. Norquist
  • Patent number: 6223737
    Abstract: A pellet fuel burner, such as a cooking grill, has a fire box with a generally open top plane. A pellet burner unit is disposed in the fire box below the cooking surface. A pellet feeding device opens into the fire box and is disposed so as to feed pellets into the burner unit. A pressure box has an inlet supplied with combustion air at a positive pressure. A plurality of outlets are provided in the pressure box and disposed so as to create a turbulent combustion air flow in the pellet burner unit. The outlets may include a first outlet disposed above the burner unit and a second outlet disposed below the burner unit. The turbulent combustion air flow and supply of pellets, particularly corn kernels from the pellet feeding device allow for a continuous sustained combustion of the fuel in the pellet burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Carrol E. Buckner
  • Patent number: 5941234
    Abstract: A combustion cage for pellet fuel is an inclined container having at least one wall surrounding a bottom and a support structure. The surrounding wall and bottom of the container have a plurality of holes throughout imparting a hole-to-surface ratio of at least 40% to the wall and bottom. The support structure supports the inclined container in a fixed, inclined position with reference to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Energex Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Norburn, Darryl R. Rose
  • Patent number: 5806441
    Abstract: An automatic carbon black discharging device for a waste tire decomposing apparatus including a collecting hopper connected to a carbon black discharging portion of the waste tire decomposing apparatus. The automatic carbon black discharging device also includes a plurality of sensors respectively disposed at vertically equidistantly divided positions of the collecting hopper and adapted to sense maximum, normal and minimum levels of carbon black collected in the collecting hopper, thereby stopping or driving a drive motor for driving a feeding screw included in the waste tire decomposing apparatus. The carbon black is left in the collecting hopper in a minimum amount provide a sealing effect which prevents external air from entering into the device. When the amount of carbon black collected in the collecting hopper corresponds to the maximum level of the collecting hopper, the driving motor is controlled to increase its rotating speed, thereby increasing the discharge rate of carbon black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Yong-jae Chung
  • Patent number: 5655463
    Abstract: A furnace includes a decomposition chamber configured to form a fire pit for controlled decomposition of combustible waste material, a preheat chamber connected to and located generally above the decomposition chamber, and an afterburn chamber operably connected to an outlet on the decomposition chamber. The decomposition chamber includes an inlet for allowing controlled input of air to the decomposition chamber to create an oxygen-starved environment. The outlet is positioned generally opposite the inlet on the decomposition chamber and adjacent the fire pit such that the gases from the preheat chamber and the decomposition chamber flow generally across the decomposition chamber and through the burning/decomposing waste materials in the fire pit. The afterburn chamber chamber operates with a vacuum such that the gases and vapors from the preheat chamber and the decomposition chamber are drawn through the fire pit such that they are treated by the hot decomposing matter in the fire pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Douglas Nagel
    Inventor: Lewis D. Good
  • Patent number: 5485812
    Abstract: A refuel mechanism for refueling solids into a reaction chamber, operating at pressure, is described which is capable of premixing several different solid materials before inserting these premixed materials into the reaction chamber. A number of hoppers, containing the differing solid materials, feed these solids together, via proportioning and transfer apparatus, into premixers. The final premix of the several differing solids is then inserted into the pressurized reactor by a refuel mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph C. Firey
  • Patent number: 5454333
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously feeding hazardous waste fuels having a relatively high solids content to a rotary cement kiln by delivering the fuel to a feed hopper with screw-conveyor which transfers the fuel to a filling zone where a piston pump capable of pumping a composition having a solids content of at least 40% with particle sizes up to a maidmum of 2 inches continuously charges the fuel through a conveyance tube into a feed tube which introduces the fuel into the kiln through the feed end housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Southdown, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Michael Von Seebach, E. J. Marston, III
  • Patent number: 5415110
    Abstract: A refuse incinerator includes an installation with two covered hoppers connected at their lower ends by a movable plate to a combustion chamber. A series of plates have been placed in the combustion chamber and have a cadenced movement for moving and oxygenating refuse being incinerated. Cars are located beside the chamber, into which cars the refuse eventually falls. The refuse is later sorted. A boiler is heated by combustion gases, and a series of tanks and containers filter the combustion gases before their release to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Antonio Teles De Menezes Junior
  • Patent number: 5411714
    Abstract: A thermal conversion pyrolysis reactor system (10) is provided for use in providing a continuous flow type pyrolysis reaction for conversion of carbonizable input materials ("MW") (12). The reactor system (10) utilizes a diffusion material ("MD") (14) which is preheated and admixed with the MD (12) in order to facilitate pyrolysis and to partially catalyze reactions. Subsystems are provided to receive gaseous (30), liquid (32) and solid (32) phase outputs. The reactor system (10) includes further component subsystems for waste material MW input (22), MD input (26), reactor chamber (24), and heating (28). The MD (14) is preheated by being carried through the reactor chamber (64) prior to admixing with the MW (12) and further by exhaust gases (94) from the furnace space (88) being directed through a heat exchanger (126).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventors: Arthur C. Wu, Sabrina C. Chen
  • Patent number: 5357877
    Abstract: A particulate delivery system is disclosed for particulate burners in which a hopper is provided for supplying particulate fuel to a hopper discharge opening. A rotating turntable is provided below the hopper discharge opening and includes at least one and preferably a plurality of flexible resilient vanes rotating with the turntable. A wall partially encircles the vanes and is closed on its bottom end by the upper surface of the turntable. The wall includes a lateral discharge opening that facilitates controlled discharge of the particulate fuel over the peripheral edge of the turntable. A chute receives the discharged particulate material, and drops it into a burn pot of the associated particulate burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventors: David L. Nuesmeyer, Gary W. Brondt
  • Patent number: 5261335
    Abstract: An automatic firebox provided with a fuel hopper that delivers fuel through a pivoting funnel to a grate burning area. The grate burning area is provided with at least one pivoting fuel grate which operates automatically in sequence with the fuel feed and hopper so as to provide automatic stoking. An automatic control operated by temperature and/or time is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Inventor: Leslie Blevins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5251607
    Abstract: A pellet-fired cooking grill which includes a housing having a grill chamber defined within it. Tubular structure extends downwardly from the base of the chamber and defined within this structure is a burning zone. A hopper holding pellet fuel disposed above and adjacent the burning zone supplied pellets through a gravity operated chute to the burning zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventors: Joseph P. Traeger, Mark A. Traeger, Randolph J. Traeger
  • Patent number: 5183028
    Abstract: A pellet fuel burning apparatus which includes a housing and a display chamber defined within the housing. Window structure enables viewing of the interior of the chamber from outside the housing. Pellet fuel is burned in a zone remote from the display chamber. Flames and gaseous combustion products from the pellet fuel fire are channel upwardly into the display chamber against simulated logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventors: Joseph P. Traeger, Mark A. Traeuger, Randolph J. Traeger
  • Patent number: 5144939
    Abstract: An orchard heater burns wood or other biomass pellets substantially without the production of soot or smudge. The heater assembly includes demountable, telescoping components including a combustion chamber, a chimney, a firebox, and a hopper. Combination air- and fuel-flow control means control the combustion process. An oven or a grill attachment may be included in the assembly for cooking purposes, if so desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Ernest W. Christopherson
  • Patent number: 5074225
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding solid material, e.g. wood in a wood-burning furnace, has a pair of rollers. The rollers are rotatably mounted, so as to be generally horizontal and substantially parallel to one another. The rollers are spaced apart to permit the solid material to fall between them. Thus, in a furnace, they are far enough apart to permit logs to fall from a store into a combustion chamber, but are also sufficiently close that, in the absence of roller motion, the material tends to bridge between the rollers. A drive is provided for rotating the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: A. Stephen Petrie
  • Patent number: 5046643
    Abstract: A storage bin arrangement especially suited for receiving, storing and discharging, in accordance with a combination of induced vertical flow and impelled retrieving concepts, bulk solid materials, in one embodiment of which essentially the entire bin itself is arranged for responding to a circular conveying type vibratory helical stroke movement generated by a pair of electric motors secured to the opposite sides of the bin in oppositely oriented positions to dispose their respective driving shafts at opposite, typically 45 degree angulations with respect to the horizontal, and with each such motor shaft driving a pair of eccentrically oriented weights, with the bin having a low profile bottom section equipped with one or more off center located, vertically oriented, vertically rectilinear, discharge chute arrangements and having one or more internally applied baffles, either of inverted cone type or one or more rows or levels of internally applied centerless, radial, sidewall mounted type, in spaced relatio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Kinergy Corporation
    Inventor: George D. Dumbaugh
  • Patent number: 4991519
    Abstract: An incinerating furnace which utilizes mineral particles as a hearth bed. Hearth particles are supplied and automatically flow down by gravity into the combustion chamber and onto a movable plane member, such as a rotary table, disposed at the bottom of the furnace. A mixture of used hearth particles and the combustion remainder is removed from the outlet of the furnace as the movable plane member moves and introduced into a receiving tank. Supplemental hearth particles are supplied from a hopper into the combustion chamber and form an oblique hearth bed where incineration takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Shigeru Saitoh
  • Patent number: 4989521
    Abstract: A gravity operated burner for particulate fuel. Fuel held in a hopper drops downwardly through a fuel tube to fall on an inclined chute. The chute feeds a shelf where burning takes place in a high heat zone. Material on the shelf stops unhindered flow of fuel down the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventors: Joseph P. Traeger, Mark A. Traeger, Randolph J. Traeger
  • Patent number: 4941414
    Abstract: A pellet fired stove has a rotating fuel feed cylinder for reliably and uniformly transporting pellet fuel from a hopper to the stove's combustion chamber. An open upstream end of the rotatable hollow feed cylinder communicates with a hopper containing solid fuel, such as wood pellets. The downstream end of the cylinder opens into a fuel chute leading to the combustion chamber. The fuel pellets from the hopper spill into the rotating hollow feed cylinder and form a sloping pellet bank within the cylinder. The rotation of the cylinder agitates the sloping bank of fuel sufficiently to cause a uniform quantity of fuel per cylinder revolution to be separated from the fuel bank and discharged from the cylinder into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventor: Timothy R. Carlson
  • Patent number: 4878797
    Abstract: The process is intended to compensate for the random movements and inclinations of a loading installation of a shaft furnace having a storage lock chamber which is carried by a framework independent of the shaft furnace and which is connected to the shaft furnace by use of a compensator. In accordance with this process, the lateral shifts of the head of the furnace in relation to the lock chamber are detected, and the storage lock chamber is inclined until the axis of the falling path of the charge material corresponds to the shifted central axis (0') of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventor: Emile Lonardi
  • Patent number: 4865016
    Abstract: An automatic log feeder for fireplaces is provided which includes an upper horizontal conveyor, an intermediate carriage mechanism and a lower horizontal conveyor. The upper horizontal conveyor is used to store a plurality of logs outside of a building and to advance individual logs through the feeder as desired. Through use of a unique guide rail and rail following bracket the intermediate carriage mechanism receives individual logs from the upper conveyor and lowers them to the lower conveyor while simultaneously changing orientation of the individual logs by 90.degree. before depositing them onto the lower conveyor. The lower conveyor is adapted to automatically advance individual logs into the fireplace in a cantilevered fashion before gently tipping them onto the fireplace grating, or, allows for manual removal of the log from the lower conveyor through an access door extending to the interior of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: Joseph L. Landry
  • Patent number: 4844289
    Abstract: A storage bin arrangement especially suited for bulk solid material storing and discharge in accordance with impelled retrieving concepts, in one embodiment of which essentially the entire bin itself is arranged for responding to a circular conveying type vibratory helical stroke movement generated by a pair of electric motors secured to the opposite sides of the bin in oppositely oriented positions to dispose their respective driving shafts at opposite, typically, 45 degree angulations with respect to the horizontal, and with each such motor shaft driving a pair of eccentrically oriented weights, with the bin having a low profile bottom section equipped with one or more vertically oriented, vertically rectilinear, discharge chute arrangements and having one or more inverted cone inserts applied internally thereof in spaced relation above the bin low profile bottom section, and in a second embodiment, a bin actuator having the features indicated above is mounted below a large discharge opening in a convention
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kinergy Corporation
    Inventor: George D. Dumbaugh
  • Patent number: 4829911
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for burning combustibles, particularly garbage and coal, in such a manner as to prevent the venting of unwanted pollutants into the atmosphere and for recovering valuable resources. The combustibles are burned in a rotating inclined furnace; solids and molten metals are extracted at the discharge end of the furnace; the discharged gases are passed through a boiler for extracting heat therefrom and generating steam; the discharged gases are liquified by sequential cooling and the so-liquified products removed while preventing discharge of gases into the atmosphere; the remaining gases are passed through a second boiler for further extraction of heat and steam generation and further extraction of liquified products; and the effluent gases are passed into subsequent apparatus for removing any remaining pollutants and for the recovering of resources in accordance with Nielson U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,341.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Jay P. Nielson