Abstract: The rolling track comprises a series of rollers which are supported by a fixed reinforcement and on which travels the circular pedestal of the hopper. This circular pedestal is equipped with a toothed ring in order to be driven in rotary movement about its vertical axis. The rollers are grouped in pairs, and each pair of rollers is carried by an axle pivotable about a radial axis; with each of the rollers being carried in its axle by floating bearings mounted on springs.

Abstract: The hopper comprises a cylindrical side wall supported by an annular rolling ring so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis, and a funnel shaped bottom with a central outflow orifice controlled by a valve. To allow rapid removal of the rolling ring, the bottom is separated from the side wall and rests freely on an inner edge of the latter. An apparatus is provided for raising the bottom within the wall and for lifting the side wall slightly from the rolling ring.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to stoves, to devices for heating that use sawdust, ground corn cobs and other suitable materials gravity fed through a conical truncated feeder-hopper into a firebox. The heat generated raises the temperature of a tubular cylindrical structure that contains or encloses the firebox and directs gaseous by-products along its longitudinal axis to an upturned, upwardly disposed second terminal end that effects a ninety degree elbow turn, becoming a flue extension. A variety of secondary devices may be affixed to the basic heat generator or stove to provide for a variety of applications.

Abstract: System and method for burning wood and other fuel materials in a substantially smokeless manner. The fuel material is fed to the inlet end of an inverse pile burning chamber through an air lock chamber having inlet and outlet gates to prevent smoke from escaping from the inlet end of the burning chamber. The burning chamber is inclined in a downward direction from its inlet end to its outlet end, and the angle of inclination can be adjusted to facilitate the passage of different types of fuel material through the burning chamber. Combustion gases from the burning chamber are utilized for drying the fuel material before the material is delivered to burning chamber.

Abstract: A new and improved system for feeding solid particulate material such as refuse derived fuel for burning in a combustion reactor vessel such as a boiler includes a fuel injector chute having a lower end for directing a flow of said solid particulate material into the vessel and an upper end for receiving a flow of said material. A feeder is provided having a discharge end for delivering a continuous controllable flow of said material to the inlet of the injector chute and a plurality of separate, spaced apart, vibratory feed hoppers are mounted above the feeder to supply the feeder with a steady flow of material from one or both hoppers. Each hopper is adapted for holding a reservoir or supply of said solid particulate material and is selectively controllable to provide a steady flow of solid particulate material into the feeder for delivery through the injector chute to the combustion reactor vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluidizing combustible material and feeding it to the burner of a furnace is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conventional hopper with a tubular element coupled to the lower most portion of a conical portion thereof. A fluidizing gas delivery apparatus is provided so as to deliver fluidizing gas to the bottom tube. Fluidizing nozzles are also preferably provided at symmetrically spaced circumferential portions of the conical portion of the hopper. With this apparatus, powdered material that is fed to the hopper is fluidized by the fluidizing gas and may be delivered to the burner of a furnace from the bottom tube of the fluidized bed feeder like a liquid and may be readily ignited in the burner and burned completely within the furnace.

Abstract: A fixed bed dry bottom coal gasifier has a cylindrical wall providing a gasification chamber for gasifying coal to produce synthesis gas. It also has a coal lock above the chamber. The coal lock has a coal discharge opening leading into the chamber. A gas outlet leads from the chamber at a high level. The gasifier further includes a first static coal distributor located in the gasification chamber below the coal discharge opening of the coal lock and a second static coal distributor located below the first coal distributor. The first coal distributor has an upper opening spaced with vertical clearance from the coal discharge opening, a lower opening spaced from the upper opening, and an upwardly directed peripheral coal distributing surface flaring downwardly outwardly from said upper opening and extending beyond the vertical projection of the periphery defining the coal discharge opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combusting solid fuel by introducing a mixture of fuel particles and carrier fluid into a reaction chamber near the center of one end of a combustion chamber and injecting oxidizer gas tangentially into the chamber to establish a swirling flow of gas, fuel particles, and combustion products within a region adjacent the chamber walls. The mass flow rates of oxidizer gas and fuel are regulated to maintain a relatively oxygen-rich stoichiometry within an annular region and a relatively fuel-rich stoichiometry within a central region, and to cause flow of the oxidizer gas and combustion products thru the reaction chamber with throughput residence times of the order of a few hundred milliseconds. This combination of a fuel-rich core portion and a relatively oxygen-rich annular zone effects oxidation of most of the carbon content of the fuel before it reaches the walls and avoids reduction of metal compounds in the fuel, all without overall excess-air combustion.

Abstract: A device for supplying solid fuel to a furnace comprises a cell wheel (16) for receiving fuel portions in the cells (19) open axially. The cell wheel is rotatably mounted between two stationary end walls (12, 13) forming two openings (20, 21) facing each other, one of the end walls having an outlet socket (23) at the opening therein. A mechanism (27, 33) is provided to rotate the cell wheel step by setp, and a transfer element (50, 51) is displaceable through a cell when located between the openings, for supplying the fuel contained therein through the outlet socket to the furnace. A shut-off member (43) is provided to shut off the passage through the socket in co-ordination with the movement of the transfer element.

Abstract: A furnace adapted to burn wood chips and wood particles and including an inner cylinder adapted to be positioned in horizontal relation and including a primary combustion area. A funnel assembly is provided for supporting a quantity of wood particles and for funneling the wood particles into the primary combustion area of the inner cylinder. A second cylinder is also provided, the second cylinder having a length greater than that of the inner cylinder and having one end which surrounds the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder and the second cylinder define an air space therebetween. The other end of the second cylinder defines a secondary combustion area where the combustion gases from the primary combustion area are mixed with secondary air.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for feeding solid fuel from a storage silo or equivalent to a solid fuel-using heating boiler. The feeding apparatus comprises a piston, which has been disposed to carry out a reciprocating motion within a tube which through an aperture communicates with the solid fuel storage silo or equivalent, and which communicates by its other end with the heating boiler. With a view to accomplishing the feeding of the solid fuel with reliable certainty, before the piston, in the feeding apparatus of the invention there has been provided in the lower part of the storage silo or equivalent, a rotatably disposed vane.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a furnace for consuming solid fuel, such as wood, which comprises a gravitational feed chute for feeding the solid fuel in a combustion chamber; the chute has an open lower feed end adjoining the combustion chamber, the feed end being equipped with a plurality of flexible spaced retaining elements which serve to support the load of solid fuel in the chute; air nozzles are provided in the combustion chamber facing the feed end of the chute to create a circulation forcing combustion gases to pass through a zone of high temperature in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A powered downdraft type combustion unit which substantially completely gasifies the fuel burned therein during the combustion process and produces a maximum amount of usable heat for utilization at a location remote from the combustion unit is provided. The present combustion unit includes a heavily insulated outer shroud enclosing insulated sequential combustion chambers to prevent heat loss from the combustion chambers. A primary combustion chamber is separated from a secondary combustion chamber by a plurality of refractory grates. Fuel is fed to the primary combustion chamber to be combusted therein, and the products of this stage of combustion then pass to the secondary combustion chamber where the combustion process is completed. The heat-containing combustion gases are directed from the secondary combustion chamber to a heat utilizing appliance through a conduit connected therebetween.

Abstract: A gravity operated conical hopper having a sliding closure plate which is pneumatically activated as soon as the hopper has been emptied. An apparatus and method is also disclosed for pneumatically detecting and automatically closing the hopper to stop the flow of contained material after material has been discharged to a particular level.

Abstract: An automatic log feeder is provided which includes a hopper for retaining a plurality of logs. The hopper includes a plurality of generally parallel and vertically arranged compartments which are adapted to each hold a single row of logs. The hopper has a chute at its lowermost portion for dispensing individual logs onto a generally vertically arranged conveyor. The vertically arranged conveyor comprises an endless chain driven by a motor and a plurality of sprocket wheels, and a plurality of pairs of brackets which are foldably connected to the chain. Each of the bracket pairs is adapted to receive a single log from the chute. Additionally, the generally horizontally arranged conveyor is positioned beneath the generally vertically arranged conveyor and is adapted to transfer logs to a wood burning apparatus. The generally horizontally arranged conveyor comprises a motor driven push log for moving the logs in a horizontal fashion.

Abstract: An improved process of the type wherein a fuel is first pyrolyzed in a chamber (14) and the resulting volatiles and non-volatiles then transferred to a combustion region (18) for burning, the improvement comprising temporarily storing at least a portion of the volatiles in an enclosure (24) spaced from the chamber (14) and the combustion region (18) when volatiles production exceeds the volatiles incineration capability of the combustion region. Apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The furnace includes an upstanding hopper-like member having an increasing cross-sectional area from a fuel inlet at its upper end to a hollow box-like grate releasably and removably mounted within its lower end portion at an elevation slightly below the upper extremity of a gas passageway opening laterally from such member and communicating with a manifold chamber extending horizontally therefrom. The grate has elongate slot-like openings extending horizontally of and vertically through its medial portion, and preferably includes cylindrical solid rods extending longitudinally of the upper portions of such openings. An electrically-powered blower is releasably connected to the grate, for movement therewith, and during operation conducts air to the interior of the hollow sections of the grate. The latter are provided with apertures which discharge jets of air vertically upwardly and downwardly, and also angularly upwardly and downwardly, from the grate.

Abstract: A sawdust and chip burner for use with an existing furnace for heating water or a forced air system. The burner overcomes a previously known deficiency in prior burners in overcoming burn-back, the latter meaning creeping of combustion back into the stored fuel. The burn-back hazard is overcome in the present invention by the provision of double-walling of the fuel hopper adjacent the exit thereof and the supplying of cooling air through the passage formed by the double walling. In addition to preventing burn-back, the cooling air exits at a higher temperature and the thus heated air may be used to augment the heat output from the burner.

Abstract: In an automatic boiler having an internal hopper, a regulator plate 12 controls the flow under gravity of fuel to the firebed. For small particled fuel in particular the plate is provided with a torque 23 which causes a central thinning of the firebed. Thus, a centrally disposed shallow firebed is formed so that primary air can rapidly break through at this point to burn off volatile gases as they are distilled and cause ignition over the whole firebed.

Abstract: A continuous gasification furnace and method of operation. The charge is fed into the furnace chamber between two rolls at least one of which is driven. The furnace chamber can be sealed from the ambient atmosphere. The bed of the furnace contains three zones from top to bottom, these zones are; a volatilization zone, a char reaction zone and an ash zone. Additionally, there can be a drying zone above the volatilization zone. Fuel, air, and steam enter the lower portion of the furnace through strategically located inlet ports. Fuel is used to start up the burning bed while carefully controlled steam to air ratio is used during continuous operation of the furnace. Simultaneously controlled steam cooling effects and exothermic reactions occur in the char reaction zone whereby all or controlled amounts of the oxygen is consumed so that pyrolysis can occur in the volatilization zone without the danger of combustion in that zone or combustion of the fumes leaving the bed.

Abstract: A burner for combusting particulate fuels comprises a combustion chamber fitted with a plurality of grates stacked in stairstep fashion, each having a downwardly sloping surface over which the fuel flows continuously as it burns. The grates may be horizontally adjustable to change the downward slope of the flowing fuel. Each grate rests upon supports projecting from opposite side walls of the burner. The supports extend beyond the downwardly sloping surfaces of the grates and beyond the forward edge of the fuel bed so that the flow of fuel is diverted by the supports away from the side walls of the firebox, creating air passages which allow air to flow directly to the flame. The burner is fitted with a hopper for receiving and containing the fuel with a baffle plate depending from it shaped to distribute the fuel across the width of the grate in a manner which promotes the flow of the fuel.

Abstract: A multiple rotary gas lock apparatus using a buffer seal gas is disclosed to enable the transfer of solid materials into or out of a pressurized process containing high temperature, flammable or toxic gases. The buffer seal gas, has a pressure higher than the process pressure and is introduced between two series connected gas locks; this prevents process gas backflow to the feed system. Buffer seal leakage gas from the first pair of gas locks and air from a third gas lock are removed from an opening in a connection between the pair of gas locks and the third gas lock at subatmospheric pressure. This system enables control and usuage of toxic or flammable gases as a buffer for mixing compatibility with the process gas when a suitable inert gas is not available. It also prevents the flow of any toxic gas to the worker environment.

Abstract: In a dry type quenching facility for red hot coke wherein an operation pressure at the upper portion of the quenching station is set up within the range of 0 to +10 mmH.sub.2 O, red hot coke is charged into said station under a reduced pressure of 0 to -30 mmH.sub.2 O, to prevent escape of dust and smoke from said station and thereby prevent polluting of the environment.

Abstract: Particulate solids are fed into a pressure reactor operated under a pressure of 5-150 bars by means of a guide cylinder which is secured to the reactor and surrounds the reactor inlet. The guide cylinder is adapted to be closed and a stationary feed conduit is directed towards the guide cylinder. A cylinder container, which is gastightly guided in the guide cylinder and has a bottom which is adapted to be closed, is moved up and down in the guide cylinder and when the bottom of the cylinder is open and the reactor inlet is closed the material flows out of the container into the guide cylinder whereas the bottom of the container is closed and the same is moved toward the open reactor inlet to displace gases into the reactor. The device for carrying out the process includes a guide cylinder secured to the reactor and surrounding the reactor inlet. The guide cylinder is adapted to be closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for arresting the generation of dust from a coke dry quenching station comprising a dust collecting hood mounted on a traveling crane for transferring to the coke dry quenching station a coke bucket loaded with coke discharged from a coke oven so that the upper surface and the outer side wall of the bucket are enclosed by the dust collecting hood when the bucket is suspended from the crane, a fixed hood permanently arranged above the coke charging hole in the top of the quenching station in such a manner that the upper edge portion of the fixed hood is located adjacent to the lower edge portion of the dust collecting hood to form a practically continued hood, a suction duct attached to the fixed hood at its one end and connected to a dust collector at its other end, a movable chute disposed below the fixed hood so that it alternately changes positions with a lid which closes the coke charging hole of the quenching station, and a flange portion formed on the lower edge portion of the chute and ada