Abstract: A first stage, sub-stoichiometric reaction chamber (12) reacts a carbon-based fuel with an oxygen-carrying gas to produce a combustible gas, heat, and residual ash. A rectangular grate (B) supports a fuel pile (34) in the reaction chamber. A fuel supply (20) continuously supplies the carbon-based fuel from overhead in sufficient quantity to maintain the desired pile configuration with minimum particle entrainment in the generated gas. A fabric chute (36) may be provided to further limit particulate entrainment in the generated combustible gas. A temperature sensor (78) monitors temperature at the grate or another preselected reaction condition. When the preselected condition is sensed, the grates are reciprocated to step residual ash to an ash removal conveyor (74). Nozzles (82) combust a portion of the generated gas to inhibit condensation of vaporized constituents. A second stage, combustion chamber (C) completely combusts the generated gas to derive useful work therefrom.

Abstract: A metering feeder for delivering solid fuels, such as municipal or industrial refuse, for combustion includes a pair of generally vertically arranged hoppers. An upper hopper containing relatively compacted or intertangled fuel discharges metered amounts of fuel into a lower hopper through the action of a ram-type pusher. Fuel discharged from the upper hopper is dropped into the lower hopper to develop sufficient kinetic energy to decompact the fuel. An upwardly inclined conveyor removes fuel from the lower hopper at an independently metered rate under optional control of a combustion control system. The action of the inclined conveyor further decompacts the fuel by underraking and mixing, thereby providing a well controlled, uniform, loose density fuel for combustion. The conveyor has a closed course of cleats which cyclically moves to remove fuel. The cleats extend in acute angular relation to the direction of movement for improved performance.

Abstract: A boiler has a cylindrical body separated into two chambers by a transverse inner water chamber. A fuel magazine leads to one of the chambers, while a cyclone with a flue leads from the second chamber, the two chambers being connected by a sinuous combustion gas passage. A horizontal wall extends across the top of the cyclone and the combustion gas enters the second chamber adjacent the wall to descend into the cyclone. On ascending, a portion of the gases impinge on the wall and is caused to descend to create a circulatory motion in the cyclone.

Abstract: A self loading wood burning stove is provided and consists of a storage bin, a fire box and a conveyor for delivering automatically logs individually from the storage bin to the fire box.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding solid waste material to one or more chargers of the type for forcing solid waste material into a furnace or boiler. An elongated auger housing is mounted above the chargers and includes a plurality of openings along its length and for depositing solid waste material into hoppers of the chargers. An auger is supported in the housing and conveys solid waste from one end of the auger housing to the other. A supply conveyor is provided for carrying a continuous supply of solid waste material to one end of the auger housing from a supply container. A return conveyor is positioned adjacent a discharge end of the auger housing and returns excess waste material to the supply container.

Abstract: A dual stage combustion furnace has primary and secondary combustion chambers. The primary combustion chamber contains a solid fuel, such as wood or coal. The secondary combustion chamber is formed adjacent to and in communication with the primary combustion chamber for containing and igniting volatile combustion gases produced in the primary chamber. A plurality of hollow members, which provide a grate, extend through the primary chamber, and into the secondary chamber. Volatile gases given off in the primary combustion chamber are then ignited and burned in the secondary combustion chamber upon combination with heated air passing through the hollow grate members.

Abstract: A metering feeder for delivering solid fuels, such as municipal or industrial refuse, for combustion includes a pair of generally vertically arranged hoppers. An upper hopper containing relatively compacted or intertangled fuel discharges metered amounts of fuel into a lower hopper through the action of a ram-type pusher. Fuel discharged from the upper hopper is dropped into the lower hopper to develop sufficient kinetic energy to decompact the fuel. An upwardly inclined conveyor removes fuel from the lower hopper at an independently metered rate under optional control of a combustion control system. The action of the inclined conveyor further decompacts the fuel by underraking and mixing, thereby providing a well controlled, uniform, loose density fuel for combustion. The conveyor has a closed course of cleats which cyclically moves to remove fuel. The cleats extend in acute angular relation to the direction of movement for improved performance.

Abstract: In the stove, pluralities of elongated logs are stacked on top of one another, substantially on parallels to a generally horizontal axis, to form a pair of sloping, single-log-wide, axially extending stacks of the same which are spaced apart but converge in the bottom of a sump at points above a slot in the vertical plane of the axis. Air is admitted to the sump through the slot, and a pair of spaced abutments is disposed upright in the plane of the axis at the sump, to engage between the opposing faces of the bottommost logs in the stacks and form an air flow channel therebetween above the slot. Moreover, a chamber is formed above the channel to confine the flames and the flow of combustion products from the channel to the space between the stacks of logs. The chamber in turn discharges the combustion products to a low pressure zone where they escape to atmosphere or the like.

Abstract: A particulate material fired convection heating unit including a combustion chamber, a shaped flue duct, and a fan means to draw therefrom gases and draw them through at least one convector pipe before the flue gases return and pass to a flue to be allowed to escape to atmosphere. The firebox has in association therewith a duct through which the flue gases are drawn to a free standing convector unit in which the convector pipes are situated and around which ambient air circulates to be heated to thereby heat an area in which the convector unit is situated. In an industrial, horticultural and agricultural situation the heating unit can be associated with a firebox of a particulate coal, wood, woodwaste or oil fired boiler or burner. The free standing convector unit thereof can be sited in a glasshouse or factory so that heat convected therefrom heats the ambient air in which the convector unit is sited.

Abstract: A heat generator comprising a fuel supply chamber (7a), having at its lower end an inwardly tapered section (12), comprising at its lower end a burner plate (14) with mixing strips (33) and a combustion pipe (20), said tapered section (12) being provided with apertures (8) for primary air in its upper part, apertures (13) for secondary air at a level just above the level of the burner plate (14) and apertures (22) for tertiary air at a level just below the level of the burner plate (14) at the level of mixing strips (33). Preferably all air supplies are preheated. The combustion pipe (20) stands in closed connection with an outlet-pipe, preferably provided with an adjustable ventilator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a furnace for burning wooden wastes and, more specifically, sawdust and/or barks. The furnace is provided with an oil burner required for starting the fire. The draught from the oil burner fan is directed within a perforated box, located in the combustion chamber of the furnace, and the sawdust or the barks or other wooden particles fall, according to a measured flow, over the perforated box. The sawdust is first alighted by the oil burner flame, and combustion thereafter builds up thanks to the draught from the perforated box. This box draught comprises a vertically-upwardly-oriented vector, for alighting the wood particles before the latter reach the box, and a horizontal vector extending toward the interior of the furnace to force the burning particles away from the side wall of the furnace. The system includes measured flow feeding system for the sawdust and/or the bark, and having a pair of flap-doors to prevent the escape of smoke from the furnace.

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: A furnace (10) in which bark or other cellulosic fuel (64) is burned on a traveling grate (24). Char (62) separated (48, 54) from the furnace exhaust gases is reinjected into the furnace beneath baffle plate (40) in such a manner that the raw bark (64) being introduced onto the grate forms a protective cover over the char (62) thus preventing the relatively light char particles from becoming reentrained in the gases before they are completely combusted.

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: The incinerator is made up of an inner housing located within an outer housing and which have spaced apart walls forming an interior space therebetween. The inner and outer housings have aligned upper openings with insulated closure members. A central chamber extends from the upper opening of the inner housing to a lower position for receiving material to be burned. An upper chamber holding a heat activated odor reducing catalyst surrounds the upper portion of the central chamber. A gas collection chamber surrounds the upper chamber and an exhaust blower is provided for drawing gas from the central chamber to the interior space by way of the heat activated odor reducing catalyst and the collection chamber. A heater is provided for preheating the heat activated odor reducing catalyst. A second exhaust blower is provided for drawing gas from the interior space to the atmosphere. A main heater is located within the lower portion of the central chamber for burning the material deposited therein.

Abstract: A dual stage combustion furnace has primary and secondary combustion chambers. The primary combustion chamber contains a solid fuel, such as wood or coal. The secondary combustion chamber is formed adjacent to and in communication with the primary combustion chamber for containing and igniting volatile combustion gases produced in the primary chamber. A plurality of hollow members, which provide a grate, extend through the primary chamber, and into the secondary chamber. Volatile gases given off in the primary combustion chamber are then ignited and burned in the secondary combustion chamber upon combination with heated air passing through the hollow grate members.

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: 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: A burner casing having a vertical support sleeve mounted at its center forms a combustion chamber below the sleeve and an annular duct space that surrounds the sleeve. A self supporting fuel cartridge containing consolidated solid fuel particles fits slidably within the support sleeve and has one end resting upon a mandrel located in the combustion chamber. Air to support steady state combustion of the fuel particles at a surface of the cartridge is forced downwardly through the cartridge. The heat of combustion and exhaust products pass from the combustion chamber through the annular duct space and then to other furnace components.

Abstract: A wood burning heating unit capable of being stoked for continuous or extended burning, and of achieving effective combustion of volatiles contained in the smoke is provided. The stove body, a generally cylindrical casing, is supported so that its axis is substantially horizontal. A baffle divides the casing into a fire box or combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber which functions as a heat exchanger. The exhaust chamber is vented to the outside atmosphere by an exhaust conduit or flue pipe. A pair of elongate, fuel feed conduits extend downwardly and inwardly into the fire box or combustion chamber, so that respective, generally upstanding columns of logs can be formed in the fuel feeding conduits with the lower ends of the wood log columns contacting each other to define and limit the area of combustion in the fire box.

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 device for automatically dropping logs at a predetermined time for charging a fire laid on the bottom of a woodburning stove. The device includes a pair of elongated arcuate shaped log supporting members each of which is journaled within the stove adjacent a respective top side corner thereof. A latching system is connected to the log supporting member for releasably maintaining the log supporting members in a substantially horizontal supporting position. An electrically operated movable member is connected to the latching system for releasing the latching system upon being energized under control of a timing device at a predetermined time. As a result, the stove can be automatically charged during the middle of the night ensuring a fire in the morning.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fuel-feeding mechanism for a fluidized bed combustor. In accordance with the present invention a perforated conveyor belt is utilized in place of the fixed grid normally disposed at the lower end of the fluidized bed combustion zone. The conveyor belt is fed with fuel, e.g. coal, at one end thereof so that the air passing through the perforations dislodges the coal from the belt and feeds the coal into the fluidized zone in a substantially uniform manner.

Abstract: Novel solid fuel combustion and heat transfer geometry/process and illustrative embodiments, which include log burning space heaters, a boiler and a hot air heat exchanger are described. The illustrative boiler embodiment depicts a standard module that when joined with other similar modules makes the construction of any size boiler possible. The combuster is designed to burn nearly any solid fuel, depending on price and availability, and also incorporates an auxilliary fuel oil combuster to either aid in the combustion of certain solid fuels or to convert over entirely to fuel oil. This novel geometry/process consists of solid fuel dispersed over two nearly intersecting surfaces with a third adjustable surface introduced to provide control of the combustion rate by a mutual radiant feedback. The fuel retaining surfaces are so constructed and positioned to enhance radiant heat interchange which maintains highest combustion temperatures along fuel surfaces that are directed toward the heat absorbing medium.

Abstract: A ram is connected to reciprocate its free end up to or into a reinforced aperture in the bottom of one side wall of a wood receiving container to break wood positioned therebetween and push it through the aperture into a feed duct that is connected at its opposite end to the fire chamber of a furnace. The bottom of the container has a higher region and a lower region that is positioned adjacent the aperture and transverse of the ram and which extends either approximately horizontal or inclined downwardly away from both sides of the ram. Pusher flaps with actuating devices are pivotally connected to push material across the regions of the bottom toward the path of the ram and a member pivoted on the side-wall above the aperture is actuated to press material downwardly into the ram path in front of the aperture.

Abstract: An elongate combustion chamber is inclined at a 50.degree. to 80.degree. angle to the vertical, is connected at the lower end face to a feed duct through which fuel is pushed into the chamber and is open at the upper end face. The side walls forming the lower part of the chamber are downwardly converging and the free edges are spaced from each other at a distance decreasing in the direction of the open upper end face from the lower end face to form a primary air opening from a primary air channel therebeneath, the tapered opening covered by corresponding downwardly converging solid side walls connected at an apex and spaced from the other walls to form an air passage therebetween from the primary air channel to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A charging shaft in a furnace housing, communicating at its bottom with an adjoining combustion chamber, is topped by a sloping lid having an air-intake opening near its lower end, that opening registering with an underlying baffle defining with that lid a narrow rising channel for incoming air. Distillation gases evolving in the shaft, admixed with some of the entering air but prevented by that air from escaping through the channel, are recirculated through a port at the top of the shaft to an entrance near its bottom -- just above a horizontal grate -- by way of an adjacent duct provided with a lateral air inlet, the duct narrowing at that inlet into a constricted throat from which the recirculated gases are aspirated by the entering additional air. The connection between the charging shaft and the combustion chamber may be formed by an upright grill, or by a diverging passage accommodating an ancillary combustion device such as an oil burner.