Abstract: A surge feeder for feeding refuse material into a furnace comprises a plurality of rollers mounted on a base supporting the rollers above the feed opening to the furnace. A chain and sprocket drive mechanism is mounted to the base and serves to counter-rotatably drive the rollers. Each roller has fixedly mounted thereto at equally angularly spaced apart locations a plurality of generally planar shaped paddles which extend continuously along the length of the roller. The paddles project radially from and alternate in height angularly about each roller.

Abstract: A combination surge and drying apparatus is described which includes first and second bins, a jacket surrounding the first bin for passage of a hot fluid therethrough, and air coils positioned within the jacket to be heated by the hot fluid. Air within the coils is directed into and through a hollow, apertured auger positioned to discharge material from the first bin to the second bin. An overflow port is included for returning excess material from the discharge auger back to the first bin to handle surges in demand for the material and also to facilitate drying.