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 prefilter and a filter are made from wood chips, and carbonized wood chips respectively, and the filters are employed to remove hydrocarbon fumes generated in paint spray booths. The filters are subsequently incinerated and the heat of incineration may then be used as a source of energy. The system is particularly advantageous for furniture manufacturing plants which produce abundant wood chips and have air pollution problems associated with their spray paint or finishing booths.

Abstract: A chip-firing unit in which a chip container has a discharge attached to the container bottom to supply chips from the container to the inlet of a motor-operated fan attached to the container. The fan is connected to a chip burner and supplies the burner with chips and air drawn in by the fan. The discharge on the container is a pipe with an external thread and is rotated by the same motor which drives the fan. The other end of the discharge pipe provides an intake for the air to be mixed with chips by the discharge. The pipe, furthermore, has an interior enclosing a rod which carries a control unit for chips and air supplies to the fan. This rod is adjusted automatically by a regulator of the hot-water boiler type. Chips are continuously fed to the inlet of the fan during rotation of the pipe. One throttle is provided for controlling the air through the inlet to the pipe, and a second throttle and a regulating rod controls the chip supplied to the burner.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning particulate fuels such as wood sander dust or sawdust comprises a pair of radially spaced, substantially coaxial tubes having infeed ends and juxtaposed discharge ends. Mounting means rotatably mount one of the tubes. Drive means is connected to the rotatably mounted tube for rotating it relative to the other tube. A source of forced draft combustion air is connected to the infeed end of one of the tubes. Fuel feed means is arranged for feeding particulate fuel in solid flow into the infeed end of the other of the tubes. Upon establishing concurrent, substantially continuous flows of fuel and air in the respective tubes and spinning one of the tubes, the fuel and air contents of the tubes are discharged at the outfeed ends thereof and mixed with a high degree of efficiency into a combustible fuel mixture.