Abstract: Apparatus capable of producing pellets of compacted refuse having a density of at least 20 lbs./ft..sup.3 comprising:(1) a cylindrical tube having a compacted chamber whose length is shorter than the shortest "critical length" for the refuse to be pelletized, with a feed port in the side wall of the tube and a discharge port at the end of the tube,(2) a feed hopper communicating with the inlet port of the tube,(3) a reciprocating ram in the inlet end of the tube capable of exerting a pressure of at least 200 psi on each forward stroke, and(4) a refuse flow restrictor in the tube in which the degree of restriction is controlled in response to changes in the ram pressure required to advance the compacted refuse down the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating and removing ash and non-combustible materials from an incinerator. Waste material is thermally decomposed in a primary combustion chamber of the incinerator resulting in the generation of combustible waste gases which are fully combusted in a secondary zone. A hydraulically operated ram is mounted for reciprocating movement in the lower portion of the combustion chamber and a discharge door is located opposite the position of the ram. By partially extending the ram, the ram will enter the combustion chamber and agitate the waste without permitting the entry of air into the chamber. By fully extending the ram and opening the discharge door, the ash and non-combustible materials will be discharged from the combustion chamber for collection.

Abstract: A sludge press wherein a piston is reciprocable along a horizontal path between a retracted position in the interior of a hopper and an extended position in which the piston is located in and at the front end of a barrel extending forwardly from and communicating with the hopper so that the piston thereby expels a slug of compacted sludge through the open front end of the barrel. The front end of the barrel can be sealed by the knife-like valve member of a gate valve during movement of the piston to retracted position. The front end face of the piston is surrounded by a cutting edge which cooperates with a complementary annular cutting edge at the rear end of the barrel to sever solid ingredients of sludge during penetration of the piston into the barrel. The cutting edge of the valve member cooperates with a complementary cutting edge surrounding an opening in the rear section of the housing of the valve.

Abstract: An improved, pollution-free incinerator eliminating the need for a conventional, independently-fired after-burner, having a loading chamber in which slow combustion commences, hydraulic means to move waste materials through said loading chamber to a two-section primary combustion chamber, said loading chamber being in communication with the lower portion of said primary combustion chamber to utilize gases generated from the initial slow combustion area to fire said primary combustion chamber and to burn the gases generated therein, and air baffle to filter particulate matter which might escape from said primary combustion chamber, and hydraulic means to remove ash from said incinerator.

Abstract: A refuse feeder and charging system is provided for a solid waste destruction system wherein a high temperature disposal of waste materials occurs. In such a destruction system, waste materials must be fed or charged to the upper end of a vertical gasification chamber from which the waste materials move downwardly under the force of gravity as the combustible materials are converted to molten slag and resultant gases and vapors. The refuse feeder includes a storage hopper for uniformly feeding solid waste material contained therein to a conduit means which conveys the waste material to the aforesaid gasification chamber. The storage hopper further includes an inclined vibrating pan in the bottom thereof for facilitating the uniform conveyance of waste material to the conduit means and a first set of sealing doors which may be opened and closed for purposes of batch filling the storage hopper.