US2616378A - Incinerator - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 R. E. ZAHN- 2,616,378

- INCINEIRATOR Filed Feb. 15, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 E: 54 k L5 i i {mu Ti WMNTOR 5 Robert E Zahn Nov. 4, 1952 R. E. ZAHN 2,616,378

IN VE N TOR ji Robert E Zahn 96 /06 ffiW A fforneys R. E. ZAHN INCINERATOR Nov. 4, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15, 1950 uvvavron Robe/f E. Zahn A fforneys R. E. ZAHN INCINERATOR Nov. 4, 1952 6 5heets-Sheet 5 0 WM W E r 8 m A Horneys m Mi:

Filed Feb. 15, 1950 R. E. ZAHN INCINERATOR Nov. 4, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 15, 1950 Robert E. Zahn ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs INCINERATOR Robert E. Zahn, Milwaukee County, Wis.

Application February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,230

22 Claims. (01. 1l0-18) This invention relates to improvements in incinerators and more particularly to the provision of an incinerator embodying a minimum number of parts of simple structural form which may either be shipped in knocked-down condition and easily assembled by the purchaser or be preassembled and shipped to provide an inexpensive rigid gas tight unit of neat appearance and large capacity, and which will occupy a minimum of floor space.

A primary object of the invention resides in the provision of corner castings of novel construction having means for positioning courses of fire-brick in vertically aligned relation to form the combustion chamber side walls of the incinerator, together with adjustable tie rods connecting diagonally opposite corner castings at their upper and lower ends to tightly bind said castings against the ends of the fire-brick.

A further important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a knock-down,

grateless incinerator structure having novel metal skeletonized corner frame elements provided with vertically arranged air inlet ports to apply the air torch method of combustion, and front charging door, front ash door, and top flue connection castings adapted to cooperate with diagonally disposed tie rods to connect said corner frame elements together to receive and maintain built-up, mortarless, fire-brick combustion chamber walls in assembled relation.

Another object of this invention is to provide reinforcing uprights for the combustion chamber walls designed to overlap the abutting ends of adjacent courses of fire-brick to prevent inward buckling of the combustion chamber fire walls, particularly in event of shipment of preassembled units. if I v A further object is to provide charging and ash door frames assembled between and rigidly bolted to the front corner castings, together with a separate top casting having provision for the connection of an outlet flue and adapted to be bolted to the charging door frame and the rear corner castings.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an incinerator structure in which firebrick are also assembled between the vertically spaced door frames together with an outer facing sheet of hard asbestos between said frames and the fire-brick, and similar facing sheets between the corner castings covering the outer faces of the side and rear fire-brick walls of the incinerator.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of vertically spaced openings extending through certain of the corner castings to insure the supply of air in adequate volume :to the interior of theincinerator for the complete and rapid combustion of the garbage and other refuse material placed therein.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises the improved incinerator and the construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing, wherein there are illustrated practical embodiments of the invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a preferred form of the improved incinerator of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view before final com pletion of the assembly by attachment of the top closure plate;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detailed horizontal section through one of the front corner castings and adjacent fire-brick walls taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a detailed vertical section of the top casting taken substantially on the line 1-'| of Figure 4;

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines 8-8 and 9-9 respectively of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section on the line Iii-l0 of Figure 4 illustrating the connection of one of the top tie rods to one of the front corner castings;

Figure 11 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of one of the corner castings;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line l2l 2 of Fig-ure 11;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the corner casting of Figure 11;

I Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line I i-I4 of Figure 12;

Figures 15, 16' and 17 are similar horizontal sectial views taken on the lines l5-l5, I6-I6 and l'l-I 1 respectively of Figure 12;

Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of one of the front corner castings and the charging and ash door frames secured to the other front corner casting;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the improved incinerator structure in partially assembled condition.

Figure 20 is a detail fragmentary elevation of a means for strengthening the side walls of incinerator combustion chamber of large capacity;

Figure 21 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2 l--2l of Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the incinerator; and

Figure 23 is a detail horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2323 ofFigure 22-.

Referring in further detail to the drawings, the body of the incinerator comprises four identical castings lEl, upper and lower charging and ash pit door frames l2 and [4' respectively, disposed between and rigidly: connected" to. front corner castings |',.a1 top. casting assembly l6 rigidly connected to the door? frame. [2. and to the rear corner castings Hi}. and. combustion chamber walls of a fire-brick assembledbetween and. rigidly fixed in position by: the corner castings Ill.

The'corner castings: izillare of the same: general form and construction. As shown. in Figures 11 to 1.7 inclusive, each of these castings has a body portion l8 which is generallyof arcuately curved form in cross section providing side flanges 28' extending throughout the length thereof. at an angle. of substantially 90 degrees to each other. When in its. assembled position the convex surface of the body wall I8 of. said castingsfaces outwardly and this wall, between the side flangesi20 is formed to provide a trough or channel 22 terminating in spaced relation from the opposite ends of the casting and interrupted at vertically spaced points by theahorizontal' webs 24. Theside walls 26 of this trough or channel are disposed substantially at. right angles to the flanges 29 of the casting and the base wall of the trough is formed on theinner side of the casting with a longitudinally extending rib 28 provided with relatively thick portions or bosses 33 at vertically spaced points. Air inlet openings 32 extend inwardly and downwardly through the bosses 30. They are preferably provided in both the front and rear corner castings l8 and adapt the incinerator of this invention for operation in accord with the socalled. air torch principle of combustion which effects a burning of the contentsv from the. top

downward and eliminates the need for. grates and. assures adequate air for combustion whether the incinerator is full. or only partially full.

Passages 32 for the small incinerator, as illustrated' in Figures 1' through 19 of the drawings, are all arranged at approximately a downward inclination toward the geometrical center of the combustion chamber. Each corner casting is provided with seven equally vertical spaced passages. The combinedvolumetric capacity of these passages is substantially less than the capacity of the flue connection. As a consequence, when the incinerator is connected to a suitable chimney flue the air is injected into the combustion chamber through passages 32 at high velocity and sweeps downwardly through the entire area of the combustion chamber before escaping through the flue connection. This injection of air not only assures vigorous and complete combustion during firing periods but also causes the air to penetrate deeply into the mass of refuse to be burned thereby effecting a preliminary dehydration of any wet refuse. This dehydration function continues even during non-firing periods, unless the flue damper is closed, due to the normal chimney flue action.

As the cross-sectional dimensions of the incinerator are increased, it has been found desirable to change the axial direction of certain of the passages or to alter the shape of the discharge end of the passages 32 to assure sweeping of the entire incinerator area with air. For example, alternative vertical passages may be inclined away from the center and slightly toward the adjacent side walls or the discharge end of the passages may be given a fan shape to spread the ejected air stream over a widened area. Either of these changes will produce the desired result and assure vigorous and complete combustion and. suitable dehydration even in larger sized incinerators.

The; corner castings below. the upper end thereof are each formed with a flange 34 pro-- jecting inwardly fromthe body wall thereof and integrally connected with the upper end. wail. of. the trough 22: to providea supporting seat: for the top casting assembly I 6 when they are used asrear corner castings This flange has a lug or extension 36 (Figures'12. and 1-3.) provided with an opening 38 to receive a long. stove bolt 40 whereby the top casting assembly 16 is rigidly connected to the. corner castings l-(l.

Each corner casting at its extreme upper end is further provided on the inner side of the body wall [8 with a, boss 42 and a' tie rod receivingopening 44- extending. horizontally therethrough. A vertical tapped opening 36 of. relatively small. diameter intersects the opening 44- at the. upper. side thereof for a purpose to'bev presently pointed out.

Atits lower end, each corner casting L0 vertically spaced horizontally disposed flanges 4a projecting inwardly from thebody wall. is. thereof, and said wall, adjacent to. and above flange 48 is provided with a tie rod. receiving opening. 50. Side flanges 26 of each front-corner casting ID are provided with vertically spaced. openings 52 adapted to receive stove bolts. 54 for rigidly securing the door frames I 2- and It! to' said corner castings as seen in' Figure3 of the draw ings.v Since the openings 52 are not used to secure frames l2 and I4 in place are covered by the overlapping edges of the exterior finish panels, the presence of these unused: openings is: in no way objectionable.

The charging door. frame- I2 is; formed withan inwardly turned hollow bead 56 along. its

upper edge in partially overlying,- vertically spaced relation to a relatively wide; topflange 58. A plurality of spaced vertical webs 60 re-- inforce bead 5S and flange 58 to impart rigidity thereto and provide spaced seats for the top closure plate to be hereinafter described.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4 of thedrawings, the top casting assembly l6 comprises a rectangular section. 62 having marginal upstanding flanges 64. The two rear corners of this casting: are formed at an angle of substantially degrees so as to seat upon the flanges 3 of the rear corner castings and not interfere: with the upstanding corner casting wallsection bearing. boss 42. The flanges are notched asshown at 66 in Figure 7 to receive the tie rods when it becomes necessary to raise casting- 52- sufficiently to permit insertion of the top course of brick and the asbestosstrip between casting 62 and the top course of brick.

Section 62 of the top casting near its rear edge is also provided with a flue opening defined by an upstanding cylindrical neck 68 to which a flue pipe for the incinerator is adapted to be connected. Diagonally disposed reinforcing webs I8 integrally connect the wall of the neck 68 with the marginal flanges 64 of the casting. Additional spaced parallel webs 12 extend forwardly from the neck 68. These webs are integrally joined with the front flange 64 and together with the lower wall of section 62 define a pocket 13 for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. The casting section 62 is also formed along the lower front edge thereof with a projecting flange 14.

A separate relatively narrow casting section 16 completes the top casting and has one of its ends disposed between webs I2. This end of casting section I6 is rigidly secured to the casting 62 by spaced stove bolts I8. The other end of the casting 16 is connected to the center of the top flange 58 of the charging door frame I4 by stove bolt 86 positioned through a slot 82 in said flange. Casting I6 is also formed with a plurality of upstanding webs forming sand receiving pockets and is provided along each longitudinal side edge with a laterally projecting flange 84. Adjacent to its rear edge and parallel therewith, the top casting 62 is provided with a depending flange 86 for a purpose which will be later'explained.

The upper ends of diagonally opposite corner castings I0 are connected by the tie rods 88, said rods being inserted through the openings 44in the respective corner castings and extending over the top casting sections 62 and I6. Each tie rod.

at one end is threaded to receive an adjusting nut 90 hearing against the outer convex surface of one corner casting while the other end of the tie rod is formed with a hook 9| the terminal of which is seated in a recess 92 in the outer surface of the diagonally opposite corner casting I8. Similar tie rods 94 are also inserted through the openings 50 in the lower ends of diagonally opposite corner castings and adjusted by means of the nuts 96. These lower tie rods are covered by a layer of sand 98 laid uponthe floor'or ground,

surface upon which the fire-bricks I88 forming the floor of the combustion chamber are positioned. Outer edge portions of bricks I80 are in=- v serted between the flanges 48 on the lower ends of the corner castings, the sand layer 68 being of such thickness that the bricks have reasonably close fitting contact with the upper flanges 48.-

The brick I80 at the front of the combustion chamber also extend between vertically spaced flanges I02 formed on the ash door frame 14.

The opposite side and rear walls of the combustion chamber consist of superposed courses of fire-brick I04, asbestos stripping I86 being interposed between the brick in adjacent courses and also between the opposed ends of the bricks in each course. Similar fire-brick I88 and interposed asbestos strips III! are also inserted between the vertically spaced door frames I2 and I4. The angularly related walls 26 of the corner castings I0 provide abutment surfaces for the ends of the fire-brick, and asbestos strips I I2 are also preferably interposed between these abutment surfaces and the-flre-brick.

' Facing sheets I I4 of hard asbestos are inserted downwardly between the side and rear fire-brick walls and the flanges 26 of the corner castings II]. A similar asbestos facing sheet H6 also covers the outer sides of the fire-brick I88 with its upper and lower edges disposed between the frames I2 and I4 and the fire-brick and its end edges extending between the flanges 20 of the front corner castings and the fire-brick I08. As will be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the top course of the fire-brick in the rear wall at their upper edge portions are ngaged against the outer side of the depending flange 86 on the top casting 62.

The space between the rear top casting 62 and the charging door frame l4 at the top of the combustion chamber is closed by fire-brick H8 as shown in Figure 4. Thus, at each side of the casting I6 fire-bricks IIB are positioned with the outer ends of the bricks resting upon the upper courses of brick in the side walls of the combustion chamber while their inner ends and outer sides are supported by the flanges 84 on casting I6 flange I4 on casting 62 and the inner marginal edge of flange 58. Asbestos strips I20 are interposed between the edges of the bricks and casting 16 with similar asbestos strips I22 between the opposed side edges of the brick. When assembled in the manner just described, mere tightens ing of adjusting nuts 96 and 96 on the tie rods 88 and 94 will draw the diagonally opposed corner castings toward each other thereby clamping top casting assembly I6 and the combustion chamber brickwork tightly together so as to be securely held against relative displacement in a rigidly assembled unit. The asbestos stripping will be compressed under this clamping action thereby producing airtight combustion chamber walls.

All of the space above the fire-brick H8 and the castings 62 and I6 is filled with sand, as indicated at I24 in Figure 2 of the drawing up to the level of the upper edges of the facing sheets I I4. A flnal top sheet I26 of hard asbestos having an opening to receive the outlet neck 68 is then applied with its forward edge disposed beneath bead 56 and its corners extending over the upper ends of the corner castings I6 and being secured thereto by screws I28 threaded into the openings 46 in the upper ends of said castings.

Preferably, in order to provide a smooth uninterrupted floor surface for the combustion chamber, a sand and cement mixture is applied over the fire-brick I06 and fills all crevices between said brick and between the adjacent surfaces of the side and rear wall brick I I4 and the brick I86.

The charging door frame I2 at its lower end and at opposite sides of the door opening is provided with hinge lugs I30 upon which the charging door I32 is hingedly mounted by means of suitable pintles I34. .The ash door frame I4 at one vertical side edge of the opening therein is also provided with hinge lugs I36 upon which the ash door I38 is hingedly mounted by the pintles I46. Preferably the charging door I32 at its upper end and centrally thereof is provided with an upwardly and inwardly projecting hook I3I receivable through an opening I33 in the door frame I2 when the door is moved to closed position. This hook has latching engagement with the lower edge of said opening and is effective to prevent the door being blown open by back draft through the combustion chamber. The doors I32 and I38 are provided with suitable opening hanclles I35 and I3! respectively and ash door I38 is also provided with latch structure I39 of conventional form.

It will, of course, be understood that the several parts of the incinerator structure as above described are properly dimensioned in accordance with: a: predetermined; combus ion chamber. c pacity andgthatg the, number; of fireebricksj which willbe requiredm rvarr inaccordance with; the size of? the. combustion chamber;

All. of the. metal; parts of. the above described incinerator structure, including; the necessary number; of. stove; bolts; screws hinge pintles and other fastening elements; together with asbestos sheets i I 4, I I6 and IE6, asbestos strip and cement for; attaching; the Strip tothe fire-brick, are shipped" fromthe; factory to the purchaser in the form: of: a; compactv knocked-down kit for erection; either: outdoors or indoors. In either case, it). is necessary to; locate; the unit for connection to; a, suitable; fluesstach. When:- used; indoors the house; furnace flue; is suitable: but;v the incinerator shouldinot beinstalled closer than-1-2 inchesfrom anwunprotected combustible wall. After laying outitheincinerator kit. and procuring the required number'of fireebrick the incinerator may be rapidly. erected inthe following manner;

Haring: determined the exact location of the incinerator; the. outside dimensions thereof are first. outlined-z upon the basement floor orother support surface. Two cornercastings liti!- the froniicorners: are then? selected; The door frames i 2 andi t l-:areattachedgto, theflanges 2B of these castings; through openings; 52 therein by means of: stove, bolts 54. These; bolts fit loosely in the openings in. flanges. so. topermit slight vertical adjustment: to compensate for inaccuracies in brick: dimensions and shou-ldbe left comparatively-loose until alater assembly step, The hard asbestos sheet H6 is then placed into position between the. upper and lower; door frame castings, Witluthe. assembly laying face down on the basement floor. The necessarynumber of firebrick; 1118:. are now pressed firmlyin-to place betwee'm the'doorscastingsq l2: and I4. upon the asbestos. facing sheet HG; This; front assembly is then: raised. to; a vertical position and. the upper door-frame. |.-2.'is-.forced downwardly so as -to tightly clamp thezbricks I03 between thetWo-door frames. Thestoye bolts. 51!: are: then; tightened to secure thecornencastings,the; two door frames and the fire-brick: ina. rigidlyassembled unit. Referring fon-thiemoment to Figures 2-and 6, the outer ends of brick. H385 are: disposed in overlapping relation to the; sides of; bosses 36 as shown. Asa consequencehwhen thecorner castings aredrawn into final: assembled position as hereinafterpointed out bosses 30 will prevent inward movement of brick; IBB-at their, respective outer ends.

The'rtop castings 62 and 16 are now rigidly connected; by-"means of the stove bolts 18 and the bolt. 80. is inserted through the, opening, in the front: end of casting 1,5, anda nut is startedon the upper end thereof so that the bolt hangs loosely fromsaidcasting.

The. top-casting assembly is now loosely connected. tothe upper ends of the two remaining corner castings it) by means of the bolts 49. The loose assembly is then set in position along the guide outlines on the supporting surface and the four tie: rods 88 and 94 are inserted through the openingsinthe upper and lower ends of the diagonally opposed corner castings with bolt 8;! slipped into. the slot 82 in the flange 58 on the door. frame. [4; The diagonally crossed tie rods 88. and: 94 extending through the openings in the upper; and lower-ends of the corner castings are drawn loosely together by tightening nut 98 by hand until the assembly approximately fits the outlinemarkingson the floor.

Theside and: rear. combustion chamber walls are now installed: by' successively inserting the courses of fire-brick Hi4 betweenthezcorner'cast ings Ill from; the inner side thereof; the; brick being disposed: with, their end faces insubstantially-abutting contact with. the Walls 2 5' of corner castings l-H. After; laying the first or bottom courses of; the fire-brick directly upon, the basementfloonthe nuts. onthe two lowertierods; 94 are tightened until. a close but still loose.- fitting assembly between the corner castings and lower course of fire-brickis obtained. A similar adjustment of; the twotoptie rods-88' isthenr made so that the four corner castings will be substantially parallel. A suitablegaugemember isinserted between, the fire-brickand the flanges 20 on the. cornercastings before tightening the; tie rods 94 to assure sufficient clearance to receive the asbestos facing sheet l-M.

After layingthe first or bottom course-of firebrick for the side. and rearwa-lls and tightening the tie rods as above; explained. the remaining courses, of fire-brick are successively positioned in similar, manner in -superposed relationbetween the cornerv castings with the asbestos strip. betweeneachcourse of brick and-between the-bricks in; each course and between the bricks and. the corner castings Hi.

Inorder to assemble the last or top course of fire-brick it may be necessary to raise; the top casting; assembly 16- for; which. reason, the bolts 49- and. Bllwere not tightened in connecting said assembly with the corner castings and flange 58. Preferably, astrip of asbestosis also interposed; between the upper edge of the top fire-bricks and the top casting: 6-2; After laying the top course of fire-brick in the. three walls the bolts to are then securely tightened. Referring to Figures 2, and 1 9, of, the drawings, it will. e se n. hat ch. end ick f; ach c ur e vertically centered with'respect to a; boss 30' of corner; castings I0; As these end. brick fit be.- hind bosses 30' as heretofore described in con nection; with brick I 03, it will be appreciated that inward movement of the-side walls at each corner-is effectively prevented; and proper, clamps ingismaterially aided.

The top fire-brick; lining; of the combustion, chamber isnow applied. Two of the; brick; l;| & are. first inserted at the rear end of casting I6: ben ath t e e. ods. 8; and: he mo orweir y un er said, tie. rods. v r h r ar edge of flan e; 58; on door framel l and into; sub stantial abutting Conta t with he webs. 60' of. saidframe, he inner nds of, said icks, in supported cnthe side; flan es f hecastine- 16; and the: ther e ds. th o n he: p c urse. of brick of the side; walls of the, combustion chamber. The rear bricl; I I8 areitheninserted with their rear; edges resting; upon the flange 14 of casting 62. Any gap or space between thebrick and casting 62 and door frame l4 maybe filled with asbestos strip. Strip I22 between the brick and I20 between the brick ends and casting: 76 provide substantial seals.

After the assembly of themetal castings and fire-brick as. above described, theside and rear sheets. of hard asbestos 4- are then inserted with the smooth. surfaces thereof facing out.-. w irdly; These facing sh ets are slipped verti-. cally downwardly betweenthe fire-brick andthe flan s 20; of the corner castings. I'll and are of such, length that with the lower edges thereof tightly bearing on the floor surface, their upper edges; will. then be substantially flush- With the tops of; the; co n r ca t gs; I0:- Theni ts 9t on.

T9. the four tie rods are then finally tightened against the corner castings to bind the several elements of the assembly into a rigid unit, after which the bolt 80 at the forward end of casting 16 is finally tightened.

The top sand filling 24 is now applied, and the cover sheet I26 of hard asbestos is then secured to the corner castings by screws I28.

Before placing the fire-brick floor of the combustion chamber, the bedof sand 98, preferably a mixture of sand and cement, is first laid upon the surface of the floor to a height covering the lower tie rods and to assure the fire-brick I being at the level of the ash door frame floor socket defined by webs NH and flanges l02,

just below the ash door opening. The upper surface of this bed is smoothly leveled off so that the forward edges of the front course of fire-brick 100 will slip between the flanges I02 into contact with the vertical edges of webs NH. The several courses of fire-bricks I00 cover the entire floor area between the lower courses of brick in the side and rear walls of the combustion chamber except for the intervening spaces Which are filled either with loose sand, or a thin cement and water mixture. Finally, the charging door I32 and the ash door I38 are hingedly mounted upon the frames [2 and 14 respectively in the manner above described.

The elbow end of a flue pipe (not shown) is then connected to the upper end of the outlet neck 68 of the incinerator, the other end of said pipe being cemented in an opening provided in a side wall of the home furnace chimney or other suitable flue. However, if desired a T connection may be installed in the smoke outlet pipe from the furnace with which the flue pipe from the incinerator may be connected. This pipe, in either case is provided with a suitable damper for regulating the draft through the combustion chamber of the incinerator.

In event it is desired to ship the incinerator of this invention in assembled condition, the assembly steps just described are carried out at the factory, the assembly preferably being made upon a sheet metal floor laid on top of the lower tie rods. While the wall structure of the incinerator, due to the clamping action of the tie rods, is normally sufiiciently rigid to withstand handling, it may be desirable to reinforce the side walls against inward collapse under external blows encountered in shipment. Such reinforcement can either be obtained by suitable structural modification of the frame castings as hereinafter described or, at less expense, by simple wooden shipping reinforcing inserts consisting of vertical risers l4lla (dot dash lines Figure 2) overlapping the brick courses at their ends and cross wedge elements Ml (dot dash lines Figure 2) driven in place to hold risers |40a in place. These reinforcing strips can either be removed at the time of installing the incinerator or if desired may be left in place so as to be consumed by burning in use of the incinerator. While the wooden inserts are adequate in smaller sized incinerators where minimum expense is a prime consideration, additional structural frame elements maybe provided if desired.

Such structural framing for incinerators of larger capacity, in which the combustion chamber walls have three or more fire-brick in each course, is provided as shown in Figures to 23 of the drawing. This strengthening means comprises spaced uprights each embodying a pair of rectangular sheet metal channel bars M2 arranged back to back and spot welded together. The lower ends of the side walls of said uprights are flared to receive the longitudinal side flanges of spaced base channel sections M4 and said base flanges are spot welded to the flared walls of the channel bars [42. The spacing between the uprights is determined in accordance with the length of the fire-brick so that as the brick courses are successively assembled the ends of the adjacent brick in each course will be slidab-ly received within the oppositely facing chane The bricks in the lower 1- most course are also supported on the base secnels of the bars I42.

tions I44 between the side flanges thereof. Thus ,the chamber walls are materially strengthened and the bricks in each course are held in .ac-' curate alignment.

In case the complete incinerator unit, in-: cluding the combustion chamber walls of firebrick, is to be preassembled at the factory for shipment to the purchaser, the supporting sand layer 98 for the floor brick Hill of the combustion chamber as above described, is replaced by a floor plate I46 (Figure 22). At the same time the channels IE2 and channel section I44 pro-.' vide means to prevent the possible inward collapse of the fire-brick side walls, which might result fromheavy shocks during shipment or rough handling in loading and unloading.

From the above it will be evident that when the upper and lower tie rods are tightened a very rigid assembly of the metal parts with the refractory fire-brick is obtained. As the firebrick are securely held against relative displacement by the corner castings and channel barsl42 inward collapse of the combustion chamberwalls is efiectively precluded.

In the use of the incinerator, garbage and other waste material is intended to be wrapped in paper before placing in the combustion chamber. This paper wrapped garbage together with other combustible household refuse such as Waste paper, cartons or the like is loaded into the incinerator and preferably permitted to accumulate until it reaches substantially the center of the charging door opening. The charge is then ignited at the top, care being taken to see that the smoke pipe damper is open to a suflicient extent to permit the free escape of.

products of combustion through the smoke out.-

let flue and into the furnace smoke stack. Air.

will be drawn into the combustion chamber in adequate volume through the openings 32 in the.

corner castings of the incinerator to support combustion and insure the free burning of the. charge from the top down. The wet matter is effectively dehydrated by the heat of the adjacent burning layer or the induced circulation.

of air directed by openings inwardly and down-ev wardly across and into the refuse material as heretofore described or both. Furthermore, the

air entering the openings 32 above the burninglayer is effective to asure combustion of generated gases and incompletely burned fly 'ash and relatively smokeless and odorless operation due to this secondary combustion. Whenthe ashes have accumulated on the floor of the combustion chamber to substantially the: center. of the ash door opening, they should thenberemoved.

It has been found that, for the, average: residential installation where the incinerator is con- I nected to a .6." or 8 diameter flue which also serves the heating system of the home, the diameter of the air supply ports or openings 32 should not be less than A" or greater than &" indiameter. As is well known, the intensity of combustion increases with Velocity of the air supplied to the combustion chamber. This velocity is proportional to the flue draft and dependent on the number and size of the air ports 32. The incinerator charge in an incinerator using athe air torch" principle as applied by this invention burns at a relatively high temperature. Accordingly not .only the highly combustible portion of the charge but the normally non-combustible portion will be rapidly consumed, the brick walls will be highly heated and :retain-suffiicient heat to materially aid dehydration of the wet material or garbage below the burning area to render'it combustible.

By properly predetermining the number and diameter-of the ,ports 32 in the corner castings in -relation :to the draft flue diameter and the size of the combustion chamber, adequate air will ;be supplied to support both primary and secondary ,combustion and the charge will be penetrated to the necessary-depth to dedydrate thep'moisture laden content thereof and assure its complete combustion. The velocity of the incomingair :streams determines the depth of penetration which may be controlled for incinerators'of diiferentsizes by flaring the inner ends of :the ports or openings 32 so that air velocityis reducedand the air enters the chamber ina fan-shaped stream with correspondingly reduced penetration of the charge.

;Si.nce.no grate is required, a charge receiving chambercf maximum capacity is obtained, the burning out of metal parts requiring replacement is avoided andeconomical, highly eihcient operation is assured. Ofcourse, 'it-will be understood, that f orinciner ators of the larger sizes the air inlet ports '32 may be provided in corner castings in greater number, larger size or both -.to assuresuifiicient air for high efficiency peration.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings ;it'will .be seen that this inventionprovides -a household incinerator, which, with the exception of the fire-brick walls, comprises .a minimumnumber of parts of simple and inexpensive z-structural form and comparatively :light weight which can :be compactly packaged and shipped ':to the purchaser in a suitable-carton as a knocked-:downkit. Followin the above assembly instructions, the purchaser can rapidly and-accuratelyassemble the several parts :together :with the fire-brick walls at the selected location :to form a rugged, long life incinerator unit :of neat appearance and high efiiciency. As the-several parts of the incineratorscan be .rapidly fabricated by conventional quantity production methods of manufacture, production .cost -.is reduced to :a :minimum so that the purchase price thereof will be. appreciably .zless :thanathat .of :known incinerators now provided for the samejob.

"The invention may beembodied in .other specific forms without departing from the spiritof essential [characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects-as illustrative and :not restrictive, the scopeof the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description,and all changes which come within the meaningand range-of'equivalency of the claims are there'fore I intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be securedby the United States Letters Patent is:

1. An incinerator construction -l it comprising four preformed corner castings each having means to engage and position combustionchamber Walls of fire-brick; preformed upper and lower chargingand ash pit door :fraines respectively adapted to interconnect the upper and lower ends of a pair of said corner castings to form a front .frame structure, .hingedly mounted charging and ash pit doors on the respective frames; means adapted to secure said door frames between and to said :pair (if-corner castings; a preformed top casting assembly; means adapted to secure said top .casting, assembly to the rear corner castings-and to said upper door,

frame respectively; preformed non-combustible exterior finish panels adapted to 1111: between and close the back, sidewall, and top areasbetween said corner castings, and the front side wallarea between said door frames and .said pair ofcorner castings; and preformed tie .rods having means to adjustably connect diagonally oppositecorn'er castings at their upper and lower ends whereby said opposed corner castings .may bedra'wn'inwardly with respect toeach other along diagonally intersecting paths to tightly clamp and retain userassembled fire-brick walls together and in assembled relation to said exterior finish panels, said corner castings, andsaid door-frames thereby fonninga rigid incinerator unit.

'2. A refuse incinerator-comprising four corner castings each having abutment walls for engaging the vertical ends of mortarless fire-brick combustion walls; -upper-and lower charging and ash pit door framessecured to and respectively interconnecting the upper and lower ends of one pair ofsaid castings to form a front frame section having vertically spaced charging :and ash -.pit door openings separated by a panel opening adapted to be closed bya fire-brick wall panel;

hinged doors respectively mounted in said door frames; 2. top casting assembly comprising aflue section secured to the upper ends of the other pair ofcorner castings and a tie section extending away from an edge of-'saidflue section toward said upper charging door ira-me and connected to said door framezto locate said pairs of'cor'n'er castings in fore and 'aft alignment; fire-brick walls-extendin downwardly from said top casting assembly between aligned fore'and aft corner castings and between said other I pair ofcorner castings, additional fire brick walls in said panel opening and in theopen-spacesdefined by the upper ends of said-downwardly extending fire-brick walls, said upper door frameand said centrally disposed tie section and said flue-semtion; and-adjustable tie rods interconnecting the upper and'lower ends-ofdiagonally opposedpairs of-said corner castings andadapted upon tightening thereof to draw each-of said other pair of cor-ner castings inwardlyand toward its-respective diagonally opposed corner-casting to thereby draw the brickwork courses of said fire-brick walls into tight clamped engagement between said respective -corner castings whereby a rigid incinerator unitis formed.

3. The incinerator defined by claim 2, inwhich each corner casting has an inwardly-and-longitudinally extending central portion providing oppositely facingabutment wail-ls -for the fire-brick of the respectively intersecting combustion-chamber walls.

4. The incinerator-defined by claim wherein said tie section is relatively narrow and said flue section, tie section, and charging door frame are provided with supporting flanges for fire-brick partially forming the top of the incinerator combustion chamber.

5. The incinerator defined by claim 4, in which said flue section is provided with an upstanding outlet neck for the connection of an incinerator smoke flue therewith.

. 6. The incinerator defined by claim 4 in which said corner castings are provided with longitudinally spaced air inlet openings arranged to inject air inwardly throughout the combustion space provided by said incinerator.

7. An incinerator comprising four corner castings each having means to engage and position combustion chamber walls of fire-brick; upper and lower charging and ash pit door frames respectively; means for securing said frames between and to the front pair of said corner castings; a pair of top castings; means for securing said top castings to each other and means for securing one of said top castings to the rear cor.- ner castings and the other top casting to said upper door frame; side flanges on said corner castings to overlap the outer sides of the combustion chamber walls; facing sheets of hard asbestos adapted to be disposed with their side edges between said walls and the side flangesof the cornercastings; and tie rods for adjustably connecting diagonally opposite corner castings at their upper and lower ends to draw said corner castings into tight binding contact with the firebrick walls and form a rigidly assembled incineratorunit.

8. The incinerator assembly defined in claim '7. together with an asbestos cover sheet for said top castings and means for securing said cover sheet to said corner castings.

9. An incinerator combustion chamber structure comprising front and rear corner castings; upper and lower charging andash pit door frames; means securing said frames between and to the front corner castin-s; a front fire-brick wall between said door frames and front corner castings; side and rear fire-brick walls between said corner castings; longitudinally extending abutment surfaces on each of said corner castings disposed in angular relation to each other for contact with continguous side edges of the adjacent fire-brick walls; and intersecting tie rods extending through the upper and lower ends of diagonally opposite corner castings and having adjusting nuts threaded thereon to draw said corner castings into tight abutting engagement with said contiguous side edges of the fire-brick walls thereby retaining said corner castings and fire-brick walls in rigidly assembled relation.

10. An incinerator combustion chamber structure as defined in claim 9, wherein the corner castings are provided with vertically spaced air injection openings; and means is provided for closing the top of the incinerator combustion chamber, including a casting assembly, and means securing said casting assembly to the charging door frame and to said rear corner castings.

11. An incinerator comprising front and rear corner castings; upper and lower charging and ash pit door frames, means securing said frames between and to the front corner castings; a front fire-brick wall between said door frames and front corner castings; side and rear fire-brick walls between said corner castings; longitudinally extending abutment surfaces on each of said corner castings disposed in angular'relation to each other for contact withcontiguouslside edges of the fire-brick walls; longitudinal flanges angularly disposed with respect to said abutment surfaces and overlapping the outer side edges of said fire-brick walls; hard asbestos facing sheets covering said walls with their opposite edges interposed. between said flanges and said walls; and intersecting tie rods extending through the upper and lower ends of diagonally opposite corner castings having adjusting nuts threaded thereon and retaining said corner castings and fire-brick walls in rigidly assembled re1ation.-

12. An incinerator as deflnedby claim 11, to-' gether with a top casting assembly having an outlet flueconnecting neck and. adapted to partially close the top of said incinerator; means securing said casting assembly to the charging door frameand to the rear corner castings; firebrick closing the remainder of the top of the incinerator combustion chamber; and supporting means on the door frame and top casting assembly cooperating with theupper courses of. said fire-brick walls to support said fire-brick.

13. An incinerator as defined by claim 12, wherein said top casting assembly includes a.

main casting extending between the rear corner castingsand having a flue opening; and a relatively narrow tie casting centrally bridgin the space between said main'casting and the charging door frame.

14. In a household incinerator, front and rear corner castings; upper and lower charging and ash pit door frames; means securing said frames between and to the front corner castings; a front fire-brick wall between said door frames and front corner castings; side and rear fire-brick walls between said corner castings; longitudinally extending abutment surfaces on each of said corner castings disposed in angular relation to each other for contact with contiguous side edges of the fire-brick Walls; longitudinal flanges along eachabutment surface overlapping the I outer sides of said fire-brick walls; hard asbestos facing sheets covering said walls with opposite edges thereof interposed between said flanges and said walls; a top casting assembly having an outlet flue connecting neck; means securing said assembly to the charging door frame and to the rear corner castings; fire-brick closing the top of the incinerator combustion chamber; supporting means on the door frame and top casting assembly acting together with the upper surface of said fire-brick walls to support said fire-brick; intersecting tie rods extending through the upper and lower ends of diagonally opposite corner castings and having adjusting nuts threaded thereon for retaining said corner castings and fire-brick walls in rigidly assembled relation; a cover sheet of hard asbestos secured to the upper end faces of said corner castings; and an insulating layer of sand between said cover sheet andsaid casting assembly and top fire-brick.

15. In a household incinerator as defined by claim 14, a combustion chamber floor comprising a layer of sand covering the lower tie rods and fire-brick superimposed thereon, said ash pit door frame and rear corner castings havin inwardly projecting flanges for receiving the marginal fire-brick of said floor to determine the plane of said floor.

16. In an incinerator structure, angularly related side walls of refractory material forming a combustion chamber; a top closure for said chamher having a flue connection therein; corner castings'each having means abutting contact with adjacent vertical-edge portions of said walls and flanges overlapping the outer marginal edges of said walls; adjustable tie rods connecting diagonally opposite corner. castings at their upper and lower ends and securing said castings and combustion chamber walls in a rigid'assembly; and vertically spaced inwardly'and downwardly inclined air injection openings in said corner castings adapted'by reason of the'draft through said flue connection to inject high velocity streams of combustion air inwardly and downwardly throughout the entire area of'said come bustion chamber.

17. The incinerator of claim 16 whereineach ofsaid' combustion chamber walls comprises a plurality of' superposed courses of fire-brick having soft, asbestos, sealing strips disposed between the abutment faces of adjacent brick, between the vertical edge portions of said walls and the abutting means of said corner castings, and betweentheupper edges of said walls and said top closure whereby upon adjustment of said tie rodsthe corner castings and the individual brick of the combustion wallsare embedded in said sealing strips thereby providing agas tight combustion chamber.

18- The combination defined in claim l6 wherein-said. air injection openings at their inner ends are defined by inwardly'directed, vertically spaced bosses of a length sufiicient to overlap the inner vertical edges of the adjacent intersecting refractory walls thereby preventing inward movement'of. the opposite wall ends'during tightening of said tie rods.

19. In an: incinerator structure as defined in claim- 16 wherein each of said combustion chamber walls comprises a plurality of superposed courses offire-brick with at least two'bricks in each course, reinforcing uprights each comprising rigidly connected oppositely facing channel bars. in which the opposed ends of the fire-brick in each course are respectively engaged.

20'. In an incinerator structure as defined-in in one of said walls is engaged; certain of said corner castings being provided with vertically spaced air injection openings; tie rods connecting diagonally opposite corner castings at their upper and lower ends and retaining said castings and combustion chamber walls in a rigid assembly'; a floor plate directly supported upon. the lower tie rods; and a fire-brick floor for the com"- bustion chamber supported upon said floor plate.

22. In an incinerator structure as defined in claim 21, said upright channel bars having the lower ends of their side flanges. bowed outwardly to receive there between channel footings extending' in opposite directions a distance less. than a single brick length, and'a bed of asbestos-cement grout for the floor brick covering the floor plate.

ROBERT E. ZAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 45,982 Dodge Jan. 24, 1865 48,542 Flagg 'July 4, 1865:

406,679 Wallenbeck July 9, 1889 499,892 Schmidt June 20, 1893 1,919,008 Cheviron July 18, 1933 1,985,962. Triggs Jan. 1, 1935

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