GB2060844A - Incinerator apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In incineration apparatus smoke from burning objects in an incineration area (48) is drawn into a collecting chamber (46). Updraughts in the column (140) evacuate the chamber and force the smoke into a combustion stack (44). The column of smoke in the stack is raised to combustion temperature by heaters (148) mounted in the stack. The superheated smoke is combined with heated air from outlets (176) and is burnt in the vicinity of a choke and flame deflector located by a support (156). In a further embodiment the incinerator area may be open topped and objects may be set alight by a unit with flame guns that travels along the length of the incinerator area with a smoke control unit travelling along the opposite side to draw in and eliminate smoke. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Incinerator apparatus This invention relates generally to incinerator apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, has application to incinerators used to convert old cars into charred scrap metal hulls.

A number of methods are available to prepare old cars for resale as scrap metal. The easiest and most popular method is incineration. However, most cars contain a variety of combustible materials such as plastic, foam, rubber, undercoating and grease. Due to the expense and time involved in removing such materials prior to incineration, the cars are commonly left intact. This results in visible, irritating pollution and smoke as these materials burn off the car during incineration. Such discharges often do not meet local environmental standards. The demand for a nonpolluting and smokeless vehicle incinerator capable of burning cars intact is apparent.

A number of incinerators which give controlled smoke emission have been previously disclosed. The most effective ones operate on the principle that smoke is the result of incomplete primary combustion and therefore can be eliminated through secondary combustion.

The smoke is heated and combined with oxygen to produce the secondary combustion.

Others use unusual smoke stack designs such as inner and outer stack configurations or tortuous paths through the stack to eliminate smoke. Still others cleanse the smoke with water or chemical sprays.

A number of smoke control devices attach to existing incinerator unit.

Mobile units have been used to incinerate continuous rows of material.

Many problems remain in these prior art devices. Those designed to burn rubbish or loose refuse cannot effectively accommodate large quantities of bulky items such as automobiles. Others, specifically designed to accommodate vehicles, are very complex relying primarily on the water and chemical spray or gas drying techniques. Lack of substantial air flow induction through these devices hinders complete incineration of the vehicles and thorough clearing of combustion discharge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an incinerator which substantially overcomes many of the problems which exist in the prior art devices, and to provide an inexpensive and simply constructed device capable of thoroughly incinerating large quantities of motor vehicles without discharging appreciable smoke pollution.

According to the present invention incinerator apparatus comprises an incinerator area, igniting means for igniting objects in the incinerator area and smoke guiding means for guiding smoke from the incinerator area to smoke control means includes a smoke collecting chamber and smoke elimination means comprising smoke heating means for heating the smoke and smoke combustion means for combusting combustible elements in the heated smoke, and means for releasing the heat generated into the atmosphere. In one construction, cars to be incinerated may be stacked in a confining area between a mobile smoke guiding unit and a mobile smoke control unit. Air flow generated by the guiding unit causes flames generated by flame guns mounted on the guiding unit to envelop the cars.As the cars being to burn, controllable directed air streams generated by the guiding unit cooperate with directing flaps to guide smoke into the smoke control unit.

Preferably, the control unit has a smoke elimination stack connected on top of a smoke collecting chamber. Smoke is initially received by the collecting chamber and forced into the stack by stack updraughts and natural air intake. In the stack, the smoke is superheated and then combined with heated oxygen injected into the stack adjacent an open flame.

The resulting combustion produces extreme temperatures and intense flame which clear the stack discharge of smoke.

In another construction, cars may be transported into an incinerating chamber having a single opening. A smoke control unit connected to the chamber receives all emission from the opening and cleanses it before discharge to the environment. Preferably, the control unit has a smoke collecting chamber and smoke elimination stack.

The invention, therefore, aims to provide an incinerator which is highly efficient in incinerating vehicles to prepare them for resale as scrap metal, to provide an incinerator which is smokeless in operation, to provide an incinerator having a smoke elimination stack which is effective to burn, and eliminate all smoke produced in the primary incineration of the vehicles.

The incinerator apparatus may include confining means for receiving and holding motor vehicles or other objects to be incinerated, igniting means adjacent the confining means for inflaming vehicles or objects held by the confining means, smoke guiding means adjacent the confining means for directing smoke generated by incineration of vehicles or objects held by the vehicle confining means to smoke control means, smoke control means adjacent the vehicle confining means for receiving smoke generated by incineration of vehicles held by the confining means. converting substantially all of the received smoke to heat, and expelling heat into the atmosphere, the smoke control means comprising a smoke collecting chamber adjacent the confining means for receiving smoke from the confining means and communicating received smoke to smoke elimination means, smoke elimination means connected to the smoke collecting chamber for receiving smoke from the smoke collecting chamber comprising smoke heating means for heating received smoke, smoke combustion means for converting received smoke into heat through combustion, and expelling means for releasing the heat into the atmosphere.

The confining means of the incinerator area may comprise a longitudinal wall formed about a horizontal axis having open proximal and closed distal ends and an interior space sufficiently large to hold motor vehicles, vehicle moving means adjacent the proximal end for transporting vehicles through the proximal end, door mounting means connected to the wall adjacent the proximal end configured to mount a door for selective covering and uncovering of the proximal end, a door conected to the door mounting means, and an opening in the upper end of the wall adjacent the interior space for communicating smoke from the interior space to the smoke control means, the smoke control means connected to the longitudinal wall in vertical alignment with the opening.

A first moving means may be connected to the smoke control means and the ground to enable lateral movement of the smoke control means, a second moving means may also be connected to the ignition means, smoke guiding means and the ground to enable lateral movement of the ignition means and smoke guiding means, the first and second moving means being longitudinally spaced and parallel, enclosing means being connected to the smoke control means, the ignition means the the smoke guiding means enclosing the longitudinal space between the first and second moving means and the confining means comprising the longitudinal space and the enclosing means.

Preferably the smoke elimination means comprises a side wall means formed about a vertical axis bounding an open interior column having a lower open smoke receiving end connected to the smoke collecting chamber and an upper open heat expelling end, smoke heating means comprising a source of pressurized flame gun operating fuel, flame guns mounted radially on the side wall means having inward open ends projecting into the open interior column for injecting smoke heating ignited fuel into the column and having outward ends configured for connection to fuel supply lines, fuel supply lines connected to the outward ends of the flame guns and the source of fuel for communicating fuel from the source to the flame guns, flame gun igniting means connected to the flame guns for igniting the initial fuel injected into the column, smoke combustion means comprising a choke support means connected to the side wall means for movably supporting a choke means in the open upper end of the column, choke means connected to the choke support means for diffusing smoke heating flame from the flame guns to circular shape adjacent the inner surface of the side wall, means opposite the choke means and for providing a limited restriction in the column to facilitate sufficient smoke heating, a source of pressurized air, air heating means comprising air tubes coiled around the outer surface of the side wall means adjacent the circularly deflected flame for heating combustion aiding air in the tubes, air supply lines connected to the source of compressed air and the air heating means for communicating air from the source to the air heating means, air injection means connected to the air heating means and the side wall means adjacent the upper end for communicating heated air from the air heating means to the interior column and combining the heated air with the heated smoke and the flame from the flame gun in the column thereby forming an intense flame in the column adjacent the upper end which ignites the smoke in the column and converts that smoke to heat, expelling means for expelling heat from the interior column into the environment comprising a side wall extension means connected to the upper end of the side wall means forming a flame vortex space adjacent the upper open end of the interior column providing contact between the intense smoke igniting flame and the environment to maintain the ideal combustion environment for combustibles in the smoke and to expel heat from the smoke igniting flame into the environment.

Advantageously flame guns are mounted on the side wall in spaced vertically adjacent annular rows, the rows comprising flame guns mounted at equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the side wall angled upward toward the interior, the flame guns of each row rotatively offset from the flame guns of the adjacent rows an angular distance proportional to the angular intervals between flame guns in the rows and the numerical total of the rows.

The air tubes are preferably thin, flexible tubes coiled around the outer surface of the side wall, the air injection means are thin, flexible tubes radially mounted at equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the side wall having inward open ends projecting into the open interior column for injecting heated air into the column and having outward ends connected to the air tubes, the inward ends curved substantially parallel to the inner surface of the side wall inducing a swirling flow of air in the column to combine the heated air, the heated smoke, and the flame from the flame guns.

The side wall means may comprise a first side wall formed in substantially cylindrical shape about a vertical axis having upper and lower open tapered ends, a second side wall formed in a conical shape having a relatively large lower open end and a relatively small upper open end, the lower end vertically aligned with and connected to the upper open end of the first side wall, the upper end connected to the expelling means, a first annular flange connected to the outer surface of the first side wall, a second annular flange connected to the outer surface of the second side wall, a stack connecting annular flange connected to the lower end of the first side wall, a side wall sleeve formed in substantially cylindrical shape about a vertical axis having lower and tapered upper open ends configured to receive the first and second side walls, a sleeve connecting annular flange connected to the lower end of the side wall sleeve, the sleeve connecting and stack connecting flanges vertically aligned and connected, the inner surface of the side wall sleeve contacting the first annular flange thereby supporting the sleeve upright and vertically aligning the sleeve with the first and second side walls.

The smoke collecting chamber preferably comprises a first chamber having upper and lower open ends, a second chamber having upper and lower open ends, the upper end of the second chamber connected to the lower end of the first chamber, the upper end of the first chamber connected to the smoke elimination means, the lower end of the second chamber connected to the vehicle confining means, fan supporting means connected to the second chamber for supporting a tan within the chamber, fan means connected to the fan supporting means for controlling draught in the smoke collecting chamber and the smoke elimination means, throttle supporting means connected to the first chamber for supporting a throttle means within the first chamber, throttle means connected to the throttle supporting means for further controlling draught in the smoke collecting chamber and the smoke elimination means.

The smoke collecting chamber may alternatively comprise a first chamber having upper and lower open ends, a second chamber having upper and lower ends and an open side wall facing the vehicle confining means for receiving smoke from the vehicle confining means, an opening in the upper end of the second chamber, the lower end of the first chamber connected to the upper end of the second chamber around the opening, the upper end of the first chamber connected to the smoke elimination means, the lower end of the second chamber connected to the first moving means, flap supporting means connected to the second chamber for supporting flaps around the open side wall, flaps movably connected to the flap supporting means for controlling the flow of smoke through the open side wall into the second chamber, air intake means connected to the second chamber providing a flow of air into the second chamber.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood various embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of incinerator apparatus for motor vehicle incineration embodying the principles of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the incinerator shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the smoke control unit of a second incinerator, Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of upper and lower side wall fragments of the smoke control units shown in Figs. 1-3, Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of an ash collector, Figure 6 is a side elevation of a third incinerator, Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the incinerator shown in Fig. 6, Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the incinerator shown in Fig. 6, Figure 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a smoke elimination stack shown in Fig. 6, Figure lOis an elevational view, partly in section of a second smoke elimination stack embodying the principles of the present invention, Figure ? 11 is a sectional detail of the choke shown in Figs. 8 and 9, Figures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are plan detail views, partly in section, of the air injector and third, second and first heating levels respectively shown in Figs. 8 and 9, Figure 13 is a perspective detail of the igniter for the flame guns shown in Figs. 7, 9, 10 and 12, Figure 14 is a front elevation of the air units shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 1SA is 2 first sectional view of Fig.

14, Figure 158 is a second sectional view of Fig. 14, Figure 16 is a front elevation of the smoke control unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 1 7 is a plan detail of the flame gun system shown in Fig. 14, and Figure 18 is a plan view of the incinerator shown in Fig. 2 with the cover included.

Referring now to the drawings, the incinerator shown in Fig. 1 has an air unit 2, a vehicle confining and ignitor area 3 and a smoke control unit 5. A plurality of stacks of cars 20 to be incinerated are placed in the confining area 3 which is bounded on opposite lateral sides by parallel sets of tracks 1 7 and 34. Track wheel assemblies 1 6 and 33 are connected to the air unit 2 and smoke control unit 5 to enable movement of the units parallel to the stacks of cars 20. By maintaining lateral alignment between the air unit 2 and the smoke control unit 5 as both are moved along the tracks 34 and 1 7, a large volume of cars 20 stacked between the tracks 1 7 and 34 can be incinerated in a short period of time.A base 22 of suitable non-combustible material underlies the entire assembly.

The air unit 2 is used to ignite the cars 20 and direct smoke from the burning cars 20 into the smoke control unit 5. For maximum mobility, air supply tanks 9 and an operations control room 40, Fig. 2, are mounted on the air unit 2. From a single control chair 42 and control panel 41, an operator can monitor and regulate the performance of the entire incinerator. The front wall 1 2 and wall support strut 10 of the air unit 2 support means to ignite the cars and control the smoke. The rear wall 7 supports fuel tanks 8 on a platform 6 a safe distance away from the heat of the vehicle confining area 3.

A plurality of flame guns 1 8 (see Figs. 14, 1 5 and 17) mounted on the periphery of the air unit 2 project from the front wall 1 2 for injecting car igniting flame into the confining area 3. The guns 18 are fed from the fuel supply tanks 8 by fuel supply lines 11. Ignition means similar to those in Fig. 1 3 are mounted on each gun 1 8. The operation of the ignition means are described later. To ensure complete incineration of all cars 20 in the confining area 3, the flame guns are connected to moving means (not shown) which selectively adjust the location of the guns 18.

A fan assembly 23 (Fig. 14) mounted in a central cavity 1 9 in the front wall 1 2 of the air unit 2 creates sufficient draught in the confining area 3 to ensure the maximum amount of flame reaches the greatest number of cars 20. After the cars 20 are ignited, the flame guns 1 8 are turned off and the speed of the fan blade 24 reduced. Air injectors 35 mounted in air ducts 37 on the front wall 1 2 of the air unit 2 inject controllabie streams of directed air into the confining area 3 to guide smoke from burning cars 20 to the smoke control unit 5.Adjustable side flaps 14, an upper flap 1 5 and a lower flap 1 3 control the flow of air injected into the confining area 3 achieving most effective control of smoke direction. In an alternative embodiment, steam injectors replace the air injectors 35. Corresponding adjustable side flaps 25, upper flap 28 and lower flap 30 (Fig. 1 6) guide the air directed smoke into the open front wall of a burn chamber 29 in the smoke control unit 5.

Air intake openings 31 in the sides of the chamber 29 allow for natural air intake and are fitted with air ducts 36 (see Fig. 16) and pressurised air intake valves (not shown) fed by a compressor (not shown) to ensure adequate oxygen supply for combustion. In an alternative embodiment, the flaps 25, 28 and 30 are closed completely covering the open front wall of the chamber 29 enabling use of the smoke control unit 5 as a complete smokeless incineration unit independent of the air unit 2 and vehicle confining area 3.

Air in a smoke elimination stack 27 is heated prior to entry of smoke into the burn chamber 29 creating an updraught in the stack 27. Smoke guide into the burn chamber 29 is forced through a smoke collector chamber 26 into the stack 27 by the updraught.

Means to convert the smoke to heat are mounted in the stack 27 with the resultant hat expelled from an open top 38 of the stack 27 into the environment. Openings 43 in a stack sleeve 39 provide a flow of stack cooling air between the stack 27 and sleeve 39. A catwalk 53 and ladder 45 provide ready access to the stack 27.

A cover 32 (see Fig. 18) for the confining area 3 has a roof 47 and side walls 49 suspended from opposite lateral edges of the roof 47. The walls 49 are hinged to enable selective covering and uncovering of the lateral sides of the confining area 3. In one embodiment, the roof is connected to and supported by the roofs of the air unit 2 and the smoke control unit 5. In an alternative embodiment, the roof has track wheel supporting means (not shown) connected to track wheels (not shown) which are movable along the tracks 34 and 17.

In a more mobile embodiment, shown in Fig. 3 to which reference is now made, a smoke control unit 75 is mounted on a trailer 67 having ground engaging wheels 70 and hitch means 50, 51 and 52 for attachment to a towing vehicle (not shown). An air tank and compressor 63 are mounted on the trailer 67 for maximum mobility. A burn chamber 72 is provided with smoke guiding flaps 55, 56 and 57 around the open front end and air vents 54 and 58 on opposite side walls.

A smoke collector chamber 61 is connected to the roof of the burn chamber 72 and supports a smoke elimination stack 60. An ash collector 62 adjacent the heat exit opening in the top of the stack 60 removes waste particles from the heated air expelled by the stack 60. The ash collector 62, shown in detail in Fig. 5, works on the principles of high speed centrifugal separators to push the waste particles into ash retaining areas 105 while letting heated air escape through openings 101 in a roof 103. Steam heads 100 permit selective steam cleaning of the released air. Support sleeve 109 and air column diffuser 110 complete the ash collector assembly 62.

Referring now to Fig. 4, for safe and efficient heat insulation, the walls of the burn chamber comprise an inner panel 85 of flame resistant material such as asbestos, and an outer panel 87 of suitable high temperature material such as steel having lower air intake vents 92 and upper air exhaust vents 90, enabling air flow between the panels 85 and 87 to dissipate heat and reduce the outer panel 87 temperature. Support frame pipes 80 and 82 at the upper and lower ends of the panels 85 and 87 maintain the air flow space between the panels 85 and 87. The pipes 80 and 82 are also incorporated into a steam system, carrying water heated, in part, by the interpanel air flow.

In a further stationary embodiment of the invention (Figs. 6, 7 and 8), the smoke elimination stack 44, smoke collector chamber 46, and combined burn chamber and vehicle confining incineration area 48 comprise a single unit 95. Cars to be incinerated are transported into and out of the incineration area by a rail car (not shown) which moves along tracks 65 projecting into the open front end of the unit 95 on box supports 66. Rail car stops ensure proper positioning of the cars for incineration.

A door 69 is suspended by cables 98 from pulleys mounted on top of a supporting framework 97 adjacent the open front end of the unit 95. A motor 96 reels the cable 98 enabling the door 69 to slide vertically for selective covering and uncovering of the opening. Unlike the mobile embodiments, an air unit is not required. With the opening covered, a stack 44 updraught is sufficient to guide smoke from burning cars in the incinerating area 48 to the stack 44.

The incineration area 48 is bounded by a skin having inner panel 106 and outer panel 107. Openings 89 in the outer panel 107 permit a flow of cooling air to circulate between the inner panel 106 and outer panel 107 and are incorporated into a steam system carrying water, heated in part, by the interpanel air flow.

The inner surface of the inner panel 106 is lined with coolant flow lines 1 32 and insulation 130.

Upon completion of incineration, the flow lines 1 32 are drained through a fire control pipe 1 26 suspended by hangers 1 28 from the roof of the incineration area 48.

Upper 1 24 and lower 1 22 level catwalks are mounted adjacent the smoke elimination stack 44 by a support 1 20. A ladder 11 8 provides access to the catwalks 1 22 and 1 24.

The smoke elimination stack 44 is press-fitted into a stack location collar 1 36 connected about an opening in the roof of the incineration area 48 to enable formation of a smoke column 1 40. As smoke from the incinerating area 48 rises through the column 140. it is progressively heated to combustion temperature by three spaced vertically adjacent heating levels 142, 144 and 146.Each level has a plurality of fuel injectors 1 48 mounted radially at equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the stack wall 1 35 having inward open ends 151 projecting into the smoke column 140 for heating the column with ignited fuel and having outward ends 1 52 connected to fuel supply lines 11 4 fed from adjustable 11 5 sources of pressurised fuel (not shown). In one embodiment, the injectors 148 are angled upward at 45" intervals around the wall 1 35 circumference (see Fig. 9 and Figs. 12).

Each level 142, 144 and 146 is rotatably offset 1 5, from the adjacent levels. The combination of offset, spacing and angling of the fuel injectors affords completeness and efficiency in column 140 heating. A high electrical resistance wire 1 62 as shown in Fig. 1 3 is supported through openings 1 64 in the fuel injectors 148 by a supporting strap 1 68 and terminal mount 1 70. Current is supplied from an electrical source (not shown) by conducting leads 1 66 to heat the wire 1 62 sufficiently to cause ignition of fuel flowing past it.

The heating levels 142, 144 and 146 also create the smoke guiding updraught in the stack 44 by pre-heating the column 1 40 prior to incineration of the cars.

A choke and flame deflector 1 54 is located rigidly in the centre of the column 1 40 by adjustable choke supports 1 56 and diffuses flame from the fuel injectors 1 48 to a circular shape adjacent the heating stack wall 1 37 and provides limited stack 44 restriction for sufficient heating of the smoke column 140.

Locating bolts 1 58 on threaded ends 1 60 of the supports 1 56 provide fine adjustment of choke 1 54 location. The heating stack wall 1 37 is press-fitted into the open upper end of stack wall 1 35 and provides a heating surface for air coils 1 72 wrapped around its outer surface.

Air supply lines 11 2 are connected to adjustable 11 3 sources of compressed air (not shown) and the air coils 1 72 supplying air to the coils 1 72 for heating. The heated air is injected into the column 140 by air injector outlets 1 72 mounted at 90 intervals around the circumference of the final burn chamber stack wall 1 39. The wall 1 39 has an annular lip (not shown) on its lower open end connected to the annular lip 1 74 on the upper end of the heating wall 1 37 by any suitable means, such as connecting bolts (not shown).

The air injector outlets 1 76 flex enabling fine adjustment of air injection direction. Generally, the outlet 1 76 ends are configured as shown in Fig. 1 2A to direct injected air in a horizontal direction thereby creating a swirling effect within the final burn chamber portion of the column 140. The injected air provides a source of excess oxygen which combined with the fuel injector flame and superheated smoke in the vortex area 141 of the column 140, produces combustion resulting in extreme temperature and an intense flame. Heating the air ensures maintenance of sufficient combustion temperature, and swirling the air ensures complete combustion. Flame contact with the atmosphere at the upper end of the vortex area 141 supports a fringe flame.This results in an ideal combustion environment for removal of all combustibles which make up the pollutive and smoke components of the stack 44 discharge.

For greatest efficiency, stack flow resistance is reduced by injecting only the minimum amount of air necessary to sustain complete combustion of the smoke.

An alternative smoke elimination unit 1 80 embodying the principles of this invention is shown in Fig. 1 0. A smoke collecting chamber 1 82 and smoke elimination stack 1 84 are combined in a single unit 1 80.

The stack 1 84 comprises a lower cylindrical wall 1 86 and an upper cylindrical wall 1 88 connected by an annular securing ring and received in a stack sleeve 1 92 during operation. Openings 1 94 in the sleeve 1 92 allow stack securing guy wires 1 96 to be connected to an annular flange 1 98 on the upper wall 1 88. The sleeve 1 92 is secured to the lower wall 186 by a flange 171 and a lip 173. The lip 1 73 is also connected to a lip 1 75 on the smoke collecting chamber 182.An adjustable choke 181, choke pivot 183 and choke location control bar 1 85 are connected to the upper end of the upper wall 1 88 for controlling the size of the stack exit opening.

Three heating levels 161, 163 and 165 comprise spaced vertically adjacent rows of fuel injectors 1 79 radially mounted on the stack walls 1 86 and 1 88 by location plates 1 69. The injectors 1 79 are angled, offset and spaced in a manner similar to the injectors 148 in Fig. 9. Fuel is communicated from a fuel source (not shown) to the injectors 1 79 by fuel supply lines 1 59.

An adjustable choke (not shown) is located rigidly in the centre of the stack column by choke supports (not shown). Locating bolts 1 78 attached the choke supports to the stack wall 1 88 and enable fine adjustments in choke location.

Air heating coils 1 53 are wrapped around the outer surface of the stack wall 1 88 adjacent the choke locating bolts 1 78. Air supplied to the coils 1 53 is heated by choke diffused flame from the fuel injectors 1 79.

The heated air is injected into the stack column by air injector outlets 1 27 mounted radially around the circumference of the stack wall 188.

The smoke collecting chamber 182 comprises an upper chamber 11 7 and a lower chamber 11 9 connected by spaced wall pipes 1 34 covered by a skin 143. A draught control fan 147 is suspended in the lower chamber 11 9 by adjustable fan supports 149 and fan locating bolts 145. A throttle plate 1 57 is pivotably mounted in the upper chamber 11 7 to further control fan 147 generated draught.

It should be noted that the stacks 44 and 1 80 described with reference to the stationary incinerator embodiment 95 can also be used in the mobile incinerator embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 16 and 18.

Claims (26)

1. Incinerator apparatus comprising an incinerator area, igniting means for igniting objects in the incinerator area and smoke guiding means for guiding smoke from the incinerator area to smoke control means in a column wherein the smoke control means includes a smoke collecting chamber and smoke ejimina- tion means comprising smoke heating means for heating the smoke and smoke combustion means for combusting combustible elements in the heated smoke, and means for releasing the heat generated into the atmosphere.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the smoke heating means consists of a plurality of flame guns mounted around the interior wall of the column through which the smoke passes.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the flame guns are arranged in a plurality of layers along the column.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the column is substantially circular in cross section and wherein the flame guns are arranged radially.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 and including at least two layers of flame guns, the guns in one layer being offset by 1 5, to the guns in the adjacent layer.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the column is vertical and the flame guns are upwardly directed.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the flame guns are mounted in spaced vertical adjacent annular rows, the guns in each row being mounted at equally spaced intervals around the wall of the colyumn and angled upwards, the flame guns in each row being rotatively offset from the flame guns if the adjacent rows by an angular distance proportional to the angular intervals between flame guns in the rows and the numerical total of the rows.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and including ignition means integral with the smoke heating means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the smoke combustion means includes choke means for diffusing smoke heating flame from the smoke heating means to a substantially circular shape to provide a restriction in the passage of the smoke to facilitate smoke heating and air injection means for feeding air to the heated smoke to cause it to burn.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 and including air heating means for heating the air fed to the injection means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the heating means comprises tubes coiled around the outer surface of the column and arranged to be heated from heat within the column.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11 and including high pressure means for feeding the air to the air injection means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 1 2 wherein the injection means are adapted to import a swirling flow of air into the column.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 9 to13 wherein the choke means comprises a hollow conical body having a closed flat upper end and a pointed lower end.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 1 4 and including adjustable support means for the choke means.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for releasing the heat generated into the atmosphere includes an adjustable choke.

1 7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the incinerator area is defined on its smoke output side by adjustable flaps connected to the smoke guiding means.

1 8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the smoke control means is movable.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the igniting means is incorporated in an air unit including draught inducing means for the incinerator area.

20. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 9 and including adjustable flaps on the air unit for guiding and confining the air and heat from the igniting means to the incinerator area.

21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 19 or 20 wherein the air unit is movable.

22. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 8 and 21 wherein rails are provided along which the smoke control means and/or the unit can move on wheels.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 7 to 22 and including an adjustable roof to the incinerator area.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 1 6 wherein the incinerator area is enclosed and objects are fed to the area through a door.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the column comprises a smoke collecting unit comprising a first chamber having upper and lower ends, a second chamber, having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the second chamber being connected to the lower end of the first chamber, the upper end of the first chamber being connected to the smoke elimination means and the lower end of the second chamber communicating with the incinerator area, fan means supported within the second chamber for controlling the draught in the smoke collecting unit and throttle means for further controlling the said draught.

26. Incinerator apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.