US1972073A - Cremation furnace - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1934. J. J. BLEITZ CREMATION FURNACE 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Nov. 22, 1932 INVFNTOR B/eiiz A TTORNEY p 1934.. J. J. BLEITZ 1,972,073

CREMAT I 0N FURNACE Filed Nov. 22. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vl Claims.

My invention relates to a cremation furnace. More particularly my invention relates to a cremation. furnace so constructed that two cre mae tion chambers are provided, one of which provides for the initial burning, and the second of which provides for the final combustion of the casket and body.

Another object of my invention is to provide for firing below the casket and body, both in the a primary burning and in the final combustion.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for supporting the casket and body during the final combustion, which means will withstand the exceedingly high temperature obtained in the final stages of combustion, and will not form any substantial obstruction to the flames enveloping the casket and the body.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide means to support the casket and body during both the primary and secondary stages of cremation, which means will permit the flames to be directed below the casket and will permit the flames to completely envelop the casket and body at all times during the cremation.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for the entrance of air used in the combustion of the casket and body, which means direct such air at the desired places where it will most efliciently aid in the combustion of the casket and body.

Another object of my invention is to provide additional means for the combustion of gases, particles, or other products of combustion in the cremation furnace, thereby eliminating the usual disagreeable odors, fumes, and smoke which ordinarily escape thru the chimney in the operation of the ordinary cremation furnace. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a cremation furnace which will cause complete combustion of the casket and the body in a short period of time, using a minimum amount of oil, thereby providing for a maximum efiiciency and extremely rapid operation. In this connection it is to be noted that a cremation may be accom- 45 plished in my furnace in a-period of approximately 45 minutes as distinguished from the furnaces heretofore in use where periods of time ranging from two and one-half to four hours were necessary to complete the cremation.

Also it is to be noted that the furnaces heretofore in use generally use ahigh grade of hydrocarbon, such as diesel oil or distillate, and that during a cremation such furnaces consumed a supply of such hydrocarbon ranging from 42 to 84 gallons. On the other hand, my cremation furnace may be efficiently operated using to gallons of crude'oil for a cremation. It is well known in the art that the price of crude oil is considerably less than that of the higher quality hydrocarbons, such as distillate or diesel oil heretofore necessary to obtain the proper heat for cremation. The vast difference in the cost of a cremation using my furnace, and the time involved for such cremation are illustrated by the above figures.

The above mentioned generaI objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts broken away, of a furnace embodying my invention. i

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation showing the plate member positioned upon the forward, or operating, end of my furnace.

Fig. i is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1, parts not being shown for the purpose of clearness.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. l.

My cremation furnace may be built upon the concrete floor of the building, which floor is illustrated as at 10. Superimposed upon the floor 10 are heat refractory blocks 11, which heat refractory blocks are preferably positioned directly upon the concrete floor 10 until a position in the furnace substantially below the foremost of a plurality, of supporting members 12 is reached. At this point the bottom of the furnace which is composed of heat refractory maserial is inclined upwardly as indicated by the positionof heat refractory material 13. Preferably a ledge or bafile member 14 for deflecting the flames of combustion directed from the oil burner 15 is provided below the forward end of supporting members 12. From the ledge 14, the base 13' of thefurnace, which is composed of heat refractory material, inclines upwardly to the rear wall 16 of thecombustion chamber. The inclined floor of the combustion chamber may be supported as by bricks 1'7.

The supporting members 12 are in spaced relation to the heat refractory material forming the bottom of the cremation furnace and are preferably removed therefrom by a distance in the matter of inches and may be inclined as illustrated. These supporting members 12 are formed of water cooled pipes or conduit members which extend laterally of the furnace through the side walls 18 and 19 of the furnace. The ends of these conduits preferably extend beyond the walls 18 and 19 and are connected together by a coupling 20, a U shaped member 20', and union 21. By extending the pipes through and beyond the walls 13 and 19 andby the use of the fittings shown, provision is made so that the pipes are independently readily removable in case that this is desired. The supporting member 12 is therefore formed of a continuous conduit providing for the entrance of water or other ber 23 which is connected to means for the disposing of the fluid (not shown). Preferably on either side of the furnace are positioned air inlet'channels 24 and 25 which air inlet channels are positioned below the casket supporting members 12 and which channels are provided with openings 26 and 27 on the respective sides of the furnace. The openings 26 and 27 are positioned so that air for the combustion of the casket is directed into the furnace below the supporting members 12 and substantially adjacent the. ledge or baflie member 14. Preferably adjustable doors 28 and 29 are provided on the front of the furnace permitting the regulation of the air drawn through the channels 24 and 25.

' Ledgemembers 30 and 31 are positioned above the supporting members 12 and the members 30 and 31, form a casket supporting means in the initial burning chamber. The initial burning chamber 32 is provided with walls 33 and 34 and a dome member 35, which walls and dome are also preferably formed of heat refractory ma terial. Walls 36 and 37 mayextend upwardly from the side walls 33 and 34 and may be supported by a cross brace 38 secured to the side walls by plates and nuts as shown at 39. Preferably sand 40 or other heatrefractory material is used to fill in the space between the walls 36 and 37 and is positioned above the dome member 35. On the front of the furnace, metallic plate member 41 is sealed and secured to the furnace. This plate 41 may support th swinging door members 42 which door members may be provided with draft members 43.

Within the fire chamber a smoke and fume consuming device is illustrated in the form of a wall 44, which is'formed of spaced apart fire brick leaving a plurality of openings each of which is surrounded by edges of said fire. brick, through which openings the gases of combustion must pass to reach the chimney or gas outlet means of the furnace; A passageway 45 preferably connects the chimney or draft member indicated by 46 to the combustion chamber of the furnace and provides for a down draft before the gases of combustion can rise in the chimney member 46.

In the operation of my device the hinge doors 42 are opened and the casket having the body therein, indicated in dotted lines and numbered 47, is inserted into the cremation furnace on the ledges 30 and 31. This is preferably done by first inserting wooden rollers 48 and by the use of the same rolling the casket into the furnace. The doors 42 are then closed. Then a circulation of'the cooling medium through the conduit 12 is commenced and the oil burner 15, which is operatively connected to a source of fuel oil (not shown) is operated. The flames of combustion directed from the oil burner 15 are directed against the ledge or baffle member 14 which spreads the flames causing part of the flames to rise directly below the part of the casket adjacent to the forward end of the furnace and part of the flames to be directed up the inclined floor of the .furnace and to envelop the remaining portion of the casket including that portion which is positioned adjacent the rearward end of the furnace. It will be noted that the firing is completely under the casket and envelopsthe casket permitting free access of the flames for combustion purposes. To provide sufficient air for the cremation the air enters the furnace through the channels 24 and 25, then through the openings 26 and 27 and interrnixes with the flames substantially at the position where the combustion of the casket and contents thereof occurs. The supply of air through channels 24 and 25 may be regulated by the door members 28 and 29 so that the proper amount of air for cremation is furnished at the places where the air is desired.

The primary burning is had while the casket rests upon ledges 30 and 31. This primary burning consumes the casket, which of course does not produce any disagreeable fumes. Also the casket is of an inflammable material and the burning of which increases the temperature in the combustion chambers. At this stage of the cremation the bottom of the casket gradually gives way and the body settles upon the supporting members 12 and is then positioned within the intense heating zone 49 which is a confined chamber and provides for side walls in close proximity to the body. The burning of the inflammable casket can obviously be accomplishedin any sort of a combustion chamber, as the material is highly inflammable. However, the casket is merely burned for sentimental reasons and is only useful as a means of conveyance of the body into the cremation furnace. On the other hand, the body, which is to be cremated, is not of a readily inflammable character and considerable heating is necessary for the complete combustion of the body. The supporting members 12, being water-cooled, will withstand extremely high temperatures and therefore may be of a relative small size thus offering substantially no obstruction to the flames and permitting the flames to completely envelop the body.

The fumes of combustion of the body are within an intense heating zone and a considerable amount of combustion of these fumes is caused which is not hadin the ordinary cremation furnace. As only a down draft is provided, the temperature in the combustion chambers rises rapidly and among others the member 44 becomes intensely hot, the bricks attaining a white heat. As the gases of combustion and particles are withdrawn through the member 44 and then through down draft 45 and then out the chimney 46, they must pass through the relatively restricted apertures provided in the member 44 having a relatively large wall area formed of heat refractory material, which has reached a White heat temperature. Any fumes and particles which pass through these openings are completely combusted in passing through said openings before they reach the down draft chamber 45 and the chimney member 46.

I have found in actual operation that a cremation furnace constructed according to my invention may be operated in densely populated parts of a city without disagreeable odors emitting and without any smoke or particles being present to give cognizance of the fact that a cremation is occurring.

I have further found that by providing of a primary burning zone in which combustion of the casket substantially completely occurs and a secondary burning zone having a confined chamber substantially of a size to receive the body and having underfire in both of these chambers, that I can accomplish a cremation in a time approximating 45 minutes. This provides for a cremation within a time of approximately one-third or less than one-third of the time which has been heretofore generally used. I have further found that the oil consumption in my cremation furnace for a cremation is only a relatively small part of the oil which was heretofore used for a cremation. I have further found that cheaper oils may be used and a greater heat obtained within the cremation furnace. I have also found that my device permits the cremation without the usual disagreeable odors which obtain in the ordinary cremation furnace, all of which result in economical, rapid, and emcient cremations not heretofore known.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment. 1

I claim:

1. A cremation furnace comprising a primary cremation chamber of a size to receive therein a casket, casket supporting means in said primary chamber, a smaller secondary cremation chamber positioned below and having an upper opening in communication with said primary chamber, said opening being of a size to permit a body to drop from the primary chamber thru said opening into the secondary chamber, means to support the body for cremation in the secondary chamber removed from the floor thereof and firing means positioned below the body supporting means in the secondary chamber.

2. A cremation furnace comprising a primary cremation chamber of a size to receive therein a casket; casket supporting means in said primary chamber; a smaller secondary cremation chamber, having side walls of substantial height and spaced apart at distances substantially equal to the width of a human body, said secondary chamber being positioned below and having an floor thereof; and firing means positioned below the body supporting means in the secondary chamber.

3. In a cremation furnace, a primary cremation chamber; casket supporting means in said primary chamber for supporting the edge portions of a casket in said primary chamber and leaving the central portion of the casket unsupported, whereby a body in said casket may drop from said primary chamber after the central bottom portion of the casket is burned away; a secondary cremation chamber positioned below and having an upper opening in communication with said primary chamber, said opening being of a size to permit a body to drop from the primary chamber through said opening into the secondary chamber; means to support the body for cremation in the secondary chamber removed from the floor thereof, said means supporting at intervals the body and leaving the body freely accessible to be enveloped by flames of combustion directed into the lower portion of the secondary cremation chamber; and firing means positioned below the body supporting means in the secondary chamber.

4. In a cremation furnace, a primary cremation chamber; casket supporting means in said primary chamber for supporting the edge portions of a casket in said primary chamber and leaving the central portion of the casket unsupported, whereby a body in said casket may drop from said primary chamber after the central bottom portion of the casket is burned away; a secondary cremation chamber positioned below and having an upper opening in communication with said primary chamber, said opening being of a size to permit a body to drop from the primary chamber through said opening into the secondary chamber; means to support the body for cremation in the secondary chamber removed from the floor thereof, said means to support the body comprising a plurality of spaced apart fluid cooled conduits for supporting at intervals the body and leaving the body freely accessible to be enveloped by flames of combustion directed into the lower portion of said secondary cremation chamber; and firing means positioned below the body supporting means in the secondary chamber.

JACOB JAY BLEI'IZ.

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