US3570421A

US3570421A - Loader apparatus for loading incinerators and the like

Info

Publication number: US3570421A
Application number: US816707A
Authority: US
Inventors: George H Flowers Jr
Original assignee: MINI MUNICIPALS Inc
Current assignee: MINI MUNICIPALS Inc
Priority date: 1969-04-16
Filing date: 1969-04-16
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16
Also published as: GB1269594A

Abstract

An apparatus for loading other equipment, the apparatus receiving loose material and transferring the material to an area of discharge and then discharging the material to the other equipment transverse to the direction of transfer in the apparatus. The material may be compacted in the apparatus prior to its discharge. Preferably the loader apparatus is used to charge or load an incinerator with rubbish or waste material while the incinerator may be in operation without the danger of flashback through the apparatus. Additionally, by having the loader apparatus arranged to move the waste material in a longitudinal direction and then discharging the same transversely into the incinerator, the apparatus can be positioned closely adjacent to the incinerator thereby requiring less floor space.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor George H. Flowers, Jr. 2,978,997 4/1961 Pierce llO/l8 Richmond, 3,457,882 7/1969 Ruzika 110/8 g 12s 1969 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague 1e P 1 n -C h ,Db dC h 45 Patented Mar. 16, 1971 A omey man at y man [73] Assignee Mini-Municipals,lnc.

Houston, Tex.

ABSTRACT: An apparatus for loading other equipment, the [54] LOADER APPARATUS FOR LOADING apparatus recefiyjirigilloose madtegial atd tlil'anst'errilrlg the mattleri- INCINERATORS AND THE LIKE a to an areao 1sc arge an t en 1sc arging t e materia to the other equlpment transverse to the dlrection of transfer 1n 23 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

the apparatus. The material may be compacted 1n the ap- [52] US. Cl 110/8, a atu rior to its discharge, Preferably the loader apparatus 1 /1 9, 214/23 is used to charge or load an incinerator with rubbish or waste [51] Int. Cl F23g /00 material while the incinerator may be in operation without the [50] Field ofSearch 110/7, 8, dang r of flashback through the apparatus. Additionally, by

214/23 having the loader apparatus arranged to move the waste material in a longitudinal direction and then discharging the [56] References C'ted same transversely into the incinerator, the apparatus can be UNITED STATES PATENTS positioned closely adjacent to the incinerator thereby requir- 3,30 3,9 47 2/1967 Reilly 214/23 ing less floor space.

64 p lav 5, a v4 'J I 74 70 I L X) $5 4 if Patented March 16, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvmon GEOAGEE F2 0 name J? m ATTORNEYH ATTORNEYJ VMJM $1 M? 5 Sheets-Sheet m LGADER APPARATUS FOR LGADING INCINERATGRS AND Till? LIKE The present invention relates to an improvement in loader apparatus for charging equipment with loose material and, more particularly, to a loader apparatus for charging an incinerator with large volumes of loose combustible material, such as rubbish or waste material from commercial establishmerits, apartment houses, and the like.

in my copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 743,548, filed Jul. 9, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,109 there is dis closed an incinerator having a horizontally extending elongated casing defining a main combustion chamber for the burning of the rubbish or waste material, the incinerator having an improved design to reduce the problem of air pollution from the gas products emitted therefrom. The present invention may be utilized with such an incinerator to improve the charging of the same, especially when the incinerator is in operation as the apparatus of the present invention eliminates the problem of timing between the tire door and the means for pushing the material through the fire door. A better seal is realized, resulting in a minimizing of danger from flashback of flame through the open fire door, the waste material being compacted to effectively block such flashback. Additionally, the loader apparatus of the present invention, when used with such an incinerator, requires less floor space, as it extends along the side of the incinerator and its load charge is not limited to the diameter of the incinerator as would be the case where the load charge was pushed in by a pusher operating at a 90 angle to the horizontal axis of the incinerator. In other words, the stroke of the pusher for the loader apparatus is not limited by the size of the equipment being loaded.

The above advantages and objects of the present invention are realized by providing a loader apparatus for an incinerator having a duct member with a longitudinal axis, the duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to its axis for the entry of loose waste material thereto and a discharge opening also lying in a plane parallel to its axis for discharge of the material in a direction transverse to the axis of the duct. The duct member is provided with a pusher reciprocal therein to push the waste material longitudinally through the duct member from the inlet opening into and out ofthe discharge opening. A door closing the discharge opening, which may be the fire door of the incinerator, is arranged to swing inwardly into the duct member to an open position. Preferably the open position is transversely across the duct, so as to provide a guide for guiding the charge of waste material through the opening in the incinerator. The door or closure for the discharge opening has extending, from its edge closest to the pusher, a platelike member which extends transversely across the duct member when the door is in the closed position, the platelike member being utilized as a wall against which the waste material may be first compressed by the pusher.

in certain instances where the waste material includes items made form synthetic fibers, such as fiber glass, nylon, polyethylene, and the like, there is a chance of some waste material melting and flowing to the floor of the duct member when charging. This melted waste material will solidify on such floor when the incinerator is shut down and could possibly interfere with the operation of the closure or door when operation is resumed. Consequently, to avoid such a problem, the apparatus is provided with a floor or bottom wall movable in a direction of transfer of the material at least when the pusher is moving the material toward and through the discharge opening, the movable wall extending out of the duct member into an area where it can be scraped or cleaned with each charging operation. Further, the apparatus is provided with closure means for the inlet opening arranged to form a continuation of the wall of the duct member when closed, and thus prevent waste material from being inserted behind the pusher during its forward stroke.

While the invention is described in combination with the charging of an incinerator, it may also be utilized to charge other devices, such as the charging of a furnace, with loose material, such as coal or the like.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully in the following specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the pusher in its retracted position with the closure for the discharge opening in its closed position, the movable floor or bottom wall being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the pusher in its forward stroke moving a charge through the open discharge opening;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, the view being partly in section and partly in elevation and illustrating the movable floor or bottom wall of the duct member;

FIG. 4 is aperspective view of one form of closure or door for the discharge opening of the duct member of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of another form of closure or door for the discharge opening of the duct member of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters or reference numerals represent like or similar parts, an incinerator generally designated by the numeral 10 is shown, the incinerator being of the type disclosed in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,109. For the purpose of this description, it will suffice to say that the incinerator includes an annular elongated casing member 12 having a horizontal axis, the casing member 12 being preferably cylindrical and defining a main combustion zone for primary burning of waste material. Casing member 12 is provided with an enlarged access and cleanout door 1.4 pivoted as indicated at 16, thus providing means for periodic cleaning an inspection of the interior of the casing member. A small manual loading door 18 may be provided on the access and cleanout door 14 for use in loading the incinerator when it is not desired to use the loading device 20 of the present invention. A fly-ash removal apparatus 22 is provided on the upper part of the casing member 12 and has communication with the main combustion chamber therein, the fly-ash removal apparatus receiving the exhaust gasses and removing fly-ash from the same, as well as providing a place for complete combustion of any combustible products in the exhaust gases. A stack 24 extends from the fly-ash removal apparatus 22 and provides a means for discharging exhaust gasses to atmosphere. A collar member 26, surrounding an opening 28 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in the wall of the casing member operatively supports a fire door or closure 30 which is arranged to close the opening 28, as will be explained in more detail later in the specification.

The loader apparatus 20 includes an elongated casing defining a duct 32 having a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the annular casing member 12 of the incinerator it). The duct or casing 32 has a portion 34, which is generally rectangular in cross section and is defined by

spaced sidewalls

36 and 38, as well as spaced top and

bottom walls

40 and 42, respectively. The top wall it) is provided with an opening 42 lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the duct 32, the opening 44 defining an inlet opening through which rubbish, trash, or other waste material may be discharged into the duct member. The sidewall 36 of the duct 32 is provided with an opening 46 complementary to the opening 28, the opening d6 being surrounded by a flange structure 48 secured to a complementary flange structure 50 of the collar 26.

A pair of

vertical steel plates

52 and 54 extend transversely across the top wall 40 and are secured thereto adjacent the forward and rear edges, respectively, of the inlet opening 44. A closure member or door 56, pivoted at 58 on a horizontal axis, is arranged to close the inlet opening 44 and substantially provide a continuation of the top wall 46 of the portion 3 1 of duct 32, the door 56 being swung to at least a vertical position when it is desired to load waste materialinto the duct so that the door, together with the

plate members

52 and 54, define a U-shaped chute in horizontal section.

A hydraulic cylinder assembly 60, mounted coaxially with the horizontal axis of the duct 34, is provided with a piston rod 62 having a pusher 64 carried on the end of the same. As schematically shown, control means 68 may be used to actuate the cylinder assembly 60 to reciprocate the pusher 64 back and forth from the position shown in FIG. 1, where it is adjacent the inlet opening 44's forward edge to a position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 adjacent the discharge opening 46s forward edge. The pusher 64 is provided with a concave arcuate material-engaging surface 66 having a radius of curvature substantially equal to an arc of a path of movement of the free edge 31 ofdoor 30.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the door 30 is pivoted adjacent the rear edge of the opening 46 as indicated at 70, the door being arranged to cover and close the discharge opening 46 and the opening 28 into the incinerator l and then to swing inwardly into the duct 32 to a position transverse of the duct as shown in FIG. 2. When in this latter position, the door, while in the open position, provides a means for guiding the waste material into and through the opening 28 to the main combustion chamber of the incinerator 10 as the pusher 64 is advanced. The pusher 64, as previously mentioned, advances to the dotted line position of FIG. 2, while in its fully extended position and when in this position, there will still be waste material in front of the pusher and between it and the door 30. As the door 30 is then movedto its closed position, its forward edge 31 swings in close proximity across the concave arcuate material-engaging surface 66 of the pusher 64 and sweeps all of the waste material from in front of the pusher 64 into the incinerator 10. Any suitable means, such as the hydraulic cylinder assembly 72 may be utilized for actuating the door 30 between its open and closed positions. Additionally, the cylinder assembly 72 may be actuated by the control means 68, so as to operate in a desired sequence and timing with respect to the operation of the cylinder assembly 60 and its pusher 64.

As shown in FIG. 4, one form of door or closure 30 is provided with an arcuate convexly curved platelike member 74 rigidly supported by means of one or more gussets 76. The curvature of the plate member 74 is complementary to the curvature of the material-engaging surface 66 of pusher 64, and when the door or closure 30 is in the closed position, the platelike member 74 extends from the forward edge of the door transversely across the duct 36 to provide a blockage of the same to an area behind the closed door. Certain waste material is compactible and oftentimes it is desirable to compact this material, especially if such material is susceptible to flash burning. By compacting the material, it does not burn as readily when the door 30 is opened and the pusher 64 is moved to its fully extended position for discharging the same into the incinerator l0. Suitable means may be provided in the control means 68 to advance the pusher a predetermined portion of its full stroke to compact material against the platelike member 74. This operation may be repeated until the desired charge or load is contained in the duct and then the door 30 is opened with the platelike member 74 swinging out of its blocking position into an enlargement 78 provided in the sidewall of the duct 32. Of course, the pusher 64 then is extended for its full stroke to transfer the charge longitudinally through the duct and then transversely from the duct into the incinerator.

FIG. discloses another preferred form of door or closure 30', the door or closure 30' being adapted to swing from a closed position covering the opening 46 to an open position, as shown in the broken lines. In this form of the invention, the arcuate convexly curved platelike member 74' is pivoted to the forward edge of the door or closure 30, as indicated at 75. Instead of providing an enlargement 78 in the sidewall 38, the sidewall 38' is provided with a slot 39 for receiving the free end of the plate member 74'. Rollers 41 are provided on either side of the slot. Additionally, a casing member 43, provided externally on the sidewall 38, is arranged to receive the plate member 74' when the door 30 is swung to the open position. As will be appreciated, the plate member 74' will pivot about its pivot 75 when it engages the interior wall of the casing member 43, and thus the overall size of the area where the plate member 74 is stored is less than in the situation such as shown in FIG. 2. When the door 30' is closed, the plate member 74' provides a rigid area against which the pusher 64 can compress the waste material.

Oftentimes the waste material being burned will include synthetic resinous material, such as fiber-glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. Normally no problem exists if the incinerator is continuously used with the same being reloaded periodically while in operation. However, the incinerators are often shut down at night and allowed to cool and if there is any of this waste material left on the bottom wall in the area where the door 30 swings open, this material melts onto the floor due to the residual heat, but then when the incinerator cools, it solidifies on the floor and might interfere with the swinging open of the door when it is desired to start up operation at a subsequent time. In order to avoid such a situation, the bottom wall 42 is movable in the direction of movement of the waste material through the duct. In more detail, the bottom wall 42 is defined by an endless conveyor means made of a flexible metallic heat-resistant belt having a run which defines the bottom wall 42. The run defining the bottom wall 42 is backed by a fixed rigid member 82 to prevent sagging, the endless conveyor means 80 extending out of the duct about pulley means 84 and 88. Cleaning means, such as a doctor blade or scraper 90, and/or a rotary scraper 91 or the like, is provided adjacent the area where the endless conveyor means moves out of the duct, the cleaning means removing any material adhering to the surface of the conveyor means and discharging the same into a receptacle 92. Any suitable means, such as an electric motor 94, may be used to operate the endless conveyor means 80 and preferably such conveyor means is operated at least during the forward stroke of the pusher 64 and until after the door closure 30 has swung from its open to its closed position. Of course, the endless conveyor means 80 may be operated continuously during the compacting of a charge of waste material and during the transfer of the charge to the incinerator, if so desired.

The terminology used throughout the specification is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being described in the claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising:

a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to its axis and a discharge opening also lying in a plane parallel to its axis;

a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot into said duct from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open position transversely across the longitudinal axis of said duct to define an end guide wall for material being transferred and discharge through said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member having a platelike member extending from adjacent the closure members edge nearest the inlet opening transversely across said duct member when said closure member is in said closed position, said plate member being moved by said closure member out of said duct member when said closure member is pivoted to said open position;

and a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration of substantially the same size and shape as the cross section of said duct, said pusher being reciprocal in said duct member between a position adjacent said inlet openings forward edge and a position adjacent said discharge openings forward edge.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said closure member has an edge whichcooperates with said pusher when said pusher is in the position adjacent the discharge openings forward edge whereby said closure member sweeps waste material from in front of said pusher through said discharge opening upon closing to insure complete discharge of material from said duct.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said pusher has a concave arcuate material-engaging surface which has a radius of curvature substantially equal to an arc of a path of movement of the free edge of said closure member, whereby said closure member sweeps material from said pusher through said discharge opening upon closing to insure complete discharge of material.

41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including means to close said inlet opening when said pusher is moved toward said discharge opening, whereby material is prevented from being inserted into said duct member behind said pusher.

d. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said duct member is a rectangle in cross section having opposed sidewalls and opposed top and bottom walls.

6. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising:

a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to its axis and a discharge opening also lying in a plane parallel to its axis, said duct member being rectangular in cross section and having opposed sidewalls and opposed top and bottom walls, said bottom wall being movable;

a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot into said duct from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open position, said pivoted closure member having a platelike member extending from adjacent the closure members edge nearest the inlet opening transversely across said duct member when said closure member is in said closed position, said plate member being moved by said closure member out of said duct member when said closure member is pivoted to said open position;

and a pusher reciprocal in said duct member between a position adjacent said inlet openings forward edge and a position adjacent said discharge openings forward edge.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said movable bottom wall moves in a direction of material at least at the time said pusher is moving toward said discharge opening.

b. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which an endless conveyor member has a run defining said movable bottom wall.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including a fixed rigid member backing said run defining the movable bottom wall.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including cleaning means for cleaning material from said endless conveyor member.

lil. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said longitudinal axis of said duct member is horizontal and in which said discharge opening lies in a vertical plane.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which said inlet opening lies in a horizontal plane in the top wall of said duct and in which said closure means for said inlet opening is a door arranged to close said inlet opening and form a continuation of said top wall.

113. in combination:

an incinerator having a casing defining a combustion chamber and a charging passage through said casing for charging the combustion chamber with waste material;

a pivoted closure member for closing said charging passage;

and a waste material loading apparatus, said apparatus comprising a duct member having a longitudinal axis transverse to the axis of the charging passage and operatively connected thereto with said closure member being arranged to swing from a closed position in said charging passage into said duct to an open position transverse of the longitudinal axis to define a guide wall for material being transferred through the duct member to the combustion chamber, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis; a pusher reciprocal in said duct member between a retracted position adjacent said inlet openings forward edge and an extended position adjacent the forward edge of the charging passage opening into the duct, said pusher having a concave arcuate materiaLengaging surface which has a radius of curvature substantially equal to an arc of a path of movement of the free edge of said closure member into said duct member, whereby said closure member sweeps material from the front of said pusher at its extended position into the combustion chamber through said charging passage upon closing of said closure member to insure complete discharge of waste material.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 13, including means extending transversely across said duct member at a position adjacent the forward edge of the charging passage opening into the duct member when said closure member is in closed position whereby waste material may be compacted thereagainst within said duct member by said pusher, said means being moved from said duct member when said closure member is moved to said open position.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means includes an arcuate platelike member carried by said closure member at its forward edge, said platelike member being complementary in shape to the arcuate material-engaging surface of said pusher.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 14, in which the axis of said duct member is horizontal and in which said duct member is rectangular in cross section, having opposed sidewalls and opposed top and bottom walls, said inlet opening for said duct member lying in said top wall and said charging passage opening into one of the sidewalls of said duct member.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 11 in which said bottom wall is movable horizontally in a direction toward said charging passage at least when said pusher is being extended.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 17, including an endless conveyor member having a run defining said movable bottom wall, and a fixed rigid member backing said run, said endless conveyor member being made of a heat-resistant material.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, including cleaning means for cleaning waste material from said endless conveyor member.

20. The combination as claimed in claim 14, including means to close said inlet opening when said pusher is moved toward its extended position, whereby material is prevented from being inserted into said duct member behind said pusher.

21. The combination as claimed in claim 20, in which the casing of said incinerator has a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said duct member.

22. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising:

a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening for receiving and a discharge opening for discharging the material;

a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open position with its free edge travelling in an arc across said duct;

and a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration of substantially the same size and shape as the cross section of said duct, said pusher being reciprocal in said duct member between a retracted material receiving position adjacent said inlet opening to an extended material discharging position adjacent said discharge opening, said pusher having a concave arcuate material-engaging surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the said pusher.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, in which said closure member includes a curved plate member extending from its free edge across said duct when in the closed position, said plate member having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the arc of the path of movement of said free edge.

PRINTER'S TRIM: LINE! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,57 Dated M rch 16, 1971 Inventor(s) ge H. Flowers, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified pater and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the above-identified format as follows:

patent, please correct the front p [73] Assignee, delete "Mini-Municipals, Inc

Houston, Tex. and insert --Waste Combustion Corporation, Mechanicsville Virginia-- Signed and sealed this 7th day of September 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR.

Attesting Offi ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Acting Commissioner of Pat I FORM PO-105O (10-69)

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising: a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to its axis and a discharge opening also lying in a plane parallel to its axis; a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot into said duct from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open position transversely across the longitudinal axis of said duct to define an end guide wall for material being transferred and discharge through said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member having a platelike member extending from adjacent the closure member''s edge nearest the inlet opening transversely across said duct member when said closure member is in said closed position, said plate member being moved by said closure member out of said duct member when said closure member is pivoted to said open position; and a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration of substantially the same size and shape as the cross section of said duct, said pusher being reciprocal in said duct member between a position adjacent said inlet opening''s forward edge and a position adjacent said discharge opening''s forward edge.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said closure member has an edge which cooperates with said pusher when said pusher is in the position adjacent the discharge opening''s forward edge whereby said closure member sweeps waste material from in front of said pusher through said discharge opening upon closing to insure complete discharge of material from said duct.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including means to close said inlet opening when said pusher is moved toward said discharge opening, whereby material is prevented from being inserted into said duct member behind said pusher.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said duct member is a rectangle in cross section having opposed sidewalls and opposed top and bottom walls.

6. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising: a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to its axis and a discharge opening also lying in a plane parallel to its axis, said duct member being rectangular in cross section and having opposed sidewalls and opposed top and bottom walls, said bottom wall being movable; a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot into said duct from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open positioN, said pivoted closure member having a platelike member extending from adjacent the closure member''s edge nearest the inlet opening transversely across said duct member when said closure member is in said closed position, said plate member being moved by said closure member out of said duct member when said closure member is pivoted to said open position; and a pusher reciprocal in said duct member between a position adjacent said inlet opening''s forward edge and a position adjacent said discharge opening''s forward edge.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which an endless conveyor member has a run defining said movable bottom wall.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said longitudinal axis of said duct member is horizontal and in which said discharge opening lies in a vertical plane.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which said inlet opening lies in a horizontal plane in the top wall of said duct and in which said closure means for said inlet opening is a door arranged to close said inlet opening and form a continuation of said top wall.

13. In combination: an incinerator having a casing defining a combustion chamber and a charging passage through said casing for charging the combustion chamber with waste material; a pivoted closure member for closing said charging passage; and a waste material loading apparatus, said apparatus comprising a duct member having a longitudinal axis transverse to the axis of the charging passage and operatively connected thereto with said closure member being arranged to swing from a closed position in said charging passage into said duct to an open position transverse of the longitudinal axis to define a guide wall for material being transferred through the duct member to the combustion chamber, said duct member having an inlet opening lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis; a pusher reciprocal in said duct member between a retracted position adjacent said inlet opening''s forward edge and an extended position adjacent the forward edge of the charging passage opening into the duct, said pusher having a concave arcuate material-engaging surface which has a radius of curvature substantially equal to an arc of a path of movement of the free edge of said closure member into said duct member, whereby said closure member sweeps material from the front of said pusher at its extended position into the combustion chamber through said charging passage upon closing of said closure member to insure complete discharge of waste material.

22. An apparatus for receiving loose material and transferring the material to and discharging the same from an area of discharge comprising: a duct member having a longitudinal axis, said duct member having an inlet opening for receiving and a discharge opening for discharging the material; a pivoted closure member for said discharge opening, said pivoted closure member being arranged to pivot from a closed position covering said discharge opening to an open position with its free edge travelling in an arc across said duct; and a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration of substantially the same size and shape as the cross section of said duct, said pusher being reciprocal in said duct member between a retracted material receiving position adjacent said inlet opening to an extended material discharging position adjacent said discharge opening, said pusher having a concave arcuate material-engaging surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the arc of the path of movement of said edge of said closure member whereby, when said pusher is in the extended position, the free edge of said closure member coacts with said surface and said closure member sweeps material completely from in front of the same through said discharge opening upon closing to insure complete discharge of material from said duct prior to retraction of said pusher.