Drum transport device

A device for transporting rows of drums, said device comprising:

• a fixed end plate comprising a plurality of holes therethrough;
• a plurality of hydraulic cylinders mounted to said fixed end plate and configured to operate through said holes;
• a first plate, comprising a first end and a second end, at least one of said hydraulic cylinders connected to said first plate and configured to move said first plate relative to said fixed end plate;
• a second plate, comprising a first end and a second end, said ends corresponding to said ends of said first plate, at least one other of said hydraulic cylinders connected to said second plate and configured to move said second plate relative to said fixed end plate and said first plate;
• a first pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars attached to said first end of said first plate;
• a second pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars attached to said second end of said first plate;
• a first middle horizontal bar, said first middle horizontal bar between said first pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars and attached to said first end of said second plate;
• a second middle horizontal bar, said second middle horizontal bar between said second pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars and attached to said second end of said second plate;
• a plurality of vertically oriented hinge doors, a first plurality pivotably connected to said first pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars, a second plurality pivotably connected to said second pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars;
• and
• a plurality of tie rods pivotably between said hinge doors and a respective said middle horizontal bar, such that when said second plate is moved relative to said first plate, said hinge doors swing to a position substantially parallel to said bars or substantially perpendicular to said bars.

A pyrolysis chamber comprising:

• a rectangular metallic duct;
• at least one hot air jacket section surrounding said metallic duct;
• a heat transfer source which utilizes exhaust gases from a cement kiln to externally heat an area between said duct and said jacket sections;
• an exhaust for pyrolysis gases created in said chamber, said exhaust configured to provide heat to the cement kiln;
• and
• a drum transport device for transporting a row of drums of waste material through said pyrolysis chamber.

A method for moving drums along through a pyrolysis chamber, the chamber having a drum transport device which includes two sets of vertically spaced horizontal bars, one set on each side of a row of drums, plurality of vertically oriented hinge doors, a number of the doors being pivotably connected at intervals to a top and bottom bar of one set of bars, a number of the doors being pivotably connected at intervals to a top and bottom bar of the other set of bars, a plurality of tie rods pivotably connected between the hinge doors and a respective middle horizontal bar, said method comprising:

• moving the middle bars with respect to the top and bottom bars such that the hinge doors swing to a position substantially perpendicular to the horizontal bars;
• moving the sets of bars in unison, in a first direction, until the doors engage the drums;
• moving the sets of bars, and therefore the drums, in the first direction until the drums are in a desired position;
• moving the middle bars with respect to the top and bottom bars such that the hinge doors swing to a position substantially parallel to the horizontal bars;
• and
• moving the sets of bars in unison in a second direction until a pair of hinge doors are in a position to engage a newly inserted drum upon movement to the substantially perpendicular position.