Charging device for furnaces

In a furnace, a combination comprising a combustion chamber having an inlet and a charging edge inwardly spaced from said inlet;

• path defining means, including a gravity chute below said inlet and having a first wall and a second wall spaced from each other so as to define a path therebetween along which refuse bags move under the influence of gravity towards said charging edge;
• and means for preventing compacting and retention of the refuse in said path, including ripping elements mounted on each of said walls along said path for ripping said bags open solely as a function of the gravity movement of said bags over and in contact with said ripping elements, so that the refuse contained in said bags is liberated and loose refuse can drop out of the ripped bags freely and solely under the influence of gravity in direction towards said charging edge leading into said chamber, at least some of said ripping elements having ripping edges inclined downwardly relative to the movement of the bags in said path to thereby facilitate movement of the refuse in said path towards said charging edge and counteract any refuse retarding and compacting tendency.