Furnace for hazardous materials
AssigneeNass, Inc.
InventorsFrancis K. McGinnis, III, John F. Enright, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuous thermal treatment furnace for converting hazardous materials into environmentally acceptable materials, including a continuous belt for conveying hazardous materials through a substantially air-tight heating chamber having heating elements to thermally detoxify the hazardous materials on the belt, a charging zone and a discharging zone, each being ducted to convey volatiles to an off-gas handling system in which hazardous volatiles are converted to environmentally acceptable materials, the discharge zone being at least partially water-jacketed to cool discharged solids, the continuous belt being returned to the charging zone outside of the heating chamber in order for the belt to be cooled.
Claims12
In a continuous furnace for thoroughly treating hazardous materials to convert such materials to environmentally acceptable materials, the furnace including a continuous belt adapted to carry hazardous materials through at least one heated zone without release of noxious fumes or noxious solids to the environment, the improved combination comprising:
- (a) a charging zone located in the open atmosphere adapted to spread the hazardous material charge on the moving belt before introduction into a heated zone, said charging zone being equipped with an exhaust hood ducted to convey to an off-gas handling system any volatile materials emitted while spreading;
- (b) at least one substantially air-tight heated high temperature zone adapated to drive off volatiles and detoxify solids on the belt without release to the enviornment;
- (c) an enclosed discharged zone having cooled walls and adapted to:
- (i) discharge volatiles to an off-gas handling system for conversion of hazardous volatiles to environmentally acceptable materials;
- (ii) convey solids to a solids collecting zone;
- (d) means to move the continuous belt outside of the heating zone from the discharge zone to the charging zone;
- and
- (e) means positioned between the discharge zone and the charging zone to cool the continuous belt prior to its return to the charging zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.