Regenerator for a regenerative heating system

A regenerator for a regenerative heating system comprising:

• an inner imperforate chamber for storing a heat storage bed in the form of discrete particles, a closable inlet for introducing fresh particles into the inner chamber to replace contaminated particles;
• a closable outlet for removing the contaminated particles from the inner chamber so that the fresh particles may be introduced;
• an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber and serving to receive waste gas from the inner chamber after passage through the inner chamber or to supply air for heating in the inner chamber, the outer chamber serving either to discharge the waste gas from the regenerator or to receive air for heating in the regenerator;
• and
• a closure assembly extending from said inner chamber through said outer chamber to said closable outlet, said closure assembly comprising a funnel-shaped cage portion tapered towards said closable outlet and a connecting cage portion connected between a tapered end of said funnel-shaped cage portion and said closure outlet, said closure assembly containing a portion of said heat storage bed and providing communication between said inner and outer chambers.