US 4,934,283 A · Solid waste disposal unit

Abstract

A solid waste disposal unit having a lower, pyrolyzing chamber and an upper, oxidizing chamber separated by a movable plate. Waste is deposited in the lower chamber. The chambers are rotated to move the plate to a first position which seals the lower chamber from the entrance of air. While the chambers continue to rotate, a pair of heaters separately heats the chambers. The waste in the lower chamber is pyrolyzed in the absence of air and gives off a combustible vapor that in turn is oxidized in the upper chamber. A plurality of venturi jets, mounted in the movable plate, mix the vapor with air as the vapor passes into the upper chamber. Additional air is introduced into the upper chamber through a rotating regenerative heat exchanger recovering heat from the exhaust gases. After the waste is thoroughly pyrolyzed into a char, the rotation of the unit is reversed causing the movable plate to rotate into a new position wherein air is permitted to enter the lower chamber to cause oxidation of the char. This oxidation process continues until the char is entirely consumed and reduced to a sterile ash. Any gaseous products produced will continue to be oxidized in both chambers.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A waste disposal apparatus comprising:

a pyrolyzing chamber defining an enclosed space;
means for heating the enclosed space to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze waste material contained therein;
an oxidizing chamber mounted adjacent the pyrolyzing chamber and having means for oxidizing combustible vapors introduced therein;
and
a movable barrier mounted between said chambers and having at least two stable positions, said barrier when in a first stable position having means for preventing air from entering said pyrolyzing chamber wile permitting vapors in said space to pass into said oxidizing chamber, and when in said second stable position having means for permitting air to enter said pyrolyzing chamber for oxidizing pyrolyzed waste material contained in said space.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solid waste disposal unit

Life of this patent

Solid waste disposal unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32