Method and Apparatus For Applying Accelerant in Cremation Process

Abstract

A cremation accelerant module includes a carrier and flame accelerant material. The carrier comprises a combustible tube, such as, for example, one constructed primarily of paper. The flame accelerant material is disposed in solid form within the combustible tube. The flame accelerant material has a melting temperature, and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature. The combustible tube has a wall thickness selected to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the flame accelerant materials in a molten state. The combustible tube has a wall thickness configured to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to allow the flame accelerant material to combust.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cremation processes, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for improving cremation process times and reducing amount of fuel required.

BACKGROUND

The use of cremation for deceased humans and animals has been increasing due to the many benefits of cremation. Cremation involves the incineration of bodily remains at high temperatures. A deceased body, typically in a flammable casket or container, is placed in the main cremation chamber, often called a retort, at a starting temperature that may be cold however is normally around 600 degrees Fahrenheit (“F”) and then once the retort door is closed and the incineration fuel increased, the rapidly increasing heat reaches a target retort temperature for the duration of the cremation as required by State laws or typical operator preference of 1625 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (“F”) or higher so as to fully consume the body and the casket or container and reduce all to ash immediately followed by a cooling down to about 600 degrees Fahrenheit enabling the safe opening of the retort door so making possible the raking, removal and segregation of ashes before the next cremation is begun.

For various reasons, the efficiencies of cremation are typically improved when the duration of the cremation process is reduced. Such reasons can include reduced fuel consumption, reduced labor costs, fewer capital intensive retorts needed, and the like. The reduced fuel consumption can also provide environmental benefits. The duration of the cremation processes is dictated in large part by the time it takes to consume the deceased body within the retort.

Recent developments to improve cremation times include the introduction of accelerant into the retort. For example, it is known to place a quantity of accelerant on the casket lid, which then can increase the combustion heat to more quickly complete the cremation process. Typically, the accelerant is placed in a carrier which can be in the form of a corrugated paper box. The corrugated paper box carrier is consumed with the casket and body.

In ideal circumstances, the casket and accelerant are placed into the retort at about 900 degrees Fahrenheit and the accelerant cooperates with the flame and rapidly increasing heat within the retort to combust the casket and its contents. The process is completed when sufficient amounts of the casket and deceased have been reduced.

However, it has been found that when the casket and accelerant carrier are placed into the retort at lower temperatures such as is commonly done in North America at 600 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, the accelerant can take a molten form before igniting. The corrugated paper carrier can also be compromised at such temperatures, which can lead to leakage of the accelerant. Such leakage can lead to dispersion of the accelerant to a degree in which it manifests reduced effectiveness in reducing cremation time. Such problems can be exacerbated when a corrugated paper casket is used, as the casket lid can also lose its structural integrity before the accelerant ignites.

SUMMARY

At least some embodiments address the above-mentioned issue, as well as others, by including a carrier which is configured to retain accelerant and retain its own structural integrity to at least 1022 degrees Fahrenheit (or other suitable accelerant ignition temperature), but which is also substantially consumed by the cremation process.

A first embodiment is a cremation accelerant module that includes a carrier and flame accelerant material. The carrier comprises a combustible tube, such as, for example, one constructed primarily of paper. The flame accelerant material is disposed in solid form within the combustible tube. The flame accelerant material has a melting temperature, and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature. The combustible tube has a wall thickness selected to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the flame accelerant materials in a molten state. The combustible tube has a wall thickness configured to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to allow the flame accelerant material to combust.

A second embodiment is a cremation method that includes providing an accelerant module having a combustible carrier. The flame accelerant material is disposed in solid form within the combustible carrier. The flame accelerant material has a melting temperature and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature. The combustible carrier is configured to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the flame accelerant materials in a molten state, and to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to allow the flame accelerant material to combust. The method also includes advancing a combustible casket having a deceased body and supporting the accelerant module into a cremation position of a cremation retort where the cremation position has an internal temperature of less than 700 degrees Fahrenheit. The method further comprises increasing the temperature at the cremation position to over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit to combust the combustible casket, the deceased body, and the accelerant module.

In one specific embodiment, a wound paper tube or one or more layer materials is configured to retain its structural integrity until the temperature within a cremation retort is sufficient to ignite accelerant material disposed within the paper tube prior to dispersing to a detrimental degree, for example, dispersing to a degree that the accelerant does not meaningfully reduce the cremation time.

The above-described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, schematic view of an accelerant module according to first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an end plan view of a tube of the accelerant module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary method according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the accelerant module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway perspective view of the accelerant module of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an accelerant carrier that may be used in accelerant module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective of a tube a part of another alternative embodiment of an accelerant carrier.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a partially assembled alternative accelerant module.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled accelerant module of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, schematic view of an accelerant module 10 according to first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the accelerant module 10 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows a cutaway perspective view of the accelerant module 10. With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the accelerant module 10 includes a quantity of accelerant 12 that may be packaged in a paper, foil or plastic pouch 13 that may optionally add additional heat and burn control qualities, a carrier 14, and an optional anchor element 16.

In general, the accelerant 12 is material engineered to ignite between 1022 degrees Fahrenheit (550 degrees Celsius) and 1454 degrees Fahrenheit (790 degrees Celsius), such as potassium nitrate, or any other material suitable for this purpose, in a stable and controlled (non-explosive) form that increases the combustion reaction of substances containing oxygen to which it comes in contact, as disclosed in International Patent Publication WO 2020-157672 (PCT/IB2020/050698), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Thus, the accelerant may in some embodiments be formed of other compounds selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, ammonium salts, alkali metal peroxides or alkaline earth metal peroxides. The accelerant 12 is in solid form, preferably in the form of pellets or powder, which may suitably have individual diameters of less than 2 mm.

In general, the accelerant 12 has a melting temperature, and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature. The accelerant 12 has a molten temperature range in which the accelerant 12 will be in a molten state, but will not combust. The upper end of that range is below or at the combustion temperature. In this embodiment, the carrier 14 is configured to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the accelerant 12 in a molten state, and to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to expose the flame accelerant 12 to allow the flame accelerant to combust more easily.

The carrier 14 in this embodiment includes a wound Kraft paper tube 18 and two end caps 20, 22. The tube 18 has a first end 18a and a second end 18b, and in this configuration is a cylindrical in shape. The paper tube 18 may be formed by known methods, such as winding paper on mandrel to the desired thickness and cutting to length. The wound tube may include more than one material so as to manage the burn time (cellulose as well as metal foil windings and or fire retardant coatings) and may also alternatively be made of extruded hemp, bamboo or other cellulose fibers with or without a metal foil or other possible heat management wrap or coating. The tube 18 defines a single interior compartment 19, and thus may be manufactured on rotating machines quickly and inexpensively. The accelerant 12 with or without the pouch can then be placed in interior compartment 19. The caps 20, 22 may then be secured on or in the ends 18a, 18b, as discussed further below.

FIG. 2 shows an end plan view of the wound paper tube 18. With reference to both FIGS. 1 and 2, the wound Kraft paper tube 18 has an axial length L, an outer diameter OD, and an inner diameter ID. The difference between the OD and the ID defines the wall thickness T (e.g. T=(OD−ID)/2. The wall thickness T, which is defined by the thickness of the paper and possible metal foils to be wound and the number of layers of paper and metal foils in the winding, is chosen such that the tube incinerates at the combustion temperature of the accelerant 12, or at least at a temperature at which the accelerant 12 will nearly instantly ignite. In other words, the thickness T is chosen such that the tube 18 remains sufficiently intact to retain the accelerant 12 for a sufficient time to prevent significant and detrimental dispersal of any molten accelerate 12 prior to ignition thereof. In one embodiment, with the use of potassium nitrate as the accelerant, the wall thickness T is chosen such that the tube 18 is consumed by the time the temperature reaches about 1022 degrees Fahrenheit. The axial length L and ID are chosen to provide an interior volume space capable of containing an appropriate amount of accelerant 12. The appropriate amount of accelerant 12 is the amount sufficient to carry out the acceleration of the cremation processor in a manner similar to that described in International Patent Publication WO 2020-157672. It will be appreciated that if multiple carriers 14 are used for a single cremation, the tube 18 may be sized for the corresponding fraction of the accelerant 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ID is approximate two inches, the axial length L is between five and twelve inches, and the wall thickness T can be between 0.15 to 0.30 inches. However, it will be appreciated that the precise values may vary.

In general, however, the tube 18 has a wall thickness selected to maintain sufficient structural integrity at a melting temperature of the accelerant 12 to retard the flow of the flame accelerant 12 in a molten state, and to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature of the accelerant 12 to expose the accelerant 12 to allow the accelerant 12 to combust.

The caps 20, 22 are preferably pasted chipboard disks that fit within the ID of the tube 18. The pasted chipboard disks may be die cut. The caps 20, 22 can alternatively be made of another flammable cellulose based material such as a wood product, hemp or bamboo. In one embodiment, the caps 20, 22 are inserted slightly into the ends of the tube 18, and the ends of the tube 18 are crimped down around the caps 20, 22 for retention.

In some embodiments, the caps 20, 22 are not necessary. For example, the ends of the tube 18 may be crimped onto themselves and possibly stitched. FIG. 6 shows a representative perspective cutaway view of the tube 18 having crimped ends 17, which may subsequently be sewn shut or otherwise secured and/or sealed.

Referring again generally to FIG. 1. The anchor element 16 is at least part of an arrangement that holds the tube 18 to an upper surface of either a casket lid, or a torso of a deceased body. The anchor element 16 in one embodiment is doubled-sided tape that is already affixed on one long side of the tube 18. The double-sided tape employs a glue base that increases in tackiness at high temperatures, including those approaching at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit. In another embodiment, the anchor arrangement is a hook-and-loop arrangement, and the anchor element is a hook-and-loop fastener. In such an embodiment, the “hook” portion is connected by double-sided tape to the long side of the tube 18, and the “loop” portion is configured to connect to a casket lid or, or to the torso of the deceased body, for example, also by double-sided tape. In another embodiment, if appropriate, an adhesive may be used directly between the tube 18 and either the body or the casket lid.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a first method 100 of cremating a deceased human body. In step 102, the body is placed into a casket which may be made of primarily of wood and includes a wood lid, but may also be made at least in part out of corrugated paper. An accelerant module configured to retain its structural integrity until the temperature within a cremation retort is sufficient to ignite accelerant material disposed within the module prior to dispersing to a detrimental degree is provided in step 104. For example, the accelerant module 10 or a suitable alternative embodiment may be used.

In this example, the hook-and-loop embodiment of the accelerant module 10 is used. In step 106, the accelerant module 10 mounted proximate the chest and abdomen of the deceased body. In this embodiment, the accelerant module 10 is mounted directly on the deceased chest and/or abdomen. In particular, a length of the “loop” tape of a hook-and-loop fastener of anchor 16 is affixed to the abdomen, at least in part over the sternum, of the deceased human body. The tube 18 includes an already-affixed “hook” tape 16 as discussed above. The hook of the tube 18 is mounted to the loop of the deceased body to secure the module 10 to the deceased body. Optionally, the lid of the casket 10 may then be placed over the casket.

In step 108, the casket is placed into a cremation retort, not shown, but which would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, at temperatures below 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the temperature is significantly below the 1625 degrees Fahrenheit and higher temperatures used for complete cremation, the casket may be advanced into the cremation retort on wound paper tube rolls that act as roller(s) using manual force, or in other words, without an automated loading mechanism. In step 110, the temperature in the retort is then increased to at least about 1022 degrees Fahrenheit and the cremation process is completed. During the process, the tube 18 maintains its integrity to keep the accelerant sufficiently in position when the temperature is high enough for the accelerant 12 to become partially molten and capable of dispersing, but not high enough for the accelerant 12 to ignite during the time of such dispersal. At temperatures at which the accelerant 12 can combust faster than dispersal off of the body (e.g. approximately 1022 degrees Fahrenheit), the tube 18 loses its structure sufficiently to expose the accelerant 12 to combust.

In another embodiment, the same process is used, except that the hook fastener on the tube 18 is fastened to a garment on the deceased body, not shown, that sufficiently retains the hook portion of the fastener. In this embodiment, the loop fastener need not be attached to the body of the deceased.

In yet another embodiment, the same process is used, except that double-sided tape is used to attach the tube 18 to the body instead of the hook and loop anchor arrangement 16.

In an embodiment for use with cremating a plurality of deceased animal bodies, the same process may be used except that the carrier 14 may be seated within a depression formed between animal bodies above the center of the group of animal bodies. In such a case, no anchor 16 is necessary.

In another embodiment, the method of claim 100 may be performed such that the accelerant module 10 is affixed to the casket lid, with the casket being constructed primarily of a wood product, or of paper products.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show an alternative accelerant module that includes a wide, squat tube 18′. In contrast to the tube of FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the tube 18′ has a diameter that exceeds its axial length, having a shape that is somewhat similar to a hockey puck, although larger. The module also includes end caps 21′, 22′ that are sized to cover the open bottom and open top of the tube 18′. The accelerant 12 is placed inside the tube 18′ before the second cap 22′ is affixed in place on the tube 18′. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the tube 18′ is designed to have an interior volume sufficient to hold the appropriate amount of accelerant 12. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the tube 18′, the cap 21′ and/or the cap 22′ is/are designed to remains sufficiently intact to retain the accelerant 12 for a sufficient time to prevent significant and detrimental dispersal of the accelerate 12 prior to ignition thereof during the cremation process that starts at low temperatures and increases. In this embodiment, if an anchor (e.g. anchor 16 discussed above in connection with FIG. 1, the anchor (e.g. double-sided tape or hook-and-loop fastener) may be coupled to the bottom surface of the cap 21′.

The above-described exemplary methods involve a carrier having the basic form of a wound paper tube. An alternative embodiment could include a carrier of a different shape and possibly be formed by a different material, such as a rectangular wooden box having a design configured to retain its integrity as described above to prevent detrimental accelerant leakage due to lower initial retort temperatures. However, the wound paper tube provides the additional advantage of being low cost, flammable, and capable of retaining integrity for short periods of time at high temperature. The thickness of the wound paper provides such capabilities. Wound Kraft paper tubes can be produced at fractions of the cost of wooden boxes, and the like.

In general, however, the carrier has the function of retaining sufficient integrity to allow a retort to increase in temperature from about 600 degrees Fahrenheit to typical cremation temperatures a temperature at which accelerant combustion takes place, without allowing melted or partially melted accelerate to fall off or otherwise move out of position from the chest and abdomen area of the corpse (in the case of a human), or to otherwise disperse.

It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative, and that those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations and modifications that incorporate the principles of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A cremation accelerant module, comprising: a carrier comprising a combustible tube;flame accelerant material disposed in solid form within the combustible tube, the flame accelerant material having a melting temperature, and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature;wherein the combustible tube has a wall thickness selected to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the flame accelerant materials in a molten state, and to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to allow the flame accelerant material to combust.

2. The cremation accelerant module of claim 1, wherein the flame accelerant material comprises a compound selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, ammonium salts, alkali metal peroxides or alkaline earth metal peroxides.

3. The cremation accelerant module of claim 2, wherein the flame accelerant includes potassium nitrate.

4. The cremation accelerant module of claim 1, wherein the combustible tube comprises a rolled sheet tube.

5. The cremation accelerant module of claim 4, wherein the combustible tube has a first open end and a second open end, wherein the carrier further comprises a first cap having a shape corresponding to the first open end, the first cap disposed over or in the first open end, and wherein the carrier further comprises a second cap having a shape corresponding to the second open end, the second cap disposed over or in the second open end.

6. The cremation accelerant module of claim 4, wherein the flame accelerant material is in pellet form.

7. The cremation accelerant module of claim 6, further comprising a flexible pouch disposed within the combustible tube, and wherein the flame accelerant material is disposed within the flexible pouch.

8. The cremation accelerant module of claim 1, further comprising at least part of an anchor arrangement configured to affix the tube to at least one of a casket lit or a torso of a deceased body.

9. The cremation accelerant module of claim 8, wherein the anchor arrangement comprises double-sided tape.

10. The cremation accelerant module of claim 1, wherein the combustible tube defines a single compartment containing the flame accelerant material.

11. The cremation accelerant module of claim 1, wherein the combustible tube has a first open end and a second open end, wherein the carrier further comprises a first cap having a shape corresponding to the first open end, the first cap disposed over or in the first open end, and wherein the carrier further comprises a second cap having a shape corresponding to the second open end, the second cap disposed over or in the second open end.

12. A cremation method, comprising: a) providing an accelerant module having a combustible carrier, flame accelerant material disposed in solid form within the combustible carrier, the flame accelerant material having a melting temperature, and a combustion temperature that is higher than the melting temperature, wherein the combustible carrier is configured to maintain sufficient structural integrity at the melting temperature to retard the flow of the flame accelerant materials in a molten state, and to degrade or burn sufficiently at the combustion temperature to allow the flame accelerant material to combust;b) advancing a combustible casket having a deceased body and supporting the accelerant module into a cremation position of a cremation retort where the cremation position has an internal temperature of less than 700 degrees Fahrenheit; andc) increasing the temperature at the cremation position to over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit to combust the combustible casket, the deceased body, and the accelerant module.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to step b), supporting the accelerant module with the deceased body.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein step b) further comprises advancing the combustible casket into the cremation position using manual force.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step b) further comprises advancing the combustible casket on rollers made of a combustible material.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the combustible container comprises a tube.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the tube comprises a tube formed of rolled paper.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the solid form of the flame accelerant material comprises pellets.