Apparatus for treating contaminated soil

Abstract

An apparatus for destroying the contaminants found in contaminated soil prior to soil reclamation. The apparatus preferably includes three major sections or components and they are: a soil infeed section, a heating section, and a soil extraction section. The preferred infeed section includes a hopper placed in conjunction with an incline conveyor and a distally positioned dump chute. The heating section has a material receptacle in the form of a material receiving chute, a heater disposed adjacent to the interior of a longitudinal spirally internally veined rotating drum which communicates with the third section, which is a material extraction or expulsion section also in the form of an incline conveyor and a chute. The heater section includes a heater station which enables a supply of propane or LP gas to be connected thereto and ignited to fire heat the internal chamber of the rotating drum. The heating enables the contaminants such as hydrocarbons to be burned from contaminated soil.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for burning contaminants such as hydrocarbons from soil, comprising: 
 at least one hopper for holding the soil to be processed,    conveyor means for transporting the soil from the hopper to a heating chamber assembly for processing; and    the heating chamber assembly further comprises a burner station, a soil infeed portion and a soil removal portion.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a trailer for supporting the at least one hopper, conveyor means and heating chamber.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor means further includes: 
 at least one inclined conveyor having a proximal and distal end.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber assembly further comprises: 
 a heating cylinder.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for rotating the heating cylinder during use.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for supporting the heating cylinder in a declined orientation with respect to the soil removal portion such that the soil infeed portion of the heating cylinder vertically higher than the soil removal portion.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 means for preventing soil from escaping the heating chamber assembly at the soil removal section thereof.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for preventing the soil from escaping the heating chamber assembly at the soil removal section which further comprises a cooperating circumferential plate and annular collar assembly interpositioned between the heating cylinder and the soil removal section.    
     
     
         9 . The heating cylinder of  claim 4 , wherein the heating cylinder further comprises: 
 an interior surface having spiral flutes protruding therefrom and provided to help move the soil from a proximal end to a distal end within the cylinder during use.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 roller means for maintaining the proper operational alignment of the heating cylinder.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for destroying the contaminants such as hydrocarbons found in contaminated soil, comprising: 
 a heating chamber assembly for processing contaminated soil; and    the heating chamber assembly further comprises a burner station, a rotatable heating cylinder, a soil infeed portion and a soil removal portion.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a trailer for supporting the heating chamber.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the conveyor means further includes: 
 at least one inclined conveyor having a proximal and distal end placed adjacent to the soil infeed portion.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating chamber assembly further comprises: 
 at least one inclined conveyor having a proximal and distal end placed adjacent to the soil removal portion.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 means for rotating the heating cylinder during use.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 means for supporting the heating cylinder in a declined orientation with respect to the soil removal portion such that the soil infeed portion of the heating cylinder vertically higher than the soil removal portion.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 means for preventing soil from escaping the heating chamber assembly at the soil removal section thereof.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for preventing the soil from escaping the heating chamber assembly at the soil removal section which further comprises a cooperating circumferential plate and annular collar assembly interpositioned between the heating cylinder and the soil removal section.    
     
     
         19 . The heating cylinder of  claim 11 , wherein the heating cylinder further comprises: 
 an interior surface having spiral flutes protruding therefrom and provided to help move the soil from a proximal end to a distal end within the cylinder during use.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 roller means for maintaining the proper operational alignment of the heating cylinder