Automated Cremation Carriage for Large Animals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cremation installations for large animals, such as equines, face challenges in efficiently and dignifiedly handling and transporting heavy bodies, particularly during rigor mortis, and existing loading systems are not suitable for large animals, leading to inefficiencies and heat loss in cremation processes.
Innovation Solution
A cremation installation featuring a cremation chamber with a primary burner, a post-combustion chamber, and a carriage system with rails and unloading means, including a fork and rollers, allows for automated and simplified transport and loading of large animals, minimizing manual handling and heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic loading tables mounted on wheels are used for transporting animal bodies, then mobility and ease of operation are improved, but stability and handling capability deteriorate when carrying heavy bodies such as horses
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a stationary loading table integrated with the cremation oven, a separate transport carriage that moves on rails, and an automated unloading mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the loading table provides stability while the carriage provides mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate automated unloading mechanism (including a fork and rollers) that acts as a mediator between the transport carriage and the cremation chamber. This intermediary device automatically transfers the animal body without requiring manual handling, thus maintaining stability during transport while eliminating the need for unstable wheeled tables.
2Ease of operation
If the crematorium opening is kept open for loading and unloading, then ease of operation is improved, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the transport carriage on rails outside the cremation chamber before the opening is opened. The automated unloading mechanism is pre-positioned and ready to immediately receive the animal body as soon as the chamber door opens, minimizing the time the opening remains wide open and thus reducing heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling (which would require the door to be fully open) with an automated unloading mechanism using a fork and rollers. This allows for a quicker, more controlled unloading process that minimizes the duration of the opening, thereby reducing thermal energy loss while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Device complexity
If manual handling is used for loading and unloading large animals, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service automation where the unloading mechanism automatically transfers the animal body from the transport carriage to the cremation chamber without requiring manual intervention. The mechanism uses a fork to engage the pallet and rollers to facilitate movement, creating a self-operating unloading system that improves productivity while maintaining reasonable complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cutting or damaging the body is avoided to maintain dignity, then ethical considerations are satisfied, but handling and transport become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated unloading mechanism with a fork and rollers as an intermediary device that handles the animal body without requiring direct manual contact or cutting. This intermediary system maintains the integrity and dignity of the body while efficiently performing the necessary handling and transport operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables safe, rapid, and automated handling and cremation of large animals, maintaining dignity and improving efficiency by reducing manual handling and heat loss, while allowing for compact and cost-effective installation design.
Implementation Method 1
comprising at least one primary burner
Implementation Method 2
comprising secondary burners
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cremation installation (100) for large animals, in particular equines, comprising: a crematorium furnace (1) comprising: at least one cremation chamber (3), said cremation chamber comprising at least one primary burner (5), and a front face having an opening (7) through which the animals (10) are introduced, a post-combustion chamber (15) into which the cremation chamber (3) opens, comprising secondary burners (17), a flue gas treatment system (21), comprising at least one flue gas filtration or conditioning device (23, 27, 32, 33), into which the post-combustion chamber (15) opens, characterized in that it further comprises rails (9) positioned near the opening (7), and a trolley (11) comprising a means for unloading the animal (10), the trolley being guided in translation by the rails (9) and mobile between a loading position,in which the cart receives the animal (10), and a discharge position, in which the cart (11) is positioned opposite the opening, the discharge means (35) being adapted, in the discharge position, to introduce the animal (10) into the cremation chamber (3). The invention also relates to the associated cart,