A thermal processing apparatus (2) is furnished with a loading device, a cremation chamber (10), a heating device (14) for heating the cremation chamber (10), a fresh air supply device, an exhaust gas manifold (18a) for discharging the exhaust gas from the cremation chamber (10), a post-combustion chamber (28), and an exhaust air processing device (38). In order to provide a thermal processing apparatus with which a cremation process with minimal CO.sub.2 emissions can be carried out and an acceleration of the cremation process is achieved, it is proposed that the heating device (14) is designed to burn hydrogen.

A brush for removing cremated remains from a crematory oven is entirely formed of metal to resist the high temperatures of the oven and has two linear brush assemblies fixed to a top frame. A steel handle extends rearwardly from the frame for grasping by a brush operator. One of the linear brush assemblies has smaller diameter crimped stainless steel bristles and is positioned at the front of the brush, the other of the linear brush assemblies has larger diameter crimped stainless steel bristles and is fixed to the top frame rearward of the front brush assembly. Side brush assemblies extend sidewardly and upwardly of the other two. In operation the brush is inserted at the front of the oven and drawn rearwardly after the cremation such that the rear bristles encounter and withdraw the larger elements of the remains, and the front bristles encounter and withdraw the smaller elements.

The present invention relates to a conveyor mechanism with illuminated chamber for concealment of coffin consisting of a base or travel platform on which a plurality of rollers are arranged, through which it is possible to manually move a coffin from an open or full vision area to a transition zone that conceals said coffin, where the transition zone is defined from a concealment chamber that covers the rear half of the base or travel platform and in which a tunnel is configured through which the coffin is circulated to reach its final destination, a journey that is carried out accompanied by the light provided by at least two reflector lamps arranged at the bottom of the concealment chamber.

The present invention relates to a conveyor mechanism with illuminated chamber for concealment of coffin consisting of a base or travel platform on which a plurality of rollers are arranged, through which it is possible to manually move a coffin from an open or full vision area to a transition zone that conceals said coffin, where the transition zone is defined from a concealment chamber that covers the rear half of the base or travel platform and in which a tunnel is configured through which the coffin is circulated to reach its final destination, a journey that is carried out accompanied by the light provided by at least two reflector lamps arranged at the bottom of the concealment chamber.

Systems and methods for body-proximate recoverable capture of mercury vapor emitted during cremation of human remains having dental amalgam fillings containing mercury. In various embodiments, one or more recoverable mercury sorbent packets comprise a combination of nanoparticles of one or more chalcogens and a particulate refractory material contained in a refractory material packaging. The recoverable packets capture and contain elemental mercury vapor emitted during cremation from dental amalgam fillings containing mercury. The recoverable packets are placed external to the body and within the combustion chamber during cremation, and not within the flue or exhausts exiting the combustion chambers. In various embodiments, the recoverable packets are positioned within the casket or primary combustion chamber, and may be preferably positioned proximate the head and neck of the body with the aid of selectively-refractory containment structures. After cremation, the mercury laden recoverable sorbent packets may be removed from the ashen remains of the body, and optionally the mercury may be recovered and the sorbent packet reprocessed for reuse.

A vacuum cleaner for use in cleaning very hot crematory ovens has a suction head mounted on side wheels, and connected to a central fitting which receives compressed air through a stiff metal air supply pipe. An expansion pipe extends upwardly from the central fitting and is tipped frontwardly. The compressed air passes through the central fitting which incorporates a vacuum eductor which draws air flow in from the vacuum head. The hot air discharges through a filter cap at the upper end of the expansion pipe which retains a filter assembly of multiple screens against the upper end of the expansion pipe. Dust and small particles pass through the filter assembly to be carried away by hot air up the crematory chimney. Larger particles are retained by the filter assembly, and may be discharged downwardly from the vacuum head into a receptacle when the input compressed air is discontinued.

A vacuum cleaner for use in cleaning very hot crematory ovens has a suction head mounted on side wheels, and connected to a central fitting which receives compressed air through a stiff metal air supply pipe. An expansion pipe extends upwardly from the central fitting and is tipped frontwardly. The compressed air passes through the central fitting which incorporates a vacuum eductor which draws air flow in from the vacuum head. The hot air discharges through a filter cap at the upper end of the expansion pipe which retains a filter assembly of multiple screens against the upper end of the expansion pipe. Dust and small particles pass through the filter assembly to be carried away by hot air up the crematory chimney. Larger particles are retained by the filter assembly, and may be discharged downwardly from the vacuum head into a receptacle when the input compressed air is discontinued.

The present invention relates to a conveyor mechanism with illuminated chamber for concealment of coffin consisting of a base or travel platform on which a plurality of rollers are arranged, through which it is possible to manually move a coffin from an open or full vision area to a transition zone that conceals said coffin, where the transition zone is defined from a concealment chamber that covers the rear half of the base or travel platform and in which a tunnel is configured through which the coffin is circulated to reach its final destination, a journey that is carried out accompanied by the light provided by at least two reflector lamps arranged at the bottom of the concealment chamber.

A method for use with a casket arrangement having a first configuration and a second configuration includes moving the casket arrangement while in the second configuration, changing the casket arrangement from the second configuration to the first configuration, and moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while in the first configuration. The casket arrangement includes a bottom panel and intrinsically formed side panels and end panels. The side panels and end panels include upper portions that extend upward and connect in the first configuration, and which extend in a direction other than upward in the second configuration.

A method for use with a casket arrangement having a first configuration and a second configuration includes moving the casket arrangement while in the second configuration, changing the casket arrangement from the second configuration to the first configuration, and moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while in the first configuration. The casket arrangement includes a bottom panel and intrinsically formed side panels and end panels. The side panels and end panels include upper portions that extend upward and connect in the first configuration, and which extend in a direction other than upward in the second configuration.