Apparatus and process for the pyrolysis of tires

This invention relates to an apparatus and process for the pyrolysis of used vehicular tires. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber supported internally of an insulated casing and heated by heating means interposed between the chamber and the casing. Tire fragments are introduced into and removed from the reaction chamber through airlock mechanisms to prevent the ingress of ambient air as the fragments are conveyed through the chamber by a chain and flight conveyor scraping any accumulated solids from the chamber and the conveyor. All portions of the apparatus contacting the pyrolysis reaction products are clad with a layer of aluminum oxide to prevent corrosion. The process includes shredding the used tires, preheating the tire fragments if desired, passing the fragments through the reaction chamber, separating solid and gaseous products, recycling a portion of the gaseous product to the heating means, and recoving salable gas, oil and carbon products.