Abstract: The invention provides a generally cylindrical, releasable interlocking arrangement comprising a lower portion having an inwardly-directed rim at its upper end, and an upper portion having outwardly-directed resilient members at an outer periphery thereof. The two portions snap-fit into one another and are mutually rotatable. The second portion consists of a flexible ring-shaped element with the resilient members extending longitudinally and radially thereof, an outer element that receives the resilient members in slots in the outer periphery thereof, and a third element that engages with the outer element and retains the resilient members in the slots. The two portions of the interlocking arrangement may be secured within respective cylindrical housing parts of a grinding device, in particular a pepper mill, with a drive member of a grinding mechanism passing freely through the lower portion and engaging with the upper portion of the arrangement.

Abstract: An eductor-spike nozzle device includes (a) a first cylindrical member having a first wall including a cowl lip and defining a first hollow interior, and (b) a second cylindrical member mounted within the first hollow interior and having a second wall (i) externally defining an annular flow path with the first wall for flow of a first stream of fluid, and fluid compressing throat region with the cowl lip for creating a high velocity stream, and (ii) internally defining a second hollow interior for flow of a second stream of fluid so as to form the composite stream of high velocity fluid with the first stream of fluid, thereby increasing a probability of the composite stream receiving and entraining particles introduced into the composite stream.

Abstract: A pepper grinder includes a grinding mechanism, a rotary sleeve, and a depressed sleeve. The rotary sleeve is supported so as to not move down, and joined to an inner wheel of the grinding mechanism with a shaft; the depressed sleeve has several protrusions on an inner side, and is biased upwards by a spring; the rotary sleeve is arranged under, and inserted into the depressed sleeve; the rotary sleeve has spaced spiral-curved guiding grooves on a cylindrical surface, and upright guiding grooves spaced between and connected to the spiral-curved grooves; when the depressed sleeve is not being depressed, the spiral-curved guiding grooves are fitted over upper ends of corresponding protrusions; thus, the inner wheel can be turned relative to an outer wheel for crushing peppercorns when the depressed sleeve is moved up and down repeatedly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spice mill, in particular a pepper mill, having an improved design for setting the fineness of ground particles produced by the mill. Outer grinding teeth are located within a fixed seat. The fixed seat is connected to a rotating seat by means of a convex annular bead and a concave annular groove, thereby preventing movement of the rotating seat away from the fixed seat when the rotating seat is rotated in order to set the fineness of the ground particles. Inner grinding teeth are positioned within the outer grinding teeth and supported by a lift seat. Spokes on the lift seat are positioned within guide grooves located on the inner wall of the fixed seat whereby, on rotation of the rotating seat, the lift seat is moved upward or downward and the inner grinding teeth are shifted upwards or downwards, thereby setting the size and the fineness of the ground particles produced by the mill.

Abstract: The cutter mixer has a mixer tub with side walls and a floor. The floor includes a primary floor portion at a lower elevation. At least one secondary floor is positioned vertically above the primary floor portion. A primary vertical spindle is journaled in the center of the primary floor. A secondary vertical spindle is journaled on the secondary floor. Auger flighting is attached to the primary spindle. Auger flighting is also attached to the secondary spindle. The flighting decreases in width from the bottom to the top of each spindle. The bottom of the flighting on the primary spindle sweeps over substantially all the primary floor. The flighting on the secondary spindle overlaps the flighting on the primary spindle and sweeps fodder from the secondary floor to the primary floor. The augers are driven to cut and mix fodder and discharge fodder from the primary floor.

Abstract: A jet mill includes plural nozzle devices for discharging a composite stream of high velocity fluid. Each nozzle device includes a plural odd number of nozzle openings for discharging an individual stream of high velocity fluid. Each nozzle opening comprises (i) a converging region for converging and accelerating a volume of high pressure fluid; (ii) a throat region defining a narrowest diameter region of the nozzle opening; (iii) a first expansion region for producing a linear expansion of the volume of high pressure fluid, and (iv) a second expansion region for producing a turning expansion as well as a parallel flow of the volume of high pressure fluid. The first expansion region has a radius “r1” and a length “s1” with radius r1 and length s1 determined such that (dr1/ds1) is a constant. The second expansion region has a radius “r2” and a length “s2” with radius r2 and length s2 determined such that (dr2/ds2) is non-linear and a function of s2.

Abstract: A machine manufactures buttons having coplanar shell flanges in a two-stroke operation. The machine comprises a crimp die having different resistances to advancement of a ram. The first resistance enables a metal shell margin to partially bend under a flat back that is placed on a first surface of the crimp die. The second resistance enables the shell wall to completely bend against a second surface of the crimp die so as to form flanges that lie in a single plane. Both round and rectangular buttons are manufacturable using the same basic machine. The rectangular machine uses a shifter cage on the ram that rotates in response to indexing a die table on which the crimp die and a pickup die are attached. The round machine uses a rotatable frame on the ram. With the rectangular machine, the shell is initially bent during a pickup stroke of the ram.

Abstract: A sewage cleaning and comminuting system is provided with a pair of dissimilar sized cutter stacks that extends across an influent channel which intercepts all solids too large to pass there through. The dissimilar sized cutter stacks are capable of grinding large and round shaped objects. The cutter stacks rotate at dissimilar speeds and require less energy to grind solids than other grinders having similar sized grinders rotating at the same speed. The system includes an integrated cleaning assembly whereby debris accumulated between the cutter disks is removed as the cutter disks rotate. Embodiments are provided including grinders that employ three and four shafts. Another embodiment is directed to an improved cutter disk. Yet another embodiment includes an auger screen assembly used in conjunction with the comminuting system to remove solids from the effluent stream.

Abstract: A recycling device and a method of using same are disclosed. The recycling device includes the interconnected components of a housing unit, a first door, a second door, an elongated barrel, an electrical plug, a utility motor, a utility belt drive, a rolling pin, a conveyor belt, a plurality of intake rollers, a shredding blade, a receiving bucket, a hydraulic press, a compression piston, and a control panel. The method of using the device includes a convenient means for recycling a plurality of various types of materials, in which the method includes the steps of obtaining and plugging.

Abstract: The method for preventing asbestos from freeing airborne particles comprises sequentially heating and the asbestos in the following surrounding temperatures values and maintaining the asbestos in these surrounding temperature values until the asbestos changes to the following corresponding colors: a) between 125° F. (52° C.) and 175° F. (79° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform pale russet-red color; b) between 225° F. (107° C.) and 275° F. (135° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform dark russet-red color; c) between 325° F. (163° C.) and 375° F. (191° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform dark orange color; d) between 425° F. (218° C.) and 475° F. (246° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform red color; e) between 525° F. (274° C.) and 575° F. (302° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform grey color; and f) between 625° F. (329° C.) and 675° F. (357° C.) until the asbestos changes to a uniform opaque white color.

Abstract: A method of feeding a wood batch into a pressure grinder, the method comprising first collecting the wood batch to be fed into the grinder into a separate batch chamber above a side feeding chamber, from which the wood batch is lowered vertically by means of a separate supporting plate to the side feeding chamber. Thereafter, the wood batch is transferred from the side feeding chamber into the feeding chamber. An arrangement for feeding a wood batch into a pressure grinder comprises a batch chamber above a side feeding chamber and in which the wood batch to be fed into the pressure grinder is formed before it is lowered into the side feeding chamber.

Abstract: A spice grinder is comprised of a mounting ring for screwing onto a spice container. An outer grinding member comprised of a ring is locked to the top of the mounting ring to prevent rotation. An inner grinding member comprised of a cone is positioned within the outer grinding member. A cap is positioned around the outer and inner grinding members, and rotationally fixed to the inner grinding member. An adjustment knob is attached to a shaft which is positioned through the cap and the inner and outer grinding members. A first spiral ramp under the knob is engaged against a second spiral ramp on the cap. An inner end of the knob is locked to the inner grinding member. Spring arms projecting radially from the inner grinding member are biased against an inner surface of the cap. Coarseness is adjusted by rotating the knob.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing small food pieces from larger food pieces, includes a barrel having a delivery opening through which the larger food pieces can be delivered to the barrel, and a dispensing opening through which the small food pieces can be dispensed. A rotating cutter having a number of blades is fitted into the barrel. A crank handle is attached to the cutter for rotating the cutter and an anvil is fitted within the barrel and has a number of slots into which the blades enter to sever the larger food pieces into the smaller food pieces.

Abstract: A fruit grating tool includes a tube-shaped housing, a cap releasably connected to the housing, a pressing member arranged under the cap and biased down by a spring, a rotary member having a knob arranged on top of the cap, and a grating base arranged under the pressing member and connected to the rotary member; the grating base has a grating surface on an upper side thereof, and many sharp edged tangential holes thereon; fruits are put on the grating base to be pressed against the grating surface by means of the pressing member, and are grated by means of the grating surface when the knob is operated to cause the grating base to rotate; the fruits will pass down via the sharp edged tangential holes of the grating base after having been grated into small pieces.

Abstract: A grinding tool operable with single hand includes a housing capable of standing upright, a lever, a one-way mechanism, and a grinding mechanism; the lever has an inner end formed with gear teeth, and is pivoted to the housing, and biased outwardly of the housing by a spring to be capable of being pushed and released repeatedly; the one-way mechanism has an actuating gear engaging the inner end of the lever, and a one-way bearing; the actuating gear is engaged with the bearing for causing angular displacement of the bearing together with it only when it is turned in a first direction by means of pushing the lever inwardly of the housing; the grinding mechanism includes an inner wheel turnable together with the bearing, and a stationary outer wheel around the inner wheel so that the contents can be ground between the wheels when the lever is pushed and released repeatedly.

Abstract: An electric pepper mill is provided with a conducting element held in position with a battery holder; the conducting element can move to an action position when the pepper mill is turned to an upright position so that it closes a circuit consisting of a motor and batteries of the pepper mill, and can move to a non-action position when the pepper mill is turned upside down so that the circuit is opened. Thus, the motor is powered by the batteries, and in turns, the pepper mill works to grind pepper when the mill is upright, and the mill stops working when it is upside down.

Abstract: A grinder for pepper grains, spices, coffee beans or the like in the invention has a body, a motor seat, an engagement plate, a revolving seat, a base, a battery seat and a cover. When a press button of the cover is depressed, electricity-conducting pieces of the battery seat will be pressed to come into contact with each other to form an open electric circuit, by which a motor will be actuated to rotate a reducing gear assembly of the motor seat so that a gear of the reducing gear assembly will be rotated to turn a journal to swivel a spindle to turn a grinding member, thereby enabling the grinder to proceed with an automatic grinding operation. When the body and the revolving seat are rotated by a user with hands, the grinding member will be turned around accordingly to make the grinder proceed with a manual grinding operation.