Abstract: There is disclosed a workpiece pellet length control apparatus for providing a desired formed pellet length from a multicavity press apparatus. Apparatus is provided to measure the length of each formed workpiece pellet for the purpose of controlling the formed pellet lengths and to reject pellets that are outside of acceptable length tolerance limits.

Abstract: A pellet dimension checker for determining the weight, length, and density of a pellet such as a nuclear fuel pellet. The checker comprises a rotatable arm for transferring a pellet from a pellet conveyor, to several dimensional measuring stations, and back to the conveyor if the dimensions of the pellet are determined to be within predetermined limits. Should the pellet be nonconforming, the rotatable arm removes the pellet from the process stream.

Abstract: Described is a sludge recovery apparatus in which influent is admitted downwardly via a vertical motor-driven dual-speed hollow coaxial drive shaft assembly into a hollow open-bottom downwardly-converging cone-shaped centrifugal separator member spun by the outer shaft of such assembly, where liquid from the influent leaves at the top and sludge from the influent is scraped from the inner wall of the separator member for gravity discharge at the bottom by a spiral-shaped scraper spun by the inner shaft of such assembly at a slightly different speed than the separator member. Sludge thus dislodged from such member drops onto a radiantly-heated continuously-rotated drying table having a discharge scraper station and automatic drop doors for gravity ejection of the table-dried sludge into an open-top sludge salvage container.

Abstract: A centerless grinder having a feed mechanism for introducing members at a uniform rate into the grinder. The feed mechanism comprises an escapement mechanism for diverting a member such as a pellet from a stream and into the grinder along with a feed wheel with equally spaced radial wires mounted around its periphery to engage each member and push the member into the grinding wheel.