Abstract: A cold gas thruster having a two-stage solenoid is provided. Pressurized gas from the inlet flows to the back side of the piston to hold the piston closed. The pressure is maintained by a check ball held by the solenoid armature. When the solenoid is energized, the armature allows the check ball to move to bleed off the pressure holding the piston closed. The piston moves away from its seat and allows the pressurized gas to flow to the outlet creating thrust. When the solenoid coil is de-energized, the check ball is forced against its seat, which blocks the escape of pressure on the back side of the piston, so that it can re-pressurize back up to the inlet pressure. This creates a force imbalance and moves the piston to close the valve and stop the thrust. Different nozzles can be used for different thrust profiles without changing the solenoid.

Abstract: A construction for a firearm comprises an action, including a barrel, and a stock. The action is seated to the stock on a three-point bearing system comprising three bearings arranged in a triangular array. This provides for firm seating for the action and results in a more accurate firearm.

Abstract: A construction for a firearm comprises an action, including a barrel, and a stock. The action is seated to the stock on a three-point bearing system comprising three bearings arranged in a triangular array. This provides for firm seating for the action and results in a more accurate firearm.

Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between the outside perimeter of discs on adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc includes a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned laterally on a shaft to longitudinally align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs eliminate the secondary slot that normally exists in disc screens.

Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc comprises a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned on a shaft to align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs reduces problems that exist in screens that use in-line multi-sided discs.

Abstract: A disc screen classifies material by size. The disc screen includes a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another and a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A second stage includes discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A receiving section agitates debris while the debris moves at an angle up to a given elevation. A roll over section drops the materials down to a discharge position for feeding onto a discharge section. The materials are dropped from the roll over so that the debris either falls vertically or flips over further promoting separation. The discharge section again agitates the debris while moves up a second incline until the larger debris discharges out a rear end.

Abstract: A first conveyor belt has a transverse tilt from horizontal and a wall along one side. Crushed plastic containers dropped onto the belt fall against the wall and are thus aligned under gravity action. The first belt transfers aligned containers to a second belt operating at a faster rate of speed and having a width capable of supporting only a single article in the transverse direction. The second belt transfers the containers to a third belt operating at a faster rate of speed than the second belt thereby further spacing the containers one from another. A scanner checks the spacing of each adjacent pair of containers and causes an air cannon to blow containers from the third belt when spacing does not conform to a predetermined spacing criteria. Containers falling from the end of the first belt and those blown from the third belt are received by a hopper having a conveyer therein which returns such containers to the first belt.

Abstract: A system for classifying recycled debris comprising ferrous materials, fines, non-ferrous light material and non-ferrous heavy material. The classification system is made of a hopper having an inlet, including a spillway opening defining a lowermost portion of the hopper inlet, and an outlet formed along a lower portion of the hopper and contained in a plane at an angle of about 50 degrees from horizontal. A conveyor covering the outlet includes substantially rigid cleats extending into the hopper for agitating the debris and for transporting heavy material, such as glass bottles, out of the hopper outlet. Agitation of the debris causes the heavy material to drift to the lower portion of the hopper and the light material to rise to the top portion and flow over the spillway. A second conveyor positioned beneath the spillway catches the light material and carries it to another location.

Abstract: A separation system tears apart trash bags in a manner that will ensure that the trash and recyclable material inside the bag will fall out onto a conveyer while at the same time maintaining the bag in substantially one piece. The bag is dropped onto two cylinders that rotate in opposite directions. The first cylinder hooks the container with a set of fins and then presents the bag to a second set of fins protruding from the second cylinder. The second set of fins have relatively dull tips that pull the bag apart allowing the contents inside the bag to drop down onto a conveyer. A set of steel fingers are attached between adjacent fins to prevent small bags from slipping though the system without first being broken. The fins automatically push the empty bags out of the system in substantially one piece.

Abstract: A disc screen for classifying material by size. The disc screen comprises a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another, a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation; and a second stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. The first stage discs are positioned to allow passage of only small fraction material and the second stage discs are positioned to allow passage of intermediate fraction material thereby classifying the material into a small fraction, an intermediate fraction and a large fraction.

Abstract: A self-cleaning support for a conveyor belt having a shaft with first and second ends and a longitudinal center capable of being adapted to rotate at each of the ends. The shaft is provided with a first flighting to convey material from a first point proximate the longitudinal center toward the first end and a second flight to convey material from a second point proximate the longitudinal center towards the second end, with the first and second points being spaced apart. Two annular members are mounted at the first and second points respectively both encircling the shaft and defining axial openings permitting material to pass through to their respective flights. These annular members may provide a guide for the underside of the belt by being spaced apart to receive the width of a belt guide.