Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for on-line measurement of polymer properties such as moisture content, ethylene content, Epoxidized Soy Bean Oil (ESBO) content, calcium stearate content and ethylidene norbornene (ENB) content.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn implement for breaking up caked litter on the floor of a poultry house includes a stationary blade which passes beneath the surface of the litter and a rotary rake whose tines are flattened and are inclined at an oblique angle to radial planes of the rake. The tines break up caked litter as they turn; their inclination causes sweeps the litter particles toward one end of the blade, away from the wall of the house.

Abstract: A litter screening and separating machine including a storage compartment, a loader at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from the floor of a chicken house, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loader to the storage compartment. A baffle plate adjacent to and beneath the conveyor chain prevents contamination of the conveyor chain. Vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with tabs on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading flights. Trap doors beneath the upper run of the conveyor may be opened to permit some of the material collected to fall back to the floor of the poultry house. One can regulate the amount of material thus recycled by independently opening and closing the trap doors.

Abstract: A process plant for the manufacture of halobutyl rubber is provided with online monitoring and control of the process parameters to control the properties of the product. It incorporates an in-situ measurement system that does not require the removal of any sample material from the process. It uses a Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FTNIR) spectrometer, fiber-optic cables, a viscometer for measuring solution viscosity and a Resistance Temperature Device (RTD) for temperature measurement. An online real-time analyzer system using a Constrained Principal Spectral Analysis program predicts the property of the polymer product and provides the process control system with analysis of the data using derived relationships between the physical properties of the polymer and these spectral measurements and the measured values of fluid viscosity and temperature. Differences between the predicted and desired property of the product are used to control process parameters.

Abstract: A litter screening and separating apparatus including a storage compartment arranged for towed movement, a loader structure affixed at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from floors of chicken houses, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loading structure to the storage compartment, a baffle plate adjacent and beneath the conveyor chain for preventing contamination of the conveyor chain from the material stored in the storage compartment, a plurality of loading panels arranged between the pair of chains and being replaceably affixed thereto, and vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with projections on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading panels. The loading panels may be of solid panel construction or of expanded metal, depending upon the type of litter being picked up and the method of use of the apparatus.