Abstract: A water wheel for operating fully submerged in an ocean current has a rotating frame member supported on the ocean floor for rotation about a vertical axis. The frame member supports a plurality of vertically extending vanes, each vane being rotatably supported on the frame for limited rotation about a vertical axis. It has a hydrofoil shape in cross-section with the axis of rotation parallel to the leading and trailing edges. Rotation of the vanes is limited relative to the frame by a hydraulic piston control system and shock absorbers.

Abstract: Bags are loaded onto a conveyor for movement along a predetermined path, at spaced intervals of which there are a plurality of bag opening stations, each of which includes a driven chain loop with a plurality of outwardly extending fingers. The fingers engage the bags as they go past and either directly pierce the plastic bags or lift them such that the loaded bag weight causes the fingers to pierce the bag material. Also, at some point in the path of elevation of the loaded bags lifted by the fingers, the bags fall onto the conveyor belt adding a rupturing force which in combination with the piercing of the bag materials effects bag opening and removal of the contents.

Abstract: A pair of elongated, parallel pits receive materials for handling. Just inwardly of each pit there is located a parallel running belt conveyor. Feeder vehicles mounted on rails in the pits outwardly of the belt conveyors are powered to traverse the pits lengthwise with each including a screw feeder for moving the materials from the pits onto the belt conveyors. Further apparatus on the feeder vehicles moves substantially vertically through the materials in the pits as the vehicles move therealong to break up any clumping of the materials (e.g., bagged material) to facilitate operations of the screw feeders. Control equipment is provided such that if a feeder vehicle encounters an object it cannot move, then the vehicle moves back a certain amount and an alarm is given, after which the vehicle makes another attempt to feed the object. This process will continue until either the object is removed and/or the operator resets the equipment as provided for.

Abstract: Solid wastes are dumped into a receiving pit and a conveyor transfers them to a separate station where salvage operations are performed. Adjacent the salvage station a saw cuts waste wood to manageable lengths, which is conveyed with the other wastes to a shredder for reduction in size, after which the entire waste batch passes through a magnetic separator where magnetically attractable materials are removed. A waste oil burner removes combustibles adhering to the magnetic materials. The sized wood and other solid wastes may then be optionally passed through a further sizing mill as well as further dehydration and then transported to one of a plurality of silos for temporary storage. Each silo can deliver wastes to any one of several rotary kilns. The kilns are operated at their input end in low oxygen with temperature control effected by feedback flue gases. Waste oils are the ignition fuel with hot air from an economizer promoting auto-ignition.