Abstract: A vehicle tail gate ramp including a tail gate frame movably attached to a vehicle for receiving at least two air-permeable, foldable ramps. Each ramp preferably includes first and second rectangular frame members pivotally connected to each other by a hinge. When folded, the ends of each first rectangular frame member are received by the tail gate frame to be used as a tail gate. When unfolded, the free end of each second rectangular frame member attaches to the tail gate frame and the free end of each first rectangular frame member abuts the ground to form a spaced-apart pair of loading and unloading ramps.

Abstract: A solvent reducing oven wherein stock that includes solvent is conveyed through an oven housing from which the solvent vapors are ducted and propelled into the side of the burner at an acute angle of about 60 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees to the burner axis. The solvent vapors are thereby combusted and the heated gases resulting being mixed with regulated quantities of air and propelled back into the oven for further solvent evaporation.

Abstract: A process and system for producing and utilizing to advantage vapors and gases from a hydrocarbon feedstock such as crushed oil shale, a coal and shale mixture, or straight coal. A prime mover driven by steam generated in the system produces electrical energy for supplying electrical power to the microwave oven employed. The prime mover is steam driven, such steam being supplied by a boiler. The boiler is, in turn, provided with a series of heat sources taking the form of the hot, spent shale, and/or coke from the coal, passing through such oven as well as perhaps portions of condensate or residue and portions or all of the gases generated in the system. The system thus reduces and in some cases may even eliminate power requirements otherwise imposed on an external electrical power source. Principally, however, the system generates sufficient energy as to be a major supplement to the energy requirement of an external power source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mining machinery and presents a new an improved machine, and components therefor, suitable for mining tar sands and other soft materials such as soft coal, oil shale and so forth. The machine can be used both above ground and below ground, and is particularly suitable for underground mining, to take advantages, for example, of the absence to exposure to inclement weather, excessive moisture, and for other reasons. Underground mining use of the machine is particularly suitable since the tar sands will not freeze up when the mining function is accomplished below-grade. The machine itself has a cutting face comprising a series of cutting heads that may be rotated in the same direction, revolve at the same speed, and inter-mesh so as to provide for an effective solid cutting surface. The machine is provided with air compressor means for blow cuttings rearwardly of the machine through a provided trough carried by such machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating oil shale by microwave energy for recovering heated volatile fractions thereof. The microwave oven includes a sloping feeder made of glass, pyrex, or ceramic material, which feeder is reciprocated back and forth along a declining plane so as to advance slowly but progressively oil shale deposited on the top end thereof to the discharge end of the vibrator. Means are provided to evacuate volatile fractions and to feed such gases through preheater tubes to a condenser unit. The preheater tubes are disposed in line with and through the flow of incoming materials so as to tend to regulate material descent as well as preheat the shale. An additional solids heat exchanger is employed underneath the discharge end of the vibratory feeder means so as to slow the descent of the spent shale onto its ultimate conveyor as well as taking heat therefrom and from magnetron tubes of the oven to conduct such heat upwardly to further increase the preheating effect upon incoming shale.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating oil shale by microwave energy for recovering heated volatile fractions thereof. The microwave oven includes a sloping feeder made of glass, pyrex, or ceramic material, which feeder is reciprocated back and forth along a declining plane so as to advance slowly but progressively oil shale deposited on the top end thereof to the discharge end of the vibrator. Means are provided to evacuate volatile fractions and to feed such gases through preheater tubes to a condenser unit. The preheater tubes are disposed in line with and through the flow of incoming materials so as to tend to regulate material descent as well as preheat the shale. An additional solids heat exchanger is employed underneath the discharge end of the vibratory feeder means so as to slow the descent of the spent shale onto its ultimate conveyor as well as taking heat therefrom and from the magnetron tubes of the oven to conduct such heat upwardly to further increase the preheating effect upon incoming shale.