Abstract: A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can relate to systems and methods for sorting balls. The systems and methods may involve the use of a ball-feeding mechanism for receiving one or more balls, and feeding the one or more balls to a projection element. The projection element may be located beneath the ball-feeding mechanism such that the balls drop from the ball-feeding mechanism to the projection element, and the balls then project from the projection element to a ball-sorting apparatus. The balls may then subsequently be sorted into a sorting container of one or more sorting containers based on the projected height of the ball.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can relate to systems and methods for sorting balls. The systems and methods may involve the use of a ball-feeding mechanism for receiving one or more balls, and feeding the one or more balls to a projection element. The projection element may be located beneath the ball-feeding mechanism such that the balls drop from the ball-feeding mechanism to the projection element, and the balls then project from the projection element to a ball-sorting apparatus. The balls may then subsequently be sorted into a sorting container of one or more sorting containers based on the projected height of the ball.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for controlling the flow rate of materials into and out of the blender. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each component of a mixture, regulating the delivery rate of a blend mixture into a blender hopper, regulating the exit rate of the blended mixture from the blender hopper, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a well site, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a well site, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for controlling the flow rate of materials into and out of the blender. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each component of a mixture, regulating the delivery rate of a blend mixture into a blender hopper, regulating the exit rate of the blended mixture from the blender hopper, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a blender, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a storage and transfer device to unload granular material from a bottom exit of a tractor trailer bed into a surge hopper, through a transfer device and into a high velocity air stream used to convey the material into a designated silo. Certain embodiments mount the components of the storage and transfer device on a trailer, wherein the transfer device includes a surge hopper, a transfer device, a blower, and a transfer pipe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a well site, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a well site, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for blending multi-component granular compositions such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each of the components, regulating the delivery of specified quantities of each component to a blender, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: A raised garden bed is provided including wood plank sides that are secured at their joints with corner brackets forming corners. The brackets have two panels joined along one edge with a U-shaped channel at the base of each panel to receive a wood plank. Louvers extend into the channels to hold the planks with a press fit and allow the bed to be assembled and used without screws.

Abstract: A modular system and method is provided that enables the consumer to design/build his or her own bird feeder based on interchangeable modular components that include multiple bases of different styles, multiple nutrient reservoirs of different styles, and one or more additional components, each having different styles. The system and method provides an on-line store that allows consumers to view the various styles for each component and to select their own base, reservoir, etc. Once the desired components have been selected on-line, a bill of materials listing the components is printed at a manufacturing facility where the selected components are pulled from a common inventory, assembled into a custom feeder and shipped to the consumer.

Abstract: A raised garden bed is provided including wood plank sides that are secured at their joints with corner brackets forming corners. The brackets have two panels joined along one edge with a U-shaped channel at the base of each panel to receive a wood plank. Louvers extend into the channels to hold the planks with a press fit and allow the bed to be assembled and used without screws.

Abstract: A modular system and method is provided that enables the consumer to design/build his or her own bird feeder based on interchangeable modular components that include multiple bases of different styles, multiple nutrient reservoirs of different styles, and one or more additional components, each having different styles. The system and method provides an on-line store that allows consumers to view the various styles for each component and to select their own base, reservoir, etc. Once the desired components have been selected on-line, a bill of materials listing the components is printed at a manufacturing facility where the selected components are pulled from a common inventory, assembled into a custom feeder and shipped to the consumer.

Abstract: A modular system and method is provided that enables the consumer to design/build his or her own bird feeder based on interchangeable modular components that include multiple bases of different styles, multiple nutrient reservoirs of different styles, and one or more additional components, each having different styles. The system and method provides an on-line store that allows consumers to view the various styles for each component and to select their own base, reservoir, etc. Once the desired components have been selected on-line, a bill of materials listing the components is printed at a manufacturing facility where the selected components are pulled from a common inventory, assembled into a custom feeder and shipped to the consumer.

Abstract: A replacement bottle cap comprising: a cap seal, where the cap seal is at the center of the bottle cap; and a center portion within the cap seal, where the cap seal includes a conical shape to firmly seal the cap onto an opening of a bottle neck. The cap seal includes a diminishing diameter, where the diminishing diameter provides a means to seal the opening.

Abstract: The invention is a novel moment-resistant building column insert system for distributing lateral and vertical loads between the column-beam and column-foundation connections. Loads are distributed between the column and beam using a column insert, nut plates and beam end plates incorporated to beam-ends. The column insert is hollow and similar cross-section shape to the building column for inserting there to. The column, column insert, nut plates and endplates have patterns of mounting holes for receiving mounting bolts tightened to nuts held by nut plates. Loads are distributed between the column and foundation using a base plate, column insert, and insert plates integrated with anchor bolts, nuts and washers in a concrete foundation. The base plate having mounting holes is incorporated to the building column bottom end to receive the plurality of anchor bolts there through for fixedly tightening as an exposed end of the column insert fits in the column.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Vaughn's Lillie’, characterized by its growth habit; short internodes; large conical to rounded inflorescences; showy white-colored sepals; and long flowering period.