Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer, comprising a material injection assembly further comprising a ram, a cylinder having a cylinder shaft for reciprocating the ram upon actuation of the cylinder shaft, a sleeve having an interior in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate having a gate plate operable from between an open and a closed position; the gate plate has an aperture formed therethrough and the aperture is sized to enable a plug of compressed municipal solid waste to pass through it when the gate plate is in the open position; and a material exit assembly. The preferred material handling system further comprises a gate plate is interpositioned between the pair of space apart end plates and reciprocates freely therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow a plug of municipal solid waste to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer, comprising a material injection assembly further comprising a ram, a cylinder having a cylinder shaft for reciprocating the ram upon actuation of the cylinder shaft, a sleeve having an interior in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate having a gate plate operable from between an open and a closed position; the gate plate has an aperture formed therethrough and the aperture is sized to enable a plug of compressed municipal solid waste to pass through it when the gate plate is in the open position; and a material exit assembly. The preferred material handling system further comprises a gate plate is interpositioned between the pair of space apart end plates and reciprocates freely therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow a plug of municipal solid waste to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer comprises a material injection assembly having a ram; a sleeve in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate plate operable from between an open position, wherein a plug of municipal solid waste may exit the sleeve, and a closed position; and a material exit assembly. The material exit assembly comprises a processed material handling apparatus including a processed material compaction chamber; and a plunger assembly attached to the compaction chamber and further including a working cylinder having a cylinder shaft and a ram operably connected to the shaft enabling the ram to compact the processed material within the compaction chamber upon actuation of the cylinder and the extension of the shaft therefrom.

Abstract: A mechanical press drive that uses a ballscrew apparatus to move the upper platen of a press upward and downward. A first coupling is connected to a screw of the ballscrew apparatus and connects the screw to one of a movable platen of a press or a stationary member of the press. A second coupling is connected to and couples a nut of the ballscrew apparatus to the other of the platen and the stationary member of the press. A drive motor is operably connected to one of the nut and screw and relatively rotates them to impart reciprocal motion to a movable press platen coupled to the other of the nut and screw. The two couplings cooperatively isolate the ballscrew apparatus from offset and moment loading that may occur during press operation.

Abstract: An automatic fastening machine and method which reduces fastener installation cycle time by virtue of unique tool movements, pressure foot operation and other features. The pressure foot plate is coupled to actuators for moving the same in a manner allowing tilting of the plate relative to the plane of the workpiece during movement from one fastener installation location to another. The actuators are independently operated by a servo control arrangement in conjunction with the machine control. As a result, it is not necessary for the system to seek a new down position thereby saving machine cycle time. Sensors operatively associated with the actuators in conjunction with the machine control cause movement of the pressure foot plate in reaction to force applied to the workpiece during fastener installation to maintain the workline established by the position of the workpiece prior to application of force.

Abstract: A hydraulic press including a cylinder barrel, a piston and a seal housing. The cylinder barrel has an inner peripheral surface. The piston has a pressure side surface and is inserted in the cylinder barrel to form a chamber between the pressure side surface of the piston and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder barrel. The chamber is configured to contain a hydraulic fluid. The seal housing includes an outer peripheral surface and an inner space which has an inner peripheral wall and which is configured to contain the hydraulic fluid. The seal housing is provided on the pressure side surface of the piston such that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder barrel and such that the hydraulic fluid in the inner space presses the seal housing against the inner peripheral surface.