Abstract: A continuous flow slurry cleaning method, apparatus and system including a filter portion and a mud re-circulation manifold for receiving partially filtered slurry, containing the slurry and mixing the slurry with liquid ready for use and thereby enabling a continuous, re-circulating flow through the filter portion. The continuous flow slurry cleaning apparatus and system further include a tank for storing and delivering liquid ready to be used by a drilling machine. The continuous flow slurry cleaning method, apparatus and system further includes a mud circulation/agitation system for keeping solids in suspension and for mixing additives along with the liquid ready for use and thereby modifying the makeup of the liquid ready for use.

Abstract: A stochastic cyclotron ion filter for separating ions in a multi-species plasma according to mass uses an electrical field (E) crossed with a magnetic field (B). In particular, the electric field is stochastically generated by an amplified noise source with a band pass filter that passes only frequencies in an interval between &ohgr;1 and &ohgr;2. The filter also includes a cylindrical chamber for receiving the multi-species plasma, and coils are used to generate the magnetic field inside the chamber. In operation, the stochastically generated electric field resonates with particles in the plasma that have a cyclotron frequency &OHgr; in the frequency interval (&ohgr;1<&OHgr;<&ohgr;2). In one embodiment, an electrode is mounted at one end of the chamber, and the electrode is connected with the amplifier to establish the electrical field in the chamber.

Abstract: A recycling method comprises classifying products to be recycled on the basis of classifier unit information, decomposing and fractionating some of the products on the basis of fractionator unit information. Applying a physical action to the fractionated products on the basis of physical action information. Producing a recycled material on the basis of recycled material producer unit information. Producing a recycled component from the recycled materials on the basis of recycled component producer unit information. The information required at each step is appropriately supplied.

Abstract: Glass cullet such as recycled municipal waste is processed to substantially eliminate contaminants including light weight paper and polymer, ferrous and nonferrous metal and also ceramics, pyroceramics, tempered glass, stones and assorted silicates that have properties approximating those of glass. In a series of washing and sorting steps, different mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic, and thermal processes cause distinct materials in the cutlet to react differently, whereupon the contaminants are selectively removed and the glass is processed on. The cullet is crushed; ferrous and nonferrous metals are detected and diverted, a screening station sizes cullet particles and routes larger sizes back for additional crushing. An air blower entrains and removes light fractions and dust. A wash station entrains and removes dirt and soluble material. In a flow of sized particles, further metal and ceramic (non-glass silica) detection devices divert portions of the flow sensed to contain non-glass materials.

Abstract: A method for recovering a fuel substance by separating materials in a salvage operation based on BTU content is provided. A non-sorted material stream including metallic and non-metallic components, which preferably includes automobile scrap, is fed to a shredder which shreds or fragments the materials. After shredding, the non-sorted material stream is separated by a series of separators. The non-sorted material stream is first conveyed to a gravity separator where the materials are separated into two streams, namely, a heavy material stream and a light material stream. The heavy material stream is then conveyed to a magnetic separator where ferrous metals are separated from a number of non-ferrous materials. The heavy ferrous metals are collected for recycling whereas the heavy non-ferrous materials are conveyed to a screen and further separated into non-ferrous metal and non-metallic material.

Abstract: A pre-separator for separating out large particles from a fluid flow has a housing forming an interior chamber with an inlet and an outlet, and a separator plate in the chamber between the inlet and outlet. The separator plate has a surface facing the inlet that is provided with a liquid carrying tank into which the flow is directed when it enters the interior chamber through the inlet. The separator plate has a series of nozzle openings therethrough adjacent its periphery to the outside of the tank. The nozzle openings adjacent the periphery of the separator plate overlie a surface of the housing adjacent the outlet. The pre-separator thus has two impaction stages that permit use across a wide range of flows. The separator plate and the housing have surfaces which are tapered so that liquid in the housing can be drained out when the housing is inverted.

Abstract: A system for reclaiming cadmium and tellurium from cadmium telluride solar cell. The system comprises a crushing apparatus for crushing cells into pieces, a first conveyor for transporting solar cells to the crushing apparatus, a barrel for receiving etchant for etching the crushed cell pieces, a second conveyor for transporting crusehed pieces of cells from the crushing apparatus to the barrel, and a screen separator for separating the crushed cell pieces into at least three components.

Abstract: A method for processing a mass of solid fine particles including Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (“NORM”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the material is sampled and classified into fractions based upon one or more selected criteria such as particle size or particle density. The level of radioactivity associated with each fraction is determined, leading to separation of the mass of fines into selected fractions based upon one or more selected criteria and the activity levels of the fractions. Selected fractions are chosen for chemical treatment, thereby reducing the volume of material to be treated. By reducing the volume of solid material to be treated, the amount of chemicals used for treatment is reduced, along with the size and capacity of the processing equipment required to treat the material.

Abstract: A mobile system for recovering materials from construction waste or demolition debris is provided. The system includes a mobile wheeled chassis that has at least one picking station. A grapple is mounted on the wheeled chassis for selectively retrieving waste or debris from a jobsite. A screen is disposed on the wheeled chassis and is configured to receive the waste or debris from the grapple. The screen sorts the waste or debris into fines and oversized material. A conveyor transports the oversized material adjacent to at least one picking station to allow selected materials to be removed for further processing.

Abstract: A system for transporting wet chips to a centrifugal separator where the wet chips are separated into dry chips and fluid with the dry chips being transported to a dry chips site and the fluid recirculated or collected. Preferably, the centrifugal separator, when actuated, serves to generate a pneumatic flow of air through a wet chip conduit whereby the wet chips are pneumatically conveyed to the separator from a source of origin such as a tooling machine station where wet chips are generated. A parts separator may be located at either end of the wet chip conduit.

Abstract: A garbage treatment plant and a recycling method for use by a community having a garbage pick up by garbage trucks, the method comprising the steps of collecting the food garbage and non food garbage in separate containers, transporting the food garbage and non food garbage to a garbage treatment plant wherein the food garbage is ground and heated to a temperature sufficient to kill pathogenic bacteria therein, and separating recyclable material from the non food garbage. The method is preferably practiced on a relatively small local scale and provides for a maximum of recyclable material and valuable by-products from the treated food garbage.

Abstract: A plasma filter for separating particles includes a hollow semi-cylindrical chamber that is enclosed by a wall. At least one plasma source is mounted in the chamber between the longitudinal axis of the chamber and the wall for generating a multi-species plasma containing light mass particles (M1) and heavy mass particles (M2). A magnetic coil is used to generate a magnetic field, Bz, in the chamber that is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, and electrodes at each end of the chamber generate an electric field, Er, in the chamber that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. These crossed electric and magnetic fields rotate the multi-species plasma on a curved path around the longitudinal axis, and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to separate M1 from M2.

Abstract: A collector cup for the collection and removal of the low-mass particles that exit from a plasma mass filter includes a cylindrical shaped wall, an internally cooled. getter plate and a plurality of internally cooled baffles. The baffles are concentrically mounted and are attached to the inside of the cylindrical wall, between the getter plate and the plasma mass filter thereby creating an enclosed volume that is defined by the getter plate, the baffles and the cylinder wall. Entryways are formed between the baffles to allow the gas formed at the baffles to enter the enclosed volume. When the ions and electrons exit from the filter, they collide with the cooler baffles, ano combine to form neutral atoms and vaporize. Once formed, the gas can pass through the entryways and into the enclosed volume where it can be condensed onto the surface of the temperature controlled getter plate.

Abstract: To separate light organic fractions from waste which has undergone pretreatment consisting of precomminution, ferrous-metal separation, postcomminution, further ferrous-metal separation, drying and nonferrous-metal separation, multiple, preferably so-called zigzag air classifiers are arranged in cascading stages and are passed through sequentially by the material stream to be separated. The upward-stream speed of the air is adjusted in stages in the individual air classifiers such that the first air classifier receives the smallest and the last air-classifier the highest air speed. As a result, first the fine, then the medium and lastly the large organic light fractions are discharged to the top in sequence from each air-classifier stage. The separated organic light fractions represent fuel components of high calorific value. The remaining bottom-discharge from the air classifier group consists of a mixture of heavy organic fractions and minerals.

Abstract: A particle separation member is provided for use with a cyclone separator. The particle separation member divides the separator into a cyclone chamber and a particle receiving chamber. The cyclone chamber and the particle receiving chamber communicate via a plurality of apertures in the particle separation member. The separation member comprises two cooperating members movable between an open position and a closed position to provide access to the particle receiving chamber to empty the collected contents therefrom.

Abstract: A plasma mass filter using a helical magnetic field for separating low-mass particles from high-mass particles in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical outer wall located at a distance “a” from a longitudinal axis. Also included is a coaxial cylindrical inner wall positioned to establish a plasma chamber between the inner and outer walls. The magnetic field is generated in this chamber with an axial component (Bz) and an azimuthal component (B&thgr;), which interact together with an electric field to create crossed magnetic and electric fields. The electric field has a positive potential, Vctr, on the inner wall and a zero potential on the outer wall.

Abstract: A plasma filter for separating positive ions from negative ions in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical shaped chamber. Magnetic coils surrounding the chamber generate a magnetic field that is aligned substantially parallel to the chamber's longitudinal axis. An electrode generates an electric field that is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field to create crossed magnetic and electric fields inside the chamber. The inward directed electric field has a negative potential on the longitudinal axis and a substantially zero potential at the wall of the chamber. An injector injects the multi-species plasma into said chamber to interact with said crossed magnetic and electric fields.

Abstract: The present invention includes devices and methods for handling and sorting paper. Devices for accelerating and spreading paper from a paper input to a sensor are disclosed. Operably thin layers of paper are passed through a sensor at cost effective feed rates. One embodiment of the invention includes a spreader positioned to receive paper from the input and an inclined feed section downstream of the spreader. The inclined feed section includes first and second inclined conveyors to further accelerate and spread the paper. A feed accelerator is operably positioned to receive paper from the second inclined conveyor. The feed accelerator further accelerates and separates the paper. The feed accelerator feeds the paper to the sensor which is operably connected to an ejector downstream of the sensor. Targeted paper is ejected from the paper stream and product paper continues downstream to a product conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sorting apparatuses and sorting methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a sorting apparatus includes an intake section configured to receive plural articles to be sorted; an exhaust section located downstream of the intake section; and an air manifold adjacent the intake section and positioned to emit an air stream in a generally downstream direction and wherein the articles move in a given direction of movement, and the emitted air stream sorts at least some articles from remaining articles and directs the at least some articles in the downstream direction from the intake section to the exhaust section.

Abstract: A method for separating charged particles according to their mass requires providing a multi-species plasma in a chamber. The plasma includes both relatively low-mass charged particles (M1) and relatively high-mass charged particles (M2) which are influenced by crossed electric and magnetic fields (E×B) in the chamber. Specifically, the crossed fields (E×B) rotate the particles M1 and M2 in respective orbits that are characteristic of the mass of the particular particle. Inside the chamber, each charged particle has a respective cyclotron frequency (&OHgr;), and the plasma is maintained with a density wherein the collisional frequency (&ngr;) of particles in the chamber relates to the cyclotron frequency such that their ratio is greater than approximately one (&OHgr;/&ngr;≧1). Additionally, a collector is positioned to intercept the particles (M2) in their orbits and to thereby separate the particles (M2) from the particles (M1).

Abstract: A tandem plasma mass filter for separating low-mass particles from high-mass particles in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical shaped wall which surrounds a hollow chamber. A magnet is mounted on the wall to generate a magnetic field that is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber. Also, an electric field is generated which is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field and which, together with the magnetic field, creates crossed magnetic and electric fields in the chamber. Importantly, the electric field has a positive potential on the axis relative to the wall which is usually zero potential. When a vapor is injected into the chamber and ionized, the resultant multi-species plasma interacts with the crossed magnetic and electric fields to eject high-mass particles into the wall surrounding the chamber.

Abstract: A particle separation member is provided for use with a cyclone separator. The particle separation member divides the separator into a cyclone chamber and a particle receiving chamber. The cyclone chamber and the particle receiving chamber communicate via a plurality of apertures in the particle separation member. The apertures have baffle members for reducing the flow of fluid in the particle receiving chamber.

Abstract: Continuous recovery of raw materials from coated films and apparatus for this purpose and film material recovered therewith. Large amounts of coated films can be fed to a continuous recycling process in which any pigments present in the coating and the substrate material are recovered. The treatment is carried out at room temperature in an alkaline medium consisting of soft soap, organic solvent and/or water, with or without the use of a catalyst. The solvent is recycled. After the first treatment stage, the film shreds can be treated in a second stage with a solvent/water mixture similarly to the first stage, and thorough final washing in a water or solvent circulation is effected in a third stage. The recovered film shreds are dried, pressed, milled and brought to the desired shape in a plastics agglomerator, and the recovered pigments are dried under reduced pressure (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A centrifugal filter for separating low-mass particles from high-mass particles in a rotating multi-species plasma includes a pair of annular shaped coaxially oriented conductors. The conductors are both aligned along a central axis and are spaced apart to create a plasma passageway between them. In this configuration, the conductors generate respective magnetic field components which interact to create a magnetic field having an increased magnitude in the passageway and a decreased magnitude along the central axis. The filter also includes an electric field which has a positive potential along the central axis and a decreasing potential in an outwardly radial direction from the central axis. Specifically, this electric field is crossed with the magnetic field in the passageway to confine low-mass particles in the passageway and to eject high-mass particles from the passageway.

Abstract: The invention refers to a procedure and an installation for the pure, according to sort, processing of recoverable material refuse, with a selection of heavy disruptive materials, with a crushing process for the remaining raw refuse, with segregating processes for recoverable materials from the crushed raw refuse up to a mixture of plastic chips and with separating processes for the extraction of pure, according to sort, plastics.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a suspension, comprising a collection vessel; and a cyclone fixably received within the collection vessel, the cyclone having an inlet for receiving the suspension, a wall having at least a filter medium for separating the suspension into at least two components, and a lower underflow outlet for dispensing one of the two components, wherein the filter medium is porous and in communication with a catalyst, a hydrophillic, or hydrophobic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of removing and transporting empty, recyclable, aluminum and plastic beverage containers returned to redemption centers without requiring the redemption centers to sort the containers by distributor and then separate the containers into like materials for removal. The present invention also illuminates the burden imposed on the distributors from having to pick up the containers from the redemption centers, then shred or bale the materials, and then sell the materials to recyclers. The invention comprises the steps of collecting and depositing the aluminum and plastic containers together into a compactor at the redemption center's facilities. Transporting the compacted aluminum and plastic beverage containers to a separating facility which automatically separates the aluminum and plastic containers into like materials.

Abstract: A improved process for beneficiating kaolin clays to remove discoloring impurities is disclosed. The beneficiation of kaolin clay is improved by fractionating a kaolin clay starting material into a lower brightness first fraction having a majority of the discoloring impurities and a higher brightness second fraction with less impurities. The first fraction is then beneficiated (such as by flotation, selection flocculation, high intensity magnetic separation and/or leaching) to produce a kaolin clay product with improved optical properties. The first and second fractions may be combined to produce a product with improved optical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending housing having a fluid inlet port; a plurality of spaced apart members rotatably mounted in the housing to transmit motive force between fluid introduced through the fluid inlet port and the members and to separate the fluid into at least two fluid streams; and, a fluid outlet port positioned on the housing for receiving each fluid stream.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting, defluidizing and disposing of oil and gas well drill cuttings is disclosed including a system consisting primarily of a separation tank assembly, a vacuum pump assembly, a solids collection box and a liquids collection tank. The seperating tank having an upper slurry chamber, for recieving cuttings via suction from a shaker screen trough via a suction line, and a lower liquid chamber having a strainer therein, for collecting liquids compressed from the drill cuttings. A helical conveyor screw is passed through the upper slurry chamber and the strainer located in the lower liquid chamber. An adjustable plug is provided to restrict the cuttings flow through the strainer discharge opening. When cutting are forced from the upper slurry chamber via the helical conveyor screw into the strainer against the preset tension of the adjustable plug, fluids are forced through the sides of the strainer into the lower liquid chamber where they are pumped out to a liquids collection tank.