Abstract: An air separator for removing relatively dense foreign materials from shredded paper comprises a downwardly pitched inlet duct which causes relatively dense particles to impact the wall of a vertical discharge duct and deflect downward for removal while the shredded paper follows the air flow through a horizontal outlet duct.

Abstract: Municipal waste materials are processed by crushing the materials so that pieces of noncombustible material are smaller than a selected size and pieces of combustible material are larger than the selected size. The crushed materials are placed on a vibrating mesh screen conveyor belt having openings which pass the smaller, noncombustible pieces of material, but do not pass the larger, combustible pieces of material. Consecutive conveyors may be connected by an intermediate vibratory plate. An air knife can be used to further separate materials based on weight.

Abstract: A virtual impactor having improved efficiency and low wall losses in which a core of clean air is inserted into the aerosol flow while aerosol flow is maintained adjacent inner wall surfaces of the focusing portion of the impactor. The flow rate of the core and the length of the throat of the impactor's collection probe, as well as the dimensional relationships of other components of the impactor adjacent the separation region of the impactor, are selected to optimize separation efficiency.

Abstract: An exhaust and reclaim system for a blasting enclosure having exhausting means which includes two separate exhaust paths for the exhausted blasting media. One path primarily for the heavier media is through a perforated floor into means located under the floor from whence the exhausted blasting media is separated into reusable and non-usable media. The second path primarily for the lighter media that is suspended in the compartment is through filter means located at one end of the compartment. The particles of such media are intercepted by the filter means and then dispensed into the first path of the heavier particles for subsequent separation into usable and non-usable media.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of glass is disclosed. Dried glass batch agglomerates are used as the media in an electrified filter bed, preheated with furnace exhaust gases, and then fed to a glass melting furnace. Exhaust gases from the preheating are electrically charged and passed through the electrified bed of agglomerates to remove glass batch particulate from the spent gases.

Abstract: A process for preheating glass batch ingredients is disclosed. The invention uses a heat exchange method that employs furnace exhaust gases. The exhaust gases are electrically charged and passed through an electrified bed of heat transfer media to remove particulate from the gases. The gases heat the media while the media scrubs the gases. The heated media then is used to preheat glass batch which is fed to a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: In a method of and assembly for sorting a granular two- or multi-component mixture, containing a number p of granular, polydisperse solid components to be sorted out the particles of which differ in density and/or shape and have at least partially overlapping particle size and settling rate (particulate characteristics) distributions the mixture, in which the components are present sortable, is subjected to two dry classification steps in which different particulate characteristics of the particles are decisive.

Abstract: A particle separator physically separates a mixture of small and large particles and metal particles which are suspended in a stream of air into discrete groups of small particles, large particles and metal particles. The particle separator includes a chamber having a bottom and including an inverted truncated cone. The cone includes an upper skirt which forms a seal with the inner wall of the chamber and an aperture in the lower end. The cone divides the chamber into upper and lower compartments. An inlet duct extends through the wall of the chamber into the upper compartment of the chamber. A filter plate is positioned within the lower compartment of the chamber and includes a first side surface which forms a seal with the inner wall of the chamber and a second side surface which forms a seal with the wall of the cone. The structure of the filter defines an intermediate compartment in the upper portion of the lower compartment.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of metallic values from materials such as catalysts containing or supporting the values. The method comprises removing a layer or layers and a catalyst support including a quantity of the metallic value and thereafter chemically or otherwise separating the value therefrom.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres having thin and very uniform wall thickness are useful as containers for the deuterium and tritium gas mixture used as a fuel in laser fusion targets. Hollow microspheres are commercially available; however, in commercial lots only a very small number meet the rigid requirements for use in laser fusion targets. Those meeting these requirements may be separated from the unsuitable ones by subjecting the commercial lot to size and density separations and then by subjecting those hollow microspheres thus separated to an external pressurization at which those which are aspherical or which have nonuniform walls are broken and separating the sound hollow microspheres from the broken ones.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically classifying non-uniform materials such as mineral particles and mine run materials which contain sizes ranging from relatively course particles down to fine dust. The apparatus includes a closed housing wherein a controlled air flow rapidly and efficiently classifies large quantities of material which pass through various classifying stages. The housing is provided with a system to remove and collect fines or dust from the housing which are created during the classifying operation on many types of material. The removal and collection system functions to withdraw a portion of the flow circulating in the housing and through the operation of a precipitator removes fines for collection whereby particle free air is returned to the controlled flow without disturbance to the classifying process.