Abstract: A cleaning system of a combine harvester includes a fan, a first valve member positioned within a first duct of the fan for throttling the flow of air through the first duct, a second valve member positioned within the second duct of the fan for throttling the flow of air through the second duct, a first actuator for adjusting a position of the first valve member, a second actuator for adjusting a position of the second valve member, first and second sensors for sensing air pressure at first and second sieves, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensed air pressures from the sensors, compare the sensed air pressures with either each other or threshold values, and transmit instructions to one or both of the actuators to adjust the positions of one or both of the valve members.

Abstract: A combine including a cutting wheel for harvesting crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, at least one of a yield monitor or a loss monitor, a crop cleaning system including a cleaning fan, and a controller coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor or the loss monitor. The controller controls the crop cleaning system, and is configured to determine at least one of a throughput from the yield monitor, or a loss from the loss monitor, compare the determined throughput or loss to a respective throughput threshold or loss threshold, and control a speed of the cleaning fan based on the throughput or loss comparison.

Abstract: A combine side-shaking control system and a method for controlling operation of a side-shaking mechanism in a combine. The control system includes at least one sieve for separating crop material from other materials and a movable side-shaking mechanism coupled to the at least one sieve and configured to move the at least one sieve in a side-to-side motion. The control system also includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one operating condition of a combine system. The control system further includes a controller for receiving the at least one operating condition and causing the side-shaking mechanism to stop moving the at least one sieve in the side-to-side motion or start moving the at least one sieve in the side-to-side motion based on the at least one operating condition.

Abstract: A disc for releasable attachment to a shaft of a disc screen apparatus includes a hub having a bore and a single split defining a pair of opposing ends. The hub also has at least one flexible portion intermediate the opposing ends that permits the opposing ends of the hub to be separated a predetermined distance sufficient to allow the shaft of the disc screen apparatus to pass between the opposing ends into the bore. The hub has plurality of outer impacting portions configured for engaging materials to be classified and propelling the materials in a conveying direction when the hub is rotated. A mechanism is provided to secure the hub to the shaft so that the shaft extends through the bore.

Abstract: A method for moving a processing device, a frame of a processing device and a processing device, which is moved on a base. The processing device comprises at least one processing unit and a frame, to which the processing unit is attached, as well as at least four legs articulated to the frame. The legs comprise support plates settable against the base. The legs are settable into a support phase, where the support plate settles against the base and into a transfer phase, where the support plate is off the base. The processing device is moved without lowering the frame onto the base so that the legs are controlled to settle to the support phase and the transfer phase alternately so that at least three legs are in the support phase when the processing device moves.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed employing a quad-tier shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids which solids include, in one aspect, lost circulation material (and/or material of size similar to the size of the lost circulation material). This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: A device for sieving foreign bodies out of a material stream, wherein the device comprises a roller sieve comprising a plurality of rollers disposed in parallel to one another and discs disposed on the plurality of rollers such that they are perpendicular to the axial extension of the rollers, wherein the discs of adjacent rollers are engaged so as form slot areas between the discs and the adjacent rollers, and the discs comprise impulse discs for disaggregating a material stream disposed on the roller sieve, and conveyor discs for conveying the material stream in a transport direction and through the slot area. A corresponding process and an apparatus or system for the production of composite boards with such a device.

Abstract: A separator attachment for use with a vibratory apparatus, the attachment including a housing mountable to a vibratory apparatus below a material-conveying surface of the vibratory apparatus, the housing defining a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The housing has at least one wall with a wall surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end. The attachment also includes a deflector plate with a deflector plate surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end, the deflector plate surface facing the wall surface. The deflector plate is translatable relative to the at least one wall to vary the spacing between the deflector plate surface and the wall surface. A system including a vibratory apparatus and the attachment may also be defined.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state, and a vibratory generator coupled to the deck. The mixed material moves over the deck and the scrubbers from the first end to the second end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.

Abstract: A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials.

Abstract: A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials.

Abstract: A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator having, in one aspect, a frame with a plurality of openings therethrough, screening material on the frame over the openings, the frame having an end area at a material exit end of the frame, and end apparatus at the end area for facilitating material movement over the end area; in one aspect, non-smooth areas on top of the screen assembly to impede solids movement on such areas and/or to direct them off such areas; vibratory separators with such a screen assembly; and methods of their use.

Abstract: A method for conveying silicon fragments has the silicon fragments being conveyed over a conveyor surface, which is made from hyperpure silicon. There is a vibrating conveyor, and during the conveying, the sharp edges of the silicon fragments are rounded and mechanical-physical decontamination takes place. The vibrating conveyor has a conveyor surface which is made from hyperpure silicon. A second vibrating conveyor unit has a conveyor surface which is made from hyperpure silicon and has passage openings therethrough.

Abstract: A separator 10 is disclosed and claimed. The separator includes a continuous separating assembly 20 following a trajectory having a top run A and a return run B. The assembly includes a train of articulated pan assemblies 22.1 to 22.n. Each pan assembly includes first and second back-to-back pans 22.11 and 22.12 separated by a discrete mesh segment 60.1. In use, the separator is charged with a mixture including a liquid, a first solid particulate component and a second solid particulate component of which the particles are bigger than the first particulate component, both at the start 26 of the top run and at the start 28 of the return run. The first particulate component is received in sumps 30,32 and 34,36 and the second particulate component is collected in collection regions 42 and 46.

Abstract: A disc screen classifies material by size. The disc screen includes a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another and a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A second stage includes discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A receiving section agitates debris while the debris moves at an angle up to a given elevation. A roll over section drops the materials down to a discharge position for feeding onto a discharge section. The materials are dropped from the roll over so that the debris either falls vertically or flips over further promoting separation. The discharge section again agitates the debris while moves up a second incline until the larger debris discharges out a rear end.

Abstract: A hand-held jeweler's vacuum comprises an elongated vacuum member with an opening at one end, motor drive means located at the other end and an aperture in the bottom of the elongated member. A detachable box member is mounted beneath the aperture to receive stones and metal pieces. Internally, a mesh filter and a vacuum filter are positioned in the intake path at approximately a 45 degree angle to the air flow and a pre-determined distance apart. In operation, the vacuum picks up metal and stones which are stopped by the mesh filter and the vacuum filter from proceeding through the vacuum filter and the stones and metals fall into the box. The stones and metals can the be removed while other particles are collected in the storage space beyond the filters. The invention permits the salvage of small stones and precious metals which otherwise would be lost during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The novel invention proposes a final screen which is very reliable in operation and which is suitable more particularly also for building into a pneumatic conveying line. In a first section the material is distributed uniformly over the entire peripheral surface of the screen shell. The subsequent section is used for completing screening and separating the coarse material out through an outlet. A centrifuging rotor with helically arranged elastomeric cleaning lobes projecting from the centrifuging bars provide a high throughput and particularly damage-obviating discharge of even relatively large foreign bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the removal of particles and/or screenings from a liquid running in a laundry. A screen with openings in the shape of a cylinder jacket reaches into the laundry and is tilted upwards. The screen is partly immersed in the liquid, and parallel haulage track for the material is provided. The track is located spaced from the screen, and has the form of a screw conveyor with a housing, a shaft and a conveyor helix. The conveyor helix moves alongside the screen and picks up the material and transports it upwards. The openings with their lengthwise direction are inclined relative to the axis of the cylindrical jacket-shaped screen so that they are situated approximately parallel to the effective direction of the total force exerted on the material by the conveyor helix.

Abstract: A floating grab dredge has first and second pontoons spaced apart sufficiently to define a work space therebetween. The work space is large enough to define a barge slip therein as well as a digging well adjacent to the barge slip. A gantry mounted on the pontoons by supports spans the work space. Material handling apparatus on one of the pontoons includes a grizzly for separating waste from recoverable material. The gantry includes tracks on which a trolley shuttles among positions above the digging well, barge slip and grizzly. When a load of dredged material is brought up from the digging well it is inspected to determine if it contains recoverable material. If it does the trolley is moved above the grizzly and the load is dumped on the grizzly. If no recoverable material is in the load, it is dumped into a barge in the barge slip and digging continues.

Abstract: A nut harvest trailer having a hopper with a rotatable loop of flexible screen affixed over the top of the hopper extending from the front to the rear thereof. A solid panel is affixed between an upper and lower layer of the loop of screen. The solid panel extends from the front of the hopper toward the rear thereof. The solid panel terminates to leave a narrow opening between the end of the solid panel and the rear of the hopper. The structure allows a mixture of nuts and small limbs to be deposited onto the upper layer of screen and solid panel at the front of the trailer. The mixture is then moved by the upper layer of screen on the solid panel toward the rear of the trailer where the nuts fall through the screen, through the narrow opening and into the hopper of the trailer. The sticks remain on the screen and are deposited off the rear of the trailer. The lower layer of the screen loop moves from the rear of the hopper toward the front thereof.

Abstract: The method of screening solid materials resides in feeding a solid material onto a sifting surface and imparting oscillations to surface under the action of an effort directed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the sifting surface, providing for moving particles of the solid material directly engaging the sifting surface from the loading zone to the discharge zone at an acute angle to the vertical component of the applied effort, and limiting their displacement in a direction normal to the sifting surface. The apparatus for performing the method comprises a box carrying a vibrator and a support frame with a sieve secured thereto at an angle to a vertical plane including the longitudinal axis of the box, the sieve being associated with a screen for limiting the displacement of the solid material particles in a direction normal to the surface of the sieve.

Abstract: A flour sifter for separating doughballs from fine particulate matter in a breading mixture, comprises a hopper for receiving the breading mixture. The lower portion of the hopper includes a sifting screen along most of the longitudinal length that is sized to allow only the fine particulate matter to pass therethrough. The hopper may be an insert for a sifter table that is readily removably mounted within a flour sifter enclosure. The hopper insert is mounted to accommodate a breading lug above the insert. A slot at one end of the hopper is large enough for the doughballs to pass therethrough. The enclosure is provided with mounting flanges to support another breading lug below the hopper insert to receive the sifted fine particulate matter. A doughball ejector chute is associated with the slot of the hopper insert to direct the doughballs from the hopper insert to a doughball collector pan. The hopper further includes an auger brush having a helical pattern of bristles along the length of the brush.

Abstract: A material classifying apparatus for separating material into at least overs and fines. The apparatus includes a material receiving housing supporting one or more vertically spaced separator screens. When more than one separator screen is used, the lowermost one of the screens has a finer mesh than the uppermost one of the screens. The apparatus will then further include a discharge opening associated with the periphery of the uppermost one of the screens for discharging overs from the material receiving housing, a discharge opening associated with the periphery of the lowermost one of the screens for discharging product from the material receiving housing, and a discharge opening disposed below the lowermost one of the screens for discharging fines from the material receiving housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic screen analysis of a granular material in which the material is screened from a polygonal drum which is divided crosswise into at least two chambers by a transverse partition. A first chamber has progressively coarser screens on each of its faces except one, which has a downward slanting ramp for transferring the sample into a second chamber. Particles are transferred or chuted into the second chamber after they have been screened on all the screens of the first chamber. The second chamber has screens progressively coarser than those in the first chamber, for making more cuts. This construction increases the number of graded screening surfaces available without requiring greater drum length or more sides.

Abstract: A vertical type screening machine for granular material comprises a housing. A rotary drum assembly is rotatably mounted within the housing and comprises a drum having a substantially vertical rotary axis and a helical blade helically wound around a circumferential surface of the drum. A cylindrical screen member disposed between the drum assembly and the housing cooperates with a peripheral wall of the housing to define therebetween a first chamber and cooperates with the circumferential surface of the drum to define therebetween a second chamber. The granular material to be screened is introduced into the top of the second chamber. Upon the rotation of the drum assemby, the granular material introduced into the top of the second chamber is moved toward the bottom of the second chamber by the helical blade and due to gravity.

Abstract: A system for separating and classifying whole tree wood chip material comprising essentially wood and bark overs, chips and bark fines which is supplied to a bin or receptacle. The chip material is augered in a forward direction in a monitored flow longitudinally away from the bin while passing it across a first stationary screen trough system having openings of a size to pass everything, while rejecting the overs. The acceptable chips and fines passed through the first screen trough system are then augered across a second stationary screen trough system having openings of a size to pass the fines to a fines trough, while retaining the acceptable chips. Finally, the acceptable chips are moved forwardly toward a chip discharge location while the fines passed through the second screen trough system are separately collected. The system includes mechanism for diverting chipped material unsuited to use in a paper mill, such as chipped tree tops, directly to the fines trough.

Abstract: In order to wash inert materials, even of a large size, with a limited amount of washing liquid and with a lesser consumption of energy and without moving metal parts, apparatus having a plurality of tubular rotors (1) which are in side-by-side relation but spaced a distance from each other and are rigidly locked with a common shaft (13) which is horizontal or at an angle with respect to the horizontal, in which each rotor (1) has a plurality of transverse annular baffle plates (2) adapted to delimit corresponding annular channels (3) and having in each channel (3) a plurality of peripheral boxes (15). As the rotors (1) revolve, the washing liquid overflows to the outside over the lower baffle plate (2) of each rotor (1) and the material being washed, which is introduced through the mouth of the rotor (1) located at one end of the apparatus, advances against the current through all the rotors (1) until it is discharged from the mouth of the rotor (1) located at the other end.

Abstract: A combine harvester having threshing and separating mechanism, sieve through which crop material separated by the threshing and separating mechanism passes, cleaning mechanism having a fan operable to blow air through the sieve and hence clean the crop material on the sieve, the fan being driven by variable speed drive, sensor operable to sense the fore-and-aft inclination of the machine and produce a signal representative thereof, a device for selecting a nominal rotational speed for the fan during operation of the machine on level ground and producing a signal representative of that nominal speed, a device for combining the inclination signal and the nominal speed signal to produce a signal representative of the desired speed of the fan as a function of the fore-and-aft inclination of the machine, mechanism for measuring the actual rotational speed of the fan, and control mechanism responsive to the desired fan speed signal and the actual fan speed signal to produce a command signal for application to the v

Abstract: An apparatus for making a foam pad for carpets has features to improve the quality of the pad. The apparatus has a hopper section for receiving foam particles coated with heat activated bonding agent. An extruder section compresses the particles as they are moved continuously along a conveyor belt. A heat section heats the particles after being compressed. A raking device in the hopper section rakes the top of the body of particles prior to entering the extruder section. The raking device rakes in a direction opposite to the movement of the body of particles. The raking device can be raised and lowered to change the level of the particles, and thus the density. The raking device also forms the top of the body of particles with upwardly tapered corners. A plate located below the hopper and extruder sections supports the lower conveyor belt. The heat section uses steam chambers with a perforated top, which also serves to support the conveyor belt.

Abstract: In digging and hauling soil, rocks, minerals and the like by the use of a dragline the invention provides a novel combination of said dragline, a conveyor means for hauling the materials dug, and a hopper means disposed over and movable along said conveyor means whereby material may be efficiently excavated and transported out of the working area.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing foreign matter from cotton includes an elongated frame having a plurality of rollers rotatably supported in closely spaced side-by-side relation therealong for conveying cotton over the rollers from one end of the frame to the other in response to rotation of the rollers in unison. The rollers have a plurality of protrusions so that the cotton is vertically shaken as it is conveyed over the rollers with the result that foreign matter falls between the rollers away from the cotton. The protrusions may be the transversely extended corners of polygonal shaped rollers, the corners being adapted to strike the cotton in response to rotation of the rollers for a more vigorous shaking action. A plate may be supported in vertically spaced relation above the rollers for rebounding cotton which is thrown up by the rollers back toward the rollers. A conveyor belt below the rollers collects the foreign matter which drops therethrough.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an apparatus for separating impurities from a fibrous suspension. The apparatus includes a tiltable housing having a screen basket supported coaxially therein. A rotor is supported inside the screen basket. The rotor has three zones. There is an upstream zone communicating with the fiber suspension inlet, and inlet in the upstream zone is into the interior of the rotor and then outward past sorting vanes formed at the exterior of the rotor in the first zone and inside of the basket. Downstream of the transport vanes is a second baffle zone defined by a closed drum having transport vanes on the outside thereof. The suspension and impurities are moved downstream by the transport vanes in the second zone. Downstream of the second zone is a third zone with further means for moving impurities downstream, comprising either a centrifugal impeller in the form of vanes or a helical ring.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning objects, especially root crops such as sugar beet, comprises first and second members defining first and second surfaces respectively arranged for cleaning objects by relative movement between the surfaces and the objects to be cleaned. The first and second surfaces are arranged to converge towards each other over at least a part of the extent of each surface and are preferably in generally cylindrical form. Driving means drive the first member in a reciprocatory movement such that the first surface moves towards and away from the region of convergence of the surfaces, and drive the second members in a motion such as to effect at least an average movement of the second surface towards the region of convergence of the surfaces. Preferably the first and second members are rotary members positioned generally side by side with the axes of rotation thereof substantially parallel.

Abstract: A grain scalping and cleaning apparatus for removing impurities in grain according to size is disclosed. The apparatus includes multiple grain movement paddles moving relative to appropriate screens. An endless chain drives the grain movement paddles. Both large and small impurities are separated from the grain through the use of the screens and paddles with the aid of gravity. A method for removing impurities in grain is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides for the automatic and continuous cleaning of feed hoppers. A plurality of brushes extend transversely across the path of the upper flight of the horizontal conveyor in the bottom of a feed hopper. The brushes are spaced from each other and frictionally engage the teeth of the feed apron to convey good fibers to the feed apron at the end of the upper flight of the conveyor. A perforated plate is positioned beneath the lower flight of the conveyor and as the brushes traverse the plate on the lower flight they push accumulations of pepper trash through the perforations and into a removable pan beneath the perforated plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for the refinement of colloidal asbestos dispersions comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical tube having a plurality of closely spaced holes around the periphery thereof, a helical screw disposed within the tube, and a flanged jacket concentric with and spaced outwardly from the tube. A slurry of unrefined dispersion is continuously fed into the tube to fill it. Refined slurry is drawn through the holes by a suction pump connected to the jacket while contaminants are retained in the tube and moved by the screw to the outlet end of the tube where they are compacted and removed as sludge through a spring loaded discharge door.

Abstract: In a low profile crusher which has first and second cylindrical rolls journaled so that the rotational axis of the rolls are parallel and an input conveyor and an output conveyor is improved by journaling the first roll so that the distance from the axis of the first roll to the product side of the output conveyor is slightly greater than the radius of the first roll. The input conveyor is mounted over the first roll so that the distance between the axis of the first roll and the return side of the input conveyor is slightly greater than the radius of the first roll. The second roll is journaled above the first roll so that the maximum height of the second roll is at least equal to the height of the product side of the input conveyor and close enough to the first roll to produce a predetermined maximum size of product. A scalping method for the above is formed by mounting the input end of the input conveyor in substantially the same plane as the output conveyor.