Abstract: A spiral separator for separating more-desired material from less-desired material has a feed arrangement for feeding a slurry of mixed more-desired material and less-desired material, a spiral trough, and a splitting arrangement for off-take of a concentrate band of more desired material, and the spiral trough is configured to provide an effective cross-trough floor slope of less than 8 degrees to horizontal in a turn immediately upstream of the splitting arrangement. The separator may be a multi-stage separator and include a slurry preparation apparatus between each pair of stages.

Abstract: A system for distributed computing allows researchers performing analysis on data having legal or policy restrictions on movement of the data to perform the analysis on data at multiple sites without exporting the restricted data from each site. A primary system determines which sites contain the data to be executed by a compute job and sends the compute job to the associated site. Resulting calculated data can be exported to a primary collecting and recording system. The system allows the rapid development of analysis code for the compute jobs that can be executed on a local data set then passed to the primary system for distributed machine learning on the multiple sites without any changes to the code of the compute job.

Abstract: The cooking device includes a top plate on which a container is to be placed, heating devices provided below the top plate, electrodes provided in a lower face of the top plate and including a boiling-over detection parts placed near an outer periphery of a portion of the top plate positioned above the heating devices, contact parts for supplying an AC current to the boiling-over detection parts, and contact parts for connecting the contact parts and one-side ends of the boiling-over detection parts to each other, respectively, an electrode-use capacitance detection device for detecting changes in capacitance of the boiling-over detection parts, and a control device for controlling the heating devices based on changes in capacitance detected by the electrode-use capacitance detection device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a centrifugal jig comprising a rotating device, at least one jig unit and a product receiver. The jig unit includes a hutch chamber, a screen residue chamber, a screen, a feeding device, a discharging device and a pulsator. The jig unit is installed on the rotor at an inclined angle along the movement of the feed. It is used to separate particles of different density in the slurry. The product receiver is fixed on the ground to collect the separated materials discharged from the rotating jig unit. Separated materials are discharged from an outlet of the screen residue chamber in the jig unit. This invention can unselectively separate any size particles of different density in the fine slurry.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a fine powder of diamond particles of less than 50 nm with a narrow particle size range. The diamond is single crystalline and characterized with a lot of sharp edges and sharp points. Another object is to provide a method for efficiently producing such fine powder. The method comprises mechanically crushing a raw material of single crystalline diamond particles to prepare starting minute particles of diamond, then imparting hydrophilic quality to the surface of diamond particles. As hydrophilic the diamond particles are dispersed in water to form a slurry, which is set and kept weakly alkaline. The slurry is then subjected to a preliminary grading step, whereby the slurry is removed of a top particle size fraction of the diamond particles that has a D50 size of 60 nm or more. Eliminated of said top particle size fraction, the slurry is then diluted with water to regulate the diamond concentration to 0.1% (by weight) or less.

Abstract: A method for packaging an absorbent article assembly that includes following the steps. First and second breast milk absorbent pads are fed onto wrapping sheet web. Next, the first breast milk absorbent pad is displaced from a transverse center line toward an upper end by ¼ of a dimension thereof as measured in a longitudinal direction, and the second breast milk absorbent pad is displaced from a transverse center line toward an lower end by ¼ of a dimension thereof as measured in a longitudinal direction. Next, the first and second breast milk absorbent pads are folded back from the upper and lower ends toward the transverse center line. Next, the upper and lower ends of the wrapping sheet web are folded back toward the transverse center line. Next, a joint zone is formed between the first and second breast milk absorbent pads and the pads are cut apart.

Abstract: A pre-printed label is attached to an article of internal or interdepartmental mail. The label is imprinted with a matrix of boxes that are selectively scratched or blackened out by a sender to represent a destination mail stop code. The matrix includes a lead-in marker and a lead-out marker that are detected by an optical scanner of a mail sorting machine to determine the location and orientation of the matrix. The matrix is scanned and the destination mail code is read as the article is processed by the mail sorting machine. The mail sorting machine then determines if the mail stop code matches a known destination and, if so, routes the article to a mail receptacle corresponding to the mail stop code.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (22), separated into an axial region (32) and a peripheral region by ragging material (41) supported by a screen (30). The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers (34) with reciprocating wall portions (45) located radially outside the screen (30), for repetitively dilating the ragging. Also disclosed is a hutch chamber construction applicable to both rotary and non-rotary jigs, having a reciprocating wall portion (45) which includes convergent wall surfaces leading to the hutch chamber concentrate outlet (44).

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (22), separated into an axial region (32) and a peripheral region by ragging material (41) supported by a screen (30). The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers (34) with reciprocating wall portions (45) located radially outside the screen (30), for repetitively dilating the ragging.

Abstract: A item separating or debris eliminating system includes a tank and a pump for circulating water from one end of the tank around through a duct and back into the opposite end of the tank. A medium density object collector is located within the tank, and a light debris collector is located within the tank. A conveyor filter is included through which substantially all of the water in the tank is circulated. The debris eliminating system preferably also includes a high density object collector within the tank. The system can be used to separate a variety of objects having different densities and terminal velocities in a fluid. Most preferably, the system is utilized for separating debris from potatoes and the like produce.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig has a container mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The container is separated into an axial region and a peripheral region by ragging material supported by a screen. The peripheral region is composed of a series of hutch chambers with reciprocating wall portions located radially outside the screen, for repetitively dilating the ragging. The disclosed hutch chamber construction has a reciprocating wall portion which includes convergent wall surfaces that narrow toward the hutch chamber concentrate outlet.

Abstract: A gold pan (20) and classifying device for separating granular materials of varying specific gravities of generally rectangular shape including two substantially vertical side walls (21), two sloping side walls (22) with laminated plate (24) and edge (25) construction, a gold concentrating trap (33) at the bottom of the four walls with volume of less than one tenth of one percent of total pan volume, a bottom opening (23) and seal (28) for removal of gold concentrates from the concentrating trap (33) through the pan bottom while waste materials are retained in the pan (20). The unique design enables even a beginner to achieve proficiency in minutes while processing much more material than previously possible with existing pans, either with or without the assistance of a liquid medium and with little or no potential for losing fine gold.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed classifier has a vessel defining a space divided into an upper fluidized-bed chamber and a lower gas chamber by a perforated dispersion plate having the shape of a funnel. Rising currents of a gas, such as air, are blown through the dispersion plate into the upper fluidized-bed chamber to produce a fluidized bed of a particulate material over the dispersion plate. The lower gas chamber is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber by a partition plate. The gas is supplied into the first air chamber so that rising gas currents of a velocity necessary for fluidizing coarse particles contained in the particulate material fed into the vessel are blown from the first air chamber through the dispersion plate into the fluidized-bed chamber.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a funnel, connected to a section of clear hose. The clear hose has installed in line, 3 valves, for regulating water flow to the funnel for the process of separating gold from gold bearing soil.

Abstract: An air concentrator for dry separation of gold and other heavy minerals from alluvial deposits comprises a housing having a number of open-topped chambers arranged in a ring-like configuration and surmounted by a screen having rings thereon forming annular arms radiating from a hub sweeps over the screen beds. Air under pressure is fed sequentially and cyclically to the chambers by a rotary valve located centrally of the ring of chambers. The deposit is fed over the hub and is swept outwardly over the beds on the screen by the wiper arms, where it is fluidized by pulses of air from the subjacent chambers enabling particles of gold and heavy minerals to settle down to the bottom of the beds by gravitational stratification, and if sufficiently small, pass through the screen for collection through spigots in the bottom of the chambers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating high density materials from less dense materials suspended in a fluid within a conduit. A pump generates carrier fluid motion which is fed through the conduit. Solids from a placer deposit are mixed with the carrier fluid and induced through a suction hose, then into two positively sloped separating chambers that are arranged in tandem in the conduit. The first separating chamber is cylindrical in shape, and motion of the fluid through the chamber is linear. The second separating chamber's cross section shape is rectangular, with a parabolic flow path. The second stage separator floor is variably banked, with the angle of bank and curvature increasing toward the discharge end. Solids, that are mixed with the carrier fluid, are forced along the flow path by dynamic drag of the fluid. Less dense solids travel up the positive slope at a greater velocity than more dense solids. The larger and slower moving dense solids are trapped in two sumps in the first chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the pneumatic separation of particulate material particularly but not solely for the separation of objectionable material such as stem from cut lamina or cut rolled stem tobacco (CRS). Apparatus for the pneumatic separation of particulate material comprises a substantially horizontal vibrating conveyor having a plurality of grooves having apertures (14) through which air passes to partially or wholly fluidize the material under treatment.

Abstract: The device consists of two fluidized bed tables (2, 3) which can vibrate on their support, an can be inclined as desired, allowing a common airflow to pass through. Located over the top end of the upper fluidized bed (2) is an inlet (1) for the granular material, opposite which, at the bottom end, is an outlet (14) for the very light granular fraction. At the top end of the lower fluidized bed (3) are a stone outlet (13) and, at the lower end, an outlet (15) for the heavy granular fraction. In addition, a chute (19) is situated between the fluidized beds (2, 3). An intermediate floor (17), shorter in length than the fluidized bed (2, 3) allows the evacuation and if necessary the regulation of a mixed fraction.

Abstract: A centrifugal jig of the type in which a feed slurry is introduced into a container rotating about a vertical axis in a region radially bounded by a screen. The screen is preferably substantially parabolic in shape. Ragging is provided on the screen's inner surface and water is provided in the hutch region on the opposite side of the screen. The water in the hutch region is pulsed repetitiously to dilate the ragging and pulsion of the hutch water is achieved at an interface such as a diaphragm interface or an air/water interface. The interface is positioned substantially wholly beyond the projected free surface of the feed material.

Abstract: In an apparatus for separating heavy material, more particularly stones, from cereals and other bulk goods, two superposed inclined vibrating tables (1, 2) are provided which have the same air flowing through them and a common drive (30), a product inlet (6) being provided at the top table (2). The bottom table (1) is constructed as a stone separating table and the top vibrating table is constructed throughout as a layering table and only its bottom end has a short zone (11) for the layer concentrated in heavy material to drop through and a discharge (19) to the bottom vibrating table (1). The discharge (19) is directed towards a central zone (B) of the bottom table (1). The material charged to the top vibrating table (2) via the product inlet (6) is layered thereon over its entire length and 20% to 80% of the flow of material containing the heavy material are withdrawn at its lower end and then discarded on to the middle zone (B) of the bottom table (1) in the form of a curtain to act as a material supply.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for removing veneer coating shards from granular, medicinal formulations which are being reworked. The formulation is ground up, sifted to remove the smaller pieces which do not contain veneer shards, and then placed into an air suspension under an inverted funnel-like separator cone. The separator cone has air outlets for the air suspension apparatus, as well as a vacuum inlet, adjacent its upper end. The light veneer shards ride up the sloped walls of the separator cone, and they are sucked into the vacuum inlet, thereby removing them from the granulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a take-off assembly for mounting in a spiral separator. The take-off assembly includes an adjustment tongue and a mating member containing a transverse aperture for receiving the adjustment tongue. The mounting member has a surface surrounding the adjustment tongue which is substantially flush with the top surface of the adjustment tongue. There is also provided an undercut for obtaining an undercut of concentrates particles from pulp flowing in the spiral separator whereby tailings and/or middlings contained in an upper portion of the pulp above the concentrates particles may flow across the transverse aperture.There is also provided a spiral separator for gravity separation of minerals containing the take-off assembly and a method of taking undercuts including using the abovementioned take-off assembly in the spiral separator.

Abstract: A particle separation method and apparatus carrying forward the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,725 whereby separation of particles by density takes place in a size-classified fluidized bed of particles. Particles are disposed on a supporting surface having a plurality of generally concentric annular vertical reaction surfaces which together forms a plurality of annular channels occupied by the particles to be separated. The supporting surface and annular surfaces are agitated with a gyratory motion so as to induce particles in the fluidized bed to move within channels, and through openings between annular channels, toward a central collection zone.In the improved apparatus, the collection zone includes a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal reaction surfaces which enhance the fluidity of particles within that zone. A vertical barrier surface provides a smaller, annular zone of concentration at the center of the collection zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for pumping and conditioning a drilling fluid normally utilized in the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean oil or gas well. The apparatus includes a rotor housing encasing a rotatably supported rotor assembly and means for driving the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is divided into first and second chambers. The first chamber has a radial acceleration passage, connected between an inlet for the drilling fluid and a peripheral portion of the chamber, and means for collecting a first component of the drilling fluid, the drill chips, which are the heaviest, and are forced to the periphery of the first chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for conduct of fluidized bed reactions having an improved grate wherein at least one substantially continuous open slot sufficiently wide for passage of heavy solid particles is provided for preferential removal of heavy particles from the fluidizing chamber. The apparatus and process is particularly useful in coal gasification applications.

Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming aggregate from unset concrete comprising an inclined rotating drum, a reservoir space in the drum, and means for separating the slurry in the reservoir from aggregate in the reservoir, the slurry exiting from the lower end of the drum and the aggregate exiting from the upper part of the drum.

Abstract: The helical sluice, or spiral, of a mineral separator used for mineral separation, has a series of take-off openings to carry off strata of dense minerals which form when a pulp of water and minerals to be separated pass through the spiral. Each take-off opening is a slot in the spiral bottom, transverse to the flow, and its effective length, or throat gap, may be varied by a tongue slidably engaged in the slot and having a splitter blade extending up from its leading end to deflect dense strata into the throat gap. A second slot is formed in the tongue to take off middlings, and this is also adjustable, by a slide.

Abstract: A so-called stone picker is provided with an inclined perforated sorting plate upon which the separating operation of stones and the like from grain is effectively made under the reciprocative oscillation of the plate with wind blowing through parrallel slots and parallel to the direction of said oscillation. Unique constructions of slit openings made in the plate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wet-type sand classifier is characterized by having a unique cone-shaped and sand-discharging means which is disposed at the outlet of the rotary drum and is employed instead of a conventional belt conveyor means to improve the classification efficiency of the apparatus.

Abstract: The dryness of the coarse solids fraction discharged from a spiral classifier is improved by the provision of a secondary coarse particles discharge in the side wall of the classifier tank upstream of the primary coarse particles discharge. Part of the coarse fraction is removed from the process stream through the secondary discharge thereby relieving the load on the raking mechanism and facilitating the liberation of entrained free moisture from the coarse material remaining in the classifier tank.

Abstract: Granular materials are separated on a dry pinched sluice separator having at its discharge end a conical concave surface. The material to be separated is allowed to flow downwardly over the separator chute under gravity and fluidization and the so separated materials traverse the concave surface.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for purifying a stream of mechanically comminuted material as well as for enriching fine ores and other minerals uses mechanical sorting. The thickness of the material stream is enlarged by shaking and an upper and a lower layer containing bigger or lighter and smaller or heavier particles, respectively, form due to the effect of gravity on the material stream. The layers are separated by the edge of a tube, whereupon the upper layer leaves the apparatus through the tube. A preferably exchangeable or liftable and lowerable disc deflects the path of the lower layer of the material stream in a meander-like or winding manner to controllably brake the speed of that material stream.