Abstract: A flotation cell row including a row of cells through which, in use, a process liquid flows in turn, including a first bank of cells having a last cell 4 being the most downstream cell and a second bank of cells having a first cell 5 being the most upstream cell, the second bank being the bank immediately downstream of the first bank, in which one or both of the last cell 4 and the first cell 5 are structured to define a port 37 having a rim through which, in use, the process liquid flows from the last cell 4 to the first cell 5, and a valve member 10 mounted for movement between a closed position abutting the rim 44 and an open position spaced from rim 44, to control flow of process liquid through the port 37.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the separation of mixtures of plastics, contaminated with, among other things, mineral heavy materials such as e.g. sand or metal refuse. Separation occurs according to density in a separating liquid in the centrifugal field of the rotating suspension. The present invention provides the connection of a hydrocyclone before a separating centrifuge. The mineral heavy materials are separated in advance in the hydrocyclone and the plastic mixture is further separated in the centrifuge. Wear on components of the separating centrifuge caused by these heavy materials can be avoided, and in some applications a second separating stage at a higher separation density can be eliminated.

Abstract: A worm centrifuge for separating solids/liquid mixtures is disclosed for overcoming the problems during start-up and shut-down processes that occur when quantity of a liquid is located or remains in the centrifuge drum, particularly the problem of the emergence of liquid at the solids discharge openings during the shut-down process. The inventive centrifuge includes at least one, preferably a plurality of, drum emptying openings distributed over the circumference of the face wall of the centrifuge drum and being positioned radially outside of the liquid discharge openings. The drum emptying openings are each radially crossed by a bore. The bores each include a centrifugal force valve having a spring-loaded closing member adapted to close the drum emptying opening at high drum speed (operating speed) and to open the drum emptying opening at low drum speed.

Abstract: A system for producing a field is disclosed. The field includes a main access well with a first branch well extending therefrom. A separator for separating oil and water is placed in the first branch well. In an alternate embodiment, the separator may be contained within the main access well. A second branch well may also extend from the main access well and may contain a disposal assembly that is operatively associated with the separator. The first and second branch wells may intersect the same reservoir or different reservoirs.

Abstract: A load sensing assembly adapted to measure the weight of loads which act with both vertical and horizontal direction force components by resolving such force components solely into a vertical downward force component representative of the weight of the load is disclosed. This assembly comprises a first support member having a generally inclined leg portion fixedly mounted against movement, a second support member moveably mounted with respect to the first support member having a load support portion for supporting the load to be measured, a third member for interconnecting the first and second support members toward first ends thereof formed of elastically deformable material capable of transmitting only tensile force and no other types of force and a fourth member interconnecting the first and second support members toward the opposite ends thereof also formed of elastically deformable material capable of transmitting only tensile force and no other types of force.

Abstract: A power-efficient liquid-solid separating centrifuge is disclosed which has power recovery apparatus on the bowl-head of a rotary bowl including a plurality of liquid flow passageways in fluid communication with transfer ports in the bowlhead of the rotary bowl for receiving liquid separated from the slurry introduced into the rotary bowl. These passageways are configured and arranged to direct the flow pattern of the liquid exiting the liquid transfer port to discharge at a radially inward position relative to the liquid transfer port and to flow in a direction with a reduced velocity component in the direction of the rotation of the rotary bowl, thereby recovering power previously expended to accelerate the feed slurry.

Abstract: A weighbridge for a conveyor belt assembly for measuring the weight of a section of conveyor belt carrying a load of material to be transported along the conveyor belt assembly is disclosed. The conveyor belt assembly has frame members positioned longitudinally along side the conveyor belt and engages the underside of the conveyor belt to support it. The weighbridge comprises one of these crossmembers, with said member being mounted for generally vertical movement relative to the adjacent frame member and thus constituting a weighbridge crossmember. The weighbridge further comprises a load sensing assembly mounted on the adjacent frame member for supporting the weighbridge crossmember. A bracket member selectively mounts the load assembly on the adjacent frame member moveable between first and second positions. In the first position, the load assembly and weighbridge crossmember are free to move longitudinally and transversely with respect to the frame member within a limited range of movement.

Abstract: A diffuser for introducing gas in bubbles into liquid held in an aeration tank comprising a body member having a backing surface and passaging extending from a gas inlet to an outlet at the backing surface, and a flexible, gas permeable membrane covering the backing surface and secured at its periphery to the body member in sealing relationship thereto. The membrane is adapted to distend and move away from the backing surface upon delivery of gas under pressure to diffuser, with the gas flowing through the distended portion of the membrane and into the liquid in the form of relatively small gas bubbles, and adapted to collapse into engagement with the backing surface when gas under pressure is not delivered to the diffuser. A check valve comprising a movable valve member on the membrane and a valve seat on the backing surface enables flow of gas into the space between backing surface and the membrane, and blocks flow of liquid into the passaging in the body member.

Abstract: A diffuser for introducing gas in bubbles into liquid held in an aeration tank comprising a body member having a backing surface and passaging extending from a gas inlet to an outlet at the backing surface, and a flexible, gas permeable membrane covering the backing surface and secured at its periphery to the body member in sealing relationship thereto. The membrane is adapted to distend and move away from the backing surface upon delivery of gas under pressure to diffuser, with the gas flowing through the distended portion of the membrane and into the liquid in the form of relatively small gas bubbles, and adapted to collapse into engagement with the backing surface when gas under pressure is not delivered to the diffuser. A check valve comprising a movable valve member on the membrane and a valve seat on the backing surface enables flow of gas into the space between backing surface and the membrane, and blocks flow of liquid into the passaging in the body member.

Abstract: A roller cutter drill bit detachably secured to a drill string for delivering drilling fluid under pressure to the bit, comprising a plurality of bearing journals at its lower end and passaging extending down in the bit body to each of the journals for flow of the drilling fluid from the drill string to the journals. The bit further comprises a plurality of roller cutters, each having a bore adapted to receive a respective journal, and bearings in the annular cavity between each roller cutter and the respective journal for rotatably mounting the roller cutter on the journal. The drilling fluid when supplied in sufficient quantity flowing through the passaging, past the bearing means and exiting the bit in the bore via the bearing cavity for cooling and cleaning the bearings, but when supplied in insufficient quantity boring cuttings being allowed to enter the bearing cavity and fouling the bearings.

Abstract: Support of rake arms in a thickener is by sets of separate support cables and separate torque cables extending from outboard-of-the-center positions of rotating trusses extending radially of the sedimentation tank. The sets of support cables are attached in a vertical plane between spaced positions on a common point on the trusses to spaced radial positions along inner hinged rake arms so that the entire weight of the arms is taken up by the support cables. Torque cables extend from a single point on a truss generally midway of the truss but at a radially offset position from the center line of containing the support cable attachments on the truss or multiple trusses. The torquing or pulling action of the torque cables, also produces no thrust load along the rake arms. This eliminates the need of a heavy large center structure adjacent the rake arm hinges to absorb a rake arm thrust load against the hinges. The hinges are supported by relatively thin posts extending from the rotating trusses.

Abstract: A roller cutter drill bit adapted to drill bores in the earth comprising a bit body of steel having a plurality of bearing journals at its lower end, and a plurality of roller cutters, each having a recess therein receiving one of the journals. A radial bearing asembly for each roller cutter rotatably mounts the roller cutter on the journal, and an axial or thrust bearing assembly at the free end of each journal carries axial forces applied to the roller cutter during drilling, with the thrust bearing assembly thus being subject to rotary frictional forces and heating upon rotation of the drill bit during drilling. According to this invention, a heat dissipation member formed of material having higher thermal conductivity than steel is incorporated into the bit body. This material extends from the free end toward the attached end of the journal for conducting heat away from the thrust bearing assembly, thereby reducing bearing temperatures and providing longer bearing life.

Abstract: A single-pass roof bolt adapted to drill and to be secured in a bore in the roof of a mine for supporting the roof comprising a tubular body open at one end thereof, constituting the inner end of the bolt, and a cutting structure at the opposite end of the tubular body, constituting the outer end of the bolt. The bolt is adapted to drill a bore in the mine roof upon rotation of the bolt, with the cutting structure being wider than the tubular body for forming an annulus between the tubular body and the wall of the bore. The bolt has a head at its inner end to facilitate rotation of the bolt, and to bear against the mine proof in pressurized relationship.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for conjuncting and separating density differentiated components from a moving carrier liquid. The liquid to be treated flows through zig-zagging separation passages comprising cells extending through a three-dimensional lattice constructed of interconnected triangle pairs each defining a cell therebetween. The shear of the liquid is increased to induce component particle conjunctions by flowing the liquid through a narrow cell passage opening. The shear is then decreased as the liquid flows through the ever-widening cell to a wide cell passage opening to induce separation of the component particles. Heavy and light separated component particles are channeled to a lower side and upper side, respectively, of the lattice along zig-zagging channels.

Abstract: A method for improving separation of the flotable phase from the non-flotable phase of a slurry of particulate material in a froth flotation machine comprising a tank, an upper outlet port for discharge of the flotable phase, and a mechanism for delivering air to the slurry in the tank to form a froth which includes a mixture of air bubbles and the flotable phase from the slurry, with the rate and selectivity of separation of the flotable phase from the slurry for predetermined size particles of the flotable phase and at a predetermined concentration of the flotable phase being dependent on the total volume and size distribution of the air bubbles generated in the slurry, the method of this invention comprising the steps of providing a quantity of slurry in the tank, generating air bubbles of relatively small size and relatively large size, and controlling the volume of air as small bubbles and the volume of air as large bubbles in response to the concentration of the flotable phase of the slurry for enhanced

Abstract: This invention discloses a rolling cone drilling bit having a plurality of cutters which have inserted therein hard metal cutting elements preferably formed of tungsten carbide alloy; and in which bit the rolling cone cutters are located in such a manner that their rotational axes are greatly offset from the rotational axis of the drill bit. In addition, a fluid jetting system is provided in the invention that directs a pressurized fluid spray across the main cutting inserts and against the formation face so that when the drill bit is used in its most advantageous areas, such as the soft, medium-soft and plastic formations, the jetting system prevents "balling up" of the cutters and greatly increases the drilling efficiency of the bit.

Abstract: A draft tube mixer is disclosed particularly adapted for use with digestion processes and apparatus wherein a vertical shaft (13) is driven by motor (15) through a suitable drive (14) to rotate a ragless propeller (12). The propeller (12) has a series of three lobes or blades (40-42) which are concentrically arranged at 120.degree. apart positions so that the minimum diameter of the blades are at the ends of a hub (43) from which the blades integrally extend. The blades extend over the length of the hub over about a 360.degree. of rotary motion helix. The blades (40-42) are symmetrical from their ends to the mid points on the vanes from either direction top or bottom so that the propeller is reversible without loss of efficiency.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a raking structure in a solids-liquid separation tank comprising a fixed column adapted to extend vertically within the tank, a movable column being adapted to support a raking structure for the tank, and a lift device for raising and lowering said movable column telescopically with respect to said fixed column. The lift device includes an elongate flexible tension member; a first series of load points on the fixed column at spaced intervals on the fixed column; and a second series of lift points on the movable column below said first series of points and at spaced intervals on the movable column, the tension member being alternately threaded between load and lift points of said first and second series of points, with the tension member thus being led over one of said load points, down and below one of said lift points and back up and over the next load point.

Abstract: Apparatus for backwashing the filter media of a liquid filtering machine while at the same time enabling the machine to filter liquid. The machine is of the type having a tank and a continuous bed of granular filter media in the tank through which liquid having suspended solids therein for removing the solids. The apparatus comprises a partitioning chamber and a carriage for selectively supporting and conveying the chamber above the media bed, with the chamber being insertable into the bed to isolate a portion thereof from the remainder of the bed. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism to selectively allow insertion of the chamber into the bed and to remove it, and a pump to draw liquid through the isolated portion of the bed to backwash it, while filtration may proceed in the remainder of the bed. Apparatus for removing the media from the chamber and replacing it with new, cleaned or regenerated media is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rolling cone drilling bit comprising a plurality of conical roller cutters having hard metal cutting elements thereon and being so positioned relative to each other that their rotational axes are offset from the rotational axis of the drill bit, and a drilling fluid nozzle system for directing a pressurized fluid stream across certain of the cutting elements and thereafter against the formation generally at the bottom of the well bore so that when the drill bit is used in its most advantageous areas, such as the soft, medium-soft and plastic formations, the nozzle system prevents "balling up" of the cutters and greatly increases the drilling efficiency of the bit.