Abstract: An elongated drum for mixing asphalt materials has a rear inlet end, a front outlet end and a side wall concentric to a substantially horizontal axis about which the drum rotates. For feeding salvaged asphalt material into the drum, the side wall has circumferentially spaced ports in a zone intermediate said ends. As ports move upwardly in their orbits, material falls toward them from the bottom outlet of a hopper above the drum and is guided into them by chutes, one for each port, that are fixed to the side wall and project out from it. Also, fixed to the side wall is an inwardly projecting spout for each port whereby material entering the port is deflected forwardly to fall to the bottom of the drum in front of the ported zone. Material moving forward from the rear of the drum is deflected around the ports by the spout walls. An annular trough-like shroud encircles the drum at said zone, embracing the chutes as they move orbitally and preventing incursion of external ambient air into the ports.

Abstract: An aggregate feed chute for an asphalt plant includes a diverter wall which may be selectively actuated to capture the entire discharge stream of a material conveyor for sampling purposes without the necessity of moving the feed chute with respect to the drum mixer or the conveyor.

Abstract: A water dam in the form of a cup is secured around the head of a fastener to confine water that leaks pass the fastener to a localized area.

Abstract: An asphalt mixture storage bin in which an anti-segregation device is incorporated to eliminate the segregation of large aggregate pieces in a uniformly blended asphalt mixture as the mixture is transferred to a storage bin. The anti-segregation device is constructed of plate steel and is rolled and welded into a frustrum of a cone and suspended in the stream of aggregate discharging from a conveyor. The arrangement causes the material to form a small central conical pile and an uneven but conically peaked series of deposits forming a donut-like configuration around the central conic pile.

Abstract: An asphalt plant apparatus is disclosed having a material lifter cage arranged in coaxial relationship within a mixing drum. The lifter cage includes a plurality of cage lifters having a trough-like configuration for collecting material in the drum and spilling the material in a veil over the cross section of the drum as the cage lifters pass through a rotational path of travel. The cage lifters are divided into two sets alternately arranged about the lifter cage. The two sets consist of a first set of cage lifters having a material retaining surface fixed at an angle with respect to a radial line extending from the axis of rotation and a second set of cage lifters fixed at an angle approximately 20.degree. different from that of the first set. As the cage lifters pass through the path of travel, the first set of lifters spills material over an arc of the path approximately 20.degree.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump/turbine discharge ring leveling, supporting and anchoring apparatus is disclosed which includes a prestressed anchor stud (21) connected between an upper foundation ring (28) and a flange portion (17') of a pump/turbine discharge ring (14) to secure the discharge ring (14) to the upper foundation ring (28). Prior to prestressing the anchor stud (21), a jack-bolt (43) mounted beneath the flange portion (17') is moved upwardly into engagement with the flange portion (17') of the discharge ring (14) to effect a leveling of the discharge ring (14). Thereafter the anchor stud (21) is prestressed by turning down a nut (54) engaging an end of the stud (21) projecting upwardly through the flange portion (17') of the discharge ring (14).

Abstract: A pair of nut locking cups are engaged on the external surfaces of a pair of nuts and are constructed so that the outside radius of a cup is equal to one-half of the distances between adjacent studs to allow the cups to be placed on the nuts regardless of nut position with the outside radii of the cups remaining in contact with each other; a locking bar is positioned across the two adjacent studs with the studs being welded to the bar; the locking cups are also welded to the locking bar and thus form a positive lock between the studs and the anchor point for the nut lock cups.

Abstract: A four part guard assembly for the rotating drive connection between a drive motor and a pump. The guard assembly being rigidly and removably secured to the frame of the pump and extending to a point short of the drive motor and encompassing the drive connection therebetween. The sleeve is of two part construction removably secured together to permit removal of one part for gaining access to the drive connection for field servicing maintaining the remaining components in assembled condition.

Abstract: The actuator shaft of a butterfly valve rotates 90 degrees to open or close an associated flow interrupter. As the shaft rotates its 90-degree motion is imparted to associated link members and the flow interrupters that are operably connected to the shaft. Thus, a drive link, secondary shaft and vane, as well as the support trunnions, are rotated simultaneously. This arrangement permits the seating of the seal on an axis which coincides with the axis of the actuator shaft and the sealing effected is bidirectional.

Abstract: A hydraulic turbine with water passageways and powerhouse for installation at a conventional spillway with gates includes a fabricated steel water passageway and cross beams which also serves as the lateral support between lifting devices which are operable to lift the installation to pass the upstream water discharge under flood conditions underneath the entire structure to reduce obstruction within the spillway.

Abstract: Emission gas to be scrubbed of sulfur dioxide or the like has turbulent flow through a mixing vessel. At a mixing zone in the vessel, comminuted lime is fed into the gas and carried out of the vessel with the gas to a cyclone separator. A substantial portion of the dust from the cyclone is recycled back to the mixing zone of the mixing vessel. The gas from the cyclone is passed through a quench zone and excess dust from the cyclone is introduced into the gas stream for additional sulfur-dioxide removal, and quenching of the gas and dust from the cyclone is accomplished in a quenching zone prior to the gas being utilized in the system. Off-gas from the preheat zone which contains unburned combustibles is burned in a booster heater with the heat being utilized as process heat. Excess preheat off-gas not required for preheat process is delivered to a second combustion furnace for burning the combustibles therein and the heat utilized for drying.

Abstract: A valve body is enlarged to contain the area of throttling vanes which are mounted on actuating shafts; the body is tapered along with the vanes to provide a loss of body area which is uniform to the throat section of the valve body; regulation of the vanes is accomplished by the shafts which extend outwardly of the valve body.

Abstract: The valve of the present invention includes an inflatable seal element located in the housing seat and a gas-pressure-purge arrangement. The inflatable seal element is inflated by means of pressurized fluid to grow in size and close up clearances between gate and seat, thereby establishing a gas-tight seal between the two parts, at will. So this can be done, for example, after the valve has been operated to close (slide gate driven into the valve housing) and a gas-pressure-tight seal is desired. Prior to this event, the gas-pressure-purge arrangement is activated to blast-off solid particles from the gate surfaces where these make contact with the inflatable seal element. It is not mandatory that each and every solid particle be removed from the gate contact surfaces by means of the gas-pressure-purge arrangement. Only a reasonable amount of cleanliness on the gate contact surfaces is desirable.

Abstract: In a magnetic particle testing procedure, a spring loaded prod with contact points prevents arc strikes from occurring between the prod and a part under test. Positive pressure is applied to the prod which engages the contacts before current can flow to the part. Similarly, in removing the prod from the part with the prod power switch depressed, the arcing will occur in the prod assembly and not on the part under test.

Abstract: A fixed upstream seal is provided having a variable geometry to provide a maximum body thickness at points of large deflection and a minimum body thickness at points of small deflections with the body thickness varying in progressively from maximum to minimum and minimum to maximum for predetermined halves of the circular seal. Also, a fixed downstream seal is provided having a variable geometry to provide minimum body thickness at points of large axial rotor deflection.

Abstract: In a mixing zone of a mixing vessel, comminuted lime is fed into emission gas and carried out of the vessel with the gas to a cyclone separator. Gas from a cyclone is passed through a quench zone and excess dust from the cyclone is introduced into the gas stream for additional sulfur-dioxide removal. Off-gas from the preheat zone which contains unburned combustibles is burned in a booster heater with the heat being utilized as process heat. Excess preheat off-gas not required for preheat process is delivered to a second combustion furnace and the heat utilized for drying. From the quench zone the gas passes to two dust separators with the cleansed gas being utilized in up-draft and down-draft drying zones. Make-up lime is fed to the mixing zone from a suspension calcining furnace, reaching the mixing zone while still heated.

Abstract: A wafer type butterfly valve having a spherical segment body interior contoured to receive a disc seal having upstream and downstream seals. The seals are configured to fit disc grooves and are curved to fit the body contour. Mechanical retainers are provided and there is provision for adjustably applying pressure to the seals.

Abstract: A fabricated split pump casing is disclosed in which the suction chamber and discharge chamber are both on the same side of the casing section. The volute is fabricated from a plurality of sections with the minor section of the volute being located within the suction chamber thereby providing maximum suction chamber area.

Abstract: A multiple rotary gas lock apparatus using a buffer seal gas is disclosed to enable the transfer of solid materials into or out of a pressurized process containing high temperature, flammable or toxic gases. The buffer seal gas, has a pressure higher than the process pressure and is introduced between two series connected gas locks; this prevents process gas backflow to the feed system. Buffer seal leakage gas from the first pair of gas locks and air from a third gas lock are removed from an opening in a connection between the pair of gas locks and the third gas lock at subatmospheric pressure. This system enables control and usuage of toxic or flammable gases as a buffer for mixing compatibility with the process gas when a suitable inert gas is not available. It also prevents the flow of any toxic gas to the worker environment.

Abstract: Preheat gas is recycled to a booster heater that communicates with the preheat chamber with excess gas being directed to a quench chamber. From the quench chamber gas passes to a dust separator with the cleansed gas being utilized in low- and high-temperature drying chambers. The system is modified so as to have a mixing vessel ahead of the quench chamber in which lime dust is introduced to scrub the gas passing through prior to the gas being quenched. The gas is cleansed and utilized in a drying chamber.