Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing sugar, crystal impact damage and lump formation in a sugar centrifugal includes a resilient deflector ring which absorbs most of the impact energy of the crystals while deflecting the crystals out of the path of trailing high speed crystals. An air flow parallel to the local surface of the deflector ring causes vibration of the deflector ring to reduce the tendency for crystals to stick while addition of a supply of water aspirated and atomized by the air flow maintains the ring surface free of syrup build-up which could cause crystals to adhere to the ring surface and form lumps.

Abstract: A pelleting line incorporates a flash dryer in order to permit processing of coarsely ground particulate feed material under optimum conditions at all stages of processing. By conditioning using steam having higher than normally optimum moisture content and temperature, an increased gradient of moisture and temperature can be maintained from surface of the feed material particle to its center. The conditioning can be accomplished in approximately the same time as that required for finely ground feed material. Thus starch conversion, salmonella destruction, and shear strength adjustment are each optimized for the pellet production process. Because it permits processing of coarsely ground feed material, incorporation of the flash dryer in the pelleting line reduces grinding costs and eliminates down time of the pelleting line caused by plugging of the pelletizing mill and/or the necessity to purge the feed material conditioner.

Abstract: An apparatus provides separate coarse rate and fine rate adjustability of spacing between extrusion rolls and a surrounding extrusion die in a pellet mill, including a roller tire, for each extrusion roll, mounted on bearings which are supported on a hollow shaft having a cylindrical eccentric bore; a solid axle shaft disposed within each hollow shaft and having eccentric bearing-journaled extensions and an axial length greater than that of the hollow shaft; a rigidly mounted front roller support plate having a bore for supporting said bearing-journaled eccentric extension at a front end of said solid axle shaft for each said roll, the bore being aligned with a matching bore for supporting a bearing-journaled eccentric extension at a rear end of each solid axle shaft for each said roll. Attached to each hollow shaft is a provision for rotating the hollow shaft to adjust a spacing distance between the roller tire and the extrusion die and for holding the shaft in a desired rotated position.

Abstract: A rotating disc filter has a plurality of sectors removably mounted on drainage and support structures which are fixed on a rotating hub. The drainage and support structure has flow channels and internal baffles which serve to trap filtrate to keep filtrate from re-wetting filter cake built up on the sectors prior to removal of the filter cake from the sectors.

Abstract: A rotating disc filter has a plurality of discs, each made of a plurality of sectors removably mounted on support structures which are fixed on a rotating hollow shaft into core drainage channels of which, the sectors drain. The drainage and support structure has flow channels designed to rapidly drain filtrate and to permit filtrate split between clear and fiber bearing fractions. Rapid drainage is made possible by a novel method and device for controlling fluid transit volume within the sectors.

Abstract: A self-trimming shield for the gap between a hinged door heel and its casing, includes a unitary strip of length approximately equal to the height of the door and made up of a sequentially arrayed plurality of elongated parallel panels. Opposite end panels of the plurality are attached, respectively, to the door and casing on the side opposite the hinge, while inner panels of said plurality are articulably connected with the end panels and with each other in such manner that, when the door is closed, the panels automatically fold to lie in close proximity to the door so that the shield appears to be an integral part of the door trim.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing between relatively articulable surfaces is provided by folding a thin flexible sheet material to form a multilayer flattened elongated member. A large gap can be sealed, and seal installation and service life is improved by clamping a stiffened thickened portion of the seal member to each surface. Resulting avoidance of stress concentrations, combined with increased flexibility attributable to its multilayer construction, contributes significantly to improved installation and service performance of the seal.

Abstract: A screen aperture blinding prevention and liquid overflow prevention and level control apparatus for a knot drainer senses liquid level within the knot drainer and compares the sensed level to a setpoint level. Differences in the two levels generate control signals of appropriate magnitude and direction, and those control signals are transmitted to a valve whose degree of responsiveness and openness is adjusted to change the outflow rate of accepts liquor from the accepts chamber of the rejects separator. In addition, passive level control is provided in the discharge line for establishing accept flooded screen apertures regardless of variations of inflow and outflow rates during operation while active level control to create accept flow rate greater than, less than, or equal to inlet flow rate is provided by the combination of siphonic loop, barometric leg and control. Continuous flow of fiber and liquid through separating screen apertures is appropriately supervised by monitoring accepts chamber pressure.

Abstract: A door closer has a fluid conduit connecting the high pressure portion of the cylinder in front of the piston with a cavity between the surfaces of the cylinder wall and the piston. This cavity is located at the intermediate lateral surface of the piston at the back side of a gear rack formed on the piston. The variable lateral bias provided by the pressurized cavity counteracts separating forces between the gear rack and a gear pinion caused by the tapered teeth. This decreases friction between the piston and the cylinder and reduces wear throughout the closer mechanism.

Abstract: A body, centrally bored, has a threaded inlet section which threadedly, and adjustably receives a through-bored nozzle. The nozzle has an inner end which intrudes into a transverse passage formed of two, communicating holes formed in the body. The holes ingest fluent material, and the nozzle is selectively locked in a given axial position, in the body, by an internally and externally threaded lock bushing. The bushing threadedly engages an end of the nozzle and is torqued up against the body to hold the nozzle in place.

Abstract: A fluid connection and control device for fluid machines permtis fluid inlet or outlet connections without the necessity for threaded adapters. This is accomplished by a radially symmetrical body having first and second ends and a central axial fluid passage connecting the ends. The body is appropriately sized for the fluid channel of the fluid machine and has a provision at the first end for attachment of a flexible hose. The second end has a provision for a fluid tight seal between the body and the fluid channel as well as a mechanism by which the body is captured within the fluid channel of the fluid machine. Options are provided for incorporation of a valve mechanism for controlling the fluid flow. The valve mechanism may be incorporated as an integral part of the body or as a separate modular unit which is retained in the fluid channel by the connector body.

Abstract: A steam distributing valve in contact with the log feed end of a rotatable debarking drum is supported in such a manner that it is capable of moving slightly parallel to the drum axis in response to axial displacement of the drum. Full contact between the valve header and the drum end is maintained for sequentially providing pressurized steam to hollow longitudinal staves on the inner circumferential surface of the drum for thawing frozen logs for debarking.

Abstract: A water-conducting lance, fitted with a spray nozzle at an end thereof, is fixed to the top of a massecuite-separating centrifuge which has a rotating basket, to dispose the nozzle in adjacency to the top of the basket. The nozzle addresses the top of the basket, perpendicularly, and sprays pre-wetting water onto sugar crystals thereat, to insure a good mix of the crystals with subsequent mixing liquid (also water) in a mixing liquid zone, in order that a lump-free high brix magma will be produced.

Abstract: A seal for a rotating center valve vacuum filter drum has a non-flat cross section with an elastomeric core and a chemical resistant sheathing. The seal is installed under tension so that, as wear occurs during operation, positive sealing contact is maintained. The non-flat cross section provides a nesting relationship with the center valve slot and stationary shoe to resist any tendency to wander out of the slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing knot transport in a knot drainer has a provision for decreasing tangential velocity of the feed slurry in the inlet chamber, a hydrodynamic force reduction provision in the screening chamber, and a provision for increasing the ratio of circumferential friction forces to axial friction forces in a housing extension above the screening chamber. This drastically reduces frequency of knot transport interruptions which would otherwise occur in the knot drainer, thereby improving knot drainer performance efficiency.