Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for steam drying a cake of filtered solids formed on a disc filter element of a rotary disc vacuum filter where the disc filter element is mounted on a rotating means for rotation in a container, the lower portion of which includes a slurry tank and the upper portion of which includes a steam hood. The steam hood encloses a portion of the disc filter element in a steam chamber and includes a pair of sidewalls and a spine wall which joins the pair of sidewalls. A linear seal means is mounted to the pair of sidewalls of the hood to define a steam-retaining exit for the steam chamber through which the disc filter element rotatably moves, and includes two elongated flexible flaps which extend in a straight line from the spine wall into the slurry tank.

Abstract: An improved filter press for separating solids from liquid is provided. The press includes a plurality of filter plates which are suspended from overhead I-beams such that the plates may be removed either from the top of the press or from the sides of the press as desired. The filter plates are suspended from the I-beams by rollers which alternate in position for adjacent filter plates between engagement with the outside flanges and engagement with the inside flanges of the beams and, thus, allow larger rollers to be utilized. The filter press includes a press head for moving the individual filter plates into abutting relationship which is pivotally suspended from the I-beams such that the press head can assume the alignment of the filter plates when the press is closed. The press further includes a pair of vertically-arranged, independently-operable hydraulic closing rams for applying different closing pressures at the top and bottom of the filter plates to compensate for variations in plate stacking.

Abstract: A high-voltage electrostatic precipitator is powered by a transformer supported below the high-voltage electrodes. A lead-in conductor extends from the transformer to the electrodes through a screen-covered aperture in the precipitator housing. Purging gas is directed through the aperture to prevent accumulation of particulates on the lead-in conductor.

Abstract: A system and process are provided for recovering copper from a contaminated copper-bearing source such as copper smelter flue dust. The copper-bearing source is leached in an acidic solution to produce a liquor containing dissolved copper and dissolved contaminants. Simple copper sulfides are precipitated from the liquor by reacting the liquor with chalcopyrite and sulfur dioxide. Copper is recovered from the precipitated sulfides.A novel process is provided for precipitating simple copper sulfides from a solution containing both dissolved copper and dissolved contaminants. The solution is combined with precipitation product such that substantially all ferric iron contained in the solution is reduced to ferrous iron. The ferric-free solution is reacted with chalcopyrite solids and sulfur dioxide to precipitate the dissolved copper as simple copper sulfides.

Abstract: Total organic carbon can be determined for each one of a plurality of discrete aqueous samples containing halide ion by means of an apparatus comprising a reactor (13), and a pump (12) and flowline (11) for introducing a continuous flow into the reactor (13) of a solution that contains an oxidizing agent and mercuric monohalide ion without forming an insoluble precipitate. The solution to be introduced into the reactor (13) is prepared by mixing the oxidizing agent with a solution containing mercuric monohalide ion; and the solution containing mercuric monohalide ion is formed by adding a quantity of mercuric halide and a quantity of mercuric nitrate to an aqueous solution containing nitric acid, where the molar concentration of the mercuric halide is at least equal to the molar concentration of the mercuric nitrate.

Abstract: In a system for controlling electric power supplied to corona-generating electrodes in an electrostatic precipitator (10), an opacity-sensitive transducer (20) produces an output signal proportional to the opacity of the flue gas exiting from the precipitator (10). The signal from the transducer (20) is compared in comparators (304 and 305) with pre-set upper and lower limits defining a permissible opacity range for the flue gas. When the signal from the transducer (20) exceeds the pre-set upper limit or falls below the pre-set lower limit, automatic voltage controllers (40) are activated to control the power supplied to the corona-generating electrodes in order to restore the flue gas opacity to the permissible opacity range.

Abstract: A slurry electrowinning apparatus includes a tank (10) in which are mounted alternating, spaced-apart anode (18) and cathode (20) electrodes. An inlet opening (60) is formed in a side of the tank (10) for introducing a copper-bearing electrolyte to the tank (10). An overflow opening (76) is also formed in a side of the tank (10) such that a solution level (62) is maintained in the tank (10) which is above the inlet opening (60). Baffles (64) are mounted within the tank (10) for evenly distributing the slurry within the tank (10) between the anodes (18) and cathodes (20). Both the anodes (18) and the cathodes (20) are supported within the tank (10) by electrode guides (22) such that a high pressure contact between the electrodes (18, 20) and the main electrical bussing (78) is provided.

Abstract: A humidifier comprises a conduit (20), a rotatable fan assembly (30) mounted in the conduit (20) for causing an air stream to flow through the conduit (20), and a counter-rotatable water slinger assembly (40) mounted coaxially with and downstream of the fan assembly (30) for centrifugally ejecting water into the conduit (20). A cylindrical mist-forming member (60) affixed to the fan assembly (30) for rotation therewith extends downstream therefrom so as to surround the water slinger assembly (40). Water ejected centrifugally from the water slinger assembly (40) is sheared by the mist-forming member (60) into a mist of fine water droplets, which become entrained in the air stream passing through the conduit (20).

Abstract: The following disclosure teaches ways and means for clarifying raw sewage and thickening secondary sewage sludge. The disclosed apparatus comprises a tank having upper and lower feedwells disposed therein. Raw sewage is introduced into the lower feedwell and flows into the lower part of the tank to be clarified therein, and secondary sludge is aerated and introduced into the upper feedwell so that it flows therefrom and thickens in the upper part of the tank by flotation type thickening.

Abstract: In a system for producing frozen confections without molds, a transfer conveyor is provided for picking up the confections from a freezer conveyor and dropping them on a wrapper conveyor which transfer conveyor includes a large number of carriages pivotally mounted in series to an endless chain. Each carriage has a pair of scissorable arms and tongs detachably mounted to the arms for engaging a confection. The arms are opened by a wedge mounted on a push rod, and a pneumatic cylinder is used at the drop zone to rapidly extend the push rod and thereby quickly open the tongs so that the confection will fall through a predetermined trajectory. The retracted position of the wedge and rod, and thus the closed position of the tongs, is controlled by a stop assembly that is slidably mounted on the carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a carton into a thermoplastic bag includes a table for supporting the bag, a pusher assembly for transferring a carton into the bag, and a guide assembly for first opening the bag mouth and for thereafter guiding the carton into the mouth of the bag while supporting the carton above the table until after it has been fully inserted into the bag. A vacuum is applied through apertures formed in the table to initially hold the bottom panel of the bag against the table, and a reciprocatable suction cup assembly is mounted above the suction apertures for engaging the top panel of the bag and for partially opening the mouth of the bag so that the guide assembly may be inserted therein.

Abstract: An improved carriage for use in a conveyor for transferring frozen confections includes a pair of scissorable tong-receiving arms. A pair of tongs are detachably mounted on the arms in a manner which facilitates rapid replacement of the tongs. Each tong is pivotable on a pin extending transversely of the arms and is held by a spring clip that remains attached to the arm during removal and replacement of the tong. Preferably, the clip is generally U-shaped and attached to the arm such that the inner wall thereof abuts against the inner surface of the tong. Such inner wall has an inwardly bent tip which snaps into place against the tong when the tong has been pivoted into alignment with the arm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying segments of sealing tape to both ends of a carton and for forming pull-tabs at both ends of the segments of sealing tape so applied. Cartons are conveyed in indexed fashion at uniform intervals on a conveyor. Sealing tape is dispensed from two rolls and is applied to the ends of the cartons by lay-down rollers at the margins of the conveyor. The conveyor is indexed so as to stop the conveyor after a section of tape linking two adjacent cartons on the conveyor is provided at each end of the cartons. Short segments of masking tape are applied to the adhesive side of the sealing tape at specific locations thereon and at a station spaced upstream from the point where the sealing tape is applied to the cartons whereby after the sealing tape is applied to the cartons, the masking tape segments will be disposed on the linking sections of sealing tape midway between two adjacent cartons.

Abstract: Citrus peels discharged from a juice extractor are first comminuted and thereafter the comminuted peels are screened to separate a larger particle size fraction consisting mainly of the flavedo portion of the peels and a smaller particle size fraction consisting mainly of the albedo portion of the peels. A preferred apparatus for separating peels into albedo and flavedo fractions includes a comminutor which utilizes a cutting action to reduce the peels to finely divided particles. Water is added to the comminutor to fluidize the peels so as to facilitate their movement through the comminutor and also to facilitate subsequent screening. The slurry of water and comminuted peels is sifted using a vibratory screen having an upper screen of a 20 Tyler mesh size to remove the flavedo fraction from the slurry and having a lower screen of a 60 Tyler mesh to separate the albedo fraction from the remaining slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat-sealing the mouth of a bag supported on a conveyor includes a nozzle assembly for both spreading the mouth of the bag and evacuating the bag and a press assembly having confronting die units and resilient strip assemblies mounted to scissorable arms. The vacuum-sealing apparatus is positioned adjacent the side margin of the conveyor, and the bag having an article therein is horizontally supported on the conveyor with the mouth of the bag extending toward the heat-sealing apparatus over said side margin of the conveyor. The nozzle assembly includes a pair of parallel nozzle members of generally flat shape which are mounted to a drive mechanism such that the nozzle members may first be concurrently driven into the mouth of the bag and thereafter separated in a horizontal plane against the side margins of the bag mouth to an extent such that substantially all wrinkles are removed from the area of the bag to be sealed.

Abstract: In a down-the-row type of tree shaking apparatus, a support frame is pivotally mounted to a carrier vehicle for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a suspension frame, from which a tree shaking and clamping assembly depends, is pivotally mounted to the support frame for rotation about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The shaking and clamping assembly includes a housing and a pair of clamping arms which are pivotally mounted to the housing for rotation about parallel axes which are perpendicular to the transverse axis of rotation of the suspension frame. Each clamping arm is retractable from the position it assumes during shaking through an arc of approximately 90.degree., and each arm is operated by a separately controllable hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: An improved oscillatory separator for a tomato harvester includes an agitator assembly for decompacting the vines carried by a plurality of parallel conveyor chains of the separator to thereby permit loose tomatoes to penetrate the vines and fall between the chains and also for transmitting additional shaking forces to the vines to thereby shake more tomatoes loose from the vines than are shaken loose by the receiprocating conveyor chains alone. The agitator assembly includes a tubular member which is adjustably mounted between the reciprocatable side frame members of the separator to extend transversely below the upper reaches of the conveyor chains. A number of agitator bars are fixed in parallel relationship to the tubular member to extend upwardly at spacings thereon such that the bars are positioned between every other chain.

Abstract: A vineyard air sprayer includes an axial fan type of blower assembly which is vertically mounted upon a trailer rearwardly of a spray tank. The blower assembly has a cylindrical outer shell having an annular discharge ring mounted to the bottom end thereof. An inner shell is coaxially mounted within the outer shell, and a truncated annular diffuser is secured to the bottom end of the inner shell in a coaxial relationship therewith. The outer edge of the diffuser is spaced from the outer edge of the discharge ring to form two arcuate discharge openings at opposite sides of the blower assembly. The diffuser includes an upwardly projecting annular lip portion which is truncated by a vertical wall at its front end.

Abstract: An improved direct-loading crop harvester is disclosed as having an articulated elevator which is retractable into a berth in the harvester. During transportation of the harvester from field to field, the lower leg of the loading elevator is horizontally positioned within the berth upon a slidable support cradle, and the upper leg of the elevator is nestled vertically at a side of the berth. Prior to harvesting, the elevator is pulled from the side of the berth with the lower leg resting on the cradle. The elevator is then connected by pivot and hydraulic cylinder mechanisms to the berth such that the lower leg tilts upwardly at the side of the harvester and the upper leg projects outwardly from the upper end of the lower leg. During the harvesting operation, crops are fed to the elevator by a conveyor and are discharged at a selected position above an attendant trailer, preferably through a detachable decelerator mechanism.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for aligning the front wheels of a motor vehicle utilizing a beam projector and detector assembly on each wheel and an electronic computing means for determining the toe angles of the wheels in response to measured toe signals generated by the detectors. The computing means first subtracts one of the toe signals from the other, multiplies the difference by a selected correction factor to produce a correction signal, and then adds the correction signal to the larger of the measured toe signals and subtracts the correction signal from the smaller one to provide the true individual toe angles of the wheels. The signals derived by the computing means are applied to display devices which read out the correct values of the right and left toe angles. Although the correction factor is dependent on the dimensions of the frame of the vehicle, the steering suspension, and the mounting of the projector and detector assembly, it has been found that a correction factor of approximately 0.