Abstract: In a process for transforming waste material into useful material, a quantity of waste material such as household garbage or municipal solid waste is provided. The waste material is pre-shredded into pre-shredded waste material. The pre-shredded waste material is processed to at least partially remove one or more selected material components, thereby providing a processed pre-shredded waste material. The processed pre-shredded waste material is then secondarily shredded into secondarily shredded waste material which is then hydrolyzed under pressure greater than ambient pressure to create an aggregate cellulose pulp.

Abstract: A fibrous material reprocessing apparatus separates a cellulose pulp material into a fibrous material stream and a remainder stream. The fibrous material stream is treated in a grinder to reduce the size of the fibrous material. The reduced size fibrous material is then recombined with the remainder stream.

Abstract: A system and method for processing solid waste disposal includes a hydrolyzer (80) and an injection assembly (30) for transferring waste to the hydrolyzer (80). The injection assembly (30) includes a sleeve (40), in which waste is compressed with a ram (37), and a movable gate (52), which opens to allow the compressed waste (68) to exit the sleeve (40) and enter the hydrolyzer (80). The hydrolyzer (80) includes a pressure vessel (84), a rotating shaft (108) contained within the vessel (84), and agitates attached to the shaft for moving and processing the material through the hydrolyzer (80).

Abstract: A modular conveyor apparatus includes a plurality of substantially identical conveyor segments. Each conveyor segment has a pair of laterally spaced protrusions or hooks extending from one end thereof. Each conveyor segment has a plurality of spaced openings or slots along at least one of its side walls, so that two like conveyor segments can be connected together perpendicularly with the hooks of a first segment received in the side wall slots of a second segment. Thus the perpendicular connection between two conveyor segments may be made at any selected one of a plurality of locations along the length of each conveyor. Provision may also be made for end to end connection of the conveyor segments.

Abstract: A system and method for processing solid waste disposal includes a hydrolyzer (80) and an injection assembly (30) for transferring waste to the hydrolyzer (80). The injection assembly (30) includes a sleeve (40), in which waste is compressed with a ram (37), and a movable gate (52), which opens to allow the compressed waste (68) to exit the sleeve (40) and enter the hydrolyzer (80). The hydrolyzer (80) includes a pressure vessel (84), a rotating shaft (108) contained within the vessel (84), and agitates attached to the shaft for moving and processing the material through the hydrolyzer (80).

Abstract: A contour trimmer apparatus for potted plants includes a crank and connecting rod mechanism for moving a pair of transversely opposed pot engagement heads between open and closed positions. A gap between the pot engagement heads in their closed position may be adjusted via a lead screw arrangement which adjusts an operating position of the crank of the crank and connecting rod assembly.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer, comprising a material injection assembly further comprising a ram, a cylinder having a cylinder shaft for reciprocating the ram upon actuation of the cylinder shaft, a sleeve having an interior in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate having a gate plate operable from between an open and a closed position; the gate plate has an aperture formed therethrough and the aperture is sized to enable a plug of compressed municipal solid waste to pass through it when the gate plate is in the open position; and a material exit assembly. The preferred material handling system further comprises a gate plate is interpositioned between the pair of space apart end plates and reciprocates freely therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow a plug of municipal solid waste to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An outfeed gate includes a fixed plate and a sliding plate, wherein bearing strips protect the fixed and sliding plates from excessive wear as they slide over each other. The outfeed gate safely accepts material from a high temperature and pressure environment to an ambient environment, and deposits the material in a material exit apparatus.

Abstract: A method of converting a composite material derived from municipal solid waste into alcohol is provided.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer, comprising a material injection assembly further comprising a ram, a cylinder having a cylinder shaft for reciprocating the ram upon actuation of the cylinder shaft, a sleeve having an interior in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate having a gate plate operable from between an open and a closed position; the gate plate has an aperture formed therethrough and the aperture is sized to enable a plug of compressed municipal solid waste to pass through it when the gate plate is in the open position; and a material exit assembly. The preferred material handling system further comprises a gate plate is interpositioned between the pair of space apart end plates and reciprocates freely therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow a plug of municipal solid waste to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer, comprising a material injection assembly further comprising a ram, a cylinder having a cylinder shaft for reciprocating the ram upon actuation of the cylinder shaft, a sleeve having an interior in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate having a gate plate operable from between an open and a closed position; the gate plate has an aperture formed therethrough and the aperture is sized to enable a plug of compressed municipal solid waste to pass through it when the gate plate is in the open position; and a material exit assembly. The preferred material handling system further comprises a gate plate is interpositioned between the pair of space apart end plates and reciprocates freely therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow a plug of municipal solid waste to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A bioreactor apparatus for processing waste, comprising a cylindrical pressure vessel having an inlet end and an exit end, an internally rotating main shaft having spaced apart ends, and a plurality of paddles and agitator bars attached to and extending radially from the shaft. At least some of the plurality of paddles and/or agitator bars extend radially outward from the shaft and form a helical spiral pattern when viewed from either of the spaced apart ends.

Abstract: A system for processing waste on a continuous basis comprises an infeed assembly, a vessel held at a non-ambient pressure and/or temperature, and an outfeed assembly. The infeed assembly includes: a sleeve where waste is delivered; a gate construction that moves between an open and a closed position; and a ram that moves within the sleeve to compress waste when the gate construction is in the closed position and to push the compressed waste into the vessel, where it is metamorphically processed, when the gate construction is in the open position. The processed material moves from the vessel to the outfeed assembly, which includes a compaction chamber, a ram that moves within the compaction chamber, and a cutter assembly. Waste is compacted in the compaction chamber by the ram, cut by the cutter assembly, and delivered as a compacted block to an environment having an ambient pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: A material handling exit section in the nature of a material extruder and mold combination for shaping the material exiting a hydrolyzer, comprising an extrusion chamber and a plunger assembly attached to the extrusion chamber and further including a working cylinder having a cylinder shaft and a ram operably connected to the shaft enabling the ram to move the material within the extrusion chamber upon actuation of the cylinder and the extension of the shaft therefrom.

Abstract: A system for processing waste on a continuous basis comprises an infeed assembly, a vessel held at a non-ambient pressure and/or temperature, and an outfeed assembly. The infeed assembly includes: a sleeve where waste is delivered; a gate construction that moves between an open and a closed position; and a ram that moves within the sleeve to compress waste when the gate construction is in the closed position and to push the compressed waste into the vessel, where it is metamorphically processed, when the gate construction is in the open position. The processed material moves from the vessel to the outfeed assembly, which includes a compaction chamber, a ram that moves within the compaction chamber, and a cutter assembly. Waste is compacted in the compaction chamber by the ram, cut by the cutter assembly, and delivered as a compacted block to an environment having an ambient pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying the volatility of propellant and primers associated with small arms ammunition which become inadvertently commingled with a supply of spent casings prior to material deformation and reclamation. The apparatus preferably includes three major sections or components and they are: a material infeed section, a heating section, and a material extraction section. The preferred infeed section includes a hopper placed in conjunction with an incline conveyor and a distally positioned dump chute. The heating section has a material receptacle in the form of a material receiving chute, a heater disposed adjacent to the interior of a longitudinal spirally internally veined rotating drum which communicates with the third section, which is a material extraction or expulsion section also in the form of an incline conveyor and a chute.

Abstract: A material handling system for a hydrolyzer comprises a material injection assembly having a ram; a sleeve in which the ram reciprocates during use; a gate plate operable from between an open position, wherein a plug of municipal solid waste may exit the sleeve, and a closed position; and a material exit assembly. The material exit assembly comprises a processed material handling apparatus including a processed material compaction chamber; and a plunger assembly attached to the compaction chamber and further including a working cylinder having a cylinder shaft and a ram operably connected to the shaft enabling the ram to compact the processed material within the compaction chamber upon actuation of the cylinder and the extension of the shaft therefrom.