Abstract: A pair of screw conveyors pivotally mounted on rotatable arms extending laterally from the extended ends of the bottom sprocket wheel shaft on a bucket ladder dislodge bulk material and direct it toward the buckets. The bottom sprocket wheels are journaled for rotation independent of the shaft which is rotated by a centrally located drive mechanism to position the rotatable arms and therefore the screw conveyors for various operations.

Abstract: A process for controlling the quality of sintered iron ore in which the Fe.sup.+ content of the sintered or is regulated by controlling the recycled-fines feed rate. The recycled-fines feed rate, determined by a prior art recycled-fines balance controller, is modified by a desired fines withdrawal rate generated in an Fe.sup.+ content controller as the difference between the actual Fe.sup.+ content of the sintered ore and a desired content. In a preferred form, the difference between the recycled-fines feed rate and the desired fines withdrawal rate is also applied to the Fe.sup.+ content controller.

Abstract: There is disclosed an activated sewage disposal plant of the compact or so-called "packaged" type and a method of processing sewage wherein a fast filter is provided through which the effluent liquid from the primary processing is passed, provision being made for backwashing the fast-flow filter from time to time with the backwash being collected in a well or vessel from which it is recycled at a controlled rate to the raw sewage. The entire plant can be embodied in a compact package unit, one common type of which comprises two concentric tanks, the outer one of which is divided into several compartments.

Abstract: The solids content of aqueous coal sludge slurries such as coal washings are stabilized in a hardened state by concentrating the solids content thereof, adding to the concentrated coal sludge 2-50% by weight of the solids of granulated blast furnace slag, with intimate mixing, and maintaining the mixture in a quiescent state and in the presence of excess water to produce a sedentary mass having load supportive properties suitable as landfill.

Abstract: A process for disposal of aqueous sludge material and a circular disposal system for stabilization in a landfill. A circular disposal area with a raised central area and peripheral dike is constructed with pond sectors for the deposition, dewatering, and mixing of sludge with a solid absorbent particulate material. The mixing and compaction of the solids produces a permanent, stable landfill which may be raised and the process cycle repeated. Disposal ponds are located such that dewatering and mixing are accomplished by a cableway which operates radially between the raised central area and any point on the peripheral dike.

Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for effecting a fluid seal between the side wall of a vertically movable hydraulic ram and a stationary pressure vessel, the seal assembly comprising a plurality of elongated, resilient, cylindrical members longitudinally disposed along the lip of the pressure vessel confronting the side wall of the ram and including flexible retaining means for said elongated resilient cylindrical members.

Abstract: A beam cantilevered from the pivoted end of the elongated boom on a material handling structure is coupled at its outer end to a pivoted strut carrying a counterweight connected through tension bars to a point well out on the boom such that a portion of the moment generated by the counterweight is removed from the boom and supported by the cantilevered beam in the absence of live load on the boom. As live load is applied and the boom begins to bend, the tension bars pivot the counterweight strut relative to the cantilevered beam thereby relieving the loading on the cantilevered beam and applying the full moment developed by the counterweight to the boom.

Abstract: A new and improved serrated grating bar is produced directly from coiled strip workstock by applying torque to a toothed notching wheel to draw the strip between the toothed wheel and a bearing wheel spaced apart a distance less than the width of the strip, and by simultaneously confining the lateral faces of the strip to preclude the metal displaced by the teeth from flowing transverse thereto. Apparatus suitable for this purpose includes a toothed wheel flanked on either side by flat discs which extend radially beyond the teeth, a grooved bearing wheel spaced therefrom a distance less than the width of the strip, and means for rotating the toothed wheel. No separate edgers, flatteners or punch presses are required.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multiple-effect evaporation system wherein the last effect of the system in the direction of miscella flow is provided with a stripping tower in which vapor effluent from that effect countercurrently contacts feed to that effect. In application to the recovery of solvent from miscella obtained by the extraction of defatted seed material with an aqueous organic carbohydrate-selective solvent, pressure in the evaporation zone of one of the effects is maintained at atmospheric. Additionally, at least one of the effects other than said last effect may be provided with a rectification column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting ice incidental to a freezing process for water desalination. Mechanical energy otherwise required to pump super heat in the compressed refrigerant vapor is conserved and rate of ice melting in the melter-washer reduced by providing an auxiliary blower for recycling uncondensed refrigerant vapor around the melter and providing for removal of net uncondensable refrigerant vapor to the secondary compressor from a point between the freezer and melter.

Abstract: In the continuous carbonizing and desulfurizing of formcoke produced from coal of relatively high sulfur content, a shaft type reactor receives both formed green compacts and a particulate sulfur acceptor at the top and these descend together through definite preheating, calcining and cooling zones. Highly heated non-oxidizing hydrogen-containing gas is introduced into the reactor at the level between the calcining and cooling zones to flow upward through the reactor and provide the principal, if not the only source of heat for the reactor. At an intermediate level between the calcining zone and preheating zone, a portion of the rising current of gas, comprising both original gas and additional evolved gases is withdrawn from the reactor and part of the gases so withdrawn is burned in a heat exchanger to heat another part to the high temperature required to thus provide the highly-heated hydrogen-containing gas that is introduced into the reactor as described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a refrigeration system having an air-cooled condenser and more particularly to maintaining an adequate mass flow of refrigerant to the evaporator at low high-side pressures resulting from low ambient temperatures, by providing a dual refrigerant distributor system, refrigerant being metered through only one distributor when the high-side pressure is at or above a predetermined level and refrigerant being metered through both distributors when the high-side pressure drops below the predetermined level.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bucket assembly, as for example, a clamshell-type bucket assembly for use in a material handling apparatus, such as, for example, a ship unloader. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel bight-of-line reeving system for use in a scissors-type bucket assembly.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sintering material are described wherein a moist sintered material is passed by a travelling grate through an ignition zone, a sintering zone, and a cooling zone with strand cooling of the sintered material being effected. The sintered material is passed through a purging zone of higher flow rate and lesser area than a subsequent initial cooling zone, followed by a final cooling zone. Cooling air from both the purging zone and the initial cooling zone is heated by the sintered material and removes dust particles therefrom. The resultant dust-laden air from the purging zone is de-dusted by conventional means, and the dust-containing heated air from the initial cooling zone is conducted to the sintering zone and forced downwardly through the moist material in the sintering zone.

Abstract: Gas bubbles, and in particular nitrogen gas bubbles, generated during the denitrification of treated wastewater in a deep-bed filter are removed by venting them from a level below the surface of the filter bed. Gas removal may be enhanced by introducing pressurized air or water into the lower portion of the filter bed to dislodge the gas bubbles from the filter media and drive them upward where they can be vented to the atmosphere. Alternatively, pressurized air or water may be introduced into a vent pipe located below the surface of the filter bed to drive the gas bubbles up through the surface of the filter bed.

Abstract: An extension compensation member and explosion protection device for pipelines for gaseous media, such as waste gas pipes of sintering machines or other metallurgical aggregate apparatus. The invention allows for movement in both radial and axial directions of two pipe pieces interlocking vertically and concentrically. A ring-shaped seal is arranged at the outer periphery of the outer pipe piece allowing movement to compensate for thermal expansion but sealing the pipe joint so as to provide explosion protection.

Abstract: A vapor desolventizing process for the removal of aqueous alcohol solvent residue in extracted soybean flakes by recycling vapor to the desolventizer having an alcohol content higher than that of the solvent retained by the extracted flakes to thereby preserve protein dispersibility of the extracted flakes.

Abstract: A compartmented bucket wheel assembly in which the compartments extend radially inward and angularly opposite the direction of wheel rotation to facilitate emptying of the compartments and thereby increase the capacity of the bucket wheel. In a structurally simple but sturdy preferred form, the buckets are mounted between the extremities of a plurality of plate members, the outer portions of which extend diagonally outward in the direction of wheel rotation at an obtuse angle to the radially directed inner portions thereof. A number of flat, generally triangular plates disposed between the outer portions of adjacent plate members deflect the material toward the discharge edge which extends diagonally inward from the periphery of the wheel adjacent the front of the bucket along one lateral edge of the outer portion of the leading plate member associated with a particular bucket, to the intersection of the inner and outer portions of the associated trailing plate member.

Abstract: There is described a process and apparatus for treating oleaginous seed materials, such as soybean flakes with an extraction solvent, which includes an extraction zone, a desolventizing zone, and a miscella treating zone. In the extraction zone, the oleaginous seed material is subjected to concurrent contact with a carbohydrate-selective extraction solvent in a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in countercurrent fluid relationship therebetween with the expression of treated solids being effected after each extraction. The expressed solids from the last extracting vessel are passed to a desolventizing zone wherein residual solvent is vaporized by the respective indirect and direct contact with a heat transfer medium, such as steam, to produce a protein concentrate having a concentration (moisture free basis) of proteinaceous matter of at least about 70% by weight (6.25 times the total nitrogen content by the Kjeldahl method).

Abstract: A process for measuring, optimizing and controlling the gas permeability of a sinter mixture on a travelling grate by adjusting the flow of air and/or fuel to the furnace to maintain a zero pressure differential between the inside and the outside thereof such that all the gas generated permeates the sinter mixture, and determining the gas permeability as a function of said flows. These steps are repeated for various values of selected process parameters having a significant influence on gas permeability, one at a time, in order to determine the value of each parameter which produces optimum gas flow.