Abstract: A pneumatic conveying system for conveying particulate material through a conduit that creates a strong laminar flow of materials and air surrounded by a boundary layer flow of air, such that long transport distances through dramatic elevation and directional changes can be achieved. Embodiments of the system include a blower assembly, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel and an accelerating chamber. Low pressure air is supplied to the system by the blower assembly and mixed with particulate material. The air/material mixture is transported through the mixing chamber into the accelerating chamber and through the outlet conduit. In other preferred embodiments, the particulate material is mixed with the air in the accelerating chamber.

Abstract: An ignitable solid gas generating composition comprises a polyalkylammonium binder, usually polyvinylamine nitrate or polyethyleneimmonium nitrate, an oxidizer mixture comprising ammonium nitrate and a first additive which produces an eutectic melt which is liquid at a temperature well below the melting point of the ammonium nitrate as well as that of the first additive, and an additional quantity of the ammonium nitrate and a second additive. Further, combustion modifier additives may be added to the composition.

Abstract: A composition for regenerating spent weak cation exchange resin and a method of utilization including salts of .alpha.-hydroxy carboxylic acids or o-hydroxy benzoic acids. The following steps are employed in cyclically regenerating polycarboxylic acid cation exchange resins: (a) utilizing a charged or alkali metal salt of polycarboxylate acid cation resin to soften water; (b) regenerating the spent resin in one step with an active regenerant of the .alpha.-hydroxy carboxylic acids or o-hydroxy benzoic acids to produce spent regenerant; (c) precipitating the polyvalent hard ions in the spent regenerant with sodium or potassium carbonate to reform the active regenerant; (d) separating the precipitate; and (e) concentrating the dilute active regenerate solution to its approximate initial concentration and recovering of water for process rinses.

Abstract: A device for crushing glass bottles and other glass containers. This comprises a rectangular housing having an intake slot at the top which directs the intake containers down an inclined plane to an abutment in the interior of the housing which defines a chute for directing the intake containers into the path of a rotating battering ram in the exhaust section of the housing where they are smashed. A frustoconical member focusses the smashed products into a collection pail for periodic removal. Flying glass is minimized by the presence of freely swinging rubber flaps across the intake path, and the angular relationships between the intake and exhaust sections of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate matter from a gas stream includes a sorbent injector, a charging antenna, and a plurality of granular media filter cells. The gas stream containing the particulate matter is directed through an inlet plenum. The sorbent injector, located within the inlet plenum, injects fine particles of a sorbent material toward the charging antenna for electrostatically charging the sorbent particles. The charged sorbent particles form a large charged surface area for inducing charges on the particulate matter entrained by the gas stream. The plurality of filter cells each include inner and outer perforated, concentric cylinders, and granular media is caused to move downward between the inner and outer cylinders of each filter cell.