Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a deck, an electro-mechanical sensor and at least one vibratory exciter. The deck has an upper surface configured to receive items to be conveyed in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis from a first deck end to a second deck end. The electro-mechanical sensor includes a wheel disposed above the upper surface of the deck, the wheel being rotatable about a wheel axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, and an electronic sensor associated with the wheel, the electronic sensor configured to generate a signal representative of the revolutions per unit time of the wheel. The at least one vibratory exciter is attached to the deck and is configured to move the material along the deck.

Abstract: A vibratory drum includes a tubular drum having a longitudinal axis, and first and second vibratory generators disposed laterally relative to the longitudinal axis and opposite each other across the tubular drum. The drum also includes a frame to which the first and second vibratory generators are attached; and a plurality of resilient elements attached at a first end to the tubular drum and at a second end to the frame, whereby the vibratory motion of the generators is transferred to the tubular drum to impart a circular motion to material disposed in the tubular drum.

Abstract: A vibratory fluidized bed dryer includes a deck with a surface on which a bed of materials is formed, the deck having apertures through which air passes to fluidize the bed of materials on the deck, a source of air coupled to the apertures in the deck to supply air to the bed through the apertures in the deck, and a vibration generator coupled to the deck. The deck has at least two zones, each zone having a different open area percentage, such that the air passing through each zone produces a different superficial velocity.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a trough with a floor having an upper surface configured to receive items to be conveyed in at least a first direction from a first end to a second end. The conveyor also includes a platform with at least one exciter attached thereto. The at least one exciter has at least one shaft with an eccentric mass attached thereto, the shaft having an axis of rotation about which the mass is rotated. The conveyor also includes a base. At least one first toroidal resilient member is disposed between the trough and the platform, and at least one second toroidal resilient member disposed between the platform and the base.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

Abstract: A spring assembly includes a resilient member having a first and second end shanks and a central helical portion. The first end shank extends in a first direction from the central helical portion, and has a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The second end shank extends in a second, opposite direction from the central helical portion, and has a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The central helical portion includes one or more coils disposed about a central longitudinal axis, and has a first end attached to the proximal end of the first end shank and a second end attached to the proximal end of the second end shank. The axes of the shank ends and the axis of the central helical portion are parallel or are collinear. The assembly also includes an attachment site at each of the end shanks.

Abstract: A spring assembly includes a coil spring having one or more helical coils between two longitudinally spaced ends, and an attachment site disposed at at least one of the longitudinally spaced ends. The attachment site includes a casing enclosing the at least one of the longitudinally spaced ends, the casing having a casing passage therethrough between a first side and a second side. The attachment site also includes a washer disposed on the first side and having a washer passage aligned with the casing passage, and a base disposed on the second side and having a base passage aligned with the casing passage.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a trough assembly, an exciter assembly and first and second toroidal members. The trough assembly includes a trough and first and second walls attached to the trough with a space disposed therebetween. The exciter assembly includes a central mount with first and second opposite sides and first and second opposite ends, and first and second eccentric assemblies each including at least one motor having a shaft with a shaft axis and at least one eccentric attached to the shaft for rotation about the shaft axis, the first eccentric assembly attached to the first end and the second eccentric assembly attached to the second end. The first toroidal resilient member is disposed between the first wall and the first side and the second toroidal resilient member is disposed between the second wall and the second side, with the exciter assembly disposed in the space.

Abstract: A vibratory dryer includes a conveying surface over which a bed of materials to be dried is conveyed, the surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, and passages through which air passes through the conveying surface to pass through the bed of materials on the conveying surface, a source of heated air coupled to the passages to supply heated air to the bed through the passages, and a vibration generator coupled to the conveying surface. The dryer also includes at least one rotary mixer having an impeller spaced from the conveying surface at a distance so as to be disposed within the bed, the at least one rotary mixer disposed along the length of the conveying surface between the inlet end and the outlet end. The at least one rotary mixer is adapted to provide uplift within the bed without de-densification of the bed.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a deck assembly with a longitudinal axis, an inlet end, and an outlet end. The deck assembly includes a plurality of deck sections each having a plurality of openings. Each deck section has upstream and downstream edges, the downstream edge of each successive deck section disposed closer longitudinally to the outlet end than the downstream edge of each preceding deck section. The upstream edge of each successive deck section is disposed closer longitudinally to the upstream edge of each preceding deck section than the downstream edge of the preceding deck section is disposed to the upstream edge of the preceding deck section, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the preceding deck section and a non-overlapping portion of the preceding deck section. The overlapping portion has larger openings than the non-overlapping portion for each preceding deck section.

Abstract: A separator attachment for use with a vibratory apparatus, the attachment including a housing mountable to a vibratory apparatus below a material-conveying surface of the vibratory apparatus, the housing defining a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The housing has at least one wall with a wall surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end. The attachment also includes a deflector plate with a deflector plate surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end, the deflector plate surface facing the wall surface. The deflector plate is translatable relative to the at least one wall to vary the spacing between the deflector plate surface and the wall surface. A system including a vibratory apparatus and the attachment may also be defined.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus including a trough having one or more decks, with an inlet end and an outlet end, a first plurality of isolation springs disposed between the trough and ground, and a two-mass, sub-resonant frequency exciter supported on the trough. The trough and the exciter move 180-degrees out of phase with each other. The apparatus also includes a dynamic balancer including a plurality of isolation springs disposed between the exciter and ground.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and at least one pair of mated interior walls, the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the at least one pair of mated interior walls depending longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end. The at least one pair of mated interior walls is disposed laterally between the first and second sidewalls. At least one deck depends between the first and second sidewalls, and is divided into longitudinally depending sections by the at least one pair of mated interior walls. The apparatus also includes an exciter coupled to the at least one deck.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus including a trough having one or more decks, with an inlet end and an outlet end, a first plurality of isolation springs disposed between the trough and ground, and a two-mass, sub-resonant frequency exciter supported on the trough. The trough and the exciter move 180-degrees out of phase with each other. The apparatus also includes a dynamic balancer including a plurality of isolation springs disposed between the exciter and ground.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a trough having a first end and a second end, and at least first and second variable amplitude vibration generators coupled to the trough. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators include at least one variable eccentric weight assembly having a variable center of mass relative to an axis of rotation. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators have at least a first state wherein an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the first vibration generator is different than an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the second vibration generator to cause movement of material in the trough toward the first end or the second end.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity, a vibration generator coupled to the trough assembly, and a frame resiliently coupled to the trough assembly. Also included is a system including the vibratory apparatus and other equipment, and a method of using the vibratory apparatus.

Abstract: A system for sorting has an inlet end, a first separation section disposed downstream of the inlet end and including a fluidizing section and a hood disposed above the fluidizing section, a negative pressure developed adjacent the fluidizing section to draw a first class of materials into the hood, a second separation section disposed downstream of the first separation section and including an air knife and a dropout, a second class of materials passing through the air knife and into the dropout and a third class of materials passing over the dropout and through an outlet end, and a vibration generator coupled to the first separation section and the second separation section to convey material from the inlet end to the outlet end.

Abstract: A separator includes a trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a bottom wall, and a vibration generator attached to the trough. The separator also includes first, second, and third deck sections, each of which is disposed within the trough, the first deck section being disposed at a higher elevation relative to the bottom wall than the second deck section, and the third deck section being disposed above the second deck section. The separator also includes at least one source of heated air, the first deck section and the second deck section being in fluid communication with the at least one source of heated air so that heated air from the at least one source passes through the first and second deck sections.

Abstract: A system for reducing carbon content of hot ash includes a conveyor including a trough to receive a quantity of hot ash, the trough having a trough wall with a plurality of apertures through which air may pass, and a vibratory generator operatively coupled to the trough to move the quantity of hot ash along the trough. The system also includes a controlled air supply including an adjustable air supply, a temperature sensor operatively associated with the trough, and a controller operatively coupled to the adjustable air supply and the temperature sensor. The controller is programmed to adjust the air supply to maintain a constant temperature associated with controlled oxidation of unburned carbon in the hot ash within the trough in response to the signal received from the temperature sensor.