Patents Assigned to General Kinematics
  • Publication number: 20140208606
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, JR., Tobin Lane Imes
  • Patent number: 8602219
    Abstract: A system includes a vibratory apparatus with a housing having a floor with an opening and a chamber, a deck disposed in the chamber between the chamber inlet and the opening, a section of the deck having a plurality of apertures and a plenum defined beneath the deck section, and an air knife disposed between the deck section and the chamber outlet. The system includes an air handling system with a first path in communication with the plenum, a second path in communication with the air knife, a third path in communication with a space beneath the air knife, a fourth path in communication with the chamber above the deck between the inlet and the deck section, a return path from the outlet, and an air mover having an outlet in communication with the first, second, third, and fourth paths and an inlet in communication with the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 8544782
    Abstract: A lined drum includes a drum having a wall with an inner surface. The lined drum also includes a plurality of liner segments, each liner segment having inner and outer opposing surfaces, opposing side edges, and opposing end edges, the outer surface of the liner segment facing the inner drum surface and the side edges of adjacent liner segments being spaced from each other to define a space therebetween, and at least one retainer having opposing side edges overlapping the side edges of the adjacent liner segments, the at least one retainer attached to the wall of the drum in the space between the side edges of the adjacent liner segments. The lined drum may also include a plurality of bar segments, each bar segment attached to the wall of the drum and at least one retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Musschoot, Steve Massman
  • Patent number: 8528846
    Abstract: A vibratory crushing apparatus includes at least one trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a material-receiving space having a first cross-sectional area. The apparatus also includes at least one crusher disposed in the trough, the at least one crusher having an outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the wall about a circumference of the crusher, and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a gap between the outer surface of the at least one crusher and the inner surface of the wall. Further, the apparatus includes a vibration generator coupled to the at least one trough to cause material to move between the inlet end and the outlet end and to cause the at least one crusher to move relative to the wall of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Kempf, Tobin L. Imes, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 8528189
    Abstract: A method of installing a vibratory conveyor into a confined space includes fabricating a modular vibratory apparatus as individual subassemblies, comprising at least first and second side wall subassemblies, first and second end wall subassemblies, at least one cross-member subassembly, a mounting bracket subassembly, a drive subassembly, and a liner subassembly. The method also includes transporting the individual subassemblies to an installation site as separate subassemblies, and attaching the individual subassemblies to each other to define an assembled modular vibratory apparatus using a bolting technique at the installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Smith, Steve Massman
  • Publication number: 20130119226
    Abstract: A motor mount is reconfigurable between at least a first configuration adapted to accept a first arrangement of fasteners and a second configuration adapted to accept a second arrangement of fasteners, the first and second arrangements of fasteners being different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20120261314
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Richard H. Reeves, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7954644
    Abstract: A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lease, Dan Britton, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20110089278
    Abstract: A vibratory crushing apparatus includes at least one trough having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a material-receiving space having a first cross-sectional area. The apparatus also includes at least one crusher disposed in the trough, the at least one crusher having an outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the wall about a circumference of the crusher, and a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area so as to define a gap between the outer surface of the at least one crusher and the inner surface of the wall. Further, the apparatus includes a vibration generator coupled to the at least one trough to cause material to move between the inlet end and the outlet end and to cause the at least one crusher to move relative to the wall of the trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P. Kempf, Tobin L. Imes, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7849997
    Abstract: A conveyor for conveying hot ash may include a frame, a trough supported on the frame to receive a quantity of hot ash, the trough including a trough wall with a plurality of semi-circular steel plates that define a surface of the trough wall and a plenum disposed beneath the semi-circular steel plates, and a vibratory generator operatively coupled to the trough. The conveyor may also include a first plurality of apertures in the trough wall in fluid communication with the plenum, and a plurality of baffles spaced above the first plurality of apertures in the trough wall, the baffles defining a second plurality of apertures through which air exiting the first plurality of apertures may pass in a direction along the surface of the trough wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, Jr., Richard P. Kempf
  • Publication number: 20100177591
    Abstract: A system includes a vibratory apparatus with a housing having a floor with an opening and a chamber, a deck disposed in the chamber between the chamber inlet and the opening, a section of the deck having a plurality of apertures and a plenum defined beneath the deck section, and an air knife disposed between the deck section and the chamber outlet. The system includes an air handling system with a first path in communication with the plenum, a second path in communication with the air knife, a third path in communication with a space beneath the air knife, a fourth path in communication with the chamber above the deck between the inlet and the deck section, a return path from the outlet, and an air mover having an outlet in communication with the first, second, third, and fourth paths and an inlet in communication with the return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 7735653
    Abstract: An attrition mill for reclaiming foundry sand from deposited material having lumps of used foundry sand and included material includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the lumps of used foundry sand and included material. A base is disposed within the housing and has an elevated end defining a reject outlet adjacent a reject end of the mill and a lower end, and a discharge wall is positioned adjacent the base lower end to define a sand outlet adjacent a sand end of the mill. A resilient support is attached to the housing, and a vibratory drive is attached to the housing and includes first and second eccentrically loaded motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Musschoot, William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20100135103
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a trough having side walls, and a deck section having a deck plate defining at least in part a deck and side walls, the side walls of the deck section resiliently coupled to the side walls of the trough. The apparatus also includes a primary vibratory generator coupled to the trough, the primary vibratory generator operating a first frequency and a first amplitude, and a secondary vibratory generator coupled to the deck section, the secondary vibratory generator operating at a second frequency and a second amplitude, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency and the second amplitude being smaller than the first amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, JR., Arie Dijkshoorn
  • Patent number: 7681818
    Abstract: A system, which may be used to perform simultaneous grinding and intimate mixing of edible fat-based slurries or emulsions, may include a cylindrical drum having a central longitudinal axis and a curved inner surface and mounted on springs, and a motor and tuned mass coupled to the cylindrical drum to vibrate the cylindrical drum about a center of vibration that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum. The system includes at least one pair of partition plates disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum to divide the cylindrical drum into at least two process zones, the partition plates of the at least one pair having matching apertures and moveable relative to each other between alignment and misalignment. The system may be used, for example, in chocolate manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Roy Peterson, Stephen E. Beavers, Jonathan Hipps, Peter T. Kashulines, Jr., Michael Hill, Barry D. Glazier, Kenneth G. Weaber, Jr., Ronald P. Layton, Jr., David J. Pontzer
  • Publication number: 20090289004
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid-laden solid material includes a trough having a base, a deck attached to the trough, and a vibratory drive attached to the trough. The deck includes a plurality of support members extending longitudinally along the trough, each support member having a solid wall surface with an upwardly oriented apex defining a support point and two edges disposed on opposite sides of the upwardly oriented apex, the apexes being spaced from one another by a distance sufficient to support the solid material above the base, the edges of adjacent support members being spaced to define a passage therebetween, and the apexes being located at an elevation sufficiently above the base to allow liquid to drain from the solid material and flow through the passage to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dwight Paul Casey, Tobin Lane Imes, Oscar Lee Mathis, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090283237
    Abstract: A rotary drum and vibratory conveyor system including a single walled rotary drum positioned above a vibratory conveyor assembly. The rotary drum may be segmented with each segment having end flanges that are connected to an adjoining segment with bolts. A section or sections of the rotary drum have perforations covered by a dust hood that allow sand and media to fall from the drum through a funnel structure onto the conveyor assembly. The vibratory conveyor assembly includes upper and lower conveyors, where the upper conveyor collects the media falling from the drum and passes the sand to the lower conveyor. The media may be redirected back to the drum inlet to be reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: General Kinematics
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Musschoot, Richard Kempf
  • Publication number: 20090272629
    Abstract: A conveyor for conveying hot ash may include a frame, a trough supported on the frame to receive a quantity of hot ash, the trough including a trough wall with a plurality of semi-circular steel plates that define a surface of the trough wall and a plenum disposed beneath the semi-circular steel plates, and a vibratory generator operatively coupled to the trough. The conveyor may also include a first plurality of apertures in the trough wall in fluid communication with the plenum, and a plurality of baffles spaced above the first plurality of apertures in the trough wall, the baffles defining a second plurality of apertures through which air exiting the first plurality of apertures may pass in a direction along the surface of the trough wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, JR., Richard P. Kempf
  • Publication number: 20090223081
    Abstract: A method of processing solid waste material includes storing solid waste material in a storage conveyor, the conveyor including a trough with a deck and opposing side walls disposed to either side of the deck, a plurality of resilient members supporting the trough above a surface, and a vibration generator coupled to the trough to move solid waste material stored in the trough along the deck to an outlet. The method also includes activating the vibration generator to move the solid waste material along the deck to the outlet, receiving the solid waste material in a container, and supplying steam to the container to heat the solid waste material received therein to generate treated solid waste material. A system for carrying out the process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dan Britton
  • Publication number: 20090211949
    Abstract: A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lease, Dan Britton, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: D598681
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P. Musschoot