Abstract: A device for the removal of substances on the inner walls of agitated reaction vessels includes scrapers. The scrapers are adjustable angularly or displaceable toward and away from the walls of the vessel and supported from an agitator shaft to scrape off material accumulating on the walls of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method of initiating an operation in dependence on the combined mass of an element and matter which is in or on the element can be used to remove matter which has accumulated on the rotor of a centrifuge. A substantial change is effected in the speed of rotation of the rotor and the rate of change is then measured. The operation is initiated when the rate of change is above or below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A container assembly for facilitating treatment of a viscous test specimen including a cylindrical container body with a cover defining on the interior side thereof a specimen recess for receiving a predetermined volume of specimen material. The specimen recess is defined by a generally cylindrical projecting part which fits into a cylindrical receiving space in the container in a manner whereby excess specimen material adhering to the periphery of the projecting part is automatically wiped from the cover and deposited in an annular space defined between the cover and the container which is sealed when the cover is in a closed position. A second cover may be provided at an opposite end of the container through which a helically formed homogenization rod may be inserted operative during subsequent agitation of the container to dislodge specimen material from the recess. The container may also be inserted directly into a centrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the delivery of insoluble powders, such as metal powders, to a processing station, such as a rotatable drum for impact plating of the powder onto articles. The method includes providing separate supplies of water and a slurry of the metal powder. Water is delivered from the water supply through a fluid network to the rotatable drum in a pre-flushing operation for a first predetermined length of time. Upon stoppage of the pre-flush with water, the slurry is delivered to the drum through the fluid network for a second predetermined length of time sufficient to deliver a desired quantity of the powder to the drum. Upon stoppage of the slurry delivery, a post-flush with water supplied through the fluid network is undertaken for a third predetermined length of time to remove any residual slurry within the fluid network.

Abstract: A combined structure of a hand-held cordless vacuum cleaner and a flashlight comprises;a vacuum cleaner body housing therein a battery and an electric powered blower, and including switch means adapted to control power fed to said blower;a dust case;a flashlight case including a lighting unit;specific interconnecting means adapted to releasably interconnect either one of said dust case and said flashlight case to said vacuum cleaner body; andspecific electrical connection means adapted to electrically connect said battery in said vacuum cleaner body to said lighting unit in said flashlight case when said flashlight case is interconnected to said vacuum cleaner body by said interconnecting means.

Abstract: Size formulations are supplied to slasher size boxes in an efficient manner allowing nearly unlimited variation in size formulations, minimizing the floor space of size formulation equipment, minimizing energy waste, and providing reclamation of used size. A number of size formulation components are mixed and heated to produce a size formulation having a predetermined composition and temperature. The size formulation is circulated in a closed loop past each of the size boxes. The amount of size in each size box is sensed by a level control, and the size formulation is withdrawn from the closed loop and supplied to a size box in response to the level sensing. A plurality of formula stations are provided, at least one adjacent and in operative communication with each size box, and additional size formulation components are added to the size formulation at each size formula station, and mixed with the size formulation prior to introduction into the size box.

Abstract: The present invention relates to suspended magnetic stirrers. More particularly, it discloses a stirrer having a suspended magnetic impeller, the height of which is adjusted by a movable bearing. The invention is particularly useful in applications where solids must be suspended in a liquid medium with a minimum of shear force, such as in microcarrier tissue cell culture.

Abstract: An adjustable over-the-top agitator for a liquid manure tank. To periodically break up the crust on liquid manure stored in an open top tank, the liquid manure is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank and is discharged through a nozzle on the end of an external delivery pipe into contact with the crust. The upper end of the delivery pipe is connected by a swivel coupling to a vertical end of a connecting pipe, while the opposite horizontal end of the connecting pipe is connected by a second swivel coupling to the discharge nozzle. By rotating the connecting pipe about the axis of the delivery pipe, the nozzle can be moved in a horizontal path, while swiveling the discharge nozzle about the horizontal end of the connecting pipe moves the nozzle in a vertical arc. A torsion spring is associated with the second swivel coupling to bias the discharge nozzle to a horizontal position.

Abstract: An improved agitator assembly (10) for sanitary tanks includes a drive shaft (14) extending through a tubular housing (58, 84). A slide coupling (16) is connected between the outer end of the drive shaft (14) and a drive motor. An impeller (90) is secured to the other end of the drive shaft (14) which is supported on a bearing/seal member (86) in the inner end of the shaft housing (58, 84). The adjoining surfaces of the bearing/seal member (86) and impeller base (89) are normally engaged in rotary sealing relationship by springs (44, 78) but shift apart responsive to introduction of cleaning solution into the housing (58, 84) so that the cleaning solution is discharged into the tank at the base of the impeller (90) after washing the seals (74, 86) to facilitate cleaning without manual disassembly or scrubbing.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing free descent of a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit is mounted within a manure-containing pit for vertical sliding movement on a fixed column, and an elevating mechanism is employed for raising and lowering the pump within the pit and includes a cable having one end which is coiled on a drum while the opposite end of the cable is connected to the motor-pump unit. The weight of the motor-pump unit normally applies substantial tension to the cable. A mechanism is incorporated which is responsive to slackening of the cable and acts to arrest free descent of the motor-pump unit, as well as discontinuing operation of the cable drum mechanism.

Abstract: A suspension system for a rotor includes a coupling having a rigid shaft portion flexibly linked at two connection points to the rotor and to a drive spindle therefor.

Abstract: A cavitator comprising a cavitator plate mounted within a container is vibrated by an oscillator comprising a mechanically rotatable eccentric body to provide low frequency high power vibration. A mechanical linkage between the oscillator and the cavitator plate is tuned so that the frequency of oscillation matches the natural frequency of vibration of the linkage. The tuning can be achieved by modifying the length of the linkage or by choosing the necessary properties of the linkage or by varying the frequency of vibration of the oscillator. Various possible linkages include a pipe formed in sections, an elongated beam supported at its nodes, an annular pipe, and a pipe arrangement with overlapping section. The arrangement is of particular advantage when used with complex cavitator plates including vanes, paddles or rods or when using a cage grinder incorporating a plurality of balls for acting upon the material.

Abstract: Centrifuge device and method for fractionation and separation of finely divided solid particulate material suspended in a liquid are disclosed. The centrifuge device comprises an enclosure means for enclosing suspending liquid, a liner for entrapping solid particles present in the suspending liquid, a cap for retaining the liquid and liner in said enclosure means and rotation means for rotating the enclosure means about the vertical axis thereof.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for pressuring a hard frozen comestible, similar to hardened ice cream, while simultaneously subjecting it to mechanical action to reduce the crystal and cell structure of the material to transform it into a soft, smooth and creamy texture only slightly less cold than its starting temperature. The apparatus includes a hopper for receiving the hard frozen comestible to be treated, an auger positioned above the hopper and automatically actuated by movement of the hopper toward the auger to produce conditioning of the comestible by the auger as the hopper and auger move toward one another into an adjacent relationship. The hopper is supported on a saddle member, and vertical guide members are employed for supporting and guiding the saddle member during vertical movement thereof provided by linkage assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mixer ideally suited for mixing of viscous, pasty and semi-solid materials. The mixer comprises at least one propeller having a central hub fixedly secured to the drive shaft and a plurality of axially pitched, radial blades carried by the hub. Preferably the blades terminate in an outer, annular thin rim. The propeller is used in an assembly which includes a stator that is supported by a spider having a second hub that is slideably and rotatably received over the drive shaft and that supports a plurality of arms which surround the propeller. A second plurality of axially pitched, radial blades are carried by the second hub, preferably of equal number and substantially the same configuration as the first plurality of blades of the propeller. These blades are centrally supported by a third hub which is also slideably and rotatably received over the drive shaft and the blades preferably terminate in a second, outer, annular thin rim which is also attached to the arms of the spider.

Abstract: A mixing chamber silo is described for loose material with a mixing chamber on the silo floor and with a passage between the central mixing compartment and the outer wall of the silo through which the mixed loose material is removed. The passage has a dividing wall between the central mixing compartment and a conduit under the chamber ceiling. Only mixed loose material passes through this opening to conduit and then to the removal outlet. There is no direct connection from the silo area to the removal outlet.

Abstract: A feed mixer includes a mixer tank with a bottom wall having two curved wall portions defining the bottom of a large main chamber and smaller auxiliary chamber with an elongated ridge therebetween. A rotor having several elongated rotor bars adjacent the outer periphery is supported in the main chamber for rotation in a direction for movement of the rotor bars across the bottom of the main chamber toward the auxiliary chamber. The auxiliary chamber includes a pair of stacked augers adapted for moving material from one end of the tank to the other in opposite directions. Material is thus continuously cycled from the main chamber into a lower portion of the auxiliary chamber where it is moved toward one end of the mixer, forced upwardly into an upper portion of the auxiliary chamber and then directed toward the opposite end of the tank while spilling back into the main chamber for efficient end-to-end mixing of even long stringy hay material.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a rotor speed photosensor assembly includes a mounting ring fixedly attached to the stationary element of the centrifuge. The mounting ring has a cutout portion thereon which is adapted to receive a photosensor mounting board which carries the photosensor assembly. Adjustable mounting elements connect the photosensor mounting board to the mounting ring and permit the precise adjustment of the sensor with respect to the ring to thereby dispose the sensor in a predetermined optimal speed-sensing relationship with respect to the rotor.

Abstract: A centrifuge has ejection openings in the jacket of the drum to which channels extending from the solids space lead. The flow through the channels can be blocked off by an annular valve body. A closure compartment is associated with the valve body. Closure fluid is supplied to the closure compartment through a line from a catch gutter. The line consists of two connected components. The components can be separated by a piston with a flowthrough channel. When the piston is in the separating position, in which it blocks off an opening in the first line component, the flowthrough channel connects the second line component with an off-flow channel that is open to the atmosphere. In this position the second line component and the closure compartment are depressurized so that the valve body can move into an opening position. This opening motion is reinforced with opening water conveyed through three channels to an opening chamber.

Abstract: A buffing wheel hub device comprising telescoping male and female units having axially extending finger members supporting a plurality of buffing wheels thereon between end plates of said units to compactly support and drive said wheels rotatably by an arbor on which said units and buffing wheels are secured and mounted for rotation. The finger members each have arbor bore adjacent portions defined by radially inclined surfaces tapering toward each other and radially extending stems of substantially lesser transverse cross-sectional thickness than the transverse cross-sectional thickness of the bore adjacent portions, whereby flexing of the finger members under centrifugal force is generated, permitting improved engagement with the buffing wheels supported thereon. The end plates have openings transversely therethrough for passage of ambient cooling air into said hub and about said finger members. The finger members of one said unit are relatively shorter than the finger members of the other said unit.