Abstract: Apparatus for discharging bulk material into a pneumatic conveyor conduit has two chambers, one disposed above the other, the upper chamber having an inlet orifice controllable by a pivotal closure flap and the lower chamber communicating with an outlet orifice from the upper chamber, also controllable by a pivotal closure flap. The flaps are balanced as by counterweights so as to leave their respective orifices virtually completely open in the absence of outside force acting on the flaps, and pressure nozzles are disposed adjacent the flaps in their fully open position, to assist movement towards their closed positions as required. A level sensing means is arranged in the lower chamber to sense when material therein drops to a predetermined level, for re-filling of the chamber from the upper chamber.

Abstract: The atomizer valve assembly is constructed and arranged so that upon depressing an actuator thereof, a metered amount of liquid is first placed under pressure followed by the opening of a valve to dispense pressurized liquid from a nozzle in the actuator in a fine spray or puff of liquid. The assembly includes a cylinder with a plunger therein having a lower skirt portion engaging the interior of the cylinder. The plunger is received within a piston having a similar shape as the plunger. A dispensing spring is situated between the skirt portions of the plunger and the piston. A needle valve member having a stem portion and a disc-shaped bottom portion is positioned beneath the plunger with the stem portion extending into the plunger. At least one valve is formed between the needle valve member and the plunger and a metering chamber with a spring therein is defined between the disc-shaped bottom portion and the bottom of the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved coiled spring conveyor particularly usable in an egg handling system for movement through stations which include both operations of candling and washing which comprises a plurality of coiled springs positioned about parallel rods which extend transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor and eggs, the coiled springs being generally cylindrical including a first spring section of narrow diameter for firmly gripping the parallel rods and including a second spring section being slightly concave with respect to the transverse cross-section thereof to cooperate with adjacent similarly configured second spring sections to define a plurality of egg receiving recesses therebetween, the first spring sections and second spring sections being alternately positioned along each coiled spring to define a plurality of rows of egg receiving recesses extending parallel to the direction of egg movement on the conveyor, the respective second spring sections including a generally centrally located opaque

Abstract: A conveyor system for solid bulk materials such as cement, alumina, and rock which combines the principles of a fluidizing gravity conveyor and a vibratory conveyor wherein the air supplied to the plenum chamber of the conveyor is rapidly and continuously pulsed in an on-off manner. The apparatus may take the form of a conveyor section with a pair of plenum chambers and the fluidizing gas alternately supplied to the two plenum chambers, or the invention may be used in a storage and material discharge vessel wherein a pair of conventional fluidizing gravity conveyors are employed along the length of the vessel with the pulsing taking place by alternating the supply of gas between the two conveyors.

Abstract: Conveyor means of roller type in which the rollers may be set up to define a straight path or a curved path, and in which the objects are moved with a low pressure drive through the cooperation of a low friction type round belt or rope powered by a drum and sheave mechanism that effectively operates the low friction belt or rope, the drum being provided with a wear resistant and high friction surface that will withstand the abrasive action of the belt or rope and obtain a grip on the rope.

Abstract: A continuous processing system for loading trays containing materials to be processed on carriages carried by a conveyor for processing said materials, the carriages have a removable cover or lid with at least one side open and the tray feeding device is synchronized with intermittent motion of the carriage conveyer and aligns the tray or stacks of trays with each carriage and automatically opens and closes the cover or lid of each carriage during the period of intermittent motion to permit insertion of a tray or stack or trays.

Abstract: A coupling includes an outer cup-shaped member which acts as a support for other portions of the coupling and which itself is revolvably supported on a conveyor that moves the coupling between workpiece loading and unloading stations. The outer cup-shaped member acts as a shield against ambient conditions which may include heating, coating or other processing means. One embodiment of the invention has a plurality of fingers mounted to move radially inward of the coupling to grasp the workpiece, which fingers are mounted to form a part of the outer shield or wall at the time that they are grasping a workpiece. Another embodiment of the invention involves an internal chuck sort of coupling using an expandable elastomeric member which can expand outwardly into a grasping relationship with a hollow portion of the workpiece. The coupling and conveyor are suited for use in handling soft or easily marked materials such as plastic, soft metals and the like.

Abstract: A mist generator for producing mists having fine particle sizes which includes a jet for aspirating a liquid such as water, oil, paints, liquid suspensions and the like, a series of chambers through which said mist is successively passed and deflecting the flow of said mist by baffles, auxiliary gas jets and the like to remove the larger mist particles.

Abstract: A conveyor having a plurality of indentations sufficiently wide to receive a single article and a bar transverse to the movement of the conveyor, the bar being suspended from filaments above the conveyor a distance sufficient to pass a single layer of articles and to gently nudge superposed articles into a successive unoccupied indentation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hydraulically hoisting particulate solid mined minerals from one mine level to another in which bore holes are used as conveying conduits for the mineral-water mixtures. Batches of the mineral are charged into a pressure vessel at a lower level and discharged intermittently into a borehole conduit system in which water is circulated, under pressure, between the two mine levels. The mineral is separated from the conveying water at a higher level by a conventional dewatering apparatus and the water is returned to the vessel for mixing with a new batch of mineral. The method is conducted cyclically with mineral batches being charged to and then discharged from the vessel at controlled intervals, the control being achieved by valve means which alternately isolate and integrate the vessel with the water circuit. The pressure vessel is further characterized by a discharge port in a sidewall of the vessel connected to a discharge pipe outside the vessel.

Abstract: A carrier for the pneumatic conveying of loads over a pipeline the body of which is provided with longitudinal seals attached to its sides with provision for displacement in the vertical direction relative to the body and also provided with transverse seals at its end faces -- a forward and a rearward seal being provided to take into account the direction in which the carrier travels. The transverse seals form, in conjunction with the longitudinal seals, spaces above and below the body communicating with the space in the pipeline before and after the body, respectively, by way of at least one opening provided in each of the forward and rearward transverse seals.

Abstract: Transferring a material from a first location to a second location while suspended in a fluid includes providing a stream of a pressurized fluid and an arcuate circulation path for admixture of the material and fluid, introducing at least a portion of the pressurized fluid from the stream into the circulation path and also introducing the material into the circulation path. The mixture of pressurized fluid and material is returned to the stream of pressurized fluid and conveyed to the second location.

Abstract: An improved feeder of a concrete block splitting apparatus which splits a concrete block to form natural looking stone surfaces for gateposts, walls, etc. The feeder has a table which moves in the vertical direction with the concrete block thereon, and receiving members which receive the concrete block when the concrete block is lifted to the predetermined position. The table can be lowered to the original position for successive operations of concrete block lifting while the concrete block is held by the receiving member for the purpose of being fed toward a splitting apparatus.

Abstract: An improved scissors lift is provided which includes a working platform, two scissors linkages, a frame, and a hydraulic mechanism, all of which combine to permit the working platform to be elevated in a horizontal plane to any desired height, and to permit the lift to be collapsed to a compact position when not in use. The hydraulic mechanism, in the form of one or moe hydraulic cyliner/piston units, is mounted on the scissors linkages in an essentially vertical position in appropriate cradles between two of the arm pairs of the linkages, at a position in which there is substantial movement at both ends of the hydraulic unit. The cylinder/piston hydraulic unit is so mounted to exert a thrust primarily in the direction of the load for all positions of the linkages, and to provide an essentially constant load/thrust/speed ratio for all positions of the linkages, and also to permit full extension of the linkages without excessive movement of the hydraulic piston.

Abstract: An elevator car mounting arrangement for an elevator of the type comprising a car for carrying passengers or freight mounted in a framework hung by a wire rope and guided in its ascent and descent along guide rails fixed to a shaft. The car is arranged such that it can oscillate freely in a horizontal direction whereby the transversal vibration of the car can be prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading articles onto horizontally and vertically spaced shelves includes a support mechanism movable parallel to an open end of the shelves. The support mechanism carries a loader, which is movable in a vertical direction. A mechanism is provided for aligning the loader with any one of the plurality of vertically spaced shelves.

Abstract: A conveying truck transported by absorption force or forcing force within a transportation tube, the truck being provided at rear and front thereof with a pad for carrying wheels and a seal plate for receiving a displaceable and movable seal material within an outer peripheral groove. Each pad is supported on a rotational shaft, which projects at rear and front of the truck. By being mounted on bearings, the truck itself is rotatable relative to the pads and the seal plates.

Abstract: A device for contactless separation of individual ferromagnetic components from a flow of components, comprising a magnet and guards arranged between pole pieces. The guards are made from a non-magnetic material and confine a channel through which components are fed. The gap between the pole pieces is made narrowing in the direction of the component flow. The cross section of at least one pole piece is selected such as to ensure saturation of the magnetic material from which this pole piece is made, when a component being separated from the flow is in the narrowest portion of the pole gap.

Abstract: A method of sorting articles having major and minor surfaces such that they normally assume a position presenting one major surface against a support surface and an opposed major surface spaced from said support surface wherein the articles are aligned on a support surface and advanced in a guided single file past a discriminating means which alters the path of advance of those articles having a first given orientation of its major surface relative to the guide means. The articles of the opposite major surface orientation relative to the guide means support surface are thus segregated. Both segregated groups of articles can be merged following their orientation to a like major surface relationship to a reference support surface.A turntable imposes centrifugal forces on the articles to be sorted to pass them to a tangential guide chute in single file.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus for a pneumatic conveying system comprising a guide chute and a rotary pocket feeder. The guide chute includes a plurality of parallel rod members positioned across its inlet, an upper and lower rotating tine means, and an adjustable sized outlet. The upper and lower tine means are rotated in the same direction about parallel, vertically spaced axes and have tine members that extend outwardly of their respective axis to mesh with each other. The tine members of the upper tine means also mesh with the rod members to assist in bringing material into the chute where the material is conveyed through the variable sized outlet into the pocket feeder for delivery to the conduit of a pneumatic conveying system. The empty return portion of the pocket feeder is vented into the upper portion of the chute to prevent any pressure remaining in the pocket feeder from blowing back into the chute outlet.