Abstract: An improved eductor-mixer system in which pressurized working fluid is discharged through a cylindrical annular nozzle as a translational high speed jet flowing longitudinally past a end of a solute inlet tube into a tubular discharge passage having a uniform inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the annular nozzle, for generating a vacuum thereby to positively draw a pressure transportable material such as a granular, powdered, or other particulate solid, or a liquid or a gas, through the solute inlet tube and into the tubular discharge passage for mixing with the working fluid to form a dispersion.

Abstract: A container for holding fluent material comprises a bag of flexible material defining a volume for containing a load of material, a rigid base for supporting the bag, and tension members within the bag for constraining the bag to assume a shape in which the bag is generally rectangular in horizontal cross section when a load is contained within the volume. The bag has four side walls, a top opening in communication with the volume for loading of fluent material into the container, and a bottom. The tension members include a first elongate flexible tension member extending across the interior of the bag between a first side wall and a second side wall of the bag, and a second elongate flexible tension member extending across the interior of the bag between a third side wall and a fourth side wall of the bag.

Abstract: A material handling system for effecting the transfer of powdered fluent material with respect to a container while preventing the escape of such material to a surrounding work environment. The system comprises a container having an opening in its top, a lower closure device secured to the container at its top movable between a closed position closing the container opening and an open position for permitting access to the interior of the container opening. An upper closure device is releasably attachable to the container above the lower closure device. At least part of the upper closure device is removed from the container to permit access to the container opening when the lower closure device is open. The system also includes a tubular head comprising an outer sleeve, and an inner tube mechanism inside the outer sleeve.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for subjecting particles dispersed in a fluid to a shearing action thereby to reduce the size of the particles. The apparatus comprises a body having a flow passage therethrough, and first and second nozzle members defining an annular orifice generally adjacent one end of the passage and generally coaxial therewith, the orifice having an axial dimension constituting its length (L) and a radial dimension constituting its width (W). The nozzle surfaces defining the orifice are generally parallel to one another and generally parallel to the axis of the one of the passage, which allows the length of the orifice to be adjusted, without changing the width of the orifice, by effecting axial movement of the second nozzle member relative to the first nozzle member. The width of the orifice may be adjusted by replacing either nozzle member with nozzle members of different configurations.

Abstract: Apparatus for pumping fluent solid material comprising first and second expansible chamber pumps and means interconnecting the pumps. The first expansible chamber pump has an inlet with a check valve for intake of material from a supply thereof on an intake stroke of the first pump and an outlet with a check valve for discharge of the material on a discharge stroke of the first pump. The apparatus also has a line for delivery of material from the outlet of the first pump. The second expansible chamber pump has an inlet with a check valve for intake of gas on an intake stroke of the second pump and an outlet with a check valve for discharge of gas on a discharge stroke of the second pump. Means interconnect the pumps for operation of the second pump through a discharge stroke on an intake stroke of the first pump and through an intake stroke on a discharge stroke of the first pump.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load.

Abstract: An eductor-mixer system in which pressurized working fluid is discharged through a nozzle as a concentric, high speed jet flowing past the end of an inlet tube into a mixing chamber for generating a vacuum thereby to positively draw a pressure transportable material through the inlet tube and into the mixing chamber and for mixing with the working fluid to form a dispersion with the walls of the mixing chamber being spaced from the projected path of the jet. A bypass is disclosed for the flow of pressurized working fluid around the nozzle thereby to control the amount of material drawn into the eductor-mixer. A recycle system is also disclosed which withdraws a portion of the mixed dispersion and recirculates it through the nozzle for shearing as it passes through the nozzle. Additional material and/or working fluid may be added so as to vary the concentration level or quality of the resulting dispersion.

Abstract: A powder and water mixing system which is operatively mounted onboard an aircraft and uses water scooping to automatically produce onboard mixing of powder and water. This system is particularly adapted to drop a fire retardant powder and water mixture from a flying aircraft and includes a pair of tanks, powder containers fore and aft of the tanks, water scoops projecting from the bottom of the aircraft, a pair of powder injection and powder and water mixing devices connected each to a tank, to a water scoop, and to a group of powder containers, a powder container selection valve interposed between each injection and mixing device and the corresponding group of powder containers, and a control connected to each selection valve and arranged to empty a powder container forward of the tanks concurrently with a powder container aft of the tanks, sequentially with water scooping passes by the aircraft.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load.