Abstract: A gas is forced upwardly through a fluidization medium, such as sand, producing a fluidized bed which flows under the influence of gravity through an inclined trough. The separation of the side walls of the trough decreases in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed increasing the depth thereof. The apparent density of the fluidized bed is maintained substantially uniform, regardless of the increase in depth, by correspondingly increasing the pressure of the air forced through the medium in a manner corresponding to the depth thereof. A gas distribution plate beneath the fluidization medium having a higher resistance to the flow of gas than the layer of fluidization medium thereabove contributes to the maintenance of a substantially uniform apparent density in the fluidized bed despite variations in its depth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cracking and removing the shells from nuts is disclosed. The nuts are held between the conical end surface of a tail stock and the end of a hollow barrel. A free moving billet, having a concave, conical end surface, is positioned within the barrel at the end opposite the nut. The billet is accelerated so as to strike the nut and shatter the shell with minimum deformation thereof.