Abstract: A slurry dividing apparatus is configured to divide a main slurry stream into smaller constituent slurry streams, wherein each stream contains a desired proportion of suspended solids. The dividing apparatus includes a main flow channel and a plurality of branch flow channels extending upward from a flow divider that terminates an upper end of the main flow channel. The main slurry stream enters the main flow channel, at an inlet opening thereof, and is decelerated, by an upward extension and expanding cross-section of the main flow channel, before reaching the flow divider and being divided into the smaller constituent slurry streams flowing within the plurality of branch flow channels. Each of the smaller streams flows up and then over a weir, which extends across an upper portion of each of the branch flow channels, and then down into a corresponding discharge flow channel of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention includes a hammermill for comminuting material. The hammer includes a housing and a cutting plate disposed within the housing. A rotor assembly is rotatably mounted within the housing about an axis of rotation and a plurality of hammers are functionally coupled to the rotor assembly. The housing is rotatable about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The invention includes a hammermill for comminuting material. The hammer includes a housing and a cutting plate disposed within the housing. A rotor assembly is rotatably mounted within the housing about an axis of rotation and a plurality of hammers are functionally coupled to the rotor assembly. The housing is rotatable about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A slurry dividing apparatus is configured to divide a main slurry stream into smaller constituent slurry streams, wherein each stream contains a desired proportion of suspended solids. The dividing apparatus includes a main flow channel and a plurality of branch flow channels extending upward from a flow divider that terminates an upper end of the main flow channel. The main slurry stream enters the main flow channel, at an inlet opening thereof, and is decelerated, by an upward extension and expanding cross-section of the main flow channel, before reaching the flow divider and being divided into the smaller constituent slurry streams flowing within the plurality of branch flow channels. Each of the smaller streams flows up and then over a weir, which extends across an upper portion of each of the branch flow channels, and then down into a corresponding discharge flow channel of the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved rotor design for hammermills. The invention eliminates the solid rotor shaft and replaces it with a tubular structure comprised of two stub rotor shafts with plate flanges and grooved spacer rings therebetween. End head disks, attached to the plate flanges, and intermediate disks are concentrically positioned with the axis of rotation of the assembly. The intermediate disks are held in alignment by the pilot groove located in the spacer rings. The flanges, stub shafts, spacer rings and intermediate disks are supported and held in proper alignment by tension rod compression. The resulting tubular rotor shaft assembly is less massive, more stiff, less susceptible to vibration, has a reduced bending stress, is less expensive to startup and operate and less expensive and more flexible in terms of component inventory than known solid through-shaft rotors.

Abstract: An improved rotor design for hammermills. The invention eliminates the solid rotor shaft and replaces it with a tubular structure comprised of two stub rotor shafts with plate flanges and grooved spacer rings therebetween. End head disks, attached to the plate flanges, and intermediate disks are concentrically positioned with the axis of rotation of the assembly. The intermediate disks are held in alignment by the pilot groove located in the spacer rings. The flanges, stub shafts, spacer rings and intermediate disks are supported and held in proper alignment by tension rod compression. The resulting tubular rotor shaft assembly is less massive, more stiff, less susceptible to vibration, has a reduced bending stress, is less expensive to startup and operate and less expensive and more flexible in terms of component inventory than known solid through-shaft rotors.

Abstract: A grain separator having an easily replaceable seal. The separator comprises a housing and a rotatable grain separation drum carried by the housing, the drum having an end face with an external annular bearing surface. A drive shaft extends axially into the drum through the end face, and a grain inlet is carried exteriorly of the housing and includes a bearing rotationally supporting an end of the drive shaft. The inlet includes an inlet spout that extends through the end face for conveying grain to the drum. An easily removable and replaceable split seal is carried about the inlet spout and engages the annular bearing surface to seal the drum from the exterior of the inlet spout, and pressure means are provided for applying axial pressure to the split seal to urge the seal against the annular bearing surface. Disclosed also is a method for seal replacement.

Abstract: An improved rotor design for hammermills. The invention eliminates the solid rotor shaft and replaces it with a tubular structure comprised of two stub rotor shafts with plate flanges and grooved spacer rings therebetween. End head disks, attached to the plate flanges, and intermediate disks are concentrically positioned with the axis of rotation of the assembly. The intermediate disks are held in alignment by the pilot groove located in the spacer rings. The flanges, stub shafts, spacer rings and intermediate disks are supported and held in proper alignment by tension rod compression. The resulting tubular rotor shaft assembly is less massive, more stiff, less susceptible to vibration, has a reduced bending stress, is less expensive to startup and operate and less expensive and more flexible in terms of component inventory than known solid through-shaft rotors.

Abstract: An improved centrifugal pellet dryer that employs forced air in the direction opposite that of the pellet travel through the dryer. The air may be preheated depending on the particular product. The resulting airstream reduces water spray and lowers the humidity level of the air in the dryer system. The airstream exits the dryer at or below the lower level of the rotor, thus providing increased exposure to the airflow. The result is enhanced drying effectiveness and increased dryer capacity.

Abstract: An improved centrifugal pellet dryer that employs forced air in the direction opposite that of the pellet travel through the dryer. The air may be preheated depending on the particular product. The resulting airstream reduces water spray and lowers the humidity level of the air in the dryer system. The airstream exits the dryer at or below the lower level of the rotor, thus providing increased exposure to the airflow. The result is enhanced drying effectiveness and increased dryer capacity.

Abstract: A grain separator having an easily replaceable seal. The separator comprises a housing and a rotatable grain separation drum carried by the housing, the drum having an end face with an external annular bearing surface. A drive shaft extends axially into the drum through the end face, and a grain inlet is carried exteriorly of the housing and includes a bearing rotationally supporting an end of the drive shaft. The inlet includes an inlet spout that extends through the end face for conveying grain to the drum. An easily removable and replaceable split seal is carried about the inlet spout and engages the annular bearing surface to seal the drum from the exterior of the inlet spout, and pressure means are provided for applying axial pressure to the split seal to urge the seal against the annular bearing surface. Disclosed also is a method for seal replacement.

Abstract: An improved rotor design for hammermills. The invention eliminates the solid rotor shaft and replaces it with a tubular structure comprised of two stub rotor shafts with plate flanges and grooved spacer rings therebetween. End head disks, attached to the plate flanges, and intermediate disks are concentrically positioned with the axis of rotation of the assembly. The intermediate disks are held in alignment by the pilot groove located in the spacer rings. The flanges, stub shafts, spacer rings and intermediate disks are supported and held in proper alignment by tension rod compression. The resulting tubular rotor shaft assembly is less massive, more stiff, less susceptible to vibration, has a reduced bending stress, is less expensive to startup and operate and less expensive and more flexible in terms of component inventory than known solid through-shaft rotors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved assembly for rotating and sealing a centrifugal dryer and a dryer including such a sealing assembly. A seal according to the present invention includes an end cap supporting a bearing that in turn rotationally supports a rotor. The end cap has an attachment portion and a seal ring including a groove receiving a v-ring seal that sealingly engages the stub shaft attached to the dryer rotor. The seal ring defines a drain cavity having at least one drain port out of which any fluid that infiltrates past the v-ring seal can drain from the end cap. The drain port is disposed at a lower level than the v-ring seal and the grease seal so that fluid can drain away without accumulating and infiltrating past the bearing grease seal and into the bearing compartment formed between the end cap and rotor the stub shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical drop, multi-pass product cleaner with air flow control on the outlet side of the cleaner, wherein the air flow control includes dampers movable between open and constricted positions disposed within at least one of a plurality of air outlets of the product cleaner.

Abstract: The present invention provide apparatus and method for removing agglomerates from a slurry comprising a transport fluid and particulate matter carried by the transport fluid. The present invention includes a fluid flow control unit and an agglomerate removal unit fluidly connected thereto. The fluid flow control unit provides for a reduction in the flow velocity entering the agglomerate removal unit by increasing the output cross section relative to the input cross section and by providing a dewatering door that can be opened to varying degrees to allow variable outflow of transport fluid from the fluid flow control unit. The agglomerate removal unit has at least a first screen over which the slurry flows as it exits the fluid control unit. The screen includes a plurality of apertures appropriately sized to allow the transport fluid and the particulate matter to flow therethrough but not the agglomerates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separator having a rotatable frame and a plurality of sizing panels attached thereto. The frame has a pair of end rings and a plurality of stringers extending longitudinally between the end rings. Each stringer has a substantially rectangular cross section. The cylinder panels each have a pair of circumferentially extending edges and a pair of longitudinally extending edges. Each sizing panel includes a pair of longitudinally extending flanges that engage the stringer in the separator frame and is clamped in place within the channel of a clamp bar attached on the external surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: There is provided an improved centrifugal dryer that includes a motor section or portion, a dryer section or portion disposed therebelow, and a reservoir section or portion disposed below the dryer portion, the dryer portion being hingedly attached to the reservoir portion. A product slurry is introduced into the dryer portion through a center inlet pipe and flows into the dryer section where the product is dried by forcing the fluid in the slurry through apertures in a perforated screen held in position between upper and lower screen positioning plates.

Abstract: A trommel cleaner apparatus having a non-circular rotatable shaft with a plurality of flapper elements mounted thereto for wiping and cleaning engagement with a trommel is provided herein. The flapper elements each have a hub having inner and outer surfaces, with the outer surface including a plurality of flappers extending therefrom so as to engage a trommel in cleaning operation and with the inner surface including a plurality of indexing lobes to variably position the flapper element relative to the shaft and adjacent flapper elements, thereby reducing the torque spikes applied to the trommel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a trommel having a plurality of screen panels whose longitudinally extending edges are disposed within a channel formed in a longitudinally extending rib member and fastened in place.