Abstract: A disk attrition device 10 or 50 for pulping or refining slurried material has a centrifugal rotor pump that reverses the flow of material through the attrition zone 13 between rotor and stator working bars. Rotor 12 has centrifugal pump vanes 20 axially near attrition zone 13 and disposed around a peripheral pumping region 17, and rotor 12 has a hollow interior 30 extending from the inner periphery of the attrition zone to the pumping region. Pump vanes 20 provide sufficient centrifugal pumping force so that slurried material enters the outer periphery of the attrition zone, passes radially inward through the attrition zone against the outward pumping force of the working bars, and flows through the hollow rotor interior to the pumping region, where it is pumped radially outward.

Abstract: An inclined and perforated grate 20 is arranged in a hand-fired, solid fuel stove 10 having a fuel door 11, an ash pit 18 under grate 20, and a combustion air inlet opening 24 to a region under grate 20. Grate 20 inclines to slope downward with increasing distance from fuel door 11, the upper surface of grate 20 is generally flat, and it is arranged to stay fixed in place during use. The central region of grate 20 has a plurality of perforations 22 through which combustion air can rise and ashes can fall. Fuel door 11 is arranged to provide access to grate 20 so that a hand-held poker 40 can be scuffed up and down the inclined upper surface of grate 20 to dislodge ashes that fall through perforations 22 into ash pit 18.

Abstract: A control regulates the rate of flow of combustion air flowing into an airtight stove or furnace10 containing a fire. A control element 15 or 45 is arranged in communication with the air inflow stream and moves in response to the velocity of the flowing air. The control element 15 or 45 moves to constrict the area of the inflow stream as air velocity increases and to open the area of the inflow stream as air velocity diminishes. Springs 25 and 26 or 60-62 bias the control element toward a maximum opening, and the spring bias is non-linear to provide increasing resistance to movement as the control element approaches a closed position. The spring bias system is preferably adjustable to vary the air inflow rate that is otherwise kept steady by the control element.

Abstract: A combination lock has an array of combination elements that are each movable between first and second positions. Each element 25 has to be in a preselected one of the two positions for the lock to open, and the combination is entered by either moving or not moving each element from an intial or reset position. Then a reader 30 adjacent the elements 25 is simultaneously moved against all the elements to test their positions. Any element not in the proper position blocks the reader from movement; but if all the elements are in their preselected positions, they allow the reader to move and the lock to open. Combination elements 25 are preferably arranged concentrically around a spindle 15 having an external knob 16 that can rotate and move the spindle axially. Each of the elements 25 is preferably a slidable plate with an eccentric notch 26 that confronts and overlaps with a radial notch in reader 30.

Abstract: The inventive monitor system uses a monitor circuit 15, 25, 45 connected to a telephone circuit 10 and containing an electric switch 20 that changes state in response to change in a monitored condition. A capacitor 16 and high pass filter effectively isolate the monitor circuit from the phone circuit so as not to interfere with use of the phone circuit, and the monitor circuit is energized by a small portion of an ac ringing signal in the telephone circuit. The monitor circuit interrupts ringing of the phone circuit by briefly interacting with the phone circuit to electrically simulate answering the phone circuit. The number of rings before interruption conveys information about the state of the switch and the monitored condition when the phone is rung. The ringing interruption can occur after different intervals to indicate different circumstances, and several switches 20a and 20b can be used for monitoring several conditions.

Abstract: A feeder for particulate solid material uses a metering rotor for continuously metering the feed rate. A continuous groove around the rotor is formed between axially spaced lands, and the rotor is oriented for rotating around a horizontal axis. The material is continuously dropped onto an upper region of the rotor at a rate substantially greater than the metering rate of the feeder for continuously overfilling the groove with material. A scraper extends over the groove between the lands in the upper region for scraping away excess material to give the material remaining in the groove a predetermined and continuous shape as the rotor turns. An output conveyor continuously receives material falling from the groove as the material turns with the rotor past the upper region.

Abstract: The inventive method uses a continuous mixer for making dispersions or suspensions of a solid phase in a liquid phase. The solid and liquid phases are fed continuously into the mixer at respective input rates resulting in a combined proportion of solid phase to liquid phase. The combined phases are continuously formed into a third phase as a plastic-consistency layer extending all around the mixing region. The third phase is thick enough in its plastic consistency for continuously receiving the solid and liquid phases and preventing their passage through the mixing region until they are homogeneously mixed together. The third phase is thoroughly mixed until it changes from its plastic consistency to a substantially more flowable fourth phase capable of continuous output flow from the mixer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cement compositions including both mortars and concretes and methods of making such compositions. The invention further concerns the discovery that mortars and concretes can be obtained with improved properties by including in their composition an aggregate filler ingredient which has been pretreated by an acidizing and de-acidizing process.

Abstract: The inventive rotor operates in a mixer-refiner-reactor of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,050. The rotor body is formed with axially extending dovetail slots opening radially inward from the cylindrical periphery of the rotor body. The slots are filled with transverse plates having bases that fit in the slots, and each of the plates has a projection extending radially outward beyond the periphery of the rotor body to provide a working surface for engaging material. The plates can be set at angles relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rotor body, and liner strips preferably fit between the bases of the plates and the inside surfaces of the slots. Spacer plates can be fitted in the slots between the plates having projections, which can vary from a single projection extending substantially across a slot to shorter projections in different transverse positions relative to the slot.

Abstract: The invention is a method of correlating the stator and rotor in a mixer-refiner-reactor of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,050. The mixer is set up originally with an estimated correlation between the stator and the rotor by establishing the total working area of discrete raised bars in the rotor and stator and by establishing the stator bar height, the radial gap between the rotor bars and the inside surface of the stator, and the proportion of predominance of feed bars in the stator. The material to be processed is then input into the mixer, and the power consumption is monitored. Depending on the results, the stator bars are then changed according to selected relationships to increase or decrease the rotor penetration of the layer of material formed around the stator in response to a given rate of input of material.

Abstract: An air scrubber has inner and outer concentric annular chambers separated by a common wall and an inlet to the outer chamber and an outlet from the inner chamber. The chambers connect together at one end of the scrubber, and a fan draws air from the outer chamber and forces it out through the inner chamber. The common wall has a circulation opening and the scrubber contains a quantity of liquid circulated through the chambers and the fan to spray through the opening in the common wall to mix with incoming air, to pass through the fan as a finely divided mist, and to return to the opening. Scrubbing liquid is input periodically and output through a preferably adjustable output opening to regulate the quantity of liquid circulated through the scrubber by the fan. Aerosol eliminator openings along the air outlet passageway aid in removal of any liquid aerosol still entrained in the output air.

Abstract: Paper, cardboard, thin wood chips, and other feltable, non-flowable and generally laminar materials are stored in a silo and supported by generally parallel beams at a level above a base platform. The material mats together and is self-supporting in a general arch shape between the beams and is removed from the silo by lowering the beams one at a time to lower a portion of the material while the rest of the material is self-supporting in a general arch shape upheld by beams other than the lowered beam. Lowered material is moved off the base platform and out from under the self-supporting material above, the lowered beam is raised to its original level, then another beam is lowered to repeat the process indefinitely.

Abstract: A high viscosity material mixer-refiner having a cylindrical stator shell and rotor has improved refining surfaces on the rotor and stator. These are formed of interchangeable blocks held in place on the rotor and the stator with the blocks having teeth oriented in different aspects to the relative motion between the rotor and the stator. The teeth are preferably raised bars with orientations for advancing or retarding material. The blocks are arranged in desired patterns to accomplish optimum mixing and refining.