Abstract: In a moving matrix magnetic separator in which a matrix device moves relative to a processing device and a seal assembly seals a longitudinal section of the matrix device to an associated processing device, the seal assembly including a sealing surface on one of the devices and a seal on the other, the improvement comprising said seal including a base portion extending generally longitudinally in the direction of motion of the matrix device; first and second salient, resilient lip portions extending from the base portion toward an associated sealing surface in the gap between the matrix device and the processing device, and extending generally longitudinally to the direction of motion of the matrix device and spaced from each other transversely to the direction of motion of the matrix device and forming a channel therebetween; a pressurized purge fluid chamber formed by the channel and the associated sealing surface; and means for supplying purging fluid to the purge fluid chamber formed by the channel and li

Abstract: Separating more magnetically susceptible particles from less magnetically susceptible particles carried in a fluid medium including simultaneously subjecting the medium to a magnetic field and a mechanical force field for separating the medium into a first flow in which magnetically susceptible particles magnetically flocculate under the influence of the magnetic field to form larger particles and a second flow which is adjacent and in communication with the first flow, and which moves locally transversely of the first flow; urging the larger particles from the first flow toward the second flow by means of the magnetic field and the mechanical force field and entrapping the larger particles entering the second flow by means of localized regions of high magnetic field gradient located along the path of the second flow.

Abstract: A vortical flow distributor for uniformly, vortically distributing incoming fluid in a plane transverse to the primary flow direction, including an outlet and at least one smaller inlet; a plenum chamber disposed between the inlet and outlet and having an area corresponding to the area of the outlet and having a length in the primary flow direction which is substantially less than its width; and a flow diverter aligned with each inlet for directing the incoming fluid to a plane transverse to the primary flow direction, and establishing a tangential flow with radial components for producing over the plenum chamber area a pattern of distributed vorticity which finally dissipates the flow velocity.