Abstract: A molten thermoplastic circulation system that is used in conjunction with thermoplastic melter kettles. The molten circulation system includes a vertical material transfer tube that is coupled to a melter kettle and includes an auger. The vertical material transfer tube is coupled to the top and bottom of a melter kettle so as to transfer molten thermoplastic between the bottom and top of the melter kettle. The vertical material transfer tube is at least partially surrounded by a heat chamber through which a heated fluid such as hot combustion gases or heated oil can flow. In use molten thermoplastic material that is heated at a higher temperature at the bottom of a melter kettle near the combustion chamber is transferred through the vertical material transfer tube to the top of the melter kettle to improve melting efficiency.

Abstract: An auxiliary heat exchanger that is used in conjunction with thermoplastic melter kettles. The auxiliary heat exchanger receives molten thermoplastic material from the bottom of a melter kettle, transports the molten thermoplastic material though the auxiliary heat exchanger and feeds the molten thermoplastic material into the top of the melter kettle thereby mixing hotter molten thermoplastic material from the bottom of the melter kettle into cooler thermoplastic material near the top of the melter kettle. The auxiliary heat exchanger includes an oil bath chamber and parallel heat transfer tubes that are arranged in a serpentine configuration and include motor drive augers to transport molten thermoplastic material through the auxiliary heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermoplastic melter kettle having a heat dome chamber from which combustion gases are exhausted through a conduit that connects between a top of the heat dome chamber and the top of the melter kettle. An adjustable venting arrangement coupled to the conduit allows for adjustment of the flow of exhaust gases through the conduit.

Abstract: A material-removal system can include a spray-head assembly with a plurality of rotatable fluid bars arranged in a single shroud with overlapping sweeps. A gear-box assembly can index the rotations of the fluid bars to coordinate their rotation and prevent the fluid bars from interfering with one another. The material-removal system can be mounted on a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. The vehicle can have a fluid-storage tank and a debris tank that can be tilted for dumping operation while the fluid-storage tank remains stationary. A peristaltic pump can advantageously remove liquid waste from the debris tank while a vacuum system has the debris tank operating under vacuum. The spray-head assembly can be coupled to the vehicle with an articulating-arm assembly that can include a four-bar mechanism and a pair of rotary actuators to facilitate vertical and rotational movement of the arm assembly and the spray-head assembly.

Abstract: A material feed system for melter kettles which provides an area for a tender to load material to be charged into a melter kettle at a location which is safely remote from a flame conductor assembly that allows any flames or gasses that build up in melter kettle to be released. The material feed system also includes an air intake duct through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.

Abstract: A material-removal system can include a spray-head assembly with a plurality of rotatable fluid bars arranged in a single shroud with overlapping sweeps. A gear-box assembly can index the rotations of the fluid bars to coordinate their rotation and prevent the fluid bars from interfering with one another. The material-removal system can be mounted on a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. The vehicle can have a fluid-storage tank and a debris tank that can be tilted for dumping operation while the fluid-storage tank remains stationary. A peristaltic pump can advantageously remove liquid waste from the debris tank while a vacuum system has the debris tank operating under vacuum. The spray-head assembly can be coupled to the vehicle with an articulating-arm assembly that can include a four-bar mechanism and a pair of rotary actuators to facilitate vertical and rotational movement of the arm assembly and the spray-head assembly.

Abstract: A material feed system for melter kettles which provides an area for a tender to load material to be charged into a melter kettle at a location which is safely remote from a flame conductor assembly that allows any flames or gasses that build up in melter kettle to be released. The material feed system also includes an air intake duct through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.

Abstract: A material-removal system can include a spray-head assembly with a plurality of rotatable fluid bars arranged in a single shroud with overlapping sweeps. A gear-box assembly can index the rotations of the fluid bars to coordinate their rotation and prevent the fluid bars from interfering with one another. The material-removal system can be mounted on a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. The vehicle can have a fluid-storage tank and a debris tank that can be tilted for dumping operation while the fluid-storage tank remains stationary. A peristaltic pump can advantageously remove liquid waste from the debris tank while a vacuum system has the debris tank operating under vacuum. The spray-head assembly can be coupled to the vehicle with an articulating-arm assembly that can include a four-bar mechanism and a pair of rotary actuators to facilitate vertical and rotational movement of the arm assembly and the spray-head assembly.

Abstract: A portable speech vocalizer in which a user can select phonemes and phoneme combinations for display and sounding. Switches on keyboard or joystick allow selection of sounds in two different scanning modes, as well as selection of volume and inflection of sounds, and selection of duration or speed of sounds.