Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating discrete pieces of material, particularly pieces of lignocellulosic furnish, to ensure adequate conductance thereof for orientation in an electric field for electrostatic alignment. The furnish is exposed to a conductance-improving substance of substances, such as an alkali or alkaline earth metal salts of weak acid, quaternary ammonium salts, or gases such as ammonia, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, etc. prior to being subjected to the electric field.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking up clumps of particulate material into an even dispersion entrained within an airstream. It includes an elongated vortex tube that is open to an intake of a radial blade blower. The opposite end of the vortex tube includes a coaxial choke orifice. Particulate material is fed into the vortex tube through a tangential chute at a location adjacent the one vortex tube end. In operation, a pair of coaxial helical or vortex airstreams are formed within the vortex tube, one contained within the other. The outer vortex includes a directional component directed outward from the blower intake, while the inner vortex feeds toward the blower intake and blower blades. Material fed through the chute is received tangentially within the first outer vortex and is drawn in the outward direction. As its velocity drops, it meets the interface between the two concentric vortices.

Abstract: The description describes a process for forming a composite mat of directionally oriented lignocellulosic material in which elongated small pieces of the material are caused to descend individually as separate and discrete objects through an electric field orienting zone. A horizontal mat-support surface is moved immediately below the orienting zone to receive the descending pieces thereon with the elongated pieces overlapping each other to form a composite mat. An electric current is passed through the mat to produce a directional electric field immediately above the mat in which the electric field is directed in the direction of movement of the mat and parallel with the mat to exert forces on the elongated small pieces to cause the pieces to orient their long dimensions in the direction of the electric field as the pieces descend through the orienting zone in the formation of the composite mat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming boards and slats by consolidation of a mat of individual elongated fibers and particles which are preliminarily aligned or oriented in the same direction by free-fall through an electric field in order to achieve the desired physical properties such as stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability in the grain direction.