Abstract: A component is treated in a fluidized bed by insertion of only a treatment part of the component into the treatment chamber of a fluidized bed apparatus. The non-treatment part of the component is located substantially outside the treatment chamber and out of contact with the fluidized bed. The boundary between the treatment part and the non-treatment part of the component is defined by a boundary containment surface at a fixed location with respect to the component. The boundary containment surface may be a seal which seals between the component to be treated and an aperture in a side wall of the treatment chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of a component using a fluidized bed of powder fluidized by a gas flow has a treatment chamber for receiving at least a treatment part of the component and for containing the fluidized bed. A fluidizing gas inlet provides fluidizing gas to the treatment chamber and a fluidizing gas outlet removes used fluidizing gas from the treatment chamber. A powder screen is located between the treatment chamber and the fluidizing gas outlet, the powder screen operable substantially to prevent loss of powder from the fluidizing bed entrained in the fluidizing gas removed from the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber can be small and moveable, and then applied to a part of a component to be treated. Heating of the fluidized bed may be provided by heating of the fluidizing gas in a fluidizing gas reservoir remote from the treatment chamber.

Abstract: A ball housing and dispensing apparatus comprises a housing container capable of housing a plurality of golf balls and a ball dispenser having a gate member to allow a golfer to selectively control the dispensation of a single golf ball at a time, without requiring the golfer to alter his stance prior to each swing or putt. The gate member has first and second portions attached through a connecting member, so as to allow the first and second portions to reciprocate in unison with each other across a passageway. The ball dispenser has a hold position and a dispensing position, according to which one of the reciprocating portions of the gate member is retracted from a passageway and which enters into the passageway. In one embodiment, the reciprocation of the gate member is driven by a solenoid which is attached to the gate member by a spring. In an alternative embodiment the dispenser is adapted to place a golf ball on a tee at the striking location.

Abstract: A ball dispensing apparatus comprises a container capable of housing a plurality of golf balls and a ball dispenser having a gate member to allow a golfer to selectively control the dispensation of a single golf ball at a time, without requiring the golfer to alter his or her stance prior to each swing or putt. The gate member has first and second gate portions attached by a connecting member, so as to allow the first and second gate portions to reciprocate in unison with each other across an inclined passageway within the ball dispenser. The ball dispenser has a hold position and a dispensing position. In the hold position the first gate portion is retracted from the passageway and the second gate portion extends into the passageway, while in the dispensing position the first gate portion extends into the passageway and the second gate portion is retracted from the passageway.