Abstract: A reaction furnace includes a rotating core within a heated shell, the core and shell defining an active annular zone. An interrupted helical screw carried by the core conveys material from an inlet at one end of the zone to an outlet at the opposite end of the zone. The furnace is operated with the annulus only partially filled. Volatiles rise to a void space at the top of the annulus and are drawn off.

Abstract: A reaction furnace includes a rotating core within a heated shell, the core and shell defining an active annular zone. An interrupted helical screw carried by the core conveys material from an inlet at one end of the zone to an outlet at the opposite end of the zone. The furnace is operated with the annulus only partially filled. Volatiles rise to a void space at the top of the annulus and are drawn off.

Abstract: A method for coating a cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles into a beverage container from spray nozzles external to the container. The container may be sprayed by directing a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin into the container to deposit a substantially uniform coating. Alternatively, a continuous flow of resin at a predetermined rate may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container. The coating is rendered continuous by preheating the container to temperatures above the softening point of the resin. Postheating of the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300.degree. F. matures the coating.

Abstract: A method for coating a slender, cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles entrained in a gas stream at a substantially uniform rate at a velocity of from about 20 ft/min. to about 1000 ft/min. from a nozzle. The container may be sprayed by directing a continuous flow of resin particles at an accurate, predetermined rate into the container to deposit a substantially uniformly distributed coating. Alternatively, a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container, by inducing an electrostatic charge on the resin particles, or a combination of both. The coating may be matured by preheating the container to a high temperature or by postheating the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300.degree. F.

Abstract: An appliance for mixing bread dough is constructed in association with a support structure adapted for mounting atop an open bucket. A high speed, low power motor is mounted atop the structure, and is connected through a speed-reducing transmission to drive a shaft projecting down from the support structure in axial alignment with the center of the bucket. A dough hook is attached to the driven shaft to turn within the bucket. The motor is selected from those which are rated between one-tenth and one-fifteenth horsepower, have a minimum unloaded speed of 8,000 rpm and a maximum loaded speed of 5,000 rpm. The reduction ratio of the transmission is correlated with the motor to effect an unloaded mixing speed for the dough hook of no less than 75 rpm and a maximum kneading speed at full load of no more than 50 rpm.

Abstract: The interior of cylindrical metal containers are coated with a thin, substantially uniform comestible coating by spraying finely divided resinous particles into the container after it has been preheated by a plasma arc-generated flame to a temperature above the softening point of the resin. The process is capable of coating containers at rates up to about 600 containers per minute with a substantially pore-free film having a thickness less than about one mil to as low as 0.1 mil and lower. Typical of containers coated by the process are conventional two-piece aluminum containers. Typical preheat temperatures are from about 150.degree. F. to about 525.degree. F. for aluminum containers and from about 150.degree. F. to about 1000.degree. F. for steel containers. A typical preheat time is from about 30 to about 300 milliseconds. Typical resins are finely divided thermosetting epoxy powders. The plasma arc device may also be used to post-heat coated containers to mature the coating.

Abstract: A small-mouthed container having a continuous resinous coating covering the interior of said container and end, said interior coating having a thickness less than about one mil and being free of low molecular weight organic matter, is disclosed herein. Typical containers are food and beverage containers having cylindrical metal walls and circular disc-shaped ends. The coating is typically a comestible coating having a thickness of less than one mil and having no occluded solvent therein. Thermoset resinous coatings are particularly useful.A coating is applied by flowing a mixture of gas and fine resin particles through a nozzle into the vicinity of a plasma arc flame which at least partially melts the surface of said particles and propels said particles into a rapidly spinning container having one closed end. A predetermined quantity of resin is pulsed through the nozzle to deposit on the interior of the container a uniform coating of resin particles.

Abstract: A method and means for more efficiently stabilizing a plasma arc produced within a plasma producing device. Improved arc stabilization is achieved by dissipating the heat generated by the electrodes of the plasma producing device under controlled conditions. This is achieved, in one instance, by direct liquid cooling of the anode and concomitantly therewith indirect liquid cooling of the cathode. The latter is achieved by passage of a liquid coolant around a heat sink positioned in conductive relationship with the cathode.

Abstract: A method for coating a cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles at a velocity of at least about 200 feet per minute from a spray nozzle external to the container into the interior of a rapidly revolving container, particularly slender, cylindrical containers. The container may be sprayed by directing a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin into the container to deposit a substantially uniform coating. Alternatively, a continuous flow of resin at a predetermined rate may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container. The coating is rendered continuous by preheating the container to temperatures above the softening point of the resin. Postheating of the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300.degree. F matures the coating.

Abstract: A powder dispensing device which includes an indexing motor for incrementally rotating a flexible rotor wheel fitted with a plurality of spaced apart, open ended metering chambers. The device is designed to allow the metering chamber to fill with powder while rotating within a powder reservoir and to selectively register with a peripherally sealable tubular outlet through which the powder collected therein can be pneumatically ejected. The indexing motor includes a sectored drive gear loosely held about an elongated shaft fixed at its lower end to a pin wheel having a number of spaced apart bored openings. The bored openings hold a plurality of vertically slidable pins which selectively engage the sectored drive gear. A pneumatic piston cooperatively connected to a tooth-rack gear is provided for moving the sectored drive gear incrementally.

Abstract: A powder feeder, especially useful for transporting particulate materials at very low, yet precisely controlled, rates. A container preferably a closed vessel, is provided with an orifice to admit gas up through the bottom of the vessel in a high velocity column (or jet). A pair of concentric conduits is suspended from the top of the vessel in approximately axial alignment with the orifice so that the column of gas is captured within the outer conduit and substantially all enters the inner conduit. Particulate material (such as metal powder) is stored in the space between the outer conduit and the walls of the vessel. The spacing of the outer conduit from the bottom of the vessel is adjusted to admit particulate material to the vicinity of the orifice at a controlled rate but to prevent flooding of the space between the orifice and the conduits. When gas is forced through the orifice, particulate material is lifted by the venturi pressure effect created by the gas column.

Abstract: A novel process for applying cured thermoset resinous coatings to various kinds of substrates and in particular, to thin metal substrates, is disclosed. Finely divided thermosettable resinous particles containing a solid catalyst are introduced into a region of a plasma arc generated flame having a temperature greater than the melting point of said resin. The residence time of said resinous particles in the vicinity of said flame is maintained for a period sufficient to liquify substantially said particles and to initiate polymerization of the thermosettable resin particles. The liquified resin particles are propelled towards a substrate with sufficient velocity to cause said liquified resinous particles to impact with sufficient force to cause said particles to flow upon said substrate to coat same with a continuous, thin coating. The coated substrate is then cooled at a rate sufficiently slow to permit said coating to cure.

Abstract: A small-mouthed container having a continuous resinous coating covering the interior of said container and end, said interior coating having a thickness less than about 1 mil and being free of low molecular weight organic matter, is disclosed herein. Typical containers are food and beverage containers having cylindrical metal walls and circular disc-shaped ends. The coating is typically a comestible coating having a thickness of less than 1 mil and having no occluded solvent therein. Thermoset resinous coatings are particularly useful.A coating is applied by flowing a mixture of gas and fine resin particles through a nozzle into the vicinity of a plasma arc flame which at least partially melts the surface of said particles and propels said particles into a rapidly spinning container having one closed end. A predetermined quantity of resin is pulsed through the nozzle to deposit on the interior of the container a uniform coating of resin particles.

Abstract: A matched pair of milling wheels for use in home grain mills includes a stator and a rotor. Each wheel is ideally composite, with a metal casting supporting a peripheral ring of cast stone. When the wheels are mounted in a mill with their peripheral grinding surfaces juxtaposed, their interior sections define a central cavity which functions as a crushing section. The crushing section contains opposed cutting teeth constituting means for primary shearing and grooves spaced between the cutting teeth constituting means for secondary shearing action. The grooves also provide access for grain particles to migrate out toward the grinding interface between the peripheral cast stone rings.

Abstract: An electrically neutral, D.C.-induced cold plasma is used to cauterize tissue in the vicinity of a surgical incision. The incision may itself be formed by such a plasma.

Abstract: A way system for mounting motors to a panel with the motor on one side and the ways on the opposite side of the panel. The ways may be mounted beneath the motor support base of a home grain mill with the motor spaced from the upper surface of the base to advance and retract a rotor stone with respect to a stator stone.