Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid from a slurry comprised of a solid and a liquid is described. The apparatus comprises a container sized and configured to receive the slurry which container comprises a removable cover sized and configured to enclose an atmosphere within the container when the cover is attached to the container, a filter disposed within the container for separating the liquid from the slurry, and a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the enclosed atmosphere of the container which pump is configured to create a vacuum within the container that causes the liquid to move through the filter, which pump is configured to vacuum material comprised of solid material, liquid material, gas or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. Related methods of separating liquid from the slurry using the apparatus of the invention are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid from a slurry comprised of a solid and a liquid is described. The apparatus comprises a container sized and configured to receive the slurry which container comprises a removable cover sized and configured to enclose an atmosphere within the container when the cover is attached to the container, a filter disposed within the container for separating the liquid from the slurry, and a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the enclosed atmosphere of the container which pump is configured to create a vacuum within the container that causes the liquid to move through the filter, which pump is configured to vacuum material comprised of solid material, liquid material, gas or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. Related methods of separating liquid from the slurry using the apparatus of the invention are also described.

Abstract: An excavation system comprises a bucket, defining an outlet at its base, in fluid communication with a suction tube in fluid communication with a jet pump, configured to create a suction in the suction tube. A related method of excavating comprises loading excavation material into a bucket which defines an outlet at its base, sizing the excavation material by sieving action of a guard substantially covering the bucket outlet, and suctioning the sized material though the bucket outlet using a vacuum created by a jet pump.

Abstract: A recirculating liquid jet pump for moving a wide variety of materials is described. The pump is preferably equipped with an intermediate collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir may also be connected to a separate container for de-watering solid-liquid mixtures to enable mixture liquid to be separated from the solids without bringing the separated liquid into contact with the motive fluid of the jet pump and without the use of excessive amounts of jet pump motive fluid.

Abstract: A colorimeter capable of calibrating color monitors, whether having cathode ray tube or liquid crystal (LCD) displays, is provided by a photometric array of photodetector and optical filter pairs. The filters include long-pass, edge filters which cover overlapping regions at the upper end of the visible spectrum and a filter which covers the entire visible spectrum. The outputs of the photodetectors are digitally synthesized to provide a response which mimics the response established by the Commission Internationale de 1′Eclairage (CIE) xyz (bar) functions almost perfectly. The response which is mimicked may be represented by the CIE color matching functions. The pairs and the associated components are mounted on a printed circuit board captured in a clamshell housing and having an array of apertures which define angularly constrained fields of view of a surface from which the light, to be colormetrically analyzed, emanates.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid from a slurry comprised of a solid and a liquid is described. The apparatus comprises a container sized and configured to receive the slurry which container comprises a removable cover sized and configured to enclose an atmosphere within the container when the cover is attached to the container, a filter disposed within the container for separating the liquid from the slurry, and a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the enclosed atmosphere of the container which pump is configured to create a vacuum within the container that causes the liquid to move through the filter, which pump is configured to vacuum material comprised of solid material, liquid material, gas or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. Related methods of separating liquid from the slurry using the apparatus of the invention are also described.

Abstract: A recirculating liquid jet pump for moving a wide variety of materials is described. The pump is preferably equipped with an intermediate collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir may also be connected to a separate container for de-watering solid-liquid mixtures to enable mixture liquid to be separated from the solids without bringing the separated liquid into contact with the motive fluid of the jet pump and without the use of excessive amounts of jet pump motive fluid.

Abstract: A system for moving a wide variety of materials using a recirculating liquid jet pump is described. The system is preferably equipped with an material collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir is also connected to a removal means and controller so that suctioned material can be removed from the collection reservoir concurrently with action of the liquid jet pump.

Abstract: An excavation system is described which comprises a bucket, defining an outlet at its base, in fluid communication with a suction tube in fluid communication with a jet pump, configured to create a suction in the suction tube. A related method of excavating is also described.

Abstract: A liquid jet pump for moving a wide variety of material is described. The liquid jet pump is comprised of a nozzle assembly and a target tube, and defines a suction chamber. The nozzle assembly is configured to pull in gas, causing a gas bearing effect wherein a layer of gas surrounds the liquid jet flow exiting the nozzle assembly. The liquid jet passes through the suction chamber with minimal deflection, reducing cavitation and improving mixing as educted materials enter the suction chamber and combine with the liquid jet. The combined material is directed into the target tube, which preferably is designed to detach from the other components and is composed of abrasion-resistant material. The target tube absorbs the majority of wear, and provides ease of changing parts.

Abstract: An improved liquid jet pump for moving solid or other materials is provided. The liquid jet pump includes a nozzle assembly, a suction chamber, and a target tube. The nozzle assembly pulls in atmospheric air, causing an air bearing effect around the liquid jet exiting the nozzle assembly. The liquid jet passes through the suction chamber with minimal deflection, reducing cavitation and improving mixing as educted materials enters the suction chamber and combines with the liquid jet. The combined material is directed into the target tube, which is designed to detach from the other components and is composed of abrasion-resistant material. The target tube absorbs the majority of wear, and provides ease of changing parts.

Abstract: In order to preclude unreliable or inaccurate spectrophotometric measurements which can be caused by thermal effects (expansion/contraction) of components of the spectrophotometer, such as the dispersive element, the arm or mounting for changing the orientation of the element to scan the spectrum and produce spectral measurements, the element, and also displacement of the photodetector, lenses and other optical elements which can caused thermal effects, and also to reduce temperature-related errors in the photodetector or other electronics of the spectrophotometer, a temperature sensor is disposed in thermally coupled relationship within the spectrophotometer housing. A motor, which is coupled to the arm to change the orientation of the element and to the motor controller, is programmed to utilize the motor as a heat source in response to the temperature of the spectrophotometer detected by the sensor when the motor is not actuating the element grating to provide spectral measurements.