Abstract: Method and apparatus for rapidly crust or through freezing a particle by simultaneously moving the particle through a bath of cryogenic liquid and exposing the particle or portions of the particle not submerged in the liquid to a spray of the cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A spiral type freezer constructed and operated to introduce refrigerated atmosphere into the bottom of the insulated chamber and circulate the atmosphere in a circulation flow from the bottom of the chamber to an exit on top of the chamber, the refrigerated atmosphere producing a thermal gradient from the bottom to the top of the chamber so that the freezer is operated non-isothermally.

Abstract: Sampling device removably mounted proximate the discharge opening in an immersion freezer to collect samples of frozen product as they exit the immersion freezer conveyor and are deposited into a second freezing or equilibrating device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing binding and overloading of feed augers or screws used to convey blast media (e.g. shot, pellets or irregular shaped particles) from a media storage hopper to a media blasting device. The invention includes a damper to close off media to the screws and a method for controlling start-up and shut down of the media blast system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for withdrawing gas at cryogenic temperatures from a blast-treating chamber and thereafter separating the entrained blast media and dust from the cryogenic carrier gas so the cryogenic gas can be recycled back to the blast-treating chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive composition having a controlled, sustained release delivery pattern when contacted with a suitable surrounding media. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically, insecticidally, herbicidally or fertilizing bioactive material core, soluble in a given surrounding media, the core present in an amount at least sufficient for a total dosage during a specified treatment period; a first coating enveloping the bioactive material core comprising a polymer or a blend of polymers, said polymer or blend of polymers being swellable upon penetration by the surrounding media; and a second coating enveloping the first coating, the second coating comprising a polymer or a blend of polymers being water-insoluble and forming a semi-permeable barrier to the inward diffusion of the surrounding media and the outward diffusion of the bioactive material dissolved in the surrounding media.

Abstract: Gas atomization nozzle for producing metal powder from a molten bath. The nozzle is characterized in that the angle of convergence of the gas to the metal stream can be varied and total volumetric flow of gas through the nozzle can be varied and precisely controlled.The nozzle is characterized by having a generally cylindrical shaped housing containing means to tangentially direct gas introduced from outside the housing to a recess in the inner wall of the cylinder with the tangential gas passages having means to adjust the total volumetric flow of atomizing gas through the nozzle. Disposed in the inside of the cylindrical housing juxtaposed to the recess and in combination therewith is a flow direction insert and a flow direction plate, the flow direction insert being variably positionable in relation to the flow direction plate to control the width of the spray zone.

Abstract: A cooling chamber for use in in-line association with a continuous extruder for rapidly cooling freshly extruded product, e.g. vinyl fluid hose, to prevent deformation of the fresh extrudate.