Abstract: Material to be processed, such as sludge, is deposited into the trough having an auger operating at a rotational speed and direction so as to force the material received within the trough upstream against a rigid surface for breaking up the sludge. A cutting fluid is added to the trough for diluting the sludge and enhancing a flow of the broken up sludge downstream under a force of gravity, allowing the sludge to enter a chopper, where it is chopped to a desired consistency before being pumped to a desired location. The diluted sludge may be filtered prior to chopping. A hopper and cutter may be used to receive the unprocessed sludge for cutting prior to being deposited into the trough. As a result, sludge in ranges from soft to hard states is converted to a fluid form capable of being pumped.

Abstract: An air drying system and process employs a turbofan jet engine for producing high quality dried products. The air drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.

Abstract: A tank cleaning apparatus is steered by an operator for cleaning the inside of a tank includes a connector operable with a vacuum removal system. The apparatus includes a cutter head that is rotationally driven to cut into settled solid material and to move the solid material to an area where suction from the vacuum system removes the material from the tank.

Abstract: A cover secured to an opening in a tank may be safely removed by controlling a flow of material stored within the tank through the opening. A remotely controlled actuator is carried by a frame and attached near the opening. An arm connected to the actuator engages the cover for providing sufficient force against the cover for preventing the cover from being dislodged so that the cover may be unsecured. The actuator is then remotely controlled for safely moving the cover from a closed position to an open position for controlling a flow of material from the tank. A guide may be employed for guiding the cover longitudinally outward from the opening along the arm.

Abstract: An air drying system and process employs a turbofan jet engine for producing high quality dried products. The air drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.

Abstract: An air dryer and process employs a jet engine for producing high quality dried products. A turbofan jet engine in an air-drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air-drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.

Abstract: An air dryer and process employs a jet engine for producing high quality dried products. A turbofan jet engine in an air-drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air-drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.

Abstract: An air dryer and process employs a jet engine for producing high quality dried products. A turbofan jet engine in an air-drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air-drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.

Abstract: A fluid injector system for use in tank cleaning is provided, the injector system including an injector head block housing two disc-shaped injectors which may be rotated inside of the injector head block to change the orientation of bores extending through the disc-shaped injectors, which discharge pressurized fluid therethrough. The injector head block depends downwardly from a housing, and is rotatable relative to the housing by rotating a drive tube assembly housed partially within the housing and connected to the injector head block. The disc-shaped injectors are rotated by a vertical movement of the injector head block by virtue of a linkage assembly linking the injectors to a portion of the structure that is vertically stationary when the injector head block is moved vertically.

Abstract: A knockdown tank-cleaning apparatus that is easily broken down and reassembled is provided. The tank-cleaning apparatus, when knocked down, easily fits through a standard man-way opening in the side of the tank. The tank-cleaning apparatus includes a knockdown frame having wheels releasably attached thereto. A header assembly is releasably attached to the front of the knockdown frame. The header assembly includes a cutter head releasably and rotatably disposed in the header assembly. The header may optionally include a throat portion, in which a cross-chopper assembly is disposed. Bottom-deposited materials are broken up by rotation of the cutter head. The loosened material is fed to the cross-chopper assembly where it is further reduced and formed into a slurry. The slurry is pumped from the tank to the exterior of the tank where reclamation of valuable materials from the slurry is performed.

Abstract: A guidance system and method for positively guiding a tank sludge-removal unit or the like around the inside of a tank, including a plurality of winch assemblies mounted at radially spaced locations on the top perimeter of the tank each having a control line which extends into the tank for connecting either directly to the unit or indirectly to a lifting line via a pulley device used for raising and lowering the unit within the tank, thereby enabling the position and/or the direction of movement of the unit to be positively controlled by selective operation of the winch assemblies and/or lifting line. A line-forwarding device is also provided for use in forwarding control lines of the winch assemblies to an access opening in the tank.

Abstract: A dragline apparatus for cleaning waste material and sludge in clarifier and settling ponds and lagoons includes a pair of side walls and a back wall forming a frame supported on front and rear flotation rollers. Between the home member is at least one blade, pivotally mounted for swinging movement from an active to an inactive position. Cables are connected to the front and rear of the frame and to prime movers on the banks of a pond to be cleaned.

Abstract: A settling tank cleaning unit includes a vertically buoyant device, provided with means to generate both horizontal and vertical propulsion, thereby moving the device in a random pattern adjacent the bottom of a tank to be cleaned and, at the same time, cutting tank-deposited solids and transporting the solids to a solids and liquid mixing propeller which vertically lifts the mixture for recirculation or to a discharge zone.

Abstract: A recovery method for settled black liquor in ponds and lagoons is disclosed so that ponds and lagoons which can no longer be pumped to recovery evaporators and furnaces are reconstituted by augering the settled black liquor and passing the augered material through filters, partical micronization chambers and static mixers.

Abstract: An interior wall for a housing structure comprises a frame having top and bottom plates and a pair of vertical end studs which extend between the top and bottom plates. The internal wall also has a plurality of internal vertical studs inwardly of the pair of end studs. Wall coverings are provided on each face of the frame and the bottom plate is bored to receive wooden dowels which are attached to a dead wall floor stud affixed to a floor of the housing structure.

Abstract: A modular housing construciton consists of pre-cast concrete footer/foundation components; modular floor panel elements; interior/exterior modular wall panel units; and a roof. The floor panel elements, wall panel units, and foundation components have preformed wedge/lock receiving openings and the pre-cast concrete footer/foundation components and the wall panel units have preformed wedge-lock operating openings provided therein. Certain of the wall panel units are provided with windows and certain of the wall panel units are provided with doors. Electrical receptacle and wiring are fabricated in selected wall panel units. The wall panel units, the floor panel units and footer/foundation components are preferably preformed in four foot sections whereby the size of the housing is determined by the selected number of such units.