Abstract: A method for processing municipal waste substantially reduces the volume of material to be disposed into a landfill by increasing the volume of materials of value collected from the municipal waste and by composting the remaining materials to create a salable product. The process includes the removal of materials of value by magnetic devices to extract ferrous materials, by an air classifier to extract light plastic materials, by an eddy current mechanism to extract aluminum materials, and by a plastic sort mechanism to extract large plastic materials. Composting can be accomplished with a composting vessel that is located in the process either before the materials of value are removed or afterward. A grinding of the materials before a final screening allows the commercial grade compost to be separated from the materials that are to be sent to the landfill for final disposal.

Abstract: A method for processing municipal waste substantially reduces the volume of material to be disposed into a landfill by increasing the volume of materials of value collected from the municipal waste and by composting the remaining materials to create a salable product. The process includes the removal of materials of value by magnetic devices to extract ferrous materials, by an air classifier to extract light plastic materials, by an eddy current mechanism to extract aluminum materials, and by a plastic sort mechanism to extract large plastic materials. Composting can be accomplished with a composting vessel that is located in the process either before the materials of value are removed or afterward. A grinding of the materials before a final screening allows the commercial grade compost to be separated from the materials that are to be sent to the landfill for final disposal.

Abstract: A process for the comminution and dehydration of animal waste and/or parts by feeding the animal waste and/or parts into a cyclonic, dehydrating comminuter facilitates the further processing of the comminuted and dehydrated animal waste discharged from the comminuter. Both the comminuted and dehydrated material and the air flow discharged from the cyclonic comminuter are sterilized to remove pathogens therefrom. The rate at which the animal waste and/or parts material is fed into the cyclonic comminuter. is directly related to the moisture content of the comminuted and dehydrated material discharged from the material discharge opening of the comminuter. Preferably, the moisture content of the discharged material is in the range of 25% to 35% to facilitate the pelletizing of the discharged material after being sterilized. Other precesses, however, can require the drying of the discharged material to about 10%.

Abstract: A process for the comminution and dehydration of municipal sludge waste by feeding the municipal sludge waste into a cyclonic, dehydrating comminuter facilitates the further processing of the comminuted and dehydrated sludge material discharged from the comminuter. Both the comminuted and dehydrated sludge material and the air flow discharged from the cyclonic comminuter are sterilized to remove pathogens therefrom. The rate at which the municipal sludge material is fed into the cyclonic comminuter is directly related to the moisture content of the comminuted and dehydrated material discharged from the material discharge opening of the comminuter. Preferably, the moisture content of the discharged material is in the range of 25% to 35% to facilitate the sterilization of the discharged material.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. The nylon fiber component separated from the carpet pieces fed into the cyclonic comminuter are lighter than the other fractional. components and can be extracted from the comminuter chamber through an extraction valve located in the top wall of the comminuter chamber. The nylon extraction valve includes a valve body with an opening extending generally vertically therethrough and a shaft extending therefrom in a horizontal orientation. The valve body is moved to expose the opening to the interior of the comminuter chamber on an intermittent basis to extract accumulated nylon fibers without disrupting the air flow through the comminuter chamber and the associated comminuting operation. Preferably, the valve body is oscillated back and forth, instead of rotated, in order to minimize the trapping of nylon fibers at the valve opening.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. Although the disclosed process is operable with either jute-backed or vinyl-backed carpet, an alternative process is preferred for vinyl-backed carpet to permit the sequential removal of the vinyl backing with most of the fiberglass stabilizer intact. The process includes the chilling of appropriately sized carpet pieces and preferably pre-soaking the used carpet pieces before chilling, followed by the introduction of the pre-conditioned used carpet pieces into a cyclonic comminuter which reduces the carpet pieces into fractional components. The chilling step could lower the temperature of the soaked carpet pieces to or below freezing to stiffen the backing material and enhance the comminution process.

Abstract: A round baler for forming round bales of crop material includes side-by-side belts trained for movement between a starting position and a finish position around a series of stationary rollers including a forward baler roller and a rear baler roller spaced apart from the forward baler roller. Upper and lower roller arrangements are continuously engageable with the crop material. The upper roller arrangement, the lower roller arrangement and a run of the belts extending between the forward baler roller and the rear baler roller together define a starting baler chamber. A belt tracking and tensioning device is interposed between the forward baler roller and the rear baler roller. The belt tracking and tensioning device is mounted on the upper roller arrangement, and functions to maintain the belts in a predetermined relationship relative to the upper roller arrangement and to increase the tension of the belts in response to bale growth, as the belts move between the starting position and the finish position.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. Although the disclosed process is operable with either jute-backed or vinyl-backed carpet, an alternative process is preferred for vinyl-backed carpet to permit the sequential removal of the vinyl backing with most of the fiberglass stabilizer intact. The process includes the pre-cutting and preferable pre-soaking of the used carpet into appropriate sized pieces, followed by the introduction of the pre-conditioned used carpet pieces into a cyclonic comminuter which reduces the carpet pieces into fractional components. Processes for the recovery of the separated fractional components include collecting the components from the respective discharges from the cyclonic comminuter, washing, and separating by carding, static charges, pressure gradients and the like. This effective process will allow for greater utilization of carpet recycling operations to prevent used carpet from being disposed in land fills.

Abstract: A method of removing fractional components from earthen material, including processes for removing precious carbon jewels from soil, precious metals from low grade ores, lead pellets from contaminated soil, and free sulphur from coal, is initiated with a pulverizing of the earthen material bearing the fractional component to be removed therefrom. Subsequent process steps vary, but include the washing of the pulverized material and then removing the fractional component through electromagnetic extraction, chemical dissolution and sieving. Since no contaminate is added to the residue remaining after removal of the fractional component, the residue can be returned to the ground from which the original material was obtained without effecting any additional pollution to the ground or water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hydrocarbons from soil is disclosed. A gradient force machine pulverizes contaminated soils, which are then mixed with release agents in a mixing tank. A water-filled separation unit receives the mixed soil, the unit having a plurality of counter-rotating augers to aid in the breakdown of the mixed soil to solid, water and hydrocarbon components. A washing container receives the solid component from the separation unit, the container having a diagonally-disposed, enclosed auger for outputting a washed solid component. Hydrocarbons that have floated to the top of the separation unit and washing container are removed by a vacuum system.

Abstract: A system for removing oil from oil/water or oil/sand or oil/water/sand mixtures. An oil/water mixture is taken from an oil spill on the surface of the water or from other sources such as producing oil wells and is transported to a surge tank where it is agitated and then passed on to a separator which separates the oil from the water. The system also covers separating oil from sand or earth when the spill is on land.

Abstract: A system for removing oil from oil/water or oil/sand or oil/water/sand mixtures. An oil/water mixture is taken from an oil spill on the surface of the water or from other sources such as producing oil wells and is transported to a surge tank where it is agitated and then passed on to a separator which separates the oil from the water. The system also covers separating oil from sand or earth when the spill is on land.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a cylindrical bale of crop material having a generally round cross section, comprising a pick up for picking up crop material as the apparatus travels across a field. The apparatus is adapted to feed the picked up crop material into a bale forming chamber where it is formed into a cylindrical package having a generally round cross section. The package is then wrapped with self adhering tape around the outer periphery to encompass such package and form a bale having a generally round cross section, conforming substantially to the cross section of the cylindrical package. A tape dispensing assembly is provided to receive tape from at least two supply rolls and dispense it around the periphery of the cylindrical package along separate paths. Individual one way clutch drives are associated with each tape dispenser for individualized trouble free tape payout.

Abstract: A method of forming a cylindrical bale of crop material having a generally round cross section. The method is carried out in a round baler performing the steps of picking up crop material as it travels across a field and feeding the picked up crop material into a bale forming chamber in the baler. The crop material is formed into a cylindrical package having a generally round cross section, and then wrapped with at least two separate strips of self adhering tape around the outer periphery to encompass such package and form a bale having a generally round cross section, conforming substantially to the cross section of the cylindrical package.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a cylindrical bale of crop material having a generally round cross section, comprising a pick up for picking up crop material as the apparatus travels across a field. The apparatus is adapted to feed the picked up crop material into a bale forming chamber where it is formed into a cylindrical package having a generally round cross section, and then wrapped with at least two separate strips of self adhering tape around the outer periphery to encompass such package and form a bale having a generally round cross section, conforming substantially to the cross section of the cylindrical package.

Abstract: A system for removing oil from oil/water or oil/sand or oil/water/sand mixtures. An oil/water mixture is taken from an oil spill on the surface of the water or from other sources such as producing oil wells and is transported to a surge tank where it is agitated and then passed on to a separator which separates the oil from the water. The system also covers separating oil from sand or earth when the spill is on land.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a roll baler having upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device extends around a drive member and around an indexing guide member which has a home position for disposing the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The drive member is engaged with a power source such as a tractor PTO to move the upper bale forming device in a direction to start a roll bale in the bale starting zone. When the roll bale reaches a predetermined diameter, the indexing guide member is moved in a substantially circular path of travel generally about the periphery of the roll bale. The drive member is disengaged from the power source when the indexing guide member has moved to another position. Subsequently, the drive member is reengaged with the power source when the indexing guide member has returned to its home position.

Abstract: A roll baler includes upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone, and a pickup device to deliver crop material toward the bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device preferably constitutes a series of belts extending around a plurality of guide members, one of which is an indexing guide member located in a home position to dispose the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The indexing guide member is connected between a pair of disks, and drive means such as sprockets are provided for engagement with the peripheral edges of the disks to rotate the disks in a direction to cause movement of the indexing guide member in a substantially circular path of travel.

Abstract: A twine wrapping apparatus for a roll baling machine includes a shuttle member which carries a gear rack that intermeshes with a pinion connected to a twine dispensing member such as a twine tube. When the shuttle member is moved generally transversely of the roll baling machine, the pinion is rotated by the gear rack resulting in pivoting movement of the twine tube.