Abstract: A device for the heat treatment of a product includes a housing, and a conveyor for conveying the product between an inlet of the housing and an outlet of the housing. The conveyor includes a screw which is mounted so as to turn in the housing according to a geometric axis of rotation and comprising an actuator for rotating the screw according to said axis, with ohmic heating of the screw. Accordingly, the housing comprises an envelope consisting of a refractory material through with the screw extends, said envelope being shaped in the form of a tube, the main inner surface of which follows contours of the screw.

Abstract: Provided herein are medical drainage systems comprising structures to prevent blockages within drainage tubing, especially medical drainage tubing, for example caused by debris or airlocks. The novel systems of the invention employ, in some embodiments, elements of the Archimedian screw. The Archimedian screw elements comprise a rotating conveyer present in the tubing which promotes continuous flow of material through the tubing and prevents the formation of dependent loops and other blockages. The systems of the invention may be employed in diverse contexts, including urinary catheter drainage systems and thoracostamy systems. The systems of the invention, being gravity independent, may also be employed for the drainage or a movement of materials in space and other low gravity environments.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes: a rotation shaft rotatably supported in a container chamber that contains powder; and plural blade members detachably attached to the rotation shaft, the blade members including spiral blades configured to transport the powder in an axial direction of the rotation shaft in response to the rotation shaft rotating.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and ice maker apparatus are included herein. The ice maker apparatus may include a casing, an auger, a discrete flange, and an extruder die. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis. The casing may extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The casing may include a first material. The auger may be disposed within the chamber of the casing. The discrete flange may be selectively mounted on the casing. The discrete flange may include a second material that is unique from the first material. The extruder die may be attached to the discrete upper flange and positioned above the casing.

Abstract: A double suction centrifugal pump is provided. An impeller is mounted inside a pump housing, which is mounted inside a three-dimensional frame made of two end plates connected by crossbars. The pump housing has opposing inlet openings on opposite sides of the housing so that fluid is sucked into the housing from both sides and discharged by the impeller. The impeller is mounted on a driveshaft that extends through the dual inlet openings and openings in each of the end plates. Dual hydraulic motors are mounted on the exterior of each respective end plate and cooperatively rotate the driveshaft. Agitators are attached to the driveshaft and rotate with the driveshaft. The agitators macerate solids such as vegetation or other organic matter so that the solid matter does not clog the pump intakes. The pump is effective for dredging and pumping sand and other abrasive solids and in severe service applications of high viscosity, high density fluids.

Abstract: A screw conveyor includes a plurality of shafts rotatable in a common imaginary plane, and a plurality of blades arranged on each of the shafts in an axial direction of the shafts such that the blades define a part of an imaginary spiral around the shafts, each of the blades being semicircular in shape when viewed in an axial direction of the shafts, a distance S being longer than a length D, but shorter than 2D, wherein “S” indicates a distance between outer surfaces of two shafts located adjacent to each other, and “D” indicates a length by which the blades extend from outer surfaces of the shafts.

Abstract: A transport device for transporting a transportable product, especially a bulk-type product, includes an essentially cylindrical chamber containing at least one shaft which extends along the cylindrical chamber and comprises a plurality of first transport elements for transporting products in a product transport direction. The transport elements extending radially outwards from the shaft and are respectively connected to the shaft at connection points on the surface thereof. The individual connection points are located along a helical line on the surface of the shaft and the plurality of first transport elements form a first path which corresponds to the helical line and comprises a first discontinuous section extending in a helical manner around the surface of the shaft. Other elements are arranged at least in partial regions of the first path, such elements protruding into the first path.

Abstract: The auger includes a first cast section and a second cast section. The first cast section includes a first flight having a gate projection that remains on the first flight after a gate which is used during casting the first cast section has been removed from the first cast section. The second cast section includes a second flight having a recess that receives the gate projection when the first flight is coupled to the second flight such that the gate projection does not need to be ground off in order to attach the first cast section to the second cast section. The first flight is attached with the second flight to create a substantially smooth and unbroken transition between the first flight and the second flight such that the auger efficiently transports paving material from the hopper of a road paving machine onto a prepared road bed.

Abstract: A rotor for a bagging machine comprising an elongated, cylindrical body having a horizontally disposed rotational axis. A plurality of sockets are provided on the cylindrical body in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other. A rotor tooth is selectively removably received by each of the sockets.

Abstract: A replaceable cap for a rotor tine of a material bagging machine. The tines extend from the rotor and propel and compress the material to be bagged. The cap fits over the leading edge of the tine to provide a replaceable wear surface. The cap has an end that engages a notch provided in the tine and is secured to the tine by a single fastener. The single fastener facilitates rapid replacement of the cap when required.

Abstract: A screw conveyor in which mixing and flow-directing paddles are selectively adjustable for use on a wide variety of materials having dissimilar flow characteristics. The adjustable paddles are advantageously applied to a screw, or auger, conveyor of an asphalt paving machine to convey a sufficient amount of unsegregated paving material beneath a center drive case or other problem distribution area.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading manure comprises an elongate hopper 12 mounted on a mobile frame. An axial feed rotor 18 runs along the inside of the base of the hopper and urges manure forwardly to a transfer rotor 25 which pushes the material sideways through an opening 21 to an overshot impeller 23 which throws the manure sideways from the apparatus. On the axial feed rotor 18 are blades 19 extending outwardly from the axis of the rotor and inclined in such a manner as to push the material along the direction of the axis. The blades 19 are positioned on a reverse helical path around the rotor axis, the sense of the reverse helical path being opposite to the sense of inclination of the individual blades. In this arrangement the efficiency of axial delivery of the rotor 18 is substantially lower than if the blades were positioned along a helical path around the rotor axis having the same sense as the inclination of the individual blades.

Abstract: Auger apparatus includes a drive portion, a connector portion and a flight portion. The drive portion includes an elongated rigid shaft member including a longitudinal axis disposed along the path of material being advanced by the auger apparatus. The connector portion includes a continuous stub section affixed to and extending outwardly from the periphery of the shaft member, the stub section being spirally disposed around the shaft member along the length thereof. The stub section includes a surface extending outwardly from the shaft member and substantially perpendicular thereto. The flight portion includes a plurality of radially cut elongated disc members, each of the disc members having an internal opening substantially equal in diameter to the outside diameter of the shaft member. An internal section of each disc member surrounding the internal opening thereof is in full contact with and affixed to the perpendicular surface of the stub section.

Abstract: A flail auger assembly is disclosed which is useful for unloading semi-liquid material from a holding tank mounted on a tractor drawn trailer. A rotatably mounted shaft extends lengthwise through the lower portion of the tank. One end of the shaft penetrates the front wall of the tank enabling connection with the power takeoff of the tractor. The second end penetrates the rear wall of the tank where it connects with the impeller of the discharge pump. A plurality of flails extend radially outward at regular intervals along the shaft. The flails are pivotally attached via pins which secure them to brackets welded to the rotatably mounted shaft. The pivotal axis of each flail allows it to aggressively attack the material in the tank while at the same time limiting the power drain on the tractor since the radius of effectiveness decreases as a function of increasing load.

Abstract: The steam expander conveys the expanding heat expandable thermoplastic elements along a horizontal axis using a plurality of paddle frames. The paddle frames serve to agitate and tumble the elements during movement from an inlet to an outlet. At the same time, steam is injected into the housing of the expander to expand the elements. The expanded elements can be drawn off via a vacuum line to an overhead hopper or hoppers.

Abstract: A conveyor construction is disclosed as having particular utility in effecting simultaneous mixing and transporting a relatively viscous charge of finely divided fruit and pressing aid for supply to a fruit juice extraction press. The construction features a novel mixing and transport paddle formed by bending a relatively thin metal plate to define separate mixing and transport surfaces.

Abstract: The manure spreader includes a wheeled, V-shaped body having a longitudinally positioned impeller rotatively carried near the bottom of the V-configuration. The impeller blades are positioned on a multi-sided body and are arranged in oppositely generated helices to urge the manure both from the rear of the body and from the front of the body toward an outlet gate which is positioned in the body intermediate its ends. A rotary spinner is carried outwardly of the body in position to receive the effluent from the outlet gate and a suitable drive mechanism is provided to rotate the spinner at many times the rotative speed of the impeller. The spinner and the impeller are simultaneously rotated by a common drive, which may be a tractor PTO, and an adjustable deflector is provided in effluent path from the spinner to easily vary the spray pattern.

Abstract: A device for dispensing loose, fibrous material comprising a housing having a reservoir disposed therein for containing the loose fibrous material to be dispensed. The housing has a passageway which extends from the reservoir through which the material is dispensed. At least one auger disc is rotatably mounted in the reservoir approximately adjacent the passageway. A motor or the like is provided to rotate the auger disc such that insulation material encountered by the auger disc is urged toward the passageway. Preferably a bar extends across the reservoir and is spaced from the edge of the auger disc such that as the auger disc rotatingly encounters the fibrous material the bar presents an obstacle to the material which is carried by the auger disc. A centrifugal pump is connected to the passageway by the auger disc. The suction inlet which is connected to the passageway is preferably offset from the center of the housing.

Abstract: An agitator wiper for a tubular chemical vessel in which agitation of the vessel contents is achieved by a blade positioned helically around a central rotating shaft and wiping of the vessel walls is achieved by segmented plates positioned along the blade and constructed to provide wiper tips which wipe all portions of the vessel walls.

Abstract: A screw conveyor is provided capable of maintaining a relatively uniform flow of conveyed material, even when operating well below its flow capacity, having a helical screw with a plurality of helical blade segments at one end, each segment extending over an arc of from about 100.degree. to about 130.degree. about the central stem of the screw, and having a pitch length within the range from about 0.5 to about 3 times the pitch length of the helical screw; the pitch length of the helical screw being from about 0.5 to about 1 times its diameter; the segments being spaced apart a distance within the range from about 0 to about 22 mm; the plurality of segments taken collectively defining a plurality of through passages extending axially along the central stem of the screw, and extending in uniformly spaced relationship .+-.10.degree. circumferentially about the 360.degree.