Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the liquid separation of materials, and particularly for the separation of edible portions of a material from unedible portions, by utilizing the specific gravity differential between such materials. The materials are thrust into a receptacle which contains a solution of a predetermined density, and are separated into their constituents by subjecting same to an issuing stream of solution produced by jet manifolds. This issuing stream operates with the solution to cause separation of the lighter constituents which float to the upper portion of the receptacle from the heavier constituents which tend to sink in the solution. At least two conveyor belts are provided each being within the solution; the first of which is disposed within the receptacle to receive the lighter constituents and a second disposed below the first to receive the heavier constituents. Both conveyors discharge the respective constituent materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating objects having a density greater than a selected density value from objects having a density less than said selected density value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the sex of mammalian offspring by separation of the X-chromosome female producing sperm and Y-chromosome male producing sperm according to their different characteristics of density of the respective cells and electric potential on the respective cell surfaces. Separation is accomplished by first producing a thermal convection counter stream within a sedimentation column containing a universal medium with sperm suspended therein and allowing the two sperm populations to settle into different fractions according to different densities. Subsequently, the fractions are further separated and concentrated utilizing convection galvanization. The positive and negative geotaxis applied to the sperm during thermal convection sedimentation in combination with galvanic forces applied during the convection galvanization facilitate a more efficient separation than previously obtained.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating pecan nut meat from pecan weevil larvae which involves utilizing a liquid having a specific gravity less than 1.0, allowing the pecan nut meat to sink and the pecan weevil larvae to float, and the separation and recovery of the pecan meat in the substantial absence of the larvae.

Abstract: Apparatus for gravity collection and handling of products from jiggers to watering devices, comprising two tanks filled with liquid and interconnected by a passage, and a discharge conduit connected to the inlet nozzle of a dewatering device.Inside the equalizing tank the liquid level is at least as high as that in the feeding tank. The outlet of the feeding tank is provided with the restrictor while the outlet of the equalizing tank is equipped with a regulating element. Granular material from the feeding tank flows through the outlet and falls by gravity into the communicating passage, wherefrom together with liquid supplied from the equalizing tank is fed via the discharge conduit to the inlet nozzle of the dewatering device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid containing apparatus for receiving potatoes or other such fruits and vegetables wherein the received material is washed and/or treated by the contained fluid, after which the material is transferred from said apparatus by a driven paddle wheel assembly including a plurality of circumferentially spaced finger assemblies that engage the material within the apparatus and lift the material upwardly towards an exiting edge of said apparatus in a generally arcuate path motion, where the material is deposited onto an adjacent conveyor or otherwise received by some other appropriate receiving structure disposed adjacent to the apparatus.

Abstract: A carriage movable back and forth along a tank of water has an agitator which washes floatable material and moves it to a floating material conveyor at one end of the tank. Denser, sinkable material washed from the floatable material drops onto a sunk material conveyor coursing along the bottom of the tank. The drive of the carriage is reversible and, when excess resistance is met when the carriage is traveling toward the floating material conveyor, the resistance actuates a control to reverse the drive of the carriage.

Abstract: A counter current decantation system for the fluid separation of liquids or solids having different densities or absorptive capacities wherein the material to be separated is placed in an inclined separator having a series of decantation pipes, each of which is connected at the bottom thereof to a pump for pumping a fluid mixture upstream at varying pressures. The separation fluid enters the separator at the bottom with sufficient force to form a mixture with and agitate the material to be separated. Lighter material is caused to rise toward the fluid surface and the heavier material is caused to settle to the separator floor by gravity. The force supplied is sufficient to cause the fluid mixture to pass forwardly through the length of the separator and thus the fluid mixture has a tendency to flow downstream toward the bottom end of the separator.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for separating solid particles from a liquid, including both light particles which tend to flow on or close to the surface of the liquid and heavy particles which tend to sink to the bottom of the liquid. The apparatus includes: a separation tank, an inlet means, a weir, a heavy particle outlet means, and a substantially clear liquid outlet means.

Abstract: Process for concentrating starch contained in very dilute, aqueous mixtures having, for example, a starch content of less than about 1 weight percent. The concentrated product is obtained as an aqueous mixture containing starch solids in the amount of at least about 30 weight percent, preferably about 35 to 50 weight percent. The concentrating operation involves the sequential use of a gravity settling technique, especially lamellar plate settling, to increase the starch content of the solid-liquid mixture to about 5 to 20 weight percent. This mixture can be readily removed from the settler, and further concentrated centrifugally, e.g., in a liquid cyclone, by a factor of at least about 2 to provide the desired aqueous mixture having a concentration of at least about 30 weight percent of starch solids. The latter stream can be readily and effectively handled and treated to recover relatively pure, essentially solid, food grade starch of low moisture content, e.g., less than about 10 weight percent.

Abstract: Waste wood, such as stumps and snag, is treated to make it suitable for the production of paper pulp, whereby the raw waste wood is initially crushed so that part of the bark, sand and stones attached to the wood is detached at this stage already, the obtained crushed material is fed into a washer tank for further washing away bark, sand, stone and peat material from the wood, high-pressure water nozzles being provided at an inlet end of said washer to impinge strong water jets on the crushed wood material, and flow creating means being provided at the lower part of the washer tank to produce a water flow directed slantedly upwards towards an outlet end of the washer tank in order to entrain heavy wood fragments, which may tend to sink into the material leaving the washer tank at said outlet end thereof, said material being further after-crushed and sieved to separate an accept fraction thereof for feeding to a pulp production process.

Abstract: A fecal examining device comprising a closure member in the form of a tray adapted to be fitted upon the open lower end of a solution-receiving receptacle or cylinder, said closure member or tray including a central, open-top cup that extends into the cylinder for a short, predetermined distance. A cap is provided for closing the open top of the cup or well when the tray is not attached to the cylinder. A perforated piston is provided for manual movement within the cylinder to thereby separate ova from the fecal material in solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly automated agricultural production system which comprises, as essential components:1. A sensing subsystem comprising direct and indirect sensing means in an agricultural production area. The direct sensing means are generally ground or plant mounted. The indirect sensing means are remote from the area being sensed. The direct and indirect sensing means are adapted to jointly generate data on all important parameters in the homogeneous agricultural production area;2. A data transmitting subsystem for forwarding data generated by the direct and indirect sensing means to computing means and for transmitting instructions from the computing means via interfacing means (controllers) to various devices (field effectors) in the agricultural area to perform various functions;3. A computing subsystem linked by way of said data transmitting subsystem to said indirect and direct sensing means in a pattern of many feedback loops.

Abstract: A device for hydraulically classifying solid fragments includes two side-by-side liquid-holding compartments between which liquid is continuously circulated; the liquid flows through a flow tube connecting the lower region of the first compartment with the second compartment, then flows upwardly through a throat zone in the first compartment and then over a weir back to the second compartment. The flow tube has a convergent mouth in the second compartment and a divergent outlet in the first compartment. A pump is arranged to withdraw a fraction of the circulating liquid from the second compartment and to inject that liquid into an eductor arranged at the mouth of the flow tube in the second compartment. Solids classification is accomplished at the throat zone: heavier solids sink through the throat zone, and lighter solids are carried upward in the rising current over the weir and onto a drainage screen.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the recovery of both cellulosic fibers and plastic material from plastic-coated papers and boards.This material is wet-pulped in water suspension, and the suspension is then discharged into dilution tanks for floating most of the plastic material at the upper region of the suspension, wherefrom the plastic material is mechanically separated by wire-mesh conveyors, and washed in a rotating screen.The fibrous suspension is screened in a rotating screen to eliminate the residual plastic material.

Abstract: Settling classifier for sorting mineral raw materials into at least three components includes container means wherein at least two separating baths of different density are received, the container means having a partition therein separating the baths one from another, a bucket wheel coordinated with the container means so as to be in communication with the separating baths and being rotatable in a plane extending parallel to the partition, the bucket wheel having a dividing ring therein operatively engaging the partition and dividing the bucket wheel into parts corresponding to the respective baths, the separating baths having respective elongated quadrilateral surfaces, the longitudinal direction of which extends in axial direction of the rotary bucket wheel.

Abstract: Waste paper is treated to recover the fiber content thereof in a clean condition and without damaging the fibers by shredding the paper, admixing the paper with a treatment agent, retaining the paper and admixed treatment agent in a treatment zone for a period of time during which the paper is substantially completely disintegrated in the treatment agent, diluting the mixture, and processing the mixture through further treatment stations to a final flotation stage wherein the now clean fibers are separated from the liquid whereby the fibers can then be used in a further papermaking operation.

Abstract: Method for cleaning fibrous vegetable materials to remove trash components (such as coarse sand, stones, rocks, metallic particles, shives, dirt and the like).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the sex of mammalian offspring through separation of X-chromosome female producing sperm and Y-chromosome male producing sperm. The separation is accomplished by producing a thermal convection counter stream within a sedimentation column containing a universal medium with sperm suspended therein, and subsequently allowing the two sperm populations to sediment into different fractions according to different densities. The positive and negative geotaxis thus applied to the sperm facilitate a more efficient separation than has been previously obtained. The apparatus used to accomplish this separation includes means for producing a temperature differential between axial and peripheral portions of the medium contained in the sedimentation column thus creating the necessary thermal convection counter stream, and may also comprise a laser capable of scanning the length of the column and laser detecting means to determine the distribution of sperm produced within the medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for sorting and classifying cans involving a first step of magnetically separating ferrous and bimetallic cans from aluminum cans. The aluminum cans are then carried to a collecting point. The next step is to separate the ferrous cans from bimetallic cans by immersing both in a liquid bath. The bimetallic cans and some punctured ferrous cans (such as large juice cans) are collected from the top of the bath and carried to a size separating device. The ferrous cans, which are normally fully opened, sink in a bath and are collected by a conveyor from the bottom of the bath. The bimetallic cans and the punctured cans are separated by sizing conveyors and are collected in separate collection devices. The result is to achieve a separation of the three basic classes of cans, reliably and inexpensively.

Abstract: To quench hot coke it is delivered to the surface of water in a tank, where the coke floats. The coke is carried along the surface of the water until it becomes saturated and sinks, whereupon it is removed from the tank. The water adhering to the removed coke is allowed to evaporate.

Abstract: A sphincter cone for water treatment and clarification, which cone involves no moving parts. At the top of the cone there is provided a surge tank with an open bottom surrounded by an annular well extending along the perimeter of a cylindrical extension of the cone. The bottom of the well is tapered downwardly toward an outlet pipe. Water entering the top of the surge tank is distributed downwardly through the surge tank and radially outwardly into the annular well, while the particulate flows downwardly through the apex of the cone where it is formed into small compacted slugs and discharged. A second cone, in series, of similar construction may be used to further clarify the water.

Abstract: A filter thimble adapted for use in a float-or-sink process of separating ova from samples of feces contained in standarized transport receptacles has an outside diameter of about 3/4 that of the inside of the receptacle, has a bottom, has an open top, has around its upper side surface a closure operatively fittable to the transport receptacle, and around its lower side surface numerous perforations of dimension only several times larger than the ova. The under surface of the closure is frusto-conical, with smaller end up and fitted liquid-tight to the outside of the thimble, and several of the perforations have their outer openings immediately below the point of fit.