Abstract: A magnetic pick-up device for a vacuum sweeper comprises a series of magnetically-attractive strips mounted in an open-bottomed plastic housing. The pick-up housing is mounted on the vacuum cleaner housing by a pair of cooperating extruded sections that are frictionally engaged such that the pick-up housing can be moved parallel to the length of the extruded sections to separate the pick-up housing from the vacuum cleaner housing.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrically shaped rubber scrap block is mounted over a variable size opening on a steel dish cleaning table with any type of disposal system located below the table. The interior of the scrap block includes a plurality of magnets partially embedded in the interior wall thereof in a specific preferred configuration and a slitted flexible diapram attached to the wall intermediate the ends of the scrap block. The exterior of the scrap block deviates from its substantially cylindrical shape only by an alteration of the outside diameter so that it fits any standard opening as various disposal systems have different dimensional specifications. Wastes scraped from dishware pass through the scrap block to be disposed but stainless steel flatware and other metal items are attracted to and held by the magnets.

Abstract: A process for concentrating gold and/or uranium minerals by rendering the nonmagnetic minerals magnetic or weakly magnetic by causing a coating to form on the surfaces of the minerals. The gold and/or uranium are concentrated by use of a gravity-magnetic separator or a suitable high intensity magnetic separator.

Abstract: A magnetic separation device suitable for removing magnetic bead-coated cells from a system comprising a base, a plurality of magnets mounted on the base such that a sample chamber is created for holding sample containers which are to be placed in close proximity to the magnets, and a means for adjusting the position of the magnets with respect to the sample container. A blood sample containing magnetic bead-coated cells is passed through tubing which is mounted in close proximity to the magnets. The magnetic bead-coated cells are attracted by the magnets and retained in the tubing while the nonmagnetic cells pass through the tubing.

Abstract: A device for preventing magnetically attractable flatware and other objects from falling into a food disposer. Round tubes containing magnets are arranged parallel to one another across a collar at the mouth of the disposer. Each tube contains an assembly of cylindrical magnets, separated by spacers, which are magnetized and oriented to provide a strong attractive force around the tube.

Abstract: Method of producing silicon carbide and of automatically separating a high grade fraction thereof using magnetic separation techniques. In the method of the invention, a silicon source, a carbon source and a ferromagnetic element source are admixed and the admixture is heated from the center outward to form a cylinder containing silicon carbide with a center to exterior temperature gradient. The ferromagnetic element migrates from the hotter center to the cooler exterior portions of the cylinder. The cylinder is cooled and crushed. The lower grade silicon carbide particles are then separated from the high grade silicon carbide crystals using magnetic separation means.

Abstract: A midstream apparatus for the receipt, sampling, cooling, and blending of coal provides a continuous transfer capability from one or more barges containing coals of various grades to an ocean vessel requiring blended coal meeting given specifications. The apparatus is a barge mounted combination, having a number of receiving hoppers into which coal may be loaded by transfer from a series of supply barges, usually by a barge mounted clam shell bucket. A number of hoppers are provided so that coal from each barge, having a given specification, may be loaded into a single hopper. Each hopper has individually controlled transfer capabilities permitting the blending of coal of different qualities into a continuous stream.

Abstract: The subject deduster employs gravity to feed the dust and impurity laden particulate material through a linear kinetic energy cell, which cell generates an electric field to neutralize the static electric charges causing the dust to adhere to the particulate material. With the static electric charge neutralized,the dust can be separated by an air flow substantially transverse to the particle flow. The cleaning can be accomplished by pressurized air or a vacuum. The deduster can include means to collect the dust after it has been separated for the particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a magnetic pick-up attachment for conventional vacuum cleaners, the attachment being designed to be mounted under the housing of the cleaner and rearwardly of the vacuum intake to prevent the vacuum cleaner from being restricted in its movement. The attachment includes a magnet interposed between two oppositely disposed, protective, cover members which are secured to a bracket having an arm member and an end clamp. The attachment is secured to the side wall of the vacuum-cleaner housing by the end clamp, so as to project inwardly thereof. The arm further includes a longitudinal slot which allows lateral adjustment and placement of the magnet along the arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coil arrangement for a magnetic separator having a strong field, in which the solenoid coils are provided in the first part only of the length of the housing and a magnetic shunt is arranged between the first and second parts of the length of the housing. A considerable reduction in the coil weight is achieved by such a construction.

Abstract: A crawler tractor with a dozer blade and fitted with accessories to loosen the ground in the strafing pit area of an Air Force gunnery range and simultaneously remove from the ground rocks the size of a man's fist and larger and spent projectiles. The tractor is provided with an electromagnet positioned ahead of the dozer blade. Positioned to the rear of the tractor, and pivotally attached to its frame by drawbars, is a chisel bar with a plurality of chisel blades. Just ahead of the chisel bar is a rock rake having a spine from which extend a plurality of forwardly projecting tines. The rake is supported with its tines at such an angle that their tips barely scrape the surface of the earth. Ahead of the rock rake, there is a drag consisting of a section of railroad rail suspended from the drawbars of the chisel assembly at a height sufficient to just scrape the surface of the ground during operation of the tractor.

Abstract: A device for use with an eraser of a rubber composition having magnetic particles dispersed therein. The device has a permanent magnet for attracting the magnetic dust created by use of the eraser. For the ready removal of the collected dust the device further comprises a shield normally enclosing the magnet. When held close to or in direct contact with a dust collecting wall forming a part of the shield, the magnet attracts eraser dust therethrough. The eraser dust attached to the dust collecting wall can be readily released, as into a suitable receptacle such as a trash can, as the magnet is moved away from the dust collecting wall as by being pulled out of the shield. The device may incorporate a magnetic eraser to provide a convenient eraser/dust collector combination, as in some embodiments disclosed herein. Additional embodiments suggest the combined use of a brush for collecting eraser dust, and the provision of an open space for confining the collected dust on the dust collecting wall of the shield.

Abstract: A method to isolate the paramagnetic fractions of a sediment to beneficiate the platinum and platinum group element ores therein comprising a differential magnetic filtration separation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing and counting artificial drill cuttings from a returning drill mud containing a mixture of both artificial and natural drill cuttings. The artificial drill cuttings are injected into the drilling fluid and supplied to a drill string and have magnetic properties, while the natural drill cuttings do not. A rotary magnetic drum having a first endless belt travelling therearound receives the cuttings mixture and the magnetic artificial cuttings adhere to the first belt by being attracted to the drum, while the natural drill cuttings do not, thereby permitting separation of the two. The artificial cuttings are removed from the drum by a second endless belt cooperating with the first endless belt to define a nip between them. The belts positively engage with and remove the artificial cuttings from the drum.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor is utilized as a source of drains, including spent calcium-based sorbent. The reacted sorbent is broken to expose unreacted portions which can be recycled to capture additional sulfur compounds. A separation is provided by a magnetic separator and an electrophoretic separator in order to obviate the load of recycling reacted sorbent and other waste material having no calorific value.

Abstract: A railroad scrap pick up machine includes a magnetic wheel and transversely extending support arm or beam which pivots in a plane transverse to the right and left sides of the machine. The magnetic wheel may alternately be mounted on the left or right side of the machine for picking up loose tie plates disposed on the railroad bed. The single magnetic wheel which is used for picking up tie plates may be removed and a support arm having two magnetic wheels for picking up spikes may be attached at either the right or left side of the machine. Stripper trays are used for separating metallic articles from the magnetic wheels. Crawlers which may slide from left to right on the machine are used to support the machine when traveling on a roadbed having only one rail.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing adherent magnetically attracted particles from the surface of the magnetic head pulley of the conveyor belt used in a dry magnetic separator without disrupting the magnetic separation process. An array of magnetically soft iron tines of several sizes is provided to be moved into and out of close proximity with and substantially normal to the magnetic head pulley surface. When in proximity to the magnetic head pulley, the soft iron tines are induced with a magnetic force and because of their shape, a magnetic field gradient is formed in the direction of the tines having a force sufficient to attract the particles from the head pulley to the tines. When the tines are moved away from proximity with the head pulley, they lose most of their induced magnetism and the attracted particles fall into a discharge chute or collection box.

Abstract: A hand operated magnetic sweeper comprises a longitudinally elongated, reinforced body member molded in one piece of non-magnetic material with wheels mounted for rotation on the longitudinal ends thereof, the body including a handle socket on its top side arranged to support a handle for angular extension vertically upward and rearward therefrom. The body is configured with longitudinally extending magnet holding pockets arranged along its longitudinal centerline so that magnets contained therein have a pair of adjacent perpendicular surfaces disposed at different distances from the circumference of the wheels, whereby each of said surfaces may be positioned to face downward toward an underlying surface by rotation of the body through 90.degree. relative to the surface. A brush is mounted to the rear edge of the body for sweeping contact with a surface when the sweeper is rolled over the surface.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrically shaped rubber food scraper is mounted on a steel dish cleaning table over a refuse container located below the table. The interior of the scraper is substantially hourglass shaped and includes a plurality of magnets embedded in the interior wall thereof adjacent the reduced diameter portion. Food and waste paper scraped from dishes pass through the scraper to the container below but stainless steel flatware is attracted to and held by the magnets.

Abstract: A pig for the removal of ferromagnetic debris from the internal surface of a pipeline comprises a plurality of large area pole pieces of hard ferromagnetic material mounted on low reluctance spacers so that the spacing of poles of opposite polarity is approximately equal to the spacing of the pole pieces from the nominal position of the internal surface of the pipeline.

Abstract: A system for separating glass particles from a mixture containing magnetic materials and glass, which system comprises a completely enclosed apparatus which protects against pollution by harmful silica dust and avoids excessive abrasion of conveying mechanism by utilization of pneumatic impulse feed devices whereby mixed particles are transported from a pressure vessel to one of a series of magnetic roller separators and further including dust separation or air cleaner means whereby substantially only glass and magnetic particles to be separated are introduced into the magnetic separators.

Abstract: A magnetic pick up attachment for vacuum cleaners includes an elongated strip of magnetized material adapted to overlie, connect to and depend from the front face of a vacuum cleaner housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing magnetic articles from a flow of loosely packed material containing a mixture of magnetic articles and non-magnetic articles having a rotatable elongated support shaft, a plurality of metal plates coaxially aligned in spaced parallel relationship with each other and coaxially aligned with and mounted on the elongated support shaft and rotatable therewith and wherein each of the metal plates extend substantially vertically outwardly from the elongated support shaft and by the material flow or by the elongated support shaft and a plurality of magnetic members coaxially aligned with and mounted on the elongated support shaft and located in the spaces between the metal plates wherein the magnetic members each extend substantially vertically outwardly from the support shaft and have a periphery which is spaced a predetermined distance from the periphery of the metal plates and wherein each magnetic member is formed of a magnetic material having a magnetic flux density of sufficient magnitude

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner magnet attachment for picking up pins, needles and other magnetic metal material concealed in rugs and carpets is in the form of a longitudinally flexible housing provided with a plurality of magnet-containing pockets laterally spaced apart by thin webs, the attachment being secured to the front lowermost wall of a vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: In a rail changing machine which removes old rails, prepares the surfaces of the old ties and lays down new rail, a tie plate pick-up device is arranged to pick up the old tie plates and convey them selectively to a trailing car or to a tie plate positioning and dropping device where they are re-laid on the prepared ties. In the event that the old tie plates are not recycled new tie plates are conveyed to the tie plate dropping device. Permanent magnetic pick-up wheels are used and an electromagnetic tie plate holder is used at the dropping station. Problems of lateral alignment at both the pick-up and drop stations and tie plate orientation and longitudinal alignment with the ties at the drop station are overcome using novel mechanisms.

Abstract: Organic pollutant spills on aquatic bodies may be collected by a method comprising distributing a plurality of buoyant magnetically susceptible, oleophillic, hydrophobic, resilient sorbent particles on the surface of the pollutant, allowing the sorbent to attract and bind the pollutant, magnetically collecting the pollutant-bound sorbent particles, compressing the pollutant-bound sorbent particles to expel the pollutant to a pollutant sump, allowing the compressed sorbent particles to recover from compression, and redistributing the sorbent particles on the surface of the remaining pollutant.

Abstract: A vehicle for cleaning a railway roadbed of magnetic articles such as spikes, tie plates, rail support plates, bolts, and the like has a chassis supported by rail engaging wheels which are rotated by a hydraulic motor powered by an internal combustion engine driven pump mounted on the chassis. At least one endless conveyor of non-magnetic flexible material is mounted on the chassis with a lower end thereof adjacent the roadbed and passing over a lower drum supporting fixed magnets. The conveyor is driven by a hydraulic motor powered by the pump to move at the same speed as the vehicle to prevent scuffing over the ballast of the roadbed. The endless conveyor is provided with spaced parallel cleats across the conveyer whereby metallic articles attracted by the magnets acting through the conveyor will engage the articles and move them along the conveyor out of the field of action of the magnets.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for receiving and conveying ferrous rail fastening elements comprises a carriage driven along a track, a vertically adjustable carrier frame with rollers supporting one of the carrier frame ends for movement along the track, the other carrier frame end being supported on the carriage, magnetic drums mounted on the end carrier frame end and driven for rotation about an axis extending transversely to the track and associated with at least one track rail laterally thereof at both sides of the rail, and a conveyor band arrangement mounted on the carrier frame, the conveyor band arrangement having a receiving end associated with the magnetic drums rearward thereof in the operating direction of the carriage.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for receiving and conveying ferrous rail fastening elements comprises a track-bound carriage, a carrier frame mounted vertically adjustably on the carriage, magnetic drums mounted on the carrier frame and associated with the rails laterally thereof at both sides of the rails, each magnetic drum including a drive for rotation of the drum about an axis extending transversely to the track, and an endless conveyor band trained about each magnetic drum and having entrainment elements for the rail fastening elements. A conveyor band arrangement is mounted on the carriage and associated with the magnetic drums rearwardly thereof in the operating direction.

Abstract: A method of waste paper recycling wherein the unwanted portions of waste paper such as those containing a binder adhesive are separated from the remaining paper material. In the binding of books, catalogues, directories, pamphlets, magazines and the like, adhesive material is provided having a magnetic substance therein and in subsequent recycling, the waste paper from these books and magazines is cut into a plurality of relatively small pieces. These pieces are passed through a magnetic field wherein the portions containing the adhesive having magnetic material therein, are separated from the remaining non-magnetically attracted sheets of paper.

Abstract: Fragments of ferromagnetic material, such as tin can pieces, are sorted by size on apparatus including an inverted conveyor that carries fragments that have been previously oriented with their longest axes placed in parallel directions past a line of magnets spaced progressively further apart in the direction of orientation of the fragments. The magnets attract the fragments strongly to the conveyor directly under the magnets, but progressively more weakly in those spaces between the magnets so that the shorter pieces separate gravitationally from the conveyor sooner than the longer pieces.

Abstract: A nonmetallic disc has a plurality of kerfs extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery. Magnets are disposed in the bottom of the kerfs so as to form a space between the magnets and the outer periphery of the disc to collect magnetic particulate material in this space. An eyelet is provided for attachment to a cable for pulling the disc through a pipe to remove magnetic debris therefrom.

Abstract: A wheel-supported shag rug brushing and raking device, which when moved over a shag rug fluffs the long strands of the nap thereof, and concurrently retrieves magnetically attractable objects such as hairpins, bobby pins, and the like. The device is relatively light in weight inasmuch as all or a substantial portion of the components thereof may be injection molded from a suitable polymerized resin. When not in use, the device may be disposed in a position to occupy a minimum of space.

Abstract: Containers made of various materials, such as aluminum and steel beverage cans, and glass beverage bottles, are crushed and separated to permit recycling of the metallic materials by a method and apparatus comprising crushing the containers in a container crushing means having two cone shaped members being rotationally frictionally engageable with each other, one of the cone shaped members being displaceable from the other against the resistance of a spring means, wherein the containers are crushed as they pass between the cone shaped members, conveying the crushed containers away from the crushing means on a container conveyor and separator means comprising an endless belt member having a first end portion for receiving crushed containers from the crushing means and a second end portion, separating the magnetic from the non-magnetic crushed containers by subjecting the containers to a magnetic field at the second end portion of the belt member whereby the non-magnetic containers are discharged from the belt

Abstract: A can crusher having a pair of vertically aligned wheels with one of the wheels having a resilient tire and the other, driven wheel being non-resilient and having outer projecting bar means that contact the resilient tire. A vertical chute directs the cans into the intersecting contact area of the rotating wheels and a second chute directs the crushed cans at the velocity imparted by the rotating wheels to contact a deflecting surface, whereby the cans are deflected at a high velocity into an air passage containing air moving therein under pressure that in turn passes through a venturi at the point of mixing with the cans, increasing the velocity of movement of the carrying air. Also the suction for the air under pressure is used to separate cans to be crushed from bottles.

Abstract: A broom or rake fitted with magnetizable tines for attracting ferrous debris, when the tines are magnetically energized. The tines extend into a tubular section of the handle of the tool in which the field of a magnetic element or electrical coil serves to magnetize the tines. The magnetic field may be turned off by means of an actuating lever or switch mounted in the handle of the tool so as to enable the tines to drop magnetic debris, and the lever or switch permits reversing of the magnetic field to eliminate residual magnetism formed in the tines after extended use.

Abstract: A bumper and magnetic pickup device for vacuum sweepers includes a strip of magnetized elastomer having magnetic poles aligned along its opposite longitudinal edges and supported on a metal strip. The metal strip is bent at each end to form brackets which mount on the front end of the sweeper, creating a space between the bumper and the sweeper for magnetizable objects to collect without entering the nozzle of the vacuum sweeper.

Abstract: An automatic developability control system is provided in the developer assembly of an electrostatic reproduction apparatus to sample toner particle developability. Upon an indication that replenishment of toner powder is necessitated, the control system is operative to activate a toner powder dispensing apparatus. The developer mixture may be comprised of magnetic toner particles or magnetic carrier particles to which toner powder is adhered. To prevent debris material such as paper scraps, fibers, dust, bits of rubber, etc. from plugging or jamming the toner powder sensing device of the control system, provision is made for separating the developer mixture from debris material prior to the introduction of developer mixture into the control system.

Abstract: A road cleaning device adapted to be mounted in front of a vehicle's front tires to pick up magnetically attractable road hazards such as nails, screws, tacks, bolts, miscellaneous scraps of metal and the like, the device comprising an electro-magnetic element for picking up the magnetically attractable road hazards. A support member secures the electro-magnetic element to a front part of the vehicle which is disposed in front of the front tires. A cushioning material is disposed between the electro-magnetic element and the front part of the vehicle for dampening the sound of the road hazards striking the electro-magnetic element as the road hazards are being picked up by the electro-magnetic element. The support member permits the electro-magnetic element to be horizontally adjusted to a left or right position relative to a respective front tire and to be vertically adjusted to an up or down position relative to the front part of the vehicle.