Abstract: A hopper and a mineral material processing plant. The hopper includes hinged side walls configured to be pivoted into a first position and a second position and a connection wall attached between the hinged side walls. The connection wall includes a flexible member and is configured to fold together in response to the hinged side walls being pivoted from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method and system for removing foreign grains from oat grains to establish gluten-free oats, i.e., oat grains having gluten levels below 20 ppm and, more preferably, below 10 ppm, relies upon performing a series of mechanical differentiation operations on a combination of grains, including oats and foreign, or gluten containing, grains. The various operations include aspiration, width grading and length grading steps, as well as a late stage density separating step. The resulting oats can be used to make a wide range of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products.

Abstract: A product flow control apparatus for use in sorting of products, and particularly relatively small products. The apparatus includes a reservoir of products to be sorted, a flow-rate control passage at which a flow restrictor limits the flow rate of products passing to a slide before imaging by a product viewer and sorting by ejector. A flow valve operates to provide products to a flow-rate control passage at a flow rate at which the product viewer and the ejector can operate.

Abstract: A product flow control apparatus for use in sorting of products, and particularly relatively small products. The apparatus includes a reservoir of products to be sorted, a flow-rate control passage at which a flow restrictor limits the flow rate of products passing to a slide before imaging by a product viewer and sorting by ejector. A flow valve operates to provide products to a flow-rate control passage at a flow rate at which the product viewer and the ejector can operate.

Abstract: Sieve screen level sensing in a filtering apparatus (10) for filtering fine powder material (M) which includes a sieve (12) having a material inlet (24) and a material outlet (26), and a sieve screen (14) is disposed within the sieve (12) between the material inlet (24) and outlet (26) such that the material (M) must pass through the sieve screen (14) to enter the material outlet (26) and thereby exit the sieve (12). An input valve (22) controls the flow of material (M) into the sieve (12) through the material inlet (24). A sieve screen level sensor assembly (20) senses a level of material (M) accumulated upon the sieve screen (14), and issues a level sense signal (66) indicative of that level. A programmable logic controller (60) receives the level sense signal (66) and controls the inlet valve (22) dependent at least in part thereon to thereby control the flow of material (M) into the material inlet (24).

Abstract: An oil and gas drilling installation having a drill rig with a bell nipple having an outlet at a predetermined elevation, a screening machine having a feeder and an angularly adjustable vibratory frame, a weir positioned between the feeder and the vibratory frame, the weir having an elevation which is lower than the predetermined elevation of the outlet of the bell nipple but immediately above the portion of the screen frame adjacent to the weir, and a downwardly inclined conduit between the bell nipple conduit and the feeder. A vibratory screening machine and feeder combination including an angularly adjustable vibratory frame on the vibratory screening machine, and a weir and flexible seal between the feeder and the vibratory frame at an elevation which is immediately above the portion of the vibratory frame which is adjacent to the weir.

Abstract: In a mineral preparation plant which receives a raw mineral feed and separates the raw mineral feed into a clean mineral and a refuse, an apparatus is provided for use therein. The apparatus retains dilute media which is formed as a by-product of the separation process. The apparatus includes a sump formed in a floor of the mineral preparation plant and configured to receive and retain: (a) dilute media, consisting of finely sized particles of mineral, refuse, media and water, from an underpan of at least one refuse screen and a clean mineral screen, and (b) mineral, refuse and media particles spilled by mineral processing equipment in the mineral preparation plant. The apparatus further includes a pump associated with the sump for pumping the dilute media and the spilled mineral, refuse and media particles received in the sump as a mixture to a media separating device, and a nuclear density gauge and integrated control system for controlling the amount of media fed to the media separating device.

Abstract: A compact dedusting apparatus is mounted on the machine utilizing particulate material requiring contaminant cleansing to provide an economical and effective decontamination of particulate material immediately before utilization of the material. The dedusting apparatus includes a downwardly sloped infeed chute having an opening at the bottom thereof. A metering device in the form of a rotatable finned hub blocks the opening to constantly meter the flow of particulate material through the dedusting apparatus. The metering device is formed with flexible blades oriented at a slight angle to the slope of the infeed chute to provide a constant flow of material through the opening. A flow of air is directed through a wash deck positioned below the infeed chute to cleanse the particulate material. The air flow is directed along multiple paths including a path defining an air knife associated with the wash deck to facilitate the cleansing of the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a multi-step screening apparatus (1), the method comprising controlling other accept, reject and dilution flows in relation to the flow measured in the accept channel (7a) of the first screening step (3a). Thus a simpler control unit (9) can be used and accept of higher quality can be obtained than before. The invention further relates to an apparatus for controlling a multi-step screening apparatus (1), said apparatus comprising a control unit (9) arranged to measure the flows of all accept, reject and dilution water channels (7a-7c, 5a, 5b, 11a, 11b) and to adjust the flow of the other channels on the basis of the flow of the accept channel of the first step.

Abstract: An article including; a support member with a plurality of apertures therethrough; and a plurality of gate members attached by at least one end to at least one side of the support member, wherein each gate member is situated in close proximity to at least one of the apertures.

Abstract: A bypass diverter box disposed upstream from conventional solids control equipment of a mud system of a drilling rig contains a drilling mud separation unit having a continuous-loop scalper screen that is driven in a continuous loop to separate, convey and discharge large amounts of gumbo, heavy clays and drill solids at the end of the separation unit. The flow divider box is a box-like housing with a verter plate, upper and lower baffle plates and a grate that allows drilling fluid or drilling mud to be selectively directed to the mud separation unit to be separated prior to passing to the conventional downstream solids control equipment or allows the fluid to bypass the separation unit and flow directly to the conventional solids control equipment.

Abstract: Vacuum accumulator incorporating a vacuum vessel for communication with a suction conduit, and with at least one vacuum accumulator vessel interconnectable with the vacuum vessel via a stop valve, in turn connected to a vacuum pump for charging of said vessels with a vacuum under a limited volume, whereby the stop valve is adapted to open when the vacuum in the vacuum vessel drops to a certain volume. A device for dewatering and removal of waste by vacuum, with a track intended for supply of the waste and incorporating a collecting hopper narrowing in a direction from above and downwards and having a closed bottom portion, at which is arranged the opening of a suction conduit connectable to a vacuum source for applying a vacuum in the bottom portion of the collecting hopper.

Abstract: A discrete material washing apparatus comprises a structure mounting an elongate trough having an inlet and an outlet. A dished tray is mounted on the structure and shaped to feed into the inlet. The tray is to receive disposal of a cementitious mixture therein. A cylindrical screen has a net surface. The screen extends substantially along the length of the trough and is adapted for rotation. Water spray is provided to play on any mixture disposed onto the tray and passed through the inlet into the interior of the screen for size classification with smaller particles able to pass through the mesh of the screen surface into the trough and larger particles remaining in the screen. A first mechanism is provided to remove the smaller particles from the trough, and a second mechanism is provided to remove the larger particles from the interior of the screen through the outlet of the trough. A weir is provided in at least one longitudinal side of the trough for removal of the cementitious water therefrom.

Abstract: A separator for separating two or more materials of which one or more consist(s) of a particulate, fluidisable material such as aluminum oxide, from a material which can not be fluidised such as nails, tools, coke, pieces of wood, and lumps of oxide. The separator comprises a chamber (1') in which are located one or more screens (7, 9) and one or more fluidising/transport channels (8, 10) underneath, at angles established in advance. The separator has no movable parts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deagglomerating powder which allows for the powder to be pressed immediately after being deagglomerated. The deagglomerating apparatus is preferably mounted on the powder pressing machine or shares the same housing with the powder pressing machine so that deagglomerated powder may pass from the deagglomerating apparatus into the powder pressing machine.

Abstract: A screening plant having a feed plate located between a grizzly grate and a conveyor driven by a hydraulic motor. A first source of fluid supplies hydraulic fluid to a first cylinder to open the feed plate and to a second hydraulic cylinder to swing the grizzly grate. A second source of fluid provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor driving the conveyor and to a sequence valve at a pressure determined by the load on the motor. The sequence valve stops the flow of fluid to the second cylinder stopping the feed plate when the pressure of fluid from the second source of fluid reaches a predetermined value so that the conveyor will not be overloaded. The feed plate has to open at a preset speed and is started and stopped by the discharging conveyor, as the conveyor meets its capacity. When the feed plate reaches full open position, it activates a control that lifts the grizzly grate and dumps off large pieces of material. The grizzly grate is also controlled by the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A shale shaker or the like comprises a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet. A screen is mounted generally horizontally in the hollow body between the inlet and the outlet. A motive assembly is operatively connected to the screen for repetitively moving the screen. At least one generally horizontal tube is connected to the screen for movement therewith. A solid weight freely movable longitudinally in the tube automatically adjusts the center of gravity of the attached screen.

Abstract: An improved soil feeder system in combination with a soil separating apparatus and method of controlling the feeding of soil material employing the soil feeder. The soil feeder apparatus including a hopper body having included walls and flat bottom surface to define a hopper space to receive soil material and characterized by an opening at one end for controlling the feeding of soil materials to be screened. The body includes a funnel shaped walls to direct the soil material inwardly into the hopper body, as hydraulic cylinder at the one end to tilt the hopper body between a soil receiving position and a tilted soil discharging position.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for separating materials includes a feed splitting assembly (27) which evenly divides the materials to be separated into equal parts for inputs to a like plurality of screen assemblies (16, 17, 18). These inputs are evenly distributed across the width of some of the screen assemblies (17, 18) by manifolds (44, 51). One of the screen assemblies (16) can receive the input directly through an aperture (40) in the feed splitting assembly (27). The material not passing through the screen assemblies (16, 17, 18) is collected at one location and the material passing therethrough is transmitted to a common discharge spout (55).

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning grain and the like by gravity feeding through a casing having within it a central zig-zag chute with top-hinged screens resting across openings in each underside of each zig and each zag of the chute, the action of the grain itself resonating the screens for increased agitation. A large access door to the edge of the screens permits each inspection and replacement as the screens are hinged by means of a top strip which slides into an open-ended slot at the knee of each zig and each zag.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a combination feeder and sifter for particulate material. The apparatus includes a vertically elongated hopper for holding a bulk supply of the particulate material. A vibratory unit is positioned below the hopper and is movable independently thereof. An upper panel of the vibratory unit constitutes a bottom-forming panel of the hopper and is in direct contact with the bulk supply of particulate material. The bottom-forming panel has an adjustable feed rate device thereon which, when the vibratory mechanism is in operation, provides for a controlled rate of flow of particulate material from the hopper on to a vibrating sifting screen supported directly underneath the panel. The configuration and arrangement of the supply hopper and the bottom-forming panel are such that the mass of particulate material affecting the operation of the vibratory panel approximates that of an imaginary conical pile of the material.

Abstract: In removing impurities, such as printing inks, binders, fiber fragments and pigments, from a fibrous suspension of waste paper containing water, the fibrous suspension is directed downwardly over an inclined sieve for removing the impurities through the sieve. In its length direction between its upper and lower ends, the sieve is divided into a number of individual sections. A triangularly shaped groove-like trough is located between the lower end of one section and the upper end of the next downwardly adjacent section. The trough extends transversely of the length of the sieve and is shaped to provide a swirling movement to the suspension flowing into the trough. At the outlet from the trough a flow-stemming device is provided for affording the uniform level of the suspension as it flows over the next section of the sieve.

Abstract: A grain cleaning apparatus having an upstanding housing with a grain inlet, at least one layer of screens disposed below the inlet and a foreign material receiving chamber disposed below the screen, with separate outlets for foreign material and cleaned grain and integral means for bypassing a selected, infinitely variable, between limits, proportion of incoming grain flow around the screens to the grain outlet.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle having self-contained apparatus for classifying, cleaning and reconstituting granular or pelletized materials, such as catalysts used in chemical plants, without polluting the surroundings, is adapted to travel from plant to plant over conventional highways and quickly placed in operating condition to remove contaminated granular materials from their beds or towers in chemical plants even when hot and process the materials to remove dust and undersized particles, to classify the granules into batches of different sizes for reuse and to filter out pollutants to protect the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A gravel processing system, preferably of the portable type, utilizing a plurality of screens and conveyors wherein the particle sizes of the finished product may be accurately regulated, and readily varied. Two screen boxes are mounted upon a frame, each box including a plurality of screens which are charged at their inner ends by a top-loading hopper having several outlets providing a versatility of screen charging. The vibrating screens discharge at their outer ends, and the conveyors located below the screens convey the fines from both screen boxes to a common discharge point. A chute and bypass system at the discharge end of one screen box permits the screen discharge to be selectively conveyed to one of several conveyors or chutes, for re-processing or re-crushing, and the apparatus of the system provides extraordinary versatility and particle size sorting and classification in a relatively concise apparatus.