Abstract: Processes for treating fly ash to enhance the fly ash as a pozzolan for portland cement mixes and to separate therefrom a substantial carbon compound and/or to increase the fineness of the fly ash include the treatment of a fly ash slurry with ultrasonic energy using ultrasonic horns immersed in a slurry of fly ash and water and imparting to said slurry such ultrasonic energy as to cause microscopic cavities to form and implode with high localized energy to break up fly ash agglomerations along cleavage lines and to break up carbon particles and matrices which have entrapped fly ash microspheres therein to release the microspheres into the slurry. A conditioner agent may be added at or during ultrasonic treatment to enhance the flotation of the carbon compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for sorting recycled solid waste materials, such as plastics, by a liquid-fluidized bed classifier (LFBC) technique. The application of a LFBC to the separation of plastics, and in particular plastic particles, is shown to be advantageous for a number of reasons. Firstly, the primary fluidization medium, i.e., water, is present in large quantities during conventional chopping, washing, and flotation operations that are performed during plastics recycling operations. Secondly, the natural density distribution of the major types of recycled plastics favors segregation by density in water, i.e., the "lighter-than-water" polyolefins, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) from the "heavier-than-water" polystyrene (PS) PVC and PET plastics. The latter types of plastics have been found to separate spatially in an upflow LFBC, while the "lighter-than-water" plastics can be collected at the top of the column, thereby combining flotation and classification in a single step.

Abstract: An assembly for abrasive agent recovery in water jet cutting units including a separator (4) for separating usable abrasive agent from sludge and water and a drying oven (9). A conveyor (6) follows the separator (4) for transporting the overwhelmingly usable abrasive agent separated in portions by the separator (4) and compression rollers (30) adjacent the conveyors press remaining water out of the portions located on the conveyor. The portions on the conveyor are blown by a compressed air unit (8) and a spraying nozzle into the drying oven (9), through which warmed exhaust air, further heated in the drying oven (9), flows. The drying oven (9) consists of a climbing shaft (12), closed via a heater (10) with a screen (11), an eddy chamber (16) connected to a funnel (17) to the lower end the eddy chamber (16), a line (18) from the eddy chamber (16) to a catching tank (19), and a suction connection (20).

Abstract: A granulator for separating the constituent parts of electrical cable containing relatively light-weight plastic covering relatively heavy electrically-conductive material. The granulator includes a first cutter for cutting the cable into short pieces and a second cutter for cutting the short pieces of cable into a still shorter length sufficient to detach the plastic from the electrically-conductive material to form a mixture of small pieces of plastic and electrically-conductive material. A vibratory sorter separates the mixture of plastic and electrically-conductive material, and includes an elongate, circular and spirally-extending track having a material inlet adjacent a bottom end thereof for receiving the mixture of plastic and electrically-conductive material for separation and a electrically-conductive material discharge slot adjacent a top end thereof for discharging electrically-conductive material.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for the processing of refuse mixtures which may include relatively high concentrations of plastic waste, such as refuse mixtures including waste packages originating from household refuse and industrial refuse and especially refuse mixtures including plastic waste in the form of sheeting, hollow bodies, beakers and composite materials whereby the solids of the refuse mixture are comminuted, the communited refuse mixture is then moistened, mechanically disintegrated, mixed with a separating fluid and then dewatered and separated by density by a sorting centrifuge thereby obtaining a plastic fraction which is free of impurities.

Abstract: A method of recycling mixed post-consumer plastics waste includes the steps of providing mixed post-consumer plastics waste including polyolef in and non-polyolefin components, and melt-compounding the waste so as to form a continuous phase including a blend of the polyolefin components with the non-polyolefin components microdispersed therein. Preferably, the waste also includes one or more intrinsic compatibilizers, and the method includes the intrinsic compatibilizers at least partially compatibilizing the microdispersed components in the continuous phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic reactor and classifier, with ultrasonic application for a continuous process of separation and recovering minerals or other type of materials or for the production of chemical compounds. It comprises a body of two main sections, an upper part and a lower part. The upper part comprises a container, a loading compartment, a lamella package, at least one ultrasound transducer package and a peripheral weir. The lower part comprises an inverted semi-pyramidal container having a square base, the square base attached to the upper part, at least one ultrasound transducer package at different location within the reactor to distribute the ultrasound effect all over the slurry flowing through the reactor, a nozzle for delivering a liquid or a gas. The final part comprises a pinch valve for discharging coarse particles as a slurry.

Abstract: A magnetic separation apparatus which coagulates substances to be removed in liquid by adding magnetic substances and a flocculent to liquid to be treated and adsorbs and captures the thus obtained magnetic aggregates by utilizing magnetic field of magnetic substances which move relative to the liquid to be treated, and other magnetic separation apparatus comprising a magnetic filter which contains charging magnetic metallic elements placed in a magnetic field and which magnetically adsorbs and captures the magnetic aggregates, are appropriately combined to remove the magnetic aggregates from the liquid to be treated with good efficiency. Substances to be removed in liquid can be removed with further good efficiency by employing a method of separating the magnetic aggregates separated by the magnetic filter from liquid with a centrifugal separator.

Abstract: A froth floatation process for separating carbon from coal ash incorporates a step of screening the coal ash before the coal ash is formed into a slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixed granular material into granules of different specific gravities or ranges of specific gravity using a powered air flow is described. A divider plate is located below the air flow path within the apparatus to separate the two material flows from each other. The divider plate can be rotated about an axis and can also be translated or displaced within the apparatus in order to precisely define the separation point between the material flows. Hoppers are used to collect and discharge the separated granular materials, and a conveyor belt is provided within the apparatus to transport one of the separated granular materials to the corresponding hopper. The conveyor belt reduces clogging of the separated granular material and also allows a greater degree of separation to be maintained between the hoppers, thereby allowing standard conveyors to be placed beneath the hopper discharge openings.

Abstract: An air classifying system that can produce toner particles having a desired particle size is disclosed. The air classifying system contains a supplying pipe for supplying raw materials; a truncated cone-like breather pipe that has a ratio of minimal opening sectional area S.sub.1 to a maximum opening sectional area S.sub.0 being between 0.2 and 0.5, and an angle .theta. formed between axis and generatrix being between 10.degree. and 35.degree.; a classifying means for classifying the raw materials supplied through the supplying pipe; and an air flow-generating means for generating air-flow for transporting the raw materials in the classifying system.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for recovering valuable minerals using air lift concentration and progressive ore reduction. The ore is ground to a relatively coarse size, the ground ore is classified, and the underflow fraction floated to produce concentrate, middlings, and tailings fractions. The middlings fraction can be reground to liberate the valuable minerals and subjected to further air lift concentration. The classifier overflow fraction is passed through additional classifiers, the underflow fractions of which can be reground and refloated. The overflow fraction of the last classifier can be subjected to flotation to further enhance recovery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the amount of unburned carbon in raw flyash, wherein raw flyash containing unburned carbon is introduced into the tribocharger, the tribocharger producing positive and negative surface charges on the respective particles of carbon and flyash, introducing the charged particles into an electrical field containing positively and negatively charged plates, the positively and negatively charged particles being collected on the negatively and positively charged plates, and selectively vibrating the plates to selectively recover the unburned carbon and flyash.

Abstract: Processes for treating fly ash to enhance the fly ash as a pozzolan for portland cement mixes and to separate therefrom a substantial carbon compound and/or to increase the fineness of the fly ash include the treatment of a fly ash slurry with ultrasonic energy using ultrasonic horns immersed in a slurry of fly ash and water and imparting to said slurry such ultrasonic energy as to cause microscopic cavities to form and implode with high localized energy to break up fly ash agglomerations along cleavage lines and to break up carbon particles and matrices which have entrapped fly ash microspheres therein to release the microspheres into the slurry. A conditioner agent may be added at or during ultrasonic treatment to enhance the flotation of the carbon compound.

Abstract: The separation of different minerals based on differences in density, surface tension effects and general relative settling rates of the different media over a range of particle sizes is effected in a unique hydraulic mineral separator system. The system and process are particularly useful in the separation of mercury from mercury contaminated soils, sands, gravels, clays and process sludges, (such as chlor-alkali sludges). Sonic vibrations are used to enhance recovery of finely divided mercury and conditioning agents are also used to advantage to reduce surface tension effects and further enhance recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to debarking and chipping folded whole trees. Such structures of this type, generally, increase wood recovery by making high-quality chips out of tree tops, branches, as well as, other larger portions of the tree.

Abstract: Fine particle coal is beneficiated in specially designed dense medium cyclones to improve particle acceleration and enhance separation efficiency. Raw coal feed is first sized to remove fine coal particles. The coarse fraction is then separated into clean coal, middlings, and refuse. Middlings are comminuted for beneficiation with the fine fraction. The fine fraction is deslimed in a countercurrent cyclone circuit and then separated as multiple fractions of different size specifications in dense medium cyclones. The dense medium contains ultra-fine magnetite particles of a narrow size distribution which aid separation and improves magnetite recovery. Magnetite is recovered from each separated fraction independently, with non-magnetic effluent water from one fraction diluting feed to a smaller-size fraction, and improving both overall coal and magnetite recovery.

Abstract: Recycled fiber pulp from a vortex cleaning plant (e.g. connected to the short circulation of a paper machine) effects the recovery and return of fillers in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant, in an efficient and economical manner. The loss of filler in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant is decreased by treating a concentrated fraction of the rejects from the vortex cleaning plant with a mixer/disperser for dispersing the filler in the recycled fiber pulp, and returning as much usable filler as possible back to the process.

Abstract: A method for processing composite materials (matrix+reinforcing fibers) to enable recycling thereof. The method is useful for chemically upgrading materials and comprises exposing the materials to ozone.

Abstract: An infeed conveyor feeds seed cotton modules successively to a feeder head having disperser drums which reduce the modules to clumps of cotton. Incorporated into the conveyor are fluted rollers and beater rollers which cooperate to agitate the bottom portion of the modules and work the fibers on the bottom of each module so as to stretch and relax these fibers, thereby causing the sand, dirt, mud, trash and other debris accumulated along the bottom of the modules to be released. A conveyor feeds this debris to a hopper. Further, after the cotton modules have been dispersed into clumps of cotton by disperser drums in a feeder head and the clumps deposited in a clump chamber, a trough having a sieve means receives the clumps of cotton. In the trough, a conveyor disposed in the trough urges the clumps of cotton in a lateral direction toward an air separator box adjacent the feeder head.

Abstract: Clumps of dried fruit are separated into individual fruit pieces with reduced damage to the fruit itself by passing the clumps through an apparatus containing a rotating shaft from which robber-like resilient fingers protrude. As they rotate, the fingers pass between other fingers in the apparatus, and the combination exerts a force on the dried fruit clumps that varies with the degree of deflection of the fingers and hence with the sizes and resistances of the clumps.

Abstract: An inspection system for sampling and determining the presence of residues of contaminants within plastic materials to be recycled from used plastic materials such as plastic beverage bottles or plastic food containers includes a chemical sniffing apparatus, or alternatively an optical scanner, for detecting the contaminants as the plastic materials are rapidly moved along a conveyor past a series of stations. Recycled food or beverage bottles are fed through a shredder in-line with the conveyor and the shredded plastic material from the bottles is fed to a washer. The bottles and shredded material may be tested for contaminants at any location in an in-line process. In one exemplary system first the bottles are tested prior to entry into the shredder in order to remove bottles containing gross contaminants.

Abstract: A method of recycling medical instruments, especially surgical instruments. The decontaminated medical instruments are received and identified for processing. The analysis and construction of each type of instrument to identify the components and material compositions thereof are determined. A given type of instrument is then dismantled into pieces, which are then sorted by the material compositions thereof as ascertained in the previous determination of the analysis and construction of the instruments.

Abstract: The screening of a stream of bulk material is accelerated so that this takes place in the state of the fluidized bed. The screening apparatus can be made correspondingly smaller. So that the fluidized-bed state persists over the screen surface, the latter is made short and, if necessary, a plurality of screen surfaces with interposed aerating stages are connected in succession.

Abstract: A method for separating a polymer such as polypropylene from a layered plastic material that includes a layer of polypropylene together with a layer of vinylidene chloride is provided. The layered plastic material is agitated in a bath of water and sand to wet the surfaces of the material. The layered plastic material is then agitated in a wash liquor of hot water, caustic, sand, and a surfactant to crack and strip the vinylidene chloride material from the polypropylene material. Sufficient caustic is included in the wash liquor to raise the pH of the wash liquor to pH 12 or greater. Agitation is by reversibly rotating a perforating basket containing the layered plastic material and the wash liquor at 10-20 revolutions per minute and by blowing air into the basket. The wash liquor and stripped vinylidene chloride are then drained away from the polypropylene. The polypropylene is rinsed with water to wash away residual wash liquor and stripped vinylidene chloride.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the flow properties of finely divided powders is provided. The method includes (a) agglomerating the powder by passing it through a screw feeder; and (b) spheronizing the agglomerates. The method preferably further includes (c) sizing the spheronized agglomerates. Spheronization is preferably accomplished by tumbling the agglomerates in a tilted rotating container.

Abstract: Provided are methods of dry recovering useable fiber from paper making sludge. In the methods, paper making sludge is dewatered and dried. The dewatered and dried sludge is then fiberized using a dry fiberizing machine into a fibrous material consisting of fibers and other material including fiber fines, clay, filler material and the like. The fibers in the fibrous material are then separated out in a sifting process. The separated fibers are then ready for use in paper making without further processing. The fiber fines and filler material separated from the fibers is also collected and can be used as filler material in other composite material applications.

Abstract: A method of decorticating short lengths, typically three to five inches of material such as kenaf to separate bast from core and which has been harvested by a chopper harvester of the type used for harvesting stripped corn stalks. Material is subjected to abrading by a saw blade roller and travels down a screen for treatment by a combing action which results in separation of substantially all core from bast. The core passes through the screen and the bast is swept over the end of the screen onto respective collection conveyors.

Abstract: A tandem waterwheel type trommel apparatus having a laterally-disposed drain-off drum and a laterally-disposed classifying drum combined through a short pipe to form a main body, which is rotatably disposed on a base and is connected to a drive unit. A front end plate and a rear end plate each having a doughnut-like shape are respectively provided at the front and rear ends the drain-off drum. A plurality of buckets are provided in the drain-off drum, and gutters are provided on the back side of upper end portions of the buckets. The gutters communicate with drain holes formed in the rear end plate. A fixed shoot is provided which extends through the drain-off drum to the classifying drum. The classifying drum has a cylindrical portion and a truncated-cone portion. A circumferential member of truncated-cone portion is made porous while a circumferential member of the cylindrical portion is formed of a wire netting. A screw is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A rigid, box-like frame structure has a vertically movable subframe assembly mounted thereon. Attached to the subframe are a number of horizontally movable tined sleeves with connected sharpened tines. As the subframe assembly moves downwardly, the attached tines penetrate the refuse bags on a conveyor below. The tined sleeves are then moved outwardly by actuators, tearing open the bags and discharging the refuse within. The subframe assembly is then lifted upwardly and the tined sleeves are moved back inwardly to their original position to start the cycle again.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating fiber and shiv includes a pinned metering rotor and a pinned separation rotor adapted to rotate with surfaces moving in opposite directions and having fixed bearing locations, the final separation rotor being adjacent a shroud in which are a plurality of slots, and a pinned doffer rotor rotatable in either direction and having a bearing location which is adjustable relative to the separation rotor. A shell feed structure at the intersection of the metering rotor and the separation rotor has a surface adjacent the separation rotor substantially parallel to the surface of that rotor, and a surface adjacent the metering rotor having a curvature greater than that of the metering motor.

Abstract: An unloading facility for receiving a particulate material, such as coal, from a vehicle, and then conveying the particulate material to another location. The unloading facility primarily includes a platform assembly for supporting the vehicle, a bin for receiving the particulate material from the vehicle located beneath the top surface of the platform assembly, a bin door and bumper assembly for covering the open upper end of the bin to permit the vehicle to be driving over the bin and for preventing the vehicle from rolling backwards into the bin, a product sampling assembly, a product analyzer, and a conveying system with divider gates for transporting the particulate material from the bin to one of a plurality of stockpiles based on information obtained regarding the particular material. The platform assembly includes a scale for supporting and weighing the vehicle adjacent the forward and rearward ends of the bin so that the weight of the particulate material can be determined without moving the vehicle.

Abstract: An opening device for opening bagged refuse to liberate the contents of the bag, in which garbage bags are transported along a conveyor, and a plurality of endless chains having tines attached thereto are operated above the conveyor. As bags pass under the endless chains, tines extending downwardly from the chains pierce the garbage bags. Adjacent chains are operated at different speeds, and the tines move at different speeds relative to the conveyor, tearing the bags, liberating the refuse.

Abstract: A method is described for processing waste materials in the form of filter rods, filter cigarettes and the like comprising filter material with inner hollow volumes accessible from the outside and at least one other material component, in particular paper and tobacco, wherein the following process steps are carried out: the waste material is distributed in a liquid in a pressure vessel. By increasing the pressure or decreasing the temperature an inert gas is dissolved in the liquid. Subsequently the temperature is increased or the pressure decreased so that fine gas bubbles develop within the filter material which permits the latter to float whereby a separation from the further material components to be separated is possible. With this method a separation of the waste material into its individual component parts is possible so that for example valuable filter material in the form of cellulose acetate is obtained in highly pure form and can be used again for the production of filter materials.

Abstract: The machine comprises a hollow rotary body (1) of large dimensions which may be loaded with the containers to be recycled, nozzles for supplying and spraying washing fluid at a predetermined temperature to the rotary body (1) for the mutual separation and washing of the containers and the initial separation of labels and bases, and mechanical impact devices (2), (21, 23) housed in the rotary body (1) and actuated by the rotation of this body so as to exert on the containers a mechanical action suitable for the mutual separation of the containers themselves, the separation of the stoppers and the completion of the washing and label and base separation operation. The rotary body (1) may have an inlet opening (5) and an outlet opening (7) for the containers to be recycled or a single inlet and outlet opening (30) so as to form a machine operating continuously or discontinuously respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening plastic bags containing recyclable materials includes a feed conveyor for transporting the plastic bags from a receiving area to a sorting area, and a plurality of bag opener units positioned along the feed conveyor. Each of the bag opener units includes a flexible line connected to a rotating head. Free ends of the whirling lines shred and open the plastic bags as they are rotated by the rotating heads and as the plastic bags are transported along the feed conveyor.

Abstract: A method of separating solid waste materials, in the form of dried particles of substantially uniform size, into constituent materials on the basis of density, with primary stage processing utilizing a series of fluidized bed and cyclonic separator assemblies to separate materials on the basis of density, followed by secondary stage processing utilizing combinations of vibratory conveyors, melt separation assemblies, and the like, is provided by the present invention. As the waste materials move through the separator assemblies the initial stream is further refined into a plurality of streams of increasingly specific densities as a result of air flow separation of lighter particles from heavier particles in each assembly. Further refined separation may be achieved through the use of vibratory conveyors, melt separation, and the like.

Abstract: A machine for removing yard waste from bags and for sorting the waste. Filled bags dropped into a hopper have offset slashes cut in opposite sides by blades mounted upon two rotary shafts. The blades are pivoted to minimize solid tramp waste damage, and are mounted in opposing paris for balance. Guards, extending inward from opposed parallel hopper sides enclose each shaft and direct the bags between them. Slots through the guards in the blade paths permit the blades to pass through. Flexible wipers between backing plates extend inward from both sides of the slots parallel to the blade paths to bear against the blades. The cut bags fall onto a conveyor which carries them to the top of an inclined vibrating screen. The screen is sized to pass yard waste but not bags, bag parts or tramp material. Conveyors under the screen carry the yard waste away for disposal.

Abstract: A method for processing wastes from the machining of ferromagnetic materials in which the wastes are mixed with a washing solution in a first tank and oil or oil-and-water emulsion adhering to the wastes is dissolved. Ferromagnetic components of the wastes are then separated from the washing solution in the first tank by means of a magnetic field, and non-magnetic components are then subjected to a washing in a following second tank. The ferromagnetic components are fed to an additional tank where they are washed again. The separated and degreased components are then filtered out of the washing liquids using suitable filtering apparatus.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for separating and recycling plastics from plastic parts containing, for example, light metal, rubber, non-ferrous metals and labels of any type attached. The plastic parts are also reduced to selected sizes. The method and apparatus basically includes shredding the plastic parts so as to reduce the plastic parts into a first reduced size of plastic pieces; moving the shredded plastic pieces to subject them to a magnetic device so that light metal material is removed from the shredded plastic pieces; subjecting the plastic pieces to a grinder device to reduce the plastic pieces to smaller pieces; subjecting the smaller plastic pieces to a sufficient high pressure steam to remove contaminate materials from the plastic pieces; and drying the plastic pieces and contaminate materials and separating the plastic pieces from the contaminate materials.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the treatment of wastepaper, carried out for the most at a high consistency of at least 13% in the first stages, beginning the dissolution (soaking) and including a coarse sorting stage. The invention is characterized in that in the case of wastepaper containing a share of at least 40% of deinking wastepaper provided with printing inks the three first process stages, namely in this order of soaking, coarse cleaning and the further extensive dissolution of the wastepaper, take place at a considerable reduction of the wastepaper shreds to the usual speck size at a consistency of at least 13%, and the soaking under considerable addition of dissolving chemicals, and that the wastepaper including essentially all heavy contaminations, such as part of wood, glass, plastic or metal contained in the wastepaper, including pieces of metal straps of the wastepaper bales, is fed to the process.

Abstract: A sludge drying system using exhaust air from a furnace in a direct heat, rotary drum dryer to simultaneously dry and pelletize the sludge. The dried sludge particles exiting the dryer is entrained in the exhaust air. The sludge particles are separated from the exhaust air and then classified according to size. The under sized particles are recycled back to a mixer for mixing with incoming wet sludge. The oversized particles are conveyed to a crusher or mill for reducing the oversized particles down to the desired product size. The medium-sized particles can be selectively directed to be recycled with the undersized particles or collected as product. The exhaust air is treated in a treatment section, and then divided into two exhaust air streams or portions. A first portion of the exhaust air is discharged into the environment, while the second, larger portion of the exhaust air is recycled back to the furnace to be used to dry the sludge in the drier.

Abstract: A method for recycling of coated glass, especially for reuse in a glass melt, comprises the steps of crushing the glass; transferring the crushed glass into a mixing unit; mixing the crushed glass for a predetermined time period; during the mixing step, adding liquid to the crushed glass and cleaning the crushed glass with the liquid; and removing the cleaned crushed glass from the mixing unit. The method is especially useful for recycling cathode-ray tubes.

Abstract: Contaminated particulate materials of varying particle sizes are washed and separated by size by a steam washing process which concentrates the contaminant in the small size fraction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the carbon content of fly ash are disclosed. The fly ash is subjected to an inclined surface having first and second vibratory sources for respectively moving the fly ash from the elevated end of the incline to the lower end and to disaggregate and stratify a high carbon fraction from an enhanced fly ash fraction. The second vibratory source, in combination with the inclined surface, separates the lighter, high carbon fraction while the heavier enhanced fly ash fraction travels toward the lower end of the incline. An air jet and associated vacuum draft pull the high carbon fraction from the incline, leaving the enhanced fly ash portion for use, after removal from the surface, as an example, as acceptable mineral admixture for use in Portland Cement concrete.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cleaning of recyclable plastic. More particularly the recyclable plastic is treated at a frequency from 20 to 60 KHz, optionally in the presence of an antiseptic agent and in the absence of a surfactant. This treatment cleans waste, and particularly waste containing protein, such as medical or food waste so it is suitable for recycling.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for obtaining dry sodium aluminum hydride from a slurry containing the production products from a sodium aluminum hydride plant.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleaning the oil off of oil covered parts by the employment of oil absorbing particulate such as ground corncob. The oil covered parts and oil absorbing particulate are mixed together in a tumbler for a period sufficient to bring each of the parts into contact with the oil absorbing particulate. Much of the particulate adheres to the oil covered parts. Thus, following mixing, the particulate adhered parts are subjected to a series of vibrating, impinging, tumbling, and air blowing actions which remove the adhering particulate from the parts and direct the oil absorbed particulate and cleaned parts into two separate, respective vessels.

Abstract: Granule cleaner and method comprises a hollow elutriation column into which dust- and debris-adulterated pellets are blasted on a high velocity air stream through an upwardly inclined injection tube to form a floating suspension in said column. Suction withdraws the lighter suspended material from the top while the heavier particles fall to the bottom. A.C. electrostatic dischargers diametrically disposed opposite conductive portions of the injection tube which may be ground-isolated (and also opposite ground-isolated conductive portions of the column below the injection level of the granules therein) to neutralize both the entering contaminated granules and the falling cleansed pellets, the conductive ground-isolated portions defining reference electrodes for balancing ion emission.

Abstract: A continuous cycle apparatus for separating particles of precious metals from concentrate having a funnel-shaped hopper. A pump circulates a portion of the water from a sump into the hopper to create a vortex of water and concentrate such that less dense material tends to overflow from the hopper into the sump. The pump also circulates a portion of the water from the sump through a tube connected to a bottom opening in the hopper to transport concentrate and water to a sluice box which collects particles of precious metals contained in the slurry. The rate at which water and concentrate are drawn from the hopper is adjustably controlled by a metering rod located in the tube immediately below the bottom opening in the hopper. The water and remaining particles drain from the sluice box back into the hopper to complete the cycle.