Abstract: A drilling fluid waste disposal system includes a trench having an outlet, a receiving pit in fluid communication with the outlet of the trench, a first weir in the receiving pit, and a second weir in the receiving pit. The outlet of the trench feeds a slurry to the receiving pit, such that the slurry is at least partially separated into a liquid-enriched portion and a fluid-enriched portion using the first and second weirs. The system also includes a pump configured to draw the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry from the receiving pit and configured to introduce the at least some of the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry back into the trench. The system further includes a drying apparatus in communication with the receiving pit configured to receive the solids-enriched portion of the slurry from a second position in the receiving pit.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing aggregate material comprising an inclined trough having a pair of shafts rotatably mounted therein, the shafts having staggered blades arranged pass between one another during rotation of the shafts and angled to carry material towards an upper end of the trough, excess water and any floating trash passing over a weir adjacent a lower end of the trough onto the deck of a first vibratory screen, and a second vibatory screen being mounted adjacent the upper end of the trough for receiving particulate material from the upper end of the trough, the second vibratory screen having at least one deck for grading the material, wherein water collected in a sump of the first vibratory screen is arranged to pass into a sump of the second vibratory screen.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating drilling fluid from drill cuttings are disclosed.

Abstract: A log washer apparatus having two longitudinal shafts. The shaft includes paddles arranged into groups. Some of the groups are aligned about the circumference of the shaft such that each of the paddles in the group extend outward from the shaft at the same circumferential location about the shaft. Some of the groups are offset such that paddles within the offset groups are offset with respect to the adjacent paddles so as to increase fluid flow in the log washer.

Abstract: A tipping pit water reclaiming system for concrete reclaimers which includes one or more tanks with a pivot support and hydraulic pistons for tipping the tanks to remove the settled solids. Clarified water from the tipping tanks overflows into a pump tank where it is returned by pump to the reclaimer. The pump tank includes a second pump for pumping excess clarified water into a storage tank for return to the tipping tank after the cement solids have been emptied out of the tipping tank. The second pump prevents the overflowing of water onto the ground from the tipping tank or pump tank as solids accumulate in the tipping tank. The second pump is controlled by float activated switches positioned at predetermined levels within the pump tank.

Abstract: The log washer with staggered paddles is a device for washing and separating aggregates, such as sand, gravel, ores, etc., from waste material. The log washer has a water tank or trough having one end inclined or raised relative to horizontal. A pair of shafts are mounted for rotation in bearings in the end walls of the tank, and connected to a driver by appropriate gearing so that the shafts rotate in opposite directions. Each shaft has a plurality of paddles mounted thereon, each paddle being mounted at an angle to the shaft to raise washed aggregates up the inclined trough to a discharge hopper or conveyor belt. Further, the paddles on each shaft are grouped in sections, the radial angle formed by adjacent sections with the shaft being staggered, the paddles on adjacent shafts being offset so that the aggregate material is ground between the paddles.

Abstract: A grit classifier of the type used in a variety of industrial applications to separate grit or particulate matter from a feed slurry is disclosed, the grit classifier being unitarily-formed in one or two pieces of moldable plastic or plastic-like material which renders the grit classifier more easily and cost-effectively manufactured. The grit classifier of the present invention is also advantageously easy to transport to a site, thereby further reducing the costs of use. Also disclosed is an auger beating assembly for use in the unitarily-formed grit classifier tank of the present invention which is simply structured and adaptable to any screw auger type or size.

Abstract: A device for reclaiming material, such as used wet ready mixed concrete, having a hopper for receiving the used concrete into a excess of water and floating the suspended cement particles out through a weired overflow for further reclamation while the solid sand and aggregate is augured from the bottom of the hopper for further washing and separation into sand and aggregate for reuse.

Abstract: The grit conveyance system of a classifier having a wash region above the liquid layer is provided with a vacuum means in the wash region for positive removal of liquids through a metal screen for disposal.

Abstract: In an apparatus and its method of use in which lignite is moved upwardly in an inclined trough by a screw conveyer-agitator and fractured and washed while being so moved and when washed being removed from the upper end of said trough and wherein the lower end of the trough is arranged to provide a section in which a quiescent phase of liquid is formed to allow any suspended lignite to settle therefrom while a supernatant phase containing mineral matter suspended therein is removed the improvement which consists of having a two-section conveyor screw the lower-end portion or length thereof exposed in or by said quiescent phase being structured with a smooth flight or blade which can be rotated without disturbing unduly the supernatant phase thus to avoid suspending lignite therein while the remaining length of the screw conveyor can be structured to impact and fracture the crushed lignite while it is being agitated in the presence of a washing medium.

Abstract: A screw-type fine material classifier or washer having externally mounted support bearings with the ends of the screw extending through the end walls of the tank and waterproof seals. The bearings and seals being adjustable so that the screw may be moved both vertically and horizontally to adjust the clearance between the screw and the belly pan of the washer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for scrubbing crude oil (bitumen) from tar-sands, the apparatus being characterized by a heated vessel for maintaining the tar-sand/water slurry at between approximately 180.degree.-200.degree. F., a pair of counterrotating screw conveyors in the bottom of the vessel for agitating the sand and moving it to the discharge end, means for simultaneously diluting and aerating the incoming slurry that produces small bubbles effective to float the crude oil freed from the sand to the surface, an overflow wier running alongside the vessel for catching the oil skimmed off the surface of the water, transversely-extending endless chain-and-flight skimmers for skimming the oil into the wier, a bottom-opening discharge for the clean sand, and valves controlling the discharge of sand effective to remove the latter without lowering the fluid level in the vessel to a point where the oil previously released can reattach itself to the sand.

Abstract: An inclined helical conveyer has a container containing a rotary shaft carrying a helical flight which has openings cut out of the flight adjacent the shaft serving to separate liquid from particulate material as the latter is conveyed up the conveyer.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a container having a V-shaped bottom disposed at an incline. Along the apex of the V, there is positioned an auger which has an exit extending out of the container at the top of the incline. A plurality of baffles extend transversely of the auger. As a solids laden mud is introduced into the container at the lowest point of the incline, the liquid part of the mud climbs over the baffles and exits at outlets positioned toward the top of the incline while the solids become entrapped between the baffles and fall into the auger which carries them upwardly and out of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating relatively heavy particles, such as rock, from relatively light particles, such as coal, in a liquid, such as water, of lesser specific gravity than either the heavier or the lighter particles, comprising an upwardly inclined trough and auger driven to move particles upward in the trough, means for feeding a mixture of the heavier and lighter particles into the trough, a liquid dispensing means above the feed means for discharging liquid down the trough to create turbulent flow, and a weir forming a pool in the lower end of the trough.The invention further comprises an auger having an upper end which is spaced below the upper end of the trough to provide a space for the accumulation of heavy particles at the upper end of the trough to facilitate dewatering of the heavy particles before discharge from the upper end of the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in separating clay from coal fines comprising a hopper having a sloped rear wall, a baffle mounted to the hopper and extending downwardly, a conveyor positioned along the rear wall of the hopper, and an overflow port located in the side walls between the baffle and the rear wall of the hopper. In particular embodiments the hopper includes a horizontal baffle extending from the first baffle and positioned below the overflow ports and an apron extending outwardly of the hopper from the rear wall. A method for separating a mixture of clay particles and coal fines is also described herein.

Abstract: A material separator includes a housing defining a settling chamber, a communicating drain chamber and a discharge member. A horizontal screw conveyor extends through the settling chamber and drain chamber to the discharge chamber. Material to be separated is introduced into the housing at the top of the settling chamber and water is introduced into the bottom of the settling chamber at a flow rate sufficient to partially immerse the conveyor. The heavier material components sink to the bottom of the settling chamber while the desired lighter components float and are advanced by the conveyor and water flow into the drain chamber. In the drain chamber, the horizontal screw conveyor is tapered inwardly as the screw conveyor traverses the discharge chamber and a tapered screen is positioned around the tapered screw conveyor to rotate therewith.

Abstract: A movably mounted receptacle having perforations therein with hollow spigots connected to the receptacle in registry with the perforations and projecting substantially downwardly therefrom, these spigots being moved through a bed of the particulate material in a receiver while particles of the material move through the spigots. The spigots discharge the particles moving therethrough into the bed and agitate the bed during movement therethrough. A fluid medium is directed in the materials in the receptacle, this medium going through the spigots with the material particles and overflowing from the receiver, carrying lighter particles with it while heavier particles concentrate towards the bottom of the bed. The separating method involving the use of this apparatus.

Abstract: The dryness of the coarse solids fraction discharged from a spiral classifier is improved by the provision of a secondary coarse particles discharge in the side wall of the classifier tank upstream of the primary coarse particles discharge. Part of the coarse fraction is removed from the process stream through the secondary discharge thereby relieving the load on the raking mechanism and facilitating the liberation of entrained free moisture from the coarse material remaining in the classifier tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an agglomeration of materials having different densities. The agglomeration of materials is fed to a vessel where separation into constituent parts takes place. The vessel is filled with a liquid having a density lower than the constituent materials, the liquid then being injected under pressure into the bottom of the vessel so that lighter materials are entrained in the subsequent liquid flow to be removed from the vessel while heavier materials collect at the bottom of the vessel. Means are provided at the bottom of the vessel to remove the collected heavier material.