Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise the optional application of concentrations of an aqueous permanganate solution, such as an approximately 0.01% A to approximately 50% liquid permanganate solution and preferably comprising approximately 20% sodium permanganate dosed at approximately 1 ppm to approximately 100 ppm to harvested sugar crops, such as sugarcane, sugar beets, and sweet sorghum, at one or more of the sugar processing steps for the crops. The steps where the liquid sodium permanganate may optionally be applied include at a sugar crop cutting step, a sugar crop conveying step, a sugar juice extraction step, a sugar juice clarifying step, and a clarifier muds filtration step.

Abstract: A chopper mechanism for chopping stalk-like plant wherein the chopper mechanism includes a plurality of chopping elements that are removably mounted on the pair of chopper drums via associated holders. The chopping elements are mounted on the chopper drums circumferentially spaced apart and define a predetermined radial angle (?) therebetween. Each of the chopping elements having a pair of substantially parallel cutting edges spaced apart by substantially parallel mounting surfaces. One of the cutting edges is selectively engaged in the chopping while the other cutting edge is enclosed within the holder. The parallel cutting edge of the chopping elements facilitates in reversing each chopping element depending on the degree of abrasion of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for harvesting equipment including a rotary chopper device with a plurality of knives and a cylindrical chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper to form a passageway for crop residue. The chopper grate assembly includes a plurality of slots extending in the direction of crop residue flow. A knife bank assembly includes a plurality of knife elements aligned with and insertable in the slots with the knife bank assembly being displaceable toward and between a position where the bank knife elements are fully inserted through the slots into the passageway and a position where they are substantially clear of the passageway. A deflector is provided for covering the slots and the deflector is displaceable with the knife elements to uncover the slots as the knife elements are displaced through the slots and into the passageway.

Abstract: A shredder for shredding a by-product, such as sprue, runner and the like generated when molding a thermoplastic synthetic resin product, into recyclable shredded pieces, is structured such that front and rear oscillating side walls are openable, right and left stationary side walls are connected by two support shafts and one connection member, and two support shafts serve as pivot axes of the oscillating side walls and connection members connecting the right and left stationary side walls.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the separation between a pair of roller assemblies. A frame is provided. One roller assembly is rotatably supported by a first pair of supports fixed with respect to the frame. On the other hand, another roller assembly is rotatably supported by a second pair of supports that are movable with respect to the frame. A pair of shims is provided. One shim is positioned between a first one of the second pair of supports and a first member that is fixed with respect to the frame. The other shim is positioned between a second one of the second pair of supports and a second member that is fixed with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A strand cutting apparatus includes a fixed blade 2 having a blade edge extending perpendicularly with respect to the traveling direction of a strand, and a rotation blade 3 which is fixed to the tip portion of a rotation shaft 13 extending perpendicularly to the blade edge of the fixed blade 2 and has a plurality of plate-shaped blades 15 disposed radially at a front surface 3a. The rotation shaft 13 is supported by a supporting member 14 through a bearing mechanism 30 so as to be freely rotatable. The supporting member 14 is opposed to the one side of the fixed blade 2 with a clearance therebetween. The supporting member 14 is guided by a pair of guide plates 39 so as to be movable freely and linearly along the same direction as the axial direction of the rotation shaft 13.

Abstract: According to the present invention a crushing mechanism having at least two pairs of co-acting rollers, each roller having a hub with a plurality of teeth extending from a circumference thereof, the pairs of rollers being mounted in open cage fashion and characterized in that each tooth is, at least at its outermost position, in the form of a flat plate angled relative to a radius of the hub with an edge lying parallel with a roller axis, the rollers at their closest positions having plates on one in spaces between plates in the other, the plates of the at least two pairs of co-acting rollers comprising a means for crushing without scraping material in the crushing mechanism, the angle of each plate is substantially the same angle which would be present on a face of a gear tooth between co-acting rollers having gear teeth for crushing material.

Abstract: A device for use with a rotating cutting knife of a forage harvester to prevent the production of long cobs. The device includes a support member mounted on each cutting knife having a bevelled front face positioned to engage a cob face and support the cob in its longitudinal dimension as a knife cuts the cob along its lateral dimension. The support member is adjustably mounted on the knife between an operative position wherein the bevelled face of the support member is in substantially colinear relationship with the bevelled face of the knife and an inoperative position wherein the bevelled face of the support member is spaced from the bevelled face of the cutting knife.

Abstract: The knife is normally clamped tightly against a supporting arm by a retaining bolt, but when the bolt is sufficiently loosened, the bolt itself and the knife through which it passes may be forced radially inwardly or outwardly by shifting a transversely reciprocable slide plate in the appropriate direction along its path of travel. An oblique slot in the slide plate receives the bolt and pushes it in the selected adjusting direction as the slot is displaced transversely by shifting of the plate. A pair of counter-acting set screws serve as means for shifting the plate and for releasably retaining the same in a selected position. A long key on the slide plate slidably fits into a mating key way on the supporting arm to guide the plate in its transverse movement, and because the key extends transversely of the path of in-and-out adjusting travel of the knife, it helps absorb and resist radial loading on the knife which occurs during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A rotary shredding mill has provision for changing the size and shape of the entrance throat as well as the location of the stationary cutting edge. Such provision include a removable feed bar which may be replaced with other feed bars of different cross-section.

Abstract: A cutter for a rotary shredding machine which includes a disc-like body defining a coaxial shaft aperture therethrough adapted to accommodate a rotary shaft which defines a cutting axis, the body including a plurality of cutter body members and releasable fastening means for holding the body members together with at least one of the body members having a radially projecting tooth including a cutting edge along a leading edge thereof, each cutter body member having two first surface portions extending chordally from the body periphery and joined by a second surface portion adapted for engaging a shaft, the second surface portions together defining the shaft aperture, and each first surface being juxtaposed with, but spaced from, a parallel, corresponding first surface portion of the next adjacent body member thereby to permit limited tilting movement of the toothed body member circumferentially about the cutter axis with simultaneous momentary deformation of that body member when a sufficiently high impact for

Abstract: A mill comprising a case with a longitudinal flow passage; an annular milling ring with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inwardly projecting teeth fixed in the flow passage; a substantially disc-shaped rotor arranged centrally within the ring in free running clearance with the teeth, a prime mover to rotate the rotor; said rotor has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, straight, radially outwardly opening guideways; a plurality of milling blocks with elongate shanks slidably engaged in the guideways and milling heads normally projecting radially from the rotor into close running clearance with the teeth and movable radially inwardly relative to the teeth; and stop means to limit radial outward shifting and allow for free radial inward shifting of the blocks relative to the rotor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing hydrocarbons from drill cuttings is disclosed. The method involves heating the contaminated drill cuttings at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, milling the cuttings to expose hydrocarbons trapped within agglomerates of the material, and separating the vapors thereby produced from the cuttings. The cleaned cuttings can be used or disposed of without damage to the environment. The vaporized hydrocarbons may be condensed and recovered.

Abstract: An impact crusher includes a shell housing, a main drive shaft, a first member mounted on the shaft, and a second member carried on and rotatable with respect to the first member. Impact members act against the inner lining of the housing to crush the material. The impact gap between the impact members and the housing lining is variable in a stepless fashion by a drive mechanism which rotates the first member relative to the second member to thereby drive the impact members radially. In one embodiment each impact member is driven by a pin which extends through the impact member and overlapping elongated holes in the first and second members. In other embodiments, a plurality of linking elements are employed. Weights may be provided to counter-balance the forces in the crusher resulting from the centrifugal forces of the impact members. These weights may also serve as an alternate set of impact members usable when the normal impact members become worn.