Abstract: An apparatus for breaking heterogeneous material, in particular city solid wastes which are conveyed on a endless belt conveyor (27) which passes underneath the apparatus comprising a plurality of substantially parallel and ordinately closely juxtaposed to each other blades (15) and counterblades (8), this breaking system being supported by a guiding articulated quadrilateral rod system (13, 14, 18) adapted in unison and in sequence to open and raise to close counterblades (8) under the control of hydraulic cylinders (10), while a second auxiliary system (4, 25, 37, 40) provides to raise the first system at the end of the work stroke and to lower it again just before the beginning of its working stroke.

Abstract: A fluidized bed condenser for use in condensing zirconium tetrachloride or hafnium tetrachloride vapor into solid zirconium tetrachloride or hafnium tetrachloride includes a scraper assembly. The scraper assembly includes at least one scraper arm located adjacent an inlet through which fluid zirconium tetrachloride or hafnium tetrachloride enters the condenser vessel. A cleanout rod is also mounted on the vessel to clean out the inlet, and the scraper includes a cleanout assembly for preventing build up of solid material in a solid outlet area defined in the vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing frangible articles, such as pill bottles, which includes a housing, a support plate mounted within the housing, and a roller movably positioned within the housing so as to be reciprocable in an arcuate path past the support plate and thereby crush any frangible articles located thereon. The support plate is adjustable in position relative to the roller to facilitate the crushing of articles of different sizes. A drawer is removably mounted within the housing below the support plate for collecting the fragments of the crushed articles.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting clustered produce stalks. The apparatus includes a cylindrical produce-receiving chamber which is mounted for rotation about a first axis, and a cylindrical blade carrier which is mounted outside of, and adjacent the produce-receiving chamber for rotation about a second axis offset from, and substantially parallel to the first axis. A plurality of blades mounted on the carrier extend radially through suitable blade-receiving apertures in the produce-receiving chamber. Further included is a powered shaft for rotating the chamber and the carrier at the same speed, with such rotating producing generally radially directed, recurrent reciprocation of each blade relative to its associated aperture. In operation, produce stems and stalks become captured in notches formed in the blades, and are drawn against the inner surface of the produce-receiving chamber and cut as the reciprocating blades retract through associated apertures.

Abstract: For distributing feed to livestock, a vehicle frame is movable along the ground and upstanding therefrom is a bin into which the feed initially is received. An opening is defined in one wall of the bin. A conveyor effectively forms at least a portion of another wall of the bin and is movable to urge that feed outwardly from the bin through the opening. Upstanding from the frame is a carriage spaced outwardly of the bin from the opening and toward which the feed is urged by the conveyor. There is at least one and preferably are two lateral slots defined between the carriage and the bin and through which the feed is to be dispensed. A repetitively-reciprocating dispenser is mounted on the side of the carriage facing the opening for dispensing through the lateral slots incremental portions of the feed as urged toward the carriage by the conveyor. The specifics involve tining of a feed such as hay outwardly through the lateral slots as urged against tines by the conveyor.

Abstract: A silage removal cutter is mounted on a frame having a vertical end wall. The cutter extends over the width of the frame and is movable up and down in front of its end wall. The end wall has a central chute in which is arranged a conveyor directed perpendicular to the end wall. The cutter is provided in front of the chute with cutting and hurling blades and feed screws or worms are arranged on both sides of the cutter means which serve to transport the cut-off silage toward the cutting and hurling blades.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cutting and feeding a metered or controlled amount of foliage material from the stack, the apparatus comprising an underlying wheeled framework, capable of being displaced along the ground by a tractor or the like, a tiltable bed thereon disposed in a parallel position between the wheels and a powered conveyor so that a stack of foliage may be loaded onto the bed from a position on the ground (or unloaded from the bed back to the ground) and also may be successively advanced a short distance along the conveyor bed until the desired amount of stack foliage overhangs a transverse conveyor.

Abstract: A versatile food preparing machine which includes various attachments for selectively processing many different kinds of foods. The machine is characterized by incorporating a bottomless hopper and a food support pad for restingly supporting the food at various levels as it protrudes downwardly from the hopper. An interchangeable reciprocatable food processable element, e.g., a knife or shredder/grater element, etc., workingly engages the food by cyclically moving between the hopper and the adjustable food support pad, e.g., whereby slices of various thicknesses may be made from certain kinds of foods. Ejector structure cyclically ejects particles of the processed food, e.g., slices of okra and the like, downwardly away from the food processable element. Particular structure is also included for collecting the ejected slices of food to facilitate subsequent storage thereof in a food freezer.

Abstract: Wood shavings suitable for use as absorbent bedding litter for poultry or other animals are produced at a high rate of production by a machine which includes an elongate open-bottomed stationary hopper adapted for receiving a supply of elongate wood pieces for being formed into wood shavings, with an elongate carriage positioned lengthwise beneath the elongate hopper and closely adjacent the open bottom thereof. A series of transversely extending rotating cutters is carried by the carriage at spaced locations along the length of the carriage, with the cutters being adapted for engaging the wood pieces in the lowermost portion of the hopper at spaced locations along the length of the pieces. The carriage is moved in a reciprocating manner over a predetermined relatively short stroke of movement substantially less than the length of the hopper and such that the cutters of the series collectively engage and form shavings from the elongate wood pieces over the entire length of the wood pieces.

Abstract: A machine for cutting blocks of frozen meat wherein the meat blocks are pushed in contact with a cutter drum or under a knife bar by means of a pusher provided with a rearwardly extending plate, a desk covering the plate in its position remote from the cutter drum or knife bar, the plate forming an intermediate support for meat blocks during the forward movement of the pusher.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cutting and feeding foliage material from a stack, the apparatus comprising a wheeled vehicle, for example a wagon pulled by a tractor, capable of being displaced along the ground, a tiltable bed thereon disposed in a parallel position between ground engaging wheels and a powered conveyor so that a stack of foliage may be loaded onto the bed from a position on the ground (or unloaded from the bed back to the ground) and also may be successively advanced along the conveyor bed to provide an overhang beneath and forward of a rotating angularly disposed variable cutter which travels horizontally and then vertically downward in a zig-zag pattern to successively cut slices of foliage from the overhang of the stack.

Abstract: A forage handler adapted for mounting on a standard forage gathering device comprises a rotary head having protruding tines for dislodging forage from stacks and urging it toward the forage gathering device. The handler includes a support frame in which the rotary head is mounted, and a rotary beater or separator having teeth for breaking up large aggregations of forage and urging the same toward the forage gathering device. The support frame has a pair of booms which are pivotally connected to the gathering device and include motors to swing the rotary head into selected vertical orientations for dislodging the forage. The beater is positioned substantially parallel with and rearward of the rotary head, whereby the forage dislodged from the stacks by the rotary head is directed into the beater for flailing the forage to break up the large aggregations thereof, and urge the forage toward the gathering device.

Abstract: Bales of wood pulp built from successive wafers of bulk dried pulp may be shredded to small, easily mulched particles by raking a bale face with spaced claws along a plane parallel with the wafer interface. Claws are secured to a power reciprocated bar in pairs with claw points directed along opposite reciprocation directions. The bale is advanced against the traverse plane of the claws in increments coordinated with full reciprocation strokes of the claw bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fiber material to chip form including an anvil assembly defining an anvil bearing surface of generally U-shaped configuration having leg portions joined by a connecting portion, at least one knife blade and carrier means for moving the knife blade in surface-to-surface bearing engagement with the anvil bearing surface in a direction extending from adjacent the ends of the leg portions towards the connecting portion to effect cutting or severing of the material into chip form.

Abstract: A nut cracking machine particularly for cracking pecans enables faster and more reliable nut cracking with fewer machine adjustments and longer machine life. Air spring activation of the hammer mechanism and a cam operated hammer cocking and release mechanism render the machine more efficient and reliable. The structure facilitates manufacturing with economy.

Abstract: Materials such as coal, rock, etc. are comminuted by a combination of mechanical comminution forces and ultrasonic vibratory energy which creates cyclic fatigue stresses in the material being treated.

Abstract: A lump breaking device for breaking lumps formed in particulate material. The device comprises a plurality of parallel spaced elongated support members and a plurality of saw-tooth elements supported by a portion of the elongated support members. The saw-tooth elements have opposed lump-breaking edges extending on at least one side of the support members in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support members. A reciprocating drive is secured to the support members for reciprocating them along the longitudinal axis whereby the lump-breaking edges will reciprocate and break up lumps of particulate material positioned thereover.

Abstract: A vegetable chopper in the form of a frame on which a knife blade is fitted to a lower end of a vertical member slidably mounted on the frame. A lever arm, pivotably mounted to the frame is shaped with a slot in which a pin, fixed to the slidable vertical member travels. Manual pivoting of the lever causes the vertical member to move in a linear direction to cause the knife blade to reciprocate with regard to a chopping box, mounted on the base of the frame.

Abstract: Compressed livestock feed such as hay in stack form is severed from the stack, dislodged and transferred to the side of the stack for feeding. A stack is loaded on the stack mover bed and advanced to a position partially underlying the feeding conveyor. The conveyor is then activated and lowered. Conveyor mounted blades sever the underlying stack portion from the stack and a conveyor mounted raking device dislodges the severed stack portion and transfers it to the side of the stack for discharging.

Abstract: An attachment for farm vehicles facilitating the transport and dispensing of hay from circular hay bales, the attachment including a frame supported by lift arms of the vehicle. A spindle, rotatably mounted on the frame, projects forwardly for insertion into a hay bale. A cutter assembly, supported by the frame, is adapted for positioning toward and away from the spindle mounted bale to separate material from a rotating bale which material is deposited upon a chute for discharge in a lateral direction. The chute and attachment frame are vertically positionable to permit material deposit into feed bunks.

Abstract: An impeller assembly having a hard wear plate has replaceable impeller shoes and is rotated on a vertical axis to throw material against vertically reciprocated, replaceable breaker bars to crush the material. The breaker bars are reciprocated by power driven jacks. The material is supplied to the impeller through a spout having a dust-sealing valve. The impeller has a shaft journalled in a sealed impeller shaft housing mounted resiliently on a base, and the shaft is driven by a double universal joint drive. Lubricant is pumped from a sealed input shaft housing into the impeller shaft housing and back to the input shaft housing.