Abstract: A process and apparatus for comminuting cryogenic feedstock particles, the process comprising the steps of embrittling the particles with a cryogenic medium, positioning the cryogenically embrittled particles in a comminutor having a cavity, the comminutor having means for generating a high-voltage electrical discharge in the cavity, comminuting the particles in the cavity with forces created by the high-voltage electrical discharge pulse, and transferring the comminuted particles from the comminutor and wherein the positioning includes continuously transporting the particles through the comminutor. Transporting of the particles may be accomplished by entraining the particles in the cryogenic medium. The means for generating the forces for comminuting the particles includes generating the high-voltage electrical dischargeacross at least two electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing a nonwoven fabric to flakes which can be recycled into the spinning system of a meltblowing, spunbonding or carding process. The process according to this invention is a noncontact one, involving the use of a hot air knife. The hot air knife emits a jet, or stream, of heated air under pressure at a high flow rate. A nonwoven fabric is contacted with the jet of air and as a consequence, the nonwoven web is physically broken into small pieces, or flakes. The resultant flakes are brushed off the conveyor and collected in a reclaim hopper; they are readily reprocessable due to their small size.

Abstract: The invention relates to the comminution of moist mineral material in the comminution zone of a material comminuting machine followed by breaking up of agglomerates which have formed and subsequent wet classification of the broken-up material. A good disagglomerating effect and reliable operation is achieved with relatively compact construction of the apparatus if the comminuted product is subjected to at least an injection of fluid with at least partial disagglomerating effect whilst still within the material bed comminuting machine and immediately after leaving the comminution zone, and afterwards is passed on to the wet classification.

Abstract: A manually actuated mechanism for roller mill feed gates that features both fine adjust and quick acting actuation. The mechanism consists of a hand wheel attached to an acme threaded rod, both of which are mounted in a bracket, the rod is attached to a clevis which is attached to a linkage and lever that is attached to the feed gate shaft. The fine adjust and quick action is accomplished by the lever which is spring loaded by tension spring. The lever has a half round acme nut that engages the acme threaded rod. The lever is normally held engaged to the rod by the spring for fine adjust but can be pulled by hand to release the rod for quick acting adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a slurry with ultrasound to improve separation based upon specific gravity comprises a plurality of modular conduit units having substantially vertical walls defining a flow space through which a slurry may be pumped. Each modular conduit unit has mounted thereon ultrasound transducers for transmitting ultrasound energy into the slurry being pumped through the modular conduit unit and means for exciting the ultrasound transducers in a frequency range of 60 to 100 kHz.

Abstract: A method and system for re-using and recycling garment hangers which is applicable to localized or world wide geographic areas and which (a) eliminates sorting at the collecting point for used hangers, usually a retail store, (b) handles re-usable, recyclable and scrap hangers without restriction on mix components of a given batch, (c) renovates and returns the re-used hangers and recycled hanger material to points of need, and (d) can be physically located at a location dictated solely by convenience considerations without mandatory reliance on the physical proximity of hanger manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: This invention utilizes the oscillation which is produced in a powder which is acted upon by an electrostatic field. The disperser accomplishes its task by electrically charging the powder in a high voltage DC filed or by contact with a charging electrode, this causes the powder to become polarized and repel or disperse into discrete particles. The passing of particles from one electrode toward a second of opposite polarity will place a charge on the particle which causes oscillation, dispersion and movement toward the second electrode. Additional dispersion of the powder takes place as the particles oscillate and impact against the electrodes during the decent through the apparatus. Particle oscillation is related to particle polarity changes that occur as the particles traverse through the system.

Abstract: High-shear treated materials are passed through a high-shear treatment zone which allows the coexistence of free supra-Kolmogoroff eddies larger than the smallest possible Kolmogoroff eddy diameter and forced sub-Kolmogoroff eddies smaller than this diameter. This zone includes a subsidiary higher-shear zone for suppressing these free eddies. The passage walls (40, 44, 102, 108) move relative to one another transverse to the flow to force the simultaneous development of supra-Kolmogoroff and sub-Kolmogoroff eddies while maintaining liquid films adherent to the passage surfaces. The movement produces only forced sub-Kolmogoroff eddies in the subsidiary zone while maintaining a non-turbulent flow. Ultrasonic oscillations (52) may be applied to cause elastohydrodynamic pressure and viscosity increases and/or production of smaller sub-Kolmogoroff eddies.

Abstract: An improved knife clamping system for use in an apparatus for processing wood, such as a flaker, chipper or waferizer, that employs a rotary disc or ring, cutting knives, holding locations mounted on the disc or ring to receive the cutting knives, clamping members to engage and hold the cutting knives in position and fasteners to mount the clamping members to the holding locations. The improvement comprises providing a surface having an undulating profile to engage against the cutting knives. The undulating surface can be formed on the clamping member, at the holding location or at both locations. The surface is shaped to deform to engage the cutting knives with a uniform clamping load upon securing of the fasteners to a pre-selected torque. The foregoing arrangement requires fewer fasteners while still maintaining an adequate clamping force on the cutting knives. This makes parts less expensive and reduces the time to change the knives as there are fewer parts to loosen and tighten.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for water-granulating slag being discharged from a discharging launder. The apparatus includes a receiving launder arranged below the discharging launder. The receiving launder has opposite side walls to define a widthwise space therebetween. A water-jetting device is provided to jet granulating water to the slag, being discharged from the discharging launder, to water-granulate the slag. The jetting device includes a plurality of partitioning plates arranged in the receiving launder so as to span the widthwise space between the side walls thereof and spaced from each other so as to define a plurality of water outlets, and a water supplying unit for supplying the granulating water into the water outlets to be jetted therefrom against the slag.

Abstract: To alter feedstock material, the material is exposed to laser radiation applied at a selected angle of incidence, intensity and wavelength related to the refractive index of the feedstock material. Fine uniform particles may be formed through vapor explosion and/or plasma formation and used by this method to coat surfaces, such as with paint or adhesive or to supply uniform small particles to a heat engine. Moreover, moving materials such as a column of liquid may be subjected to high internal pressure and temperature for creating physical and chemical changes.

Abstract: An infeed hopper with a pivotable throat portion for feeding material into processing device. The pivotable throat portion has a first position in which it guides feed material from an inlet of the infeed hopper toward the processing device, and is movable from the first position so as to move the feed material through an outlet of the infeed hopper toward the processing device, particularly for forcing jammed material into the processing device. In another position, the pivotable throat portion provides access into the processing device for cleaning and maintaining the processing device.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for separating components of rubber vehicle tires. This apparatus has two, substantially parallel platforms, one above the other, and a means for varying the separation between them. A rubber tire to be processed is positioned on the lower platform on a rotatable portion thereof. The upper platform has mounted thereon a plurality of rotary nozzles through which high-pressure fluid is directed onto said tire, fragmenting the rubber components from said tire and flushing them away with the effluent stream of fluid while leaving substantially clean steel cord behind on said lower platform.

Abstract: A concrete reclaimer includes a concrete processor having a rotating inclined screen and a pipe discharging water. Fresh concrete being disposed is poured into an open end of the rotating screen, and migrates toward the opposite open end. The concrete passes over a fine mesh and then a coarse mesh screen, washing out cement slurry when passing over the former, and removing sand when passing over the latter. Gravel is discharged from the remaining screen open end. Specially configured nozzles are arranged in a particular pattern along the pipe. Collection and storage pits are provided for the resultant segregated cement slurry, sand, and gravel. In a preferred embodiment, a concrete processor includes a five horsepower pump and a ten horsepower screen rotation motor.

Abstract: The method for treating materials in liquids involves passing them with the liquid through a processing gap formed by a flow passage whose walls are closely spaced and move relative to one another transversely to the direction of flow, thereby producing "supra-kolmogoroff" mixing eddies in the gap, and at the same time applying ultrasonic longitudinal pressure oscillations that reverberate between the two closely spaced surfaces into the gap transversely to the direction of flow from transducers mounted on one wall, thereby producing "sub-Kolmogoroff" mixing eddies therein. The method is capable of rapidly producing relatively thick slurries of sub-micrometer particles that otherwise can take several days in conventional high shear mixers and ball or sand mills, or of rapidly dissolving difficultly soluble gases and powders into liquids.

Abstract: Apparatus for shock-induced phase transformations in materials where two opposing shock waves pass coaxially through the material to be shocked from either end of its axial dimension on a converging path to a point where the shock waves collide.

Abstract: A cutter for comminuting a moving continuous sheet or web, such as paper broke, in the dryer or converter section of a papermaking machine, includes a plurality of high pressure water jet cutting nozzles positioned in a conduit section for receiving such broke from the papermaking machine. In one embodiment the nozzles are arranged in banks positioned to impact the sheet as it passes through the conduit section, from opposite sides, and are mounted on water conduits which, in turn, are mounted for reciprocating movement and are oscillated transversely of the direction of sheet movement by a mechanical drive. The cutting jets from the high pressure nozzles impact the sheet simultaneously at opposite sides, while being reciprocated to reduce the sheet into a multiplicity of smaller discrete or easily separable pieces which fall through the bottom of the conduit section, for further processing or disposal.

Abstract: A soft excavator (10, 90, 110, 130) is disclosed which utilizes a jet of high velocity fluid flow such as air or water flow, preferably supersonic, through a nozzle (48, 92, 112) to excavate a material, such as the ground. A second passage for air flow is provided which is directed by an evacuator skirt (52, 102) in a direction along the excavator generally opposite the direction of discharge of the high velocity excavating flow to entrain the material excavated for disposal.

Abstract: To alter feedstock material, the material is exposed to laser radiation applied at a selected angle of incidence, intensity and wavelength related to the refractive index of the feedstock material. Fine uniform particles may be formed through vapor explosion and/or plasma formation and used by this method to coat surfaces, such as with paint or adhesive or to supply uniform small particles to a heat engine. Moreover, moving materials such as a column of liquid may be subjected to high internal pressure and temperature for creating physical and chemical changes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for pulverizing at least a jet of a quid or solid material in a standing ultrasonic field which is generated between at least a pair of ultrasonic devices. To increase the pulverizing capacity a plurality of pulverizing fluid jets and in addition supplementary fluid jets, for example a gas is introduced through separate nozzles at each nodal pressure area of the standing ultrasonic wave. In addition the pulverizing capacity is further increased by providing special horn shapes of the ultrasonic devices.

Abstract: A system for mechanically and biologically decomposing a garbage discharged from a house, a restaurant or the like at high operational efficiency is disclosed. The system includes a disposer for disintegrating the garbage into a large number of pieces, a solid/liquid separator for separating water from the disintegrated garbage and a garbage decomposing vessel for biologically dissolving the solid disintegrated garbage from which water has been substantially separated in the solid/liquid separator. To promote biological decomposition of the solid disintegrated garbage in the garbage decomposing vessel, pulverized wood is normally used instead of soil as a raw material for forming a decomposing bacillus growing bed in the garbage decomposing vessel. Prior to practical use, the pulverized wood is thermally processed.

Abstract: Disintegration of a body of organic material involving subjecting the body to liquid jet action with the energy of the liquid as it impacts on the body such as to effect disintegration of the body into particles.

Abstract: In construction of a stonework crusher utilizing thermal deformation of shape memory alloy, heating means is coupled to one or more insert heads made of shape memory alloy without leaving any space there between so that thermal deformation of the insert heads should pose no substantial influence upon heat transmission from the heating means. In particular when several crushers are used in combination, uniform heat transmission at different crushers allows concerted generation of crush force by the combined crushers for effective and efficient crushing of stoneworks.

Abstract: Apparatus for the hydride-dehydride cycling comminution of metal hydride, hydrogen storage alloy materials, which comminuted hydrogen storage alloy material is adapted for use in the negative electrode of hydrogen storage, electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A comminution device is provided which has a rotatable turbine mounted in a housing for causing an air flow through an expansion chamber. Material to be comminuted is carried in an air stream through the expansion chamber where it is rapidly decompressed causing it to explode. The turbine is made of a plurality of air foil blades mounted on a backing plate and is dimensioned in close tolerance to its housing. Exchangeable expansion chambers are provided to vary the rate of pressure reduction which effects the size of the communited material. The shaft of the turbine is mounted in oil cooled bearings to increase the life and efficiency of the bearings and turbine blades.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic cell-destroyer using cell-suspending solution containers each having a groove at its bottom, thereby causing ultrasonic energy available to converge to the container bottom to increase the efficiency at which cells can be destroyed in the cell-suspending solution. The ultrasonic cell-destroyer may use a rotary container holder, which is capable of rotating a plurality of containers in the bath to evenly expose all the containers to ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A comminution device is provided which has a rotatable turbine mounted in a housing for causing an air flow through an expansion chamber. Material to be comminuted is carried in an air stream through the expansion chamber where it is rapidly decompressed causing it to explode. The turbine is made of a plurality of air foil blades mounted on a backing plate and is dimensioned in close tolerance to its housing. Exchangeable expansion chambers are provided to vary the rate of pressure reduction which affects the size of the communited material. The shaft of the turbine is mounted in oil cooled bearings to increase the life and efficiency of the bearings and turbine blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the comminution of organic matters, the comminuting unit of which consists of at least one tool provided with axial and/or radial yielding holes and co-acting axially driven stamp. The essential feature of the invention is that a compacting unit (4) before the comminuting unit (5)--in respect of the direction of movement of the organic matter to be comminuted--and a feeding-precompacting unit (3) preceding the compacting unit (4) are arranged, furthermore the feeding-precompacting unit (3) is provided with driven worms (6, 7, 8), the discharge end of which is connected with the large cross sectional end of the bell-mouthed narrowing chambers (18, 19) while its reduced cross sectional end is joined to the pressure chamber (28) of the tools (20, 21).

Abstract: A waste compactor utilizing the combined forces of compression and vibration for reducing, leveling and compacting waste within a container. The pressure force is expelled through a guided hydraulic ram assembly, the pressurized movement of which is coordinated with an applied vibrating energy developed through a mechanical vibrator and/or sonic frequency emitter, the rate and intensity of which encompasses a varying range. The sonic vibrating energy generator may be carried by and movable with the compacting ram or it may be embedded in the base platform of the compactor.

Abstract: Disintegration of wood especially for production of wood pulp for making paper, involving subjecting a body of wood, more particularly a debarked log, to liquid jet action with the energy of the liquid as it impacts on the body such as to effect disintegration of the body into particles.

Abstract: The level of a grinding charge in a grinding mill is monitored by comparing signals which are generated by means of two sensors which are located on opposed sides of an impact point of the material in the mill. A signal produced in the comparison step may be used to control the feeding of material to the mill.

Abstract: A comminution device is provided which has a rotatable turbine mounted in a housing for causing an air flow through an expansion chamber. Material to be comminuted is carried in an air stream through the expansion chamber where it is rapidly decompressed causing it to explode. The turbine is made of a plurality of air foil blades mounted on a backing plate and is dimensioned in close tolerance to its housing. Exchangable expansion chambers are provided to vary the rate of pressure reduction which affects the size of the communited material. The shaft of the turbine is mounted in oil cooled bearings to increase the life and efficiency of the bearings and turbine blades.

Abstract: A control system (40) particularly suited for effecting control over the fineness of the particles that are ground, i.e., pulverized, in a bowl mill (10) of the type that is designed to be employed for purposes of pulverizing coal. The subject control system (40) is operatively connected in circuit relation with the conveying means (64) by means of which the particles are conveyed from the bowl mill (10) after being ground therewithin. In addition, the subject control system (40) is also operatively connected with the controls (58, 60) of the bowl mill (10). Accordingly, the subject control system (40) is operative to make measurements of the particles being discharged from the bowl mill (10) and based on the information obtained from such measurements effect the changes in the control settings of the bowl mill (10), as required.

Abstract: A base unit for a document shredding machine comprising a frame like supporting structure providing an open-fronted stand which provides a horizontal surface on which a shredding machine may be placed. A bin of the base unit comprises a rear portion and a front portion which is wider than the rear portion, and when the bin is located within the supporting structure, side walls of the rear portion lie between support members of the frame structure and between side walls thereof, while the side walls of the front portion project into the open front of the supporting structure, the outer surfaces of said side walls being generally flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls of the supporting structure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic disintegrating apparatus with a tank containing a liquid, an ultrasonic wave generating device operatively coupled to a bottom wall of the tank, and at least one vessel vertically immersed in the liquid contained in the tank such that ultrasonic waves propagated from the bottom wall of the tank disintegrate cells in the vessels. Each vessel includes a cylindrical metallic tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end, a cap detachably coupled to the open end of the tube, and a downwardly depending metallic bar suspended from the center of the cap into the metallic tube so as to terminate at a point spaced from the lower end of the metallic tube to thereby facilitate complete disintegration of cells within the vessel when exposed to ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fragmenting a substance by discharging pulsed electrical energy through the substance is disclosed wherein electrodes are placed in contact with the substance and a series of measuring pulses are discharged into the substance to determine the characteristic pulse and the characteristic impedance of the substance. Based upon the series of measuring pulses at least one fragmenting pulse is discharged into the substance through the electrodes to cause the substance to fragment.

Abstract: An apparatus for adding grinding media to a grinding mill is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a supporting structure including a face plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of a hopper or pipe containing the grinding media, a resilient rubber wheel mounted on the supporting structure and protruding through a slot in the face plate and said wall of the media container, and means for rotating said wheel at a low speed for withdrawing grinding media from said container and delivering the same to other conveyances for direction to the grinding mill.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the manufacture of chips from mineral, vegetable or embrittled materials. In the method the stationary wear plates and striking plates when worn from use are replaced during ball mill operation either continuously or periodically, either with or without pressure plates for the striking bars, and with different feeding speeds. The advance, or feeding, of these plates occurs in a time-dependent and/or energy consumption dependent manner. The apparatus includes a conventional beater mill equipped with a vertical or horizontal rotating beater wheel which has arranged on one or both sides of the stationary crushing path several magazines for storing wear plates and striking bars. The replacement of the wear plates and the striking bars is done by suitably constructed slide members.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for treating material by applying non-sinusoidal vibrations. In apparatus for separating solids from the liquid phase of a dispersion, non-sinusoidal vibration is applied by vibrating at least a portion of a wall of a receptacle for the dispersion or by a vibrating plate, a pair of vibrating plates or a hollow body in the receptacle. In a roller mill for crushing material one of the rollers is vibrated axially relative to the other. In a juice press a vibrating plate is provided at the bottom of the press cylinder. In a jaw crusher, one of the jaws is vibrated in a direction parallel to the face of the jaw. In a ball mill comprising a cylinder rotating on a horizontal axis, the cylinder is vibrated in an axial direction. Non-sinusoidal vibration is produced by a hydraulic servomotor fed with pulses of hydraulic pressure fluid by a rotary control valve.

Abstract: Lumps of a mineral or like material comprising two or more solid phases at least one of which is electrically semi-conductive and of different conductivity and permittivity from the other or others are subjected while immersed in water or other high dielectric medium, to the action of an electrical discharge of high enough potential to ionize the mineral. The discharge so generated crushes the lump. The electrodes between which the discharge occurs are so arranged that the discharge is substantially wholly dissipated in the lump. The invention is especially useful for freeing diamond from kimberlite.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and equipment for the crushing of scrap rubber, particularly scrap tire. According to the invention the scrap rubber is forced through small-size openings under a pressure producing the cold yield of the rubber.

Abstract: The disintegration of solidified bath material on the residues of prebaked anodes is achieved by partially removing the bath material from the anode surface by core drilling which simultaneously initiates disintegration of the remaining bath layer. One or more core drills are moved parallel to the anode surface between steel nipples of the anode rod for disintegration of the bath layers.

Abstract: A process for defibrilating or pulping used corrugated waste paper and all fibrous paper and pulp products. The process utilizes a soaking step wherein the corrugated waste paper is soaked. The soaked paper is conveyed to the interior of a perforated rotating drum where it is sprayed with high pressure water and broken down to fibers which may be reprocessed to make new paper and other materials.

Abstract: A rapid reduction apparatus and method includes a reduction and classification apparatus (20) having a reducing unit (22) composed of a contraction cone (28) for receiving the material to be processed. The contraction cone (28) is connected to an expansion cone (32) through an intermediate venturi section (30). Air is drawn through the venturi section and the expansion cone (32) by a turbine (34) mounted below the expansion cone. A standing shock wave (310) is established in the expansion cone, and material loaded into the expansion cone is disintegrated and reduced as a result of attrition grinding within the shock wave and upon contact with the blades of the turbine. The reduced material is then discharged into the classifier assembly (50) where the particles and air flow undergo a series of vertical motion reversals defined by a plurality of baffles (112-128) extending alternately from the top and bottom of the classifier assembly (50).

Abstract: Produce air flow longitudinally through circular inlet passage toward frusto-conical chamber which expands to a cylindrical chamber. Produce air flow tangentially of cylindrical chamber, as by blower, to produce spiral flow therein and in a larger, coaxial annular chamber with a central restrictor having a projection extending into cylindrical chamber. Material fed into inlet passage, as through hopper or at open inlet end, which may be bell shaped. Comminuted material discharged from annular chamber through tangential duct, in which air flow is produced by another blower. Still another blower may discharge at acute angle longitudinally of inlet passage. Restrictor may be hemispherical or conical and also adjustable forwardly or rearwardly. Projection of restrictor may be cylindrical or cylindrical with rounded front end and also adjustable forwardly or rearwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a power supply to an electrode within a high pressure, high temperature vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conductor extending through the vessel such that the net force exerted upon the conductor by the vessel pressure is negligible. An elastomeric material seals the vessel conductor interface and the apparatus cools the sealing material to avoid softening thereof.

Abstract: Solid Municipal Waste is loaded, or loaded and compacted, into a pressure vessel which has means for very fast opening for discharging the contents. The pressure vessel is pressurized, with steam, or a compressed gas such as compressed air. The pressure vessel can be fitted with a breech and a quick release muzzle cover and at the discharge end (muzzle) thereof is fitted with an orifice whose purpose is to promote a powerful turbulence and shock wave, through which the exiting solid material must pass to maintain pressure within the vessel during discharge, and to control the rate of discharge. The disruptive forces produced at the orifice, which can be either a sub-sonic, sonic, or supersonic flow orifice, are a function of the strength of the shock wave or the turbulence. The discharged material is then gravity separated in the wet or dry conditions and the separated materials are then employed in additional processes, or employed as landfill depending on its chemical and physical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the destruction of particles entrained in a gas stream are disclosed. Destruction in the context of the subject invention means the fragmentation and/or vaporization of particles above a certain size limit. The subject invention contemplates destroying such particles by exposing them to intense bursts of laser light, such light having a frequency approximately equal to or less than the mean size of such particles. This invention is particularly adopted to the protection of turbine blades in open cycle coal-fired turbine systems. Means for introducing various chemical species and activating them by exposure to laser light are also disclosed.

Abstract: A roller mill assembly includes a separator disposed above a roller mill housing, and an exhaust air duct above the separator. The sieve is movable horizontally from between the mill housing and the exhaust air duct on a crane track.

Abstract: To effect disintegration of cells of microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, and fungi, a suspension of cells is presaturated with a compressed gas and then passed through one or more disintegration units containing a plate valve seat and valve member urged toward each other. The disintegration unit can be attached to a mechanical vibrator-shaker. At the inlet of said disintegration unit there are two thick-wall vessels, i.e. a mixing vessel to effect intermixing of the suspension and compressed gas and a homogenizing vessel to maintain the suspension under pressure. When the suspension is passed through a throttling slit formed between the valve seat and valve member, cell shells are intensively broken due to the internal pressure.