Abstract: Apparatus carried on a self-propelled vehicle field processes alfalfa to obtain therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. A specially-designed macerator for shredding the harvested alfalfa is disclosed. The macerator includes a cylindrical die ring having an open end and a series of peripheral apertures through which the alfalfa is extruded by means of a pair of rollers mounted inside the die ring for rotation therewith. The die ring is rotatably supported in a frame, and the rollers are coupled to the die ring for rotation in synchronism. A shroud surrounds the periphery of the die ring to collect macerated alfalfa, and an impeller is mounted inside the shroud for displacing macerated alfalfa downwardly through an outlet in the bottom of the shroud.

Abstract: A rotary screen device for sorting refuse material particularly adapted for sorting a mixture of glass and plastics material. The device is generally cylindrical in shape, inclined at a preferred angle to the horizontal, and having three sections, an intake end, a central portion, and an output end. Transverse vanes are arranged in the input end to direct the incoming refuse material towards the central section. The central section includes plural longitudinal vanes which are connected at one end with the transverse vanes in the inlet end and is provided with a uniform distribution of perforations in the regions between the vanes. The outlet end includes no vanes but is provided with peripheral evacuating holes having their largest dimension in a direction perpendicular to the generatrices so that there is no risk of rotating a plastic bottle which could have the effect of an impeller which would drive pieces of glass out of a collection hopper provided below the central section and outlet end.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking up and separating waste glass to obtain cullet comprising a grizzly made up of parallel bars arranged at a spacing smaller than the minimum width of projection of three-dimensional extraneous matter and auxiliary parallel bars disposed over one surface of the grizzly and arranged at right angles to the bars to form a lattice, the diagonal dimension of the openings of the lattice being smaller than the maximum width of projection of planar extraneous matter. The lattice is in the form of a rotatable drum with the grizzly positioned on the inner side of the its peripheral portion. The drum-shaped lattice has scraper plates attached to its inner periphery and an inlet for the waste glass and an outlet for the extraneous matter at its opposite ends respectively. The parallel bars can be arranged either annularly or axially with the auxiliary parallel bars being arranged oppositely.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scrubbing particles of sand used in foundry molding is disclosed. The device utilizes a rotating impellor surrounded by a stationary control cage having at least one upwardly positioned opening therein to project sand against a target. The sand rebounds from the target and is continually intercepted and impacted by subsequent grains of sand hurled by the impellor through the control cage opening. The device produces a scrubbing action on the particles by the repeated and continual contact with each to reduce binder buildup from the molding process. A first stage scrubbing of the particles is obtained by causing the particles to be compacted between the rotating impellor and the control cage prior to their being thrown against the target. The sand particles may be recycled through the device any number of times in order to increase the scrubbing effect and further reduce binder buildup.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing municipal waste with increased processing capacity are provided. The apparatus includes at least a cylindrical screen having ridge projections on the inner surface thereof and a group of beaters mounted on a central shaft extending axially through the cylindrical screen. In carrying out the method, the municipal waste charged into the cylinder receives powerful beating and shearing due to the interaction caused by the relative rotation between the tips of the beaters and the ridge projections thereby remarkably increasing the processing capacity.