Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing a powdered or particulate product forming a vibrating fluidized bed supported by a thin, perforated bed plate which is vibrated while gas is blown upwardly through the perforations of the plate.The bed plate which is made from thin sheet metal is provided with parallel corrugations extending transversely to the direction in which the fluidized product is moved along the plate. The corrugations impart a desired stiffness to the plate and in order to promote removal of residual product from the plate when supply of product to the plate has been terminated, the openings in the plate may be formed so as to direct gas flows supplied therethrough in the same general direction transverse to said corrugations towards an outlet of the apparatus.

Abstract: A silverware dryer having a casing with ducts and nozzles for directing air to a drying chamber, a portable basket usable in a washing operation and thereafter positionable in said drying chamber and with the basket having a series of vibratory holders for silverware which are also mounted for rotational movement and motor-driven members for rotating and vibrating said holders.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of drying agglomerated moist particulate material, the particles of which when dry have a very low density. Drying is effected by supporting the material on a screen within a retainer, and by applying heat to the material in contact with the screen by way of an electrical or heat exchange type heating element. Vaporized moisture is extracted by way of a vent which extends upwardly through the retainer from a position adjacent the screen, so that the vapour is caused firstly to flow down through the screen and then upwardly through the vent.

Abstract: A method for processing various organic materials such as lignocellulosics or biomass into more useful states, such as charcoal, carbon black, and coke, and other processed products while producing useful off-gases, includes feeding aggregate pieces of the material to a vertically extending heating chamber and, preferably, closing the chamber to air to control oxygen therein. The pieces are conveyed upwardly through the chamber in a predetermined time by spiral vibratory conveyor. The chamber is heated to a preselected temperature sufficient for gaseous conversion of volatile hydrocarbon constituents of the material. Resultant off-gases are removed from the chamber for further use such as burning thereof for heating the chamber or condensing volatiles, etc.Apparatus for carrying out the method includes preferably first and second such chambers, there being continuous spiral vibrator tray in each chamber carried by a central, vertical support column.

Abstract: An industrial dryer particularly suited for small parts has a tub to contain the parts and a helical ramp along the interior tub wall. Vibratory motion makes the small parts move along the ramp. The tub has a double wall, the inside space between the walls defining an air plenum. The interior wall of the tub is formed with exit spaces through which the hot air emerges and blows over the parts as they move along the ramp. The plenum is continuously supplied with hot air to replace the losses. A unique method of forming the ramp from stair-step segments and partitions forms special conduits which focus hot air streams upon the parts as they move along the ramp in staircase fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a treatment bed with a fluidized, circulating medium comprises a fluidization container having intake means for a fluidization agent and means for vibration in the longitudinal direction comprises a fluidization grid consisting of a plate having a plurality of vents arranged in rows alternating with a plurality of rectilinear unvented strips, the strips being parallel to the vertical plane containing the direction of the vibrations.

Abstract: A continuous drying system for fabrics, comprising fabric inlet and outlet means, respectively; means for continuously introducing the fabric into the chamber and laying it down on at least one conveyor moving it to said outlet means. A system for drying air circulation comprises at least one fan unit having its delivery side connected through an air heating unit to at least one blowing channel overlying the fabric on the conveyor, and the intake or suction side is connected to at least one channel underlying the fabric to keep a circulation of an air flow passing through the fabric to be dried.

Abstract: Grate for cooling or combustion heating of granular materials, fixed or longitudinally reciprocable, comprising a one-piece frame-like base plate and rod-like wear elements individually detachably secured to and over the forward area of the plate to define a material support surface. Attachment of the elements is by means of interengaging, transversely extending, longitudinally spaced guide means integral with the plate and elements. A central recess in the plate enables insertion one by one from above or from below, of the elements, whereupon each may be translated laterally along the guide means into emplaced position leaving only a central space filled by an element distinguished by a rearwardly projecting finger. Means are provided to engage the finger to releasably hold the central wear element in emplaced position. The wear elements conjointly form apertures which, together with those in the plate, enable passage of air through the grate.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating oil shale by microwave energy for recovering heated volatile fractions thereof. The microwave oven includes a sloping feeder made of glass, pyrex, or ceramic material, which feeder is reciprocated back and forth along a declining plane so as to advance slowly but progressively oil shale deposited on the top end thereof to the discharge end of the vibrator. Means are provided to evacuate volatile fractions and to feed such gases through preheater tubes to a condenser unit. The preheater tubes are disposed in line with and through the flow of incoming materials so as to tend to regulate material descent as well as preheat the shale. An additional solids heat exchanger is employed underneath the discharge end of the vibratory feeder means so as to slow the descent of the spent shale onto its ultimate conveyor as well as taking heat therefrom and from magnetron tubes of the oven to conduct such heat upwardly to further increase the preheating effect upon incoming shale.

Abstract: A transport system for the drying of spaghetti or other long pasta includes swinging or vibrating belts to align the pasta in bunches of parallel lengths, at the same time moving so as to prevent the pasta from sticking together, thereby facilitating the drying of the individual pasta lengths. Principally, conveyor belts or the like are mounted with sufficient slack which, combined with cross bars and side supports, forms a series of transverse depressions into which the pasta is concentrated. The depressions shift linearly as the belt moves, thus preventing the pasta from sticking together. Various arrangements are provided causing vibration of the belts in addition to the forming of the depressions.

Abstract: An apparatus for curing bonded welding flux wherein the flux is passed along a series of vibrating inclined planes. Gas fired radiant heaters are positioned above the planes to heat the flux, with combustion gases and vapor driven off the flux passing upwardly between the radiant heaters and the flux covered planes.

Abstract: An installation for the burning and/or sintering and cooling of cement clinker, lime, magnesite, dolomite and similar materials in granular or crushed form, especially adapted as a small-scale cement mill or lime mill, having two movable materials carrying platforms arranged inside a burn chamber, in a staggered relationship, and an intermediate wall subdividing the burn chamber into a forehearth for the upper platform and a main hearth for the lower platform. Blowers supply combustion air, draw the used burn gases through air permeable back walls above the platform, recirculate them into the changing shaft to dry and preheat the materials, and cool the sintered materials in the cooling shaft. An aftersinter platform or rotating aftersinter kiln may be arranged between the lower platform and the cooling shaft.

Abstract: Cattle manure is mixed and batches are separately brought into the form of a coherent substantially homogeneous pulp with a moisture content between 50 and 55% by weight, by heating with exhaust gases, drying in an oven, admixing dry material, and spraying dry material with liquid manure recuperated from the waste materials. The pulp is chopped and immediately thereafter extruded to form frangible strands, sections of which are allowed to break off, without cutting, and to further break by dropping onto a conveyor. Breakage into pellets is completed, without the use of a conventional pelletizing drum involving compression of the pellets, in a vibrated fluidized bed where the pellets are superficially dried to a non-tacky state, drying being completed in further non-vibrated fluidized beds.

Abstract: A longitudinally reciprocating grate plate in a substantially horizontal plane for an apparatus for heat variation, such as for cooling or combustion, forming a bed for forwarding a flow of material comprising a one-piece frame shaped base plate with an upper substantially flat surface portion and a slightly rising portion in the direction of flow of said material over said grate, the base plate provided with hollows, internal recesses and protrusions, a plurality of rib-shaped wear pieces to provide a long-life wear surface to the plate in its plane, the wear pieces disengageably assembled with the base plate provided with internal protrusions and recesses in assembly mating with the hollows, recesses and protrusions respectively, of the plate in a snug, easily assembled loose fit and devoidly of any additional independent connecting means such as screws, bolts or welds. The base plate and the wear pieces in assembly are forming slots substantially in the vertical direction to form jet-type air ducts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the stacking and restacking of printed paper, cardboard and the like are disclosed. Included in the apparatus is a turnover mechanism which receives stacks of sheets on a pallet or skid and, after clamping, turns this skid about ninety degrees so that the sheets are on edge and in a substantially vertical condition. There is provided a sheet edge support and in combination with this edge support are vibrating shoes which have air blast openings formed in their sheet engaging surfaces. These shoes are preferably flat and are vibrated so as to jog and move the sheets toward a stop which is preferably adjustable. The shoes may have an upwardly directed surface, if desired, and with this upward guidance the sheets are locally lifted when these vibrating shoes are moved underneath. The turnover mechanism has clamp means by which the stack is gripped and lifted. When the stack has turned about ninety degrees the turnover mechanism is stopped for the aligning operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying seed corn on the ear or shelled seed corn or other seed. A cylindrical housing has a roof thereon with an aperture at the center of said roof and closable openings therein, one of which is a discharge opening in the side of said housing. A downwardly directed conical wall fills the entire internal cross-section of the housing and has a plurality of perforations distributed evenly therein and an opening at the bottom thereof. An open sided pan is positioned beneath the bottom opening of the conical wall and is inclined toward the open side, and a vibrator is operatively associated with the pan for vibrating it. A discharge conveyor has one end beneath the open side of the pan and the other end at the discharge opening.

Abstract: Vibratory weir assemblies, in selected embodiments, are respectively installed in food freezing tunnels to cause at the outset of the freezing operations complete separation of pieces of foods, such as french fries, so they will be individually frozen during the remaining fluidization freezing travel through a food freezing tunnel. Previously prepared foods, such as precooked french fries, moving into a food freezing tunnel on a mesh conveyor, are confronted by a vibrating weir located just above the mesh conveyor. By the time the food pieces are vibrated up and over the vibrating weir each one is free of the other, so subsequently, as they progress on a mesh conveyor, the fluidizing and freezing air circulates completely about them. The vibrating weir is actuated principally up and down with some translatory movement, by using an overhead mechanism having an appearance of modified advancing and shaking mechanisms previously used under shaking tables and/or advancing and shaking conveyors.

Abstract: Heating for a vibratory spiral conveyor used to react powdery and gaseous substances is accomplished by an expanded metal resistance heater element positioned between adjacent turns of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating particulate materials in bulk form including a vibrating conveyor fed continuously with materials at one end and discharging them at the other end, the conveyor moving the materials through the apparatus with a tossing motion insuring continuous turnings and mixing thereof, the conveyor having a longitudinal trough through which the materials travel past three heating zones, the first two zones being heated by electrical resistance heaters and the third zone being microwave heated to a very high temperature, the apparatus having a cover over the zones sealed to prevent loss of heat and microwave energy, the cover and conveyor trough being lined with refractory insulation which increases in thickness through the successive zones, and the insulation having microwave reflective means embedded therein in the third zone to concentrate the microwave energy in the vicinity of the trough.

Abstract: A system for imparting vibratory energy to solid particulate matter includes a resiliently mounted vibrator a rotating vertical shaft engaged with the vibrator body but adapted to rotate with the counterweights independently of the vibrator body. A drive motor engaged with the vertical shaft rotates the shaft about its axis to rotate the counterweights and thereby impart a relatively large amplitude vibratory motion to the vibrator body. A closed conduit carried on the vibrator body contains solid particulate matter which travels in a fluidized condition along a linear path through the conduit in response to vibration of the vibrator body. In one form of the invention, the vibrator body comprises a reaction chamber for receiving a gas flow and contacting it with an appropriate solid particulate catalyst contained in the reaction chamber and adapted to promote desired reactions between chemical components of the gas phase.

Abstract: Powdery material flows downwardly along a vibratory spiral conveyor chute, while gas flows counter to the powder, preferably in excess. Mixing ramp arrangements are provided in the chute. These involve inclined ramp surfaces dividing the powder stream into two layers, and provisions for causing the initially uppermost layer to tumble down onto the chute bottom while the initially lowermost layer is still supported on its ramp. The latter then drops down, too, and now becomes the uppermost layer.

Abstract: A thrust grate, particularly a cooling or fire grate having an essentially horizontal sequence of two sets of grate plates alternatingly fixed and reciprocating forward and backward in linear alignment and vertically spaced from each other. Each set of plates has a rear portion extending in the direction of movement of the movable grate plates, an at least partially upward slanting front portion, and an inclined front.The front end of each plate overlaps the rear end of each following plate. The front ends of the fixed and reciprocating plates, each, are provided with a lip or nose, respectively, to move the material deposited on the sloped portions thereof.The angle of the sloped portion of the fixed grate plates is different from that of the movable grate plates.The rear portion of the plates with the smaller angle is positioned on a higher level than the rear portion of the plates with the larger angle slope.

Abstract: A procedure and apparatus are shown for on a continuous, commercially practical basis recovering a non-ferrous base metal, such as copper or aluminum in the form of clean, bright metal pieces or bits and for enabling recovery of different non-ferrous coating metals, such as of lead, tin or alloys thereof, and under conditions in which a resin insulating coating may be present. Mechanical shredding means is used for reducing insulated wire to an aggregate containing bits, particles or pieces within a requisite size range, extraneous magnetics are removed, and the content of resin coating material is reduced under dry conditions to within a maximum of 2%.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing nails in polished and clean form comprising means to carry out the steps of providing a continuous flow of nails from a source, subjecting the nails to a vibratory separating mechanism to remove unwanted particles of matter, cleaning the nails by moving same through a vibratory trough while spraying cleaning solution over the nails, and polishing and drying the nails by moving same through a vibratory trough filled with a drying and polishing media while heating the mix within the trough.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing moisture from moisture bearing material comprising engaging structure for engaging the material. A vibrator unit is provided for vibrating the engaging structure whereby the vibrating engaging structure vibrates the engaged material. Dielectric heating structure is provided for dielectrically heating the vibrating material to remove at least some of the moisture from the vibrating material.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming chopped glass fiber strands is disclosed. The improvement comprises a vibratory conveyor under a drying apparatus for said glass fiber strands which is insulated such that cold spots do not develop on the tray adjacent the glass fiber strands. Preferably, the tray is formed of two sections, one inside the other, having an airspace therebetween along their lengths and having a spacer between the lips of the sections.

Abstract: Device for treating finely divided materials with a treatment fluid, particularly for conditioning oil containing vegetable raw materials, comprising one or more vibratory conveyors with a perforated bottom and at least one inlet opening under a perforated bottom for introducing a treatment fluid. The device is provided with pulverizing members and an additional perforated plate for pulverizing the greater particles formed by clotting during the action of the treatment fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing moisture from moisture bearing material comprising supporting structure for supporting the material, a vibrator unit for vibrating the supported material and an electrostatic unit for electrostatically removing moisture from the vibrating material and for dielectrically heating the vibrating material. The vibrator unit and the electrostatic unit are disposed in aligned relation substantially transverse to the supported material to respectively and substantially act in unison thereon.

Abstract: A thrust grate with several rows of grate plates, with each preceding plate of a row overlapping the next following plate of the following row has the rows of grate plates alternatingly fixed and reciprocating in the longitudinal direction of the grate. The fixed grate plates are rigidly mounted by means of a fastening device on grate plate supports, which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the grate. The fastening device has a support surface extending essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the plates, and transversely thereto a stop surface on the grate plate support and on each grate plate. The fastening device has also a traction element which holds the grate plate on the grate plate carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing moisture from moisture bearing material comprising supporting structure for supporting the material, a vibrator unit for vibrating the supported material and an electrostatic unit for electrostatically removing moisture from the vibrating material. The vibrator unit and the electrostatic unit are disposed in aligned relation substantially transverse to the supported material to respectively and substantially act in unison thereon.