Abstract: Crop foods such as peanuts, soybeans, peas, and the like, are ground and processed in a rapid, continuous, in-line production system. The food material is converted into a thermally processed slurry rapidly by mixing the ground food with hot water and steam and then quickly cooling the slurry, preferably in a vacuum chamber. The heat treatment stops the activity of enzymes which normally produce undesirable flavors and odors in mixtures of water and ground peanuts and other foods. The rapid cooling treatment prevents damage to protein content and simultaneously strips away any raw peanut flavor that may have developed. The continuous process produces a slurry of peanuts, or the like, without the characteristic raw peanut flavor, and the bland slurry can be further processed by drying to produce a useful food product such as flour, food extender, or the like.

Abstract: An agglomerization system for intermixing edible ingredients comprising a chamber wherein various different edible ingredients are intermixed with steam, the latter of which is provided into the chamber through one or more manifolds. Such manifolds are horizontally disposed pipes having a plurality of openings for directing the steam in substantially the same direction as the edible dry ingredients are forced into the chamber from a hopper. A movable belt catches the fused ingredients to carry the product out of the agglomerization chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for debittering soybeans and the like to destroy and extract the bitter taste therefrom caused by enzymes lying next to the bean surface directly beneath the skin. Soybeans are loaded into open baskets with foraminous bottoms suspended from links on a chain conveyor successively and intermittently indexed by ratchet driven sprockets through three zones of a processing tank having an exhaust hood. Water preheated to approximately 198.degree. F. flows through the tank and each zone thereof has a steam manifold therein whereby steam is injected into the first zone to raise the water temperature to approximately 214.degree. F. and bubble and agitate the water and the beans loaded in the baskets immersed therein to expand the skins and explode the jackets to release the volatile gases therefrom.

Abstract: A blending chamber silo for pulverized bulk material has a main silo chamber with an inlet in its uppermost region, and a centrally located blending chamber on the floor of the silo has a roof and side walls with bottom apertures therein for the influx of the material from the main silo chamber into it. Aeration apparatus and air inlets are provided for the silo floor, and separate homogenization aeration apparatus is provided for the floor of the blending chamber, which operates under a pressure higher than that of the silo aeration apparatus. The roof of the blending chamber is spaced well below the top of the silo, and the blending chamber has a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the silo, whereby the lower portion of the silo wall and the wall of the blending chamber define a semi-annular narrow space having a height to width ratio greater than 1:1 and which breaks up material compacted or formed into bridges in its downward path toward the bottom apertures of the chamber.

Abstract: A diffuser for the treatment of waste sludge utilizes low pressure air injected from below to produce a bed capable of being handled as a fluid such as to permit pumping from a sedimentation basin to a tank truck for transport to a point of use or disposal. A system of air discharge pipes strategically located in the basin below the sludge connects with common air receiving manifold at the periphery of the basin, and a complete valve arrangement permits control of the air discharge to accommodate for all types of sludge under various conditions as required prior to and during emptying of the contents of the basin.

Abstract: A device for dispersing in the atmosphere a residual gas, especially a residual gas containing gaseous hydrocarbons, comprises an open ended mixing conduit having two end sections, at least one injection nozzle assembly each of which comprises at least one nozzle opening into an injection zone defined in the vicinity of at least one of the mixing conduit end sections. Each nozzle of each assembly is connected to a conduit which is connected, in turn, to a common source of pressurized residual gas, and the nozzles of the various assemblies are distributed in the injection zone, and constructed in such a manner that the ratio of the square root of the passage section of said mixing conduit to the square root of the sum of the passage sections of said nozzles of the various assemblies is comprised between 35 and 300.

Abstract: Oxygen is mixed into hydrogen for use as breathing gas for divers, pressure chambers and the like in precise and regulated amounts. Provision is also made to prevent explosion of these mutually reactive gases during mixing.

Abstract: A large stainless steel tank having a conical bottom utilized for the mass cooking of corn to produce masa. Connected to the conical bottom of the tank is a multiplicity of steam rings interconnected by a manifold to an external source of steam. A conical screen is positioned closely adjacent the conical bottom to facilitate the injection of steam for heating the contents and selective injection of air for stirring the corn in the cooking or steeping process. Interspersed closely adjacent to the stream rings are air injection rings receiving compressed air from the surge tank connected to a compressor. Selective injection of compressed air sequentially from the inner air ring followed by injection through the intermediate air ring and the outer air ring stirs the liquid and corn content of the tank in the process of cooking or steeping.The steps of the method of the process of this invention include the cooking of corn, water, and calcium hydroxide mixture for predetermined period.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming and handling a slurry in a hopper-type container, preferably a hopper railroad car. The product may be unloaded dry using air or the product may be aerated, then liquefied while air continues to be forced thereinto, then agitated and mixed to insure formation of a slurry or solution having consistent properties. The slurry or solution is aerated during the discharge thereof from the container. The aeration for dry or liquid discharge is preferably performed using aeration devices such as that device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,261.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for controlling flow to the mixing or homogenizing chamber of a silo, in which inlet apertures are provided between the silo and the mixing chamber, includes a valve or gate member associated with each aperture and operable to control flow through the aperture. Inspection openings are also provided for inspecting the apertures.

Abstract: A mixture of powders, preferably UO.sub.2 powders, is blended to complete homogeneity in a nuclear-safe, bubbling-bed fluidized bed blender. The blender includes a generally vertically-oriented, slab-shaped, nuclear-safe mixing vessel having a fluidizing grid disposed on the bottom of the vessel. The fluidizing grid comprises a linear array of generally downwardly-directed pyramidal-shaped hoppers each having walls converging into a conically-shaped closable opening. A plurality of gas orifices is provided for directing a flow of fluidizing gas downwardly into the bottom of each of the hoppers and fluidizing gas is supplied to the orifices at a velocity sufficient to cause bubbles of fluidizing gas to rise through and emerge from the mixture of UO.sub.2 powders until a homogeneous blend of solid UO.sub.2 powders is achieved. The apparatus eliminates dead-zones normally present near the bottom of prior art fluidized bed blenders.

Abstract: An aerating or fluidizing device is located adjacent the gravity discharge opening of a hopper. The device is in the form of a flexible, resilient member fixed so that a marginal edge normally contacts and defines an interface with an associated surface. Air under pressure is fed to the interface in such fashion as to cause the marginal edge of the resilient member to flutter and allow the air to escape in randomly directed "puffs." The fluttering movement combined with the intermittent puffs of air causes pulverulent material to be agitated, aerated and/or fluidized as it passes to the discharge opening.

Abstract: After evacuating gas in advance from a bin, gas is injected from the bottom of the bin and stirs up particulate material to mix or homogenize the particulate material.

Abstract: A rotary drum for treating, especially upgrading, waste material, which includes a cylindrical mantle with an inlet and an outlet respectively provided at opposite ends of the drum and which is provided with annular guides for supporting the drum on stationary supports. The inner wall of the drum is made of concrete.

Abstract: A few large, fast rising gas bubbles are generated near the bottom of a sample container and the upward movement of the bubbles causes a mixing action of the sample. The bubbles result from the periodic injection of discrete quantums of gas into the bottom of the container. The volume of a discrete gas quantum determines the size of a resulting bubble. Both the volume and frequency of generation of the quantums of gas are controlled by a timing circuit which operates a solenoid valve that permits each discrete quantum of gas to pass into the sample container.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for blending free-flowing granular materials comprising: an outer chamber having walls which converge toward and terminate in outlet means at the base thereof; substantially vertically-positioned fenestrated blending tube means spaced above said outlet means having a plurality of entrance means therein; solid, conveying tube means extending substantially vertically through and coaxial within said blending tube means and defining an annular space therebetween; an entrainment zone positioned between said base of said conveying tube means and the base portion of said chamber; and gas inlet means positioned in said chamber to discharge gas upwardly into and through said entrainment zone toward the base inlet of said conveying tube means; the distance of the point of gas inlet discharge into said entrainment zone from said base of said chamber is defined by the equation:X .ltoreq. L - r Tan .alpha.

Abstract: Shredded tobacco is blended with expanded tobacco on the foraminous bottom wall of an elongated vibratory conveyor which receives overlapping streams of shredded and expanded tobacco at one end of the bottom wall in such quantities that the ratio of shredded tobacco to expanded tobacco remains constant. Blowers are provided to supply compressed hot and cool air against the underside of the bottom wall whereby streamlets of air pass through the perforations of the bottom wall and travel across the particles of tobacco in the vibratory conveyor to convert such particles into a fluidized bed of substantially constant height which advances toward the other end of the bottom wall. The speed of streamlets is reduced above the fluidized bed to prevent the ascending streamlets from entraining appreciable quantities of particles from the bed. The particles which form the fluidized bed are intimately mixed with each other before they leave the conveyor.

Abstract: Semiconducting carbonaceous pyropolymeric inorganic refractory oxide materials are prepared by utilizing a continuous semi-fluidized bed system comprising a laterally disposed tubular reaction section, a stabilizing section and a cooling section in axial alignment with one another, means for introducing an inorganic refractory oxide into said reaction section and means for introducing a gaseous hydrocarbon pyropolymeric precursor into the reaction section whereby said oxide is contacted with a precursor while maintaining said oxide in a semi-fluidized state.