Abstract: A mechanical process for filling the tubes (3) of tubular reactors with granular solids, e.g. catalysts, wherein two or more streams of material, e.g. of different catalytic activity, can be introduced in a controlled manner into each tube (3) which is to be filled, from two or more stock vessels (1,2) via two or more dispensing devices (MI, MZ) mounted above the upper tube end plate (13). By this process, different thermal/catalytic reaction profiles can be achieved over the length of the tube, or in certain groups of tubes within the tubular reactor, with substantially less time being required for filling the tubes (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for agitating, conveying and weighing particulate material. An agitator is provided including a generally cylindrical housing having end walls with bearings in them. An agitator is provided in the housing, including a pair of end members having openings therein; stub shafts are supported by shaft hangers and extend through the end wall bearings and the end members, for ready removal, axially, permitting removal of the agitator in a radial direction through an opening in the housing. A screw conveyor beneath the agitator has a housing removably connected to the agitator housing. A single direct current drive motor is provided, connected by sprockets and chains to the agitator shaft and to the shaft of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A vertical soak tank wherein a downwardly moving compact bed of solids is contacted with liquid which floods the bed, includes mechanical components to level the solids and assure that they are maintained in a first-in first-out basis by an incoming materials distributor having inverted cones and rotating levelling rods and bars. The tank has a unique seal between a rotating bottom disc and the side walls, as well as improved means for access to the internal components. The tank also has a weighing system utilizing an external load cell to weigh the solids independently of the liquid in the tank.

Abstract: A food preparing machine has an electric motor for driving food processing implements in order to eliminate the need for a separate weighing unit or for a volume-measuring unit when measuring different ingredients, the machine is provided with a weight-measuring device which is connected by way of an electric circuit in the machine to a display on the casing of the machine, for showing the weight of the ingredients.

Abstract: Blending system comprising batch hopper with a scale, a blend hopper positioned directly below the batch hopper, an upwardly running conveyor running the full length of the blending hopper to the top of a surge bin, an upwardly running discharge conveyor running from the bottom of the surge bin to the top of a holding bin, and a holding bin for holding several batches of material. The batch hopper, the first of four hoppers, rests on a scale and includes a plurality of baffles positioned to control material which is dumped into the hopper such as by a front-end loader. A set of doors on the bottom of the batch hopper dumps the material directly below into a blending hopper which holds the contents of the batch hopper and includes a baffle for further blending of the material. A conveyor runs the entire length of the blend hopper and transfers material upwardly to a surge bin. The surge bin has baffles to eliminate any concentration of materials and disperse them throughout the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing materials is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hopper, a substantially vertical auger within the hopper, and a housing enclosing the auger to define a mixing chamber. A baffle, attached to the housing, and the sidewall of the hopper are oriented so as to cooperatively provide a blending flow pattern within the hopper, thereby further mixing the materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for metering and feeding aggregate materials for the production of concrete is constructed so as to be transportable as a unit. To this end, the frame of the apparatus is in two parts which are pivotally connected with one another, the one, fixed, part accommodating metering apparatus, and the other, movable, part accommodating an elevated storage and mixing apparatus. The movable part pivots down into a transporting condition and up into its operating condition. The two frame parts together provide an inclined path for a charge box by which metered quantities of aggregate are transferred from the metering apparatus to the mixing apparatus. Various damping devices are provided for preventing undue vibrations at the start and end of the movement of the charge box.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with regulation of evolutive pulp. It offers a regulation process and mechanism, said mechanism including an elastic shape-changing pneumatic valve, valve opening control means, and modulating means causing a variation of said valve opening either way from an opening setting achieved through control means. The present invention can be applied to a continuous process for mixing plaster.

Abstract: The disclosure refers to a method and apparatus for the preparation of PVC powder and the processing thereof to form plastic products, with care being paid to the material and also energy-saving. The PVC powder with additives is brought very quickly to a temperature between 340.degree. K. and 420.degree. K. through frictional heat and is then further heated only with thermal energy, without intermediate cooling, to a temperature at which the mixture is still just pourable. It is then immediately fed to the further processing.

Abstract: Apparatus for blending bulk particulate solids comprises a distribution chute bin, a cone section having outer and inner cones, and a flow pattern controller outlet device. The solids may be recirculated from the outlet device to the chute bin for additional blending. The chute bin prevents particle size segregation by causing mixing of coarse and fine particles. The inner cone permits mass flow adjacent the outer cone, and also enforces the flow velocity profile imposed at the bottom of the cones to continue to the top of the inner cone. The flow pattern controller is operable to shift between a blending mode resulting from the difference in the velocity profiles within and around the inner cone and a uniform flow mode useful when emptying the apparatus.

Abstract: Control for a multiple batch process for preparing product from a plurality of constituent ingredients, in which an error in one batch from the multiple batch is equally divided over the subsequent batches so that all of the remaining portion of the multiple batch can be used and the resulting product is uniform. In the process of preparing product from a plurality of constituent ingredients, a batch of certain of such ingredients is mixed in a receptacle, sequentially divided into substantially equal portions and transported to an apparatus for combination with certain other of such ingredients for preparing the product. The error compensating control comprises an intermediate chamber in flow communication with the receptacle and the apparatus. A predetermined portion of the mixed batch is transferred from the receptacle to the intermediate chamber, where it is weighed, and then delivered to the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for blending materials having different consistencies such as a cream dressing and cottage cheese curd. A cylindrical container having a flat bottom is supported with its central axis at an angle of 30.degree. to 60.degree. but usually preferably about 45.degree. from horizontal and vertical. A motor driven shaft extends from the top toward the bottom of the cylinder with its axis parallel to the central cylinder axis but offset into the half of the cylinder which lies below its axis. The shaft carries upper and lower flat mixing blades which are nominally 180.degree. apart and are axially spaced and the opposite blades are at such angles relative to the shaft axis that the blades swing through a range of angles between vertical and horizontal as they orbit about the shaft axis.

Abstract: Sludge deposit is stored in a sludge deposit receiving hopper, and the stored sludge deposit is fed onto a belt conveyor and transferred to a mixer. A hardener is fed to this mixer from a hardener hopper. A conveyor belt is disposed on the belt conveyor to measure the quantity of the sludge deposit transferred by the belt conveyor. According to this measured value of the transferred sludge deposit, the quantity of the sludge deposit fed from the sludge deposit receiving hopper and the quantity of the hardener fed from the hardener hopper are controlled. The sludge deposit is mixed and kneaded with the hardener, and the sludge deposit is solidified.

Abstract: A rotary blender rotating about a horizontal axis having an elongate opening and a gate which may be hydraulically operated to open or close said opening. The blender may be loaded through the opening from the top by a hopper or front loading machine and the blended material may be discharged from the opening when the blender is stopped with the opening in an inverted position. Lifting vanes fastened to the inside of the blender in an offset V position rapidly mix particulate material as the blender is rotated.