Abstract: A compost handling machine comprising a carriage to support the machine for movement along a composting bay, and a compost agitating and conveying assembly to agitate compost in, and to move the compost along the bay. The agitating and conveying assembly includes a conveyor subassembly and a drum subassembly. The conveyor subassembly includes a plurality of lifting cleats that, in use, are moved around a closed path to lift compost in the bay and move the compost rearwardly therein. The drum subassembly includes an agitating drum extending between and supported by a pair of support arms, and the drum is rotated to agitate and comminute the compost in the bay.

Abstract: The appliance comprises a housing seat for a milk container removable from said seat, a system of electrical heating resistances associated with said seat near the container, an agitator inserted in a removable manner from the container and an electric motor for driving the agitator. Thermostat means with two temperatures associated with an electrical control circuit act on the system of resistances and on the electric motor to consent automatic performance of an appropriate operation sequence for production of cheese and by-products thereof.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a mixing paddle assembly which may be used with a variety of mixing devices, but which is especially useful with devices which include a motorized carriage adapted to move along a beam spaced above an elongate mixing vat. Depending from the carriage are a pair of shafts, and within the carriage a separate motor is adapted to move the shafts upwardly and downwardly as the carriage moves along the beam. The mixing paddles of the present invention are affixed to the end of such shafts. The improved paddle assemblies of the present invention include a pair of plastic blades mounted to a blade assembly which includes laterally extending, stationary pegs residing in arcuate slots of pivotably supported end plates, so that the blades may be freely rotated on supporting shafts to be angled differently on the forward and return passes of the paddles. The supporting shafts extend substantially normal to the axis of the respective depending shaft.

Abstract: There is provided a mixer especially suitable for small batches of cementitious product comprising a receptacle and means for mounting a motor drivable paddle arrangement within the receptacle in such a manner that the paddle, while operating, can be moved manually to sweep substantially the entire volume of said receptacle.In preferred arrangement the paddle arrangement is powered by a portable electric drilling machine.

Abstract: An epicyclic mixing system for materials held in a tank is provided having dual concentric sun shafts which both orbit a pair of planetary drive shafts having mixing implements at their bottom ends and act to rotate the pair of planetary drive shafts about their own axes. The two concentric shafts are connected to dual drivers through separate drive systems so that the shafts can be selectively operated at different rotating speeds.Another epicyclic mixing system includes upper and lower housings driven about a central axis that extends through the upper housing by a sun drive shaft. The lower housing is adjustably secured to the upper housing. A first planetary drive shaft extends through the upper housing and a second planetary drive shaft extends through the lower housing. The first drive shaft is driven by a fixed sun gear about which the lower housing rotates so as to rotate the first drive shaft, which rotates the second drive shaft by way of a gear train.

Abstract: A horizontal mixing aerator rides on a upright mast or beam for submersion in a body of liquid such as a sewage equalization basin, oxidation ditch or sludge holding tank. The aerator has a submersible mixer motor driving a propeller which is mounted to the beam by a slidable bracket arrangement for height adjustment. The bracket is also swingably mounted to the beam for adjustment of the vertical plane angle and the beam is rotatable for azimuth changes in the direction of liquid flow. A lower bracket stop includes vibration reducing elements. An upper azimuth lock also includes vibration reducing elements. The locking parts have a high co-efficient of friction.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in processing radioactive waste materials for shipment and storage in solid form in a container is disclosed. The container includes a top, and an opening in the top which is smaller than the outer circumference of the container.The apparatus includes an enclosure into which the container is placed, solution feed apparatus for adding a solution containing radioactive waste materials into the container through the container opening, and at least one rotatable blade for blending the solution with a fixing agent such as cement or the like as the solution is added into the container.The blade is constructed so that it can pass through the opening in the top of the container. The rotational axis of the blade is displaced from the center of the blade so that after the blade passes through the opening, the blade and container can be adjusted so that one edge of the blade is adjacent the cylindrical wall of the container, to insure thorough mixing.

Abstract: A submersible mixer apparatus for circulating liquid in a body of water, such as a sewage lagoon, includes an upright beam member closed to form an air reservoir chamber and upper and lower supports holding the beam member in the body of liquid. A submersible motor and propeller are connected to the beam member by a bracket movable up and down on the beam member and a square tubular support arm affixed to the bracket and to which the submersible motor and propeller are mounted. The support arm is hollow and pressurized air is routed through the upright beam member and the support arm to an outlet of the support arm positioned substantially at the propeller to inject air into the flow area created by the propeller. A selectively engageable and disengageable connector arrangement is positioned between the upright beam member and the support arm which, when engaged, routes the air from the upright beam member into the support arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a mixture to produce a product such as cottage cheese. The apparatus comprises a vat for holding the mixture, a paddle for stirring the mixture, a cutting knife for cutting the product, a carriage for supporting the cutting knife and the paddle above the vat and a mechanism for moving the cutting knife and the paddle horizontally along the vat. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for mechanically retracting the paddle from the mixture so that the cutting knife can be extended into the product, a mechanism for connecting the cutting knife to the carriage and for extending the knife into the vat and for extracting the knife from the vat, and a mechanism for causing reciprocative movement at regular intervals of the cutting knife perpendicular to the path of travel of the carriage.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for handling and conditioning biologically injurious waste, especially radioactive waste which consists of a working space or chamber having containers for receiving and dosing the waste, conveying and control devices for the waste and the additions and a filling station for filling the final storage container. It is characterized by the working space having a slanting bottom running into a sump, the containers for receiving and dosing the waste being surrounded by a variable shielding, the cover of the final storage container provided with a stirrer convertable to the stirrer driving mechanism taking place by means of a slidable lift which supports the driving mechanism, a waste supply line, a waste air line, a positioning device and stopping pins, and controlling the sequence of operations by a freely programmable control.

Abstract: A horizontal mixing aerator rides on an upright beam member for submersion in a body of water such as an equalization basin, oxidation ditch, or sludge holding tank. The aerator employs a submersible mixer motor driving a propeller which in one embodiment is mounted on the beam member by a slidable bracket for height adjustment. The bracket is also swingably mounted to the beam member for adjustment of the vertical plane angle. Because the beam member is also mounted for rotation, substantially any attitude or position of the mixer can be selected for creating an efficient flow pattern within the body of water. Air or fluid injection can also be provided by the use of alternate embodiments.

Abstract: A dispersion mixer is disclosed for breaking up and dispersing agglomerated particles in a liquid medium. The mixer has the capability of causing high speed particles to strike each other in such a manner as to develop their maximum shear energy potential and thus be more efficient than existing dispersion mixers. The mixer operates in a container and has a first rotor shaft extending downwards at the approximate center of the container, a second rotor shaft substantially parallel to the first rotor shaft, spaced from the first rotor shaft, at least one mixing rotor disc mounted on the first rotor shaft, and at least one mixing rotor disc mounted on the second rotor shaft, a first drive for rotating the first rotor shaft about its own axis, and the second rotor shaft about its own axis, and a second drive for moving the second rotor shaft in a circumferential path about the first rotor shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling delivery of power to a grain stirring apparatus is disclosed. A bridge frame (21) is supported between a shaft (34) and a circular track (24) on the wall (11) of bin (10). Frame (21) supports a trolley mechanism (45) having a rotating auger (47) operatively attached thereto. Frame (21) moves orbitally around bin (10) as trolley (45) moves radially inward and outward thereby allowing auger (47) to stir grain (12).The apparatus for controlling power delivery has a switch (151) which senses orbital movement using roller (191) to follow cam (190) fastened to shaft (34). If orbital movement is not appropriately sensed, timer (117) causes relays (119) and (133) to open thereby powering off grain stirring apparatus (20).

Abstract: A control mechanism which includes a mercury switch associated with each down auger carried by an arcuately rotating horizontal support of a grain bin stirring apparatus which does not permit the arcuate movement to commence until a predetermined rate of auger revolution is reached and which also automatically terminates said arcuate movement whenever the structure to which the augur is journaled is tipped beyond a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An arrangement for discharging coke from a cooling shaft supplied with cooling gas, has one or several coke stripping members arranged to engage in a mass of coke discharged from the cooling shaft, a supporting element for supporting stripping members and rotating together with the latter, and a housing in which the supporting element together with the coke stripping member are accommodated and which is sealed from the atmosphere.

Abstract: A grain bin stirring apparatus with a horizontal support member for radially reciprocating down augers, said support member rotating in an arcuate path around the bin wherein the center-most reciprocating auger travels twice as far radially as the other augers through a cable and pulley arrangement. The down augers are caused to move radially by a pivoting link which transmits a programmed extent and speed of motion and the power source is geared to drive both the auger carriage units radially and the support member in an arcuate path.

Abstract: An enclosed finishing vat for cheese making. The vat has a generally oval configuration and an agitating unit is mounted for reciprocating movement on a frame above the vat and includes a vertical drive shaft that extends through a slot in the top of the vat. The lower end of the drive shaft carries a rotatable support arm and at each end of the arm both a stirring paddle and an unloading paddle are pivotally mounted. The stirring paddle and unloading paddle extend in opposite directions from the respective end of the arm. In operation, the agitating unit reciprocates along the length of the vat, and the arm is rotated such that the stirring paddles lead in the direction of rotation and stir the curd, while the unloading paddles trail and float on the curd.

Abstract: An improved drive arrrangement in grain stirrers of the type including a sweep arm suspended between a track along the bin sidewall and a pivot support toward the bin's center. The sweep arm includes a laterally extending support element extending from the support frame, being selectively rotatable or counterrotatable, and a sweep drive unit being selectively rotatable independently of the support element and including a drive wheel engaging the bin track. Stirring augers depend from the laterally extending sweep arm, and are adapted for radial movement along the sweep arm in either direction in accordance with rotation and counter-rotation of the support element. An automatically selective reversing drive system, comprising opposed one-way clutches, interconnects the support element and the drive wheel whereby the sweep arm is driven in one direction around the bin in response to both such rotation and such counterrotation of the support element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for effectively moving and stirring grain in a storage bin. The apparatus comprises a sweep arm, including an auger support shaft and an independently rotatable drive member, that extends between and is supported on a track along the bin sidewall and a pivotal support at the bin center. As the drive member is rotated, a drive wheel thereon moves over the bin track, causing the sweep arm to travel around the bin. The support shaft is rotatable independently of the drive member and extends from the central frame to a location adjacent the bin track. A plurality of spaced stirring augers depend from the laterally extending support shaft, and all except the outermost one are adapted for movement therealong. Rotation of the support shaft in either direction will cause corresponding movement of the movable stirring augers along the sweep arm. The outer auger remains near the outer wall of the bin.

Abstract: Lime, preferably as calcium oxide, is mixed with the contents of sumps, such as oil well sumps, and these generally have a pasty or plastic consistency. The calcium oxide reacts with the materials present and also dehydrates the contents of the sump, causing the sump contents to stiffen. This mixing is performed by a drag line scoop that carries calcium oxide through the sump contents, mixing and blending the oxide and contents as it moves because of the unique construction of the mixing scoop. Once the mixing and blending is complete and reaction of the calcium oxide and the contents is complete, the sump contents are dredged and deposited on high ground to dry by the combined action of sun and air. Drying periods may range from several days to several weeks and the material thereupon becomes a dry, hard and stable type of soil suitable for fill purposes and which, when neutralized with acid, also may be suitable for agricultural purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for stirring a mass of grain stored in a bin, the bin having a cylindrical wall, a roof and a track extending in a circle around the inside of the wall in a horizontal plane above the level of the grain in the bin. The apparatus comprises a beam swingable in a generally horizontal plane above the grain about the central vertical axis of the bin. The inner end of the beam is suspended from the roof of the bin and the outer end has a carriage removably mounted thereon having wheels adapted to be driven along the track for effecting a sweep of the beam around the bin. A plurality of augers spaced at intervals along the length of the beam and extending downwardly therefrom are rotatable on their axes for moving the grain upward so that during a sweep of the beam around the bin the grain is stirred, aerated and blended for controlling moisture variation in the grain from bottom to top.

Abstract: An improved device for distributing and stirring the contents of a furnace having a plurality of vertically disposed electrodes, said improved device including a circular track disposed adjacent the upper periphery of said furnace, a first transport carriage, motor means for moving said first transport carriage, an elongated non-circular trackway supported by said first transport carriage, a second transport carriage, a non-circular trackway, means to move said second transport carriage back and forth, a furnace contents working device connected to said second transport carriage, and means to vary the angular disposition of said furnace contents working device.

Abstract: An agitator carriage is supported and powered for oscillatory movement along the length of an elongated vat, i.e. from end-to-end of the vat. A pair of stirring blades are supported from the carriage, one stirring blade depending into the vat from each side of the carriage. Each stirring blade is supported to move through a generally circular path in a vertical plane, and the blades are powered independently of the carriage drive. The stirring blade movement has both a vertical and horizontal component as it moves in the vat. The speed of movement of both the carriage and the blades can be varied, independently one from the other, so that the blades, as they move longitudinally of the vat, can be made to define, in the vertical planes of movement, loops varying from generally circular to smaller loops approaching a generally undulating path.