Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying multi-color powder paint material to an applicator in which at least one canister is used. This invention can be utilized with multiple or with a single color of powder paint material. The preferred system includes two canisters that alternate in supplying powder to the applicator. While one canister supplies powder to the applicator, the other canister is purged of the previous material and filled with the next material to be sprayed. The canister has an interior sized to store a predetermined quantity of powder material. During operation, a powder transfer pump and a color changer transfer powder material from a storage container/hopper to the canister interior. A venturi pump then supplies the applicator with powder. After the object is painted, purge air is opened and the canister is purged of the previous material. The canister is then ready to start another cycle.

Abstract: A truck is equipped with a bin from which bin contents are fed into a blower pressurized conduit by a feed screw conveyor immediately prior to entry into a flexible discharge conduit. Control means permit feed screw conveyor speed to be varied to control the rate of seed discharge into the pressurized conduit. Provision is made for a tank and nozzle for injecting water and/or fertilizer into the pressurized conduit. The truck includes a moving floor conveyor for transferring organic material toward vertical augers which break up the material and feed the material to a powered mixer prior to entry into a rotary feeder and the pressurized air flow. The mixing of seed with the organic material and/or water or fertilizer immediately prior to the composite flow of material entering a flexible discharge conduit mitigates damage to the seed.

Abstract: A method using retardant to inhibit solidification of slurried fly ash particles that were collected on a collection surface. The slurried particles are transported in a pipeline to a collection or disposal site during or after the addition of the retardant to the slurry. The retardant can be a dispersant, a deflocculant, a scale inhibitor or a sequestering agent such as a phosphate, organic phosphate, polymer, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Tubing or pipe bend or elbow for use in carrying pneumatically conveyed granular material has an axial bore with an input opening at one end and gradually diminishes to a smaller opening at the output end, such that the incoming material sees a pressure relief, or drop, at the input to the bend. As a feature, a tubing bend may be segmented, i.e., made out of a series of separate or individual bends with the output of one coupled to the input of another.

Abstract: A process and apparatus of preventing the plugging of the discharge and/or suction line of an internal recycle pump utilized in an expanded bed reactor of the type having a partition transversely extending through the lower portion thereof and defining a plurality of substantially regularly and uniformly disposed perforations and communicating with a reaction zone above the partition and plenum chamber therebelow. The reaction zone contains a mass of particulate catalyst contact matter supported by the partition and placed in randon motion above the partition by a pressurized mixture of a liquid carbon containing material and a hydrogen rich gas flow passing through the perforations from the plenum chamber and by the internal recycle pump having a pump suction line generally concentrically disposed with respect to the reactor and extending through the partition into the reaction zone.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for pneumatically conveying loose material in grain or dust form by discharge thereof from a conveyor container, through a conveyor conduit disposed downstream thereof, after the conveyor container has been emptied and before the conveyor conduit is also emptied of the loose material being conveyed, the conveyor conduit is closed at both ends, to maintain that existing condition. After the conduit is thus closed off at both ends, leakage losses of conveying gas are compensated for by supplying a leakage make-up amount. The apparatus has a conveyor conduit which is provided at each of its end portion towards the conveyor conduit and its discharge end portion with at least one closure member to act as inlet and outlet valves respectively. At least one gas feed line from a leakage make-up valve opens into the conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a pressure pulse in a fluid comprising a pipe, an opening into said pipe for filling said pipe with fluid, a piston mounted in the pipe, and coupled to a vibrator output. An air bleeder is mounted through said pipe at a location to remove all the air in the pipe as it is filled with fluid and vibrator control apparatus for controlling the frequency and phase of the vibrator and any additional vibrators coupled to a common fluid path.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a slurry of finely divided particulate solids in a liquid, the method consisting essentially of dispersing from about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on the particulate solids, finely divided wood particles in the slurry, thereby improving the stability of the slurry.

Abstract: The plugging of fluidized solids in long transfer lines is a particularly troublesome problem from an operational standpoint. Obstructions are cleared by closing off the transfer line at both ends, introducing an inert (non-deleterious) gas into the conduit at a few atmospheres pressure above the pressure at the conduit output, maintaining the gas pressure for a time to allow pressure equilization along the conduit, and thereafter opening the conduit outlet to permit the plugged solids to refluidize and then clear the line.