Abstract: A method of transshipping solid particulates in an aqueous suspension of solid particulates, comprising dispersing solid particulates in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one mineral suspending agent to form the aqueous suspension of solid particulates. The aqueous suspension of the solid particulates is hauled via a first vehicle a distance greater than or equal to 1 km. The aqueous suspension of the solid particulates is transferred from the first vehicle to a second vehicle. The aqueous suspension of solid particulates is hauled via a second vehicle a distance greater than or equal to 1 km.

Abstract: A device for collecting items from a container comprises a collection unit, a conduit, a vacuum producing unit and a controller. The conduit is in fluid communication with the collection unit and is mountable to the container so as to be placed in fluid communication therewith. The vacuum producing unit produces a vacuum within the conduit. The controller is linked to the vacuum producing unit and is configured to acquire data regarding the contents of the container. When the controller receives data regarding the contents of the container it controls the vacuum producing unit to modulate the vacuum produced within the conduit thereby suctioning the items within the container when mounted thereto into the collection unit. The container can be a transit fare box for receiving items tendered for fare. The data regarding the contents of the container can be the volume of items within the container.

Abstract: A method and to a device for delivering deliverable materials through a hollow chamber that is closed off from the outside air in a pressure-tight manner and that is supplied with materials via a storage container serving as a lock and that ends in the furnace chamber via a connecting tube. The delivery of the materials within the hollow chamber closed off from the outside air in a pressure-tight manner is carried out by means of depressurized mechanical conveyors.

Abstract: Pneumatic particulate material fill systems and methods are disclosed. A particulate material fill system includes a cyclone separator having an inlet adapted to receive pneumatically conveyed particulate material. The cyclone separator has a first outlet adapted to vent air and a second outlet adapted to discharge solids. The particulate material fill system includes a tank adapted to receive solids discharged from the cyclone separator via the second outlet. The tank is adapted for use at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A waste conveying system in which waste is collected/conveyed, e.g. by a suction system, in a waste container (10) of a regional waste space (16) or a transport container in which/from which the waste is then conveyed to further treatment. The waste space (16) and/or the waste container (10) or the transport container is arranged in a tunnel (20), such as a traffic tunnel, advantageously an underground tunnel, or in its vicinity, or there is a conveying connection from them to the tunnel (20) through which the waste is conveyed away.

Abstract: A high capacity particulate loader having an intake hose on one sidewall thereof which communicates with a source of negative pressure formed by a multi-stage suction mechanism, to create a high suction, high volume and high speed air stream that draws particulate materials through the hose and propels them into a separation chamber where they separate from the air stream and are directed into a discharge auger assembly on the opposite sidewall of the loader. The multi-stage suction mechanism communicates with a separation chamber and/or a settling chamber, the settling chamber providing an area where dust or fine chaff from the suctioned particulate materials, which may be present in the air stream, can settle, through gravity, on a bottom surface of the settling chamber, thus avoiding contact with the blowers so as to prevent clogging of the blowers and rotor wear thereof.

Abstract: A method and computer controlled apparatus to control fluid leakage in a high pressure feeder and a stationary housing with a chamber in which rotates a pocket rotor. The method includes: monitoring the fluid leakage from the high pressure feeder, wherein the fluid leakage is discharged from a low pressure outlet of the high pressure feeder; determining whether the fluid leakage is within a predefined range of acceptable fluid leakage, and moving the pocket rotor in the chamber to adjust the fluid leakage.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the application of a sprayed insulation mixture, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for applying the sprayed mixture in high reach areas of extended elevation and removing any excess mixture therefrom. In one embodiment of a system for spraying an insulation mixture into a cavity and removing any excess mixture therefrom, the system preferably comprises a lift defining upper end lower ends, with the upper end of the lift being adjustably movable between lowered and raised positions. An insulation applicator is located on the lift proximal to the upper end for spraying the insulation mixture into the cavity. The applicator may be rotatably connected to the lift and driven to move in a reciprocating, sweeping motion. A scrubber is also located on the lift, preferably above the applicator, for removing or scrubbing any excess insulation from the cavity.

Abstract: To supply a powder lacquer sprayer, the coating powder is pressed by a pig through the supply line and, in the process, it is fluidized from the side of the pig which is turned toward the powder. The fluidization air can be led to the powder, for example, by a central passage opening of the pig or through an air permeable wall of the connection line. For the dosage of the coating powder, one uses the push medium which drives the pig.

Abstract: A mechanism for pressurized delivery of material into a well without exposure to a high pressure pump. The mechanism may include material delivery equipment that is coupled to the high pressure pump or other pressure inducing equipment through a material carrier that intersects a fluid line from the pump. The material carrier may include chambers that are reciprocated or rotated between positions that are isolated from the fluid line and in communication with the fluid line. While isolated from the fluid line, the chambers may be filled with oilfield material which may then be delivered to the fluid line when positioned in communication therewith. In this manner, a supply of the oilfield material may be retained in a substantially isolated state relative to the pump and components thereof which may be susceptible to damage from exposure to the oilfield material.

Abstract: An apparatus for levitating objects has an elongated diaphragm and a transducer. The diaphragm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is fixed to a horn and the second end portion is fixed to a supporting member. The transducer is connected to only the horn. The transducer vibrates the diaphragm and an object is levitated above a surface of the diaphragm by radiation pressure of a sound wave generated from the diaphragm. Therefore, the elongated diaphragm can be vibrated by one transducer in a stable condition with a simple structure.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for conveying loose material are shown and described. In one embodiment, a plurality of spaced apart, interconnected conveyor elements entrap and move loose material through a hollow conduit having a fixed size and shape, and past a delivery location where high-pressure air enters one hole through the wall of the conduit and a fluidized mixture of high-pressure air and the loose material exits a separate, second hole in the conduit, carrying the loose material at a high rate of speed and a high velocity to a remote location. In a second embodiment, the system is moveably attached to a trailer to rotate between a traveling configuration and an operative configuration to facilitate mobility and operability of the above system.

Abstract: A gas floating-transporting apparatus transports a material to be treated along a predetermined direction in a thermal space so as to thermally treat the material to be treated. The apparatus includes a gas floating mechanism and a transporting mechanism. The gas floating mechanism includes a gas ejection device which expels the gas toward a portion of the material to be treated on which a floating force is acted so as to float the material to be treated, and a gas supply device which supplies the gas to the gas ejection means. The transporting mechanism includes an abutting member which abuts a trailing end of the floated material to be treated and moves along the predetermined direction, and which pushes the material to be treated by the movement thereof, whereby the floated material to be treated is moved along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic transfer apparatus (10) includes a service provider terminal (22) and a customer terminal (24). A carrier (32) is moved through a transfer conduit (26) between the customer and service provider terminals by a differential pressure generating mechanism (28, 30). Each of the customer and service provider terminals includes an actuator mechanism (54, 82). The actuator mechanism is operative to orient an opening in the housing of the carrier with a transfer opening in the transfer conduit. The actuator mechanism is further operative to move an inner shell (100) relative to an outer shell (96) of the carrier so as to bring openings in said inner and outer shells into alignment which enables accessing the interior area of the carrier.

Abstract: A powder dispersing apparatus which can disperse every given amount of sample powder in a gas even when the amount is small, thereby continuously generating dispersed powder or floating powder at a desired concentration.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring a SMIF pod.TM. in a clean room, in which the pod is adapted to contain a wafer cassette. The transfer system includes: at least one pair of SMIF arms.TM., the arms disposed adjacent to a semiconductor processing apparatus for transferring wafers, carried in the wafer cassette, into and out of the semiconductor processing apparatus; a transfer tube disposed near the arms; a vehicle adapted to carry the pod and adapted to move within the transfer tube; evacuation mechanism for evacuating the transfer tube to produce a negative pressure within the transfer tube so that the vehicle is moved along an axis of the transfer tube due to the negative pressure; and at least one pair of conveying mechanisms for conveying the vehicle between the transfer tube and respective arms.

Abstract: A slide fastener overturning conveyer includes an elongate hollow rectangular guide member having a guide channel for the passage of a slide fastener, and air nozzles disposed adjacent to an inlet of the guide channel and directed toward an outlet of the guide channel. The guide member is rotatably movable about its longitudinal central axis through an angle of 180 degrees for overturning the slide fastener while the latter is received in the guide member. The air nozzles eject a compressed air to convey the overturned slide fastener. The angular movement of the guide member and the compressed-air ejection are controlled by a sensor provided for detecting leading and trailing ends of the slide fastener. The overturning conveyer thus constructed is relatively small and simple in construction and is effectively operative even when a slide fastener is relatively long.

Abstract: A mechanism 30 ejects an article 12 in an ascending path from a position 10 on a carrier wheel 20. An inverted "V" shaped trough 43 is located to face the ascendent path of the article 12, and to be oriented substantially parallel thereto. The article 12 is captured and removably held in an apex portion 49 of the trough 43 by an elongated magnet 56 which establishes a force field parallel to such trough 43, concentrating in the apex portion 49. The article 12 is also oriented by magnet 56 and the apex portion 49 of trough 43 in a desired direction. An air nozzle 60 has a needle-like tube 64 disposed in the apex portion 49 ending adjacent to a body 16 of an article 12. A hose fitting 66 is attached to tube 64 for introducing an air stream therein which impinges upon body 16 and propels article 12 in the desired direction.

Abstract: An injector with a pair of counter-rotating screws that are mounted along parallel axes in cylindrical chambers formed in a housing are driven in synchronism by a driver. A series of plates are slidably received in a track provided in the housing and are fitted between successive flights of the screws. The plates are carried by the screws in an endless path within the housing. Pockets formed by the plates, screw flights and chamber walls carry particulate solids from an inlet port to a discharge port of the housing for injection into a pressurized hydraulic transport line.

Abstract: A vacuum-tube mass-transit system comprising at least one continuous, tubular, vehicle conveyor having a fan or blower station arranged at each terminating end thereof, wherey a partial vacuum is generated within the tubular conduit to impart linear motion to a vehicle movably disposed within the tubular conveyor conduit, the vehicle being formed as an elongated capsule to receive passengers and cargo, or of a spherical capsule for just cargo. Included in the system is a water moat which defines a loading and unloading area for both passengers and cargo located at each end of the tubular conveyor adjacent the blower station; and wherein one or more booster stations are included having a vacuum by-pass system to allow the vehicle to stop for intermediate loading and unloading, wherein the system includes a plurality of sequentially operated control gates.