Abstract: A crematory lift has a frame with a vertically extending member with a carriage with tines mounted for vertical displacement. A support bed is pivotably mounted to the carriage tines and has a ball segment on its rearward end with rotatable balls permitting sideward positioning of a decedent thereon and a roller segment on the forward end which permits the forward displacement of the decedent. A hydraulic actuator extends between the carriage and the support bed rear where it is remote from the oven's heat and operates to raise and incline the support bed to discharge the decedent into the oven. The support bed has four forward strap mounts with U-shaped slots with strap support tabs which receive straps for lifting of a decedent positioned below the support bed.

Abstract: A telescopic actuator having a linear movement is disclosed including a motor for applying a drive torque to a screw drive, such that a threaded spindle can be linearly extended or retracted with respect to a screw nut. The telescopic actuator includes four screw drives and extends or retracts on both sides in the axial direction, the total extension path being composed of four partial extension paths.

Abstract: A transmission for an adjustable-height platform includes at least one drive shaft, at least one output shaft, at least one first gear wheel configured to transmit a rotational movement of the drive shaft to the output shaft, and at least one second gear wheel configured to drive a hollow second output shaft. The at least one first gear wheel is formed from or includes at least portions formed from plastic.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.

Abstract: High-temperature method for the treatment of lumber, the method comprising the steps of providing stacks (10) of lumber, restraining those stacks, subjecting the stacks to a first conditioning phase, drying the stacks in an air stream at a temperature of not less than 120° C., cooling the stacks and subsequently subjecting the stacks to a second conditioning phase, and further cooling the dried stacks in ambient temperature air stream.

Abstract: A feed mechanism in which a ram (2) fed from a hopper (1) compresses a fuel against a closed valve (11) which is then opened for the ram to push the fuel towards a rotary scroll (6) for delivery to a processing vessel.

Abstract: A supporting device includes a support body for supporting a substrate and an auxiliary wing for supporting the corner of the substrate, so that the substrate is substantially horizontally disposed on the supporting device. Also disclosed is a substrate transportation equipment including the supporting device and a movable protruding member. The substrate transportation equipment can prevent the movable protruding member from hitting the edge of the substrate when the movable protruding member moves.

Abstract: A pusher furnace includes a pusher assembly having first and second coordinated pushers for pushing load supports with loads to be heated thereon to provide continuous downstream movement of the load supports through a furnace section. A removal assembly includes a first removal mechanism which removes the load supports from the furnace section and a second removal mechanism which removes the loads from the first removal mechanism to facilitate the continuous downstream movement. The first removal mechanism preferably includes a parallelogram-type four-bar linkage for lifting the load supports and lowering them onto the second removal mechanism. Entry and exit plenums are connected to respective ends of the furnace section to provide a controlled atmosphere within the furnace section. The pusher and removal assemblies are timed with opening and closing of various gates of the plenums to maintain the controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: A transport (1) or an associated trailer (2) with a loadable swap body (3, 4) having a support frame and support legs (5) attached to the frame and moveable between a resting position and a support position wherein that the swap body (3, 4) can be set on the ground without the transport/trailer. At least one support leg (5) is allocated an element (6, 16) for automatically moving the support leg (5) from the resting position into the support position and/or vice versa. A control device (8, 10, 11) disposed on the transport/trailer (1, 2) transmits a control signal to an actuating element (17, 18, 19, 20), secured to the transport/trailer (1, 2), that cooperates with the support leg (5) to move the leg into the support or resting position, and the control device (8, 10, 11) is connected to at least one further locking actuator for determining whether the swap body (3, 4) is secured to the transport during travel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a levelling bar for coking ovens, for levelling the cones of discharged coal which form under the filling holes of the oven chamber during the filling process. The levelling bar consists of two cheeks, such as plates (1), which extend essentially over the entire length of the ranged at a distance from each other depending on the width of the oven chamber, and parallel to each other. They are also interconnected and are essentially vertical. The levelling bar also has transversal coal carriers (2) which are arranged in the intermediate space delimited by the cheeks (1) at a mutual distance, one behind the other and which only extend over part of the cross-sectional surface of the levelling bar formed between he cheeks (1). The height (3) of the coal carriers (2), which take up the entire interval between the cheeks, is less than the height (H) of the cheeks (1) and the cheek form a gas channel (6) above the coal carriers (2) which is essentially free of built-in components.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding containers of feed material into a process chamber is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to maintain the atmosphere within the process chamber as separate from the atmosphere surrounding the process chamber. The apparatus has a feeder housing having at least two internal seals, which form an airtight seal about the feeding canisters as the canisters are passed through the seals. The seals are separated by a distance less than the length of the container.

Abstract: A feed device for an injection chamber of a pressure die-casting or injection machine or for a press tool or a forging press die transfers a billet into an injection chamber or die press. The billet may be of metal or plastic, filled or unfilled, and in a liquid, solid, semi-liquid or semi-solid state. A support with a horizontal axis receives and houses the billet. A ram moves the support and thus transfers the billet into at least one heating system. The ram that transfers the billet also moves the support in a horizontal translational motion transporting the billet from the heating position to a position lying vertically above the injection chamber of the tool or the press die, and then moves the support with a rotational motion about its axis so as to cause the billet to drop, horizontally, due to gravity, from the support into the injection chamber or into the press die.

Abstract: An apparatus for pushing in a predetermined quantity solid pulverized and/or lumpy objects forming a deposited layer to a discharge section includes: a plurality of pusher members disposed in parallel with each other; and a driving device to which the plurality of pusher members are connected so as to push the pulverized and/or lumpy objects to the discharge section as the plurality of pusher members are reciprocated by the driving device in a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of pusher members, the driving device having a first axially supporting portion and a second axially supporting portion which are arranged at two positions in the longitudinal direction such that the driving device is angularly displaceable about an axis of the first axially supporting portion and an axis of the second axially supporting portion, the axis of the first axially supporting portion and the axis of the second axially supporting portion being in a perpendicular relationship to each other when projected on a plan

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. From the bulk supply, multi-compartment catalyst charging hoppers are individually filled in rapid and accurately measured fashion by mechanized filling equipment having a predetermined sequence of operation that ensures accuracy of volumetric catalyst measurement. The charging hoppers are used for delivery of measured volumes of catalyst of a reactor tube loading mechanism which may take the form of a mobile cart framework being selectively positionable relative to the upper tube sheet and reaction tubes of a catalytic reactor to be charged with catalyst pellets.

Abstract: A system for automatic loading of wafer boats onto a cantilever paddle for insertion of the wafer boats into a furnace tube includes an end effector carriage moving on a track and supporting an end effector having spaced, parallel pads to engage opposed outer side portions of a wafer boat. The end effector receives a wafer boat from a robotic arm of an elevator. The robotic arm moves transversely relative to the track to position the wafer boat over the track on which the paddle carriage moves. The end effector carriage moves the end effector pads under the wafer boat, lifts it from a pair of elevator tines, moves the wafer boat over a desired part of the paddle, and lowers the wafer boat onto the paddle. The end effector carriage then returns the end effector to an initial location.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for a continuous furnace comprises at least one conveying-beam pair and at least one retaining-beam pair, which are located opposite one another in each case with the conveyable object between them, and which makes it possible to choose virtually any conveying direction, in particular a vertical one. By guiding the conveying beams in opposite directions along suitable curved paths, it may be ensured that abrasive contact does not occur between the objects which are to be conveyed and the retaining beams, on the one hand, and the conveying beams, on the other hand. The avoidance of abrasive contact means that there is virtually no wear during the transportation of the objects which are to be conveyed, with the result that it is possible to maintain clean conditions, as are frequently required in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

Abstract: A repositionable hot-glass contact pad composed at least in part of a relatively high-strength nonmetallic material having one or more repositionable support projections and a glass-contact surface. The high strength nonmetallic material and use of multiple support projections allow reliable attachment of the pad to a metal support structure in a plurality of positions to handle a variety of hot-glass article shapes and sizes with minimal checking or other damage.

Abstract: A system for automatic loading of wafer boats onto a cantilever paddle for insertion of the wafer boats into a furnace tube includes an end effector carriage moving on a track and supporting an end effector having spaced, parallel pads to engage opposed outer side portions of a wafer boat. The end effector receives a wafer boat from a robotic arm of an elevator. The robotic arm moves transversely relative to the track to position the wafer boat over the track on which the paddle carriage moves. The end effector carriage moves the end effector pads under the wafer boat, lifts it from a pair of elevator tines, moves the wafer boat over a desired part of the paddle, and lowers the wafer boat onto the paddle. The end effector carriage then returns the end effector to an initial location.

Abstract: A boat, carrying wafers to be processed, is pushed into a furnace by a substantially elongated and cantilevered actuator arm having a lug that pushes by first rotating the arm, to cause the lug to traverse a vertical rod attached to against a plate affixed to the boat. The boat is later pulled out of the furnace the boat, and thereafter pulling on the arm to enable the lug to pull against the vertical rod to withdraw the boat. Reliable operation is attained regardless of sagging of the actuator arm relative to the boat.

Abstract: A coke oven door extractor is mounted on the rail car and includes door engaging supports movable in individually differing amounts relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry and movable vertically, allowing the door extractor to compensate for front-to-back tilting and side-to-side leaning of the coke oven door jamb due to thermal distortion of the battery and variations in individual door heights. The extractor includes a first frame pivotally mounted to the car, a second frame horizontally translatably mounted to the first frame, and a third frame vertically translatably and pivotally mounted to the second frame, with the third frame including the door supports.

Abstract: A circulation duct with a blow fan and a shutter is provided to form gas flows in a transfer chamber below a heat treatment furnace, and a dust removing filter unit is provided in a blowout port of the circulation gas passage. Three, for example, gas supply pipes with a number of blowout holes are provided on the front side of the filter unit at set heights, and a clean air source is connected to the proximal end of the air supply pipes through an opening/closing valve. Clean gas is fed into the transfer chamber from the clean air source from the start of an unloading of the wafers to the time of the dismounting of the wafers from a wafer boat with the circulation of gas flows in the circulation gas passage stopped. A filter material of the dust removing filter is PTFE, which can reduce the amount of impurities scattered from the dust removing filter that attach on the wafers.

Abstract: A gasifier for producing methane-rich fuel gas from a biomass material feed includes at least one cylindrical vessel, and an axially extending rotor mounted within the vessel. A feeding system is mounted to the vessel at the input end for introducing feed to the vessel. The feeding system includes two independently operated pistons, slidable in an inclined cylinder, and two slide valves, disposed in a vertical pipe above the inclined cylinder. The slide valves serve to apportion the amount of feed delivered to the gasifier, while the pistons selectively seal the pressurized interior of the kiln from the feed hopper. A discharge system for removing residue from the kiln also includes two pistons which selectively seal kiln from the environment. The gasifier of the present invention may also include double-plate intake and exhaust manifolds, and a box beam rotor, optionally including zinc oxide disposed in the hollow, central rotor shaft defined by the vanes of the box beam rotor.

Abstract: A pyrolytic converter utilizing a rotatable drum surrounded by an outer drum support structure and disposed in an oven chamber pyrolyzes materials including plastic waste, tires, materials from automobile shredding operations, containers and trays of plastic material, rubber, leather, garbage, sewage sludge, coal, oil shale, broken asphalt and the like. These materials are formed into cartridges by a compactor using a reciprocating ram which forms cartridges in an injection tube wherein another ram injects the cartridges into the converter drum.

Abstract: A coke oven rail car with a drive control system for positioning the car and for spotting the functional equipment carried by the car. A sensor determines the relative position of the car with respect to a selected oven in a coke oven battery. The car includes a first drive for effecting gross movement of the car along the rails and gross positioning of the car relative to the selected oven. The car further includes a second automatically controlled drive for effecting fine movement of the caw along the rails and fine positioning of the car relative to the selected oven. In one embodiment the first drive is manually controlled, while in another embodiment the first drive is automatically controlled. The second automatically controlled drive can take the form of one or two disk clutch type mechanisms or a clutch band type mechanism.

Abstract: A pusher furnace for heating workpieces has an elongate and generally horizontally extending chamber housing a plurality of trays to receive workpieces thereon to be heated within the chamber. The chamber is divided into at least two generally parallel rows of a plurality of trays and pusher mechanisms are provided adjacent each end of the chamber to push the trays along the rows to circulate them within the chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber is divided into three rows of trays wherein a pusher mechanism alternately transfers work trays from one row to the other rows. Each work tray is provided with a plurality of opposed slots at the upper and lower surface thereof so that work engaging fingers can be inserted into the slots for engaging underneath the workpieces for transfer to and from the furnace.

Abstract: A sample autoloader loads a sample into a furnace and removes a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader includes a sealing plate for sealing the furnace. The sample autoloader also includes a mechanism for pushing a sample into the furnace and removing a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader may include a hotel which stores sample containers for automatic loading and a container which receives spent sample containers.

Abstract: Furnace with refractory longitudinal members and with central charging for heating and storing hot products, whereby the central charge arrives from a continuous casting plant or from previous hot processes, the furnace (10) comprising a first furnace portion (10a) for the introduction of a cold charge (12) and for storage and also a second furnace portion (10b) for discharge of the heated charge (15), the first (10a) and second (10b) furnace portions comprising stationary longitudinal members (23) and movable longitudinal members (24), the central charging taking place between the first (10a) and second (10b) furnace portions, a central intake and guide channel (22) being defined as a furnace bed by the plurality of stationary longitudinal members (23) cooperating with the respective plurality of movable longitudinal members (24a-24b) of the first (10a) and second (10b) furnace portions, the movable longitudinal members (24a-24b) in their raised position substantially facing each other, the width of the cent

Abstract: A feeder for discharging a load of material includes a hopper, a swing arm pivoting between raised and lowered positions in the hopper, and a ram mounted on the free end of the swing arm. The ram is moved by the swing arm back and forth on a curved floor in a trapezoidally shaped trough underneath the hopper to push material in the trough out of the hopper through a discharge outlet. A shutoff valve at the discharge outlet prevents backflow of discharged material into the trough.

Abstract: A sample autoloader loads a sample into a furnace and removes a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader includes a sealing plate for sealing the furnace. The sample autoloader also includes a mechanism for pushing a sample into the furnace and removing a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader may include a hotel which stores sample containers for automatic loading and a container which receives spent sample containers.

Abstract: A furnace for the heat treatment of individual parts, in particular metal sheeting, which has a transport apparatus for conveying the parts to be treated through the furnace. This transport apparatus has two groups of longitudinal beams for supporting the parts, the beams lying alternatively adjacent one another in spaced relationship and at least one beam group of which being movable forwardly into a higher position than the other beam group along a partial stretch of the transport route and subsequently being movable back into its initial position into a lower position than this other beam group. A support structure supporting the beam and movable therewith is provided beneath each longitudinal beam, the support structure having at least one side surface extending continuously over the entire length of the supporting structure and facing the support structure of the adjacent longitudinal beam.

Abstract: An in situ replaceable pusher bar for a batch charger pan of a blanket batch charger for a glass melter comprising a removable pusher bar assembly and a latching mechanism for securing the pusher bar assembly to the batch charger pan. The pusher bar assembly is provided with a slide mechanism which enables the pusher bar assembly to slide through guide mechanisms secured to the underside of the batch charger pan. The guide mechanisms are in the form of pan support tubes, inside of which are disposed latch brackets attached to the ends of rods for latching the pusher bar assembly to the batch charger pan.

Abstract: In a continuous casting plant for slabs with a consecutively arranged rolling mill, a furnace is provided between a strand separating device arranged at a run-out roller table of the continuous casting plant and the rolling mill. The furnace has a feed side, a delivery side and a transverse conveying device for conveying a slab from a longitudinal conveying device arranged on the feed side to a longitudinal conveying device arranged on the delivery side and including a slab storage place located parallel to the longitudinal conveying device. In order to enable the compact construction of the furnace and simple installations within the furnace, at least one fixed hearth having a minimum width adapted to a slab width is provided within the furnace parallel to the longitudinal conveying device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pyrolyzing used tires into a char fraction, wire, fiberglass, oil fraction and gas fraction. The tires are continuously conveyed to a preheating chamber where they are heated to a temperature level of 200.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. The heated tires are metered into a cavity having disposed therein a ram system, which shapes and forces the whole tire into a pipe which leads to a pyrolyzing chamber. The tires form a plug at the front end of the system to prevent the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere and also to prevent air from entering the pyrolyzing chamber. Similarly, solid residue produced by pyrolysis of the apparatus is forced into a discharge column, forming a plug to seal the system at its outlet end. An alternate embodiment of the invention apparatus operated manually can also be used for compacting, neutralizing and disposing of medical waste, infectious materials and the like as well as auto tires.

Abstract: A hopper containing fuel pellets for a stove opens downward into a feed trough which extends generally horizontally toward the firebox of the stove. A feed plate is positioned such that pellets from the hopper are supported on the feed plate. The feed plate is reciprocated between a rearward position adjacent to the hopper and a forward position adjacent to the firebox so as to advance pellets toward the firebox. A gate member is mounted adjacent to the end of the feed trough remote from the hopper. The gate member is positioned to be engaged by the feed plate when the feed plate is in its forward position so as to close the feed trough and hopper from the firebox. The mechanism for reciprocating the feed plate normally maintains it in its forward position in which the feed trough and hopper are isolated from the firebox.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for quantitatively analyzing a gaseous mixture for its components. A predetermined volume of a gaseous mixture of combustion products component is collected in a gas mixer up to a preselected pressure. A portion of the mixture is discharged successively through the tubular column and a sample chamber for a predetermined time period with the mixture being initially at the preselected pressure in the volume means. Detection of delayed output of gas constitutents from the column provides an analysis of constituents. The apparatus further comprises a furnace, a magazine for holding the plurality of test samples, a transfer device connected to the furnace for sequentially transferring a successive sample from the magazine to the furnace, and a furnace seal integral with the transfer device for temporal sealing of the furnace from ambient atmosphere after the sample is transferred to the furnace until subsequent transferral.

Abstract: A charging device suitable for use in processing scrap comprising a charge box open at the top, a pusher, and a moveable plate supported for sliding movement from a position with the charge box open to a position to close the charge box; the charge box having a top, bottom, front and rear, the charge box for receiving scrap through the top thereof and being in communication at the front thereof with an apparatus for handling scrap; the scrap being pushed by the pusher for pushing the contents of the charge box into the apparatus for handling scrap, the pusher being moveable from a position at the rear of the charge box remote the apparatus for handling scrap to a position at the front of the charge box proximate the apparatus for handling scrap; the pusher being supported by a support frame fully enclosing the pusher, when the pusher is remote the scrap receiving process; the moveable plate having a shearing edge at its leading edge and for co-operative movement with the pusher, the moveable plate being movea

Abstract: A charging appliance for melting units that work under vacuum or under protective gas atmosphere includes a charging shovel, for holding charging stock, attached to a carriage which transports the charging stock to an advanced position inside the melting unit. The charging appliance further includes an ejector that holds the charging stock in the advanced position while the charging shovel is being retracted, resulting in the charging stock being deposited in the melting unit. The rolling carriage which transports the charging stock runs along a rail set. The rail set is movable via lifting cylinders. By selective displacement of two lifting cylinders, the elevation and angle of tilt of the rail set can be adjusted. Accordingly, the charging shovel can be maneuvered in a wide variation of positions inside the melting chamber. The charging appliance can be quickly and accurately adapted for use to a particular melting unit.

Abstract: For use with a reheating furnace for reheating blooms for rolling, in which for charging the furnace with blooms a series of longitudinal moveable arms are provided, for each arm a arm supporting and lifting mechanism comprising two pair of freely rotatable hold down--counterbalancing guide rollers for engaging a tract provided on the arm, a freely rotatable support roller for supporting the arm during their movements, and a piston cylinder assembly for the arm connected to frames of the support roller for raising and lower the roller and hence the arm.

Abstract: A scrap loader for a molten metal furnace. A loader housing, to be positioned beside a molten metal furance, includes a chamber having an inlet portion for receiving metal scrap and an outlet port through which the metal scrap is to be fed into the furnace. Metal is fed to the chamber along a path. A ram assembly in the housing comprises a leg unit pivoted with respect to the housing, a ram fixed on the leg unit and pivotable therewith along a wall of the chamber past the inlet port and toward the outlet port, and a device actuable for pivotally advancing and retracting the ram along the chamber wall and therewith for driving metal scrap along the wall and through the outlet port into the furnace.

Abstract: An automatic log feeder for fireplaces is provided which includes an upper horizontal conveyor, an intermediate carriage mechanism and a lower horizontal conveyor. The upper horizontal conveyor is used to store a plurality of logs outside of a building and to advance individual logs through the feeder as desired. Through use of a unique guide rail and rail following bracket the intermediate carriage mechanism receives individual logs from the upper conveyor and lowers them to the lower conveyor while simultaneously changing orientation of the individual logs by 90.degree. before depositing them onto the lower conveyor. The lower conveyor is adapted to automatically advance individual logs into the fireplace in a cantilevered fashion before gently tipping them onto the fireplace grating, or, allows for manual removal of the log from the lower conveyor through an access door extending to the interior of a building.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating metal logs of a predetermined length in which the logs are cut into billets for an extrusion press. A furnace has an elongated heating chamber with an entrance opening and an exit opening. A pusher table is mounted adjacent the entrance opening of the furnace and a conveyor extends along the pusher table, through the entrance opening of the furnace, through the furnace heating chamber and through the exit opening thereof. A log dispenser is mounted adjacent the pusher table for dispensing logs seriatim onto the conveyor at the pusher table. An insert log has a length substantially less than the given length of the logs in the log train and is selectively positioned in the log train between the pusher and the lagging log in the log train to increase the effective length of the log train prior to adding a new log to the log train.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding material to the open end of a combustor including a vertical chute leading to a doorway to the combustor which is normally closed by a biased door, and a stepped ram reciprocating at the bottom of the chute for feeding material through the door and into the combustor.

Abstract: A workpiece charging unit for a walking beam furnace has an entry table and a charging conveyor positioned exteriorly and interiorly of the entry end opening of the furnace. The charging conveyor can undergo a movement along a generally rectangular path for the receipt of the workpiece from the entry table and for the subsequent transfer of the workpiece onto the fixed beams or rails within the heating chamber where it can be picked up by the walking beam conveyor unit for the passage through the heating chamber. The charging conveyor includes charging beams, a plurality of support posts for the support of the charging beams and frame structure coupled with the horizontal and vertical drive mechanisms.

Abstract: An automatic coal stoker is disclosed having at the base of its hopper an enclosed reciprocating pusher assembly rectangular box shaped which delivers compressingly a defined but variable quantity of coal into a restricted passageway. Successive quantities form a compressed strip of coal to be burned between side rails of an inclined fire grate situate over an air box fed with a forced air supply. As the strip works its way down the inclined grate it burns without forming clinkers and discharges ashes at the bottom of the incline.

Abstract: A solids feeder for transporting particulate solids from an elevated solids feed reservoir and introducing the solids upwardly into the bottom of a solids upflow vessel. The feeder includes a horizontally reciprocatable carriage supporting a vertical feed cylinder fitted with a vertically reciprocatable piston. The piston is vertically reciprocated by a hydraulic cylinder suspended from the carriage. The carriage is reciprocated between a first carriage position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with a feed chute communicating with the feed reservoir and a second carriage position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with a bottom solids inlet of the upflow vessel. A tram-like suspension system movably supports the carriage from elevated structural rails. Optionally, the structure of the carriage is adapted to controllably vertically yield during the pumping stroke so as to seat the bottom of the piston actuating hydraulic cylinder on a wedge block mounted on the foundation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solids from a solids upflow vessel, preferably an upflow retort, which includes a horizontally reciprocatable carriage containing a vertical feed cylinder that extends downward from a horizontal seal plate. A vertically reciprocatable piston is located inside the feed cylinder. One section of the seal plate contains a hole and a sliding door for opening and closing the hole. During normal operations when the apparatus is used to feed solids from a feed chute to an upflow vessel, the carriage is reciprocated between a first stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the outlet of the solids feed chute while at least a portion of the closed hole in the seal plate is aligned with and below the inlet to the upflow vessel, and a second stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the inlet to the upflow vessel while another section of the seal plate is aligned with the outlet from the feed chute.

Abstract: A filter feed onto a fluted drum has conveyors which convey a stack-like stream of filters into a small reservoir adjacent to the drum. As they enter the reservoir, the filters are deflected upwards by a deflector plate so that the thrust by the conveyors does not produce a direct pressure of filters onto the drum. Instead, the filters are fed onto the drum by gravity after passing over the plate. A pivoted sensor plate over the reservoir controls the speed of the conveyors.

Abstract: A device for supplying solid fuel to a furnace comprises a cell wheel (16) for receiving fuel portions in the cells (19) open axially. The cell wheel is rotatably mounted between two stationary end walls (12, 13) forming two openings (20, 21) facing each other, one of the end walls having an outlet socket (23) at the opening therein. A mechanism (27, 33) is provided to rotate the cell wheel step by setp, and a transfer element (50, 51) is displaceable through a cell when located between the openings, for supplying the fuel contained therein through the outlet socket to the furnace. A shut-off member (43) is provided to shut off the passage through the socket in co-ordination with the movement of the transfer element.