An endless elongate structure adapted to circulate around a path. The endless elongate structure comprises a central longitudinal portion and two lateral longitudinal portions on opposed sides of the central longitudinal portion for supporting the central longitudinal portion therebetween. The central longitudinal portion and two lateral longitudinal portions are connected together by joiners. The central longitudinal portion is adapted to be assembled into a movable tubular formation which is adapted to be continuously assembled at one end thereof and continuously disassembled at another end thereof during movement of the elongate structure along the path. The central longitudinal portion has two longitudinal edge sections adapted to be releasably connected together for assembling the tubular formation by a slidably interlocking connector. The slidably interlocking connector is integrated with the two longitudinal edge sections by joiners.

An endless elongate structure adapted to circulate around a path. The endless elongate structure comprises a central longitudinal portion and two lateral longitudinal portions on opposed sides of the central longitudinal portion for supporting the central longitudinal portion therebetween. The central longitudinal portion and two lateral longitudinal portions are connected together by joiners. The central longitudinal portion is adapted to be assembled into a movable tubular formation which is adapted to be continuously assembled at one end thereof and continuously disassembled at another end thereof during movement of the elongate structure along the path. The central longitudinal portion has two longitudinal edge sections adapted to be releasably connected together for assembling the tubular formation by a slidably interlocking connector. The slidably interlocking connector is integrated with the two longitudinal edge sections by joiners.

Methods to improve dewatering in industrial and municipal sludges are described. One method involves admixing sludge from a papermaking process and modified cellulose to provide modified sludge with the modified cellulose present in an effective amount to improve dewatering in the treated sludge, such as in allowing use of reduced amounts of coagulant and/or reducing dewatering times, increased dewatered volumes, and reduced sludge product moisture contents, and the like. The dewatered sludge may be formed into a dried particulate, and may be used as filler or other component of concrete, rubber, asphalt, plastics, resin-wood composite products, and other composite products.

A drive shaft with direct-mounted sprockets is arranged in a chain drive unit. The drive shaft includes a shaft body, a pair of metal plate sprockets, and first padding portions and second padding portions formed of weld beads. The first padding portions are formed such that their positions are changed to alternate with each other in a circumferential direction of the shaft body. The second padding portions are formed such that their positions are changed to alternate with each other in the circumferential direction of the shaft body. A torque input to the shaft body is transmitted to the metal plate sprockets via the padding portions.

A drive shaft with direct-mounted sprockets is arranged in a chain drive unit. The drive shaft includes a shaft body, a pair of metal plate sprockets, and first padding portions and second padding portions formed of weld beads. The first padding portions are formed such that their positions are changed to alternate with each other in a circumferential direction of the shaft body. The second padding portions are formed such that their positions are changed to alternate with each other in the circumferential direction of the shaft body. A torque input to the shaft body is transmitted to the metal plate sprockets via the padding portions.

A drilling mud remediation and drilling cutting treatment device and method. There are three main components: a vacuum liquid solid separator; a pelletizer; and an induction furnace. The liquid solid separator has a seamless filter belt configured to carry a mixture of liquids and solids over a vacuum. A slurry comprised of drilling mud and cuttings is deposited on the filter belt. An applicator ensures that the slurry is deposited evenly across the entire filter belt at a uniform thickness. The vacuum removes most of the liquids for further treatment and reuse. The solids are transferred to a pelletizer which compacts them into relatively uniform pellets while removing much residual liquid. The pelletized cuttings are then passed through an induction furnace, which removes any residual liquids, renderings the cuttings safe for disposal.

A drilling mud remediation and drilling cutting treatment device and method. There are three main components: a vacuum liquid solid separator; a pelletizer; and an induction furnace. The liquid solid separator has a seamless filter belt configured to carry a mixture of liquids and solids over a vacuum. A slurry comprised of drilling mud and cuttings is deposited on the filter belt. An applicator ensures that the slurry is deposited evenly across the entire filter belt at a uniform thickness. The vacuum removes most of the liquids for further treatment and reuse. The solids are transferred to a pelletizer which compacts them into relatively uniform pellets while removing much residual liquid. The pelletized cuttings are then passed through an induction furnace, which removes any residual liquids, renderings the cuttings safe for disposal.

A solids separator for use in a composting system for separating solid waste from liquid waste in a stream of waste includes a housing defining a waste inlet for receiving the stream of waste, a liquids outlet for passing the liquid waste, and a solids outlet for passing the solid waste. A separator belt is positioned within the housing and extending between the liquids outlet and the solids outlet, the separator belt defining a plurality of apertures through which the liquid waste passes through the separator belt and into the liquids outlet. A drive cylinder is rotatably mounted within the housing for selectively rotating the separator belt such that a top surface of the belt is moved toward the solids outlet along with the solid waste that is extracted from the stream of waste.

A solids separator for use in a composting system for separating solid waste from liquid waste in a stream of waste includes a housing defining a waste inlet for receiving the stream of waste, a liquids outlet for passing the liquid waste, and a solids outlet for passing the solid waste. A separator belt is positioned within the housing and extending between the liquids outlet and the solids outlet, the separator belt defining a plurality of apertures through which the liquid waste passes through the separator belt and into the liquids outlet. A drive cylinder is rotatably mounted within the housing for selectively rotating the separator belt such that a top surface of the belt is moved toward the solids outlet along with the solid waste that is extracted from the stream of waste.

An apparatus includes a materials separator that includes a continuous filter belt disposed around a plurality of rollers. The apparatus also includes a pressure differential system operatively coupled to the separator and configured to adjust a pressure differential across the continuous filter belt. A vacuum is applied to the continuous filter belt and a fluid portion of the slurry on the continuous filter belt is drawn through the continuous filter belt. An apparatus includes a materials separator having a first deck with a first continuous filter belt and a second deck with a second continuous filter belt.