An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of flexible impact elements for controlling the buildup of solids in a mixer, submerged flight conveyor, unloader or similar device. The device for use with the impact elements has at least one shaft and a plurality of rotating elements which rotate around a drive sprocket or extend radially from a shaft for moving ash or similar particulate solids. The flexible impact elements communicate with the device so as to limit or control the buildup of solids on the rotating elements, thus enabling a more efficient throughput of materials by the device.

The invention relates to a mixing and conveying system for dry mortar materials. The dry mortar materials can be obtained from a storage silo (1) through an openable closure panel (3). A pipe (17), in which a drivable screw conveyor (4) is mounted, is arranged under the closure panel (3). The pipe (17) leads into a mixing and buffer container (18), in which a coil (20) is rotatably mounted on a central axis (19). The mixing and buffer container (18) has a volume which equals at least 1.5-times the minute capacity of the pump-screw conveyor (14). It is thus ensured that the dry mortar material is mixed therein with the added water for at least 90 seconds or longer. The mixing and buffer container (18) leads into a pipe (15) at the bottom having a pump-screw conveyor (14) which conveys the mixed mortar into a hose (5). The pump-screw conveyor (14) can be allowed to run backward. The coil (20) runs continually such that the mortar is constantly agitated to prevent setting.

A compact and transportable equipment adapted to be used for hydraulic fracturing operations on gas or oil fields includes a means for unloading powder polymer, a means for supplying a polymer powder to a silo, and a silo for storing polymer in powder form, the silo having inside a vertical screw located in a vertical pipe, the lower end of the shaft of the vertical screw extending outside of the silo. The equipment has a feed hopper of a polymer metering device, a device for metering out the powder polymer, at least one tank for hydrating and dissolving the dispersed polymer originating from the dispersing and grinding device, and at least one volumetric pump enabling injection and metering of the polymer solution. The lower end of the shaft of the vertical screw has a rotating ring, the rotating ring being perpendicularly fixed on the shaft and being equipped with at least three straight paddles, positioned perpendicularly to the horizontal plan of the ring.

An apparatus configured to process foodstuff materials can include a material passage, inner shaft, input region(s), and multiple protrusions extending from the shaft. The material passage can have an inlet, outlet, bottom, sidewall(s), and a longitudinal axis, and can facilitate conveyance of foodstuff materials. The inner shaft can be rotationally driven within the material passage along the longitudinal axis. The input region(s) can facilitate adding water to the foodstuff materials within the material passage to facilitate hydration thereof. The multiple protrusions can extend from and rotate with the inner shaft. Each protrusion can include a post coupled to the inner shaft and a plowhead coupled to the post. Each plowhead can include a driving surface, at least some of which are arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis such that those driving surfaces push the foodstuff materials toward the outlet when the inner shaft is rotationally driven.

A stream of seed may be maintained at a metered flow rate through multiple stages of a treatment process. These multiple stages include dispensing, first application of fluid, second application of fluid, and seed transport. Seed transport may be accomplished through a conveyor configured to maintain the metered flow rate while providing static mixing, drying, and conditioning of the treated seed. The metered stream of seed may be treated within a first treatment applicator where a first wet treatment is applied, transferred through the incline conveyor, and treated again within a second treatment applicator where a second wet treatment is applied. Overtreating in multiple stages may layer consecutive seed treatments around the treated seed. A predetermined amount of seed treatment may be applied to the coated seed based on the metered flow rate established. Maintaining the metered flow rate through multiple stages eliminates the need for multiple metering steps.

An agricultural incline conveyor having belt guards extending longitudinally through a curvilinear portion from a tail inlet to a head outlet. The belt guards protect linear edges of a belt within the curvilinear portion during mixing operations. A plurality of mixing baffles positioned within the curvilinear portion induce turbulent backflow of a metered stream of seed being transported through the curvilinear portion. The longitudinal guards prevent the loss of transported seed from entering between the belt and a trough of the curvilinear portion.

A system for preparing a polymeric mixture includes: a containment device configured to distribute dry polymeric materials; a receiving chamber in fluid communication with the containment device; a wetting bowl; a dispersing channel; and a mixing chamber connected to the dispersing channel. A method of preparing a polymeric mixture includes distributing water and dry polymeric materials through the various components of the system and mixing the materials with the mechanical mixing device.

A connector including a body defining a flange and cutting element sliding between a first position within the body and a second position external of the flange.

A device for dispersing a water-soluble polymer in powder form having a standard particle size of less than 1 mm, includes: a wetting chamber, a chamber for grinding and discharging the dispersed polymer with a horizontal axis of revolution, and a mechanism for connecting the wetting chamber to the grinding chamber in the form of an L-shaped tube. The upper and lower parts of the wetting chamber and the L-shaped tube have an internal surface with an identical surface tension (TS1). The cover of the wetting chamber has an internal surface with a surface tension (TS2) higher than the surface tension (TS1) of the internal surface of the upper and lower parts of the wetting chamber and the L-shaped tube.