A cantilevered screw assembly comprising a speed reducer to facilitate rotation of a screw. The speed reducer may be connected to a torque arm that is adapted to control or limit undesired movement (e.g., wobbling, orbital movement, etc.) of the screw during operation. In effect, one exemplary embodiment of a speed reducer may essentially float on a pivoting torque arm (and the shaft of the screw) such that the torque arm is adapted to limit undesired movement of the speed reducer and screw. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may eliminate the need for alternative drive systems or other means to control undesired movement of the screw. An exemplary embodiment may be particularly useful for light or infrequent duty or other small-scale applications to reduce the likelihood of a breakage of a screw or another portion of a cantilevered screw assembly (e.g., the bearing(s) or bearing assembly, the gears, etc.).

A cantilevered screw assembly comprising a speed reducer to facilitate rotation of a screw. The speed reducer may be connected to a torque arm that is adapted to control or limit undesired movement (e.g., wobbling, orbital movement, etc.) of the screw during operation. In effect, one exemplary embodiment of a speed reducer may essentially float on a pivoting torque arm (and the shaft of the screw) such that the torque arm is adapted to limit undesired movement of the speed reducer and screw. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may eliminate the need for alternative drive systems or other means to control undesired movement of the screw. An exemplary embodiment may be particularly useful for light or infrequent duty or other small-scale applications to reduce the likelihood of a breakage of a screw or another portion of a cantilevered screw assembly (e.g., the bearing(s) or bearing assembly, the gears, etc.).

A pressure sealed elevating conveyor for non-ambient temperatures having a pressure sealed shroud allowing lifting of a material while in a pressure sealed environment. In some embodiments, the pressure sealed elevating conveyor has structural details that allow the pressure sealed elevating conveyor to be used at very high or very low temperatures.

A pressure sealed elevating conveyor for non-ambient temperatures having a pressure sealed shroud allowing lifting of a material while in a pressure sealed environment. In some embodiments, the pressure sealed elevating conveyor has structural details that allow the pressure sealed elevating conveyor to be used at very high or very low temperatures.

A continuous converter for pyrolyzing or otherwise processing biomass or other solid organic feed materials includes a reaction chamber (5) for producing a solid carbon-containing product and a gas product and optionally a liquid water product via pyrolysis or other reaction mechanisms from a solid organic feed material. The chamber has an inlet (41) for supplying a solid organic feed material to the chamber and separate outlets (15, 35) for the solid carbon-containing product and the gas product produced in the reaction chamber. The inlet and the solid carbon-containing product outlet are configured so that the solid materials in the inlet and in the outlet form respective gas seals in the inlet and the outlet.

A continuous converter for pyrolyzing or otherwise processing biomass or other solid organic feed materials includes a reaction chamber (5) for producing a solid carbon-containing product and a gas product and optionally a liquid water product via pyrolysis or other reaction mechanisms from a solid organic feed material. The chamber has an inlet (41) for supplying a solid organic feed material to the chamber and separate outlets (15, 35) for the solid carbon-containing product and the gas product produced in the reaction chamber. The inlet and the solid carbon-containing product outlet are configured so that the solid materials in the inlet and in the outlet form respective gas seals in the inlet and the outlet.

A drive unit for a grain elevator, in particular for agricultural machines, has a drive wheel operatively connected to a screw conveyor for conveying crop into the grain elevator. The drive wheel is provided with retainer means which may be engaged in a positive locking and/or friction-type connection with a continuous tension means of the grain elevator provided with one or more paddles so as to drive the continuous tension means. Several openings are provided in the drive wheel between the arms holding the retainer means in such a way that this allows or facilitates crop conveyed by the screw conveyor into the grain elevator along a direction of conveyance to flow through the drive wheel.

A drive unit for a grain elevator, in particular for agricultural machines, has a drive wheel operatively connected to a screw conveyor for conveying crop into the grain elevator. The drive wheel is provided with retainer means which may be engaged in a positive locking and/or friction-type connection with a continuous tension means of the grain elevator provided with one or more paddles so as to drive the continuous tension means. Several openings are provided in the drive wheel between the arms holding the retainer means in such a way that this allows or facilitates crop conveyed by the screw conveyor into the grain elevator along a direction of conveyance to flow through the drive wheel.

Devices, systems, and methods for melting solids are disclosed. A vessel includes a solids inlet, a plunger, one or more fluid jets, and a fluid outlet. Solids are passed through the solids inlet into the vessel. The plunger is positioned adjacent to the solids inlet to provide a variable gap between the plunger and the solids inlet. The variable gap provides a restriction producing a back pressure at the solids inlet. Hot fluid is injected into the vessel by fluid jets. The one or more fluid jets enter the vessel and end adjacent to the variable gap. The hot fluid melts at least a portion of the solids.

An apparatus for outputting a solid material entrained in a fluid, the apparatus comprising a receptacle for receiving the solid material, an input for the fluid, an output for solid material, an auger for transporting the solid material from the receptacle to the output, a motor for driving the auger, wherein the motor comprises one or more cylinders each comprising a piston, a second input connected to the input so as to feed part of the fluid to the cylinders, where a cross section of a piston is at least 700 mm.sup.2 or wherein a drive transforming the reciprocating movement of each piston, relative to the cylinder, to rotation of the auger around the first axis, is configured to rotate the auger at least 20 degrees when a cylinder completes a cycle.