Western Aggregates Inc.

Other

Martin A Jones

Maurice G Pattengill

Jerry D Glynn

Edward C Rosar

The invention provides a clumpable animal litter mixture having about 5 to 50 weight percent bentonite, about 0.1 to 25 weight percent gum-containing clumping agent and balance filler particulate. The gum-containing clumping agent is formed from a plant selected from the group consisting of the Plantago and Cydonia families. The clumpable animal litter mixture is pourable into a litter box and agglomerates into a clump upon contact with urine. The clump of the agglomerated bentonite, gum-containing clumping agent, filler particulate and urine is capable of removal with a perforated scoop after as little as one minute of formation. The clumpable mixture is formed by introducing the clumping agent into a foam. The mixture is mixed into the foam to distribute the clumping agent throughout the foam. The mixture of clumping agent and foam is then added to solid particulate to adhere the clumping agent to the solid particulate.

Method of forming a clumpable animal litter mixture

A traction aggregate suitable for antiskidding applications where reduced dust generation is desired. An expanded substrate is saturated with a liquid absorbed dust suppressant and sealed with a liquid water repellant sealant/dust suppressant. The aggregate traction material may be dispersed over thoroughfares to provide adequate traction for vehicles and, once the snow/ice melts and the roadway dries, leaves behind a non-dusting material that will remain a dust suppressant material during and after subsequent vehicular degradation.

Lightweight dust suppressing aggregate for antiskidding applications

The invention provides a clumpable animal litter mixture having about 5 to 50 weight percent bentonite, about 0.1 to 25 weight percent gum-containing clumping agent and balance filler particulate. The gum-containing clumping agent is formed from a plant selected from the group consisting of the Plantago and Cydonia families. The clumpable animal litter mixture is pourable into a litter box and agglomerates into a clump upon contact with urine. The clump of the agglomerated bentonite, gum-containing clumping agent, filler particulate and urine is capable of removal with a perforated scoop after as little as one minute of formation. The clumpable mixture is formed by introducing the gum-containing clumping agent into a foam. The gum-containing mixture is mixed into the foam to distribute the clumping agent throughout the foam. The mixed gum-containing clumping agent and foam is then added to solid particulate to adhere the gum-containing clumping agent to the solid particulate.

Clumpable animal litter mixture

A chipseal overlay coating having in situ deicing properties. An absorbent material such as lightweight aggregate, is mixed with oil, asphalt and/or concrete to form a thoroughfare chipseal overlay. Deicing materials are applied to the overlay or to the absorbent material prior to the mixing process. Due to the highly absorbent nature of the chipseal overlay, the deicing material is absorbed. During icing and snow conditions, the impregnated material reacts with the ice and snow to cause them to melt.

Impregnable in situ deicing material

The invention provides a waterproof litter receptacle for use in disposal of animal waste products. The litter receptacle contains a mixture of non-smectitic, hydrophilic shale aggregate. The mixture of non-smectitic hydrophilic shale has a fraction of coarse material with a size less than about 5 mesh (4000 microns). The mixture has the property of agglomerating into a clump upon contact with urine. The agglomerated clump of shale and urine is removable with a perforated scoop. A substantially dust-free distribution of shale of greater than 50 mesh (300 microns) is capable of clumping without additives. Optionally, the shale may contain up to 10 weight percent clumping agent selected from the group of water absorbent polymers, corn starch, gelatin, gluten and dried plants of the Plantago family. In addition 5 to 25 wt % ammonia absorbing zeolite may be added for odor control.

Clumpable animal litter

A waterproof receptacle for use in the disposal of animal waste products. The litter receptacle contains a layer of porous expanded shale. The porous shale has a porisity of at least 10% by volume for reducing bulk density of the porous shale and an ability to absorb liquid waste upwardly. Advantageously, the porous structure allows a portion of the liquid to flow to the bottom of the receptacle for subsequent upward absorption. Most advantageously, a screen size of at least +50 mesh (300 microns) is maintained to limit dusting. Optionally, 5 to 25% by weight ammonia absorbing zeolite may be added for odor control.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Martin A Jones