Abstract: A gravity operated conical hopper having a sliding closure plate which is pneumatically activated as soon as the hopper has been emptied. An apparatus and method is also disclosed for pneumatically detecting and automatically closing the hopper to stop the flow of contained material after material has been discharged to a particular level.

Abstract: Stress corrosion cracking which occurs in metallic portions of a high-temperature regenerative air heater can be alleviated by the disclosed methods. The methods include the step of storing a gas charge within a heated regenerative air heater, which gas charge is substantially devoid of free oxygen. The substantial absence of free oxygen from the gas charge prevents or reduces formation of nitrogen-containing oxides which typically form within an air-containing gas charge stored in a regenerative air heater held at high temperature. Conditions conducive to stress corrosion cracking are thereby alleviated by reduction of these nitrogen-containing oxides which are precursors to corrosive acids. The methods are particularly suitable for reducing stress corrosion cracking in blast furnace stoves.

Abstract: Closed-cell phenolic foam having a uniform cell structure in which the cell walls are substantially free of both ruptures and perforations is disclosed. The phenolic foam has initial k values of less than 0.15 with substantially no increase of k value over time and good density and compressive strengths. The phenolic foam is prepared by foaming and curing a foamable phenolic resole composition containing an aqueous phenol formaldehyde resole, surfactant, fluorocarbon blowing agent, and optionally other additives with an acid foaming and curing catalyst in a substantially closed mold which exerts a restraining pressure on the foaming composition in excess of ambient atmosphericpressure of greater than about 3 pounds per square inch. The aqueous phenol formaldehyde resole is essentially a phenol formaldehyde condensation polymer having a molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol of from about 1.7:1 to 2.3:1, preferably from 1.75:1 to 2.25:1 and most preferably about 2:1.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for removing tar bases and neutral oils from the Lurgi tar acids by treating the tar acids with aqueous sodium bisulfate to change the tar bases to salts and to hydrolyze the neutral oils to hydrolysis products and distilling the tar acids to obtain refined tar acid as the distillate while the tar base salts and neutral oil hydrolysis products remain as residue.

Abstract: A flexible coupling in which the torque is transmitted by elastomeric elements held in compression. The coupling includes a sleeve assembly comprised of a plurality of independent arcuate elements and a retainer ring assembly which maintain the elastomeric elements in operable contact with the blades of the hub during rotation of the coupling.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of a track mounted car from a first position where the car is initially spotted by conventional braking means to a second predetermined position on the track which must be reached within close tolerances. An arm which may be pivoted in a vertical arc parallel to the track is pivotally attached to the car at its one end and at its other end it has preferably cone-shaped feeler means which engages a protrusion fixed adjacent to the track. A preferably vertical gravity based reference position is selected for the arm, and a sensing means for producting a direct current output signal proportional in magnitude to angular displacement of the arm from this position and corresponding in polarity to direction of displacement is provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering the crystallization medium used for separating a 2,6-disubstituted phenol (DSP) from a feedstock containing it and a phenol in which only one of the 2 or 6 carbon positions are substituted (MSP).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making resorcinol and substituted resorcinols by a first reaction step of vapor-phase cyclization of a delta-keto carboxylic acid ester over a carbon catalyst bed to form a 1,3-cyclic dione intermediate. The delta-keto ester is conveyed through the catalyst bed by a vaporized carrier characterized by being liquid at 25.degree. C. and having a sufficiently high boiling point that the vaporized carrier is easily condensable under ambient conditions. In a second reaction step, a liquid solvent containing the 1,3-cyclic dione intermediate is contacted with a supported noble-metal catalyst to form resorcinol or a substituted resorcinol.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing the concentration of o-ethylphenol in m,p-cresol by partially t-butylating a mixture of the above and equilibrating the resultant mixture to convert o-ethylphenol and its 6-t-butyl derivative to the thermodynamically most stable 4-t-butyl-o-ethylphenol. The resultant mixture may then be separated by fractional distillation to isolate m,p-cresol low in o-ethylphenol, optionally, the mono-t-butylated derivatives of m,p-cresol and leave behind the 4-t-butyl-o-ethylphenol, along with di-t-butylated derivatives of all the phenols.

Abstract: A hot top casing for cooperation with an ingot mold body is provided having a depending portion from which a pair of trunnions extend away from the casing and a second pair of trunnions extend toward said casing whereby each of said pairs are displaced vertically with respect to the center of gravity with one pair above and one pair below said center.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from other isopropylated m-cresols by treating a mixture of the isopropylated m-cresols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with 5-isopropyl-m-cresol over other related closely-boiling isopropylated m-cresols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of 5-isopropyl-m-cresol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, 5-isopropyl-m-cresol. The process is particularly suitable for isolating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from closely-boiling isomers, and diisopropylated m-cresols.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating closely-boiling chlorinated phenolic compounds from other chlorinated and unchlorinated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related closely-boiling phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their closely-boiling ortho-chlorinated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric chlorinated phenols or cresols or a mixture of closely-boiling mono- and dichlorinated phenols or cresols.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying the tar acid mixture that is obtained from the Lurgi process of coal gasification. The tar acid is treated with dilute aqueous sulfuric acid solution to form non-volatile tar base salts from the tar base component and to hydrolyze the neutral oil component and then distilling the tar acid component off from the non-volatile tar base salts and the hydrolysis products of the neutral oil component.

Abstract: A coke oven door seal in which a leaf spring is fixed to the inner end of a continuous concave seating structure which is peripherally mounted on the door frame. A terminally convex ridge structure extends endwise from the door jamb to flex the leaf spring sufficiently so as to form a continuous gas tight seal around the door. The leaf spring is flexed by the ridge by an amount that is greater than the deflection which would result only from the application of pressure on the leaf spring by coke oven gases. The leaf spring is also flexed by an amount that is less than the amount which would surpass its elastic limit. In an alternate embodiment, the leaf spring and seat structure are mounted on the door jamb while the ridge is mounted on the door frame.

Abstract: An improved bundle former for corrugated paperboard boxes in which the timing of the lift mechanisms and the squaring plates is completely independent of the timing of the flexo-folder-gluer. Also, the stacking belt drive roll is mounted near the pull roll so its top periphery is below the path of box travel. This permits the folded box to contact the stacking belt tangentially, thereby easing the box's entry into the stacking station and providing an assist in squaring the box in the stack. The improved bundle former also includes simpler and more easily maintained elements.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating closely-boiling dihydric phenol compounds by treating a mixture of dihydric phenols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the dihydric phenols over other related dihydric phenols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the dihydric phenols may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one dihydric phenol. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising hydroquinone and catechol, or a mixture of hydroquinone and resorcinol, or a mixture of homocatechol and hydroquinone, or a mixture of catechol and resorcinol.

Abstract: Enclosure and exhaust apparatus is provided to enhance control and removal of coke-side emissions during a push in the operation of a coke oven battery. The gaseous and entrained particulate emissions are initially confined to a first longitudinally extending containment zone where the emissions are directed, under the influence of its gaseous thermal drive, upwardly and laterally outwardly away from the coke-side face of the battery. The emissions are then transferred, at the peak of the first containment zone, laterally, through a gas expansion throat, into a second longitudinally extending containment zone that is adjacent and parallel to the first containment zone. Contemporaneously with entering the second containment zone, a portion of the emissions is removed therefrom through an exhaust conduit located at the upper reaches or peak portion of the second containment zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating t-butylated phenolic compounds from other t-butylated and unbutylated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-t-butylated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric t-butylated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono- and di-t-butylated phenols or cresols.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing phenolic foams comprising introducing into a substantially closed volume a phenolic resole resin foamable composition and allowing the composition to foam in this volume wherein a pressure in excess of ambient atmospheric pressure is achieved within this volume. This pressure in excess of ambient atmospheric pressure generally is in excess of about 2 pounds per square inch, typically in excess of about 5 pounds per square inch, and preferably in excess of about 6 pounds per square inch, gauge pressure.The present invention is also directed to foams produced by the method of the invention.

Abstract: An improved half-keystone compression ring for use in an internal combustion engine. The improved ring's bottom side is essentially flat, radially and circumferentially, in the closed operating position.