Abstract: An improved method for pneumatic stowing of calcium alpha-sulphate hemihydrate, calcium beta-sulphate hemihydrate or mixtures thereof using natural anhydrite, limestone or mixtures thereof is disclosed. In addition, construction reinforcement compositions comprising said hemihydrates and natural anhydrite, limestone or mixtures thereof are taught.

Abstract: An improved process for utilizing the residues of a thermal energy power plant washer in which limestone or lime residue is converted to gypsum and the substrate is recrystallized to alpha sulfate hemihydrate and is treated with water. The improvement comprises mixing the alpha sulfate hemihydrate with at least one additive. The additive is selected from the group consisting of flue ash from a coal combustion installation, waste washings or local tailings from coal recuperation, granulate of ash from coal combustion, slag from steel production, clacium sulfate from exhaust gas washers, and calcium sulfate dehydrate from exhaust gas washers.

Abstract: One handed baiting of fish hooks is possible with use of a fish bait dispenser having an improved slotted hook baiting configuration.

Abstract: In a continuous coal-gasification process, slag particles received in free-fall by a water bath at the bottom of the reactor, or of a waste heat boiler associated therewith, are wetted with oil, or another additive agent. As a result they become bonded together. This prevents floating and facilitates sinking of the slag for removal from below the water bath. An annular duct having nozzles at different angles is used to spray the slag particles with oil near the surface of the water bath. The nozzles create a turbulence at the surface, thereby increasing the effect on the slag particles. A lock hopper fluidly communicates with the water bath right below, and collects the slag particles. The removed slag is classified before being used or recycled by feedback into the reactor together with coal dust, water and oxygen as components for the reactive process.

Abstract: A method of particulate-carbon recovery from the product gas in a coal gasification process of the type using water-carbon slurry combusted with oxygen in a reactor uses water scrubbing for the product gas to obtain particulate carbon together with ash. Certain ash content is trapped in carbon particles which have a tendency of lumping together. The carbon and ash fraction is treated with liquid hydrocarbon for carbon particle wetting and facilitating separation of ash. The recovered carbon is ground to break down bigger carbon particles and sent through a wet-particle separator; carbon particles which pass a predetermined mesh size, e.g., approximately 63 micron mesh, are sent back to the reactor for mixing with the water-carbon slurry inlet for further combustion. The bigger fractions of carbon are either ground down to size again, or diverted for other uses.

Abstract: The quality of coke is improved by measuring the width of a plastic zone of a given type of coal, comparing said measured zone with a predetermined zone width known to result in good quality coke, adjusting certain characteristics of said given coal prior to charging it into the coke oven to cause a change in said zone width of the coal that will ultimately result in improved coke quality. Typical adjusting steps include preheating the coal and/or the addition of coal binders, such as, various carbon and petro-based binding agents, for example, pitch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting metal-containing waste material having substantial quantities of organic constituents, such as plastics, rubber, paper and greases, to a product from which metal can readily be recovered. The waste material is introduced into a reactor vessel arranged for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the vessel being provided with a bottom and a common charge and discharge opening, whereafter the reactor vessel is rotated with its axis inclined to the horizontal plane at an angle of less than 90.degree.. The reactor vessel is maintained during this rotation at a temperature which is sufficiently high to expel organic constituents in the form of a combustible gas for as long as such a gas continues to be generated. The combustible gas is combusted continuously at a location external of the reactor vessel, and the residual content of the reactor vessel is taken out in a molten and/or non-molten state.

Abstract: A shaft sealing assembly containing a liquid lubricant uses an arrangement hich can accommodate shaft-eccentricities and vibratory movements which cause radial deflections of the shaft, without impairing the efficiency of sealing of the assembly. The assembly is of a type using a housing in which two flexible sealing rings are spaced apart from each other and mounted to be stationary on the shaft, at least one sealing ring being supported by a mounting ring. The mounting ring is capable of radially being displaced within the housing, when there is shaft-eccentricity, or when radial vibratory movements of the shaft occur. The mounting ring is nonrotatably supported from the inside of the housing by a resilient annular wall made of a sealing material. The arrangement comprises at least one inner annular chamber containing the liquid lubricant, and at least one outer annular chamber disposed radially outside the mounting ring, the two annular chambers being provided with a connecting fluid passage.

Abstract: A seal assembly for rotating shafts particularly for sterntube seals for ps comprises two slide rings mounted in a receiving ring and pressed against a counter-ring by means of the surrounding sea-water. Between the slide rings an annular space is formed into which a liquid medium is let. The outer slide ring being a hydrostatic seal is lifted by the liquid medium in the annular space against the force of a spring in the receiving ring so that a small amount of the liquid medium leaks out to lubricate the slide rings and to prevent entering of abrasive particles. The inner slide ring is a hydrodynamic seal and is urged into contact with the counter-ring by the hydrostatic head of the sea-water surrounding the seal assembly. The receiving ring is guided in the housing or on the shaft with some clearance so that the faces of the slide rings can maintain a position parallel to the counter-ring.

Abstract: A burner combines air cooling and pulverized coal combustion with air for the combustion of low inflammability coals. A ceramic lining protects the cooled steel mantel of the burner while supplying heat for sustained combustion process. Air preheated in the cooling process is used to preheat the coal and to supply secondary air imparting a helical trajectory to the coal particles close to the ceramic lining. The ceramic lining is formed in situ around the flame chamber from molded plastic ceramic hardened by burner operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for mass growing of seedlings in a controlled atmosphere, for later transplanting into a permanent site, e.g. for reforestation. A growing system is disclosed wherein seeds are germinated into seedlings in a growth medium arranged in trays containing compartmentalized recesses or pots all joined together to form a seedling unit. Seedling units in mass growing systems have invariably several pots wherein either the seedlings are dead, or the inserted seeds never germinate; depending on the percentage success of seed germination in the individual pots of each seedling unit, the overall efficiency of utilization of the available room and manpower spent at the growing station is considerably affected.

Abstract: Mold cleaning apparatus including a cutter assembly for removing undesired material from a mold, a boom pivotally supporting the cutter assembly and the cutter assembly including a shaft member, a number of radially projecting cutter members fixedly secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, the cutter members having a cutter blade mounted at the outer extremity thereof and resilient connecting links interposed between the cutter blades and the shaft. The boom may be mounted for both axial rotation and rotation about an axis oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to the boom and telescoping movement. The boom may be mounted on a vehicle.

Abstract: In a coke oven of the type having a plurality of filling shafts with openings and caps therefor at the oven roof, in order to reduce the temperature gradient and heat losses at the roof of the coke oven, the caps of the filling shafts are each directly mounted on fire-resistant brickwork rather than a metallic frame; also, the associated caps are each made of ceramic material with optional reinforcement and include a metal insert which is heat insulated from the oven by a heat barrier. The metal insert facilitates magnetic hoisting of the cap during unloading and loading of the oven and is provided with an adjoining layer of fired clay and felt. The engaging surfaces of the cap body and the brickwork of the filling shaft opening are preferably conical and define an annular recess on the outside for pouring cement or the like to secure the cap in position and seal off the shaft.

Abstract: A stern tube bearing for vessels is sealed off in a leakproof aft seal asbly which comprises at least one annular chamber between axially spaced sealing elements. The annular chamber is filled with a liquid for lubricating the sealing elements. The liquid is circulated in a circulation system through a separating tank. The head of the circulated liquid is lower than the head of a lubricant in the stern tube bearing which again is lower than the lowest possible head of the sea-water surrounding the aft seal assembly. Any sea-water or dirt entering into the annular chamber will be removed out of it by the circulated liquid and separated from it in the separating tank which can be provided with devices for supervising the circulation system. A forward seal assembly of the stern tube bearing may be included in the circulation system.

Abstract: In an offshore mooring system for seagoing vessels, a mooring hawser formed nto a loop is resiliently fastened with both its ends around a tower head of an offshore tower. The hawser is kept in readiness beneath a jib of the tower and is spread open by spreading lines running over spreader arms. Spreader blocks are provided for lowering and slackening the spreading-lines so that the hawser can be laid around a bitt on the vessel. The bitt is provided on the forecastle of the vessel on a cradle or platform for bringing the bitt to a position ahead of the bow of the vessel, so that the bitt is positioned substantially beneath the hawser which is spread open for mooring. Mooring operations are made possible by the invention obviating undesirable manual work, even in high seas and rough winds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a weighbridge consisting at least partially of cast concrete portions, and a method of producing such a bridge. With the object of increasing the accuracy of a weighbridge, of facilitating and cheapening the production of a weighbridge, it is proposed according to the present invention that the bridge (1) should be disposed resting against two beams (5) which are disposed along the long sides of the bridge and supported by transmitter members (6), that at least two transverse beams (7) are disposed secured between the longitudinal beams (5) of the bridge, preferably at the short sides of the bridge, that the cast portions of the bridge are surrounded by an edge lining (3) preferably of sheet metal bearing downwards against the tops of the beams (5, 7), and that the cast portions preferably comprise a corrugated or profiled bottom metal sheet (12) resting substantially against the longitudinal beams of the bridge.

Abstract: A reusable seedling transplant unit for elevated growing, by germinating several seedlings simultaneously in a growth medium, contains a plurality of pot-shaped cells all joined together; each cell has an open top and bottom and is structured with a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from the open cell top to converge to the bottom. The ribs are closely spaced forming narrow slits therebetween so as to retain the growth medium in the cell during elevated growing and during transportation to a site, e.g., for reforestation. The ribs can be resiliently deformed to release each seedling for replanting in soil along with its root lump and associated growth medium, without detrimentally affecting the root lump.

Abstract: Sludge floating on the surface of liquid protrudes upwardly through a stabilization grid and is removed by scraping means into a gutter. In order to prevent the scraping means pushing the sludge back downwardly through the grid, the scraping means is provided with a knife which is driven in a forward movement towards the gutter and a return movement away from the gutter. In the forward movement the knife is tilted downwardly towards its free edge so as to cut the sludge and push it into the gutter. During the return movement, the free edge is raised above the grid.