Abstract: Samples of contaminants are obtained from the interior surface of a pipe main by inserting, through an opening in the pipe main, an inflatable pillow bag or balloon-like element in deflated and collapsed condition, and having a swab affixed to its outer surface. The balloon-like element is inflated inside the pipe main to extend the swab to a generally planar configuration and to press it against the inner surface of the pipe main so that it absorbs contaminants from the surface. The balloon-like element, with the swab attached, is then deflated and recollapsed; and together with the swab, is withdrawn from the pipe main.

Abstract: The presence and flow of water or other liquids in pipes, such as gas pipes, is observed by viewing through an opening in the pipe. A colorant liquid which disperses in the liquid is inserted into the pipe and an illuminating element such as an chemiluminescent device is positioned in the pipe at the site of suspected liquid.

Abstract: A gas-fired direct-contact water heater system 10 is described. It consists of a first housing 11, 50, 80 having a packing 16, 51, 81 of heat exchange elements 17 and on which water is sprayed. A burner 18, 52, 83 is disposed on the side of the housing under the packing. A combustible gas feed pipe is connected to the burner 18, 52, 83 to provide a combustible gas to the burner. A water collection reservoir 20, 58, 86 is defined below the burner for collecting heated water. A further packing 31-59-91 having heat exchange elements is located in a further housing 30-60-90 and it is also sprayed water. Ambient air is admitted under this packing by a blower 32-63-101 whereby the air is humidified and heated and supplied to the burner for admixture with the gas whereby to obtain a higher combustion product dew point and a reduction in the NO.sub.x emission when burned.

Abstract: A gas meter installation wherein a gas meter is contained within a protective bag during normal operation and wherein the bag may not be opened to obtain access to the meter without causing a permanent indication of such opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting pipe main repair tools in an excavation while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchoring system installed in or above the excavation and an elongate support member that spans the excavation in a generally horizontal position above the pipe main and supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the pipe main. The elongate support member is secured and supported at opposite ends on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation by a pair of parallel laterally spaced shoring members firmly engaged on opposed sides of the excavation, or by a pair of parallel laterally spaced anchor plates firmly engaged on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation.

Abstract: In a material transfer system, material from an excavation is drawn into a vessel by suction from a vacuum source. The vessel has discharge flaps at the bottom that are held closed by the suction. When the weight of the material in the vessel reaches a predetermined value, the flaps open and the material is discharged from the vessel. After the discharge, counterweights almost close the flaps and the suction seals the discharge flaps so that additional material is drawn into the vessel. The vessel includes a vibratory section and has sides that slope outwardly from top to bottom. The material entering the vessel contacts the vibratory section at a predetermined angle and is redirected to the discharge flaps without any caking on the vessel walls. The opening through the discharge flaps is larger than the inlet through which the material enters the vessel so that objects entering the vessel are discharged.

Abstract: In a material transfer system, material from an excavation is drawn into a vessel by suction from a vacuum source. The vessel has discharge flaps at the bottom that are held closed by the suction. When the weight of the material in the vessel reaches a predetermined value, the flaps open and the material is discharged from the vessel. After the discharge, counterweights almost close the flaps and the suction seals the discharge flaps so that additional material is drawn into the vessel. The vessel includes a vibratory section and has sides that slope outwardly from top to bottom. The material entering the vessel contacts the vibratory section at a predetermined angle and is redirected to the discharge flaps without any caking on the vessel walls. The opening through the discharge flaps is larger than the inlet through which the material enters the vessel so that objects entering the vessel are discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shutting off fluid flow in a pipe main while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchor system installed in or above the excavation which supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the main to extend radially therefrom. A jack mechanism compresses the lower end of the seal tube containing a seal member against the exterior surface of the main. A tubular cutting tool installed inside the seal tube is rotated by an air motor to cut a hole in the side wall of the main. A tubular sealant application tool installed inside the seal tube has a nozzle at its bottom end that sprays liquid sealant material onto the interior surface of the main and is then removed. A tubular bladder deployment tool installed inside the seal tube carries a pair of deflated bladders.

Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main. A conical, wedge or pie shaped expander may be used.

Abstract: A power tool for torquing a threaded member of a movable device, such as a pipe nipple of a gas meter sent for repairs, comprises a rigid disk with a bore to fit the nipple so that the disk can be placed against the meter, a block attached to the disk to prevent its movement, a reaction arm that cam be rotatably fitted on the nipple and locked to the disk, a torque arm that can be clamped on the nipple adjacent the reaction arm, and a hydraulic cylinder with its opposite ends connected to the reaction and torque arms to provide the force to move the torque arm.

Abstract: A framing module for quickly assembling frames of rectangular towers suitable for supporting protective shields within excavations comprises a horizontal wale connected by hinge to a vertical leg and a locking brace to hold the hinged members in the right angle position. The wale has a tenon and set-back at each end. The hinged end of the leg is adjacent a set-back in the wale and that set-back becomes a mortise when the leg is set at right angle to the wale. The tenon of one module is inserted in the mortise of another module to interlock the modules. A rectangular frame is easily formed with at least four interlocked modules, and duplicate frames can be stacked to reach a desired tower height.

Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main. A conical or wedge shaped expander may be used.

Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main.

Abstract: Cogeneration of electricity and liquid carbon dioxide is conducted by combusting methane-rich gas to power a gas turbine and a steam turbine; each turbine drives an electric generator. Carbon dioxide is separated from the combustion products by an amine absorption system to which heat for releasing absorbed carbon dioxide is supplied by steam drawn from the steam turbine. Some of that steam is used to produce refrigeration with an ammonia absorption refrigeration unit. The refrigeration is applied to the separated carbon dioxide to liquefy it. Fractionation to yield purified liquid carbon dioxide is easily achieved and saleable refrigeration is another optional product of cogeneration.

Abstract: A liquid removal system particularly adapted to remove water from a gas main. The system includes the combination of highly flexible, low-friction tube fitted with an internal stainless steel stiffener, this assembly having a weighted nose guide to ensure that the assembly remains at the bottom of the gas main. The assembly is inserted into the gas main through a tap hole using an insertion guide to ensure that the assembly is inserted at a proper angle into the gas main.

Abstract: In refrigeration systems wherein the refrigerant compressor is driven by a prime mover powered by combustion of a fluid fuel, a notable saving in fuel consumption is achieved by utilizing waste heat in the hot exhaust gases from the prime mover in an ammonia absorption refrigeration unit to produce refrigeration in the form of liquid ammonia. Subcooled liquid ammonia is used to subcool the compressed and condensed refrigerant prior to its expansion and evaporation to produce saleable refrigeration. This compound refrigeration system is economically attractive for producing large tonnage refrigeration particularly when a combustion turbine coupled to a centrifugal compressor is used.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for plugging or plugging and servering gas service lines may be deployed from a building without requiring access to either the utility service main or main tee connections. The processes are intended to be undertaken while gas is being supplied to the service. The apparatus also allows service lines to be relined under these conditions without requiring direct access to either the utility service main or main tee connections.

Abstract: In refrigeration systems wherein the refrigerant compressor is driven by a prime mover powered by combustion of a fluid fuel, a notable saving in fuel consumption is achieved by utilizing waste heat in the hot exhaust gases from the prime mover in an absorption refrigeration unit that chills a coolant stream circulated to the condenser for the compressed refrigerant. Existing combustion-powered refrigeration systems can be improved by adding a lithium halide absorption unit to utilize heat in the exhaust gases to produce refrigeration that is used to condense the compressed refrigerant. A combustion turbine coupled to a centrifugal compressor is a preferred combination of prime mover and refrigerant compressor for economically producing tonnage refrigeration.

Abstract: Cogeneration of electricity and saleable refrigeration is achieved by passing pipeline gas with added methanol through a turbo-expander coupled to an electrical generator so that moisture in the gas forms an aqueous methanol condensate separable from the cold, expanded gas. The condensate is distilled to separate discard water from recycle methanol. After recovering refrigeration therefrom, the expanded gas is warmed to a temperature above 32.degree. F. by adding all the required heat as reboiler heat for the distillation and passing the expanded gas in heat exchange with distilled methanol vapor which is liquefied and used partly as reflux and partly as recycle methanol.

Abstract: A lightweight insulating polymer concrete formed from a lightweight closed cell aggregate and a water resistance polymeric binder.