Abstract: A method of dry cooling coke using a coke transporting bucket which has a removable cover with an exhaust pipe extending from the interior of the bucket to an exterior exhaust connection and a cooling shaft for the coke comprises directing red hot coke into the bucket, covering the bucket with the cover and transporting the coke to the cooling shaft and connecting the exhaust pipe to the exhaust system while the bucket is in the shaft and emptying the bucket into the cooling shaft. The coke transporting bucket comprises a container having a bottom discharge which is closable by a flap and a removable cover which seats around the rim of the container to seal it. An exhaust pipe is carried by the cover and it extends into the interior thereof for removing gases from within the bucket and delivering them to an exterior connection which is connectable to an exhaust line.

Abstract: A sealing system primarily for use with a superatmospheric upflow oil shale retort is comprised of a first and second vertical vessel, with a first sealing screw being employed to transport the particles as a continuous bed from the first to the second vessel, and with a second sealing screw to transport the particles from the second vessel to discharge. In the first vessel, shale particles are cooled by contact with water, which usually generates noxious gases, such as hydrogen sulfide. These noxious gases are removed from the sealing system by the purging action of two sealing gas streams, the first sealing gas removing the bulk of the noxious gases from the first vessel, and the second sealing gas removing residual noxious gases from the second vessel.The shale particles are discharged to the environment from the second sealing screw in a dry condition, with a minimum emission of noxious gases.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in a process where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas." The hot, inert blowing gas effects the removal of the residual light oil from the solids.

Abstract: A method of cutting grooves and whitewalling vehicle tires in a series of functional steps, employing an apparatus which comprises a tire buffing assembly swively mounted upon an arm assembly allowing adjustment of the buffing assembly. There is further provided speed control means for controlling the variable speed of the drive means for rotating a reversible wheel drive member for rotating the tire during the buffing steps. The buffing assembly would have a plurality of buffing blades depending on the size of the strip to be buffed, and would be electrically driven. There is further provided means for maneuvering the apparatus via a handle and wheel members and a seating means for affording comfort during the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the pyrolytic conversion of waste selected from rubber and plastic to low molecular weight olefinic materials by employing basis salt catalysts in the waste mixture. The salts comprise alkali or alkaline earth compounds, particularly sodium carbonate, in an amount of greater than about 1 weight percent based on the waste feed.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for wet-quenching of hot-coke unloaded from a coke producing oven use water quenching from exclusive overhead tanks in two distinct consecutive phases so as to minimize the wasteful coke-dust generated and so as to limit the final maximum-water content in the produced coke. A high rate of water flow under controlled pressure head is used for a short period of time in the initial phase wherein coke-dust particles generated and rising in the water vapor cloud are washed down and prevented from entering the quenching hood; in a second and final stage, a low rate of water flow is maintained for a longer period of time wherein owing to the hot surface of coke having been already cooled in the first phase, coke-dust is not generated as much, and, the required limits for final water content can easily be maintained.

Abstract: Liquid material is heated within a first predetermined portion of a confined passageway under pressure and temperature conditions whereby the volatile components of the liquid material are maintained below the boiling point for said volatile components. The heated liquid material is continuously passed from said first predetermined portion into and through a second predetermined portion of the confined passageway which is arranged to form a partial restriction to fluid flow. The liquid material is immediately passed from the partial restriction into a third predetermined portion of the confined passageway which is arranged and configured to provide a relatively elongated, narrow passage having a high ratio of surface area to volume of fluid flow and a predetermined configuration to impart a turbulent flow to the liquid material.

Abstract: A fluid bed system for retorting solid hydrocarbon-containing material, such as oil shale, coal and tar sands, in which solid hydrocarbon-containing material and heat carrier material are fed into a mixing chamber, mixed and rapidly transported upwardly by a lift gas through a lift pipe into a solids-containing vessel to retort the hydrocarbon-containing material with minimal thermal cracking of the liberated hydrocarbons to increase the recovery of condensable hydrocarbons. The retorted material can be conveyed to a dilute phase lift pipe and combustor vessel where carbon residue in the retorted material is combusted leaving hot spent material that can be fed into the mixing chamber as solid heat carrier material.

Abstract: An improved upflow vertical tube evaporator is characterized by providing a distributor plate located within a certain critical distance or gap of the tube inlets in order to dampen cross flow between the tubes. The critical gap for providing stable operation is disclosed as lying between 0.01 and 0.2 of the average tube diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the distributor plate is capable of being translated relative to tube inlets so that the gap may be widened beyond the critical dimension during periods of stable flow in order to decrease the tube-side pressure drop and increase the heat transfer.

Abstract: A fluidized bed charcoal particle production system, including apparatus and method, wherein pieces of combustible waste, such as sawdust, fragments of wood, etc., are continuously disposed within a fluidized bed of a pyrolytic vessel. Preferably, the fluidized bed is caused to reach operating temperatures by use of an external pre-heater. The fluidized bed is situated above an air delivery system at the bottom of the vessel, which supports pyrolysis within the fluidized bed. Charcoal particles are thus formed within the bed from the combustible waste and are lifted from the bed and placed in suspension above the bed by forced air passing upwardly through the bed. The suspended charcoal particles and the gaseous medium in which the particles are suspended are displaced from the vessel into a cyclone mechanism where the charcoal particles are separated. The separated charcoal particles are quenched with water to terminate all further charcoal oxidation.

Abstract: A method for the dry cooling of coke comprises transferring the coke from the coke oven to a special bucket which is moved over a charging hole of a cooling pit. The space between the bucket and the charging hole is closed off and sealed against the atmosphere and a shutter which closes the top of the charging hole is moved upwardly and then transversely off the charging hole to open it as an intermediate charging guide piece is moved in position between the hole and the bucket for the transfer of the coke therebetween. The space between the bucket and the charging hole is sealed by a frame of a sluicing device in which the shutter and the intermediate charging hole guidepiece is movable. The device advantageously runs on wheels which are located outside the frame which seals the space between the charging bucket and the charging pit. The frame of the sluicing device advantageously includes a sealing element which engages into a recess seal combined around the charging hole.

Abstract: A reactor for nitration of saturated hydrocarbons having less than five con atoms, alone or in admixture, in the gaseous phase under pressure is made up of a reaction enclosure, in which a tube or pipe bank is in contact with a heated fluid of high heat-exchange capacity. The inside perimeter of the tubes does not exceed 800 mm, and if circular not in excess of 250 mm, and the ratio of the surface of the tube bank, in contact with the reaction medium, to the volume of the reaction enclosure is 1:1 to 3:1.The reactor apparatus further includes a mechanical means to uniformly distribute the delivery of reaction medium gases to the various tubes of the bank so that the load difference between the most loaded tube and that of the least loaded tube is equal to 10% at the most.The reactor also includes a tube bank injector which feeds the tube bank to assure homogeneous mixing of all the reaction fluids in the tube bank.

Abstract: Coke oven chamber doors form heat-resistant plugs having a construction to prevent damage when the plugs are removed and replaced. Each plug consists of an external door-body plate and internal steel plates. The ends of the internal plates overlap each other for relative movement. The lowermost plate is secured at its lower end and the uppermost plate is secured at its upper end. This provides a specific longitudinal dimension of the overlapping plates.

Abstract: An arrangement for extracting crude oil from oil shale comprising: a low temperature carbonization reactor; a processing means for feeding a slurry of oil shale, solvent and hydrogen into the low temperature carbonization reactor; a separating means for separating the resulting gaseous low temperature carbonization mixture from the used oil shale and for separating the low temperature carbonization mixture into gaseous and liquid low temperature carbonization products; a gas turbine the exhaust gas outlet of which is connected to two heat exchangers, one of which heat exchangers is disposed in a circulation system for a scavenging gas, which circulation system includes a separating reactor (which forms part of said separating means) in which in use the scavenging gas flows upwardly in counterflow to the oil shale for separation of the fluid low temperature carbonization mixture from the used oil shale, and the other of which heat exchangers is disposed between the low temperature carbonization reactor and sai

Abstract: A staged retort is provided for the retorting of certain types of carbonaceous materials such as oil shale, coal or lignite, wherein the staged retort includes a number of separate retort chambers arranged in a modular configuration, with one retort chamber above the other, and mounted transversely within the staged retort. Each retort chamber is heated to a different temperature, and carbonaceous material is moved from a given retort chamber to a retort chamber having a higher temperature, whereby heavier fractions of liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons are formed as the carbonaceous materials undergo pyrolysis. Arrangements such as pressure regulating valves are provided to reduce mixing of the various fractions between the individual retort chambers to nearly zero, and conduits are provided to separately withdraw the hydrocarbon gases and/or liquids from each retort chamber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an oil-in-water, such as a bitumen-in-water emulsion, by premixing the emulsion for a sufficient period of time to permit it to become fully intermixed with emulsion breaking diluents and other additive materials. The modified, bitumen-containing emulsion stream is circulated through a premixer. At least a part of the emulsion stream is recirculated therein to intermix with fresh incoming emulsion flow. Thereafter the now more thoroughly intermixed emulsion, together with the various diluents and additives, is in better condition to be introduced to a separator unit for affecting a quiescent separation of water from the bitumen.

Abstract: The stack cooler comprises a substantially vertical circular chamber with walls from refractory blocks or bricks. The chamber comprises an upper prechamber and disposed below it the quenching chamber proper, where the prechamber is provided with an upper conical section with a central charging opening. Gas exhaust discharge openings are provided in the transition region between prechamber and quenching chamber over the complete circumference at a distance from each other, which are joining to an annular collection channel running in the masonry. The masonry comprises an outer layer and an inner layer separate from the outer layer over the conical section and also over the cylindrical section disposed below the conical section. The inner layer adjoins at its lower end the masonry work of the wall in the area of the quenching chamber via support walls running between the gas exhaust discharge openings.

Abstract: A pyroelectric detector with an optimized quality factor, having a dielectric material inserted between two parallel electrodes, the material being a monodomain ferroelectric monocrystal. The faces of the monocrystal in contact with the electrodes form an angle differing from 90.degree. with the polar axis of the monocrystal. The detector is useful in infrared imaging and detection.

Abstract: Air or any other gas in a moving stream possessing kinetic energy is impinged on a foraminous barrier having a multitude of dissimilar adjacent nozzle orifices. Such impingement converts the kinetic energy of the stream to internal energy within the gas; and compression through the nozzle orifices of the foraminous barrier also increases the internal energy and reduces the pressure of the air or other gas (Bernoulli's principle), and greatly increases the downstream intensity of turbulence in the flowing air or gas. This treatment conditions the air, after its expansion in a processing chamber, to effect mixing with and rapid vaporization of liquid substances at low temperatures without the addition of external sensible heat, or with less external sensible heat, thus effecting savings of energy in many industrial, commercial and consumer applications.

Abstract: A sealing means for a coke oven chuck door. The sealing means includes a metal sealing member which has springiness and flexibility and is supported cantilever fashion on the inside of the door frame. An insulation block is interposed between the sealing member and door frame. The sealing member has a knife edge flange which extends around its perimeter and is automatically aligned with a sealing surface on the main door on which the chuck door is mounted.