Abstract: The in-situ cleaning of conduits is enhanced by the passage therethrough of a propelling gas stream having entrained therein cleaning particles of a regular, non-random configuration, and having less than spherical symmetry.

Abstract: Oxide deposits containing chromium are dissolved by contacting the deposits sequentially with(i) a permanganate salt in acid solution to remove chromium therefrom as hexavalent chromium;(ii) a reducing agent in acid solution to destroy excess permanganate ions and manganese dioxide formed by reduction of the permanganate; and(iii) a mixture of a reducing agent and complexing acid to dissolve the residual chromium depleted oxide.

Abstract: The restoration of monuments and other objects made of stone is described. The process is carried out by immersing the stone object in deionized water in order to dissolve the calcium sulfate contamination present on the deteriorated stone which is caused by the pollutants present in air, then circulating the water containing the dissolved calcium sulfate through an ion exchange resin which can selectively trap the sulfate and release calcium hydroxide into the solution, followed by exposure to carbon dioxide under controlled conditions in order to thereby reprecipitate the calcium ions on the stone object as the carbonate in the calcite crystalline form.

Abstract: A process for treating spent fluoride-containing pickling paste on metal surfaces by applying to the spent pickling paste on the metal surface an aqueous treating paste composition comprising calcium carbonate having a particle size not in excess of about 5 microns and an alkali metal bicarbonate, which composition has a pH which is not in excess of about 9.5.

Abstract: A means for cleaning a gas distributor of a fluidized bed comprises a pneumatic motion imparting means, such as a gas jet, for imparting motion to a cleaning medium, such that the medium strikes the gas distributor from the gas input side thereof with sufficient momentum to chip or scrape off at least a portion of any particulate matter adhering to a surface thereof. The gas jet preferably operates intermittently to maintain heat exchange efficiency and preferably is allowed to nutate to increase the area cleaned. In the method for cleaning the gas distributor, the cleaning medium is larger than the gas passages of the gas distributor. In another configuration, the cleaning medium is of the same material as the fluidized material and is smaller than the gas passages of the gas distributor, thus allowing at least a portion of the cleaning medium to pass through the distributor. The cleaning medium is replenished from the fluidized material.

Abstract: Method for removing undesirable organic matter from a surface which comprises applying to the undesirable organic matter an amount of (1) imidazole, pyrazole or an alkyl or aryl substituted imidazole or pyrazole, and (2) a phenyl glycol ether for a time sufficient to loosen the organic matter from the surface, and removing the loosened organic matter from the surface. Compositions containing the imidazole, pyrazole, substituted imidazole or substituted pyrazole and phenyl glycol ethers as the active ingredients are also within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and device for removing liquid from a moving surface such as a continuous metal sheet or strip. The invention has particular application to the removing of lubricant and/or coolant from sheet or strip in a rolling operation or the backup rolls of the rolling mills. The invention comprises a vacuum unit to remove most of the liquid from the moving surface, an air knife to drive the liquid remaining on the surface toward the vacuum unit, and a vent maintained at a pressure intermediate between the low pressure of the vacuum unit and the high pressure of the air knife to minimize eddy current formation in the gas flow from the air knife to the vacuum unit. Eddy currents can cause the redeposition of liquid onto the essentially dry sheet or strip.

Abstract: A system for washing insulating components of high voltage and extra high voltage transmission lines. A helicopter provides an airborne, mobile, ungrounded, integrally bonded platform for a pressurized spray washing apparatus. The ungrounded helicopter hovers adjacent to the high voltage power lines to allow an articulating boom to be positioned to utilize a directed spray to pressure wash contamination from the insulators. A washing fluid tank and pump assembly contained in the helicopter provides high pressure washing fluid to the articulating boom and provides a self-contained system. Electrical bonding between the ungrounded helicopter and all wash apparatus components permits the helicopter to sustain prolonged energized contact with high voltage transmission source without incurring any adverse effect on the transmission line system, the aircraft or operators.

Abstract: Ashing rates of encapsulants exposed to an oxygen plasma in a reactor are increased by simultaneously exposing a solid halogen-substituted hydrocarbon polymer to a plasma jet formed within a cavity in a grounded conductive surface of the reactor. Advantageously the solid reactant may be polyvinyl chloride or polytetrafluorethylene in solid form.

Abstract: A first high concentration acidic solution is applied over a dry and generally highly contaminated surface. A second less concentrated acidic solution is applied to at least the remaining surfaces. The second acidic solution concentrations are selected to leave protective coatings, such as wax, intact on the cleaned surface. The first and second acidic solutions are rinsed from the surfaces with alkaline solutions.

Abstract: A spherically concave frontal surface of an acoustic lens in an acoustic microscope is cleaned and wetted by directing a stream of a cleaning and wetting liquid, slightly larger in diameter than the concave surface, against the concave frontal surface of the lens.

Abstract: Cleaning of objects from adhering liquid surface treating medium after galvanic and/or chemical surface treatment and recovery of the liquid medium is performed by lifting objects treated in a working container by a drum aggregate, bringing two half shells over the drum aggregate to embrace the latter so that at only a lower region of the drum aggregate a gap remains, and blowing a gas stream through the half shells to the drum aggregate so that an adhered treating medium is removed from the objects and flows directly back to the working container through the gap.

Abstract: A cleansing solution is formed by injecting a pressurized gas into a liquid, subjecting the liquid to high shear forces to divide the gas into small bubbles, and pressurizing the gas to cause a significant portion of the bubbles to become dissolved in the liquid. The cleansing solution is depressurized and applied to an animal carcass, enabling the dissolved gas to come out of solution as bubbles. The bubbles lift contaminants from the surface of the carcass by migrating outwardly from the carcass surface to the air-liquid interface.

Abstract: An item is cleaned in a portable lavage device comprising a moveable tank for holding a cleansing liquid, a pump and flow restricting mechanism coupled to the tank for circulating the cleansing liquid under a pressure which gradually and cyclically varies from a maximum to a minimum pressure greater than zero to reduce noise during operation of the device, and spaced nozzles coupled to the circulating pump and flow restricting mechanism and arranged to spray the cleansing liquid under varying pressure against an item to be cleaned.This is a division of application Ser. No. 248,510, filed Mar. 27, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,331.

Abstract: Heat losses in a bottle cleaning machine are kept to a minimum by recirculating a first liquid from a pre-heating zone, where the bottles are showered with the first liquid, in indirect heat transfer relationship with a recirculating second liquid from a re-cooling zone, where the bottles are showered with the second liquid.

Abstract: A neclear fuel rod assembly used in a nuclear reactor and deposited with radioactive scale is taken out of a fuel pool and disposed in a substantially sealed vertical casing, while the scale is still wetted by water. Gas in the casing is heated to a temperature higher than room temperature by the heat of nuclear fission or an electric heater to dry and peel off the scale. A mixture of the scale and water collected in a bottom portion of the casing is sent to a waterscale separator. To rapidly and perfectly remove the scale, after completing the step described above, water is sprayed onto the fuel rod assembly to wet remaining scale. Then, the drying of the scale with hot gas is repeated again.

Abstract: Iron oxide scale particles are removed from the surface of a mechanically descaled steel strand using jets of compressed air. The strand is moved along a central axis of a housing in continuous fashion through an upstream entrance opening, an entrance nozzle region, a central chamber region, an exit nozzle region and a downstream exit opening. Compressed air jets are directed into both the entrance and exit nozzle regions toward the central chamber region creating a venturi effect which draws air through the entrance and exit openings; thereby preventing dislodged scale particles from escaping into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A sonic cleaning device and method for removing accumulated fine particles from surfaces such as in heat exchangers using sonic energy vibrations. In the invention, a gas is passed through a tube having internally corrugated walls and having the tube outlet end attached to the inlet end of an expanding horn. The gas flows past the corrugations at high velocity and produces high intensity sonic vibrations within the tube, and the vibrations are amplified by passage through the horn. The horn outlet is directed at a surface to be cleaned and the accumulated particles are fluidized by the sonic energy and removed from the surface by the flowing gas and/or by gravity.

Abstract: A natural cheese analog is produced by coagulating a cheese-like curd from a mixture of conditioned liquid cheese whey and a dry casein material to form a substantially fat-free cheese analog. The fat-free cheese analog is comminuted; further processed by adding a selected fat, preferably in the form of vegetable oils, and adding emulsifiers and other ingredients; and then heated to a temperature in the range of 155.degree.-205.degree. F. until it forms a fluent mass which is subsequently cast into any desired shape. The resultant product is a process cheese analog having any desired flavor, texture and fat content.

Abstract: An alkaline composition and method of cleaning aluminum surfaces is disclosed which avoids discoloring or tarnishing of the metal surface. The composition comprises a mixture of alkali metal metasilicate and a compound chosen from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, lithium carbonate, potassium orthophosphate and sodium orthophosphate and mixtures thereof, wherein the metasilicate salt is present in an effective amount up to about 3% by weight of the composition and wherein the pH ranges above about 12.0.