Abstract: A filter assembly includes at least one filter unit, a plurality of conduits extending transversely past the filter unit, a plurality of valves actuable to connect the filter unit to the conduits for alternate forward and reverse fluid flow through the filter unit, a plurality of actuators designed to actuate said valves on a one to one basis and a single drive motor linked to all the actuators of a given filter unit. The number of valves and actuators per filter unit correspond to the number of conduits to which the filter unit is to be attached.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for purification of liquids, particularly hydrophobic oil-water emulsions which includes heating the emulsified liquid to a process temperature where accelerated stratification occurs and passing the fluid through a fiberous media which is maintained at a selected compressed condition which allows flow through the media to separate the oil and water phases. Additionally, within the scope of the present invention organic fluids containing significant amounts of water can be heated utilizing a vacuum in order to reduce the water content to the range of 0 to as much as 8% prior to passage through the media at the process temperature.

Abstract: A system to chlorinate swimming pool water including one or more buckets containing sodium hypochlorite solution. The valve having a stationary part with a downwardly open cavity and a rotatable part rotatably mounted in the cavity. The stationary part having multiple ports and the rotatable part having a mating through passage. The ports being interposed in a line from the bucket to a swimming pool water recirculating pump so that flow of the sodium hypochlorite solution from the bucket to the pump only occurs when the through passage registers with the diametrically opposed ports. A battery-powered clock motor and reduction gearing connected to the clock motor and to the rotatable part and the reduction gearing rotating the rotatable part 180.degree.

Abstract: To stabilize flow rate in a single-stroke, syringe-type high pressure pump to a constant value after turn-on, a control system increases the pump speed until equilibrium conditions are reached and then pumps at the preset rate. The pumping system is operated at a flow rate ten times the preset flow rate. The control system senses the maximum rate of change of pressure, detects when the rate of change has dropped to nine-tenths of the maximum and, when the time derivative of the pressure has dropped to nine tenths of its maximum, the pump motor speed is reduced to the preset flow rate.

Abstract: A pressure-controlled remotely-operated valve for utilization in respective wheels of a vehicle, on-road, off-road type. The valve is functional to effect tire deflation or tire inflation in a stationary or moving vehicle. Multiple piston-valve elements are axially aligned in a multi-step recess of a housing, wherein the effective areas of two opposed valves differ in value whereby a first valve movable in a two-stage phase can move a second valve only under certain tire pressure conditions. A third valve operable by said first valve can connect tire pressure to exhaust upon action of the first valve in a first phase operation.

Abstract: A filter compartment containing water with surface scum is bounded by first and second end walls and spaced side walls, the latter of which are spanned by a moving bridge. The bridge is movable between the ends of the compartment and has associated nozzles which direct a pressurized air or other fluid angularly against the upper surface of the scum layer to skim the scum towards at least one collecting pot, in which scum is collected, and from which the scum is withdrawn for delivery to a scum pit for further treatment or disposal.

Abstract: A filter press with central suspension of filter plates (5) is provided with a guide which ensures a flush alignment of adjacent filter plates, said guide lying outside the area affected by the filter medium, being integrated in a space-saving manner into the filter press, and permitting a certain amount of twisting or other overall adjustment of the filter plate package. For this purpose, the guide device is disposed on the filter plate suspension (9, 10, 18, 25) and is composed of at least one guide rod (19, 20) which is flexible to a limited elastic degree, and runs along guide members (1,2), and of at least one guide element (21, 22) for each filter plate (5) fitting around guide rod (19, 20), said elements being disposed on yoke piece (25) which supports rollers (19, 10) of the filter plate suspension.

Abstract: There is provided an improved method of cleansing a filter bed utilizing a backwash pump (12) having an inlet line (14) and an outlet line (16). The improved method and system includes two cycle operations. Initially, the filter bed is backwashed to remove contaminants from the filter bed with the backwash pump (12) drawing liquid from an effluent channel (32) through a first diverter valve (18). The fluid flows through a second diverter valve (20) and a first throttling control valve (36) for insert into a backwash shoe (38). In the purging cycle, fluid may be recirculated from the backwash pump (12) through the backwash shoe (38) and then back to the backwash pump (12) with a portion of the fluid being diverted through a second diverter valve (20') into an egress line (42).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the removal of liquid hydrocarbons from ground water in perforated well casings consists of a plurality of pump chambers and a control system which is powered by compressed air. The pump chambers are positioned above a liquid hydrocarbon recovery device which is positioned in the well casing at the oil/water interface. The pump chambers are evacuated, causing the ground water and the liquid hydrocarbons to be drawn into separate chambers through respective check valves. The pump chambers are then pressurized with air to push out the water and liquid hydrocarbons through check valves in the chamber discharge conduits, thereby removing the fluids from the well casing.

Abstract: An oil reconditioning device includes a housing with a tightenable lid, a smooth walled chamber in the housing containing a compressible filter, a hollow, convex frustoconical element in the upper portion of the chamber having a plurality of upstanding columns for engagement by the lid when it is being tightened and firmly secured to the housing to cause increasingly a compressive force to uniformly compact the filter. The compacted filter rests on a horizontal conduit having a centrally located termination in the form of a vertical nozzle with laterally directed passages to direct oil laterally into a cavity formed in the lower surface of the filter. A small space below the filter and the bottom of the housing is connected to an outlet from which water may be drained.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for liquid flow drainage control in gravity type systems such as sewage septic tank systems. A plastic cap which is insertable into the ends of the drainage pipes that project into a distribution box is formed with an end face and a cylindrical body. The end face is generally circular having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the drainage pipes into which the cap is to be inserted. The outer periphery of the end face is provided with an interdigital or scalloped pattern to facilitate easy gripping even in the most adverse conditions. The end face is further provided with an eccentric discharge hole which is located along a diameter of the end face so that the hole is always some distance from the interior surface of the cylindrical body so that the hole forms a weir to the inlet of the drainage pipe into which the end cap is inserted. The eccentric hole is provided with an outwardly projecting flange which, in cooperation with a spirit level, is used for rough leveling.

Abstract: For drilling mud during use in drilling a well an additive of FE Chelate is disclosed. The chelating agent preferably includes EDTA, HEDTA, NTA, or DTPA. It is oxygen regenerated at the surface to enable repeated use to remove H.sub.2 S. Any H.sub.2 S is converted to elemental sulfur, reducing risk of poisoning.

Abstract: A coating of tetrafluoroethylene or other suitable material is present in the heating element of a bypass oil refining device for the purpose of substantially preventing deposit of carbon or carbonaceous material on the heating element during operation of the device. The heating element is located in a vaporization chamber. The bypass oil refining device incorporates a pressure control valve to shut off flow of oil from a mechanical filter to the vaporization chamber when the oil pressure in the mechanical filter exceeds a predetermined value. An externally adjustable flow control valve is also incorporated in the device to permit control of the rate of flow of the oil from the mechanical filter to the vaporization chamber. Water and fuel vapors which are distilled out of the oil in the vaporization chamber are released from the vaporization chamber through a vent and check valve, and are absorbed as condensates in a suitable, absorbent material. The absorbent is preferably placed into a disposable cartridge.

Abstract: A bore screen for use in filtering fluids which are extracted from bores or wells and which comprises a stack of annular plastics material rings which are clamped together in face-to-face relationship. Each ring is formed on opposite, first and second, faces with aligned, circumferentially spaced bearing pads, the bearing pads on the first face of successive rings contacting those on the second face of adjacent rings and serving to space the rings apart. The bearing pads on the first face of each ring are formed with stepped projections and those which are on the second face of each ring are formed with complementary stepped recesses, and the bearing pads mate in such a way that the spacing between adjacent rings is changed as one ring is rotated relative to another and different pairs of bearing pads are brought into contact with one another.

Abstract: The liquid chromatograph comprises a multiple piston pump (1) which is arranged so that the delivery strokes of two pistons overlap to such an extent that for all designed liquid delivery pressures and compressibilities no period exists when no piston is delivering liquid. Thus for all other than worst case conditions there are periods in each pump cycle when two pistons are delivering liquid. The start of these periods is detected by the pressure increase produced at the outlet of the pump and measured by a pressure transducer (5). The output of the pressure transducer is fed via path (14) to a motor drive circuit (10) which controls a motor (4) which drives the pump (1) via a shaft (3) so that the speed of advance of the pistons is halved until one of the pistons ceases delivery. Consequently a relatively pulse free liquid flow is produced by the pump with a relatively simple motor speed control system.

Abstract: Water straining device for removing sand, grit and other foreign suspended particles from water characterized by a cylindrical housing having a bottom closed end and an open top end together with multiple annular holes through the cylindrical side wall. Cylindrical baffles are mounted inside the housing adjacent each hole. At least one strainer containing multiple slots is located inboard of the baffles and is connected at one end to a pump with a one way valve interposed between the strainer and pump. A backwash system is connected to the inside of the housing to remove particles clogging the strainer slots.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtration apparatus composed of: a container comprising a central well and a number of radial individual chambers, each of said chambers comprising: a filtration bed placed on a plate, said plate defining with the bottom of the container an evacuation chamber; an open gullet admitting the water, and an aperture situated towards the top end of the well and connecting said chamber with said well, each well being equipped at its base with a discharge pipe and said container comprising at its base a discharge pipe for the pure water.

Abstract: Support of rake arms in a thickener is by sets of separate support cables and separate torque cables extending from outboard-of-the-center positions of rotating trusses extending radially of the sedimentation tank. The sets of support cables are attached in a vertical plane between spaced positions on a common point on the trusses to spaced radial positions along inner hinged rake arms so that the entire weight of the arms is taken up by the support cables. Torque cables extend from a single point on a truss generally midway of the truss but at a radially offset position from the center line of containing the support cable attachments on the truss or multiple trusses. The torquing or pulling action of the torque cables, also produces no thrust load along the rake arms. This eliminates the need of a heavy large center structure adjacent the rake arm hinges to absorb a rake arm thrust load against the hinges. The hinges are supported by relatively thin posts extending from the rotating trusses.

Abstract: Drill cuttings, and similar slurries or mixtures oily solid particles, are treated by a dryer apparatus which vaporizes the liquid and discharges relatively large solid particles for disposal. Vapor and entrained solid fines are conveyed from the dryer to a condenser and then to a rotary drum vacuum filter having a precoated filter media disposed thereon. The solid fines are filtered by the filter media comprising diatomaceous earth or perlite and the clarified condensed liquid is conveyed to separator means for separating oil, water and any other liquids present. The filter media stripped from the filter and contaminated with entrapped solid fines is conveyed through the dryer means and disposed with the solids particles being discharged from the dryer.

Abstract: A two pump skimmer system for recovery of lighter-than-water hydrocarbons from water wells. A water pump is used to depress the water table and a contaminant pump is used to remove the hydrocarbons. The pumps are located in individual chambers which are interconnected, with the water chamber below the hydrocarbon chamber and with limited one-way flow into the water chamber. Both pumps are independently controlled by sensors in the upper chamber to assure that each pumps only the proper liquid.