Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the hydrocarbon release rate during thermal processing of materials having a variable caloric content.

Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing having a top and bottom and a plurality of sides defining a pyrolysis chamber for receiving and pyrolyzing feed materials therein into fluid materials and a mass of refractory material disposed upon the bottom of the casing and spaced below the top thereof and extending between its sides. The refractory mass includes an upper surface defining a bottom of the pyrolysis chamber and having an end spaced from a first one of the casing sides to define an ash residue collection cavity therebetween. The apparatus also includes a system of tunnels defined within the refractory mass being spaced below the upper surface thereof.

Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing having a top and bottom and a plurality of sides defining a pyrolysis chamber for receiving and pyrolyzing feed materials therein into fluid materials and a mass of refractory material disposed upon the bottom of the casing and spaced below the top thereof and extending between its sides. The refractory mass includes an upper surface defining a bottom of the pyrolysis chamber and having an end spaced from a first one of the casing sides to define an ash residue collection cavity therebetween. The apparatus also includes a system of tunnels defined within the refractory mass being spaced below the upper surface thereof.

Abstract: A tong 200 for use in lifting articles such as aluminum or steel ingots and the like comprising an elongated leg member 210, a pivot member 212 fixedly attached to and depending from leg 210, said pivot member having an upper portion and a lower portion 220, an upper link 214 pivotally attached to and projecting outwardly of said upper portion of said pivot member, a lower link 218 pivotally attached to and projecting outwardly of said lower portion of said pivot member, a tong bit 224 having an upper portion 225 disposed outwardly of said pivot member and a lower portion 261, said upper portion of said tong bit being pivotally attached to upper link 214, said lower portion of said tong bit being pivotally attached to lower link 218, said lower portion of said tong bit extending under said pivot member and having an innermost end 246 projecting inwardly of said pivot member, and means 230 for resiliently restraining said tong bit against pivot member 212.

Abstract: An improvement in and pertaining to cranes for stripping and/or handling cast metal ingots. The improvement is disclosed in the illustrative environment of a crane capable of performing both functions and operations with big-end-down ingots and molds. The improvement is embodied in a horizontally disposed component of a vertical, crane-suspended, ingot working mechanism. Said component serves as a shock absorber and dampener during a stripping operation, and serves as a resilient energy reservoir in aid of an ingot handling operation. Said component takes a horizontal drum-shaped form with centrally apertured, resilient, spring tempered steel discs disposed like the heads of a drum normal to said mechanism wherein, however, the inner peripheries of said apertures engage parts of the mechanism between which there is relative vertical motion in one direction incident to stripping the ingot from the mold, and in the opposite direction when gripping the ingot to handle it.