Abstract: A process for recovery of solids from a drilling fluid includes the steps of passing a solids-containing drilling fluid through a grinder, grinding the solids from the drilling fluid to a desired size, pumping the ground solids and the drilling fluid to hydrocyclone such that the hydrocyclone produces an overflow and an underflow. The overflow contains low-density solids and the underflow contains high-density solids. The high-density solids are passed to a container. The solids-containing drilling fluid is shaken prior to the step of grinding so as to remove oversize solids from the drilling fluid. The ground solids are pumped to the hydrocyclone at a generally constant pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of processing and removing hydrocarbon sludge from a tank wherein the hydrocarbon sludges are the product of gravity settling in the bottom of the tank to form a sludge consisting of inorganic and organic materials not readily flowable or pumpable for removal in the found state and where a process is used to selectively separate, grind, disperse and suspend these materials with a mechanical classifier system, and where flow agents may be metered to effect a slurry stream directed thru a nozzle system towards the sludge in the tank and by reducing the surface tension and mechanical conditioning of the sludge, create a pumpable slurry that may be removed from the tank with minimal time, cost and environmental impact.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of processing and removing hydrocarbon sludge from a tank wherein the hydrocarbon sludges are the product of gravity settling in the bottom of the tank to form a sludge consisting of inorganic and organic materials not readily flowable or pumpable for removal in the found state and where a process is used to selectively separate, grind, disperse and suspend these materials with a mechanical classifier system, and where flow agents may be metered to effect a slurry stream directed thru a nozzle system towards the sludge in the tank and by reducing the surface tension and mechanical conditioning of the sludge, create a pumpable slurry that may be removed from the tank with minimal time, cost and environmental impact.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of processing and removing hydrocarbon sludge from a tank wherein the hydrocarbon sludges are the product of gravity settling in the bottom of the tank to form a sludge consisting of inorganic and organic materials not readily flowable or pumpable for removal in the found state and where a process is used to selectively separate, grind, disperse and suspend these materials with a mechanical classifier system, and where flow agents may be metered to effect a slurry stream directed thru a nozzle system towards the sludge in the tank and by reducing the surface tension and mechanical conditioning of the sludge, create a pumpable slurry that may be removed from the tank with minimal time, cost and environmental impact.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of processing and removing hydrocarbon sludge from a tank wherein the hydrocarbon sludges are the product of gravity settling in the bottom of the tank to form a sludge consisting of inorganic and organic materials not readily flowable or pumpable for removal in the found state and where a process is used to selectively separate, grind, disperse and suspend these materials with a mechanical classifier system, and where flow agents may be metered to effect a slurry stream directed thru a nozzle system towards the sludge in the tank and by reducing the surface tension and mechanical conditioning of the sludge, create a pumpable slurry that may be removed from the tank with minimal time, cost and environmental impact.

Abstract: An intragastric balloon has an ellipsoid or like configuration so that the balloon implanted in the stomach tends to rotate or rock only about one axis when a surgeon attempts to manipulate the balloon, for example, for the purpose of finding a filler valve and inserting a filler tube into it. For easy location, the filler valve is disposed on the equator. A retrieval tab is mounted to the exterior of the balloon, to permit capturing of the balloon and retrieval from the stomach, after the balloon has been deflated and is no longer desired for weight control purposes. Visual and X-ray opaque markers are located in the proximity of the valve and of the retrieval tab to facilitate their visualization with an endoscopic light when the balloon is in the stomach.

Abstract: An injection reservoir or button is adapted for implantation beneath the skin of human and animal patients in conjuction with tissue expanders and drug delivery devices. The injection reservoir includes a base and an exterior wall which define a chamber of liquid reservoir. A duct connects the chamber with an expandable bag of the tissue expander. An elastic rubber member is affixed within the interior of the chamber to act as a sealing member. The rubber member is an inverted dome and is self-sealing to needle punctures because it has a concave interior side which is under compression as a result of having been manufactured into a substantially dome-shaped configuration and thereafter inverted. A metal guard plate is included within the interior of the chamber to guard the base against accidental puncture by an over extended hypodermic needle.

Abstract: An injection reservoir or button is disclosed which is adapted for implantation beneath the skin of human and animal patients in conjunction with tissue expanders and drug delivery devices. The injection reservoir includes a base and an exterior wall which define a chamber or liquid reservoir. A suitable duct connects the chamber with an expandable bag of the tissue expander. An elastic rubber member is affixed within the interior of the chamber in a configuration wherein its side abutting the chamber is in compression, thereby rendering the member self-sealing to punctures by a hypodermic needle. A metal guard plate is included within the interior of the chamber to guard the base against accidental puncture by an over-extended hypodermic needle.

Abstract: An injection reservoir or button is disclosed which is adapted for implantation beneath the skin of human and animal patients in conjunction with tissue expanders and drug delivery devices. The injection reservoir includes a base and an exterior wall which define a chamber or liquid reservoir. A suitable duct connects the chamber with an expandable bag of the tissue expander. An elastic rubber member is affixed within the interior of the chamber in a configuration wherein its side abutting the chamber is in compression, thereby rendering the member self-sealing to punctures by a hypodermic needle. A metal guard plate is included within the interior of the chamber to guard the base against accidental puncture by an over-extended hypodermic needle.

Abstract: A lauter tun (10,100) has a bottom (16) comprising two flat plates (18,20) joined together on a straight line (see 22), each plate (18,20) sloping downwardly from the center-line to the peripheral wall (14) of the tun, such that during flushing, water flows down each slope to flush solids towards two large collection points (26) located at the lowest point of the bottom 16.

Abstract: A lauter tun knife assembly in which the knife is mounted for pivotal movement on a lauter knife drive, the pivotal mounting being about an axis adjacent a longitudinal edge of the knife, the pivotal movement being limited to a predetermined angle, preferably about 45.degree., so that on reversal of drive direction the knife flips through the predetermined angle.