Abstract: The invention relates to a method of distributing a liquid in the fluid bed of an up-flow or a down-flow fluid bed reactor. The invention provides efficient distribution and a plug flow like fluid flow through the fluid bed where turbulence and/or back-mixing of the fluid are minimised. In accordance with the invention a fluid bed system for use in treating a fluid by contacting the fluid with a solid phase media is provided and the system comprises a reactor chamber adapted to contain the solid phase media and at least one fluid distribution means adapted to distribute and/or deliver the fluid to be treated among the particles of the medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for removing fluids, particularly entrained and/or adherent fluids, from drill cuttings generated during the well drilling process. A generally cylindrical wire-wrapped screen having a bore therethrough rotates about its longitudinal axis. Suction pressure is applied through the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. As fluid-laden drill cuttings are deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen, fluids are drawn off of the cuttings and evacuated from the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. Solid components of the cuttings remain on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen and eventually roll off the screen. A scraper member is provided to agitate cuttings deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for removing fluids, particularly entrained and/or adherent fluids, from drill cuttings generated during the well drilling process. A generally cylindrical wire-wrapped screen having a bore therethrough rotates about its longitudinal axis. Suction pressure is applied through the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. As fluid-laden drill cuttings are deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen, fluids are drawn off of the cuttings and evacuated from the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. Solid components of the cuttings remain on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen and eventually roll off the screen. A scraping member is provided to agitate cuttings deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for removing fluids, particularly entrained and/or adherent fluids, from drill cuttings generated during the well drilling process. A generally cylindrical wire-wrapped screen having a bore therethrough rotates about its longitudinal axis. Suction pressure is applied through the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. As fluid-laden drill cuttings are deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen, fluids are drawn off of the cuttings and evacuated from the inner bore of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen. Solid components of the cuttings remain on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen and eventually roll off the screen. A scraping member is provided to agitate cuttings deposited on the outer surface of the cylindrical wire-wrapped screen.

Abstract: The present invention is a hair clamp including an elongate, arcuate base having opposed ends and a pair of articulated arms for holding braided or otherwise gathered strands of hair. Each arm is pivotally attached to the base proximate to one of the opposed ends. The arms are independently rotatable between a hair-receiving, or open, position generally perpendicular to the base and a hair-holding, or closed, position generally parallel to the base. The hair clamp also includes biasing means for biasing the arms in the closed position, retaining means for retaining the arms in the open position and releasing means for releasing the arms to rotate under the influence of the biasing means from the open position to the closed position. The biasing means preferably is a torsion spring positioned between each of the arms and the base. The retaining means preferably includes a stop pin depending outwardly from each of the arms and a corresponding mechanical stop.

Abstract: Porous desiccant material, such as silica gel, activated alumina, molecular sieves or mixtures thereof, is efficiently regenerated for reuse as a drying agent by irradiating a bed of the desiccant material with microwave energy preferably having a frequency of from 2400 MHz to 2500 MHz or from 900 to 915 MHz to heat and substantially affect only moisture adsorbed by the material and to vaporize the moisture in consequence of the heating of the moisture, the vaporized moisture being purged out of the bed with a forced draft of scavenging air while the bed undergoes irradiation by the microwave energy, and the resulting mixture of scavenging air and vapor being disposed of by discharging the mixture to an effluent receiving region isolated from the bed.

Abstract: A simple, quick, quiet load-release device which comprises a standard thred nut cut into three sections along its length. The three sections are held together by use of a heat meltable tape which is wrapped around the nut. A resistance wire is laid between layers of the tape and upon application of a current through the resistance wire, the tape melts permitting the nut sections to separate and release any load supported by the release device.