Abstract: Novel pickling method and apparatus are described. A plurality of parallel side-by-side laterally-spaced wires is passed horizontally from end to end of an enclosed pickling zone and are countercurrently contacted by a wave of hot hydrochloric acid pickling liquor formed by a hydraulic jump and passing through the pickling zone submerging the wires. The pickling zone is enclosed at the sides and top and bottom by solid walls and at the ends by water curtains which prevent the egress of fumes of hydrochloric acid. The pickling zone is followed by a washing zone in the same enclosure as the pickling zone comprising further water curtains and wiper bars. The side walls of the enclosure include depending side walls from an upper enclosure portion and upwardly-opening channels at the upper extremity of side walls of a lower portion into which the depending side walls extend below water baths located in the channels to seal the side walls but permit wires to be restrung.

Abstract: An improved bath for use in pickling of steel strip manufactured in a hot strip mill. Pickling fluid, usually acid, is supplied to the bath through apertures in the sidewalls of the bath. A plurality of apertures are provided spaced at differing heights from the bottom of the bath so that acid may be supplied to the bath at various fluid depths. Advantageously, the bath comprises downwardly and inwardly sloping surfaces and the outlets of the apertures are elliptical in shape. In this manner the bath accommodates steel strip of varying widths while ensuring addition of acid to the bath adjacent the edges of the steel strip. Improved agitation of the fluid in the bath enhances the throughput speed of steel strip. To further enhance agitation the inlet apertures are arranged to introduce pickling fluid in a direction which so countercurrent to the direction of movement of steel through the bath.

Abstract: An assembly of gates is provided at each end of a vat. Two uprights mounted on a lock-chamber floor support respective brackets. Pivoted between the floor and the brackets are gate flaps, the pivot rods of which are fitted in holes in the floor and in the brackets. Each gate flap includes a notch, and the successive gates match successive diameters of elongated elements which travel through the vat. In case of localized excess thickness on an elongated element, the impact causes spontaneous opening of the gate guiding the element.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for treating semiconductor wafers with fluids. The device comprises one or more vessels having lateral walls defining open ends. The vessels are arranged serially, and the open ends are engaged with a treatment fluid inlet and a treatment fluid outlet. Wafers or a wafer carrier are introduced into the vessels for treatment. The vessels are constructed of material that is inert to the treatment fluids and designed to minimize creation of eddy currents and fluid traps. Hydraulically full fluid flow through the vessel uniformly contacts the wafers with the fluid and results in improved and more reproducible prediffusion cleaning, rinsing, etc.

Abstract: A vapor drying apparatus for semiconductor wafers, which is capable of preventing dust particles from entering the interior of the vapor drying apparatus incorporating therein a water washing part and a vapor drying part for a semiconductor wafer and, at the same time, thoroughly removing from the surface of a vapor dried semiconductor wafer the vapor cleaner adhering in the form of film or in a molecular thickness to the surface of an organic substance contained in the cleaner thereby bring the surface of the semiconductor wafer to an ideally cleaned and dried state.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for enclosed flow-line semiconductor wafer treatment includes a wafer-containing vessel and a mechanism for imparting plug-flow to a treatment fluid flowing into the vessel. One plug-flow imparting mechanism includes a flow-expansion input element and a fixed helical flow-diverting surface. Another mechanism incorporates a rotating flow diverting surface.

Abstract: A device and method are set forth for continuous, fumeless treating of products like steel wire. The device includes a generally closed tank having an inlet opening to pass the wire through a passageway to exit the tank at an outlet opening. Intermediate the inlet and outlet openings along the passageway are means for treating the wire in the desired manner. To prevent fumes from the treating means from escaping through the inlet and outlet openings, the tank is provided with means for continuously cascading a liquid across the openings to define barriers against the escape of such fumes while still permitting the product to be drawn through the tank. Preferably the tank has a removable top. Extending along the sides of the top are downwardly depending side skirts which are received by and are partially submerged in the liquid filled troughs to seal against the escape of fumes.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for treating semiconductor wafers with fluids. The device comprises a plurality of vessel segments having lateral walls for enclosing the wafers defining open ends. Sealing structure is provided at the ends so that the segments may be serially nested together and engaged with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in a wafer treatment fluid flow line. The vessel segments are constructed of material that is inert to the treatment fluids and designed to minimize creation of eddy currents and fluid traps. Fluid flowing through the vessel uniformly contacts the wafers and results in improved and more reproducible pre-diffusion cleaning, rinsing, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly, downwardly moving in a vessel a compact bed of solid particles in contact with a liquid. Within the vessel there is provided a rotatable lower disc which has a radially extending opening for the passage of solids therethrough. The lower disc carries a member adjacent the opening for directing solids through the opening during rotation of the lower disc. This member preferably extends above the lower disc. A system is provided to maintain the liquid within the vessel while the solid particles pass out of the bottom portion of the vessel. A rotatable upper disc having a radially extending opening may be present to distribute solids charged to the vessel onto the upper surface of the bed of solid particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing the periphery of an opening such, for example, as an opening through which bulk material is fed into a bin, a shaft opening through which hot bulk material is cooled, or an opening in a blast furnace shaft, of the type wherein a channel extends around the periphery of the opening into which a dividing wall extends whose lower end is spaced from the channel bottom so as to define a pair of adjacent channel portions which intercommunicate through the space between the lower end of the dividing wall and the channel bottom so that liquid provided in the channel at least fills the communicating space. According to the invention, a pair of external channels are provided, each of which is adjacent to and extends around one of the inner and outer sides of the peripherally extending channel, respectively, so that the latter comprises an inner channel.

Abstract: A washing head, having two annular compartments, includes a plurality of ported posts in fluid communication with one of the annular compartments; each of the posts being respectively aligned with a first aperture in one of a plurality of radially oriented dual apertured chambers of a rotor to inject a washing fluid into each of the chambers. Each of the second apertures in each of the plurality of chambers is in fluid communication with and discharges the washing fluid to the other of the annular compartments.

Abstract: A process and machine are disclosed for reflowing solder plated continuous flexible circuit webs. During reflow in a vapor environment, the flexible web is maintained in a planar orientation to produce a relatively uniform distribution of solder. Virtually all of the heat transfer fluid used in producing the vapor is recovered and retained.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling communication of a dishwasher vent opening to allow escape of the humid air from the interior of the dishwasher cabinet during the drying cycle, while sealing the opening during the wash and rinse cycles, including a vertically aligned series of ribs mounted within the opening. Each rib is trough-shaped to provide a liquid retention channel and the bottom of each rib is positioned within the next succeeding rib such that upon each channel being filled with water, a water seal of the opening is achieved. Alternate ends of each rib are open to create a cascade flow draining of the water through the rib series. The water level is maintained by being continuously replenished during the wash and rinse cycles to maintain the water seal. At the end of the rinse cycle, the water drains from the liquid retention channels to enable venting of the interior air through the ribs.

Abstract: A method is provided for washing the inside of an organic digester of the type having a rotatable roof member. The method includes supporting the roof member, with pressurized gas excluding oxygen, rotating the roof member, spraying water on the interior walls of the digester, and observing the washing process.

Abstract: A photographic developer for sheet film arranged to feed the film through two or more interconnected chambers sealed by seals at the inlet of the first chamber and the outlet of the final chamber and also sealed at the interconnection of the chambers by means of seals which are preferably rotatable and controlled by a single motor, the seals preferably having rotatable valves at one end which control the inlet and outlet of developing and fixing agents as well as a drying gas.

Abstract: A cleaning machine of the type in which a cleaning fluid spray is directed at an article supported in the interior of a machine cabinet structure and rotated while being sprayed by a plurality of cleaning fluid jets. The cleaning machine disclosed includes a central spray pipe, extending through an article supporting rotary table and adapted to spray the interior of the workpiece simultaneously with the directing of cleaning fluid spray at the exterior of the part, to clean the interior and the exterior of the article simultaneously. The rotary table is adapted to be supported on a bearing assembly, carried by the central spray pipe, the bearing assembly functioning both as the rotational support for the rotary table and also acting to form a fluid coupling between the central spray pipe and cleaning fluid distribution manifolding disposed beneath the rotary table.