Abstract: A method of producing porous calcined granules of a non-combustible material, the method including calcining agglomerates of said non-combustible material and a combustible material to effect combustion of said combustible material, wherein energy generated by the combustion of the combustible material is at least partially utilised for said calcining.

Abstract: A facility for the thermal treatment of workpieces has a processing or heating chamber and at least one transport device, extending essentially completely through the processing or heating chamber, with which the workpieces to be treated can be transported through the processing or heating chamber. At least two processing or heating levels are hereby located on top of one another in the processing or heating chamber, with each processing or heating level having at least one separate transport device. This type of facility can preferably be used as a soldering facility, particularly a reflow soldering facility, or as a facility for the hardening or drying of plastics or adhesives.

Abstract: “Process for Adjusting the Water Vapor Content in Very High Temperature Furnace”

Abstract: An electric arc furnace is provided for the production of steel by melting metal between electrodes. The electric arc furnace comprises gas injectors provided with respective cooling chambers placed in a wall of the furnace, wherein at least one single chamber is associated with at least two injectors in order to cool each injector. Each injector is angled in a manner appropriate with respect to a corresponding gas injected thereby and to a corresponding function thereof, wherein the orientation axes of the injectors are not parallel.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an ash-melting furnace which can respond to fluctuations in the load and which will be capable of highly efficient and stable operation. In an ash-melting furnace which heats and melts the primary ash and the fly ash obtained by combustion together, this invention is characterized by supplying the primary ash (ash containing rough particles) from upper end of the furnace to form an upper layer of a two-tiered layer of ash, supplying the fly ash (ash containing minute particles) from an upper end of the furnace to form a lower layer of the two-tiered layer of ash, moving the two-tiered layer together towards the far end of the furnace, and heating and melting the two-tiered layer by a burner to form molten slugs during the moving step. When the burner is an oxygen-enriched burner, this configuration makes it possible to control the volume of oxygen to be added to the burner air (including changing the density of the oxygen).

Abstract: The invention provides a reflow furnace for an electronic assembly. The electronic assembly comprises a printed circuit board and a device on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has solder at a first area near the device and a metallic surface at second area distant from the device. The furnace comprises a frame, a support, a heater, and a shield. The support is secured to the frame and is capable of holding the printed circuit board. The heater is secured to the frame and is capable of heating the printed circuit board while being held by the support. The shield is secured to the frame and is positioned to prevent solder from migrating from the first area to the metallic surface at the second area while the printed circuit board is being heated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a Hot Melt Glue Conveying System and in particular to a system for improving the material handling of thermoplastic adhesive chips to provide the uninterrupted flow of hot melt glue to packaging production lines. This invention reveals both a system and a method which improves the material handling efficiency and reduces the maintenance and down-time of a system for conveying solid glue chips or particles from a bulk source in the proper continuous glue volume to a glue melting apparatus. This system has filters at various points in the conveying system to screen the particle size of material flowing through and to minimize foreign particles in the system. This conveying system includes sensing devices that determine the material flow volume and vacuum at various gates, valves and hoppers in the system and sends an electronic signal to the control unit of those readings.

Abstract: A constant current annealing device for annealing a wire or surgical needle is disclosed. The device includes amplitude and time setting devices, such as thumb-wheel switches. A constant current source is connected to the current setting device. The constant current source is switchable, through a switch for example, in response to a timing signal to provide a constant current for a predetermined duration. A pair of spaced apart electrodes are clamped on the needle and a switching device is connected between the constant current source and the pair of electrodes. The voltage drop across the switching device varies to compensate for load variations, thus keeping the anneal current constant in the anneal ON mode. In the anneal OFF mode, where current is not provided to the needle, the switching device shunts a residual current away from the electrodes. The time setting device include a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a solid state relay to provide an accurate timing signal.

Abstract: A method and system for calcining gypsum to recover gypsum in a form consisting essentially of calcium sulfate anhydrite is disclosed. The method includes the steps of feeding the ground gypsum material into a first kettle and heating the ground gypsum in the first kettle to the first predetermined temperature. The first predetermined temperature is preferably below 400.degree. F. so that the gypsum will still contain a sufficient amount of chemically-combined water so that it will self-fluidize by release of water vapor so that it will flow through the apparatus. The ground gypsum is then overflowed through at least one subsequent stage and heated to a final predetermined temperature to produce an anhydrite product. To produce insoluble calcium anhydrite or dead burn material, the final predetermined temperature is greater than 900.degree. F. and preferably within the range of about 900.degree. F.-1300.degree. F.

Abstract: A recycling apparatus for obtaining oil from waste plastic by thermal decomposition having a tank proper with a hopper to charge the waste plastic and multiple heating pipes disposed above one another which communicate with one another in the tank proper. The upper heating pipe is connected to a hot-air generator and the lower heating pipe to a flue duct leading to the outside atmosphere, thus dividing the tank proper into an upper thermal decomposition zone and a lower melting zone. As such, the recycling apparatus accomplishes the melting and thermal decomposition of the waste plastic in one tank. The recycling apparatus is simple and compact, provides substantial cost savings and ease of maintenance, and increases productivity and economy.

Abstract: A carbon reactivation apparatus has a fossil fuel kiln adjacent to a rotary dryer and flue gas from the kiln flows through the dryer co-currently with carbon particles to provide a more efficient process than previously known. The apparatus has a rotary kiln with a drum therein sloped downwards from a feed end to a discharge end, a furnace shell surrounding at least a portion of the drum with a fossil fuel heater and hot gases from within the shell heat the rotary kiln. A rotary dryer slopes downwards from an inlet end to an outlet end and carbon particles to be reactivated are fed into the inlet end. Ducting from the shell surrounding the drum of the rotary kiln extends to the inlet end of the rotary dryer for hot gases to flow along the dryer to the outlet end in the same direction as the carbon particles.

Abstract: A burner/injector for providing a localized impingement flame or multiple flames for scrap heating and melting through use of a fluid fuel and at least one oxygen rich oxidizing gas. The burner/injector includes a liquid-cooled combustor for generating an impinging flame directed toward a scrap pile and a structure for injecting a controllable amount of a solid carbonaceous fuel and a controllable flow of high velocity oxidizing gas into space that has been previously occupied by the impinging flame. The burner/injector may be equipped to inject a solid slag forming materials and/or slag deoxidizing materials and/or to inject an additional oxidizing gas for burning a small portion of preheated scrap, post-combustion of CO and iron-carbon melt refining. The burner/injector may be arranged as a simple liquid-cooled combustor permanently mounted through the furnace wall or roof, and may be equipped with single or multiple channels for injection of solid material and high velocity oxidizing gas.

Abstract: A burner/injector for providing a localized impingement flame or multiple flames for scrap heating and melting through use of a fluid fuel and at least one oxygen rich oxidizing gas. The burner/injector includes a liquid-cooled combustor for generating an impinging flame directed toward a scrap pile and a structure for injecting a controllable amount of a solid carbonaceous fuel and a controllable flow of high velocity oxidizing gas into space that has been previously occupied by the impinging flame. The burner/injector may be equipped to inject a solid slag forming materials and/or slag deoxidizing materials, and/or to inject an additional oxidizing gas for burning a small portion of preheated scrap, post-combustion of CO and iron-carbon melt refining. The burner/injector may be arranged as a simple liquid-cooled combustor permanently mounted through the furnace wall or roof, and may be equipped with single or multiple channels for injection of solid material and high velocity oxidizing gas.

Abstract: The invention discloses novel azeotrope-like mixtures of fluorinated compounds which are useful for heating and cooling as heat transfer agents and/or refrigerants. The azeotrope-like mixture comprises: (a) pentafluoropropane; and (b) a hydrofluorocarbon of the formula: C.sub.x F.sub.y H.sub.z, wherein x is 3, 4, 5, or 6 and y and z are each independently 1 or a positive whole number such that the result of y/(y+z) is greater than 0.67.

Abstract: A burner/injector for providing a localized impingement flame or multiple flames for scrap heating and melting through use of a fluid fuel and at least one oxygen rich oxidizing gas. The burner/injector includes a liquid-cooled combustor for generating an impinging flame directed toward a scrap pile and a structure for injecting a controllable amount of a solid carbonaceous fuel and a controllable flow of high velocity oxidizing gas into space that has been previously occupied by the impinging flame. The burner/injector may be equipped to inject a solid slag forming materials and/or slag deoxidizing materials, and/or to inject an additional oxidizing gas for burning a small portion of preheated scrap, post-combustion of CO and iron-carbon melt refining. The burner/injector may be arranged as a simple liquid-cooled combustor permanently mounted through the furnace wall or roof, and may be equipped with single or multiple channels for injection of solid material and high velocity oxidizing gas.

Abstract: A bulk adhesive handling system (10) having a hopper (16) and a lid (26) includes a vapor removal system (12) comprising a plurality of vent holes (40) formed in the side wall (42) of the hopper (16) of the system. The vent holes (40) are in communication with a venting plenum (44) surrounding the hopper (16), which is connected to a vacuum source (46). The vapor removal system (12) is adapted to withdraw gas from the hopper (16) when the lid (26) is in an open position and to withdraw air from an ambient source when the lid (26) is in a closed position.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing thick-film resistor elements that forms thick-film resistors having a uniform thickness on a substrate surface with high precision.A method of manufacturing thick-film resistor elements by applying a thick-film resistor composition, obtained by dispersing a conductive component and an inorganic binder in an organic medium and which has a specified rheology, through a clear relief image obtained by exposing, curing, and developing a resist layer of a photopolymerizable mixture formed on an insulating substrate according to the resist pattern, and the thick-film paste obtained at this time has almost the same thickness as the photopolymerizable layer on the surface of the insulating substrate and is patterned according to the high-precision pattern defined by the sharp, linear, lateral edge enclosed by the resist image removed by development.

Abstract: A method and plant for burning sludge or filter cakes during the cement clinker manufacture where the cement is manufactured in known manner by the cement raw meal being preheated, calcined and burned into clinker with subsequent cooling of the clinker and where the sludge is dried and finely divided prior to burning. The drying heat is provided by feeding hot raw meal from either the preheater or a separating cyclone installed in connection with the calciner to the drier unit, which may be a drier crusher. Applicable types of sludge include sewage sludge, beaching earth, paper sludge, fibre rejects, combustible chemical residues, e.g. waste derived from the manufacture of nylons and pesticides, and drill sludge resulting from oil exploration.

Abstract: A method for sintering industrial waste into environment conserving stones. The process mixes waste industrial earth and industrial waste in a predetermined ratio, and forms sterile environment protecting stones with high strength by the following processes: vacuum ejection, drying, breaking, screening, separating, sintering, and vibrating screening. The stones can be uses in the construction of civil engineering projects, or used as stone additives in asphalt pavement.

Abstract: A plasma arc melter which is equipped with at least two transferred arc plasma torches of opposite polarities is used to melt normal batch materials for producing glass, ceramics, refractories and other such materials and for the recycling, combustion and/or vitrifying incineration of waste materials. To enhance the stability of the plasma jets, the anode torch is positioned farther above the surface of the materials being processed than the cathode torch and the materials being processed are introduced into the melter so that the materials first pass beneath the cathode torch. An oxidizing gas can be introduced into the zone between the torches in the region of the plasma jets to enhance the combustion process. For waste materials with a high organic content, a plasma arc afterburner can be used to further treat the exhaust gases from the melter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating chemical contaminants such as volatile and semi-volatile chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from mixed wastes, such as soils or sludges contaminated with hazardous and radioactive components. The process comprises subjecting the mixed waste to vacuum at a temperature effective to volatilize the contaminants but below incineration temperature, while continuously removing the evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired degree of separation of the volatile and semi-volatile contaminants. The evolved vapors may be collected and condensed for off-site disposal and the remaining solids may be properly disposed of or further treated.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrically conductive mixed oxide comprises sintering a power mixture comprising from 30 to 98% by weight of titanium oxide, in terms of the amount of titanium based on the total amount of all the metallic elements, from 1 to 10% by weight of at least one of titanium metal and titanium hydride, in terms of the amount of titanium based on the total amount of all the metallic elements, and from 1 to 60% by weight of at least one of tantalum oxide and niobium oxide, in terms of the amount of tantalum, niobium, or tantalum and niobium based on the total amount of all of the metallic elements. The process provides a sintered solid comprising titanium, at least one of tantalum and niobium, and a stoichiometrically deficient amount of oxygen.

Abstract: A regenerative combustion furnace system including a combustion chamber, a pair of primary regenerators, a pair of secondary regenerators, and a gas flow assembly. The gas flow assembly provides gas flow to and from each of the secondary regenerators which are in communication with each respective primary regenerator, and each primary regenerator is in communication with the combustion chamber. Each of the secondary regenerators includes a plurality of flues and a plenum. Each flue includes a primary regenerator port, a plenum port, and a variable position valve.

Abstract: Microporous diaphragms adapted for wet-consolidation with composite cathodes for use in electrolytic cells, e.g., chlorine/soda electrolysis cells, comprise a sintered, fluoropolymer microconsolidated asbestos-based microporous fibrous sheet material, such sheet material including from 3% to 35% by weight of fluoropolymer binder, from 1% to 50% by weight of a uniformly distributed gel of an oxohydroxide of at least one metal of Groups IVA, IVB, VB and VIB of the Periodic Table or of the lanthanide or actinide series thereof, and from 20% to 95% by weight of fibers, at least 1% by weight of such fibers being asbestos fibers.

Abstract: An anode material composed mainly of a difficultly graphatizable carbon or coke (easily graphatizable coke) consisting essentially of carbon, phosphorus and oxygen, and containing phosphorus in an amount of 0.2 to 9.0 wt %, is disclosed. The anode material exhibits a peak in a .sup.31 P solid NMR spectrum in a range of .+-.100 ppm based on orthophosphoric acid, and a peak in a 2p orbital spectrum of a phosphorus atom in XPS of not more than 135 eV. The anode material is prepared by adding phosphoric acid or phosphorus oxides to an organic material or a carbonic material. A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte cell is produced from the above anode material, an Li-containing cathode and a liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus in which solid gelatin chunks are liquefied, tempered, and debubbled in a single operation. The debubbling step is accomplished by evacuating and sealing off the loaded solid reservoir and heat exchanger before initiating the liquefying step. After the vacuum is applied, the gelled chunks are pressed into the heat exchanger, where heat is applied to the gelled chunks of photographic material. This liquefies the gelled chunks of photographic material. When the liquefied product gives a positive pressure at the heat exchanger outlet, the liquefied product is allowed to flow from the heat exchanger. Liquefying and tempering are performed as the solid chunks are pushed through the heat exchanger by the reservoir piston.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for liquifying tires is shown including a plurality of tire modules (12) holding tires which are immersed in and preheated by a slurry located in a tank (22). After preheating, the tire module (12) and tires held thereon are removed from the preheat tank (22) and are immersed in a slurry located in a high temperature tank (28). The temperature of the slurry in the high temperature tank (28) is sufficient to liquify the tires. As the tires liquify, the slurry produced is retained in the high temperature tank (28) to immerse further tires and also overflows from the high temperature tank (28) to the preheat tank (22) and then to a storage tank (36). The slurry from the storage tank (36) can be pumped to the burner (42) of the heat exchanger (48) for heating the slurry in the high temperature tank (28) or can be used for other uses.

Abstract: To heat a thermic enclosure, flames are generated in a burner having a plurality of injectors, from an oxy-combustible mixture, the flames extending in different directions and having different power and/or oxidizing reducing capacity. Application for example to the heating of furnaces or metallurgical ladles or glassware furnaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a burner for burning a fuel in an oxidant. In accordance with the apparatus, a fuel nozzle is provided for producing a fuel jet of the fuel adapted to burn within the oxidant with the flame extending outwardly from the fuel nozzle and such that the particles of fuel become increasingly more buoyant along the length of the flame. A lower oxidant nozzle is located below the fuel nozzle for creating a lower oxidant jet of the oxidant that produces a low-pressure field below the fuel jet for downwardly spreading the fuel into the oxidant. Additionally, an upper oxidant nozzle is located above the fuel and lower oxidant nozzles for creating an upper oxidant jet of the oxidant to burn the increasingly more buoyant particles of the fuel. The velocities of the upper and lower oxidant jets can be adjusted independently of their mass flow rates to adjust the flame shape from sharp (convection dominated) to lazy (radiation dominated) without changing the stoichiometry of the flame.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating a granular material having a suspension preheater including a plurality of stages of cyclones arranged above a calcination furnace such that the granular material is preheated by waste gas from the calcination furnace as the granular material passes through the suspension preheater. The apparatus has a precalciner of fluidized-bed type or spouted-bed type connected, in place of a duct used in conventional apparatus, between a collecting cyclone directly connected to be calcination furnace and a first cyclone constituting the most downstream stage.

Abstract: Both aluminum scrap covered with a volatile coating and a heated airstream having a low oxygen content pass through a kiln where the airstream causes the coating to volatilize. The temperature of the airstream, where it enters the kiln, is maintained essentially constant, slightly below the melting temperature of the aluminum, and likewise the temperature of the airstream is maintained essentially constant where the airstream leaves the kiln, this being achieved by varying the mass flow of the airstream to compensate for variances in the nature and mass of the aluminum scrap within the kiln. Beyond the kiln the airstream enters an afterburner where it is heated in the presence of sufficient oxygen to effect combustion of the volatile components of the coating. The airstream then passes through a heat exchanger and back to the kiln. The mass flow within the kiln is controlled by diverting some of the airstream from the heat exchanger or by varying the speed of the fan which creates the airstream.

Abstract: A process for the decontamination of a solid product polluted by a contaminant which can be vaporized by heating under vacuum, and devices for carrying out such a process, wherein the product is introduced into a heating and evacuating enclosure (3, 37, 72), said product is heated, substantially in bulk, within a given temperature range, a vacuum being created in said enclosure which is sufficient to reduce the pressure of the enclosure below the vaporization threshold of the contaminant within said temperature range, said temperature and reduced pressure conditions in the enclosure are maintained for a sufficient time to vaporize substantially all the contaminant contained in said product, the vaporized contaminant is extracted by sucking the atmosphere out of the enclosure, and said contaminant which has been sucked out is condensed.

Abstract: A method for operation of a flash smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft, a settler connected at one end thereof to the lower portion of the reaction shaft and having a slag discharge port and a matte discharge port disposed on the side thereof, an uptake connected to the other end of the settler and at least one concentrate burner disposed to at least one of the top of the reaction shaft and the ceiling of the settler, in which the concentrate burner comprises at least a concentrate shoot, an oxygen blowing tube inserted in the concentrate shoot and an auxiliary fuel burner inserted into the oxygen blowing tube. In this method, the lower end of the oxygen blowing tube is protruded downward to lower than the lower end of the concentrate shoot and an amount of oxygen at least greater than that required for the auxiliary fuel is blown as an industrial oxygen by way of the oxygen blowing tube into the furnace. Oxygen efficiency can be improved remarkably while the rate of dust occurrence can be reduced.

Abstract: A unit for heating initially solid asphaltic material to provide asphaltic concrete in a condition suitable for application, including an inner enclosure defining a volume for containing the material to be heated, an outer enclosure surrounding and spaced from the inner enclosure to define a space beneath the inner enclosure and passages for heated air flow around the walls of the inner enclosure, a screw disposed in an open-top channel at the floor of the inner enclosure to move heated material, an opening in the inner enclosure floor in communication with a passage in the outer enclosure floor for delivery of heated asphaltic material moved by the screw to the unit exterior, heating chambers projecting upwardly from the floor of the inner enclosure above the heating sources to provide regions through which hot air rises from the sources, and flues extending transversely from the upper portions of the heating chamber to the end walls of the inner enclosure for conducting the heated air from the heating chamb

Abstract: Conventional presintering and reaction presintering processes for the production of ceramic powders yield products exhibiting an undesired primary particle size distribution along with localized distribution of impurities, which give rise to the formulation of undesired duplex structures during final sintering.In order to avoid formation of undesired duplex structures within sintered ceramic parts a process and a device for producing ceramic powders based on single- or multi-phase metal oxides (including SiO.sub.2 - compounds), exhibiting a narrow particle size distribution, i.e. with a maximum deviation of the primary crystal size (REM) of +/- 0.75 .mu.m, preferentially less than +/- 0.25 .mu.m, within an average particle size of 0.05 up to 10.0 .mu.m, is conceived. The raw feed material exhibits a specific surface area of 0.05 up to 500 m.sup.2 /g (BET), preferentially 5.0 up to 50 m.sup.

Abstract: Both aluminum scrap covered with a volatile coating and a heated airstream having a low oxygen content pass through a kiln where the airstream causes the coating to volatilize. The temperature of the airstream, where it enters the kiln, is maintained essentially constant, slightly below the melting temperature of the aluminum, and likewise the temperature of the airstream is maintained essentially constant where the airstream leaves the kiln, this being achieved by varying the mass flow of the airstream to compensate for variances in the nature and mass of the aluminum scrap within the kiln. Beyond the kiln the airstream enters an afterburner where it is heated in the presence of sufficient oxygen to effect combustion of the volatile components of the coating. The airstream then passes through a heat exchanger and back to the kiln. The mass flow within the kiln is controlled by diverting some of the airstream upstream from the heat exchanger or by varying the speed of the fan which creates the airstream.

Abstract: A process for firing ceramic shaped bodies is disclosed, which comprises the step of making a heating temperature in a temperature range up to a decomposing temperature of a shaping aid contained in the ceramic shaped body smaller than that in a temperature range from the decomposing temperature to a firing temperature. A tunnel kiln is also disclosed, which comprises a preheating zone, a firing zone, a waste heat zone, combustion burners provided at the firing zone, an exhaust means provided at an inlet side of the preheating zone for evacuating combustion gases from the combustion burners outside the kiln, and another exhaust means provided at an outlet side of the preheating zone for evacuating the combustion gases outside the kiln.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for improving the control and efficiency of a combustion reaction in a flash smelting furnace, having the steps of mixing a first oxidizing gas having a first oxygen concentration with solid particles consisting of at least one combustible component and at least one incombustible component, directing the mixture of solid particles and said first oxidizing gas into a combustion chamber of the flash smelting furnace, burning the mixture of solid particles and oxidizing gas in a first flame portion to provide for the smelting of the solid particles, directing an auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber to surround said first flame portion, directing a second oxidizing gas having a second oxygen concentration into the combustion chamber to surround the first flame portion and mix with the auxiliary fuel, burning the auxiliary fuel and the second oxidizing gas to create a second flame portion surrounding the first flame portion, controlling the flow of the first and second ox

Abstract: A continuous method of removing volatilizable organic composition from particulate mineral composition comprises heating the organic composition contaminated mineral particles in a rotating drum and exposing the particles to said hot gases to volatilize the organic composition from the mineral particles while advancing the particles counter-current to the direction of hot gas flow, removing a gaseous composition from the drum comprising a mixture of the gases of combustion, volatilized organic composition and airborne fine mineral particlles, separating the fine mineral particles from the hot gases and volatile volatilized organic composition, returning the separated fine mineral particles into the drum near the hot end, mixing the fine particles with the coarse mineral particles advancing toward the hot drum end, continuing to heat the mixture of fine and coarse mineral particles until the concentration of volatilizable organic composition is less than about 100 parts per million, and recovering a mixture of

Abstract: A process for manufacturing expanded shale aggregate using dewatered digested sewerage sludge as the bloating agent for the shale and using high-lime blast furnace slag as the fluxing agent to lower the melting temperature of the mix and also using refuse derived fuel as the main fuel in the kiln.

Abstract: Radioactive alkali metal is introduced into a cyclone reactor in droplet form by an aspirating gas. In the cyclone metal reactor the aspirated alkali metal is contacted with silica powder introduced in an air stream to form in one step a glass. The sides of the cyclone reactor are preheated to ensure that the initial glass formed coats the side of the reactor forming a protective coating against the reactants which are maintained in excess of 1000.degree. C. to ensure the formation of glass in a single step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the performance of a regenerative burner has a combustion chamber which receives and combusts controllable amounts of auxiliary fuel, an oxidizing gas, and possibly air to form hot combustion products. A controllable amount of a main fuel is then delivered to the combustion chamber and is pyrolyzed by the hot combustion products to produce a hot flame. By controlling the flame, one can maintain optimal temperature of the combustion air passing through the flame. Sensing means and computing means allow for automatic adjustments of fuel, oxygen and air flow to further maintain optimal combustion air temperatures.

Abstract: A process for treating workpieces in a normally closed treatment chamber. The process comprises providing a pressure within the chamber which is less than atmospheric and providing an unsaturated treatment vapor within the chamber. A workpiece is then moved into the chamber to be treated by the unsaturated vapor. The process is particularly suited for the vapor phase soldering of printed circuit boards. The unsaturated vapor in the chamber is heated to a temperature higher than the melting point of the solder used and the circuit boards with solder thereon are passed through the vapor in the chamber to reflow the solder.The invention is also directed toward an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: The gradient oven for oriented solidification, in particular by the Bridgman method, comprises an enclosure (4) successively defining along a cartridge (7): a heating zone (1), an adiabatic zone (2), and a heat sink (3). Means (8) are provided for displacing the cartridge (7) at a predetermined speed relative to the enclosure (4). The adiabatic zone (2) of the gradient oven includes an outer fixed annular portion (21) mounted in fixed manner inside the enclosure (4), and a removable annular portion (22) which is coaxial with said fixed annular portion and which is mounted inside it, with the removable annular portion (22) being constituted by an assembly of components (221 to 224) having different thermal conductivities, thereby adapting the characteristics of the adiabatic zone (2) to the characteristics of the sample contained in the cartridge (7).

Abstract: A compact to be sintered is moved vertically through a zone in which it is heated locally above its sintering temperature. The body is supported at both its top and bottom ends so that the area being sintered at a given time is not exposed to stress due to the weight of the body. Apparatus includes an oven casing having inductive heating means about a sintering zone therein, a lower lifting system on which the compact is supported, and an upper pulling system for lifting the top of the compact.

Abstract: A method of operating a flash smelting furnace which includes a reaction shaft, a concentrate burner disposed at the top of the reaction shaft, a settler disposed with one end thereof connected to the lower part of the reaction shaft, an uptake disposed as connected to the other end of the settler, and at least one lance pipe disposed through the ceiling of the settler between the reaction shaft and the uptake and adapted to permit forced supply of at least powdery raw materials and a reaction gas into the melt in the settler includes the steps of blowing the powdery raw materials containing only a small amount of incombustible substances and the reaction gas into the reaction shaft through the concentrate burner, blowing powdery raw materials containing at least incombustible substances through the lance pipe, and employing means capable of at least retaining the heat of the melt.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the density of particulate material flowing from a kiln. The apparatus includes a sampling probe actuatable to divert a sample flow of material from material falling from a kiln. This sample flow on cascading through the apparatus is processed by screening to obtain a flow of sized material having a particle size within a predetermined range. The sized material is collected in a container which collects a measured volume of material. The material in this container is electronically weighed and recorded.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for removing volatile contaminants from scrap metal. The process is carried out in a furnace maintained at a relatively constant temperature having a first zone in which volatiles contained on the surface of the metal are vaporized and a second zone in which carbon contained on the surface of the metal is pyrolyzed. The furnace also has a vibrating conveyor for transporting metal therethrough at a specific speed. The process includes the step of vaporizing and fluidizing the volatiles to produce fumes containing unburned hydrocarbons without oxidizing the metal. The hydrocarbon fumes are then burned to produce hot gas which is recirculated to the furnace so as to contact new incoming scrap metal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high temperature heating, melting, refining and superheating of materials, such a steel scrap, metals, ceramics or glass. The invention provides an economizing method of hydrocarbon fluid fuel combustion in an ongoing flame in a liquid cooled combustion chamber by separately supplying streams of fuel and at least two oxidizing gases wherein a first oxidizing gas reacts with the fuel, and a second oxidizing gas is directed about the flame core to further react with the fuel, while controlling the flow of the fuel, the oxidizing gases and cooling liquid to provide the required heat input, combustion product chemistry, temperature, velocity, emissivity and combustion block temperature. Also disclosed are burners for carrying out the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing volatile and semivolatile organic contaminants from natural soil containing moisture by sealing the soil in a stripping conveyor against contact with air and vapor stripping the contaminants at a temperature below the boiling temperatures of the contaminants.