Abstract: A system for preventing freezing of liquids during separation of liquids from natural gas at a natural gas well head comprising an elongated tank mounted in a vertical attitude with a lowermost portion buried in the ground below the frost line and an uppermost portion extending above the ground. A divider plate separates the tank into an upper compartment and a lower compartment. Each compartment has a liquid reservoir at the bottom thereof. An underground natural gas supply line is connected to a mid-portion of the lower compartment whereby material gas including liquids such as water and hydrocarbons flows into the lower compartment.

Abstract: A combination acoustical muffler and exhaust converter for use with internal combustion engines, comprising an elongated hollow cylinder adapted to be connected to a source of exhaust gas, screen means positioned at a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations within said cylinder for partitioning the cylinder into a plurality of chambers arranged in series flow relation with each other and with respect to the flow of exhaust gas through said cylinder, the screens having a silencing action on said exhaust gas, magnet means in one of said chambers for exerting a magnetic pressure on the gas passing therethrough to serve to separate ferrous particles from the exhaust gas stream, a packing material of mineral material, such as mineral wool, in another of said chambers for condensing moisture in said exhaust gas and for removing hydrocarbon therefrom, and a material such as a ceramic material of an extremely fine porous nature, in still another of said chambers for removing carbon monoxide from said exhaust gas

Abstract: A dehumidifier for use in a compressed air system between an air compressor and a storage reservoir for removing moisture from the compressed air supplied to the storage reservoir. The dehumidifier is provided with a moisture-collecting chamber connected to a conventional drain valve which operates automatically periodically for draining the moisture from the moisture-collecting chamber. A high speed fan is installed adjacent the moisture-collecting chamber for subjecting the compressed air passing therethrough to centrifugal force, thereby removing moisture and other foreign particles contained in the compressed air, such moisture being forced by gravity to the bottom of the collecting chamber.

Abstract: This invention provides an automatic sensing and correction feature for each fabric type filter element in a filtering system with a multiplicity of separate filter elements, that operates when the filter develops a leak to take only an individual filter element out of service.This is accomplished inexpensively by a simple flap closure valve array that senses increased fluid flow above a set threshold level and chokes off that flow through the individual defective filter cell.

Abstract: Gas from one or more land fill vents, or other fugitive sources containing toxic materials, is decontaminated by being passed through a wire mesh tube disposed coaxially in an enclosing housing. The annular chamber between the wire mesh tube and enclosing housing is filled with solid adsorbent, such as conventional activated carbon, or specially impregnated varieties designed to remove selected contaminants. The decontamination is effected by radial diffusion of the toxic constituents in a laminar flow regime. The annular chamber is sealed at the upper and lower ends with removable annular caps which allow the adsorbent material to be replaced when it is spent. An improved embodiment contains a plurality of wire mesh tubes symmetrically arranged in parallel relation to the axis of a cylindrical housing wherein the intervening space is filled with the solid adsorbent. The housing is held in a substantially vertical position by conventional supporting means.

Abstract: The invention is an air purifying apparatus having an air inlet plenum (22, 140) mounted to a filter canister (21) and containing a bypass (63, 157). A barrier (52, 147) divides the inlet plenum (22, 140) into an inlet chamber (53, 150) and an outlet chamber (54, 151). In one embodiment the bypass is formed as a box (63) attached to the plenum (22) and containing openings (70, 71) which communicate respectively with the inlet chamber (53) and the outlet chamber (54) to define a bypass flow path from the inlet chamber (53), through the box (63) and into the outlet chamber (54). In another embodiment the bypass is formed as an opening (157) in the barrier (147) to allow direct communication between the inlet (150) and outlet (151) chambers.

Abstract: A leakage measuring apparatus and method is herein provided for a gas-cooled, liquid-cooled dynamoelectric machine's cooling system. The apparatus comprises: a liquid coolant reservoir; an integrating vessel; a flow restriction means such as an orifice, orifice covered by a porous membrane, or a needle valve; a pressure relief valve which is hydraulically connected between the liquid coolant reservoir and the integrating vessel; and means for gaging the pressure within the integrating vessel, said pressure indicative of the amount of leakage within the cooling system. The effect obtained by the gaging of the pressure in the integrating vessel is: (1) the integration of the pressure surges resulting from the intermittent activation of the pressure relief valve; and (2) the amplification, for gaging purposes, of the pressure changes in the reservoir, these changes caused by the existence of leakage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for installation on the top of a chimney of a building includes a housing having a lower end receiving the top of the chimney and an upper end with openings permitting the escape of effluent from the chimney and a heat exchanger assembly disposed in the housing including a central chamber and a spirally arranged duct network defining an effluent spiral path between the top of the chimney and the central chamber and a fresh air spiral path between an inlet disposed at the lower end of the housing and the central chamber, the effluent and fresh air spiral paths being in heat exchange relationship such that air passing through the fresh air spiral path is heated by hot effluent gases passing upward through the chimney and the effluent spiral path for use in heating the building.

Abstract: A heavy duty automotive air cleaner for use in environments having high contaminant concentrations includes a housing carrying a vane-type centrifugal separator and a removable filter cartridge. The removable filter cartridge includes a pleated paper filtering medium and a fibrous, depth-type filtering medium. A pair of flow paths are defined through the housing between the inlet and outlet thereof. One of the flow paths extends through the depth-type media and the pleated paper medium, and the other flow path extends through the centrifugal vane-type separator and the pleated paper medium. The depth-type fibrous medium is placed upstream from the pleated paper medium, and is adapted to remove relatively fine particles from the incoming air stream as the heavier particles are centrifuged outwardly by the vane-type separator.

Abstract: An exhaust gas pollution control system (10) for purification of exhaust gases passing from a combustion chamber. The control system (10) includes a housing element (14) which extends in a longitudinal direction (12). The housing element (14) encompasses a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements (16) each of the elements (16) being discrete in nature. Each of the exhaust gas purification elements (16) form a generally donut shaped contour having a central passageway (32) and are formed in an open contour for introduction of the exhaust gases internal to the particular purification element (16). The exhaust gases enter each purification element (16) through an entrance passageway (44) and are accelerated therein. Particulate matter found in the exhaust gases are ejected through particulate openings (54). The exhaust gases are catalytically converted within internal chamber (40) of purification element (16) and then are reintroduced to central passageway (32) through gaseous ejection openings (58).

Abstract: A conventional grain storage bin is equipped with means for ventilation and curing the stored grain by inducing air flow through the grain in response to a pressure differential existing between the interior of the bin and the outside atmosphere. The invention provides a break-away screen at the vent constructed to break away when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined value, thereby preventing damage to the structure; e.g., collapse of the roof, walls, etc. when the pressure differential is created by a lower pressure inside the bin.

Abstract: An energy transfer and air purifying device is provided, comprising a liquid bath, means for containing the liquid bath, the means including at least one opening therein, exhaust means in fluid communication with the liquid bath, the exhaust means partially extending into the liquid bath and defining a fluid space between the containing means and the exhaust means, the exhaust means also including an outlet means, guide means associated with the exhaust means for guiding contaminated gas to the fluid space, the guide means including an upper limiting member, and a pressure-differential means associated with the liquid bath for changing the fluid level of the bath for forcing a contaminated gas through the liquid bath and the exhaust means, wherein the liquid bath interacts with the contaminated gas in a heat exchanging and scrubbing relation.

Abstract: An equalization tank for a cooling liquid which is subdivided by an essentially perpendicularly disposed interior partition wall into a prechamber and into a suction-discharge chamber; the vent lines which are connected with the cooling water outlet of the cooling water jacket of the engine and with the heat-exchanger thereby terminate in the prechamber whereas the auxiliary return line leading to the circulation pump for the cooling liquid terminates in the suction-discharge chamber; the partition wall is thereby also provided with a connection located near the tank bottom for cooling liquid, low in air or gas bubbles, as also with a vent connection between the prechamber and the suction-discharge chamber which is located near the tank ceiling.

Abstract: A filter and boot combination through which air is supplied to a pneumatically operated servomotor. The boot has a cylindrical body which is fixed to the servomotor housing and an end closure which surrounds an input push rod. The boot has a first series of openings in the end closure and a second series of openings in the cylindrical body to provide a series of air flow paths into the servomotor. A first filter is located adjacent the first series of openings and a second filter has a peripheral surface which abuts the second series of openings in the boot. A chamber is created between the inner periphery of the second filter, the first filter and the push rod. The air flows in the series of flow paths through the filters and is combined in the chamber before presentation to a control valve which regulates the operation of the servomotor in response to an input force supplied by an operator through the push rod.

Abstract: A system for filtering stack gases and the like comprising an in-feed exhaust duct and a pair of filter vat cleaners disposed on opposite sides of the in-feed exhaust duct and horizontally spaced therefrom. A track assembly extends horizontally above the in-feed exhaust duct and filter vat cleaners, and a carriage car carrying two horizontally spaced filter containers is mounted rollably on the track assembly for reciprocating movement therealong to alternately position one of the filter containers over the exhaust duct, and then the other over one of the two filter vat cleaners, in alternating sequence. Coupling means is provided for coupling the filter containers with the respective filter vat cleaners and the exhaust duct. An out-feed exhaust duct is positioned over the track assembly and carriage and is vertically aligned with the in-feed exhaust duct.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a separator for removing broken engine parts and other debris from the hot gases passing fro the exhaust manifold of an engine to the inlet of an associated turbocharger. The separator includes an annular separation chamber in which the gases are swirled by stationary vanes to effect centrifugal separation of the debris, and a cylindrical screen which filters the gases as they leave the separation chamber. The screen is mounted in cantilever fashion within the separator casing and carries, at its free end, the vanes and a deflector which directs inlet flow radially outward to the separation chamber. The vanes are freely mounted in slots formed in the screen, where they are held captive by the slot margins and the deflector, and the tips of the vanes are spaced radially from the surrounding casing of the separator.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting vacuum sources from contamination occasioned by aspiration of fluids or aerosols from a device operated by such vacuum sources, having an enclosed vessel in communication with the device, a filter in communication with the enclosed vessel to entrap aerosols and a vacuum-breaking valve alternately in communication with atmosphere & vacuum in communication with the filter to control the application of the vacuum by the vacuum source to the device. The vacuum-breaking valve is operated by a switch assembly mounted within the enclosed vessel and in electrical communication with a solenoid designed to operate a valve member within the vacuum-breaking valve.

Abstract: A stack of filters mounted on a relief vent mounted in a retaining collar, the retaining collar mounted in a hood on a stack pipe attached to an exhaust vent in order to filter the exhaust gases entering the atmosphere.

Abstract: An impact resistant external casing is provided to enclose a canister containing a multi-layered chemical bed, with by-passes in each layer to accommodate the flow across and through the bed of exhaled breath which reacts with potassium superoxide in tablet form, the casing being provided with a (top) lid section which contains a mouthpiece, breathing hoses, and neck straps, the opposite side of the casing being provided with a bottom cover which accommodates the storage of a folded breathing bag and chest straps. An air passageway constituting an annular section is provided to accommodate a chimney extending from the bag through the passageway section between the casing and the canister, which is open to ambient air for cooling purposes. The inside bottom portion of the canister is provided with a trammel to prevent escape of deliquesced KO.sub.

Abstract: An improved type of centrifugal separator for separating liquids such as oil and/or water from a mixture of gas and liquid. It consists of an upright cylindrical shell divided by transverse dividers into three chambers. The mixture of gas and liquid is introduced through a tangential diverter into the lower chamber to produce a high velocity vortex of gas and liquid. A central axial vortex tube penetrates and is sealed through both transverse dividers. This vortex tube is comprised of two spaced longitudinally aligned portions which define a gap between them. The gap is positioned inside the central chamber. The upper end of the vortex tube extends into the top chamber and is sealed into a first mist extractor. The lower end of the vortex tube extends into the lower chamber.Due to the vortex action the liquid is thrown outwardly against the inner wall of the shell, the gas forming a high velocity vortex column along the central axis of the shell.

Abstract: A mobile street sweeper employs a pickup hood through which air is circulated to entrain and pick up debris. The air circulation system includes a main blower and a smaller, auxiliary blower. The main blower inlet is connected to the debris hopper of the sweeper and air delivered by the main blower is directed to one end of the pickup hood. The other end of the pickup hood is connected by an air return line to the hopper. A filter for fine material is mounted on the hopper and has an air inlet that is in communication with the exterior surfaces of a plurality of tubular filter elements in the filter unit. The interiors of the filter elements are in communication with the inlet of the smaller auxiliary blower, which blower exhausts air to the atmosphere. The system is arranged so that about 3/4 of the total system air flow is delivered to the hood by the main blower and about 1/4 of the total system air flow is exhausted to the atmosphere by the auxiliary blower, via the hopper and the filters.

Abstract: Equalizing and air separation tank structure for accommodating separation of air from a liquid heat carrier flowing through a cooling system for an internal combustion engine cooling space. A pair of separation chambers are provided in series connection with one another and one above the other, both having separate vents opening to an air chamber space arranged thereabove. The upper separation chamber includes an inlet opening for a portion of the flow through the circulatory system and the lower separation chamber includes an outlet for such flow, which outlet opens adjacent a main flow outlet which accommodates passage of the remaining portion of the coolant flow in bypassing relationship to the separation chambers. The main flow inlet to the tank opens into a main flow chamber, which also includes a separate bypass vent leading to the air chamber above the separation chambers.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus for use in a servomotor to control the rate of the flow of air through a hub to a control valve. A push rod has a first section connected to the control valve and a second section through which an operator supplies an operational input signal. A truncated resilient disc holds the first and second sections of the push rod away from each other. A filter surrounds the second section and extends radially to fill the interior of the hub. A series of projections extend rearwardly from the truncated resilient disc along the exterior of the filter. When the operator desires to begin a braking sequence, an input force is applied from the operator through the second section into the truncated resilient disc to the first section to actuate the control valve. With the control valve actuated, air will flow from the atmosphere through the filter into the servomotor.

Abstract: A vent structure for reliable long term operation at high temperatures is fabricated by annealing a tubing of predetermined length and size, filling the tubing with fine alumina particles, flattening and coiling and pressing an upper portion of the tubing at predetermined pressures, annealing the formed tubing, and installing a particulate filter in the undeformed lower portion of the tubing. For use in venting helium generating reactor control pins located under hot molten sodium, a vent assembly including the vent structure and providing an air lock between the outer molten sodium and the vent is affixed to the upper end of each control pin.