Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the unsteady sedimentation potential of particle in a suspension comprising: inserting at least a portion of the suspension of particles in a cell, the cell having a first electrode and a second electrode; vibrating the cell to accelerate the particles in suspension; and measuring the unsteady sedimentation potential of the particles across the first and second electrodes. The cell is vibrated at a frequency in the range between 0.0001-50 khz.

Abstract: A cylindrical pressure vessel housing a filter media wherein the vessel is formed from a tubular thermoplastic pipe portion having opposite conical shaped end portions integrally formed with molded internal base portions with one base portion having integrally molded thereto the filter media in sealed position within the vessel housing.

Abstract: A method for making a precision wound tubular shaped filter cartridge wherein a filter medium comprising a roving is wound about a central foraminous core to provide a base inner and an outer helical winds of roving each provided with pluralities of both axial and circumferential flow passages wherein the circumferential flow passages of the inner and outer wind are radially aligned at the interface of the winds to provide unrestricted flow paths between the inner and outer wind.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel apparatus for culturing mammalian cells, whereby a plastic housing encasing a double membrane bag or bags supplies nutrients and oxygen to mammalian cells for propagation thereof. The double membrane bag contains a first bag formed of a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane disposed within a second membrane bag formed of a liquid impermeable, gas permeable membrane. This apparatus has a first chamber containing oxygen, a second chamber containing cells and a third chamber containing nutrients.

Abstract: A work conveyor sprocket and link assembly includes a sprocket having a body member. The body member includes a plurality of radially extending teeth connected by arcuate root portions. The body member further includes shoulder portions which extend outwardly from the sides of the body member. The link assembly includes a plurality of individual links connected to each other by link pins. Conveyor slats are secured to one side of the links; small flanges project from the other side of the links. Fasteners are connected to the flanges in order to retain the link pins in place. When assembled, the links engage both the teeth and the shoulder portions so as to distribute applied forces over a large area.

Abstract: A horizontal vacuum tray filter having a plurality of U-shaped trays interconnected to a conveyor for movement past a filtration zone in the horizontal plane of movement wherein an endless filter cloth is disposed over the bottom walls of the trays in said horizontal plane with the adjacent open ends of said trays in detachable sealing engagement to provide a continuous filtration surface over the filtration zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for rapidly and efficiently dewatering or separating particles by electrofiltration in which the suspension of solids is first demineralized.The suspension of solids may be demineralized by electrodialysis, dialysis, filtration, diafiltration or washing on a rotating-drum continuous-suction filter.

Abstract: An electrofiltering process for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension, which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes, consisting of a cathode assembly and an anode assembly, wherein the filtrate is recirculated from the cathode assembly of the electrofilter into the anode assembly where it is utilized as anolyte. An initial electrolytic solution containing a soluble compound of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, such as NaOH or NaHCO.sub.3, is added to the anode assembly as anolyte. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter, so that negatively charged particles in the suspension will migrate towards the anode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the assembly. Simultaneouslly, the electrode reactions at the cathode will split water into hydrogen gas and hydroxide. This hydroxide is diluted with filtrate passing into the cathode assembly.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids in a carrier liquid by means of an electrically augmented vacuum filter having an anodic electrode structure comprising an anode and a liquid impervious wall, wherein the wall is a non ion selective membrane which is permeable to both cations and anions. The non ion selective membrane being impervious to the suspension solids, carrier liquid, electrolyte and gaseous electrode reaction products. This non ion selective membrane comprises a substrate and a solid polymeric film, wherein the substrate is a cloth support and the solid polymeric film comprises a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin and a binder. The charge transfer numbers of the non ion selective membrane t.sup.30 is in the range of 0.20 to 0.80 and t.sup.- in the range of 0.80 to 0.20, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the sulfur concentration of wastewater which is to be disposed of through anaerobic treatment. Wastewater high in sulfur content is fed to a reactor having a pH level less than 6, such that the sulfate and/or sulfite compounds in the wastewater are converted by sulfate reducing bacteria into sulfide gas, thereafter exhausting the sulfide gas from the reactor. It is preferred that two anaerobic reactors be connected in series, such that the first reactor contains sulfate reduce bacteria and/or acid-forming bacteria, and the second reactor contains methane-forming bacteria and/or acid-forming bacteria.

Abstract: An electrically augmented crossflow filter device in which a feed stream containing solid particulate matter is flowed between opposed walls while a pressure differential is imposed across a first of said walls comprising a filter medium to produce a flow of filtrate therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the feed stream. At the same time, an electric field is imposed on the feed stream in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of the feed stream, causing the solid particulate matter in the feed stream to tend to move toward the second of said walls which comprises an ion-pervious member. Cake formation on the latter ion-pervious wall is limited or precluded by the velocity of the feed stream while the feed stream thickens in passing between the walls to form the product stream. The electrode which is located behind the second, or ion-pervious, wall is immersed during operation in a protective stream of a selected electrolyte.

Abstract: A removable baffle insert for positioning in a filtrate compartment of a rotary drum vacuum filter comprising an elongated C-shaped member positioned between a pair of compartment walls and having one arm thereof providing the ceiling of the compartment to prevent filtrate run-back during the filtration cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes wherein the electrode used for collecting the solid particles comprises an assembly of an ion-selective membrane shell, coated with or having bonded on its interior, a conductive metal composite catalyst layer, and a conductive structural material core such as graphite within the shell. The electrode assembly does not require the use of an electrolytic solution within the shell, but may be operated with one. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter so that the particles in the suspension will migrate towards the electrode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the membrane. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly can be removed from the electrofilter cell so that the dewatered or separated solids may be removed from the outside surfaces of the membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a colloidal potential are described using pulses of ultrasonic energy that are directed along a path within a liquid suspension of colloidal particles. A vibration potential is measured at at least a pair of positions along the path. The positions are known relative to the source of ultrasonic pulses. The vibration potential measurements are then used to derive a colloidal potential which is independent of its attenuation encountered by the ultrasonic energy inside the suspension. In one embodiment several potential measuring probes are used and in another embodiment one probe is moved between predetermined positions.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump comprising a cylindrical outer housing having a fluid feed conduit concentrically arranged therein with the outer wall portions thereof spaced from the inner walls of this outer housing to provide a fluid discharge outlet therebetween and a stator secured to one end of said housing having fluid discharge channels open to said fluid discharge outlet and a rotor casing encompassing said stator rotatable relative thereto wherein air bubbles in the fluid feed are sheared in a deaerating chamber adjacent said stator and vent means provided for discharging air from the rotor casing.

Abstract: A pressure filter for separating a liquor from mud liquor slurry and for concentrating a filter cake as a heavy slurry discharge comprising a tank having a ring of filter elements supported by a plate which separates the filter tank from a filtrate chamber. The feed enters the tank under pressure through an enlarged feed cylinder tube located in the center of the ring of filter elements. In the backwashing mode of operation the feed rate is maintained or increased to assist in displacing filter cake from the filter elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to the mounting of vanes on a runnerhead of an abrasive blasting machine. The face of the runnerhead is provided with slots in which bases of vanes are slid in a generally radial direction with the base having an interlock with the runnerhead so as to retain the vane against movement normal to the face of the runnerhead. This invention particularly has to do with the locking of the vane base in the runnerhead slot. A locking pin is used which is preferably rectangular as opposed to the usual circular pin and the outer ends of the runnerhead slot and vane base are provided with cooperating slots and grooves which receive the pin, the pin being inserted in a first groove and slot arrangement at an angle to the axis of the base and then rotated or pivoted into a second groove and slot arrangement where it is locked in place against retrieval. The pin is locked in place by the outwardly movement of the vane from its pin inserting position.

Abstract: A cyclone for use at elevated temperature and pressure has a refractory lining and a metallic vortex finder supported by a thermal sleeve.

Abstract: A treatment system for liquids includes apparatus for dissolving gas in the liquid and a container for providing the necessary reaction time between the gas and the liquid or constituents thereof. The device for dissolving the gas in the liquid includes gas injection means for introducing gas into the liquid and a contact chamber for containing a downflowing stream of the liquid to be treated. The pressure within the downflowing stream increases as it descends and at the elevated pressure the capacity of the liquid to take gas into solution is greatly increased. This apparatus for dissolving gas may conveniently be located below ground level. A conduit return means is provided for routing undissolved gas from a region at high pressure to an upstream portion of the liquid stream so that the gas can be reintroduced for dissolution.

Abstract: An electrically augmented vacuum filtration apparatus and process wherein a suspension of solids is dewatered in a bath located between electrodes of opposite polarity with intermediate biodes (a biode being in a sense a combined anode and cathode structure) positioned in the bath between the electrodes.