Abstract: A power assisted clamping and rotating apparatus for coupling two threadedly engaged members into a third, central member. The central member is held on a support in a fixed position by a clamping mechanism and the other two members are threaded into the central member with rotatable driving mechanisms on each side of central member and being moveable toward the member as they rotate. The rotating side members are in proximity to limit switches which cause rotation of the driving mechanisms to be discontinued when the members are threaded together to a predetermined degree. The limit switches may either be in the form of a laser beam which is interrupted or mechanical or electromechanical switches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging a cake of suspended solids formed on an electrode structure, the electrode structure comprising an electrode, a membrane wall, an electrolyte chamber formed by the membrane wall, and means for increasing the pressure inside the electrolyte chamber so that the membrane wall expands, whereby the cake of solids of suspension are discharged therefrom. The means for increasing the pressure inside the electrolyte chamber are injecting gas into the electrolyte chamber, injecting liquid into the electrolyte chamber, and/or reducing the vacuum means applied internally to the electrolyte chamber.

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 system and apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids in a carrier liquid by means of an electrically augmented vacuum filter (EAVF). The EAVF including an anodic structure comprising an anode, anolyte and a filter membrane for depositing solids from the suspension of solids thereon; and a cathodic structure comprising a cathode, catholyte, a catholyte chamber and a filtrate chamber for filtering the filtrate of the bath of the suspension of solids. The catholyte chamber having a membrane wall which is liquid impervious and either an anion exchange membrane or a non ion selective membrane. Filtrate being removed at the filtrate chamber.

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: Apparatus for converting relatively high, variable frequency, variable amplitude electrical power into substantially constant amplitude and substantially constant, relatively lower frequency power of a preselected waveform. The power source signal is divided into a number of varying amplitude, same frequency segments. The segment having the amplitude nearest that of the preselected waveform is transmitted by a switching network during each of many time periods. The switching network is preferably controlled by a microprocessor that senses the amplitudes of the segments and compares them to the desired waveform amplitude as a function of time. The microprocessor provides control signals to the switching network in response to the comparison. Because the low frequency output signal is constructed with reference to a memorized signal, the output signal is particularly stable in spite of variations in the power source signal.

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: Double layer capacitors incorporate electrolytes having relatively high pH whereby reduced leakage current is attained as well as greatly extended back-up times.

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: A process for the addition of pendant groups to polyarylenes comprises the steps of charging a reaction vessel with a solution of a polyarylene and a Friedel-Crafts catalysts; said polyarylene having the formula ##STR1## adding to the reaction vessel a pendant forming group G, wherein G is selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl halides, sulfonamide halides, alkylhalides, acylhalides and phosphorus acid halides; heating the contents of the reaction vessel to form a substituted polyarylene having the formula ##STR2## and thereafter recovering the substituted polyarylene. The substituted polyarylenes are novel and have utility as a semipermeable membrane and a process for the separation of gases therewith is also provided.

Abstract: The process for the separation of gases from a mixture is improved by using as the separation vehicle a single layer semipermeable membrane containing at least about 25 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer containing at least about 50 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR1## wherein each R is independently a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 aliphatic; a C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 cycloaliphatic; a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkoxy radical; a C.sub.6 to C.sub.12 aromatic radical or an inertly-substituted derivative of any one of them, each radical being free of a tertiary alpha-carbon atom, each X is independently hydrogen or a radical at least the size of a chloride radical, with the proviso that at least one X is not hydrogen.

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 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: New porous semiconductor dopant carriers are disclosed together with a method for the diffusion doping of semiconductors by the vapor phase transport of an n or p type dopant, such as phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, boron, gallium, aluminum, zinc, silicon, tellurium, tin and cadmium to the semiconductor host substrate; wherein the dopant source comprises a dopant containing porous, inert, rigid dimensionally stable and thermal shock resistant carrier comprised of SiC, elemental silicon or mixtures thereof.