Abstract: An apparatus for use in the continuous treatment of cellulosic matter to improve the digestibility thereof, comprising means for receiving finely divided cellulosic matter, acidic process chemicals, and steam; a first attrition mill wherein the steam, cellulosic matter, and process chemicals are intimately mixed and initially reacted; a reactor with rotatable sweeps therein to complete the reaction; and a second attrition mill wherein the reacted material is neutralized to the desired level.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning the gaseous and carbon particulate products from a kiln in which carbon is being calcined, including a pair of vertical cylindrical vessels, to which the effluent products of calcining are carried, by means of an input conduit, which enters the first vessel in a tangential manner near the bottom end, so that the gases will circulate circumferentially in a spinning flow inside of the vessel, as they progress upwardly to a outlet near the top of the first vessel, which leaves tangentially, and passes to the second vessel and enters it tangentially. The gases then circulate around the inner wall of the second vessel spin flowing downwardly, where they leave near the bottom to enter the stack. Means are provided on the entrance conduit for injecting combustion air into the inlet conduit prior to entry of the effluent products into the first vessel.

Abstract: A bowling alley lane cleaner having a frame with paralleled end pieces spaced wider than the width of a bowling alley lane, a supply reel having a roll of cleaning paper thereon rotatably mounted between the frame end pieces, an elongated pad of resilient material between the frame end pieces spaced parallel to and below the paper reel, a takeup reel rotatably mounted between the frame end pieces, cleaning paper from the supply reel being looped over the pad and around the takeup reel so that as the device is pulled over a bowling alley lane the paper adjacent the pad engages the lane and cleans dust particles from it, a handle extending from the frame providing means for pulling the device over the lane and ratchet means between the handle and the takeup reel so that each time the user lifts the device to move it from one lane to another the ratchet means automatically advances the takeup reel to insure that clean paper is advanced over the pad to contact the lane being cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting and removing a corrosion coupon from the interior of a pipeline while under pressure, comprises an elongated cylinder with a flange or threaded connection at one end and a closure device at the other end. The cylinder is attached to a valve which is attached as a branch to a pipeline. Inside of the cylinder are guides for the longitudinal movement of a long rack at the end of which is mounted the corrosion coupon. A pinion in operative relation to the rack is mounted on a shaft which is supported in a side pipe to the cylinder. A handwheel operating the shaft permits the longitudinal movement of a long rack within the cylinder. At the end of the rack is mounted the corrosion coupon. When the valve is open the coupon is moved through it into the pipeline so that the coupon is exposed to the fluid flowing in the pipeline. Indexing means is provided for determining the precise position of the coupon in the pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for smoke suppression in the burning of waste gases in flare stack, comprising a conduit means through which waste gases are flowed, under pressure, to a flare stack; a source of hot water in the range of 200.degree. to 250.degree. F. in temperature, or higher, and a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying the hot water, in the form of cones of fine droplets of water, which by their high velocity thoroughly mix with the flowing waste gas, and provide a water vapor content mixed with the waste gases in the range of at least 6% mole percent, or more. Means are provided for control of the rate of flow of hot water dependent on the temperature of the water and dependent upon, at least, the mass flow rate of waste gases to the flare.

Abstract: A self-deodorizing litter box for pets and comprising a box having a first compartment open at the top thereof for receiving a supply of pet litter therein, a second compartment open at the top of the box and in substantial alignment with the first compartment for receiving the pet litter therefrom, a partition and filter means are provided between the first and second compartments, and the filter member is a suitable filter material, such as wire mesh for filtering the pet litter as it is moved from one open compartment to the other, a closed compartment provided beneath both open compartments, independent floor members provided for each open compartment and interposed between the open compartments and the closed compartment, each floor member being slidable between open and closed positions for providing selective communication between the open compartments and the closed compartment for discharge of filtered materials from the pet litter into the closed compartment, and deodorizing chemicals disposed in th

Abstract: An air over oil high pressure modulating valve comprising dual acting valve members wherein one of said valves is responsive to air pressure acting thereon for opening the other of said valves for directing controlled hydraulic fluid pressure to a brake apparatus, or the like. Upon the application of pneumatic pressure against the first valve member, the second valve member is opened for releasing hydraulic fluid pressure to the brake apparatus for actuation thereof. Upon the release of pneumatic pressure from the first valve member, the second valve member is maintained in a closed position for retaining the hydraulic fluid in a fluid chamber which is in communication with a fluid accumulator. When the pneumatic pressure acting on the first valve is only partially released, the first valve opens communication between the open second valve and the fluid accumulator for reducing the fluid pressure at the brake apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for attachment to a furnace system for indicating furnace draft, comprising piezometric chamber means for indicating true average atmospheric pressure, connected by a small diameter pressure tube to an inclined tube draft manometer, the second end of which is inserted through the wall of the furnace to the interior thereof. The piezometric chamber comprises a first vertical elongated pipe, closed at top and bottom, with a plurality of small diameter ports drilled near the base and evenly spaced around the circumference. A second pipe of smaller diameter is inserted co-axially through the bottom closure. The smaller pipe has an annular baffle plate attached about its outer surface inside of the larger pipe, to provide a narrow annular passage for air flow from the ports to and from the interior of the smaller second pipe.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a body suspended in a well bore by an electrical cable which transmits power to a motor secured to the body and eccentric cam member rotated by the drive shaft of the motor and engagable with a plurality of reciprocal drill pins whereby the pins are sequentially impinged against the sidewalls and bottom of the well bore for producing a drilling operation.

Abstract: A windmill for use in areas having severe climates, comprises a substantially spherical assembly supported above the ground on a plurality of legs. The structure is divided into two hemispheres. The lower hemisphere is rigidly supported by the legs, and the upper hemisphere is adapted to rotate coaxially with respect to the lower hemisphere. One side of the upper hemisphere is cut away to form an air scoop which when directed into the wind causes the wind to flow into the scoop and to be deflected downwardly into the lower hemisphere. The lower hemisphere is truncated at its lower end by a horizontal plane of selected diameter and the wind flowing into the scoop flows vertically outward from the exit opening in the bottom of the lower hemisphere. An axial structure supports a shaft carrying a multi-bladed turbine of selected diameter centered in the exit opening. The shaft is connected to a generator inside of said axial structure. Means are provided for steering the air scoop into the wind.

Abstract: An improved seal ring for a ball valve comprising, a metal ring of rectangular cross section, the inner wall of which constitutes part of the axial opening for fluid flow. The upstream face of the seal ring includes means to said seal ring to the housing. The downstream face of the seal ring includes a cylindrical channel, concentric with the axial opening in the valve housing and concentric with the inner wall of the seal ring. The downstream portion of the seal ring is cut at an angle to be substantially parallel to the spherical surface of the ball against which seal is to be made. A seat ring is provided having in cross section a rectangular portion that fits into the cylindrical groove in the seal ring and has a C-shaped portion adapted to house a length of helical spring of the same diameter as the circular interior cavity of the C portion.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system which can be attached to, and made part of, an existing thermal oxidizer-stack system, at minimum cost, without reducing the reliability of the existing oxidizer-stack system. It comprises a conventional heat transfer means, which is connected at its input through a refractory lined first conduit, to an opening through the wall of the first stack of the thermal oxidizer-stack system. The outlet of the heat exchanger is connected through a second conduit to an induced draft means, which can be a conventional blower, the outlet of which is connected to a second stack. The action of the induced draft blower is to cause inflow of hot stack gases through the first conduit and through the heat exchanger and to pass the cooled stack gases out the second stack. A first temperature sensor is placed in the stack between the inlet from the thermal oxidizer and the opening where the gases are drawn into the first conduit. A second thermal sensor is placed in the first conduit.

Abstract: A child's playhouse, or the like, particularly designed and constructed for being folded into a compact storage position when not in use and readily expandable to a complete playhouse type structure when in use. The structure may be permanently mounted on a wall, or the like, in such a manner that when the apparatus is in the storage position, the entire structure is unobstructive and may be either a decorative feature for the room wherein the apparatus is located, or may be a useful object therein, such as a chalk board, or the like.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a sonic transducer in which a lead zirconate titanate crystal in the form of a shallow cylinder is prepared and inserted into a shallow plastic thin walled cup with one face of the crystal in intimate contact with, and cemented by means of epoxy plastic to, the inner surface of the base of the cup. The sides and back of the crystal are protected with a thin layer of cork and all other space within the cup is filled with plastic. The cup and crystal is then inserted, open end first, into a cylindrical depression in a crystal holder, or transducer, so that the outer surface of the base of the cup is flush with the face of the transducer. The cup and crystal are cemented into the transducer.

Abstract: In a rotary drilling system for drilling deep, large-diameter bore holes in the earth, using multiple lengths of drill pipe joined together by threaded tool joints, the improvement in means to prevent relative rotation while joining and unjoining the two parts of the threaded-together tool joints, after the tool joints has been made to a desired torque, comprises a retaining cylinder or ring, of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the tool joints, positioned to surround a tool joint with an annular space of a selected radial dimension. There is at least one pair of longitudinally slidable cams or wedges that slide within longitudinal grooves on the inside surface of the retainer ring. Hydraulic means are provided to move the pair of wedges longitudinally toward each other, along the sloping grooves until they are wedged between the retaining ring and the outer surface of the tool joint, one wedge opposite each part of the tool joint.

Abstract: A coupling link having two half links, each half link comprising a U-shaped member, each of the ends of each of the arms of the U-shaped members having at least one ear. The plurality of ears each have an opening therethrough, the axes of the openings being substantially perpendicular to the arms of the U-shaped members. The plurality of ears are adapted to interact with each other so that the openings through the ears will be coaxial and will be adapted to receive a hardened steel pin which will lock the two halves of the link together. The pin is locked into position within the openings of the ears by means of a spacer which is adapted to fit between the ears and is in the form of a cylindrical spacer split along a diameter. The internal diameter of the spacer is substantially the same as that of the pin.

Abstract: Door opening and closing apparatus for actuation of the doors of a bottom dump type vehicle, said apparatus comprising a common linkage mechanism operable by a single power means for simultaneous and synchronized opening of the doors whereby emptying of the contents of the dump body is facilitated. In addition, a transversely extending centrally disposed partition is provided in the dump body for distributing the load of material accumulating in the dump body in a manner for substantially equalizing the load stress on the vehicle.

Abstract: A regenerative tile structure for fluid fuel burners having a zirconium oxide coated metal flange shaped member providing a central orifice for producing a significant and very rapid increase in flame temperature by guided recirculation of hot flame gases.

Abstract: A drum stick, baton, or the like, constructed of a suitable transparent material and having an internal chamber for receiving a suitable chemiluminescent material therein whereby the drum stick, baton, or the like, may be selectively illuminated for display purposes.

Abstract: A smokeless burner apparatus for single structure flare systems which is capable of simultaneously burning emergency dumped gases from high and low pressure sources with minimal energy requirements for the low pressure gas combustion.