Abstract: Disclosed is a deep fat fryer with a filtration system to continuously filter liquid cooking fat circulated by a pump. A fryer filter with a filter element of material such as carbon-impregnated cloth is located in the bottom of a fry tank and is rotatable about a swivel joint between a horizontal operating position and a vertical servicing position. In the vertical position the upper end of the filter is above the surface of the fat in the fry tank and the filter element may readily be replaced without draining the tank and without risk of leakage of fat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vapor-jacketed cooking kettle having a compact, self-contained, gas-fired combustion system. The tiltable kettle includes a gas-fired cylindrical power burner which fires radially into a combustion chamber below a jet plate which in turn is closely spaced below the bottom wall of a water-containing jacket. Hot combustion gases produced by the burner heat and jet plate to temperatures at which it radiates large amounts of heat to the jacket wall. The hot gases also pass through holes in the plate to form high velocity jets which impinge on the jacket wall and transfer heat by convection. Heat transferred by the jet impingement and radiation vaporizes water in the jacket and the resulting steam cooks food products in the kettle. Thermal efficiencies of 70 percent or higher are achieved by the tilting kettle system.

Abstract: An electron beam generator particularly adapted for direct-write semiconductor lithography applications is disclosed which includes a photoemissive cathode, a modulable laser for illuminating the photoemissive cathode, and light optics to create an optical pattern on the cathode. The photoemissive cathode is composed of a light transmissive substrate onto which is deposited an optically semitransparent, electrically conductive film. This film in turn is coated with a thin layer of a photoemissive substance such as cesium antimonide so that the photoemissive cathode emits an intense and substantially monochromatic beam of electrons upon laser light illumination. The emitted electron beam is configured in accordance with the optical pattern created on the cathode, and in passing through successive electron optical devices is further shaped and sized for use, for example, in lithographically generating very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits on semiconductors.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for delivering a solvent in the liquid state to a surface to be cleaned. The volume of the solvent and the time interval during which it is applied to the surface are selected so that the solvent reaches the surface in the liquid state. In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is water which is sprayed at selected time intervals onto the lower surface of the distributor plate supporting a fluidized bed of glass batch material for preheating.

Abstract: A heat-actuated air conditioner/heat pump is disclosed which includes a sealed, rotatable tube. The sealed tube contains a working fluid and includes an evaporator leg and a condenser leg, the condenser leg extending a greater distance from the axis of rotation than the evaporator leg. As the tube is rotated, a vapor pressure differential is created between the evaporator and condenser legs with the higher pressure in the condenser leg. Because of this pressure differential, the working fluid will evaporate in the evaporator leg at a lower temperature than that at which it will condense in the condenser leg. The evaporator leg thus can be used for cooling a stream of house air (house air conditioning) while the condenser leg rejects heat to a stream of ambient air. When all of the working fluid has evaporated, the system may be recharged for another cooling cycle by supplying heat to the condenser leg to drive the working fluid back into the evaporator leg.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for clean, low loss melting of aluminum using heat transfer by convection and radiation in separate stages. Heat input to a melter stage is provided by silicon carbide tubes into which gas-fueled burners fire so that the tubes radiate heat to a molten aluminum bath. Combustion products exiting the silicon carbide tubes pass through recuperators, preheating burner combustion air. The combustion products then are piped to a preheater stage and formed into jets of hot gases. The jets are directed into convective contact with solid aluminum stock as the stock is transported along a conveyor, preheating the stock to a temperature of about 1,000.degree. F. The solid stock then is fed to the charge zone of the melter stage and melted by contact with the molten bath.

Abstract: A pusher-type furnace for heating slabs is disclosed having lift rails in its soak zone for periodically raising slabs out of contact with skid rails along which the slabs travel through the furnace. The controlled raising and lowering of the lift rails in the soak zone alternates with extraction of slabs from the furnace discharge end and pushing of slabs along the skid rails, and reduces or eliminates soak zone skid marks on the bottom surface of the slabs without the need for a soak hearth. The lift mechanism comprises an open structure of rails and supporting members to facilitate heating as well as soaking of the slabs in the furnace soak zone, thus promoting efficient use of fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for recovering tin from tin smelter dust without the need for pre-agglomerating the dust particles. Dust containing tin oxides is directed into the tail flame of a plasma reactor, and the tin oxides are reduced to liquid tin using hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon gases supplied to the reactor as dust carrier and plasma gases. Tin is removed from a collection vessel at the bottom of the plasma reactor, preferably while in liquid form so that the recovery process may be run continuously. The plasma recovery process has demonstrated yields of about 94.5% and metal containing 99.7% tin, and analysis has indicated low operating costs relative to the current market price of tin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for extracting amine compounds from air samples without loss due to formation of nitrosamine artifacts. The apparatus includes a cartridge having a separation zone between a first port and a second port. The separation zone contains an air pervious packing of a granular, solid phase amine complexing agent. The method includes a first step of driving an air sample through the separation zone of the cartridge from the first port to the second port, and a second step of driving an eluent through the separation zone from the second port to the first port, or backflushing the cartridge. To extract amine compounds, the eluent is a solvent for the amine complexing agent in the separation zone of the cartridge. The method may contain the further step of determining the amine compound concentration of at least a portion of the eluate which passes from the separation zone following the second step of the method.

Abstract: A glass batch preheater in one stage of which hot flue gases from a glass melting furnace are passed through a bed of cullet and a bed of glass batch material. The bed of cullet, while being heated, filters dust and other particles from the hot flue gases while the bed of glass batch materials is simultaneously heated and fluidized. An alternative preheater includes a first stage and a second supplementary stage to further heat the glass batch material. A separate stage may also be used for elutriation of glass particles. Steam may be injected to provide moisture to the glass batch and for other purposes.

Abstract: Heat-treating apparatus which includes an insulated furnace compartment through which stock to be heat-treated is passed. Perforated tubes are arranged in the furnace and they are heated to radiance by burners which also generate products of combustion which are ejected through the perforations at high velocity to impinge upon a surface or surfaces of the stock being heat-treated. The combination of radiation and convection enhanced by the impingement of the jets upon a surface of the stock provides highly efficient primary heat transfer. The burners are designed to insure that rapid combustion takes place at a point removed from the perforations to avoid flame issuing from the perforations. The tubes are sized and spaced to enhance secondary heat transfer from gases in the furnace compartment and from the walls of the compartment to the stock.

Abstract: An inhalation device for use in breathing exercises is described. The exerciser includes a thin-walled bellows whose upper end is attached to a top housing member and whose lower end deflects upward upon withdrawal of air from an opening in the upper end of the bellows. Deflection of the bellows allows accurate measurement of the volume of air inhaled by a patient and a true indication whether an inhaled breath is being held. Slotted support arms connecting the top housing member and a bottom housing member permit collapse of the device for storage and shipment of the exerciser as a compact unit. A weight attached to the lower end of the bellows provides a biasing force to assure return of the bellows to a fully extended position even after long-term storage of the device in collapsed form.

Abstract: A thermally pumped laser. The laser features an emitter, a collector spaced apart from the emitter, and reflecting elements adjacent to the space between the emitter and collector to form a cavity. A heat source is provided for heating the emitter to drive electrons from the emitter to the collector. Vapor such as cesium vapor is disposed in the cavity between the emitter and the collector to form the lasing medium. An additive selected to be in resonance with specific excited states of the atoms may be intermixed with the chosen vapor. The additive assists in depopulating the specific states of the atoms, thereby creating or enhancing a population inversion in the atoms of the vapor so that lasing may occur. The laser may be operated both in a pulsed and in a d.c. mode.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for generating high density pulses of electrons thermionically. The apparatus includes a metallic target maintained within a low pressure cesium vapor atmosphere. A laser rapidly heats the cesiated target surface to a high temperature in a time short compared with the residence time of cesium atoms adsorbed on the target surface. This rapid surface heating in combination with the adsorbed cesium atoms emits copious quantities of electrons forming a high current density pulse.

Abstract: A high temperature furnace chamber includes a roller hearth for supporting and transporting workpieces to be heated. The rollers are supported at each end by a rotary sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the rollers. Rotary movement of the sleeves transmits rotational forces to the rollers. Clearance provided between the rollers and the sleeves allows for roller dimensional variation during various furnace operating conditions.

Abstract: A fuel slurry and engine systems for using the slurry are disclosed. The fuel slurry is a uniform mixture of water and 20 to 50 percent by weight of particulate coal of maximum size equal to 20 microns, the small size promoting complete combustion of the coal and minimizing engine wear due to particles of ash. Engine systems for utilizing the slurry of micronized coal and water are described, the preferred system including a slow-speed, two-stroke turbo-charged diesel engine. Preferred compositions of the fuel slurry are discussed and their behavior in engine systems is analyzed. Also disclosed are techniques for enhancing its ignition.

Abstract: A dual mode solar tracking method and system in which a sensor of radiation from the sun normally tracks the sun at a rate determined by a priori information, departure from normal tracking and correction for tracking rate errors being introduced only when the errors exceed a predetermined value and the strength of radiation from the sun exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A molecular sieve trap is disclosed for selective trapping of substances in a gas stream, the trap being particularly useful in systems for detecting nitrogen compounds such as N-nitrosamines or nitrogen oxides in a sample. The trap comprises a cartridge containing a packing of a granular adsorbent molecular sieve material with a carefully controlled pore size of about ten angstroms and a preference for adsorbing polar substances. The packing readily passes NO and NO.sub.2 gases in a gas stream directed through the trap while trapping and retaining larger and/or more polar molecules such as those of double-bonded carbon compounds and sulfur compounds which could otherwise interfere with subsequent measurement of the NO or NO.sub.x content of the gas stream. An N-nitroso compound detection system incorporating the molecular sieve trap is described wherein the molecular sieve trap is interposed between a pyrolyzer and a chemiluminescent NO detector to selectively trap substances in the reactor effluent.

Abstract: An inhalation device for use in respiratory therapy is described. The inhalation device or incentive breathing exerciser includes an inner bellows whose deflection allows accurate measurement of the initial volume of air inhaled by a patient and an outer bellows for measuring larger volumes of air after a valve in the inner bellows opens. The exerciser permits measurement of the true volume of air inhaled by a patient and is equipped with a simple timer for measuring the interval of time an inhaled breath is held. Removable handles and the flexible bellows permit collapse of the device for storage and shipment as a compact unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for producing negative deuterium ions for use in controlled thermonuclear reactions such as fusion. Negative ions are obtained by bombarding the surface of an ionization electrode with positive ions and extracting negative ions from the electrode. The unique surface layer of the electrode is formed by depositing onto a substrate the products of thermal decomposition of cesium carbonate. This layer, which is easily formed and renewed, is characterized by a very low value of work function of about 1.05 electron volts, which facilitates formation of large quantities of negative ions. Properties of the surface layer, particularly the low value of work function, are reproducible and relatively insensitive to variations in the thickness of the layer and to the substrate material selected for the electrode.