Abstract: A controller for selectively energizing actuating coils of rappers of an electrostatic precipitator assembly to impart motion to a portion of the precipitator assembly and remove accumulated material therefrom. The controller intermittently supplies a d.c. potential to a rapper supply bus common to a plurality of rappers of the electrostatic precipitator assembly for time periods each of a predetermined duration. Switching means responsive to the d.c. potential selectively connect an actuating coil of at least one rapper of the plurality of rappers to the rapper supply bus during each of the time periods to energize the actuating coil of at least one rapper with the d.c. potential. In the preferred embodiment, the d.c. potential is supplied by an SCR controlled rectifying means and the switching means each comprise an SCR. Means are provided for selectively varying a time interval between the time periods during which the d.c.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved pellet mill die having tapered grooves along each side of the compression surface of the die. The tapered grooves reduce the stresses at the maximum stress areas and thus control the breakage of metal between the first rows of holes and the inner edges of the grooves.

Abstract: Polyalkylbenzene hydroperoxides are prepared from a homogeneous solution at increased rates in the presence of sulfolane from polyalkylbenzenes which are poorly soluble or insoluble in sulfolane by preoxidizing the polyalkylbenzene to an oxidation level of at least 10 percent and less than 55 percent. Then the sulfolane is added and a homogeneous solution is formed and oxidation is continued to produce a hydroperoxide product at increased rates and to excellent conversions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to copper arsenate compositions which are useful in preparing chromated copper arsenate wood preserving formulations. The copper arsenate compositions are slurries of insoluble copper arsenates in an aqueous solution of copper arsenates. The copper arsenate slurries have a mole ratio of As.sub.2 O.sub.5 to CuO of from about 0.3:1 to about 0.9:1 and are readily soluble in chromic acid to form chromated copper arsenate solutions. The copper arsenate slurries are prepared by reacting copper metal with arsenic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst and an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: An improved pressurized disc refiner having a pair of oppositely facing non rotating refiner plates and a rotating disc having refiner plates on each face thereof juxtaposed the non rotating refiner plates. The rotating refiner plates and at least one of the non rotating refiner plates are axially adjustable to compensate for wear and to insure that an equal and opposite thrust force is produced on opposite sides of the rotating refiner plates. During the plate changing operation, both of the non rotating refiner plates are independently movable axially along the drive shaft away from the rotating disc for simultaneous access to both of the non rotating refiner plates and both of the rotating refiner plates to facilitate changing of the refiner plates. The refiner has a split mechanical stop to limit movement of the axially adjustable non rotating refiner plates axially away from the rotating refiner plate during the refining operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Thermoset epoxy foams are produced from an epoxy resin, delta-1-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, and an amine accelerator. These compounds are mixed in resin-foaming amounts to produce a foamable mixture to which typical foam additives like auxiliary blowing agents, surfactants, microscopic spheres, etc., may also be added. This foamable mixture is heated at a temperature of at least 115.degree. C. to foam and cure the mixture to produce thermoset epoxy foams.

Abstract: Isotropic carbon fibers are disclosed and a method is disclosed for making them from liquid hydrocarbon distillates comprising reacting the distillate with elemental oxygen to produce a pitch-like product which will yield isotropic carbon upon subsequent carbonization, forming the pitch-like product into a filament and carbonizing the filament in an inert atmosphere at temperatures in excess of 800.degree. C wherein the distillate is reacted with the oxygen until at least 0.5 standard cubic feet of elemental oxygen is reacted per pound of distillate.

Abstract: A method for controlling pitch still operations is disclosed comprising measuring the temperature of a sample of pitch from the still at a preselected viscosity value, comparing the measured temperature with a predetermined temperature value, and adjusting the parameters of the still operation in response to the comparison. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed comprising a means for withdrawing and returning a sample of pitch from the reactor, a chamber for holding the sample of pitch, the chamber having a means for heating and cooling the sample, a temperature sensing device and a viscosity measuring device located in the chamber, and a means for recording the temperature value when the viscosity has reached a predetermined value.

Abstract: An open-loop method and apparatus for controlling the heating of webs utilized in a corrugating machine for the production of double-face corrugated paperboard as a function of at least one production factor of the corrugator machine. A rotatably journaled heating roll receives a web in contact with a circumferential area of the roll and the circumferential area of contact between the web and the roll is varied by a control circuit. The control circuit varies the contact area by positioning a positionable means relative to the heating roll in response to at least one production factor of the corrugating machine. The control circuit senses the at least one production factor of the machine and generates a signal related to the sensed production factor. The generated production factor related signal is periodically sampled and is stored at a first time.

Abstract: Production of treated wood with improved penetrability by projectiles is accomplished in an improved pressure treatment with an improved treating solution. The wood is impregnated in a pressure treatment process with a treating solution containing an impregnant, an aliphatic hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon liquid carrier, a cosolvent if the solubility of the impregnant in the liquid carrier is inadequate, and an effective amount of lubricating oil. After the treating solution has impregnated the wood, the liquid carrier is evaporated leaving treated wood containing an impregnant with internal lubrication due to the oil and possibly some cosolvent.

Abstract: A method for controlling the production of pitch and the like is disclosed comprising simultaneously measuring the viscosity and temperature of the pitch material from the production unit, comparing the measured value with a predetermined correlation of the viscosity and temperature for the pitch, and adjusting the parameters of the production operation in response to the comparison. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed comprising a means for withdrawing and returning a sample of the pitch material from the still, a chamber for holding the sample of the pitch material, the chamber having a means for heating and cooling the sample, a temperature sensing device and a viscosity measuring device located in the chamber, and a means for recording the temperature and viscosity values.

Abstract: A fixed center column supports axially a torque cage mounted to a first bearing on the column, and a second bearing is disposed between the torque cage and a supporting walkway or superstructure. A powered drive unit is mounted to the walkway and has a drive shaft that is connected to the torque cage for rotation thereof about the axis of the center column.

Abstract: A method for controlling the production of pitch and the like is disclosed comprising simultaneously measuring the viscosity and temperature of the pitch material from the production unit, comparing the measured value with a predetermined correlation of the viscosity and temperature for the pitch, and adjusting the parameters of the production operation in response to the comparison. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed comprising a means for withdrawing and returning a sample of the pitch material from the still, a chamber for holding the sample of the pitch material, the chamber having a means for heating and cooling the sample, a temperature sensing device and a viscosity measuring device located in the chamber, and a means for recording the temperature and viscosity values.

Abstract: Polyesters obtained by reacting isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid with a polyol with or without a catalyst in a first stage to form a half-ester mixture which is reacted in a second stage with an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid are produced at reduced processing times. In the first stage a portion of the total polyol to be reacted is contacted with substantially all of the isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid. Then, this mixture is heated to a temperature of at least 190.degree. C. and the remaining portion of the polyol is added to the heated mixture in such a manner that the temperature remains at or above the 190.degree. C. This temperature is maintained until the reaction to form a half-ester mixture is completed. This reaction may be conducted in the presence of an esterification catalyst. The polyester-monomer mixture is reacted in a second stage with an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid to produce the polyester.

Abstract: A 3,5-dialkylphenol having alkyl groups that are primary or secondary and that have a sum total of carbon atoms greater than two is separated from a mixture which also contains other dialkylphenols and mono-alkylphenols. The mixture is subjected to a selective sulfonation in order that all the compounds in the mixture, except the 3,5-dialkylphenol, are sulfonated. Then, the unsulfonated 3,5-dialkylphenol and the sulfonated compounds are separated, and the purified 3,5-dialkylphenol is recovered.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an electrostatic precipitator for removal of corrosive particles from a corrosive laden gas passing therethrough. The electrostatic precipitator comprises a shell having a corrosive resistant lining secured thereto. A corrosive resistant support plate is secured to the shell of the precipitator and first and second sets of juxtaposed corrosive resistant collector electrode tubes are suspended from the support plate. A corrosive resistant top support grid is spaced above the support plate and insulated from the shell and a corrosive resistant bottom guide grid is spaced below the first and second sets of collector electrode tubes. A plurality of corrosive resistant discharge wires are secured between the top support grid and the bottom guide grid and pass substantially through the center of the tubes in the first set.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a corrugating machine for forming a single-face corrugated paper web from a pair of webs passing therethrough. The corrugating machine comprises a first corrugating roll and a second corrugating roll parallel to and in meshing engagement with the first corrugating roll, the second corrugating roll carries a web of corrugated paperboard material around a portion of the outer periphery thereof. A floating guide continuously urges the corrugated web against the outer periphery of the second corrugating roll and is automatically self-adjusting for compensating for irregularities in the second corrugating roll and the corrugated web. An adhesive roll is in contact with the corrugated web extending around the second corrugating roll for applying adhesive to the tips of flutes on the corrugated web. A pressure roll carrying a facing web on the outer periphery thereof is in contact with the adhesive covered tips of the corrugated web forming the single-face corrugated web.

Abstract: Electrostatic precipitator apparatus for cleaning a particle-laden gas flowing therethrough including a shell with a gas inlet duct and outlet duct, spaced collector electrodes suspended within the shell defining gas passages therebetween, discharge electrodes suspended within the gas passages for ionizing particles in the gas for collection by the collector electrodes, and hoppers suspended below the collector electrodes for collecting the particles dislodged therefrom. The inlet duct includes a gas distribution baffle having a rigid pervious upper portion and flexible substantially impervious lower portion, preferably a chain curtain, to permit particle accumulations in the inlet duct to pass into the shell for collection in the hoppers.

Abstract: The composition of matter of N-chloroformamide is disclosed along with a method for preparing the same. The N-chloroformamide normally exists in its tautomeric imidol form. The N-chloroformamide readily reacts with amines to form substituted ureas.

Abstract: The delta-4 isomer of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride is isomerized in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium and selected acid anhydrides that liquify the normally solid delta-4 isomer at a temperature below its melting point. This permits the isomerization to be effected at relatively low temperatures and in relatively short times to produce a mixture of isomers of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride that is in the liquid state at temperatures in the range of room temperature.