Abstract: An apparatus that prepares food in cycles is achieved by tying in a timer which resets to zero and measures elapsed time from cycle to cycle.

Abstract: Producing carbon fiber precursors and carbonized fibers comprise by treating a thin film of catalytic pitch at elevated temperature conditions, treating the resulting heavy isotropic pitch by agitating with an inert gas under elevated temperature conditions to form a mesophase pitch, forming green fibers from said mesophase pitch, stabilizing and optionally carbonizing said green fibers to obtain the desired product.

Abstract: By continuously or intermittently adding amounts of magnetically active moieties, e.g. iron compounds, over time so that the moiety deposits on a catalyst or sorbent in a fluid catalytic cracker or similar circulating hydrocarbon conversion unit, older catalyst, being more magnetic, can be readily separated from catalyst which has been in the system a shorter time. Separation is readily accomplished by passing the catalyst and/or sorbent through a magnetic field and discarding the more magnetic 50% by wt. or more preferably 20% by wt., while recycling the remainder back to the hydrocarbon conversion unit.

Abstract: The octane of components used in the blending of gasoline is used to predict the octane of the finished gasoline blend by measuring absorbances, preferably in the near-infrared range, and metering the fraction of each blending component as independent variables and performing a multiple regression on the data modeling the dependent variable of the various octanes. Percent aromatics in diesel fuel and other finished chemical or physical properties of the finished blend can be controlled by feed-forward and/or feed-back techniques.

Abstract: The conventional wye (where the clean regenerated catalyst returns from the regenerator to contact the feed as it enters the riser) is replaced with two or more wyes, all connected between the regenerator outlet and the inlet to a common short cracking riser. Each wye has a separate injector which can inject; e.g., diesel oil, so that neat (unmixed) diesel contacts clean catalyst and the mixture rises up a smaller riser before entering a short main riser where the largely cracked mixture is admixed with similar cat-vacuum bottoms, etc. mixtures from the other wyes. Most cracking occurs before entering the common riser so the effect is similar to a riser cracker operating on a single unmixed feed.

Abstract: Improved catalytic process for carrying out heavy hydrocarbon conversion in the presence of metal on the catalyst and in the feedstock, by catalytic cracking such heavy carbometallic oils to lighter molecular weight fractions. The discovery of a ferro/superparamagnetic component of older catalyst, which when present, can be employed to achieve enhanced magnetic separation of aged catalyst. This invention utilizes this property to enhance separation of more magnetically active, older, less catalytically active and selective, higher metals-containing catalyst particulates from less magnetically active, lower metal containing particulates. The more catalytically active and selective catalysts fractions, are then recycled back to the process.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for evacuating refrigerant for recovery from a conventional refrigeration sytems, e.g. automobile air conditions, preferably by attachment to a manifold having multiple evacuation devices, e.g. compressor, vacuum pump, transfer pump with the evacuation devices discharging through self-closing quick connect valves into at least one flexible accumulator, e.g. a bag mounted onto a manifold, and with an additional transfer pump evacuating the bag gradually to a recovery system which can be a conventional refrigerant recovery condensing unit with purification. Facilities for receiving bags filled from refrigeration systems which are remote from the system, e.g. home refrigerators, can be provided to weigh the contents into the manifold for recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved catalytic process for carrying out heavy hydrocarbon conversion, usually, but not necessarily, in the presence of nickel and vanadium on the catalyst and in the feedstock, by catalytic cracking gas oils and heavy carbometallic oils to lighter molecular weight fractions. The process is facilitated by the continuous addition of one or more heavy rare earth additives, including gadolinum, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and thulium, all having exceptionally high paramagnetic properties, which as they accumulate on aged catalyst, are used to achieve enhanced magnetic separation of aged catalyst. These additives are unusual in that they not only act dramatically as magnetic hooks to assist in removing old, nickel and vanadium poisoned catalyst, but also act to achieve increased activity and improve selectivity of the remaining catalyst, and of equal importance, tend to resist catalyst deactivation.

Abstract: Promotional card with easel and standard-holder on reverse. The display unit can be used as a header assembly with a standard (or pre-scored piece of corrugated material) or as a counter-card by folding out the easel wings and locking them into place with the included lock, or as a frame-card in a frame-card holder. The pre-scored piece of corrugated material serves as a standard, but can be folded lengthwise to reduce its length for convenient mailing.

Abstract: Self-healing coatings are formed by first phosphating or nitriding ferrous parts, then coating with an emulsion of e.g. polysiloxane, oil, sorbitan derivative and sodium sulfonate, butyl cellosolve, oleic acid. Preferred phosphating is to a thickness of 2,000-3,000 mg Zn phosphate/square foot. This coating passes 240-plus hours in 5% salt spray (ASTM B-117) and resists wash off with car wash soap.

Abstract: One embodiment is an improved process for economically converting carbo-metallic oils by means of catalytic particulates into lighter products, wherein a portion of the particulates is withdrawn and passed through a high strength magnetic field of at least 1 KG and field grandients of at least 10 KG/inch while conveyed on an electrostatic conducting belt to enable separation of the mass of particulates by inertia into at least two fractions; one of which has, in the case of catalyst, higher activity and lower metals content and is recycled back to the unit; a second higher metals, lower activity catalyst which is disposed of or treated for recovery of metals; and optimally, intermediate fraction which can be disposed of, or first treated to remove metals, and then chemically reactivated and returned to the unit.

Abstract: Mid-distillate hydrocarbon fuels, preferably having initial boiling points above 350.degree. F., are separated e.g. by prep-HPLC into non-aromatic and aromatic fractions which are used to set 0% aromatics (the non-aromatics) and 100% aromatics (the aromatics) on an NIR spectrophotometer. From NIR aromatic band absorbances of unknown samples, their percent aromatics is determined using this two-point calibration and the Beer-Lambert equation. Preferred NIR bands of 1650-1700 and 2120-2256 exhibit excellent correlation with aromatics content.

Abstract: Closed loop sampling system using quick-connects dramatically reduces emission of sampled hydrocarbons and other fluids to the atmosphere.

Abstract: By continuously or intermittently adding amounts of magnetically active moieties, e.g. iron compounds, over time so that the moiety deposits on a catalyst or sorbent in a fluid catalytic cracker or similar circulating hydrocarbon conversion unit, older catalyst, being more magnetic, can be readily separated from catalyst which has been in the system a shorter time. Separation is readily accomplished by passing the catalyst and/or sorbent through a magnetic field and discarding the more magnetic 50% by wt. or more preferably 20% by wt., while recycling the remainder back to the hydrocarbon conversion unit.

Abstract: Calcium or other sulfonate gel in an oil carrier (such as that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,753 to Quinn), optionally mixed with a small amount of sodium sulfonate and tall oil fatty acids, can be neutralized with amine, e.g. DMEA, to form a soap which can be dispersed in water. Adding an acrylic emulsion results in an acrylic coating rich in corrosion-retarding alkali metal or alkaline earth metla sulfonates. This finish on metallurgically roughened, e.g. nitrocarburized, metal forms a firm film which can resist greater than 500 hours ASTM B117 salt spray.

Abstract: Calcium or other sulfonate gel in an oil carrier (such as that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,753 to Quinn), optionally mixed with a small amount of sodium sulfonate and tall oil fatty acids, can be neutralized with amine, e.g. DMEA, to form a soap which can be dispersed in water. Adding an acrylic emulsion results in an acrylic coating rich in corrosion-retarding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfonates. This finish on metalurgically roughened, e.g. nitrocarburized, metal forms a firm film which can resist greater than 500 hours ASTM B117 salt spray.

Abstract: Plugging of fuel injectors for internal combustion engines is reduced by depressurizing the fuel pressure line which feeds the injectors, promptly after shutoff of ignition. Reduction of deposits assists in maintaining drivability and fuel economy.

Abstract: A process and system for recovering refrigerant from refrigeration systems without substantial contamination of the atmosphere. The system includes devices for removing refrigerant from the system under the vapor pressure of the refrigerant or with aid from a pump, a conduit for conveying the refrigerant from the system, and a collapsible bag constructed of a flexible material substantially impermeable to refrigerant and to air, having at least one inlet for introducing refrigerant to be salvaged and sealing means for sealing the inlet on the bag. After filling, the bags may be transported to a recovery system for recovering refrigerant from the bag so that the refrigerant may be purified and recovered for reuse.

Abstract: A vented cup ballistic separation device and method of use for achieving rapid separation of a suspension of fluidized solid particulate and gasiform material. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus is useful in a wide variety of vapor-solid contacting devices where rapid separation of solids from vapor is desired e.g. in fluidized catalytic cracking systems. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus particularly comprises annular chamber about the outer periphery of an open ended riser conduit. The annular chamber is open in the upper end and one or more open end conduits extend outwardly from the annular chamber to provide means for discharging vapors and also for attachment of cyclone separation means if desired. The riser with vented cup or annular chamber preferably terminates within a larger diameter chamber.