Abstract: A manifold apparatus is provided in the bottom region of a carding machine for pneumatically transporting waste and trash to one side of the carding machine for capture and further includes an air recirculating system individual to the carding machine for use in conjunction with the bottom manifold.

Abstract: The following disclosure teaches means for thickening primary and secondary sewage sludge. The disclosed apparatus comprises a tank having upper and lower feedwells disposed therein. Primary sludge is introduced into the lower feedwell and flows into the lower part of the tank to thicken therein. Secondary sludge is aerated under super atmospheric pressure and introduced into the upper feedwell so that it flows therefrom and thickens in the uppper part of the tank by flotation type thickening.

Abstract: In combination with a filtration machine of the type employing an endless belt of filter medium without beads on either of its edges, a pair of devices for aligning and dewrinkling the belt. Each of the aligning and dewrinkling devices includes a rigidly-mounted arm and a first cylindrical roller extending from the arm beneath the adjacent edge of the belt of filter medium. Also, each of the aligning and dewrinkling devices includes a second arm pivotably connected to the first arm and a second cylindrical roller extending from the second arm above the adjacent edge of the belt of filter medium so that a long nip line is defined between the rollers. A spring is connected between the ends of the two arms to urge the pivoted arm to rock to pinch the rollers together along the nip line to grip the filter belt. Also, a selectively-actuatable ram assembly is connected between the arms for selectively increasing the grip of the rollers on the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for continuous electrowinning of copper bearing slurries, including an electrowinning cell wherein a slurry composed of a suitable electrolyte and a copper-bearing solid material, is subjected to the simultaneous reactions of dissolving the copper material and plating out elemental copper as a relatively pure copper product. The apparatus and process also includes means to purify the copper-bearing material before passage to the electrowinning cell so as to prevent contamination of the electrolyte in the cell and, also, a means to recover sulfur which is released during the electrowinning and unreacted copper material.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a liquid at various predetermined levels, especially in storage tanks, bilges and the like, employing multiple high frequency transducer assemblies having transmitting and receiving means enclosed in a sound conductive, e.g. metallic housing of special design minimizing "cross-talk" associated with means responsive to signals received above a selected minimum response level, the system being characterized by an on-off response provided by signal attenuation to a value less than said minimum response level in the absence of the liquid.

Abstract: Measured sample quantities of sulfureous matter are introduced into a sealed chamber where the samples are pyrolyzed to form sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide gases and to oxidize organic substances to form carbon dioxide gas. The gases are then passed through a free sulfur-absorbing packing and into a scrubbing zone wherein transition metal amine complex is used to remove sulfureous compounds without reaction with the carbon dioxide gas. The scrubbed gases are then analyzed to determine the carbon dioxide content thereof.

Abstract: Gas-liquid contacting efficiency is enhanced in a horizontal scrubbing vessel having first and second baffle means forming a series of side-by-side compartments across the vessel and arranged so that gas flows from the upper-most portion of each compartment and is directed downward so as to enter the next downstream compartment at the bottom-most portion thereof for upward flow therein. Scrubbing liquid is sprayed downward into each compartment for countercurrent gas-liquid contact herein. The liquid collected at the bottom of each compartment is passed to the top of the next upstream compartment for full countercurrent flow through and across the vessel, with the scrubbing liquid being reactivated and recycled to the furthermost downstream compartment. When a common liquid collection means is provided for all compartments, the reactivated liquid can be recycled to the spraying means of each compartment in parallel so that the gas contacts freshly reactivated liquid in each compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solids from liquids by sedimentation includes a covered tank in which a sediment-engaging raking structure is journaled for rotation about a central support pier. The raking structure is driven by a unit which travels about the periphery of the tank outside the enclosure. A gas-tight seal is effected between the tank, the cover and the drive unit by the combination of an annular liquid-holding launder which is fixedly supported to surround the interior of the tank, a rigid U-shaped member which connects the drive unit to the raking structure with its lower portion submerged in the liquid held in the launder, and a continuous baffle-like wall extending from the tank cover downwardly into the space bounded by the submerged portion of the U-shaped member.

Abstract: In a coke quench car having a hood and a draft inducing mechanism or exhaust device, a closure plate apparatus is associated with the coke oven push guide and is positionable with respect to the open side of the quench car so as to substantially close the open side of the car. The gap between the guide and the edges of the open side of the quench car are draft openings through which air is drawn by the draft inducing mechanism to withdraw gaseous and particulate emissions from the coke as it is pushed into the car. The gap confines or concentrates the inflow of air so as to prevent discharge of gaseous or particulate emissions around the hood of the car.

Abstract: The following disclosure teaches ways and means for incinerating organic wastes in a multiple hearth furnace equipped with an afterburner. In the furnace, the wastes are pyrolyzed in an oxygen deficient atmosphere which is regulated to only partially complete the oxidation of the organic substances which are pyrolyzed from the wastes. In the afterburner, air is introduced to complete the oxidation of the partially oxidized substances carried by gases and vapors from the furnace. The air supply to the afterburner is controlled so that, at temperatures above a predetermined temperature, the quantity of air introduced is increased with increasing temperatures and is decreased with decreasing temperatures. In other words, the pyrolyzing furnace is caused to operate with a deficiency of air over its operating range, while the afterburner is caused to operate with excess air and the amount of excess air supplied is used to control the operating temperature by quenching.

Abstract: A device for detecting a persisting electrical overload in an electrical system includes means for monitoring an electrical parameter in the electrical system and for generating an electrical signal whose magnitude represents the instantaneous absolute value of the parameter, reference means which generates an output signal of predetermined value and which develops, in cooperation with the monitoring means, an electrical signal whose magnitude represents the amount by which the magnitude of the absolute value signal exceeds the predetermined value, integrator means to integrate the aforementioned electrical signal and to generate an output whose magnitude includes a component representative of the product of the electrical signal and a time-increasing value that represents the duration that an overload has persisted; and comparator means to continuously compare the magnitude of the integrator output signal with a second preselected value and which generates an indicative output whenever the integrator output

Abstract: A device for hydraulically classifying solid fragments includes two side-by-side liquid-holding compartments between which liquid is continuously circulated; the liquid flows through a flow tube connecting the lower region of the first compartment with the second compartment, then flows upwardly through a throat zone in the first compartment and then over a weir back to the second compartment. The flow tube has a convergent mouth in the second compartment and a divergent outlet in the first compartment. A pump is arranged to withdraw a fraction of the circulating liquid from the second compartment and to inject that liquid into an eductor arranged at the mouth of the flow tube in the second compartment. Solids classification is accomplished at the throat zone: heavier solids sink through the throat zone, and lighter solids are carried upward in the rising current over the weir and onto a drainage screen.

Abstract: Electrically-activated shaking devices are arranged in modules to shake the electrodes of an electrostatic precipitator, each module corresponding to a different section of the precipitator. An operating system for the shaking devices includes a main distributor circuit that sends electrical signals to individual control circuits at each of the modules in sequence and at a relatively fast rate. Each control circuit has an adjustable timer that independently generates pulses at a relatively slow rate and a synchronizing circuit that generates an output signal only if it receives a signal from the timer followed by a signal from the main distributor. Each control circuit further includes a secondary distributor circuit that operates in response to the synchronizing circuit to activate the shaking devices in the associated module sequentially. An inhibit device operated by the synchronizing circuit prevents more than a single shaker from being activated at a time.

Abstract: A dewatering machine comprises an integral and cooperative combination of a vacuum filter of the rotary drum type and an expression device of the diaphragm type. An intermittently-indexed endless filter medium belt carries a sheet of filter cake to the expression device after the cake is formed on the vacuum filter. The belt indexing action is coordinated with pressurization of the expression device so that the filter drum is indexed only when the diaphragm is relaxed and the pressurization is effected only at such times as the drum is not being indexed.

Abstract: A process for reclaiming calcium values from the solid residual of incineration or calcination of calcium-bearing sewage and water sludges includes the following steps: classifying the residuals on the basis of their size and density to form two classified streams, the first of which contains relatively larger sized solid particles and has a relatively decreased concentration of calcium and the second of which contains relatively increased concentration of calcium for reuse; then mixing the particles in the first stream with water to form an aqueous solution containing calcium hydroxide; then clarifying the aqueous solution in a settling zone to form a sediment relatively rich in the insoluble inert solids and a decanted stream which is relatively rich in calcium values.

Abstract: An apparatus for ingesting and mixing gas into a liquid body includes a tank, a rotatable impeller fixed to a vertical drive shaft, and a vertically-extending conduit which surrounds the drive shaft and which extends to a location in the liquid above the impeller to serve as a channel of communication between a source of gas and the impeller. In the conduit, a vortex-turning baffle having an enlarged gas-flow aperture formed centrally therethrough is fixedly mounted above the impeller so that when a rotor-induced liquid vortex rises along the wall of the conduit, the vortex is turned downwardly by the baffle to aid in the ingestion of gas into the liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for incinerating grease-laden aqueous mixtures includes a burner assembly or having a swirl chamber whereinto the liquid is tangentially fed and swirled. From a nozzle connected to the chamber, a minor fraction of the feed mixture is emitted as a rotating, atomized spray for subsequent ignition. A major fraction of the feed is continuously recycled thereby maintaining a high liquid flow rate through the burner assembly. A system is described for conditioning feed mixtures, and particularly sewage water skimmings of the type derived from a primary sewage treatment operation prior to delivering them to the burner assembly; the system includes means for grinding, heating and settling the materials before incinerating them.

Abstract: A dewatering machine comprising an integral and cooperative combination of a vacuum filter of the rotary drum type and an expression device of the type wherein a diaphragm is pressed against a drainage deck. An intermittently-indexed first endless filter medium belt carries filter cake to the expression device after the cake is formed on the vacuum filter. A second endless filter belt is trained to run beneath the diaphragm of the expression device parallel to the drainage deck and above the first filter belt so that the filter cake is sandwiched between the two filter belts. The belt indexing action is coordinated with pressurization of the expression device so that the filter drum is indexed only when the diaphragm is relaxed and the pressurization is effected only at such times as the drum is not being indexed. The second filter belt prevents the pressed material from adhering to the diaphragm of the expression device.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is scrubbed from stack gases in an absorption device by a sodium-based aqueous scrubbing solution, a portion of which is subsequently and continuously regenerated outside the absorption apparatus by a causticizing reaction with slaked lime. The causticized solution is routed through a settling device wherefrom a portion of the aqueous sediment is returned to the causticizing zone to provide seed crystals which encourage the formation of larger sized solid particles; also, a portion of the aqueous sediment from the settling device is continuously mechanically dewatered and then removed from the system. The liquid effluent solution from the settling device is passed to a solids-contacting and reaction device for mixing with sodium carbonate in order to reduce the calcium ion concentration and the solids content of the solution. The underflow of the solids-contacting device is conveyed back to the causticizing zone and the clarified overflow, i.e.