Abstract: A process for the production of a non-agglomerating vanadium coated particle is disclosed comprising the combustion of a carbonaceous material or fuel containing relatively large amounts of vanadium in the presence of an oxidizing gas and a particulate substrate such as sand. The combustion of carbonaceous materials such as petroleum coke or bunker oil high in vanadium and sulfur produce vanadium products that melt at the combustion temperature and coat the firebox and/or heat exchange tubes in which the combustion process is conducted with corrosive vanadium slags. This coating problem is also avoided by the process disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid bed combustor as well as a method of making same is disclosed. The combustor comprises a chamber containing a bed of relatively inert particles supported on a substantially horizontal distributor plate, a plurality of heat extractor tubes which pass upwardly through said plate in a substantially vertical direction, said tubes being distributed substantially uniformly over all or part of the plate surface so as to permit efficient heat extraction from the entire fluid bed volume, and means for supplying combustion gas through said plate to support combustion and to fluidize the bed.

Abstract: A safety belt is disclosed comprising a first belt to be worn about the waist and a second belt slidably connected thereto. The second belt has ladder rung engaging members such as hooks on either end and may be adjustable. When the first belt is secured around the waist of a person and the ends of the second belt are secured to the rungs of a ladder, the person on the ladder may alternately reach to the left or right and slidably move the first belt towards either of the ends of the second belt without adjusting the length of the second belt and nonetheless remain securely held to the ladder.

Abstract: A static circuit arrangement for the production of three-phase current, comprising a plurality of waveform generating stages arranged in cascade. Each stage is adapted to provide either a positive or negative voltage.The stages are controlled so that in the case of increasing a voltage from zero to a maximum (either positive or negative) the first stage is rendered conductive, then the second, third and so on until the nth stage is conductive together with all the other stages, and in the case of a voltage decreasing from a maximum to zero all the stages are conductive and these are rendered non-conductive one at a time starting with the nth, then (n-1)th and so on until the first stage is rendered non-conductive.The first stage comprises three amplifier circuits, one for each phase, whereas the second and successive stages each comprise a single circuit which is common for all phases of a voltage to be generated. Each circuit of the first stage has its own phase load, e.g. a motor winding connected thereto.

Abstract: Gutter cleaning apparatus is disclosed comprising a housing having a first and second opening therein for delivering fluid under pressure into a rain gutter mounted on a building. The openings are diametrically opposed and the flow of fluid through the openings is controlled by a valve that alternately opens one opening and closes the other. The valve is controlled by increasing and decreasing the fluid pressure in the housing. When fluid pressure is at a pre-determined lower level, the valve is in a neutral position between the two openings. A stream deflector plate extends from the bottom of the valve and depending on which direction the deflector plate is positioned, increasing the pressure in the housing will cause the valve to move into one of the openings. Once the valve is positioned in one of the openings the direction of the stream deflector plate is changed since it is mounted on the valve in a manner so as to engage the housing when the valve is closing one of the openings.

Abstract: Oil tank cleaning appartus is disclosed comprising a rotary cutter rotatably mounted on a shaft and operatively connected to impellers to turn the cutter. A conduit is operatively connected to the cutter for leading a fluid away from the cutter. The cutter extends into edges that are pitched in a manner to propel the cutter and conduit when the cutter is rotated. When the cutter and conduit are immersed in an oil tank, oil drawn through the conduit will impinge against the impellers to turn the cutter and thereby provide the torque necessary to cause the cutter to move through sludge in the bottom of the oil tank, the sludge also being taken up through the conduit along with the oil.The conduit may comprise a flexible conduit having a pair of opposed wires secured along the length thereof, the wires lying in a common plane to prevent the flexing of the conduit in a direction in which the plane extends.

Abstract: A game comprising selection tiles having two faces, one face of such tile having one of a plurality of variables indicated thereon. Movement tiles are also provided, each movement tile having two faces, each face of the movement tile having one of a plurality of the aforementioned variables marked thereon in a manner so that no single movement tile has the same variable marked on both faces. Numbers are marked on the movement tiles the same number being used on both faces of a movement tile. The game also consists of a game board having a plurality of ranks and files, one set of ranks corresponding to each of the variables, ranks also being provided for each player. Files are arranged under each identification of variations and each identification for a designated player. The game is played by competing players randomly selecting selection tiles in which the variables face downward, each player taking a selection tile for each variable in the game.

Abstract: A stroller comprising an animal figurine mounted on wheels is disclosed, a saddle seat being provided on the back of the figurine on which a child may be seated. A back rest extends from the animal figurine upwardly in back of the saddle seat to support at least part of the back of a child seated on the saddle, a handle being provided as an extension of the back rest for grasping by a person walking behind the stroller and for pushing the stroller.

Abstract: A blocking circuit for thyristors comprises a DC power source coupled to a capacitor which is switched into a thyristor circuit by a switching transistor and auxiliary thyristor. A high power current pulse from the capacitor is applied to the thyristor for blocking purposes. A common blocking circuit may be switched into a plurality of thyristor circuits eliminating separate capacitors and power sources. In a second embodiment, a high power DC output voltage would be generated from a three phase current source by means of three full wave rectifiers coupled to achieve a charging process six times per cycle. This latter arrangement offers the possibility of saving the charging capacitor altogether as the rectified phases overlap with only a slight ripple.