Abstract: A mud cleaning system for recovering barite from drilling mud coming from an oil well, the mud being made up essentially of barite particles having a specific gravity of 4.2 or more, and a particle size mostly finer than 200 mesh, drill cuttings having a specific gravity of 2-3, and varying particle sizes ranging from about 200 mesh to 1/2 inch or more, and water. This system includes a first sieve bend (32), a second screen member (10) in series therewith, and a spiral separator (54), in series with the screens. The sieve bend is provided with a vibrator (18, 20), and water sprays (16, 34) act in conjunction with the sieve bend and the second screen to aid in the separation. The slurry leaving the spiral separator is screened to remove the ultra fine particles and the water is recycled. The system inherently washes potentially environmentally hazardous substances off the drill cuttings prior to their discharge from the system.

Abstract: A shell and tube heat exchanger (2) having a vertical dam (50) surrounding one of the steam-water separators (26a), so as to create a low flow velocity or quiescent area where solids will settle out. The dam encircles an area seven times greater than the average area per-separator throughout the rest of separating deck, so that there is a low flow velocity. Also, an orifice (52) is positioned in the inlet to the dammed in separator, to further reduce the flow velocity. The settled out solids are removed from the steam generator through a blowdown pipe (60).

Abstract: A register system is provided for making molds for metal casting which reduces flaws attributable to parting line shift. This is accomplished by urging the cope mold flask (11) against two fixed stops (50, 52) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (54) on the short axis of the flask. This same register principle is applied in the drag mold making station 18, where the drag flask (15) is urged against two fixed stops (100, 102) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (90) on the short axis of the flask. At the closer station (24), where the mold halves are assembled, they are again urged against two fixed stops (134, 136) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (142) on the short axis of the flasks. Thus the flasks are properly aligned to the patterns at the mold making stations, and again properly aligned to each other at the closer station, so as to eliminate parting line shift problems of the mold halves.

Abstract: In a shell and tube type heat exchanger, flattened tubes (50) are inserted between each layer of tubes (36) in the tube bend region thereof. The flattened tubes are then pressurized, to expand them in the region below the tube bends (60), so that they lock the batwing support plates (41) into place, thus preventing them from vibrating and causing damage to the tubes in the first few rows of the tube bundle.

Abstract: A method of efficiently using fiberboard (10) for insulating pipes (16) carrying high temperature fluids. Semicylindrical pieces (12) are cut out of the board, with the legs (14) of the cut pieces having a length approximately five percent longer than necessary. When these pieces are installed on a pipe, the additional material is compressed mainly near the ends of the legs (where the fibers are radial to the pipe). This selectively increases the density where required for efficient insulating purposes. In addition, a better sealing of the joints between adjacent legs is accomplished.

Abstract: The invention comprises a burner (10), a first fuel pipe (18) for conveying a mixture of air and pulverized coal to the burner (10), a second fuel pipe (32) for conveying the mixture to the first pipe (18), an elbow (26) joining the first pipe (18) to the second pipe (32), said elbow (26) having an inner radius and an outer radius (27), the improvement comprising a restriction (30) in the second pipe (32), being located such that it forces the coal particles towards the outer radius (27) of the elbow (26), thereby reducing impact wear on the outer radius wall (27) of the elbow (26).

Abstract: A furnace (10) for burning cellulosic fuel has walls (64) which taper upwardly and outwardly, such that a given level or height (66) the cross-sectional flow area is 11/2 to 2 times the cross-sectional flow area near the bottom of the furnace. Thus the gas velocity continuously decreases, as the cross-sectional area increases. Any partially burned char particles initially entrained in the gases near the furnace bottom reach a height in the furnace where the gas velocity equals the particle terminal velocity, so that the particles remains suspended at this height until combustion as reduced their size enough so they can be carried on out of the furnace by the reduced gas velocity.

Abstract: In a forced steam generator (10) having orifice assemblies (36) positioned in the inlet of each tube (28) lining the walls of the furnace (12). The orifice assemblies are explosively (46) expanded into each tube. In order to permit the tubes to be completely drainable even when located in a portion of a tube having a horizontal component thereto, the orifice (60) is located at the very bottom of the tube.

Abstract: A gasifier (10) having an associated boiler (26, 32, 42, 48), for converting coal to combustible gas, and also having a desulfurizer (20) downstream of the gasifier. In order to maintain the gas leaving the gasifier and flowing to the desulfurizer above a predetermined temperature, even when operating the unit at reduced loads, a temperature sensing device (56) continuously monitors the gas temperature upstream of the desulfurizer. If the temperature drops below a predetermined value, high temperature boiler water (62) is introduced to the economizer (26) rather than feed water (24), so that less heat is absorbed by the economizer from the gases under these conditions.

Abstract: An ash disposal system for a furnace (10) including a pair of submerged scraper conveyors (24, 26) mounted within a common water-filled tank (16) with a water seal (18, 28) between the tank and furnace. The tank is mounted on wheels (32) and has a divider wall (30) between the two conveyors so that the tank can be positioned such that one or the other, or both conveyors together, can be operated to remove ash from the tank. A door or gate (34) in one of the side walls of the tank permits the tank to be completely removed from beneath the furnace when desired.

Abstract: A chemical recovery furnace (10) having air nozzles (12) is provided with apparatus (22) for keeping the nozzles clear of combustion product deposits, and also accurately controlling the airflow through such nozzles. Each nozzle has slots (20) in the sidewalls thereof, which slots are of decreasing width, the smallest width (38) being closest to the furnace. A plug (22) is slidable within each nozzle to control airflow, and also remove deposits from within the nozzle.

Abstract: A furnace (10) in which bark or other cellulosic fuel (64) is burned on a traveling grate (24). Char (62) separated (48, 54) from the furnace exhaust gases is reinjected into the furnace beneath baffle plate (40) in such a manner that the raw bark (64) being introduced onto the grate forms a protective cover over the char (62) thus preventing the relatively light char particles from becoming reentrained in the gases before they are completely combusted.

Abstract: In combination, a vessel (10), opening means (16) in the vessel, a cover (18), flange means (20) surrounding the opening means, a primary closing means (22, 24) for the cover including a plurality of studs (22) securing the cover onto the vessel, the studs having inner ends threaded into openings (26) in the vessel, nuts (24) cooperating with the outer ends of each of the studs, secondary closing means (32, 34, 38, 40) for the cover including cylindrical clamp means (30, 32) made up of more than one piece, a protruding ledge (34) on the cover over which the clamp means extends, an annular groove (36) in the flange means into which the clamp means extends, a circular retaining ring (38) which surrounds the clamp means, a plurality of threaded openings (42) in the retaining ring, and a plurality of set screws (40) threaded into the openings, so that their ends force the clamp means into tight clamping engagement with the ledge on the cover and the groove in the flange means.

Abstract: Apparatus as provided for plugging a tube end in such a manner that the plug can be later removed. The apparatus includes a hollow plug (10) closed at the end (12) inserted into the tube (20) and open at its other end. The plug has a band (18) of ductile metal (gold, silver, or pure iron) on its outer surface which is extruded into any crevices caused by irregularities in the inner wall surface of the tube when the plug is mechanically expanded into the tube. The plug has a portion near its outer end of slightly enlarged diameter (14) to provide a light interference fit with the tube to hold the plug in place prior to and during the expanding step.

Abstract: A tube deforming tool (10) for forming a plurality of dimples (32) in the end of a tube (34) of a predetermined size. The tool has a tapered mandrel (12) extending through a housing (14) containing a plurality of radially movable balls (16). A plurality of longitudinal grooves (20) in the mandrel is the surface that the balls coact with. At the end of each groove is an enlarged recess (40) into which the balls are released at the end of the dimpling or deforming procedure, to permit easy removal of the tool from the deformed tube.

Abstract: A boiler (10) made up of three separate sections consisting of (1) a bottom supported fluidized bed (12); (2) a top supported upper furnace portion (14); and (3) a vertical boiler section (24) in fluid communication with the furnace outlet. Seals (34, 36) are located between each of the three sections, so they can expand thermally relative to each other while preventing the surrounding atmosphere from exposure to the hot combustion gases. The seals consist of fluid cooled (48, 70) troughs (38, 60) containing sand (40, 62), with fluid cooled (48, 70) plates (42, 64) extending down into the sand.

Abstract: A system for pulverizing coal to be burned in a furnace (20), where nearly all of the coarse ash particles are removed from the coal prior to its introduction to the furnace. The system includes a pulverizing mill (10) having a first classifier (12) in its outlet for separating some of the large, heavy particles and returning them to the pulverizer. A second classifier (16) is connected to the first classifier, and includes a curved duct (16) wherein the solid particles being carried in an airstream are thrown outwardly against an outer wall. A skimmer blade (78) extending through the outer wall skims off a percentage of the large, heavy particles, the percentage depending on how much coarse ash the coal stream contains. The rest of the coal particles are conveyed to a furnace and burned therein. The separated large, heavy particles are passed through an ionizer (30) and then through an electrostatic separator (34), where the inorganic particles are separated from the coal particles.

Abstract: A process for forming a mat (14) of metal fibers (2) which can be used to hold ceramic material onto the surface of equipment to be protected from heat and corrosion, including the steps of mixing a plurality of metal fibers (2) with polybutene (8) and a finely-divided brazing material (10). This mixture is spread onto a support member (4) having an insulating coating (6) thereon to prevent the fibers from becoming brazed to the support member. The support member containing the fibers thereon is then subjected to a brazing temperature (12), brazing the fibers together to form a loose mat. The mat is then removed from the support member, and reduced (16) in thickness into a more dense mat of fibers. The dense mat (14) is then again subjected to a brazing temperature (18), to form a final product having unusual strength qualities.

Abstract: A tangentially-fired, pulverized coal burning furnace (10) having overfire air (OFA) introduced into the upper portion of the furnace. The fuel and air are introduced (36, 38) into the furnace at the burner level tangentially of an imaginary circle, so that the resultant fireball moves upwardly within the furnace with a rotational spin. The OFA is introduced (40, 42) tangentially of an imaginary circle, in the reverse rotational direction to that of the fireball, so that the exhaust gases flowing from the furnace to the rear gas pass (16) flows in a straight line, with little or no spin. The OFA is made up of a mixture of low pressure air and high pressure air of sufficient volume and pressure to nullify the spin of the fireball.

Abstract: A steam generating unit using gas recirculation (28) for steam temperature control, where the recirculated gases are introduced (38) into the furnace (12) through the bottom opening (34) through which the ash is discharged. Dampers (40) are positioned in the gas recirculation duct (28) for controlling flow therethrough.