Abstract: An improved tube rotary draw bending apparatus for bending a tube having a bend die around which a bend in the tube is formed, a pressure die and means for maintaining a pre-programmed frictional profile of the interaction of the tube with the pressure die during the bending operation. Improved quality of the bent tube is consistently obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the production of gaseous sulphur dioxide mixture for conversion to sulphur trioxide in a catalytic converter in the production of sulphuric acid by the contact process. Apparatus comprises the furnace to produce sulphur dioxide gas from elemental sulphur and a first dry air stream; means for feeding a first portion of the sulphur dioxide gas to a waste heat boiler to cool the gas; the improvement comprising combining a second portion of the sulphur dioxide gas exiting the furnace with a second dry air stream to provide a combined gaseous stream which bypasses the boiler and subsequently is combined with the cooled sulphur dioxide stream. The system provides use of a bypass valve which experiences only cooled sulphur dioxide containing gases with its attendant reduced corrosion. Further, the system may operate at higher temperatures than is common to provide further advantages.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between fluids comprising a shell and five tube bundles laid out as to collectively form a series of concentric pentagons, wherein each adjacent pair of tube bundles define an angle of 108.degree. and extend longitudinally within said shell and define a central space between them, said central space also extending longitudinally in said shell and being parallel to said tubes; each tube bundle consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel tubes in end view laid out in a set of parallel lines wherein each tube on a first parallel line with the two nearest tubes each on a second line adjacent to said first line forms an isosceles triangle having one angle of 72.degree. and two angles each of 54.degree.. This allows simple heat exchanger tube layout which is easy to fabricate and provide a compact tube bundle. The tube layout utilizes core tube entry of fluids and can accommodate internal core tubes or bypasses to cope with differential expansion.

Abstract: A pallet having a front, a back and two sides; each of said sides having a fork entry opening, open at both ends of the pallet and along the length of each side; each opening having a stepped upper surface comprising a lower portion for engagement by an upper surface of a fork to lift the pallet and an outer upper portion extending from the inner portion to the side spaced upwardly from the inner portion. The pallet can be used with pallet trucks that have a wider inter-fork distance wider than the width of the pallet to permit adjacent intimate abuttment of similar pallets in a series to provide maximum use of shop floor space and pallet platform stocking area.