Abstract: An improved paint spraying-paint curing booth for automobiles and the like is disclosed in which direct fired U-tube radiant heaters supply radiant heat to the freshly painted article effecting rapid heating and curing of the paint. The radiant heating system may be built into the booths during manufacture or retrofitted to existing spray booths. Substantial savings in both time and energy result from use of the disclosed system.

Abstract: Lubricants for refrigeration equipment operating with fluorocarbons as refrigerants are produced by esterification of at least one neopolyol type polyhydric alcohol with an acid component comprising 60 to 80 mol percent n-pentanoic acid, from about 40 to about 10 mol percent of at least one straight chain C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 monocarboxylic acid and from about 0 to about 30 mol percent C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 branched chain monocarboxylic acid. The resulting esters are suitable for use without lubricating oil additives.

Abstract: Pellets or briquettes useful as fuel are produced from sewage sludge solids. Mechanically stable pellets or briquettes result from combining a major portion of sewage sludge solids with lesser amounts of lime and binder materials suitable for imparting stability to the product and pressing or extruding the combined components into desired shapes. Coal may be included in the pellet or briquette composition for improved fuel value.

Abstract: Briquettes useful as fuel are produced from dehydrated sewage sludge containing 65 weight percent or more sewage sludge solids. The briquettes on a dry basis contain from about 50 to about 95 weight percent sewage sludge solids together with from about 3 to about 12 weight percent lime as binder and fungistat. Organic binders and coking agents may be included in the briquettes to improve resistance to breakage and to impart high crush strength at elevated temperatures encountered in gasifiers.

Abstract: A "take apart chair" is disclosed which may be constructed from different types of wood, plastic, laminated fiberboard, or aluminum, to form a sturdy and attractive piece of furniture. The chair comprises only of five parts which are easily assembled without the need of tools or detachable gadgets. The chair may be easily and quickly disassembled for storage and shipment.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for time production of fuel pellets or briquettes from sewage sludge solids and municipal solid waste with minimal drying requirements. In one of its more specific aspects, this invention relates to a solid pelleted or briquetted fuel product consisting essentially of sewage sludge solids, waste paper and/or refuse derived fuel, and crushed coal, and to its method of preparation. In still another of its specific aspects, this invention relates to a method for the production of fuel gases from sewage sludge solids and cellulosic wastes.

Abstract: An automatic disk exchange apparatus including a drum-type disk gripper arranged vertically movably and capable of horizontally holding a disk cartridge containing for example an optical disk and selectively introducing and removing the disk cartridge through either of access openings at both sides thereof, a pair of disk storage devices each arrranged at one of the sides of the disk gripper and horizontally storing a plurality of disk cartridges, and a pair of drive units arranged in a lower part of one of the disk storage devices for effecting the recording and reproduction of information whereby the disk cartridges are transported and exchanged between the disk storage devices and the drive units and between the disk storage devices and the outside with the disk cartridges being always held horizontally.

Abstract: A disk exchanger apparatus including a disk gripper and a disk exchange mechanism capable of horizontally holding a disk cartridge and selectively introducing and removing the disk cartridge through access openings at both sides of the gripper from disk storage devices horizontally storing a plurality of disk cartridges on either side of the disk gripper, and a movable storage unit capable of storing a plurality of disk cartridges to be loaded in one of the disk storage devices through an access door whereby the disk cartridges may be transported and stored in a horizontal position and selectively transported between the storage unit and the disk storage devices.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing odourless dimethyl ether (DME) which is thus an excellent propellant. This dimethyl ether is produced from methanol, the methanol feed, prior to the reaction to form dimethyl ether, and/or the dimethyl ether product still containing odorants being treated with acidic materials, preferably acidic ion exchangers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of PCBs or similar refractory organic substances from solid surfaces, such as soil or hardware, e.g., capacitors and transformers containing a charge or residue of PCB or similar fluids. Such toxic substances are volatilized from substrates contaminated therewith by contacting them with carrier gas, such as a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and steam. The carrier gas and volatilized components are introduced into a partial oxidation zone of a gas generator where PCBs are completely destroyed at a temperature range of 2800.degree. F. to 3500.degree. F.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for preventing or minimizing scale deposition from hard water onto heat transfer surfaces in atmospheric cooling towers, such as those used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, where evaporative cooling of water provides the necessary heat sink to the atmosphere. An electrical/mechanical control system responsive to changes in density of the water in the evaporative cooling system operates to permit discharge of water containing dissolved and suspended solids from the system when its density reaches a predetermined maximum value and to discontinue the discharge of cooling system water when its density reaches a predetermined minimum value. Water drained from the cooling system is replaced by fresh water, preferably by water containing chemical additives to increase solubility of hard water minerals in the cooling water.

Abstract: Used oils, especially used lube oils, after rough filtering are mixed with an aqueous solution of water glass and an aqueous solution of polyalkylene glycol while stirring at elevated temperature, the obtained mixture is allowed to settle, the settlings are separated, and water and light ends are removed from the oil phase by distillation. The thus obtained dry oil phase may be subjected to adsorptive filtering either direct or through a per se known treatment with dispersed sodium and may finally be fractionated by distillation.

Abstract: A disposable, cloth-like towel of superior wet strength and absorbency comprises a scrim coated with a superabsorbent material, with one or more nonwoven fibrous webs bonded to the coated scrim. The superabsorbent coating preferably is formed by wetting the scrim with water or an aqueous adhesive, applying a solid hydrophilic polymer to the scrim, then applying a nonwoven absorbent cellulosic web to the coated scrim and drying the resulting composite laminate. Bonding of the scrim to the nonwoven fibrous web can be achieved by applying an adhesive to the side of the cellulosic web which is brought into contact with the coated scrim.

Abstract: The vaporous reaction product from the continuous reaction of C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 monoalkanols with hydrogen chloride is removed, condensed, and split into a light organic phase and a heavy aqueous phase. The heavy aqueous phase is immediately distilled yielding HCl-containing reaction water at the bottom of the column and an alcohol stream at the head of the column from where it is returned to the synthesis. The light organic phase is washed with water, dried and, optionally, distilled. The water from this washing operation is neutralized, stripped off in order to remove dissolved organic constituents, and removed as waste water from the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of fuel pellets or briquettes from sewage sludge solids. In one of its more specific aspects, this invention relates to a solid pelleted fuel product consisting essentially of sewage sludge solids and caking coal and to its method of preparation. In still another of its specific aspects, this invention relates to a method for the production of fuel gases from sewage sludge solids.

Abstract: Microwave interactive coating compositions are disclosed which comprise finely divided carbon, a powdered inert solid and a binder. A preferred composition comprises finely divided carbon, finely divided microwave reactive metal, powdered inert material and a dielectric binder, preferably an acrylic latex. These compositions are capable of producing microwave reactive heaters comparable to those produced by vapor deposition of metals on a carrier film.

Abstract: Absorbent paper products, such as towels, absorbent wipes, toilet tissue, facial tissue and the like fibrous webs of relatively high bulk, are produced by a method comprising the steps of treating hydrophilic cellulosie fibers to impart kinks, curls, bends, twists, to the fibers; dispersing the treated fibers in an aqueous forming medium, and wet-forming a stratified single-ply web constituted of at least one stratum of the treated fibers and at least one stratum of conventional paper-making fibers. The treating step may consist of wet or dry mechanical working, chemical treatment or a combination of mechanical and chemical treatments. The web forming step comprises preparing a first aqueous furnish of the treated fibers, preparing a second aqueous furnish of the conventional fibers, and concurrently depositing the two furnishes in contiguous layers on a moving foraminous support.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for preventing or minimizing scale deposition from hard water onto heat transfer surfaces in atmospheric cooling towers, such as those used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, where evaporative cooling of water provides the necessary heat sink to the atmosphere. An electrical/mechanical control system responsive to changes in density of the water in the evaporative cooling system operates to permit discharge of water containing dissolved and suspended solids from the system when its density reaches a predetermined maximum value and to discontinue the discharge of cooling system water when its density reaches a predetermined minimum value. Water drained from the cooling system is replaced by fresh water, preferably by water containing chemical additives to increase solubility of hard water minerals in the cooling water.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of a multi-ply sheet product in which separate non-woven fibrous webs are combined into a multi-ply sheet before embossment, embossed as a multi-ply sheet, embossed webs separated from one another and longitudinally displaced relative to one another, and then recombined into an embossed multi-ply sheet with the embossments out of register with one another. Prior to recombining the webs, the embossments on one of said web is smoothed out increasing the absorbency and softness if the web.

Abstract: Toxic refractory organic substances are decomposed by exposing them to an oxidizing medium and steam at a temperature in the range of 2500.degree. F. to 3200.degree. F. for a period of 5 to 500 milliseconds in a reaction chamber. The toxic refractory organic substance can be dioxins, polyhalogenated byphenyls, organophosphates, halogenated biocides, waste streams from the production of said toxic substances, and mixtures thereof.