Abstract: The invention is a filter apparatus and method for separating suspended solids from fluids, particularly liquids. A filter chamber is defined inside a filter housing. Inside the chamber is a filter bundle, consisting of two or more filter screens, of a non-woven construction. Spaces between the filter screen strands provide channels for fluid to flow through the filter bundle along a tortuous path that is parallel to each screen. These spaces also define openings for directing a flushing fluid, such as air, in a crosswise direction through the filter screens. The crossflow path of the flushing fluid removes solid particles trapped in the channels of the filter screens.

Abstract: The invention is a nozzle unit designed for use with wet abrasive materials to clean hard surfaces, such as steel structures. The nozzle unit is formed from two nozzle bodies, which are joined together. Each body has a lengthwise bore therein, with a venturi structure, and a metallic liner is fitted into each bore. Inside the nozzle unit is an annular cavity, which is connected into a source of water and a mixing chamber. The nozzle unit also has air passages therein that connect the mixing chamber with air surrounding the nozzle unit. In a wet blasting operation, an abrasive material, such as sand, is directed into the mixing chamber, where it mixes with water and air to form a wet abrasive stream. The wet stream is then discharged from the nozzle onto the structure to be cleaned.

Abstract: The invention refers to plastic drums designed such that the bottom of the drum will interlock with the lid of another drum. This feature enables the drums to be placed in stacks that are stable, so they can be safely handled during shipping, storing, or handling operations. The drums are also designed so they can be stored in a nesting column, when empty, without the drums becoming wedged together in the column.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for draining a viscous material, such as a molten polymer, from a vessel that contains the material. A ram-type valve is mounted on the outside of the vessel in line with a drain opening in the vessel. The valve is enclosed in a removable housing mounted on the outside of the vessel. During a process run, the valve piston closes off the drain opening, and an inert atmosphere inside the housing prevents oxygen from forming polymer "gels" that can plug the drain opening. When it becomes necessary to drain the vessel, a remote control valve actuator moves the valve piston out of the drain opening, so the polymer can flow out of the vessel.

Abstract: The heat exchanger disclosed herein includes a head section and a heat exchanging section. The heat exchanging section consists of a bundle of inner conduits, open at both ends, and a bundle of outer conduits, open only at one end. The outer conduits enclose that part of the inner conduits within the heat exchanging section, such that an annular space is defined between the conduits. In operation, a lower temperature fluid is introduced into the head section, which generally operates at low temperature and high pressure. The lower temperature fluid flows through the inner conduits into the heat exchanging section and returns to the head section through the annular spaces between the inner and outer conduits. The high temperature fluid flows through the heat exchanging section in intimate contact with the conduits containing the lower temperature fluid, so that it is cooled by the lower temperature fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a device and method for cooling a high temperature furnace. A typical high temperature furnace will include a hot zone that is insulated with carbon-based materials, such as lamp-black. The cooling device is a probe consisting of two elongate tubular members. The smaller diameter member fits lengthwise inside the larger member, such that an annulus is defined within the probe. A tapered metal tip at the lower end of the probe is positioned above a frangible disk, and the disk fits over a guide tube that extends into the insulation section. In operation, the probe is shoved downwardly through the frangible disk into the guide tube, to position the tip near the hot zone of the furnace. An inert gas is then passed through the inside member of the probe, and exhausted through the annulus, to dissipate the furnace heat.

Abstract: Air stripping is a common technique used to remove organic impurities from water found in underground aquifers. When this technique is used, bacteria already present in the underground water, and bacteria and oxygen introduced into the water by the incoming air, cause slime deposits to form on the packing material inside the stripping towers. The slime will build up to a point where the pressure drop through the column will increase and the air flow will decrease, which causes the stripping efficiency of the column to drop considerably. In the practice of this invention, the decontaminated water is heated to a temperature of from about 175.degree. F. to 190.degree. F. and recycled through the stripping towers. As the hot water passes through the packing section in each tower, it destroys the slime material and removes it from the packing material.

Abstract: The invention is a machine and method for opening a filled bag and emptying the contents of the bag. A bag filled with a solid material is guided into a space between a pair of rotating drums, in which there are several rows of rigid spikes fastened to each drum. The spikes extend through the drum walls and through openings in a belt that connects each drum to an idler roller. When the filled bag enters the space between the drums, it becomes impaled on the spikes, and is drawn into a cutter means. The cutter means slits the bag in half to empty the contents, and each empty bag half is carried on one of the rotating drums to a point where the spikes move away from the belt to release the empty bag half.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus that allows a motor to move in any one of three linear directions, but it restrains rotary motion of the motor housing. In practice, the motor is used for driving a pump or some other rotary motion device. The device includes a lever arm fastened to the motor housing and a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to each end of the arm and to a support member. Each cylinder is divided into two chambers by a piston head, and hydraulic lines connect the chambers of one cylinder to the chambers of the other cylinder. When the pump (or other rotary motion device) tends to cause rotational movement of the motor housing, and lever arm, each cylinder responds to this rotational load by trying to displace fluid (oil) from one cylinder to the other. Since each cylinder tries to displace an equivalent volume of oil toward the other cylinder, through a common conduit, displacement of the oil is not possible.

Abstract: The invention is a sealer unit useful for temporarily preventing water from flowing past a closed valve in a pipeline, such as a butterfly valve. This unit includes a cup-shaped seal member, and a solid plug member that fits inside the seal member. The seal is constructed of a material that swells on contact with water, and the solid plug is derived from a liquid material that can solidify at ambient temperature. The seal member is seated down onto the valve closure plate, and the plug member is formed inside the seal member. The seal member is then contacted with water, causing it to expand outwardly against the pipeline and inwardly against the solid plug member. In its expanded state, the seal member provides an effective seal to prevent water from flowing past the valve. In addition, the solid plug forms a coherent body that enables it to withstand the pressure exerted by the seal member, as it swells, but is capable of being broken into pieces if required.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for separating individual fluids (particularly gases) from a stream that contains more than one fluid. The separator device is made up of a bundle of hollow fibers fastened into a resin tubesheet at each end of the bundle. The fiber bundle is encased in a tube (casing) and in the center of the bundle is a perforated, distributor tube. Pressure load on one tubesheet is carried by a fixed head in contact with the tubesheet. At the other end of the separator device the tubesheet pressure load is counterbalanced by a floating head that utilizes pressure against its backside. Pressurized fluid directed into the distributor tube flows into the fiber bundle. The permeate fluids pass through the fiber walls and are carried out of the separator device through outlets at each end. The non-permeate fluids bypass the fibers and are carried out of the separator device through one or more outlets in the casing.

Abstract: The invention is a system for detecting the level of slag in a solid fuels gasification reactor. In this invention a pokerod is extended into the quench chamber of the reactor, and pulled back to a retract position, in a timed sequence. The timed sequence is initiated by an electronic controller unit, in combination with an air pressure regulator, a solenoid valve, a double chamber air cylinder, and two sensor switches. The end of the pokerod that moves into the quench chamber is designed to contact the solid slag without penetrating the material itself. If the pokerod makes contact with the slag material, the controller sets off an alarm to warn the operator of slag build up in the reactor.

Abstract: The invention is a device and method for electroplating a metal workpiece having axial symmetry, such as a circular workpiece. In this invention the workpiece, which is the cathode, is rotated inside an anode structure submerged in the plating solution. Part of the rotating cathode continuously moves through a region of intense current fluxes created by passing DC current between the anode and cathode. The rotating cathode stirs the plating solution, which speeds up the plating rate. At the same time, with only part of the cathode passing continuously through the intense current flux region, the deposition process is periodically slowed down and intensified.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for removing dissolved organic impurities, such as gasoline or other hydrocarbons, from groundwater. The contaminated water is fed into a stripper column, operated under a deep vacuum, to enable the water to enter the column at its boiling point. Steam, as a vaporizing gas, strips the impurities out of the water and the overhead vapor phase is compressed to boost it to a higher pressure, so it can be condensed to vaporize part of the bottoms stream from the column. Since the bottoms stream is mostly water, the vapor generated is the steam used to strip impurities from the water.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for separating individual fluids (particularly gases) from a stream that contains more than one fluid. The separator device is made up of a bundle of hollow fibers, which are fastened at each end into a resin tubesheet. The fiber bundle is enclosed in a casing and in the center of the bundle is a perforated, distributor tube. The pressure load on one tubesheet is carried by a movable flange in contact with the tubesheet. At the other end of the separator the pressure load is carried by a stationary flange that seats against the tubesheet. Pressurized fluid directed into the distributor tube flows into the fiber bundle. The permeate fluids pass through the fiber walls and are carried out of the separator through outlets at each end. The nonpermeate fluids bypass the fibers and are carried out of the separator through one or more outlets in the casing.

Abstract: An indicator device is disclosed that is useful for measuring the level of a material stored in a tank. The device includes a stationary tubular section that fastens into the top wall of the tank. One or more tubular sections of smaller diameter are made to slide inside the stationary section to form a telescoping unit. The smallest tubular section has a foot member at its bottom end and a cable fastened to its upper end. The cable passes over a sheave and is wound onto a winch operated by a motor. In operation, the winch lowers the smallest tubular section into the tank until the foot member contacts the material in the tank and compresses the material enough to stop the downward movement of the tubular section. The winch is then reversed to bring the tubular section back to its "up" position. The sheave operates a counting and recording device that records the total distance traveled by the cable, and this distance indicates the level of material in the tank.

Abstract: The invention is a method and machine for filling and sealing a multiwall valve bag. The bag is fabricated with a valve structure that has at least two separated layers of a polymer composition capable of being heated by electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range (RF energy). After the bag is filled with a product, the valve structure of the bag is clamped against a set of electrodes that are carrying the RF energy. In a very short time, the polymer layers in the valve structure will absorb enough of the RF energy to join together and thus "heat" seal the filled bag.

Abstract: A slight tube assembly, in combination with a sensing instrument, such as an optical pyrometer, for use in continuously monitoring the temperature of the first row of rotating blades in large gas turbines, particularly the type used in industry. Temperature data received by the pyrometer unit is fed to a control circuit, which regulates fuel input to the tubine to control the firing temperature. The key to obtaining reliable blade temperature data in the practice of this invention is the position of the sight tube in the turbine, which enables the pyrometer to "view" the rotating blades along a direct line of sight that penetrates a hot gas duct, but not the turbine section of the engine.

Abstract: The machine disclosed herein is useful for blending solids with fluids. In a typical operation, sand is mixed with a gel composition to obtain a fluid mixture suitable for stimulation treatments of oil and gas wells. The machine includes a slinger member, of a toroidal shape, and an impeller, of a vortex configuration, that is fastened underneath the slinger. In this machine entrained air is carried into the fluid phase by the sand, but the air is then "exhausted" from the sand-gel mixture through interior and exterior air exhaust channels and spaces that are built into the machine.

Abstract: The instrument disclosed herein is designed for measuring flow rates and densities of moving fluid streams, including liquids, gases, slurries, and fluids which contain solid materials. In one embodiment of this instrument, a conduit section, which has a 90 degree bend therein, is placed in a transfer line which carries the fluid stream to its use point. Defined within the conduit section is a chamber, which is located at the bend in the conduit. Installed within the chamber is a force measuring transducer and a piston, which is in contact with the diaphragm assembly of the transducer. In operation, part of the moving fluid is diverted into the chamber, to equalize fluid pressure across the diaphragm assembly of the transducer and the piston. This removes the effect of fluid pressure on the flow rate and density measurement, and allows the moving fluid to displace the piston by the force exerted by the fluid.