Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and distributing solid material in which the material is continuously introduced into a vessel and a pressurized gas is introduced into the lower portion of the vessel at a velocity sufficient to pass upwardly through the material in the vessel to promote mixing of the material. A plurality of outlets are disposed in an angularly spaced relation along the vessel for permitting the material to continuously discharge to a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: A ladder attachment includes a telescopic cross-bar 1A, 2A the ends of which carry wheels 3A for engaging a wall on either side of the ladder. This provides stability and also sets the ladder back from the wall.The center portion 1A of the cross-bar has a pair of hooks 4A which hook over a rung 5A of the ladder and a pair of turnbuckles 9 which hook under a lower rung 12 (after which the turnbuckles 9 are tightened to secure the fixing). The turnbuckles are attached to a sleeve 10 carried by the bar 1A and have hooks 11.A platform assembly 30 can also be mounted on the ladder and connected to the ladder attachment by support struts. The platform assembly includes a support framework 32 in which slots 33 are provided to overlie two rungs 34 and a turnbuckle 35 tightens the framework against the ladder.The ladder attachment can carry a pulley by which goods can be hoisted to the person working on the ladder.

Abstract: A stitching head for a stitching or embroidering machine for forming stitches fixed to the machine by a support including at least one needle which is associated with a main presser foot having a pressing heel. The stitching head has an auxiliary presser foot which is independent of the main presser foot and has a heel pierced with an opening. The auxiliary presser foot is mounted for sliding, with respect to the support, along an axis parallel to the needle, whereby its heel is disposed in the path of the downward movement of the main presser foot parallel to and spaced apart from the pressing heel of the main presser foot, while having its opening situated in the path of the needle. A helical spring is mounted for permanently urging the auxiliary presser foot toward the main presser foot.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler, and a method of operating same in which air is passed through a grate to fluidize a bed of particulate material containing fossil fuel disposed on the grate. A raw acceptor for the sulfur produced as a result of the combustion of the fuel is introduced into the housing and confined within an area of the housing isolated from the bed of particulate material. The area containing the acceptor is maintained at conditions optimal for calcining the acceptor, after which the latter is introduced into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A seat and cover assembly for a toilet bowl including a seat member and a cover member pivotally mounted to a mounting block for movement relative to the bowl between an upright position and a lowered position. Springs are provided for biasing the seat member and the cover member into an abutting relationship in both the upright and lower positions of the members, and a magnetic latch assembly quick-releasably secures the cover member in its upright position.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of zones and air is selectively passed through portions of the grate to fluidize corresponding portions of the bed above the zones. A plurality of air distributors are provided in the bed for reducing the height of the particulate material accumulating in various portions of the bed.

Abstract: Optical lenses mounted by means of a low melting alloy to blocking tools are separated therefrom under influence of heated water and ultrasonic waves and residues of the alloy are removed from the lenses and the blocking tools. The lenses are held in a holding device and the blocking tools are collected in a grid; the mounting material is collected in a sump such that the lenses and blocking tools can be separately removed out of the water. The water and the mounting alloy kept in a liquid state of aggregate are discharged batchwise.

Abstract: A vapor generating system in which a furnace section is provided that is formed by four upright walls. A plurality of openings are formed in one of the walls, and a plurality of gasifiers extend adjacent said one wall and surround the openings so that the respective interiors of the gasifiers communicate with the openings. A bed of adsorbent material is supported in each gasifier for adsorbing the sulfur generated as a result of the gasification of fuel introduced into the gasifier, and air is passed through the bed of adsorbent material to fluidize said material so that, upon combustion of said fuel, a substantially sulfur-free product gas is produced which passes from the gasifier, through the openings and into the furnace section.

Abstract: An electrical connector for effecting connection to `banana` type sockets includes a connector body having an axially elongated male pin extending from one end thereof. A captive, internally threaded collar is located at the proximate end of the pin and is used to threadedly engage the external threads of a mating socket. The other end of the connector body includes an internally threaded bore for receiving a threaded terminal fastener that includes a head portion for securing bifurcated terminal lugs between the end of the connector body and the head of the terminal fastener. A flat side surface is formed on the head of the terminal fastener for engaging the bent free ends of bifurcated terminal lugs. The terminal fastener also includes an axially aligned bore for receiving a male banana-type pin and a diametrically aligned bore for receiving a solid or a stranded core wire so that the wire can be secured between the head of the terminal fastener and the end of the connector body.

Abstract: The invention is an energy-efficient improvement in a continuous deasphalting process in which a mixture of viscous hydrocarbon oils with resins and/or asphaltenes is contacted with a quantity of pure or mixed hydrocarbon solvents including, but not limited to, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, isomers thereof, and unsaturated hydrocarbons of similar molecular weights, in order to separate a primary extract phase comprising high viscosity oil, resins and/or asphaltenes, and solvent. The primary raffinate phase is further contacted with an additional quantity of solvent comprising similar components to those in the primary solvent (but not necessarily identical thereto) to separate a secondary extract phase comprising high viscosity oil and solvent, and a secondary raffinate phase comprising resins and/or asphaltenes and solvent. The contacting step may be repeated as often as desired to make additional extract phases which are recovered separately.

Abstract: A system for the fluidized reinjection of fine particles (carryover) into a fluidized bed combustor. The carryover recirculation system includes a fluidized reinjection bed which is fluidized using clean gas from the induced draft fan outlet boosted by a small auxiliary fan. The fluidized fine particles can be reinjected into the fluidized combustor bed by either dense phase transport or by dilute phase transport.

Abstract: Most ribbon re-inking machines are not clean and convenient to use. The present machine is relatively clean to use because the ink reservoir is normally kept oriented so that leakage does not occur. Thus, the reservoir has an inlet which is sealed once ink has been added while an inking roller fits in an outlet on the same side as the inlet. Thus ink can only flow onto the roller when the reservoir and whole machine is inverted for use. An air inlet is provided on the other side of the reservoir from the outlet and roller and that inlet is opened when the reservoir is inverted. Only then will ink flow during rotation of the roller when a ribbon is moved over it.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which an air distributor plate assembly is disposed within an enclosure for supporting a bed of particulate material. The plate assembly includes a plurality of horizontal, spaced tubes through which water is passed to cool the assembly. Air is passed from an air plenum through openings formed in the plate assembly to fluidize the particulate material. Insulation is disposed on the lower surface of the plate assembly to insulate the latter from the heat of the fluidizing air, and the upper surface of the plate assembly is insulated from the high temperatures occurring in the bed.

Abstract: A combustion air preheater for heating combustion air with heat energy provided from flue gas includes both a heat pipe type heat exchanger for effecting low temperature heat transfer between the flue gas and the combustion air and a tube-and-shell type heat exchanger for effecting higher temperature heat transfer. The preheater includes a first heat exchanger, having first and second heat transfer compartments with a plurality of heat pipes extending therebetween and a second, connected heat exchanger which includes a plurality of heat tubes supported by tube sheets within a shell. Ducting is provided to direct flue gas over the tubes of the second heat exchanger and then through one of the compartments of the first heat exchanger and additional ducting is provided to direct combustion air through the other compartment of the first heat exchanger and through the tubes of the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A combustion system and method for a coal-fired furnace in which a splitter is provided in the main conduit leading from the pulverizer for splitting the stream of coal and air into two separate streams. One stream from the splitter is connected to a separator in which a quantity of air is separated from the mixture of air and coal. A low load burner assembly is provided which includes a first nozzle connected to the separator for discharging the bulk of the coal flow and some air into the furnace, and a second nozzle connected to the same separator for discharging the bulk of the air from the separator into the furnace. The other stream from the splitter is connected to a third nozzle which discharges its mixture of air and coal into the furnace to provide high load capability.

Abstract: A device for supporting a person on a ladder in which a frame is provided for extending around the ladder with sufficient clearance to move relative to said ladder. A portion of the frame extends at an angle relative to the remaining frame and inwardly towards the ladder. The frame can be connected to the person at a position that of said angularly-extending portion so that movement of the person downwardly on said ladder causes said angularly-extending portion to move between the ladder stays and engage a rung on said ladder to prevent further downward movement.

Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger in which a perforated plate is disposed within a housing for supporting a bed of particulate material. Air is passed through the plate to fluidize the particulate material and a mixture of air and additional particulate material is introduced to said bed and deflected into said bed in a manner to induce diffusion and circulation of the bed materials in the bed.

Abstract: A drain and sampling valve assembly for a fluidized bed reactor in which a pipe extends from the fluidized bed supporting structure to a location externally of said reactor. A valve seat is supported by said supporting structure and a valve stem is disposed in the pipe and extends for the length of the pipe and has a valve head mounted at one end of the stem for cooperating with the valve seat. A mechanical actuator assembly is provided externally of said reactor for selectively moving the stem relative to the pipe and the movement of the valve head relative to the valve seat to control the flow of material from the fluidized bed into the pipe. A discharge pipe and a sampling valve cooperate with the other end of the first mentioned pipe for selectively controlling the discharge of material from said latter pipe for permitting samples to be taken.

Abstract: A burner assembly in which an inlet is located at one end of an annular passage for receiving fuel, and an outlet is located at the other end of the passage for discharging the fuel. A plurality of blocks are disposed within the annular passage for splitting up the fuel discharging from said outlet so that, upon ignition of said fuel, a plurality of flame patterns are formed. A register assembly is provided which includes an enclosure for receiving air and a divider for directing the air from the enclosure towards the outlet in two parallel paths extending around the burner. Registers are disposed in each of the paths for regulating the quantity of air flowing through the paths.

Abstract: A system for separating solid particles from the combustion products of coal in which high temperature, high pressure flue gas containing the particles is directed tangentially into a cyclone separator so that the relatively large particles are driven by centrifugal forces to the inner wall of the separator. Electrical charges generated at ambient temperature are blown into the cyclone separator via aerosol charge-carriers which charge the relatively small particles in a manner so that the small charged particles are attracted to the wall, which is of an opposite polarity, and are scrubbed off the wall by the larger particles. A double-cone flow regulator is positioned in the path of the aerosol charge carriers and the particles to direct the carriers and particles toward the inner wall. An outlet is provided at the lower portion of the cyclone separator for discharging the separated particles and an additional outlet is provided for discharging the clean gas.