Abstract: An agricultural or industrial water filter comprises a spin plate, a flow distributing sleeve, and a cone basin. The spin plate includes fluid passageways disposed at a 20 degree angle relative to the axis of the filter. The flow distributing sleeve is disposed in between the screen and the filter chamber. The screen may be oversize with a screen area that is a multiple of the screen area of a standard screen. The sleeve comprises a plurality of axial slots which are more narrow at the proximal side and wider at the distal side. The end cap is coupled to a bottom of the filter chamber and disposed adjacent to a bottom of the screen. The end cap comprises a cone coupled to the top of a basin. The cone extends upwardly into the space within the screen. A narrow annulus with a small cross-sectional area is formed between the bottom edge of the cone and the top of the basin. The basin includes a flush tube to flush out particles collected in the basin and to cause a high velocity flow through the annulus.

Abstract: The present invention is a valve that shuts off only upon excess flow of liquid. A ball is seated within a ball holder. The ball holder has a circumferential side wall. An inlet orifice and one or more circumferential apertures are defined in the circumferential side wall. An outlet orifice is defined in a surface disposed above the ball holder. The ball holder may be disposed within a main body which directs all material flowing in the valve to enter the ball holder. Excess flow of liquid effects a shut-off position of the valve when the excess flow of liquid encounters resistance caused by the circumferential apertures. The resistance causes the liquid to flow through the inlet orifice at a flow high enough to push the ball upwards to a height at which the flow of liquid through the circumferential apertures carries the ball further upward to effectively seal the outlet aperture, at which point the sealed position is maintained by hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract: A fluid drip tape splicing coupling is provided with two sequential sections, the first of which possesses a plurality of circumferential frustoconical barbs of essentially equal diameter. In the second section, which likewise contains a plurality of frustoconical barbs, at least one of the frustoconical barbs, a step barb, possesses a dimension, transverse to the axis of the coupling, which is greater than the diameter of the frustoconical barbs in the first section of the coupling. The step barb may be circular or elliptic in cross section. The fluid drip tape may be joined over this coupling by sliding and stretching a first piece of drip tape over the first section, which has been azimuthally aligned to line up the seam of the drip tape with the radial high point of step barb, until the tape abuts the step barb. A second piece of tape is slid over the coupling from the opposite direction over the second section and over the step barb until it overlaps the first drip tape.

Abstract: An improved high volume, straight through, low turbulent flow pressure regulating valve is provided by utilizing a hallow cylindrical valve which is selectively and telescopically disposed over an aligned conforming biscuit around which biscuit and through which valve the fluid flows. The valve does not contact the biscuit so that valve chatter is impossible. Furthermore, the absence of a valve seat or other lip reduces the turbulence introduced into fluid flow within the valve body thereby also increasing flow volume capacity. Movement of the valve is controlled in response to pressure within the valve body by means of rolling diaphragm, which is fluidically communicated to the interior of the valve body. The diaphragm, which acts as a piston, is connected between the valve body and the valve member. Increased pressure within the valve acts against the diaphragm forcing the valve member over the biscuit to reduce flow and pressure. The diaphragm, acting as a piston, acts against a prebiased spring.

Abstract: A steam lance, which is useful to melt solid sulfur in the outlet underneath a sulfur tank car containing molten sulfur, comprises (in operative relationship) tip means for contacting a material to be heated (e.g., solid sulfur); conduit means for conducting heat exchanging fluid to, or to and from, said tip means; and pivot means disposed in an operative relationship therewith for pivotally supporting said conduit means to enable the application of force to said conduit means to urge said tip means against or into said material to be heated.

Abstract: Alkali metal phosphates and HF can be produced from a substantially calcium-free fluoroaluminum phosphate precipitate (which also contains iron) made by the aging of wet process phosphoric acid containing iron, fluorine and aluminum, preferably phosphoric acid analyzing in the range of about 15%-45 weight percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 2-4% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 1-2% fluorine. One process involves digestion of phosphate ore matrix in recycled phosphoric acid, filtration to remove the insoluble residue, precipitation and filtration to remove gypsum, and aging of the product acid to precipitate the aluminum impurity as a fluoroaluminum phosphate compound. The fluoroaluminum phosphate can be decomposed (as by heating at above 195.degree. C.) to produce HF and aluminum phosphate. The aluminum phosphate can be contacted with alkali metal hydroxide under conditions which produce an alkali metal phosphate.

Abstract: Phosphoric acids of significantly different content of soluble impurities, especially magnesium compounds, can be blended to produce a phosphoric acid with a decreased tendency for forming detrimental solids when converted to a liquid fertilizer or on storage, or during transportation as when the acid is transported by ocean vessel or rail road tank car. The blending can be effected either before or after a concentration step or steps (e.g., evaporation to "merchant grade" or to superphosphoric acid). For example, wet process phosphoric acid produced by a dihydrate or gypsum process can be blended with a phosphoric acid produced by a hemihydrate process.

Abstract: A "non-pressure" liquid fertilizer containing nitrogen and sulfur can be prepared by a process comprising (a) mixing sulfuric acid in water, (b) dissolving urea into the resulting solution, and (c) adding anhydrous ammonia in an amount sufficient to bring the pH of the solution to between about 6 and 8. The resulting liquid fertilizers can typically contain in the range of about 19 to about 25% nitrogen and in the range of about 3 to 6% sulfur and remain substantially free from crystals when stored at temperatures above about 40.degree. F. A 19-0-0 liquid fertilizer containing about 3% S (as sulfate) remained crystal free when stored for about a month at about 32.degree. F. The "non-pressure" liquid can be blended with dispersion-type fertilizers. Dispersion-type fertilizers of low phosphate content can be made by substituting phosphoric acid for some or all of the sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A method for the inhibition of plant growth which comprises applying thereto an effective amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid.