Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating artificial atmospheres in a furnace for the heat treating of materials. The furnace includes a substantially isolated chamber having a discharge receiving orifice for accepting a bi-phasic cryogen into a hot/work zone of the chamber. A low pressure cryogen source feeds a bi-phasic inert gas into the chamber in order to allow the volumetric expansion of the evaporating liquid constituent of the bi-phasic cryogen to purge a substantial portion of the ambient oxygen from the chamber and to allow a substantial residual concentration of the inert gas to blanket the process area without significant dissipation during the heat treating process. Oxidizable materials heat treated in artificial atmospheres generated by use of bi-phasic cryogens show no signs of scaling or staining through the process and thus do not need to undergo acid bathing prior to subsequent processing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating artificial atmospheres in a furnace for the heat treating of materials. The furnace includes a substantially isolated chamber having a discharge receiving orifice for accepting a bi-phasic cryogen into a hot/work zone of the chamber. A low pressure cryogen source feeds a bi-phasic inert gas into the chamber in order to allow the volumetric expansion of the evaporating liquid constituent of the bi-phasic cryogen to purge a substantial portion of the ambient oxygen from the chamber and to allow a substantial residual concentration of the inert gas to blanket the process area without significant dissipation during the heat treating process. Oxidizable materials heat treated in artificial atmospheres generated by use of bi-phasic cryogens show no signs of scaling or staining through the process and thus do not need to undergo acid bathing prior to subsequent processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for unloading liquified gases from rail cars or other transport vehicles by using an energy buffer system which allows the shifting of electric demand to off-peak hours when electric power rates are lower. The system employs a buffer tank containing solidified gas to withdraw vapor remaining in the rail car after the liquified gas has been removed. The invention relies on the fact that the liquified gas which is to be unloaded has a triple point pressure that is low enough to allow recovery of the majority of the residual vapor in the rail car. The system allows the use of a smaller refrigeration unit operating at a constant load over a long period of time, in place of a larger refrigeration unit. The system also provides an additional advantage of extracting vapor from a rail car at a faster rate than the rate which is possible with a typical compressor.

Abstract: A device for sampling flue gas from a duct includes a casing tube having a longitudinal axis, and a port for connecting an interior of the casing tube with a source of cooling fluid, an extraction tube having an end part disposed in the interior of the casing tube, an end of the extraction tube extending through the casing tube to form an inlet opening, an intermediate tube disposed between the casing tube and the extraction tube and spaced from the casing tube and the extraction tube to define a cooling fluid circuit and a sampling tube extending in an interior of the extraction tube and having an opening in an interior of the extraction tube.

Abstract: A circuit board is wave soldered as it is carried by a conveyor through a solder wave established in a solder reservoir. Disposed on both sides of the solder wave are gas plenums which discharge shield gas. The gas plenums include orifices for directing shield gas (i) at high velocity toward the solder wave to protect the solder wave with an atmosphere of shield gas, and/or (ii) upwardly toward an underside of the circuit board to strip entrained air therefrom. The solder wave is generated by a pump driven by a drive shaft that extends downwardly into the solder reservoir. An upper portion of the drive shaft is surrounded by a stationary hollow sleeve which projects into the solder reservoir to restrict the churning of the solder during rotation of the drive shaft. A shield gas is introduced into the sleeve to inert the solder being churned. An enclosure is positioned above the solder reservoir having an inlet and an outlet through which the circuit boards are conveyed.

Abstract: A circuit board is wave soldered as it is carried by a conveyor through a solder wave established in a solder reservoir. Disposed on both sides of the solder wave are gas plenums which discharge shield gas. Each gas plenum includes a top wall, a side wall, and a bottom wall. The side wall is spaced horizontally from the wave, and the bottom wall is submerged within the solder. The side and (optionally) top walls include orifices for directing shield gas (i) at high velocity toward the solder wave to protect the solder wave with an atmosphere of shield gas, and (ii) upwardly toward an underside of the circuit board to strip entrained air therefrom. Instead of being submerged within the solder, the bottom wall could be spaced above the solder and provided with orifices to emit shield gas downwardly between the plenum and solder reservoir to create an inert atmosphere above the solder.