Abstract: A protective spark eliminating system for removing burning particulates from flue gases prior to introducing the gases into a filter baghouse. The protective system includes a housing enclosing a separating chamber having a gas inlet in the side of the housing for directing a stream of flue gases into the housing, and a gas outlet in the top of the housing for conducting the flue gas stream out of the chamber. To effect separation and removal of the burning particulates from the gas stream, the housing is provided with a secondary gas system which is adapted to maintain a downwardly flowing curtain of gas across the width of the flue gas inlet to direct the burning particulates in the flue gases downwardly into a hopper at the base of the housing as the flue gases enter the chamber.

Abstract: An automatic mechanical brake adjuster for a walk-behind lift truck includes a lever (59) with two relatively pivoted parts (58,76) including a ratchet mechanism (96) therebetween. The ratchet mechanism (96) includes a ratchet wheel segment (77) and cooperating pawls (101-104). The brake adjuster also includes an extensible link (126) which determines the brake shoe back-off distance and cooperates with the ratchet mechanism (96) in effecting pivotal adjustment between the lever parts (58,76).

Abstract: A counterweight link rod incorporates a counterweight lifting lug to provide a safe and easily usable means to lift a counterweight during erection or maintenance for positioning it with respect to a connection point with the wicket gate operating ring. The arrangement also provides a readily available permanent means for attaching an overhead crane hook to the wicket gate operating ring for stroking the gates during erection or maintenance. The arrangement also provides a means for operating the wicket gate operating ring when the operating ring servo-motors fail.

Abstract: A mobile, portable crushing and screening plant includes a crusher (17), a screening device (31), and a conveyor (46) mounted on the trailer having a main frame (11) and support wheels (21-24). The screening device (31) is hinged for vertical swinging movement between a raised operating position and a lowered transport position. The conveyor mechanism (46) includes an elevating section (95) having a pair of hinged segments (103, 104) which are connected to the elevatable end of the screening device (31) so that both the hinged segments (103, 104) are raised and lowered between their operating and transport positions when the screening device (31) is moved by hydraulic actuators (121, 122) between its operating and transport positions. The main conveyor belt (48) passes rearwardly between the laterally spaced trailer wheels (21, 22 and 23, 24) with the working run being above and the return run being below the transverse wheel axles (73, 74).

Abstract: A common mounting base plate is secured to a turbine gallery floor and anchor a pair of servomotors which are connected to operate a wicket gate operator ring; the arrangement permits the servomotors to be angularly positioned to clear the gate ring counterweight and to allow the servomotors to operate in identical modes simultaneously--both push together or both pull together.

Abstract: A deflectable support for a protective frame on a tractor to absorb shock loading on the frame and prevent excessive damage to the frame and provide a secondary support for the protective frame to prevent damage to the frame or injury to the operator.

Abstract: An agricultural planter having a seed singulating plate (28) rotatable about a vertical axis (30) to disperse seeds stored in a gravity flow hopper (12). A replaceable wear ring (38) of wear resistant material increases the useful life of the hopper and permits the renewal of a high wear surface without replacement of the hopper lower portion (14).

Abstract: The bin unloader belt drive for a combine includes a clutching idler mechanism in which the start-up torque delivered by the belt (11) from a drive pulley (12) to a driven pulley (13) is limited by using a dampener (51) which retards the spring biased movement of a clutching idler pulley (21) from its drive disestablishing position to its drive establishing position.

Abstract: A stiff bearing support for the guide bearing of a drive shaft of a hydro-turbine machine which effectively isolates the radial movement of a grounded head cover from that of the bearing surface while it solidly transfers the lateral bearing reaction load to the grounded head cover.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for initiating operation of a coal gasification plant which includes a gasification reactor and gas cleansing apparatus fabricated in part from materials susceptible to chloride induced stress corrosion cracking the presence of oxygen. The reactor is preheated by combusting a stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel to produce an exhaust gas which is then diluted with steam to produce product gas which contains essentially no free oxygen. The product gas heats the reactor to a temperature profile necessary to maintain autothermic operation of the gasification process while maintaining air oxygen-free environment within the plant apparatus while chlorine is liberated from coal being gasified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purging hot flue gases from one or more of the filter compartments in a baghouse installation wherein heated ambient air is admitted to the reverse air system of the installation which directs the ambient air into the compartments to purge the gases from the compartments.

Abstract: A sling belt conveyor has a pair of individually tensioned cables (209, 224) with transverse slings (51) pivotally connected to the cables (209, 224) which support a low tension conveyor belt (61) without being connected thereto. The belt (61) extends beyond the path of the support cables (209, 224) and is tensioned independently of the latter.

Abstract: A conduction limit protective arrangement for a power transistor switch regulated by a train of control pulses is disclosed which automatically changes the conduction limit as a function of the voltage, current, and temperature conditions to which the switch is subjected so that it is within its safe operating area limits at all times, thereby permitting the switch to carry maximum current while being fully protected at all times.

Abstract: A seal (41 or 141) is provided at the pivot joint between a deflector (19) and a snow chute (18) which has spaced fingers (42 or 142) permitting the leading edge of the seal (41 or 141) to conform to a reduced linear dimension when the deflector (19) is pivotal to a forward position of adjustment about its pivot axis (22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating one or more of the filter compartments in a baghouse installation wherein an air damper is provided on each of the compartments to admit heated ambient air into each of the isolated compartments to prevent flue gases from seeping into the compartment.

Abstract: A tightly fitted assembly including an impeller mounted on a tapered shaft with an interference fit. The impeller includes a piston and cylinder arrangement adapted to supply an axially acting force to the impeller to disengage it from the shaft while fluid pressure is applied to the bore of the impeller to break the interference fit between the shaft and impeller.

Abstract: A pivot joint between a crop cutting sickle (13) and an offset drive arm (12) includes a pivot pin (37) which is connected to the sickle by antifriction bearings (23) and to the sickle drive arm (12) by a tapered wedging sleeve (43). Both ends of the pin (37) are threaded to receive nuts (57,58) which, when tightened, insure a tight joint which does not become loose when subjected to the reversing shock loads encountered in a crop cutting operation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for gasifying solid coal particles in a rotary kiln that produces simultaneously and continuously two distinctly different fuel gas streams from the opposite ends of a single kiln. A relatively low temperature gas is discharged from the solids inlet end of the kiln, which contains substantially all tars produced by the process. A second of the gas streams is discharged from the solids discharge end of the kiln at approximately 1,900.degree. F. and substantially tar-free. Heat is recovered from this tar-free gas after only a simple cleaning of particulate matter, as may be provided by a cyclone separator.

Abstract: A wedge gate valve is manufactured from plate steel which comprises machining the valve body from steel plate to provide inlet and outlet body sides which are identical and which are bolted together to form a non-cast, non-forged and non-welded gate valve particularly well suited for nuclear class service.

Abstract: A port assembly for delivering fluid through a shell of a rotary kiln is disclosed with structures for screening and excluding particulate matter from the port during operation of the kiln. The port assembly comprises a cylindrical nozzle defining a nozzle orifice to deliver fluid to the interior of a kiln. A base member secured to one side of the nozzle is provided with a platform extending partly through the nozzle orifice and cooperates with the nozzle to define an annular chamber. Facing surfaces of the base member and nozzle define a fluid distribution cavity for providing fluid to the annular chamber for ultimate distribution into the kiln. An annular shoulder surrounding the platform within the fluid distribution cavity cooperates with a facing surface of the nozzle to define a particle barrier gap.