Abstract: A method for precision cleaning of a workpiece with a cleaning fluid comprising liquid and/or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide and a primary solvent which is liquid at ambient temperatures and pressures comprises first placing the workpiece in a pressurizable vessel with a removable lid and within an inner tank open at the top; supplying the primary solvent to the inner tank; flushing the primary solvent through the pressure vessel; draining the inner tank to remove the primary solvent; and then supplying liquid and/or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide to the pressure vessel and flushing it through the vessel by withdrawing it from near the bottom of the inner tank.

Abstract: An improved precision cleaning method includes introducing a solvent to a cleaning vessel, placing a workpiece in the cleaning vessel and contacting the workpiece with the solvent during a residence period. The cleaning vessel is then pressurized to a target pressure by adding carbon dioxide to the vessel, and additional carbon dioxide is pumped into the vessel while maintaining the target pressure to flush contents of the vessel. Cleaning may be enhanced by pressurizing to above the supercritical point of the carbon dioxide, and cleaning is further enhanced by application of sonic energy or mechanical agitation.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying ultrasonic energy in precision cleaning includes a pressure vessel having a plurality of sonic plates, with or without a rotary device located inside the vessel. The plates may be arranged centrally within the vessel to propagate sonic waves outward, or the plates may be located on an interior wall in the pressure vessel, directed inward. Each plate includes a plurality of sonic transducers, spaced along the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel. The rotary device may include a plurality of arms carrying removable brush holders or a rotating parts basket. In either case, the device is driven by a motor mounted in a top cover of the pressure vessel. A liquid cleaning fluid, preferably carbon dioxide, is charged in the pressure vessel to submerge the sonic plates and workpieces secured in the pressure vessel. The transducers are then energized and the rotary device engaged to apply both sonic and mechanical agitation to the workpieces for enhanced removal of particulates.

Abstract: A rising stem valve comprising a valve body, a two part valve stem and a stem guide washer. The valve body has a valve seat in a passage between an inlet and outlet port. The two part valve stem comprising a rotating stem and a non-rotating stem and the rotating stem has a threaded bore receiving a threaded end of the non-rotating stem. The non-rotating stem has a non-circular cross section external of the threaded bore and is adapted to carry a closure head to the valve seat. The stem guide washer has a bore positioned in mating relationship with the noncircular cross section of the non-rotating stem, whereby the stem guide washer prevents the stem from rotating when the upper stem is rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for gas pressure bonding, hot isostatic pressing or the like in which a workpiece may be treated at elevated temperatures and pressures comprises an elongate cylindrical pressure vessel for enclosing a furnace. The furnace comprises an insulated bottom and an insulated hood with openings near the top and bottom. The insulating hood rests upon the bottom for enclosing a workspace. Means for heating the workspace and means for cooling the pressure vessel are provided. The improvements according to this disclosure are means for establishing a first circulating flow of pressurized fluid down along the interior of the pressure vessel wall, means for establishing a second circulating flow of pressurized fluid down through the workspace.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a workpiece at elevated temperatures both under vacuum and under superatmospheric pressures comprises a vacuum pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical pressure shell having an inner cylindrical sealing face near the upper edge thereof and a cover at one axial end and a bottom plug at the other axial end. Both are arranged to be placed within a reaction frame bearing thereupon. A furnace within the shell has an insulating hood for protecting the shell from the heated workspace. A vacuum manifold is mounted to the top edge of the cylindrical shell and is sealed thereto. The manifold has a cylindrical interior through which the cover passes and an inner cylindrical sealing face at the upper end thereof. Mechanically powered means are provided for raising and lowering the cover and placing it in a first or a second position.

Abstract: A high temperature and high pressure consistometer comprises a cylindrical pressure vessel having an integral bottom and a cover for said pressure vessel. A nonmagnetic canister extends downwardly from said bottom and is sealed therein. A driven magnet assembly is journaled in said canister. A drive shaft is connected to said driven magnet assembly extending into said vessel. A nonmagnetic canister extends upwardly from the cover and is sealed therein. A driving magnet assembly is journaled in said canister. A shaft connected to said driving magnet assembly extends downwardly into said vessel. A driven magnet assembly is mounted for rotation on the exterior of the downwardly extending canister and a driven magnet assembly is mounted for rotation on the exterior of the upwardly extending canister. A sample cup is connected to the upwardly extending drive shaft and a paddle is connected to the downwardly extending shaft.

Abstract: A high pressure gas/oil separator comprising a pressure vessel with a magnetically driven hollow shaft extending thereinto. The shaft has a slinger at its lower end within the vessel. The upper end of the shaft is in communication with a source of the gas/oil mixture. The vessel has a purified gas outlet above the slinger. Gas/oil mixture is thrown by centrifugal force against walls of the vessel and the oil coalesces on the walls and drains to the bottom of the vessel. The purified gas escapes from the vessel through the outlet port.

Abstract: A handle for a magnetically actuated valve which bears rotating and fixed indicia for reading the valve position. The rotating indicia is placed upon a jacket carrying drive magnets. The fixed indicia is placed upon a cap covering the exposed end of a nonmagnetic bonnet separating the drive and driven magnet assemblies. External stop means prevent rotation of the jacket relative to the cap and bonnet more than about 90.degree.. Internal stop means prevent the rotation of valve and driven magnets more than about 90.degree..

Abstract: This invention relates to a rising stem valve that is magnetically actuated. A driven magnet assembly is rotatably supported in a nonmagnetic pressurizable bonnet fixed to the main valve body. The driven magnet assembly preferably comprises rare earth cobalt magnets defining an even number of north and south poles. A cylindrical holder coaxial with and surrounding said tubular bonnet is rotatably secured thereto. The holder carries driving magnets, preferably rare earth cobalt magnets with an even number of north and south poles. Rotation of the holder results in rotation of the driven magnet assembly. A valve stem is connected to the driven magnet assembly in a manner such that turning of the driven magnet assembly raises and lowers the stem which in turn opens and closes the valve.

Abstract: A packless magnetically actuated valve. A driven magnet assembly is rotatably mounted inside a nonmagnetic bonnet. A drive magnet holder surrounds the bonnet and rotates thereon. The driven magnet assembly turns a stopper positioned in the main valve body between inlet and outlet passages. The bonnet is mounted for rotation and means extend between the bonnet and the driven magnet assembly such that sufficient rotation of the bonnet will cause rotation of the stopper.

Abstract: A laboratory pressure vessel having a cover plug suspended on a platform and extending therebelow. A vessel body is arranged to be moved into sliding engagement with the cover plug below the platform. Grooves in the walls of the cover plug and vessel body together define a toroidal space and a flexible element is arranged to be inserted into said toroidal space to secure the cover plug and body together.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shifting stem metering valve that is magnetically actuated. A driven magnet assembly is rotatably supported in a nonmagnetic pressurizable bonnet fixed to the main valve body. The driven magnet assembly preferably comprises rare earth cobalt magnets defining an even number of north and south poles. A cylindrical holder coaxial with and surrounding said tubular bonnet is rotatably secured thereto. The holder carries driving magnets, preferably rare earth cobalt magnets with an even number of north and south poles. Rotation of the holder results in rotation of the driven magnet assembly. A stepping motor or the like controls the rotation of the driven magnet assembly. A valve stem is connected to the driven magnet assembly in a manner such that turning of the driven magnet assembly shifts the stem which in turn adjusts the valve opening.

Abstract: A packless magnetically actuated stopper valve. A driven magnet assembly is rotatably mounted inside a nonmagnetic bonnet. A drive magnetic holder surrounds the bonnet and rotates thereon. The driven magnet assembly turns a stopper positioned in the main valve body between inlet and outlet passages. Floating valve seats associated with each passage sealably engage the stopper.

Abstract: An apparatus or system for cooling the interior of an autoclave furnace vessel after it has been pressurized with a gas and heated. The system comprises a heat conducting conduit opening at one end to the furnace interior and at the other end to a shut-off valve exterior to the vessel. Intermediate the two ends of the conduit is a coil portion comprising a heat exchanger positioned at a location in the furnace where hot vessel gases may be forced through or past the coil. Furnace gases are forced into the conduit and therefore through the coiled portion where they are heated prior to being exhausted. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is a Joule-Thomson valve before the coiled portion of the conduit to reduce the temperature of the exhausting gases prior to arriving at the coiled portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rising stem valve that is magnetically actuated. A driven magnet assembly is rotatably supported in a nonmagnetic pressurizable bonnet fixed to the main valve body. The driven magnet assembly preferably comprises rare earth cobalt magnets defining an even number of north and south poles. A cylindrical holder coaxial with and surrounding said tubular bonnet is rotatably secured thereto. The holder carries driving magnets, preferably rare earth cobalt magnets with an even number of north and south poles. Rotation of the holder results in rotation of the driven magnet assembly. A valve stem is connected to the driven magnet assembly in a manner such that turning of the driven magnet assembly raises and lowers the stem which in turn opens and closes the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a workpiece at elevated temperatures both under vacuum and under superatmospheric pressures to provide for vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing in the same apparatus. The apparatus according to this invention comprises a vacuum-pressure vessel and a furnace within the vessel having a pedestal upon which the hearth rests extending up into the furnace. A first electrical heating means spaced about the pedestal is entirely below the hearth. At least one second electrical heating means is spaced about the workspace above the hearth. Means for separately controlling the first and second electrical heating elements are provided. The furnace can provide substantial uniform temperature distribution to the workpiece resting upon the hearth when the vessel is evacuated by direct radiation from the electrical heating means above the hearth. When the vessel is pressurized, uniform temperature distribution is maintained by convection from the electrical heating means below the hearth.

Abstract: A pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical stress liner, a pair of end plates, a plurality of annular shrink rings positioned about the circumference of the stress liner, and a plurality of coolant-filled annular cooling coils positioned about the shrink rings is disclosed. Nonuniform stress producing bending stresses in the shrink rings are eliminated by the method comprising the steps for detecting a stress concentration in a shrink ring and causing coolant to be recirculated from a reservoir through the coil about the shrink ring.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric furnace and, in particular, an electric furnace having graphite rod heating elements electrically connected into more than one series circuit. In this way, the heating elements can be arranged to provide individually controllable heating zones.The heating elements are supported by hollow graphite cylinders and flanges extending radially inward from the hollow cylinders. The rod heating elements extend upwardly from the flanges being held near the lower ends thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus or system for cooling the interior of an autoclave furnace vessel after it has been pressurized with a gas and heated. The system comprises a heat conducting conduit opening at one end to the furnace interior and at the other end to a shut-off valve exterior to the vessel. Intermediate the two ends of the conduit is a coil portion comprising a heat exchanger positioned at a location in the furnace where hot vessel gases may be forced through or past the coil. Furnace gases are forced into the conduit and therefore through the coiled portion where they are heated prior to being exhausted. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is a Joule-Thomson valve before the coiled portion of the conduit to reduce the temperature of the exhausting gases prior to arriving at the coiled portion.