Abstract: A flexible seal is used to cover and fill joints between water flume sections wherein the seal is in the form of a continuous web having a central deformable bead and the seal is secured to each section by both adhesive strips and a reinforcement compressing the seal and adhesive against each section.

Abstract: Airflow to the interior portions of large counterflow cooling towers is improved by the provision of passageways from about the perimeter of the tower which passageways are free of fill and descending water so as to not obstruct inward movement of air from the perimeter, and which passageways also segregate fill against the possible spread of combustion.

Abstract: The invention comprises a high performance segmented baffled shell and tube heat exchanger in which baffles are oriented at angles less than 180.degree. adjacent one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved sealing means for shell and tube heat exchangers which means use only components which are external to the heat exchanger shell to mechanically compress a series of rubber type gaskets and incompressible tube sheets to thereby seal the tube to tube sheet joints and the tube sheet to shell joints in such a manner as to precisely control the degree of compression of the rubber type gaskets and eliminate the need for the retightening of bolts by the use of confining elements on the outer periphery of said gaskets.

Abstract: A closed circuit evaporative fluid cooler/evaporative condenser utilizing a cross flow water-air fluid flow relationship is provided. An evaporative liquid recirculating system includes a liquid distribution spray assembly mounted above a bundle of fill sheets. A closed circuit fluid cooling/condensing heat exchanger is supported below the bundle of fill sheets. Each heat exchanger comprises a plurality of parallel coil circuits or modules, wherein the inlet of each coil circuit is at a higher elevation adjacent the air outlet side of the heat exchanger, and the fluid outlet manifold of each coil circuit is at the lowest elevation adjacent the air inlet side of the heat exchanger. This arrangement assures the coolest liquid falling from the fill sheet assembly contacts the coil assembly containing the coolest fluid and that the coolest air entering the air inlet contacts the coil assembly portion containing the coolest fluid.

Abstract: A belt-drive assembly for use on air-moving systems in corrosive atmospheres comprising a larger non-metallic driven sheave in conjunction with a smaller metallic driver sheave wherein the metallic sheave may be located in a vented enclosure is disclosed. This arrangement prevents corrosion of the drive system and prolongs belt life.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary flow control balancing valve and an integral predistribution box for use with gravity feed cross-flow cooling towers. The valve and predistribution box provide for the balancing of flows between halves of a cross-flow cooling tower or between or among separate cooling towers and also for maximizing the uniformity of the hot water flow in the predistribution pan and the distribution pan.

Abstract: A spray nozzle, which is attached to a conduit or header carrying a fluid under pressure, the purpose of which is to generate a circular umbrella type liquid spray. Spray nozzle includes a cylindrical member and a baffle therein. The spray nozzle receives liquid from the header and conducts it to its concavely curved dispersing member from where it is discharged in a circular spray pattern to a bank of tubes or cooling tower fill below.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the application of organic materials, such as powders, to hot dip or electroplated galvanized metal which provides a finished material with a higher level of corrosion resistance than that obtained from organic coatings on mild or black steel. Because of the natural corrosion protection properties of the zinc cladding of galvanized metal, no additional passivation of the substrate is necessary as is required with existing processes on mild or black steel. Also, the invention relates to the hot dip or electroplated galvanized metal which has been pretreated by the process of this invention prior to application of an organic powder coating. Hot dip or electroplated galvanized metal treated by this process leads to a uniform coating which is virtually impervious to acid, basic and salt solutions, and which will not scratch or flake off on impact.

Abstract: A forced draft crossflow evaporative heat exchange has a turbulent air-liquid interchange zone downstream from the air propulsion means and intermediate the air propulsion means and the heat exchange media. The media is inclined so the upper portion is closer to the air propulsion means than the lower portion.

Abstract: A contact body or evaporative heat and mass exchanger packing composed of a plurality of side-by-side thin sheets interlocked with one another. The sheets are grooved with a serpentine-like, continuously-variable, cross section form to produce a plurality of liquid and gas channels between the sheets. The sheets have integrally-formed knobs and sockets specifically located to provide up-spaced alternate sheet support without utilizing adhesives of any type. The sheets are preferably composed of a thermoplastic material of any desired length, being continuously pressure-vacuum formed from long sheet rolls. The groove crests abut adjacent sheets apices at continuously-variable spacings of both greater and lesser dimension than the basic edge spacing of the serpentine grooves. The flat crests or apices of grooves are also infinitely variable in width dimension while maintaining a constant sidewall groove angle.

Abstract: This invention involves spaced, horizontally extending corrugations, spaced, vertically oriented film surface sheets. The surface of the fill is enhanced by molded-in angular grooves to define discrete water passageways and air turbulation ridges.

Abstract: A counterflow evaporative heat exchanger comprises a vertical conduit in which a coil assembly is positioned. A fluid to be cooled or condensed passes through the coil assembly while water is sprayed downwardly over it and air is blown upwardly through it. The coil assembly comprises a plurality of tubes which at each level in the assembly are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction by an amount greater than the diameter of the tubes. This has been found to improve heat transfer in comparison to counterflow evaporative heat exchangers using closely packed coil assemblies.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved U-shaped splash bar fill configuration for use in crossflow cooling towers.

Abstract: This case relates to a variable performance pump wherein the width of the impeller in a centrifugal pump can be regulated while the unit is operating. The impeller's width is regulated by the pump pressure and is controlled by a small external valve. The pump performance may be varied over a wide range to obtain constant head, constant capacity or other desired pumping characteristics.