Abstract: A scrubber system for cleaning exhaust gas from different engines. The scrubber system includes a scrubber, such as a wet scrubber, for removing a constituent from the gas and a housing having an inlet for receiving the gases into the scrubber and an outlet for discharging cleaned gas. An exhaust mixer has plural inlets for receiving exhaust gas from the different engines and an outlet for discharging the gases into the scrubber through the inlet. The exhaust mixer mixes the exhaust gases into a combined flow stream exiting the exhaust mixer outlet. The scrubber system can clean exhaust gases from different engines by connecting exhaust pipes from each engine to a respective inlet, mixing the exhaust gases in the mixer, and directing the mixed gases into the scrubber, which cleans and discharges the cleaned, mixed gases. The scrubber system can be provided to a marine vessel.

Abstract: A system for heat sealing two or more components together into at least one sealed package is disclosed. The system includes a heat press configured to heat seal the two or more components together into the at least one sealed package, a seal fixture including an upper seal fixture plate configured to support the two or more components, and an ejector plate under the upper seal fixture plate. The ejector plate is configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position to at least partially raise the at least one sealed package off of the upper seal fixture plate.

Abstract: A scrubber system for cleaning exhaust gas from different engines. The scrubber system includes a scrubber, such as a wet scrubber, for removing a constituent from the gas and a housing having an inlet for receiving the gases into the scrubber and an outlet for discharging cleaned gas. An exhaust mixer has plural inlets for receiving exhaust gas from the different engines and an outlet for discharging the gases into the scrubber through the inlet. The exhaust mixer mixes the exhaust gases into a combined flow stream exiting the exhaust mixer outlet. The scrubber system can clean exhaust gases from different engines by connecting exhaust pipes from each engine to a respective inlet, mixing the exhaust gases in the mixer, and directing the mixed gases into the scrubber, which cleans and discharges the cleaned, mixed gases. The scrubber system can be provided to a marine vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling NOx emissions which includes a chamber having a wall surface and an interior, a flue gas entrance and a flue gas exit for a flue gas to enter and exit the interior of the chamber, a gas quenching zone in which the temperature of the gas can be lowered, an ozone injection and retention zone in the chamber, and a liquid spray zone including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid towards the wall surface.

Abstract: A shrink wrap machine has a shrink wrap tunnel with an entrance and an exit. A conveyor transports products to be shrink wrapped from the entrance through the tunnel to the exit. A source of gas is coupled to the inside of the tunnel and bathes the products. A heater controls the gas temperature in the tunnel. A pump controls the gas volume and/or velocity in the tunnel. An input device receives product identification information. A memory stores different process parameters, namely gas volumes, gas velocities, conveyor speeds, and/or temperatures applicable to the product identification information. A computer selectively retrieves process parameters from a memory responsive to the input device and sets the pump, the heater, and/or the conveyor to match the retrieved process parameters. The computer and memory are preferably a programmable logic controller (PLC). A machine readable product code such as UPC is as the product identifier and a code reader as the input device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for extruding aluminum into products, wherein aluminum logs are first heated to a predetermined temperature in a furnace, then are cut into billets of predetermined lengths, and then the billets, while still hot, are extruded into predetermined products in an extruder. In the process, the logs are cut into billets with a cross cut circular saw immediately after the logs are heated and before the logs are permitted to cool to a temperature below a suitable extruding temperature. The circular saw is cooled and lubricated during the cutting to as to restrain the saw from sticking in the heated aluminum and so as to maintain the temperature of the log at the cut within a predetermined range wherein the aluminum is relatively easy to cut and waste is minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling NOx emissions which includes a chamber having a wall surface and an interior, a flue gas entrance and a flue gas exit for a flue gas to enter and exit the interior of the chamber, a gas quenching zone in which the temperature of the gas can be lowered, an ozone injection and retention zone in the chamber, and a liquid spray zone including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid towards the wall surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling NOx emissions which includes a chamber having a wall surface and an interior, a flue gas entrance and a flue gas exit for a flue gas to enter and exit the interior of the chamber, a gas quenching zone in which the temperature of the gas can be lowered, an ozone injection and retention zone in the chamber, and a liquid spray zone including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid towards the wall surface.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for extruding aluminum into products, wherein aluminum logs are first heated to a predetermined temperature in a furnace, then are cut into billets of predetermined lengths, and then the billets, while still hot, are extruded into predetermined products in an extruder. In the process, the logs are cut into billets with a cross cut circular saw immediately after the logs are heated and before the logs are permitted to cool to a temperature below a suitable extruding temperature. The circular saw is cooled and lubricated during the cutting to as to restrain the saw from sticking in the heated aluminum and so as to maintain the temperature of the log at the cut within a predetermined range wherein the aluminum is relatively easy to cut and waste is minimized.

Abstract: An automatic high speed packaging machine for wrapping packages in polymer film is disclosed wherein the film seal at the sides and ends of the packages is made at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the machine. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the machine. The packages are delivered at the input end of the machine by an in-feed conveyor into a film inverting head where the packages are surrounded by longitudinally half-folded polymer film. Thereafter, the packages are transported to a side sealing mechanism which forms a longitudinal seal in the film on the side opposite the fold. Finally, the packages are transported to a traveling end seal mechanism where a lateral seal is formed at each end of the package and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The machine produces packages which have a sealed film wrap around the entire package.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling NOx emissions which includes a chamber having a wall surface and an interior, a flue gas entrance and a flue gas exit for a flue gas to enter and exit the interior of the chamber, a gas quenching zone in which the temperature of the gas can be lowered, an ozone injection and retention zone in the chamber, and a liquid spray zone including at least one spray nozzle for spraying a liquid towards the wall surface.

Abstract: A process for removing nitrogen oxides from flue gases of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit wherein the flue gas is introduced into a tertiary cyclone with percentages of separated solids being discharged in both the overflow and underflow from the cyclone, treating the overflow in a catalytic reduction unit to form an outlet gas and treating the underflow and outlet gas in a wet scrubber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing electronic financial transactions is disclosed having a card reader which may determine if the card being read is authorized for use with the card reader. The card reader also has a serial number which is sent to a clearing house at the time a request for authorization is made to validate the use of the card reader. Card data and the card reader's serial number are converted to DTMF tones at a customer's location and are sent to a merchant over conventional telephone lines thereby making a standard modem unnecessary. The DTMF tones are decoded at the merchants location and the data is sent by point-of-sale terminal to a clearing house for authorization. Furthermore, a traditional conversation may proceed with a merchant over the same telephone line as that by which the DTMF tones are being sent, eliminating the need for a second line at the customer's location.

Abstract: A machine for packaging newspapers comprises a conveyor which transports a newspaper through an entrance into the machine. The newspaper imparts a tension on both a top sheet, deployed from a first roll, and a bottom sheet, deployed from a second roll. A top and bottom dance bar communicates with the top and bottom sheet, respectively. In response to the tension, each dance bar simultaneously releases a brake and activates an electric motor, causing the first and second rolls to rotate and feed out the top and bottom sheet, respectively. The top and bottom sheet is guided over the top and bottom surface of the newspaper by a pair of first and second edge guides, respectively, for preventing lateral movement of the top and bottom sheets. A cutting and sealing mechanism comprising a front sealing bar is placed into contact with the top and bottom sheets near the rear edge of the newspaper for simultaneously sealing together and cutting the top and bottom sheets.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electrostatic precipitator adapted to be powered by an alternating power source includes a regulator for regulating at least one precipitator operating parameter in response to at least one control signal, a measurement circuit coupled to the precipitator for providing measurement signals corresponding to at least precipitator secondary voltage and precipitator secondary current. A processor coupled to the measurement circuit and to the regulator generates the control signals.

Abstract: A spray booth ventilation system is adapted for receiving long, slender workpieces suspended from an overhead monorail conveyor. The pieces are carried into and out of this booth, where the paint is applied by conventional equipment. The gases within the booth, which are a mixture of fresh air and evaporated paint solvents, is partially recirculated and re-injected into the booth at discharge orifices defining the edges of the entrance of the booth. Arrangements are provided for equalizing the flow throughout the booth in a vertical direction to avoid points of stagnation which might cause fumes from the booth to emerge from the opening, so that the velocities of the inflow can be minimized to eliminate the danger of collision of the parts as they swing in response to the gas flow, and thus cause damage to the painted surfaces.

Abstract: Metal billets are cut from heated logs emerging from a furnace by a shearing system controlled by information detected as the logs emerge from the furnace. Detection in this position eliminates the variations inherently present in the length of the logs resulting from temperature gradients within the furnace, and from a length of time the logs are subject to these gradients. The advancing end of an isolated log is sensed by an electric eye, and the interface between one log and the following log is detected by an eddy current device. The data from these sensing devices is supplied to a computer, which controls the shearing operation so that billets can be cut with a minimum of waste. The billets can be of two segments, and the equipment establishes cutting operations that produce the combined billet length, regardless of the position of the interface between the logs.

Abstract: A system for injecting a laundry chemical into a washing machine includes means for injecting a chemical into a washing machine and coin-operated means for actuating it. One embodiment includes interconnected first, second, and third components configured for use with a source of a laundry chemical, a source of water, and a washing machine of the type having a washing machine cycle, a start switch for starting the washing machine cycle, and a known water flow pattern that occurs after the washing machine cycle has started. The first component produces a first signal indicative of the washing machine cycle having started, the second component produces a second signal indicative of a flow of water from the separate water source into the washing machine, and the third component responds to the first and second signals to identify an occurrence of the known water flow pattern after the washing machine cycle has started and control the injection of a chemical into the washing machine accordingly.

Abstract: A reactor can apply a reactant to a gas flow that is conveyed through a vessel. The vessel has an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging, respectively, this gas flow. Also included is a spray nozzle mounted in the vessel for spraying the reactant therein at a given flow rate. The reactor also includes a horn mounted in the vessel for acoustically vibrating the reactant at an energy level sized to evaporate the reactant substantially completely, prior to reaching the outlet.

Abstract: The apparatus receives a source of air and a sulfur-bearing source. The apparatus can condition the gas within an electrostatic precipitator of an industrial plant. The apparatus has a sulfur vessel having an output and an input. The sulfur vessel communicates with the sulfur-bearing source and the source of air, for at least providing gaseous, oxidized sulfur. The apparatus includes a supply of liquid, oxidized sulfur and the sulfur vessel includes an evaporator communicating with the supply of liquid, oxidized sulfur for evaporating it. Also included is a converter having an outlet and having an inlet communicating with the output of the sulfur vessel for converting the gaseous, oxidized sulfur into a conditioning medium. The apparatus also includes a sensor, a modulator and a delivery system. The sensor is connected to the outlet of the converter for providing a converted temperature signal signifying the temperature of the outlet of the converter.