Abstract: A fluid-filled pipe is investigated by a nonintrusive procedure to determine whether the fluid is liquid or gaseous, whether it is flowing or static, the direction of flow if it is flowing, the approximate pressure if it is a gas, and the rate of flow if it is a gas. The results are obtained by applying a heater to the surface of the pipeline and measuring the upstream and downstream temperatures of the surface of the pipe wall before and after the beginning of the application of heat. Some of the data generated is compared with data from another source to assist in the determination of the physical characteristics to be ascertained.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating and storing water comprises a tank 10 for holding a quantity of water 15 within a space 11 between studs 12 in a wall or like surface 13 of a room 14. An inlet conduit 16 conveys water into the tank 10, and an outlet conduit 17 conveys water out of it and on to another entity 36. A heater 32, spaced apart from the tank 10, receives water from a supply source at a lower temperature, heats it to a higher temperature, and communicates the heated water to the inlet conduit 16. Reinforcing structural members 25 and locator tabs 22 allow for economic construction and ease of installation. A typical tank 10 comprises a hollow parallelopiped having its front surface member 20 in the plane of the surface 13 of the room 14 and its back surface in a plane behind that of the surface 13.

Abstract: A fluid-filled pipe is investigated by a non-intrusive procedure to determine whether the fluid is liquid or gaseous, whether it is flowing or static, the direction of flow if it is flowing, the approximate pressure if it is a gas, and the rate of flow if it is a gas. The results are obtained by applying a heater to the surface of the pipeline and measuring the upstream and downstream temperatures of the surface of the pipe wall before and after the beginning of the application of heat. Some of the data generated is compared with data from another source to assist in the determination of the physical characteristics to be ascertained.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration and heating system has helical concentric coils for two generators (80 and 81) and recuperators (86 and 95) on a common axis (232) with a heating unit (84) at the center and allowing the hot combustion gases (245) to circulate in serpentine fashion through separate concentric chambers containing the coils.An absorber (97), condenser (100) and recuperator (107) are placed in a single module (270) and configured with a tube-in-tube or tube-in-cylinder construction with fluted inner tubes. A general purpose, divided-flow, tube-in-cylinder, heat-transfer device (400) is used to reduce the pressure drop in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: A refrigeration and heating system in which an absorber (97), condenser (100) and recuperator are placed (107) in a single module (270) and are provided with tube-in-tube or tube-in-cylinder construction with fluted inner tubes. A general purpose, divided-flow, tube-in-cylinder, heat transfer device (400) is used to reduce the pressure drop in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: Buried fluid containing conduits, such as natural gas lines, are located by providing variable frequency sinusoidal excitation acoustic signals over a broad frequency range to the fluid content of the conduit so that the conduit will vibrate and cause elastic vibration in the media in which such conduit is buried. A plurality of measurements of said vibrations are taken on the surface of the media or ground in which such conduit is buried. The measurements are taken laterally of the estimated position of the conduit. The position of the conduit is determined by changes in the characteristics of the vibrations caused by the differences in distances between the pipe and the measurements.

Abstract: An accelerometer is attached to a pipe wall to measure the acoustic pressure waves generated in a fluid within the pipe as a result of a leak in a valve in the pipeline. Calibrating the accelerometer and tuning it to particular wave frequencies allows a determination of the magnitude of the leak through the valve.