Abstract: An apparatus for forcefully feeding cabling in an underwater environment into a container includes a gripper block positionable above the container and an air cylinder for reciprocating the gripper block vertically. Jaws on the gripper block are pivoted to grasp the cabling when the gripper block is reciprocated downwardly but to release the cabling when the block is reciprocated upwardly. This permits forceful feeding of the cabling by mere reciprocation of the gripper block.

Abstract: An electrode is fluid-coupled to the driven electrode, which is directly connected to either an AC or a DC source of potential. The driven electrode is provided with the usual ground electrode to establish the electrostatic field of a coalescing system. The electrode fluid-coupled to the driven electrode is positioned to establish two zones in the electrostatic field. A fluid mixture is passed through the two zones of the electrostatic field, in sequence. The intensity of the field in the first zone decreases as the dispersed polar fluid of the mixture increases, in relation to the less polar fluids of the mixture. At the same time, the field in the second zone increases in intensity. The field gradient shifts between the two zones, in accordance with the quantity of the polar fluid in the mixture passed through the zones in the field, in sequence.

Abstract: A bottom loaded filter assembly for filtering radioactive liquids through a replaceable cartridge filter. The filter assembly includes a lead-filled jacket enveloping a housing having a chamber therein for the filter cartridge. A track arrangement carries a hatch for sealing the chamber. A spacer plug supports the cartridge within guide means associated with the inlet conduit in the chamber. The plug and cartridge drop out of the chamber when the hatch is unbolted and move laterally of the chamber. During cartridge replacement, a new plug and cartridge are supported in the guide means by a spacer bar inserted across the track means under the chamber. The hatch is then slid under the chamber and bolted to the vessel, engaging an O-ring to seal the chamber.

Abstract: To calcium lignin sulfonate is added a formulation of ammonium or sodium linear alcohol ether sulfate in a ratio to form an additive to calcined gypsum slurry which will reduce the water requirement and the heat needed to cure the wallboard made from the slurry.

Abstract: A method of direct ignition of pulverized coal to furnish energy for warm-up or low load operation of a coal burning furnace comprises forming a fuel stream consisting of a mixture of pulverized coal and air, the fuel stream having an air to coal ratio and/or a flow velocity which fluctuates. The fluctuating fluid stream is introduced into a combustion area where the coal is ignited by an energy source. The fluctuation of the air to coal ratio and/or the fluctuation of the flow speed provide for the air to coal ratio and/or the flow speed to be swept through a range of values which includes the optimum conditions for ignition.

Abstract: Granulated welding flux is supplied under fluid pressure from a reservoir mounted at a convenient location for reloading. The reservoir is connected to an elevated vacuum tank. Recovered excess flux is also brought up to the vacuum tank, both sources of flux maintaining a predetermined level of flux within the vacuum tank. A conduit from the vacuum tank provides gravity feed of flux from the tank to a lower divider box from which a plurality of conduits deliver flux to the traveling welding arc from behind and in front of the arc between the tip of the welding electrode and the work piece.

Abstract: A vertical, cylindrical vessel receiving gas and entrained liquid to be separated. Within the cylindrical vessel are baffle surfaces spaced from the internal wall of the vessel arranged to receive the gas and entrained liquid thereon. Elongated structure is attached to the lower internal baffle surface and extends to the internal wall of the vessel to form a path for liquids flowing downwardly on the internal surfaces.

Abstract: A machine is positioned in the line of a gypsum board manufacture to provide lifting arms, which are actuated up through the line to remove board sections, invert and transfer them to an adjacent area for subsequent drying. The lifting arms are reciprocated, end for end, during the elevating and inverting action to subsequently approach the board from beneath. The lifting arms are actuated through slider boxes, attached to a shaft, and a cam is provided to control the ends of the lifting arms, as each end is pivoted at the inverter shaft to which its slider box is attached.

Abstract: A plate tube spacer structure operable for concomitantly effecting both the spacing and the supporting of the individual tubes of a tube bundle, the latter commonly constituting one of the components of a conventionally constructed heat exchanger. The subject plate tube spacer structure includes a plurality of elongated plates that are suitably disposed in stacked, spaced relation so as to allow for a layer of tubes to be interposed between each pair of adjacent plates. The plates each have a multiplicity of tube engaging means formed along each longitudinally extending side edge thereof. The multiplicity of tube engaging means are suitably disposed so as to effectively provide each plate with two parallel rows thereof. The arrangement of the rows of tube engaging means of each plate is such that the multiplicity of tube engaging means of one row thereof are aligned with, but face in a direction opposite to that of the multiplicity of tube engaging means of the other row thereof.

Abstract: A liquid solution containing a tri-halide from the halogen group consisting of bromine and iodine is passed in countercurrent flow with fluids containing sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, within a tower. The tri-halide solution removes selected sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, from the fluids and the halide solution is drained from the bottom of a tower for sulfur removal, electrolytic regeneration, and hydrogen release in order that a tri-halide from the electrolytic cell may be returned to the tower for continual removal of sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide. A portion of the spent halide solution from the bottom of the tower is conducted to a point in the tower above the introduction of the tri-halide solution to prevent the loss of the diatomic halogen.

Abstract: An apparatus for reheating stack gases leaving a plurality of scrubbers which uses water within an associated steam generator as the heating source. A heat exchanger receives heat from the boiler water transferring it to a low pressure fluid which is circulated through heat exchange surfaces downstream of each of the scrubbers. The flow of the high pressure boiler water is controlled in response to a temperature of the low pressure fluid thereby providing a means for minimizing the flow and return temperature of the high pressure water. The high pressure water is taken from a circulating pump discharge and returned to the circulating pump suction.

Abstract: An ash removal system for a coal-fired boiler, where the temperature of the water in the ash hopper is maintained at approximately 140.degree. F. under all operating conditions of the boiler, by running cooling water through heat exchange surface positioned in the ash hopper. The cooling water, after picking up heat, is passed through heat exchange surface located outside of the ash hopper, before being introduced into the ash hopper. Some of the heated cooling water can be used as low level heating fluid around the plant site, if desired.

Abstract: A combined cycle electric power generating plant having a steam generator and a gas turbine in which low Btu gas from a coal gasifier is the fuel. The gas turbine drives the compressors for both the air and low Btu gas used to generate the hot combustion gases therein. In addition, the oxygen-containing exhaust gases from the gas turbine are used to support combustion of the fuel in the steam generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for upsetting a tube end using a one-piece upset die. The tube is heated at the end to be upset and secured in a gripper clamp so as to remain stationary during the upset operation. The upset die is hydrualically forced over the tube end and a mandrel is hydraulically positioned into the tube end. A longitudinal compressive force is then hydraulically applied to upset the tube end. The upset die is hydraulically pulled off the upset tube and thereby accomplishing removal of the tube from the one-piece die without damage to the tube or the die.

Abstract: Vibration of boiler tubes in a bank of parallel tubes of a multidrum boiler is prevented by means of directing a restraining tube in each bank of tubes obliquely between spaced drums. The oblique tube is welded to the parallel tubes at each point of contact to provide mutual support therefor. Boiling water is directed through the oblique tube as well as the parallel tubes so that circulation through the tubes is enhanced while tube vibration is prevented.

Abstract: The lance of the soot blower is disclosed as having a square cross section extending through a square hole in a rotating bushing. The square lance is reciprocated into and out of a furnace cavity by means of a carriage positioned through a rack and pinion.

Abstract: The shell of a low temperature separator vessel has an inlet spinner structure mounted to absorb kinetic energy of fluids flowed into the vessel. A grating structure is placed over the outlet of the spinner to dissipate kinetic energy of the incoming fluids, divert the direction of fluid flow away from the gas outlet of the vessel, and distribute the fluids transverse their flow path from the vessel inlet to the vessel outlet.

Abstract: A Venturi dispersing feeder particularly suited for utilization as part of a flash drying system, and through the operation of which wet material is introduced into a hot gas stream for purposes of effecting the rapid evaporation of the moisture in the material. The subject Venturi dispersing feeder includes a feeder body, which functions as a housing for rotor means. The latter rotor means is equipped with a multiplicity of blade means suitably mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The feeder body further has formed therein inlet means, connectable in fluid flow relation with a source of wet material and operable for feeding the wet material therethrough into the feeder body, and outlet means, connectable in fluid flow relation with a stream of hot gases and operable for discharging the wet material from the feeder body into the stream of hot gases in substantially parallel relation to the path of flow of the latter. The feeder body is suitably supported on a base.

Abstract: Apparatus including an enclosed pressurized conveying and storage system that will allow potentially explosive flyash or other fine material to be handled with the minimum possibility of damage to the equipment in the event of an explosion. The steel storage vessel is maintained under slight pressure with inert gases by means of a pressure relief valve and an inert gas supply, and is kept at a high enough temperature to prevent condensation of the gas (so that corrosive acids are not formed) by electric inductance heaters and insulation. Airlock valves are used to allow the ash into and out of the transport and containment system.

Abstract: In a pulverized fuel-fired steam generator, a steam air heater is disposed in the air inlet duct to the main air heater. Steam from an auxiliary in-plant source or from the boiler itself is passed through the steam air heater thereby increasing the temperature of the air entering the main air heater. The flow rate of steam passed through the steam air heater is regulated to maintain the flue gas temperature entering dust collection equipment located in the flue gas stream downstream of the main air heater above the dew point of water vapor and the condensation point of sulfuric acid during start-up and low load operations.