Abstract: An improved thin-walled pressure vessel having a bladder is provided. This vessel includes a shell having an opening and a spout disposed around the opening. An improved cap normally closes this opening, secures the bladder to the shell of the vessel, and provides communication between the outside of the vessel and the inside of the bladder. The cap member comprises a main body member having an opening which receives a valve member. This valve member extends out through one end of the cap member. It also extends through the opposite end of the cap and into the bladder through an opening in the bladder. The valve member engages a portion of the bladder around the opening and clamps this portion against the main body member to secure the bladder to the cap member. As the pressure in the bladder increases, it forces the valve member further against the walls of the opening in the main body member, increasing the clamping force to firmly secure the bladder to the cap member.

Abstract: A thin-walled pressure vessel having an improved insert. The insert increases the thickness of a portion of a pressure vessel's sidewall to allow the sidewall to accommodate a port. The insert comprises a main body structural member defining an opening through its center. The opening through the body member communicates with openings in an inner liner and an outer shell which comprise the vessel to provide an opening through the sidewall of the vessel. A fitting disposed in pressure contact with the main body member circumjacent the opening lines the walls of the opening in the body member and engages a portion of the main body member with an annual flange to restrain expansions of the body member at increasing temperatures while defining a port which maintains a constant shape and size for receiving other fittings.

Abstract: An improved burner for heating water in a hot water system is provided. This burner includes an inlet tube having flared ends and a constricted middle portion to provide an increased amount of air into the barrier. The burner also includes a barrel which communicates with the inlet tube to receive fuel gas and air from it. It vents this air and fuel gas mixture through a large number of ports formed through its sidewalls and arranged in a predetermined pattern to produce a continuous combustion layer when the user ignites the venting mixture. These ports have a width substantially smaller than their length and they produce small, nonluminous, bluish flames which form the combustion layer. This combustion layer burns hot to raise the temperature of the barrel segments surrounding the ports to a level at which the segments glow red and emit infrared heat.

Abstract: A method is provided for constructing a thinwall pressure vessel having a thermoplastic inner liner, a filament wound outer shell and at least one localized area of increased thickness in its sidewall. The method includes providing an insert formed from thermoplastic material or other suitable material which is bondable with the material of the inner liner. The manufacturer uses this insert to form a localized area of increased thickness in the sidewall of the pressure vessel. First, the manufacturer blow molds or otherwise forms a thermoplastic inner liner and bonds the insert to the inner liner. The manufacturer then provides a means for locating or finding the port of the insert and constructs the outer shell with glass filaments impregnated with a resinous material or other suitable material. Then, after locating the insert, the maker forms an opening which extends through the entire sidewall of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device for a thin-walled pressure vessel is provided. This device comprises an insert segment which lies inside the pressure vessel in heat exchange relation with the fluids contained by the vessel, an outer segment disposed outside of the pressure vessel, a linking segment normally disposed in a port through the side wall of the pressure vessel for connecting the outer segment with the insert segment, and a temperature sensing device connected to the outer segment. The device also includes an o-ring disposed around the linking portion and forming a seal between the linking portion and the sidewalls of the port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting the quantity of salt to be used during each regeneration of a water softener system. The quantity of salt used during each regeneration is approximately equal to the quantity of salt needed to regenerate the resin bed to a preselected design capacity, which is less than the maximum capacity of the resin bed. The design exchange capacity is approximately equal to the exchange capacity of the resin bed at a particular salt dosage, wherein the exchange capacity of the bed at the particular salt dosage divided by the particular salt dosage is generally equal to or greater than 2850. The system is regenerated when at the end of any preselected time period, the percentage of the design capacity of the resin bed used since the last regeneration cycle exceeds a predetermined percentage.In determining the salt dosage used during each regeneration cycle, the exchange capacity of the resin bed is determined for various salt dosages.

Abstract: A pressure vessel capable of containing fluids at high pressures and temperatures is provided. The vessel comprises a shell having an inner lining, a plug bound to the inner lining and an outer lining disposed around and bound to the plug and the inner lining. The inner lining serves as an impervious barrier for the fluids. The plug, disposed between the inner and outer linings increases the thickness of the shell in a localized area of the shell so that a port through this area can support a fitting or other devices without leakage. The outer lining covers the inner lining and the plug and provides structural rigidity, strength, and integrity for the shell.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering uranium from a carbonate solution containing uranium ions whereby the carbonate solution containing uranium ions is brought in contact with a cation exchanger so that a uranium cation is removed from solution and adsorbed by the cation exchanger, and the uranium cation is then removed from the cation exchanger. The treated carbonate solution from which uranium ions hve been removed by cation exchange is then further processed by removing carbon dioxide from the treated carbonate solution to produce a decarbonated solution, and passing the decarbonated solution through a membrane process to remove some remaining impurities.

Abstract: A flow indicator and a method for monitoring the operation of a chemical feed pump are provided. This indicator includes a housing defining a flow chamber and having an inlet through one end and an outlet through the other end. The inlet and the outlet of the housing are in communication with the fluid conduit of the pump, and the flow chamber is a vertical component of the flow path of the fluid flowing through the conduit. The housing contains two freely movable balls in the flow chamber, one ball having a specific gravity greater than that of the fluid and the other having a lower specific gravity. It is at least partially transparent to enable the operator of the indicator to observe the movement of the balls. The method for monitoring the pump involves placing the two balls in the flow chamber, connecting the indicator to the fluid conduit, operating the pump, and observing the action of the balls.

Abstract: An improved method and system that utilizes conductance values of cationic and anionic exchange resins classified as layers of a mixed resin bed to automatically detect interfaces between the layers is disclosed. The arrangement includes electrical circuitry which initially samples the conductivity of a passing resin slurry. The initial conductivity value is compared to subsequent conductivity values of the passing slurry and the flow of the passing slurry is automatically terminated when the subsequent conductivity value is a certain fraction of the initial conductivity value. Termination in response to this equality condition effectively detects the interface between classified layers of a mixed resin bed.

Abstract: A fill section arrangement for crossflow cooling towers which utilizes a mixture of high density fill strip regions and low density fill strip regions. The regions of the fill section which include the high density fill strips are those regions which have the highest enthalpy driving forces.

Abstract: An air cooled heat exchanger having an inlet flow distribution arrangement positioned within the inlet header to minimize maldistribution of entering fluid having a liquid-vapor mixture. The flow distribution arrangement includes a plurality of baffle means for directing the mixture entering the inlet header into defined flow channels in communication with groups of heat exchange tubes.

Abstract: An air inlet control assembly for cooling towers including air control panel members pivotally secured to the louver blades. The panel members are pivotted between a down position wherein they preclude the entry of air between the louver blades and an up position wherein they permit the entry of air between the louver blades. The panel members are formed from a lightweight fiberglass material and include means to direct liquid away from the outer edge of the louver blade when the panel member is in its down position. Cover members extend across the louver blade support arms and are releasably secured to the adjacent panel members when the panel members are in their down positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dissolved solids from a liquid which utilizes the technique of reverse osmosis (RO). The liquid to be treated is directed into a pressure vessel which contains a plurality of filter elements positioned therein. The filter elements have hollow RO fibers wound around foraminous center cores such that the liquid flows in a direction from the outside of the filter elements towards the center cores. The pure permeate liquid passes into the center bores of the fibers and the concentrate liquid passes into the center cores of the elements.The method and apparatus provide for the backwashing of the filter elements when they become fouled. Further, an outer filter septum may be applied around the hollow RO fibers of the elements to remove particulate matter which would otherwise foul the hollow RO fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dissolved solids from a liquid which utilizes the technique of reverse osmosis (RO). The liquid to be treated is directed into a pressure vessel which contains a plurality of filter elements positioned therein. The filter elements have a layer of hollow RO fibers around a center core area such that the liquid flows in a direction from the outside of the filter elements towards the center core areas. Pure permeate liquid permeates into the center bores of the fibers and concentrate liquid passes into the center core areas. The permeate liquid from the center bores passes into longitudinally extending permeate collection channels which communicate with the center bores over substantially the entire length of the layers of hollow RO fibers. Various structural embodiments of the filter elements are disclosed.The method and apparatus provide for the backwashing of the filter elements when they become fouled.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for filtering a liquid including a filter vessel divided into an upper filter compartment and a lower plenum compartment. An external vessel is positioned at or below the elevation of the tops of the filter element fittings in the plenum compartment. A pressurized gas is supplied to the upper portion of the external vessel forcing backwash liquid from the external vessel into the lower portion of the plenum compartment backwashing filter elements within the filter compartment.

Abstract: In liquid sedimentation and clarification apparatus recirculation of previously settled solids is controlled without affecting the volume or rate of flow of incoming untreated liquid. A throttle plate is placed above an updraft tube in the liquid flow path. Movement of the throttle plate toward or away from the end of the updraft tube alters the quantity of settled solids that are mixed with the incoming liquid during the treatment process.