Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for metal plating a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber adapted to receive metal carbonyl gas. The chamber includes an infrared transparent window. The infrared transparent window has a cooling passage filled with liquid coolant. The liquid coolant has a temperature below which decomposition of the metal carbonyl gas occurs. The liquid coolant prevents decomposition of the metal carbonyl gas on the infrared transparent window. The liquid coolant also is substantially infrared transparent for allowing infrared radiation through the infrared transparent window and cooling passage into the chamber. An infrared radiation source sends infrared radiation into the chamber through the infrared transparent window and cooling passage to heat the substrate to a temperature at which decomposition of the metal carbonyl gas occurs.

Abstract: A process for producing porous articles from metal powders. A slurry including metal powders is deposited on a horizontally moving surface. The slurry/moving surface combination is passed through an evaporating zone, a calender zone and a sintering zone to form the desired article. The article is then separated from the moving surface.

Abstract: A dry, vertical shaft drilling system including an inverted raiseboring cutterhead fitted with air nozzles and vacuum pickups. Weights are detachably stacked above the cutterhead. Cuttings are extracted through the weights into a swivel circumscribing the drill string. The swivel is a transition from the rotating cutterhead to the stationary extraction riser pipes disposed above the swivel. Non-rotating stabilizers stabilize the drill string.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming copper arsenate. Copper and arsenic are leached into a treatment solution maintained at a pH level of about 2 to 5 in the presence of at least one impurity. An oxidant is added to the treatment solution to oxidize the copper and arsenic. A copper arsenate compound is precipitated from the solution as copper arsenate. Preferably, the copper arsenate is then releached in a purification solution. The molar ratio of copper to arsenic is adjusted to a level of at least 2. The pH of the purification solution is then increased to precipitate copper arsenate having a decreased concentration of said at least one impurity. Impure copper arsenate may be suspended and reacted in a recrystallization solution preferably having cupric ion. The pH of recrystallization solution is adjusted to a valve between about 1 and 4.5.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of monitoring reagent levels in aqueous copper electrolytic solutions. To determine the amount of glue present in an electrowinning solution, potential is applied, decreasing in a cathodic direction (more negative) to initiate a first cycle peak. The first cycle peak is compared to a known to determine amount of glue in the solution. Additionally, voltage is cycled between upper and lower voltages to monitor glue/lignosulfonate ratios. Hysteresis and cycle stability are measured at reference voltages and compared to known hysteresis and cycle stability values to monitor glue/lignosulfonate ratio of electrolytic solutions.

Abstract: A pump capable of shear mixing and supplying high density grout over long distances and through relatively narrow conduits. The pump includes a hopper, a series of agitators in the hopper and a coincident auger and rotor/stator disposed below the hopper. The pump is held together by a pair of side bars having quick release bear clamp clasps for expeditious disassembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for removing the oxide surface from water atomized metal powders containing an oxidizer capable of oxidizing chromium from a trivalent to a soluble hexavalent state, whereby chromium oxides are removed from the metal powder surface. The powder is then treated with a dilute acid solution essentially devoid of hydrofluoric acid to remove other hydrated oxides from the metal powder surface. The powder is then water washed and dried.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold and silver from refractory ores containing precious metals locked in sulfide and arsenide minerals including roasting a concentrate of said sulfide and arsenide minerals with lime at a temperature of about 600.degree. C. Thereafter the resultant calcine is ground, leached with cyanide and precious metals are recovered from the cyanide solution.

Abstract: A method of flotation of sulfides wherein pyrrhotite is depressed by use of a water-soluble polyamine while non-ferrous metal-containing sulfide or sulfidized minerals are floated selectively.

Abstract: A device for separating particles by size having a substantially vertical conduit. The vertical conduit has an open upper end and a closed lower end. A gas supply inlet is located between the upper end and the lower end to supply an upward flow of gas through the vertical conduit to the open end. The downwardly sloped conduit supplies a stream of various size particles to the vertical conduit. The downwardly sloped conduit has a lower side connected to the open end of the vertical conduit to form an opening in the lower side of the sloped pipe. The opening has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The downwardly sloped conduit has a particle dam extending partially into the downwardly sloped conduit from the downstream edge of the opening. Coarser particles fall against the upward flow of gas falling down the vertical conduit to the closed end for collection. Finer particles are being lifted over the particle dam by the upward flow of gas and transported down the downwardly sloped conduit.

Abstract: A process for straightening a crossbar of an anode to correct the suspension of the anode while the anode remain in an electrolytic cell. The process has an elongated shaft having a lower portion and an upper portion. A transverse slot extends longitudinally upward into the lower portion of the shaft. The slot has sufficient width to receive an upper portion of the crossbar. A handle is attached to the upper portion of the shaft. The handle extends laterally outward from the shaft. The handle is for twisting the shaft to cause the slot to straighten twisted crossbars within the slot.

Abstract: A baghouse chamber divided into an inlet for receiving a gas stream containing particulates, an outlet for exiting said gas stream after filtering, a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber. At least one filter bag is housed within the main chamber for filtering said gas stream. The filter bag has an extension portion extending through a connection into the baghouse chamber. The connection prevents particulate from bypassing the outlet of the baghouse chamber and allows for pulling a replacement filter bag attached to the extension portion into the main chamber. A removal means is attached to the baghouse for transporting the at least one operable filter bag to the auxiliary chamber and for pulling the replacement filter bag into the main chamber.

Abstract: An underground unmanned, trackless mine haulage vehicle and a system for guiding such a vehicle which includes a roof mounted guide rail, physical means to detect and calculate in real time variation in angle and distance of the center line of the vehicle from the ideal path of the guide rail and means on board the vehicle to provide and carry out steering commands to correct the position of the vehicle vis-a-vis the guide rail.

Abstract: A conveyor including a chain flight conveyor superimposed over an elastic belt conveyor. The juxtaposition of the two conveyors results in longer wear and less erosive friction when compared to sole chain flight systems.

Abstract: A composite structure and a method of producing said composite structure from a combination of copper and a low coefficient of thermal expansion nickel-iron alloy is disclosed wherein the copper clads the nickel-iron sheet and is interposed through the central nickel-iron sheet in such a fashion as to provide a substantially isotropic heat transfer path.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder combination for internal combustion engines made from a varying bonded combination of two or more alloys having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion. By regulating the volumetric percentages of the alloys vis-a-vis their location within the piston and cylinder wall, the degree of thermal expansion experienced during operation may be controlled. The concept is especially useful for low heat rejection engines.

Abstract: A system for estimating the burden of particulate levitated in a flow of gas which includes an upstream device for electrically charging the particulate, a downstream device for sensing the intensity of the field produced by the electrically charged particulate and an indicating device sensitive to an output of the downstream sensing device.

Abstract: The invention provides a nickel foam and a method of forming a nickel foam for a nickel containing battery. An open-cell foam structure is placed in a nickel carbonyl gas containing structure. The foam structure is heated to a temperature at which nickel carbonyl decomposes. Nickel from the nickel carbonyl gas decomposes on the foam structure to form a nickel plated foam structure. The nickel plated foam structure is then sintered leaving an open-cell nickel network to form the nickel foam. The open-cells of the nickel foam comprise substantially hollow wires having a substantially uniform transverse cross-section. The nickel foam is further characterized by the conductivity through the nickel foam multiplied by a factor of 3.4 being equal to or greater than the theoretical conductivity of nickel.

Abstract: A structure comprising a base of an age-hardened alloy having on at least part of the surface thereof a layer of precious metal. The precious metal, e.g. gold, contains amounts of nickel grading downwardly from the inner surface of the precious metal layer such that the outer surface contains about 1% to about 10% nickel. The process of making such a structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A butterfly valve having a central cavity larger than the access ports. A disc is disposed within the central cavity to sealingly engage the interior of the valve. A molded elastomeric liner covers the interior of the valve and the disc. By utilizing a central cavity of larger cross sectional area than the access ports, internal valve and downstream pipe turbulence is reduced resulting in increased component lifetimes.