Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating polyester resin systems to suppress gel-time drift for the useable storage life of the resin system. The method comprises contacting a solution containing a polyester binder with an organic acid either between formulation stages or after formulation of the resin system. Typically useful organic acids include aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid and unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid. Comparative data for gel times of polyester resin system samples treated according to the disclosed method show suppression of gel-time drift to as low as 6 percent of the gel-time drift of counterpart untreated resin system samples.

Abstract: Unreacted sulfuric acid contained in a disulfonic acid product of an aromatic hydrocarbon that is produced from the reaction of the aromatic hydrocarbon or the mono-sulfonic acid of the aromatic hydrocarbon with a strong sulfonating agent is removed from the disulfonic acid product by reacting the sulfuric acid with additional aromatic hydrocarbon to produce the mono-sulfonic acid of the aromatic compound. The disulfonic acid product of the aromatic hydrocarbon containing sulfuric acid is reacted with the aromatic hydrocarbon at a molar ratio of aromatic hydrocarbon to sulfuric acid in the range of about 0.25 to around 2 and at a temperature in the range of 130.degree. to 200.degree. C. to obviate the need to remove any water formed during the course of the reaction.

Abstract: A connector plate combination for connecting wooden members comprising a connector plate and an underlying substantially imperforate reinforcement plate, said connector plate having a body portion and a plurality of teeth extending generally transversely outwardly from said body portion, the central portion of said body portion overlying said reinforcement plate, and a plurality of said teeth being forced through said substantially imperforate reinforcement plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a traveling grate apparatus wherein materials are treated at an elevated temperature for purposes such as sintering, pelletizing, calcining, and the like. In such apparatus, a grate and upstanding side plates form a channel for carrying the material along. Each side plate has along its inner face a bench for holding the material to be treated. As the treatment of material effects changes in the volume of the material, the material tends to lose contact with the side wall, but, by resting on the bench, a seal is provided to prevent direct passage of gases through the bed in the sidewall sections.

Abstract: A seal plate drive assembly for use with apparatus for pressure cooking a farinaceous product is disclosed, in which said apparatus includes a pressure feeder assembly, a seal plate and seal plate drive assembly for compacting and regulating the flow of product mix in a terminal portion of the pressure feeder assembly and a pressure cooker assembly.

Abstract: A disc-type valve is disclosed which provides a design by which the valve disc can be positively and uniformly lifted laterally off the valve seat so as to prevent abrasion of the sealing surface and/or the valve seat which might otherwise be caused by transverse movement of the valve disc in relation to the valve seat. The opening and closing movement of the valve seat is controlled by and operable in direct relation to a pivotable operating member extending through the valve body.

Abstract: In a coke oven coke side door machine, a bottom tray is mounted to collect spillage that results from the removal of coke oven doors as well as the residue buildup that is scraped from the door seals and bottom plugs during the door cleaning operation. Trays, in the form of inclined planes, are extended from the door machine to catch the coke spillage from the oven and to catch the residue buildup which is scraped from the door jambs during the jamb cleaning operations. This material gravitates down the trays into the catch pan. A scraper then pushes the material accumulated in the catch pan to one end of that catch pan where a conveyor carries it to a dump bucket. The dump bucket can be dumped when the door machine is positioned adjacent a quench car. All of the above apparatus is mounted onto and within the confines of the door machine.

Abstract: An extendible hopper is mounted to the undercarriage of a pusher machine and is operable to be extended to engage the face of the coke oven battery, between the buckstays and just below the door jamb, to catch hot coke that spills out of coke ovens as the door is removed and the pusher ram is retracted. A bin is also mounted to the undercarriage of the pusher machine to receive the hot coke collected by the extendible hopper. Quench sprays are mounted to the bin to quench the hot coke, and suction means are mounted to the bin to draw off pollutants that emanate from the hot coke and the quench thereof.

Abstract: Effluent containing cresols such as are contained in Lurgi tar acids are separated by preferentially treating the cresols with an aqueous alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate at elevated temperature for a time sufficient to form the alkali metal salt of at least part of the cresols, but not so long as to form any appreciable alkali metal salt of 2,6-xylenol or o-ethylphenol. The water soluble alkali metal salts of cresols are then separated from the water insoluble phenols and said salts acidified to "spring" the cresols and the water insoluble cresols separated from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-stage process for reducing sulfur dioxide to sulfur or to hydrogen sulfide whereby a hydrogen-containing gas from a high temperature gasifier is used. In the first stage of the process, the gasifier exit gas is contacted at a minimum temperature of about 1800.degree. F. with recycle gas containing SO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, COS, mercaptans, and CS.sub.2 in order primarily to reduce the organic sulfur compounds, i.e., COS, mercaptans, and CS.sub.2, which heretofore would tend to accumulate in prior known methods employing a carbonaceous fuel for the reduction of SO.sub.2. Gas leaving the first stage is then sent to a second stage wherein SO.sub.2 from an external source is added. Reduction of sulfur dioxide occurs in the second stage at a temperature of about 2000.degree. F. minimum, with the surplus heat of reaction removed by the generation of steam. Gas leaves the second stage and is thereafter cooled with simultaneous generation of steam and selective condensation of sulfur vapor.

Abstract: A process is provided for the gasification of a carbonaceous fuel to produce a synthesis gas whereby a secondary stream of oxygen is indirectly heated from said synthesis gas and passed to the gasifier to augment the primary oxygen supply.

Abstract: A linear aryl sulfide/sulfonate polymer having improved thermal stability is provided consisting essentially of units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 3 to about 250.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the stepwise separation of para-cresol and meta-cresol from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. The para-cresol forms a complex with a dehydrated or anhydrous inorganic halide salt selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The meta-cresol isomer is separated from the mixture by formation of a complex with sodium acetate. Where the anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic halide salt is added firstly to the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including para-cresol and meta-cresol, the halide salt is provided in an amount to give a mole ratio of the halide salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 1.5 to one. The para-cresol complexes with the halide salt and the complex is then removed from the mixture. The para-cresol-salt complex is thereafter decomposed to recover the para-cresol.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the stepwise separation of para-cresol and meta-cresol from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. The para-cresol preferentially forms a complex with a dehydrated or anhydrous inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The meta-cresol isomer is separated from the mixture by formation of a complex with urea. Where the anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salt is added firstly to the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including para-cresol and meta-cresol, the salt is provided in an amount to give a mole ratio of the salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 1.5 to one. The para-cresol complexes with the salt and the complex is then removed from the mixture. The para-cresol-salt complex is thereafter decomposed to recover the para-cresol.

Abstract: Gel-time drift may be reduced in promoted polyester resin systems by incorporation of an amine salt in accordance with the disclosed compositions and methods. The amine salt is a salt-like reaction product of an amine and a carboxylic acid-containing moiety. For free-amine type promoted resin systems, an amine salt may be substituted for the amine promotor to provide a low-energy curable polyester resin system having the advantages of a promoted system as well as being stabilized against gel-time drift. Comparative data show suppression of gel-time drift of resin samples containing an amine salt to as low as 7 percent of gel-time drift of counterpart free-amine promoted resin system samples.

Abstract: Para-cresol and meta-cresol are separated from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols by a two-stage process wherein the para-cresol is preferentially complexed with one or more anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salts selected from calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. Then the meta-cresol is successively preferentially complexed with calcium bromide from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols from which the para-cresol complex has been removed. The anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salt is added to the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including para-cresol and meta-cresol in an amount to give a mole ratio of the salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 1.5 to one. The para-cresol-salt complex is removed from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols and then decomposed to recover the para-cresol.

Abstract: Para-cresol is separated from a mixture comprising meta-cresol and various other methylated and ethylated phenols by preferentially complexing the para-cresol with one or more anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The anhydrous inorganic salt is added to the phenolic mixture in an amount to give a mole ratio of salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 mole to one to about 1.5 mole to one. The para-cresol and salt form a complex and the complex is removed from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. Then the complex is decomposed to recover the para-cresol and salt; the recovered salt may be recycled to complex with more para-cresol.

Abstract: An increased amount of carbon monoxide is produced in a process for the gasification of carbonaceous materials by employing a reverse water gas shift reaction in the process. Raw gas produced by the gasification of carbonaceous materials contains predominantly carbon monoxide and hydrogen along with hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, water and methane. Carbon dioxide is separated from the raw gas as is the hydrogen sulfide. Thereafter, the carbon monoxide is separated from the raw gas to yield one portion of the carbon monoxide product gas. After the removal of carbon monoxide the raw gas consists of a hydrogen-rich gas. The hydrogen-rich gas which may be purified is mixed with the previously separated carbon dioxide along with any imported carbon dioxide and along with a recycle gas from a catalytic reaction loop. This mixed gas is conveyed to a heat exchanger in the catalytic reaction loop and passed through a heat exchanger located immediately after the gasifier through which the raw product gas passes.

Abstract: A method of reducing the carbonization pressure in the coking of coal is provided which comprises randomly dispersing flakes through the coal, said flakes formed of a material that does not pass through a plastic phase such as pressed sawdust wherein the flakes have a thickness of between about 1/8" and about 3/4" and a length and width of between about 1" and about 5".

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting pallet wheel track length when the spacing between pallets changes due to temperature changes such as in the sintering of ore. The apparatus comprises pivotable arc segments which can be opened or closed to expand and contract the track length, a wedge-shaped casting positioned between said arc segments and slidable in and out at right angles to said track containing track to mate with said arc segments, drive means for moving said arc segments and wedge and a sensor means for detecting a change in pallet spacing and activating said drive means.