Abstract: A curved section is provided for connecting in a conduit through which passes a fluid stream having solid material entrained therein. A plurality of wear strips are attached to the inside wall of the curved section. They are positioned for the solid material to impinge thereon as the fluid stream changes its direction of flow as it passes through the curved section. The wear strips are elongated members of wear resistant material positioned side-by-side along the inside wall against which the solid material impinges. The abutting sides of adjacent wear strips are beveled so that the outer edges of one adjacent strip extends over the inner edge of the other adjacent strip to provide a continuous surface of wear resistant material in the path of the entrained solid material.

Abstract: A self releasing sling hoist is disclosed that includes a body for connecting to a hoist line for lifting a load. A sling such as a flexible line or cable has one end attached to one side of the body. The other end is provided with a loop or opening for attaching to a hook connected to the other side of the body after the sling has been passed under or otherwise arranged to support a load. A releasing arm is connected to the body to pivot toward the hook under the influence of the load as the weight of the load is transferred from the sling and the body is lowered toward the load. Continued downward movement of the body relative to the load will cause the release arm to pivot past the hook and force the end of the sling off the hook thereby automatically releasing the sling from the load.

Abstract: A continuously operating double belt press is provided in which the belts are formed from a plurality of articulated plates, which are in turn surrounded by endless steel bands which are pressed by low-pressure rollers and the plates against the material being compressed. Downstream of the plate belts, within the interior space surrounded by the pressing bands, respective large high-pressure rollers are disposed in facing relationship to one another. In order to improve the distribution and transfer of forces in the high-pressure zone adjacent the high-pressure rollers, a high-pressure endless belt is provided which surrounds the respective high-pressure rollers and runs between the high-pressure rollers and the pressing band. In preferred embodiments, reversing rollers are provided for the high-pressure endless belt, which reversing rollers serve to additionally press the high-pressure endless belt against the pressing band at a position spaced from the high-pressure rollers.

Abstract: Silver is recovered from used film plates by passing them into a solution into which their silver material is dissolved and by electroplating the dissolved silver out of the solution. Electrical circuits are provided to increase the magnitude of a continuous plating current in proportion to the rate of film and silver input and to decrease the current gradually to coincide with the decrease in silver concentration as plating continues.

Abstract: An incinerator or dryer for sewage sludge and the like includes a horizontal rotating combustion chamber with a protruding internal helical conveyor. The wet sludge enters at one end and dry ash is discharged from the other end. Heat scavenging devices include lengths of chain having ends which are secured to the helical conveyor. These chains dip into the wet sludge when the drum rotates. As the drum rotates further, the chains move to a hanging position exposing the wet sludge to the combustion gas stream which flows through the drum. The dry ash lies in the bottom of the drum and is transported by the helical conveyor to an ash wheel at the opposite end of the drum. This wheel separates the ash from the combustion gases by rotating a series of ash holding plates which pick up the ash at the bottom of the drum and discharge it at the top of the rotation of the ash wheel.

Abstract: An improved filter of the cartridge type having concentric inner and outer filter elements is disclosed. The elements are formed of non-woven polypropylene fibers. In a preferred embodiment the outer element is formed of a laminate including a supporting layer of a continuous filament and a filtering layer of randomly oriented polypropylene fibers. The outer element is pleated and the space between the elements is filled with particulate, activated charcoal. The axial ends of the filter components are encapsulated in plastisol end caps to secure them together, and to form a sealable working surface to be engaged by the filter housing.

Abstract: In a carbon contact column for a system for removing certain organic compounds from waste water, carbon supplied to the column flows in counter-current contact with the stream of waste water flowing through the column. Carbon is removed from the bottom of the column by a jet eductor. A source of fluidizing water is connected to the column adjacent to the eductor to prevent the formation of a cavity in the carbon bed in that area adjacent to the jet eductor.

Abstract: Electrical current used in electrolytic recovery of metals, such as silver, is controlled digitally by causing pulses from an oscillator operating at a first frequency to be counted during introduction of silver bearing salts into solution and causing the electroplating current to correspond to the cumulative count. Thereafter, following salt introduction, the oscillator is operated at a second frequency, corresponding to the previously accumulated count, and the counter is counted down at this second frequency while the electroplating current is correspondingly reduced.

Abstract: Portable apparatus is disclosed for recovering metal from metal bearing solutions. The apparatus includes a chamber arranged to be mounted on a container for the solution to establish a fluid flow path between an anode and cathode in the chamber for deposition of metal on the cathode, the unit being arranged to prevent unauthorized removal of deposited metal from the cathode.

Abstract: In this assembly the lockring is made from a flat metal strip crimped at regular intervals to curve the strip into a band. The ends of the band are riveted together to form a circular lockring. This lockring has spring fingers which alternate at different angles from one side of the lockring to grip a flange of a wheel tire rim. The lockring is fixed to a metal trim ring which underlies the outer flange of the wheel tire rim. The attached together lockring and trim ring are assembled with a molded plastic wheel cover by pins on the wheel cover passing through spaced openings in the attached together lockring and trim ring, said pins being either headed over or receiving push clips applied thereto.

Abstract: This assembly comprises a metal wheel cover for an automobile wheel fixed at its outer rim to a full skirt lockring and having a central depressed wall onto which there is fitted a center cup having a bottom wall resting against the depressed wall. The cup is attached to said depressed wall and to a mounting plate overlying the front side of the bottom wall of the cup. A wire wheel basket overlies the front of the wheel cover and is held between an outer annular flange on the cover and the outer annular wall of the cup in assembled relation thereto. A decorative spinner simulating member fits into the center cup and is fixed to the mounting plate.

Abstract: Silver is recovered from used film plates by passing them into a solution into which their silver material is dissolved and by electroplating the dissolved silver out of the solution. Electrical circuits are provided to increase the magnitude of a continuous plating current in proportion to the rate of film and silver input and to decrease the current gradually to coincide with the decrease in silver concentration as plating continues.