Abstract: A system and method for transferring a vehicle from a first dual belt conveyor to a second dual belt conveyor utilizes transitions between the belts of the first and second conveyors which are offset along a direction of travel. The offset transitions result in only one wheel of the vehicle at a time crossing a transition. The transitions utilize fixed rollers positioned on either side of a plurality of recirculation rollers. The fixed rollers minimize the gap between the ends of the belts and the transitions while permitting the belts, particularly with cleats, to pass by the fixed rollers.

Abstract: Oil-in-water fungicidal formulations are prepared having pigment dispersed therein, the pigment being stable within the oil-in-water emulsion as a result of the addition of suitable silicone surfactants and suitable emulsifiers. The formulations can be prepared either as a 2-pack formulation or as a single formulation. In the case of the single formulation polyethylene glycol is also added. In either case, the formulations show a synergistic effect through the addition of the pigment, the resulting formulations having an increased efficacy. Further, the formulations show a synergistic effect when mixed with conventional chemical fungicides, both being added in reduced amounts compared to recommended rates.

Abstract: A system for heating conveyors which extend outside a wash tunnel of a carwash utilizes concrete structural slabs with heating apparatus embedded in the slab near a top surface and supported adjacent the conveyor. The heating apparatus can be a hydronic system or an electric heating mat embedded in the slabs which prevents water on the slabs or the conveyor from freezing in low ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: An herbicide composition available as a concentrate for dilution with water or a ready-to-use oil-in-water emulsion which has a significantly reduced amount of active ingredient of a broadleaf herbicide. The composition combines the reduced amount of herbicide in a mixture of oil and emulsifier.

Abstract: A pump has a pump barrel formed from a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section. Each section has a biased piston moveable within the section and the pistons are connected together to form a variable volume chamber between the pistons. As the connected pistons move toward the larger diameter section, a volume of fluid is moved through an inlet valve into the variable volume chamber of increasing volume. When the pistons are moved toward the smaller diameter section, a differential volume of fluid is discharged from the variable volume chamber of decreasing volume through a discharge valve into a discharge conduit. The pistons are actuated to move within the pump barrel by application and release of pressure at a remote end of the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A pump has a pump barrel formed from a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section. Each section has a biased piston moveable within the section and the pistons are connected together to form a variable volume chamber between the pistons. As the connected pistons move toward the larger diameter section, a volume of fluid is moved through an inlet valve into the variable volume chamber of increasing volume. When the pistons are moved toward the smaller diameter section, a differential volume of fluid is discharged from the variable volume chamber of decreasing volume through a discharge valve into a discharge conduit. The pistons are actuated to move within the pump barrel by application and release of pressure at a remote end of the discharge conduit.

Abstract: In a flowing gas well having concentric production casing and tubing strings: a funnel is mounted to the bottom end of the tubing string; a packer divides the annulus into upper and lower portions; a tube is provided having an inlet, which communicates with the lower portion of the annulus, immediately beneath the packer, and an upwardly directed restrictive outlet which communicates with the passageway extending through the funnel; so that gas under pressure moves through the tube from the annulus lower portion, is jetted into the production bore (formed by the funnel passageway and tubing string bore) and assists in gas lifting produced water to ground surface.

Abstract: A paraffinic spray oil and a method of using the spray oil for controlling turfgrass pests is disclosed. The spray oil comprises paraffinic oil and a quick break emulsifier, which is formulated as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion for use. The paraffinic oil and emulsifier are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 95:5 to about 99.95:0.05, and preferably from about 98.5:1.5 to about 99.9:0.1. When applied to turfgrass, the O/W emulsion quickly releases the oil phase upon application to the turfgrass to contact pests thereon. When provided at sufficient paraffinic oil dosages, generally at least about 0.5 gal oil/acre and preferably in the range of about 0.5 gal/acre to about 60 gal/acre, the spray oil is effective in controlling a variety of turfgrass pests, particularly insect and fungal pests, with little or no phytotoxic effects. Further, use of the spray oil as indicated for controlling turfgrass pests also enhances the growth of turfgrass.

Abstract: A dielectric fluid comprises an isoparaffinic base oil and hydrogen donor compound. The base oil may be a hydroisomerized isoparaffinic oil, and the hydrogen donor may be a substituted, or partially saturated aromatic compound. The resulting dielectric fluid exhibits negative hydrogen gassing properties along with good oxidative stability and low temperature performance.

Abstract: The process has to do with a circuit involving a fluidized bed coker reactor working in tandem with a fluidized bed coke burner. The burner is operated at a reduced temperature in the range 550° C.-630° C. Simultaneously, the coke circulation rate is increased to ensure the heat requirement of the reactor is met. It is found that sulphur emissions from the burner are significantly reduced.

Abstract: Diluent-diluted bitumen froth containing bitumen and naphtha diluent, hydrocarbons, water, sand and fines (collectively “dilfroth”) is fed into a vapor-tight gravity settler (‘splitter’) and temporarily retained to produce a bottom layer of tails comprising sand and middlings, a rag layer of discrete three-dimensional structures, each comprising hydrocarbons contained in a skin of fines, and a top layer of hydrocarbons containing small droplets of water and fines (‘raw dilbit’). The flux in the splitter is less than 6 m3/h of dilfroth fed per m2 of horizontal cross-sectional rag area. The in-coming dilfroth is fed directly into the splitter middlings. Demulsifier is added to the overflow stream of raw dilbit and the mixture is subjected to prolonged settling in a vapor-tight polisher tank, to produce polished dilbit containing less than 1.0 wt. % water and 0.3 wt. % solids. The splitter underflow tails, containing less than 15 wt.

Abstract: A method of stimulating a downhole formation according to which a plurality of jet nozzles are located in a spaced relation to the wall of the formation to form an annulus between the nozzles and the formation. An acid-containing, stimulation fluid is pumped at a predetermined pressure through the nozzles, into the annulus and against the wall of the formation. A gas is pumped into the annulus so that the stimulation fluid mixes with the gas to generate foam before the mixture is jetted towards the formation to impact the wall of the formation.

Abstract: A slurry feed of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and coke-inhibiting additive particles together with a hydrogen-containing gas, are fed upward through a confined hydrocracking zone in a vertical, elongated, cylindrical vessel with a generally dome-shaped bottom head. A mixed effluent is removed from the top containing hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbons and liquid heavy hydrocarbons. The slurry feed mixture and a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas are fed into the hydrocracking zone through an injector at the bottom of the dome-shaped bottom head and the balance of the hydrogen-containing gas is fed into the hydrocracking zone through injection nozzles arranged within of the hydrocracking zone at a location above the slurry-feed injector. The combined slurry feed and hydrogen-containing gas are injected at a velocity whereby the additive particles are maintained in suspension throughout the vessel and coking reactions are prevented.

Abstract: A preferred emulsifier blend includes ethoxylated alcohols containing hydrocarbons of C10-C16 and preferably having on average at least 2.8 ethoxy and/or alcohol groups per chain and a glycerol mono- and/or dioleates, preferably in a ratio of from 9:1 to 4:6. These emulsion blends are particularly useful when mixed with hydroisomerized oils and water, for subsequent application as a spray oil to agricultural crops. The emulsion blends of the present invention also find particular utility when mixed with conventional spray oils and hard water.

Abstract: An antistatic composition for treating a substrate such as paper for use in a photocopier or the like, in rolls, or bundles in which sheets of the substrate are individually fed from a bundle of sheets of the substrate, comprises a single phase hydrocarbon oil composition. The hydrocarbon oil may optionally include additional antistatic additives. The composition reduces static between the individual sheets in the bundle, thus reducing paper misfeeds and jams when individual sheets in the bundle are fed into the photocopier. Also disclosed is a method of treating a substrate for use in a photocopier in which sheets of the substrate are individually fed from a bundle of sheets of the substrate, or rolls of a substrate, with an antistatic composition to reduce static between the individual sheets of the substrate. The method includes applying an antistatic composition including a hydrocarbon oil to at least one lateral margin of the bundle of sheets of the substrate.

Abstract: A fluid suitable for use as the continuous phase in a drilling fluid is disclosed. The fluid is prepared by the sequential hydrotreating, hydroisomerization and hydrogenation of a crude oil feedstock. The fluid has good low temperature properties, including pour point and accordingly is useable in cold environments. A method of producing the fluid is also disclosed. The fluid may also be used as an additive to a drilling fluid having a continuous aqueous phase wherein it may act as, for example, a rate of penetration enhancer or a spotting fluid. The fluid may also be used as an additive to known drilling fluids such as internal olefins.

Abstract: A paraffinic solvent is mixed with bitumen froth containing water and solids. Sufficient solvent is added to induce inversion when the mixture is subjected to gravity or centrifugal forces. The emulsion reports to the water phase and a dry bitumen product virtually free of inorganic solids, is obtained.

Abstract: A large capacity cyclonic separator is used for desanding a conditioned aqueous oil sand slurry comprising aerated bitumen, water and sand to produce pumpable, pipelineable lean froth and sand tailings. The cyclone separator is a vessel which forms an elongated cylindrical separation chamber and has a tangential slurry inlet at one end and, at the opposite end, a peripheral sand removal outlet and a centrally positioned vortex finder. Oil sand slurry is continually tangentially introduced into the cyclone separator to form a rotating vortex, which generates a centrifugal force. The lean froth migrates to the center of the vortex to form an inner core and is removed via the vortex finder. The sand tailings migrate to the outer reaches of the vortex and are co-currently is removed via the sand removal outlet.

Abstract: A large, mechanically agitated pump box is used between a mixer, for mixing oil sand and water to produce a slurry, and a pipeline for conveying the slurry to a processing facility. Prior to the aqueous slurry being discharged into the pump box from the mixer, it is screened to reject large solids. The oversize is directed to an impactor where it is comminuted and the comminuted product is screened again prior to being discharged into the pump box. The pump box is designed to increase the residence time of the slurry in the pump box and to separate the slurry into two phases, the suspended slurry and the larger lumps that cannot be suspended. The larger lumps that settle in the pump box are recycled to the impactor for comminution.

Abstract: Mixing means, for producing a flow mixture of oil and steam, is combined with an atomizing nozzle to provide a nozzle assembly which produces a jet of very fine oil droplets. The nozzle assembly is used in conjunction with a reactor, such as a fluidized bed coker. The mixing means comprises a pipe, external of the reactor, having separate, spaced apart inlets for oil and steam. The steam inlet is upstream of the oil inlet. A reducing diameter nozzle is positioned in the pipe bore between the inlets, for accelerating the steam. The steam contacts the oil and turbulently moves down the pipe bore to produce what is known as a "bubbly flow" mixture. The mixture is fed to the nozzle, which is internal of the reactor.