Abstract: A vessel including an emptying means which comprises a valve housing means integral with and fixed to the vessel; a valve body means removably mounted to the valve housing means; a means for sealing the valve body means to the valve housing means; and a valve means which functions to commence and halt the flow of materials from the vessel through the valve housing means and through the valve body means. The valve body means functions to hold, align and contain the valve means. The means for sealing also functions to inhibit and prevent the accumulation and retention of contamination from materials flowing from the vessel through the valve housing means and the valve body means past and in direct contact with the means for sealing. The invention also ensures that the egress point from the vessel is maintained at about the same temperature as that of the interior of the vessel. Suitable valve means include poppet valve means, flush valve means, ram valve means and ball valve means.

Abstract: A quick opening manhole cover assembly is provided which is suitable for use with virtually any shape manhole cover of a pressure vessel. The assembly broadly includes a manhole cover having outer dimensions which are less than the inner dimensions of the manhole so that the cover can pass freely therethrough. The assembly also includes a structure for raising and lowering the cover into and out of the manhole. A sliding lock mechanism is located above the cover and is engageable to prevent axial movement of the cover. A safety mechanism is provided to prevent the lock from disengaging when the vessel is under pressure. Once the lock is engaged, the cover is raised and a seal carried atop the cover provides a fluid tight sealing engagement of the cover. The pressure within the vessel urges the cover further upward to further ensure the integrity of the seal.

Abstract: A vessel including an emptying means which comprises a valve housing means integral with and fixed to the vessel; a valve body means removably mounted to the valve housing means; a means for sealing the valve body means to the valve housing means; and a valve means which functions to commence and halt the flow of materials from the vessel through the valve housing means and through the valve body means. The valve body means functioning to hold, align and contain the valve means.The means for sealing also functions to inhibit and prevent the accumulation and retention of contamination from materials flowing from the vessel through the valve housing means and the valve body means past and in direct contact with the means for sealing.

Abstract: Cell culture apparatus comprises a fluidized bed culture tank body in which cell attached porous material is fluidized by air flow, and a pre-culture tank for supplying medium to the fluidized bed culture tank body according to the amount of the liquid medium which is taken out of the fluidized bed culture tank body. By the use of a drain valve which can be controlled to remove liquid medium and porous material or just liquid medium, the cell culture apparatus can continuously produce metabolite.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved balancing aid for a pivotally mounted cover for a manhole comprising means for hinging the cover relative to the manhole so the cover may be rotated about the hinge to expose and cover the manhole; and a spring retaining means comprising a rod pivotally secured to the cover, said rod being at least partially encased by a housing, said housing containing a compression spring means which is compressed when the cover is closed; wherein the improvement comprises securing the spring retaining means by attachment means which may be removed only after the spring means is first removed.

Abstract: A weld joint between two structural elements out of different metallic carrier materials is described, in which at least approximately unmixed weld-joint-interface between the two elements made in such a manner, that on the one side of the interface only metal out of the one carrier material and on the other side only metal of the other carrier material is present. For example, the weld-joint-interface is made by an electron-beam welding. The surface of the weld joint can be enamelled and the welding of the two elements can be performed by a normal melt-welding method, in which welding material out of the metal of the respective carrier materials is laid on.

Abstract: The present invention minimizes the problem of thermal stresses in a glass lined vessel by providing a heat transfer sump in the bottom portion of the vessel. A heat transfer compartment is formed by enclosing the annular space between the exterior portion of the skirt and the bottom portion of the vessel by means of an annular ring. The heat transfer compartment is enclosed by the annular ring, the interior portion of the skirt, and the bottom portion of the vessel. The heat transfer compartment is adapted to receive and hold a heat transfer medium and in this manner form a heat transfer sump.

Abstract: An enamelled or glass coated measuring probe is described, comprising a carrier an electrode fused into an enamelled probe body. The carrier is shaped as a cone out of enamel or ceramic material, into which the electrode or cylindrical metallic body serving for mounting the electrode is fused. In accordance with one embodiment one or several electrodes can be fused into the cone, while in another embodiment the electrode may be exchanged by an electrode out of a different material.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with a method for treating a stainless steel surface by high temperature oxidation. The surface of a stainless steel article is cleaned, TiO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 are mixed in microparticles to form a coating agent, and water is added to the mixture to make a slip. The slip is coated on the steel surface to form a coating having a uniform thickness. The coating is dried and the article is subjected to a heat-treatment to form an oxide film. This treatment is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere for a time and a temperature suitable for the color tone to be produced. A desirable temperature for the heat-treatment is between 350.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. When a coating agent is used, it is later removed by washing, etc. after cooling the article.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with a method for treating a stainless steel surface by high temperature oxidation. The surface of a stainless steel article is cleaned. TiO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 are mixed in microparticles to form a coating agent, and water is added to the mixture to make a slip. The slip is coated on the steel surface to form a coating having a uniform thickness. The coating is dried and the article is subjected to a heat-treatment to form an oxide film. This treatment is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere for a time and a temperature suitable for the color tone to be produced. A desirable temperature for the heat-treatment is between 350.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. When a coating agent is used, it is later removed by washing, etc. after cooling the article.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to electrolytic decontamination of radioactively contaminated objects such as equipment or parts. The objects to be decontaminated are divided into two types: First, wastes resulting from dismantlement of radioactively contaminated equipment and parts, and second, equipment, vessels, pipes and tools that are to be reused. The electrolyte used for decontamination of the first type may be an inorganic acid aqueous solution of relatively low concentration that is inexpensive and rapid in polishing. A suitable inorganic acid is sulfuric acid that does not generate harmful gases in the process of electrolysis. The concentration of the sulfuric acid should be high to achieve polishing efficiency. About 5 Vol. % is the most suitable for uniform polishing and disposal of waste electrolyte. An electrolyte of this concentration is effective in macroscopic polishing but not in microscopic polishing (mirror finish), however.

Abstract: A reaction vessel including a generally cylindrical center part and two plates or discs which are secured to and close the ends of the center part. The reactant is fed into the interior of the vessel where the polymerization or other chemical reaction takes place. A heat transfer or heat exchanger system is formed by a smooth liner that is mounted coaxially with and within the interior of the center part. The liner is spaced from the center part and it is secured to the center part by a plurality of support portions. The support portions serve both to brace the liner so that it can withstand the pressure of the reactant, and as partitions which form flow paths for a coolant, between the liner and the center part.

Abstract: A rotary diaphragm press comprises a revolving drum on the periphery of which a tubular diaphragm is mounted, an endless belt assembly which consists of a cover cloth, a filter cloth, and a back-up belt separately extended and arranged one above the other over said revolving drum, and a series of receiving rollers disposed in parallel with a spindle for said revolving drum so as to press the endless belt assembly against the drum in a contact zone of the assembly. The rotary diaphragm press is further designed so that sludge successively fed to the filter cloth is held between the filter cloth and the cover cloth and is passed through the contact zone.

Abstract: A tube settler improves separation performance by dividing flow path of a fluid to be treated into a multiplicity of tubular passages to achieve fluid stream commutation and to reduce the distance which a suspended particle has to fall increasing a settling area. A critical upward-flow rate for avoiding obstructions to precipitation of the suspended particle without turbulence depends on the cross-sectional configuration of the tubular passage. A tubular passage of triangular, circular, hexagonal or rhombic configuration is disadvantageous because the height or distance from top to bottom differs from part to part across the vertical section of the passage.This invention provides a tube settler or multitube separator having a tube-nest assembly for passing the fluid to be treated therethrough. And, inclined tubular passages of the tube settler are an approximate boomerang cross-section.

Abstract: When a crossflow water cooling tower is operated, noise made by an air circulating device and water falling down inside the tower is propagated outside. In the conventional cooling towers, however, the main source of the noise, namely the noise of the falling water was very incompletely insulated. The air entering space provided according to this invention and defined by at least a pair of inclined walls and a pair of parallel side walls is in an upward-widening structure whereby the noise produced inside the tower by the flowing and falling water is dissipated upward so as to significantly reduce the noise propagated to the surrounding area.

Abstract: A tube settler improves separation performance by dividing flow path of a fluid to be treated into a multiplicity of tubular passages to achieve fluid stream commutation and to reduce the distance which a suspended particle has to fall increasing a settling area. A critical upward-flow rate for avoiding obstructions to precipitation of the suspended particle without turbulence depends on the cross-sectional configuration of the tubular passage. A tubular passage of triangular, circular, hexagonal or rhombic configulation is disadvantageous because the height or distance from top to bottom differs from part to part across the vertical section of the passage.This invention provides a tube settler or multitube separator having a tube-nest assembly for passing the fluid to be treated therethrough. And, inclined tubular passages of the tube settler are an approximate boomerang cross-section.