Abstract: A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.

Abstract: A system for introducing air into a slurry in a flue gas desulphurization process includes a stationary lance and an impeller. The lance include an outlet portion and a vane assembly. The outlet directs air away from the impeller. The vane assembly may produce turbulence and may convert a portion of the swirling flow from the impeller into longitudinal flow.

Abstract: One or more mixing impellers is carried on a driving shaft received in a mixing vessel. Impeller blades are angularly and/or axially distributed on the shaft and can be single staggered axially-spaced blades or groups of two or more placed angularly around the shaft, e.g., diametrically opposite. Each blade has a radially inner flat plate sloped to produce axial flow, preferably at about 15° from parallel to the rotation axis. An outer plate is joined to the inner plate at a bend line with an angle of about 20° located at about 70% of the outside diameter of the impeller path.

Abstract: A fluid seal having differing fluid levels is provided on opposite sides of a downwardly opening cup-shaped container that is longitudinally lapped by an upwardly opening annular container that is sealed to a vessel such that the lip of the cup-shaped container is submerged. The fluid seal creates a hydrostatic pressure barrier between ambient and a vessel, for example at a rotating vertical shaft. Relatively high speeds are permitted without leakage due to a number of internal horizontal and vertical baffles on one or more walls of the annular container. Barrier fluid losses due to evaporation or the like can be replaced in an embodiment wherein condensed process fluid is used as the barrier fluid, and wherein excess barrier fluid is returned to the vessel while maintaining a differential pressure barrier via the seal.

Abstract: A vertical draft tube submerged turbine mixer/aerator includes an impeller rotatedly disposed within the draft tube above an aerator. A single tiplet extends downwardly from the lower surface of each impeller blade in proximity to the blade tip for improving gas to liquid mass transfer efficiency of the mixer/aerator.

Abstract: A valve operator has a de-clutch mechanism for automatically shifting the clutch out of handwheel drive and into electric motor drive upon actuation of the electric motor. The motor drive sleeve 23 has an annular step 25 which has a flat 26. The clutch 50 is biased by spring 55 toward the motor drive sleeve 23 but is prevented from moving in the direction of the motor drive sleeve by the clutch fork 40 which has extending therefrom two latch arms 71,72 one of which 71 is longer than the other 72. The longer latch arm 71 abuts against the step 25 on the motor drive sleeve. When the electric motor M is energized, the motor drive sleeve rotates and the flat 26 comes into alignment first with the longer latch arm 71 and later with the shorter latch arm 72, thereby releasing in two steps the clutch fork 40 and allowing the clutch 50 to shift out of handwheel drive and into electric motor drive.

Abstract: In a system for opening and closing a main line valve by use of high pressure hydraulic fluid which is controlled from a remote location and in which the fluid passes through a hand pump located at the site of the valve, a protective lock-out system is provided for guarding against personal injury in the event the high pressure fluid should arrive at the hand pump while it is being manually operated. The lock-out system includes a small piston located in an air passageway which is positioned outwardly of the hand pump main piston chamber. This passageway extends from the top of the hand pump main piston chamber toward the IN port which receives the high pressure hydraulic fluid. The piston is connected by a shaft to a poppet valve. The high pressure fluid is applied to the under-surface of the piston and to the seat side of the poppet valve.

Abstract: A portable drive unit for a valve actuator includes a portable two-cycle or four-cycle gasoline engine and a gear reducer. The gasoline engine is bolted, through vibration damper means, to the housing or gear box of the gear reducer. The gear box is clamped to the valve actuator through an annular clamp and clamp-receiving adapter structure which also includes vibration damper means. A flexible sleeve coupling in the bore of the annular clamp and clamp-receiving adapter couples the output shaft of the gear reducer to the handwheel input shaft of the valve actuator.

Abstract: Several forms of surface impeller for aeration of liquids are disclosed. All of the forms are of the shrouded or closed turbine type. In one form, the impeller has a large-diameter flat steel horizontal upper disc adapted to be secured to the lower end of a vertically disposed rotatable drive shaft. Secured, as by welding, to the undersurface of the upper disc are a plurality, such as six or eight or other number, of vertical blades at uniform spacing. Each blade is curved in a retreating or backward direction relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller. Each blade has a long or deep vertical inner edge located forward of the center axis of rotation. The lower edge of each blade is inclined upwardly toward a relatively short or shallow vertical outer edge located near the outer periphery of the upper disc. The horizontal innermost portion of the otherwise inclined bottom edge of each blade is welded to a small lower tie plate.

Abstract: Several forms of surface impeller for aeration of liquids are disclosed. All of the forms are of the shrouded or closed turbine type. In one form, the impeller has a large-diameter flat steel horizontal upper disc adapted to be secured to the lower end of a vertically disposed rotatable drive shaft. Secured, as by welding, to the undersurface of the upper disc are a plurality, such as six or eight or other number, of vertical blades at uniform spacing. Each blade is curved in a retreating or backward direction relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller. Each blade has a long or deep vertical inner edge located forward of the center axis of rotation. The lower edge of each blade is inclined upwardly toward a relatively short or shallow vertical outer edge located near the outer periphery of the upper disc. The horizontal innermost portion of the otherwise inclined bottom edge of each blade is welded to a small lower tie plate.

Abstract: A gear train is housed in a gear box having upper and lower plates in or on which gear-shaft bearings are mounted. One of the gears functions as a centrifugal gear pump for projecting lubricating oil from a sump in the tank angularly upwardly through openings in the upper bearing-mounting plate to a deflecter plate located thereabove. This oil is deflected angularly downwardly and collected in a recessed area on the upper surface of the upper bearing-mounting plate. Bearing caps are provided with radial ports through which oil collected in the recessed area flows to the bearings and working parts before returning to the sump.

Abstract: A protective mechanism is provided for valves having a nut through which a power-driven valve stem is threaded. The mechanism functions to protect the valve seat against the continuation of thrust of the valve-stem closure element against the valve seat after the valve has been fully closed. The continuation of thrust force, unless prevented, occurs due to inertia of the drive motor after torque-sensing or other means have shut off the power to the motor. The protective mechanism includes energy-absorbing means for absorbing the kinetic energy of the over-running drive motor and for stopping further rotation of the valve stem.

Abstract: A self-synchronizing clutch has two sets of helical splines. A first set is between the main input shaft and a carrier member. The second set is between the carrier member and a coupling member. The second set of splines performs the indexing function. A one-way or over-running clutch is included as a sensing means but does not perform the indexing function. The over-running clutch or sensing means provides the small torque needed to shift angularly the carrier and coupling members on their respective helical splines. Constraining means, activated by the sensing means, is provided for the carrier member. Spring-loaded biasing means are provided for the carrier member in those installations where the input shaft occupies, or may occupy, a tilted or inclined position. A clutch lock-in and/or clutch lock-out means are also provided.

Abstract: A de-clutch mechanism is actuated, when the power is off, by manual actuation of a de-clutch lever shaft. When thus actuated, the de-clutch mechanism couples a rotatable driven sleeve to a handwheel drive and decouples the sleeve from the power drive. When the power is activated, the de-clutch mechanism automatically disconnects the handwheel drive. A typical application of the de-clutch mechanism is in valve operators.