Abstract: Methods for removing carbonyl sulfide (COS) from a synthesis gas stream are disclosed. The method entails raising the water level of a wet scrubber so that hydrolysis of the COS may occur in the scrubber itself instead of a COS reduction chamber and no additional catalysts other than those naturally occurring in the production of the synthesis gas need be introduced into the scrubber. The water is raised, in one example, to a level such that water within an inner tube of the wet scrubber flows over an upper end of the inner tube. Raising the water level in the scrubber ensures intimate and vigorous interaction between the water, the COS, and the naturally occurring catalyst, and promotes the hydrolysis of the COS. In one example, the naturally occurring catalyst (e.g., alumina oxide) is present in the coal ash produced when coal is the fuel gasified that creates the synthesis gas stream.

Abstract: A man-lifting platform for mounting on an aerial boom comprising a frame adapted to be pivotally connected to the distal end of the aerial boom. The frame has a pair of sleeves on opposite sides thereof and a pair of rods in the sleeves. The rods are secured to the man-lifting platform and generally parallel fashion. A power cylinder is connected between the frame and the man-lifting platform whereby the man-lifting platform may be moved the length of the rods by actuation of the cylinder.

Abstract: An articulated aerial boom and an elbow linkage therefore permitting the proximal end of the upper aerial boom to rotate approximately 210.degree. about the proximal end of a lower aerial boom.

Abstract: In an articulated boom having a platform and comprised of upper and lower booms respectively, there are hydraulic actuators controlling the movements of the upper and lower booms. Control means are necessary in association with the lower boom to control its rate of movement, slowing such rate of movement as the lower boom approaches its retracted, or full rest, position. A position responsive valve permits unimpeded fluid pressure access to the actuator for lowering the lower boom at its regular rate until the lower boom reaches a critical angle as it approaches horizontal position, at which time the valve prevents further fluid access to its associated hydraulic actuator. Thereafter, a position responsive valve and a pressure reducing valve reduce the rate of descent of the lower boom until the lower boom is fully retracted to its rest position.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve system uses spool type pilot valves with the valve openings notched to provide non-linear response to movement of pilot valves. A servo type valve with a four-way spring centered spool is operated either manually or hydraulically by the spool pilot valve. A limit stop is located at each end of the servo spool valve. The notching geometry in the spools of both the pilot valve and servo valve provide a non-linear response such that controllability and safety are improved, without hysteresis.The system has a manual override on both ends of the servo valve which is operated independently of the pilot spool valve.The system is proposed for use on articulated aerial towers which consist of a mobile platform, a rotatable mounting for a lower boom, an upper boom having an articulated mounting on the lower boom, and personnel or tool carrying basket at the outer end of the upper boom.

Abstract: In a self-transportable aerial platform, an operator employs a handle for controlling the vertical, horizontal and lateral movements of the platform in order to place the basket or platform at a preferred location. The operator-controlled handle operates a linkage which actuates one valve of a control to produce a first mode of platform movement; the handle is movable in a second direction to displace separately and distinctly a second valve for a further mode of operation; and the handle can further be twisted or turned to effect a separate and distinct movement of a third valve for the final mode of platform movement. The linkage consists of parallelogram linkage having the capability that one of said links can serve as a pivot for the other link, both of said links can be pivoted in unison as part of a parallelogram linkage, and both links of the parallelogram linkage can serve as journals for twisting movement of the handle which effects the additional mode of platform movement.

Abstract: In connection with a pair of articulated booms there is a leveling system consisting of a sprocket wheel at the base of the lower boom and a co-acting sprocket wheel at the free end of the upper boom with chains and rods interconnecting the two sprockets and constituting part of the leveling system maintaining the basket connected to the free end of the upper boom in a level condition.The angular position of the sprocket wheel on the upper boom is calibrated so as to be in a direct relationship to the perpendicularity of the upper boom relative to the horizon, which in turn is related to chain movement at the upper boom.A control valve associated with the upper boom is actuated by a cam on the chain so the valve is operated at whatever preselected critical angle of perpendicularity of the upper boom is desired.

Abstract: Transportable booms having lift platforms are now well established in the art. In the lift platform where the lift controls are located, there are means to operate an actuator and four bar linkage system in such manner that the lifting torque is substantially constant, and the arcuate or angular movement of the upper boom about its articulate connection on the lower boom is substantially constant, being at all times proportioned to the linear travel of the fluid motor actuator. In this way, the central purpose of the invention is achieved which is to obtain a controllable actuating system.The four bar linkage system achieves optimum results when the driving link a is related to the follower link b driven link c and base link d in the proportion a; b; c; d = 1.52; 1.28; 1.00; 0.76 and the fixed pivot of the driving link is offset 0.27 units from the fixed pivot for the driven link.