Abstract: A gas-fired direct-contact water heater system 10 is described. It consists of a first housing 11, 50, 80 having a packing 16, 51, 81 of heat exchange elements 17 and on which water is sprayed. A burner 18, 52, 83 is disposed on the side of the housing under the packing. A combustible gas feed pipe is connected to the burner 18, 52, 83 to provide a combustible gas to the burner. A water collection reservoir 20, 58, 86 is defined below the burner for collecting heated water. A further packing 31-59-91 having heat exchange elements is located in a further housing 30-60-90 and it is also sprayed water. Ambient air is admitted under this packing by a blower 32-63-101 whereby the air is humidified and heated and supplied to the burner for admixture with the gas whereby to obtain a higher combustion product dew point and a reduction in the NO.sub.x emission when burned.

Abstract: A power tool for torquing a threaded member of a movable device, such as a pipe nipple of a gas meter sent for repairs, comprises a rigid disk with a bore to fit the nipple so that the disk can be placed against the meter, a block attached to the disk to prevent its movement, a reaction arm that cam be rotatably fitted on the nipple and locked to the disk, a torque arm that can be clamped on the nipple adjacent the reaction arm, and a hydraulic cylinder with its opposite ends connected to the reaction and torque arms to provide the force to move the torque arm.

Abstract: A framing module for quickly assembling frames of rectangular towers suitable for supporting protective shields within excavations comprises a horizontal wale connected by hinge to a vertical leg and a locking brace to hold the hinged members in the right angle position. The wale has a tenon and set-back at each end. The hinged end of the leg is adjacent a set-back in the wale and that set-back becomes a mortise when the leg is set at right angle to the wale. The tenon of one module is inserted in the mortise of another module to interlock the modules. A rectangular frame is easily formed with at least four interlocked modules, and duplicate frames can be stacked to reach a desired tower height.

Abstract: Cogeneration of electricity and liquid carbon dioxide is conducted by combusting methane-rich gas to power a gas turbine and a steam turbine; each turbine drives an electric generator. Carbon dioxide is separated from the combustion products by an amine absorption system to which heat for releasing absorbed carbon dioxide is supplied by steam drawn from the steam turbine. Some of that steam is used to produce refrigeration with an ammonia absorption refrigeration unit. The refrigeration is applied to the separated carbon dioxide to liquefy it. Fractionation to yield purified liquid carbon dioxide is easily achieved and saleable refrigeration is another optional product of cogeneration.

Abstract: In refrigeration systems wherein the refrigerant compressor is driven by a prime mover powered by combustion of a fluid fuel, a notable saving in fuel consumption is achieved by utilizing waste heat in the hot exhaust gases from the prime mover in an ammonia absorption refrigeration unit to produce refrigeration in the form of liquid ammonia. Subcooled liquid ammonia is used to subcool the compressed and condensed refrigerant prior to its expansion and evaporation to produce saleable refrigeration. This compound refrigeration system is economically attractive for producing large tonnage refrigeration particularly when a combustion turbine coupled to a centrifugal compressor is used.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for plugging or plugging and servering gas service lines may be deployed from a building without requiring access to either the utility service main or main tee connections. The processes are intended to be undertaken while gas is being supplied to the service. The apparatus also allows service lines to be relined under these conditions without requiring direct access to either the utility service main or main tee connections.

Abstract: In refrigeration systems wherein the refrigerant compressor is driven by a prime mover powered by combustion of a fluid fuel, a notable saving in fuel consumption is achieved by utilizing waste heat in the hot exhaust gases from the prime mover in an absorption refrigeration unit that chills a coolant stream circulated to the condenser for the compressed refrigerant. Existing combustion-powered refrigeration systems can be improved by adding a lithium halide absorption unit to utilize heat in the exhaust gases to produce refrigeration that is used to condense the compressed refrigerant. A combustion turbine coupled to a centrifugal compressor is a preferred combination of prime mover and refrigerant compressor for economically producing tonnage refrigeration.

Abstract: Cogeneration of electricity and saleable refrigeration is achieved by passing pipeline gas with added methanol through a turbo-expander coupled to an electrical generator so that moisture in the gas forms an aqueous methanol condensate separable from the cold, expanded gas. The condensate is distilled to separate discard water from recycle methanol. After recovering refrigeration therefrom, the expanded gas is warmed to a temperature above 32.degree. F. by adding all the required heat as reboiler heat for the distillation and passing the expanded gas in heat exchange with distilled methanol vapor which is liquefied and used partly as reflux and partly as recycle methanol.

Abstract: A lightweight insulating polymer concrete formed from a lightweight closed cell aggregate and a water resistance polymeric binder.

Abstract: A grooved contracting connector is comprised of a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having a plurality of circumferential grooves in the resilient sheet member coil. In one embodiment, an adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the resilient sheet member coil at least in the area between the grooves. Resilient sheet member coil is expanded to a larger diameter and held in the expanded condition by the heat sensitive bonding material. In connecting together tubular members, the tubular members are inserted, the connector is heated with the heat sensitive adhesive bonding material at least partially melting to allow the connector to contract firmly onto the tubing to form a tight and strong connection upon cooling.

Abstract: A stackable cable carrying reel has spaced parallel rings connected by exterior spokes arranged to permit a plurality of reels to be stacked, locking devices being provided to enable each reel to be locked to its next adjacent reel. Each reel has structure permitting an end of its cable to be connected a power supply.

Abstract: Refrigeration is produced while delivering transmission pipeline gas of elevated pressure to a branch pipeline of lower pressure by expanding the gas in a turbo-expander to a pressure below the branch pipeline pressure and recovering refrigeration from the expanded gas which is then compressed by a centrifugal compressor directly driven by the turbo-expander to the pressure required for delivery into the branch pipeline. Preferably, the gas is dehydrated by adding methanol and separating aqueous methanol condensate from the expanded gas, and the condensate is distilled with compression heat to recover methanol for reuse.

Abstract: A connecting device for connecting together tubular members is comprised of a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces. The inner diameter of the sheet member coil is less than the outer diameter of the members to be joined. A layer of heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided over the inner surface and subsequently after the formation of the connection on the outer surface of the sheet member coil. The sheet member coil is expanded to a larger diameter against the resiliently inwardly directed force of the sheet member and held in the expanded condition by heat sensitive adhesive bonding material. The expanded larger diameter is of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of the members to be joined.

Abstract: The high pressure of pipeline gas is reduced to the low pressure of a distribution system with simultaneous generation of refrigeration by passing the gas through two successive centrifugal compressors driven by two turbo-expanders in which the compressed gas is expanded to successively lower pressures. Refrigeration is recovered from the gas as it leaves each turbo-expander. Methanol is injected into the pipeline gas before it is expanded to prevent ice formation. Aqueous methanol condensate separated from the expanded gas is distilled for the recovery and reuse of methanol.

Abstract: A device is provided for connecting together the ends of pipes or tubing or for repairing a fault in a pipe or tubing. The device is comprised of a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having a layer of heat sensitive bonding material applied to the inner surface of the resilient sheet member. The resilient sheet member coil is formed to an inner diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the pipe or tubing. In the case where the resilient sheet member is used as a connector, the resilient sheet member is sprung to a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe or tubing and retained in this expanded form by a heat sensitive material which melts upon being heated to allow contraction of the connector. At the same time, the heat sensitive bonding material forms a tight bond to the two ends of the pipes or tubing to be connected.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for restricting fluid flow in a pipeline. An improved inflatable sleeve flow restricting apparatus is disclosed which in one embodiment has restrictor arms extending from one or both ends of the flow restrictor cartridge for engagement with the pipeline side wall at their other ends restricting the inflation of the inflatable sleeve thereby allowing inflation to greater inflation fluid pressures providing pipeline fluid flow restriction in pipelines having pressures of up to about 125 psig. A combination boring-insertion tool is described which utilizes fluid pressure to provide force for the hole cutter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing or relining an underground pipeline without having to excavate the pipe is enabled by attaching an expandable sealing unit to the end of a predetermined length of flexible tubing and feeding it through the pipeline. The flexible tubing is fed through the existing pipeline from a point beyond where the existing pipeline exits the earth, usually within the basement of a building. Once positioned in the desired location, the expandable sealing unit is expanded to form a tight seal at the desired location within the pipe by means of heating the expandable sealing unit by a heating unit connected to the source of energy through electrical conductors which pass through the flexible tubing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing or relining an underground pipeline without having to excavate the pipe is enabled by attaching an expandable sealing unit to the end of a predetermined length of flexible tubing and feeding it through the pipeline. The flexible tubing is fed through the existing pipeline from a point beyond where the existing pipeline exits the earth, usually within the basement of a building. Once positioned in the desired location, the expandable sealing unit is expanded to form a tight seal at the desired location within the pipe by means of heating the expandable sealing unit by a heating unit connected to the source of energy through electrical conductors which pass through the flexible tubing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of sealing and cutting an underground pipeline, such as a gas line or the like, at or near a point where it connects to a main utilizes an expandable plug which may be inserted in the line without the need to excavate to obtain access to the point of sealing. A thermally stabilized cross-linked preshrunk polyolefin plug is inserted into the line on a heater element. The plug may be inserted from a point where the line exits the earth. Once the plug is inserted on the end of the heater element, the heater element is heated causing the plug to expand fitting it tightly inside of the line at or near the main. The heater element may then be withdrawn, and the line may be cut adjacent the inserted plug.