Abstract: A chemical process for the catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde and other organic compounds contained in a dilute aqueous solution, particularly waste water. The inventive feature resides in the use of a cobalt catalyst, at ambient temperature, at a pH of 5.5, to increase the rate of oxidation of the organic compounds when hypochlorous acid is the oxidant. The latter may be provided by a chlorine compound, such as sodium hypochlorate, calcium hypochlorite or chlorine gas dissolved in water.

Abstract: A method of treating a mixture of Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B and SmCo.sub.5 alloy scrap or waste particulates wherein the mixture is introduced to a bath of sulfuric acid solution to selectively dissolve the Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B alloy particulates, leaving a majority of the SmCo.sub.5 alloy particulates undissolved. Hydrogen bubbles are generated in the bath by dissolution of the Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B alloy particulates. The undissolved SmCo.sub.5 alloy particulates adhere to the hydrogen bubbles are floated to the bath surface to form a froth containing a concentrate of the SmCo.sub.5 alloy particulates, which are recovered by removing the concentrate from the bath surface. The bath is treated to recover the Nd metal of the dissolved Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B alloy particulates. Any grinding media present in the mixture settles to the bottom of the bath to further upgrade the recovered alloy product.

Abstract: The flowmeter includes a planar wire grid immersed in the fluid flow perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow. Capacitors discharge an electrical current through the wire grid to heat the wire grid and thereby produce, by heat conduction, a thermopulse in the fluid. Temperature detectors are provided on both sides of the wire grid to detect the thermopulse. A timing device is provided for measuring the time interval between production of the thermopulse and detection thereof by the detectors. The time interval is representative of the flow rate of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the fragmentation and excavation of hard, solid materials such as rock formations is provided which comprises adding to the rock surface an aqueous solution including a high molecular weight nonionic polymer such as polyethylene oxide which is capable of hydrogen bonding with water to produce charge-neutralizing positive charge dipoles. The nonionic polymeric solution is thus capable of neutralizing the rock surface charge and obtaining a condition of zero surface charge (ZSC) so that the drilling, tunneling, cutting or other similar operation can be conducted with substantial increases in drilling performance and penetration rate. The method is also extremely effective in extending the lives of drill bits, cutting tools, grinding media, or other polishing or drilling tools such that an enormous savings in terms of replacing equipment can be achieved.

Abstract: The laser goniometer is an apparatus which permits an operator to sight along a geologic feature and orient a collimated lamer beam to match the attitude of the feature directly. The horizontal orientation (strike) and the angle from horizontal (dip), are detected by rotary incremental encoders attached to the laser goniometer which provide a digital readout of the azimuth and tilt of the collimated laser beam. A microprocessor then translates the square wave signal encoder outputs into an ASCII signal for use by data recording equipment.

Abstract: A system for continuously collecting and preserving fish eggs and larvae by pumping, concentrating, separating, and preserving samples for a specific period of time or volume. Water containing fish eggs and larvae is pumped by a centrifugal pump through smooth-walled plumbing into a headbox. Water flows out of the headbox over a sheet-metal ogee crest down over an inclined panel and then across a wedge-wire screen. Water with retained material drops through smooth-walled plumbing and a swing-joint union into a diverter arm. The swing-joint union is coupled through a chain and sprocket to a stepper motor programmable to position the diverter arm over each of the sample buckets. A peristaltic pump operates on a preset time and delivers a calculated concentration of formalin to a previously filled sample bucket.

Abstract: A water sampling device for field use operates in cleaning and sampling modes and includes a distributor valve that provides selective connection of a sample pump to a plurality of collection units so that a plurality of samples can be taken. The collection units are composed of a filter for removing particulate matter, a liquid-solid extraction cartridge, and a storage bottle. Water samples are automatically collected from a river or other water source, and then pumped immediately through the liquid-solid extraction cartridge which extracts and retains the contaminants from the water. Once the contaminants have been extracted into the cartridge, the sample is chemically stable and resistant to degradation, thereby eliminating the need for much of the special handling of samples that was previously required with field units.

Abstract: A teleoperated mining system is provided for remotely controlling the various machines involved with thin seam mining. A thin seam continuous miner located at a mining face includes a camera mounted thereon and a slave computer for controlling the miner and the camera. A plurality of sensors for relaying information about the miner and the face to the slave computer. A slave computer controlled ventilation sub-system which removes combustible material from the mining face. A haulage sub-system removes material mined by the continuous miner from the mining face to a collection site and is also controlled by the slave computer. A base station, which controls the supply of power and water to the continuous miner, haulage system, and ventilation systems, includes cable/hose handling module for winding or unwinding cables/hoses connected to the miner, an operator control module, and a hydraulic power and air compressor module for supplying air to the miner.

Abstract: A method for recovering platinum group metals from a catalyst material comprises leaching the material with a cyanide solution at a temperature greater than about 100.degree. C. to form soluble platinum group metal-cyanide complexes in solution. Solids are removed from the resulting pregnant leach solution, and the pregnant leach solution is then heated to a temperature sufficient to decompose the platinum group metal-cyanide complexes and precipitate the platinum group metals.

Abstract: A method of heating reactant materials in a plasma chamber to achieve a reaction temperature by enveloping the materials in a microwave induced electric plasma. The plasma chamber positioned in the microwave waveguide is filled with a gas and predetermined quantities of the reactant materials are placed in the chamber or reactor. A microwave produced electric field is passed through the gas to ionize it and produce an electric plasma that envelopes the reactant materials. The process may be used in a variety of high temperature chemical processes such as the production of tungsten carbide.

Abstract: A method of treating rare earth-transition metal alloy scrap involves in one embodiment dissolving the scrap in aqueous sulfuric acid solution, reacting the solution with a hydroxide of an alkali element (e.g., Na or K) or ammonium to precipitate a double sulfate salt of the rare earth and the alkali element or ammonium, and separating the salt from the solution. The double sulfate salt is converted to a rare earth salt, such as rare earth fluoride, amenable for use in metallothermic reduction processes to make rare earth metal or alloys.

Abstract: A method of installing a tensioned roof bolt in a borehole of a rock formation without the aid of a mechanical anchoring device or threaded tensioning threads by applying thrust to the bolt (19) as the bonding material (7') is curing to compress the strata (3) surrounding the borehole (1), and then relieving the thrust when the bonding material (7') has cured.

Abstract: An impact assisted segmented cutterhead device is provided for cutting various surfaces from coal to granite. The device comprises a plurality of cutting bit segments deployed in side by side relationship to form a continuous cutting face and a plurality of impactors individually associated with respective cutting bit segments. An impactor rod of each impactor connects that impactor to the corresponding cutting bit segment. A plurality of shock mounts dampening the vibration from the associated impactor. Mounting brackets are used in mounting the cutterhead to a base machine.

Abstract: An improved cleaning blade construction (10) for eliminating erosion troughs (6) in the upper surface (15) of a cleaning blade member (14) by introducing pressurized fluid through a pressure manifold chamber (16) formed in the upper surface (15) of the cleaning blade member (14). The pressurized fluid will prevent carryback material (7) from passing through a wear groove (6) formed in the cleaning blade member.

Abstract: An improved method of locating an underground mine fire by comparing the pattern of measured combustion product arrival times at detector locations with a real time computer-generated array of simulated patterns. A number of electronic fire detection devices are linked thru telemetry to a control station on the surface. The mine's ventilation is modeled on a digital computer using network analysis software. The time reguired to locate a fire consists of the time required to model the mines' ventilation, generate the arrival time array, scan the array, and to match measured arrival time patterns to the simulated patterns.

Abstract: A cutting sound enhancement system (10) for transmitting an audible signal from the cutting head (101) of a piece of mine machinery (100) to an operator at a remote station (200), wherein, the operator using a headphone unit (14) can monitor the difference in sounds being made solely by the cutting head (101) to determine the location of the roof, floor, and walls of a coal seam (50).

Abstract: An explosion suppression system and triggering apparatus therefor are provided for quenching gas and dust explosions. An electrically actuated suppression mechanism which dispenses an extinguishing agent into the path ahead of the propagating flame is actuated by a triggering device which is light powered. This triggering device is located upstream of the propagating flame and converts light from the flame to an electrical actuation signal. A pressure arming device electrically connects the triggering device to the suppression device only when the explosion is sensed by a further characteristic thereof beside the flame such as the pioneer pressure wave. The light powered triggering device includes a solar panel which is disposed in the path of the explosion and oriented between horizontally downward and vertical. Testing mechanisms are also preferably provided to test the operation of the solar panel and detonator as well as the pressure arming mechanism.

Abstract: A method of quantitatively determining the molten pool configuration in melting of metals. The method includes the steps of introducing hafnium metal seeds into a molten metal pool at intervals to form ingots, neutron activating the ingots and determining the hafnium location by radiometric means. Hafnium possesses exactly the proper metallurgical and radiochemical properties for this use.

Abstract: A method of determining the location and history of metallic nitride and/or oxynitride inclusions in metallic melts. The method includes the steps of labeling metallic nitride and/or oxynitride inclusions by making a coreduced metallic-hafnium sponge from a mixture of hafnium chloride and the chloride of a metal, reducing the mixed chlorides with magnesium, nitriding the hafnium-labeled metallic-hafnium sponge, and seeding the sponge to be melted with hafnium-labeled nitride inclusions. The ingots are neutron activated and the hafnium is located by radiometric means. Hafnium possesses exactly the proper metallurgical and radiochemical properties for this use.

Abstract: A process for improving a solid/liquid separation of tails from acidulated or non-acidulated liquors obtained by leaching phosphate ores or waste comprising: adding a mixture of dissolved polymers of hydroxyalkyl cellulose and polyoxyethylene into an aqueous slurry of leached phosphate wastes to obtain flocks of phosphatic clay wastes; allowing said flocks to settle into an agglomerated mass; decanting luqiid from insoluble residues to obtain tails having a solid content from about 55 to 70%.