Abstract: A gas cylinder includes a cylindrically-shaped main wall having a liner, a facing and insulation located between the liner and the facing. First and second electric, self-regulating heating elements are positioned between the liner and the insulation. The liner is provided with first and second pockets and the first and second heating elements are located within the pockets. The first heating element has a higher wattage density than the second heating element and the first heating element is located below the second heating element. A sealed conduit enclosure contains a terminal block connecting a power input cable to the first and second heating elements. A planar top wall is located at the top of the main wall and has an opening for passage of a regulator of the gas cylinder.

Abstract: A heating jacket for use on a processing vessel includes a flexible heater jacket having a plurality of layers, a flexible heating element positioned within the layers, and a thermostat positioned within the layers and electrically connected to the heating element for regulating the heating element. An access opening is formed in at least one of the layers to provide access to the thermostat positioned within the layers. An access cover includes a pivotable inner cover which selectively covers the access opening and an outer cover which selectively covers the inner cover. A mounting bracket of the thermostat extends below a pair of parallel flexible strips to secure the thermostat to the layers whereby the thermostat is readily replaceable in the field.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater body is placed directly in line and allows axial flow of stock (i.e. liquid or slurry) through a pipe. The steam injection heater includes a Mach diffuser having a plurality of steam diffusion holes. The Mach diffuser is mounted transverse to the axial flow of stock through the pipe and the heater body. High velocity steam is injected from the plurality of steam diffusion holes into the stock flowing through the heater body. An adjustably positionable cover in the Mach diffuser modulates the amount of steam added to the flowing stock by exposing a desired number of steam diffusion holes. Modulation is accomplished at constant steam pressure by an actuator that rotates the cover. The arrangement is able to efficiently heat large flows of viscous stock, such as slurries having suspended materials that tend to flocculate. The upstream surface area of the Mach diffuser is preferably free of steam diffusion holes to eliminate unnecessary plugging.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater includes a Mach diffuser having a plurality of steam diffusion holes in lieu of a coaxial steam nozzle. High velocity steam (i.e. choked flow) flows radially through the plurality of steam diffusion holes into a high velocity axial flow of liquid through a combining tube within the heater. An adjustably positionable cover over the steam diffusion holes in the Mach diffuser modulates the amount of steam added to the liquid by exposing the proper number of steam diffusion holes. This modulation is done at constant steam pressure without the use of an external steam control device. The arrangement facilitates thorough mixing of steam and liquid within the combining region. It also discourages the generation of relatively large steam bubbles within the mixture, even when heating liquids that promote the generation of relatively large steam bubbles such as liquids without a significant number or nucleation points or without sufficient surface tension.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus for use with band heaters for heating nozzles of plastic extruding and injection molding machines to maintain intimate contacts between the heater and the cylindrical surface being heated as well as a clamping apparatus of general application for maintaining intimate contact between the apparatus and the cylindrical object to be clamped. The clamping apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical strap incorporating a heater mechanism, or without a heater mechanism therein, which includes end portions, at least one of which has an upstanding tab with one or more openings therein for receiving a ratchet clip which upon movement thereof, causes the interior of the cylindrical strap to tightly engage the generally cylindrical object to be clamped.

Abstract: A method of disassembling fiber drums having a fiber sidewall, a fiber bottom and an upper and lower metal chime includes the use of a portable fiber drum chime remover. The fiber drum is placed on the lower metal chime and the portable fiber drum chime remover is used to remove the upper metal chime by engaging a rotatable drive wheel against an outer surface of the upper chime and a rotatable cutting head against the inner surface of the fiber sidewall opposite the drive wheel. The portable fiber drum chime remover is then driven around the upper chime to cut the upper edge of the fiber sidewall. The fiber drum is then placed on the cut upper edge of the sidewall and the portable fiber drum chime remover is used in the same manner to cut the lower edge of the fiber sidewall slightly above the fiber bottom. The lower metal chime is then snipped to relieve tension and allow the fiber bottom and lower metal chime to be easily removed from the drum.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater allows shear to be adjusted without taking the process off-line to relieve pressure within the heater. A stud is mounted to an adjustable combining tube within the heater. The stud extends through an opening in the heater body into a sealed housing. An adjusting mechanism exerts force on the combining tube stud within the sealed housing to move the combining tube longitudinally within the body to adjust the shear within the heater. The position of the combining tube is indicated by an analog revolution counter. The adjusting mechanism can be driven manually or by a motor. The motorized embodiment of the invention can be used with feedback control to automatically optimize shear.

Abstract: Portable metal drum openers allow the use of a cutting head with a relatively small diameter so that most metal drum covers can be removed without having to beat down or remove bungs in the cover. The cutting head is spring mounted so that the small diameter cutting head will not slip or stall when encountering a kink in the chime. The cutting head is tilted downward in the direction of cutting so that the cutting head would tend to move downward along the chime when making the cut, however, the cutting head is physically restrained from moving downward past a selected chime cutting height. The selected chime cutting height is preferably adjusted by adjusting the position of a shaft collar along threads on a cutting shaft that projects perpendicularly from the cutting head. It is preferred that the drum opener be driven either manually, or by an electric DC motor.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved pressure transfer module having, in one embodiment, two double-diaphragm pumps each having its diaphragms connected to one another by a respective drive shaft for reciprocating motion. Spool valve assemblies are mounted directly on the connecting shafts of each pump and arranged to maintain the operation of the two diaphragms of the pumps 90.degree. out of phase in that each such assembly constitutes pressurized water control valves for the other pump. The two pumps are mounted with the drive shafts at 90.degree. to one another, and arranged to pump in sequence so that a complete pumping cycle comprises four pumping strokes, one every 90.degree.. To insure reversal of motion of the shafts in proper phase, the invention includes either two, meshed square cams and cam surfaces formed on respective shafts connecting the pumping surfaces, or a floating crankshaft with each end pivoted in one of the connecting shafts.

Abstract: A fiber drum chime removing system for disassembling fiber or paperboard drums having metal chimes has a stationary cutting assembly and a movable cutting assembly. The stationary cutting assembly cuts the upper edge of the fiber sidewall of the drum to remove the upper drum chime from the drum. Contemporaneously, the movable cutting assembly cuts the lower edge of the fiber sidewall of the drum. A chime cutter mounted to the movable cutting assembly then cuts the lower drum chime to remove from the drum. Air cylinders automatically engage the stationary and movable cutting assemblies, and electric DC motors automatically drive the cutting assemblies. The chime cutter is automatically actuated by an air cylinder. The position of the movable cutting assembly is also adjusted automatically with an air cylinder so that the movable cutting assembly can be located in the proper position for cutting engagement.

Abstract: A portable fiber drum chime remover allows the disassembly of fiber or paperboard drums on location. The height of the cutting head is adjustable so that the portable chime remover can remove both the upper metal chime and the lower metal chime during the fiber drum disassembling process. The cutting head height can be selected among predetermined settings using a grooved cutter shaft and a spring-loaded stop, or can be self-setting using the fiber drum geometry as a guide. The fiber drum chime remover preferably has a restraint element to prevent the cutting head from coming in direct contact with the drive wheel when the cutting head is engaged to cut the fiber sidewall of the drum.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater with a coaxial steam nozzle has a converging/diverging combining tube. The converging/diverging combining tube eliminates the need for an adjustable combining tube sleeve to accommodate various flow rates of a liquid or slurry entering into the heater. The heater is especially well suited for sanitary applications because, without the combining tube sleeve, the heater can be made so that surfaces in contact with the liquid or slurry do not have pockets or folds in which liquid or particulates can accumulate. Contact surfaces in the heater are substantially self-cleaning because of turbulent mixing action, and the heater can be quickly disassembled and reassembled for manual cleaning.

Abstract: A clamp for tightening heating coils around a cylindrical object being heated has a split tubular housing with straps extending from each housing edge and forming loops pulled together by forces exerted from a pair of wedging elements with conical surfaces. The wedging elements have a cylindrical portion journalled in loops connected to one housing edge and a conical inner portion on which a strap connected to the other housing edge is mounted. Movement of the wedging elements axially with respect to one another changes the effective diameter of the conical portions engaging the strap. This causes the housing edges to be pulled together. Movement of the wedging elements with respect to one another is provided by securing one element to a mounting pin and providing a threaded bore through the other element, the element with the bore being restrained from rotation. When threads on the pin engage the threaded bore, the elements are pulled together.

Abstract: This heat engine, uses a Stirling cycle design, wherein a cold exchanger section of a cylinder and a hot exchanger section of the same cylinder are attached to an axis in an off-center positioned. The axis is preferably capable of rotation, but in some embodiments may be fixed. When a rotatable axis is used, a liquid acting as a piston moves within a portion of the cylinder against centrifugal force, and is driven by a working gas which is used in the same cylinder. By oscillating the liquid in the cylinder outwardly in the cylinder during a downward, or "power", stroke and inwardly in the cylinder during an upward, or "drag", stroke the center of mass of the liquid in the cylinder provides a greater moment of force during the downward power stroke than during the upward drag stroke. When used with a rotating axis and subjected to heating at a hot exchanger section and to cooling at a cold exchanger section at selected times it produces continuous power producing rotary motion about the axis.

Abstract: A water heater (10) has a pressure-transfer module (20) interposed between an external pressurized-water circuit and the water inside the water-heater vessel (12) so that the water is at atmospheric pressure and can thus have a free upper surface. A shut-off valve in the inlet (14) to the pressure-transfer module (20) is controlled in accordance with the water level as detected by a float (74). If the water level falls below a predetermined minimum or exceeds a predetermined maximum, the shut-off valve closes so as to prevent further flow into the water heater (10) from the upstream side of the exterior circuit.

Abstract: A fluid-driven pump (10) includes a drive-inlet-valve assembly (54) that alternately directs the flow of cold pressurized water from a pressurized-water inlet (12) into alternate drive cavities (46a and b). Outlet valves (60a and b) control flow out of the drive cavities (46a and b). The resulting reciprocation of piston heads (36a and b) draws hot water in through a pump inlet (16) and out through a pump outlet (18). A valve operating mechanism driven by the piston heads' reciprocation causes both the drive outlet valves (60a and b) to close before the drive-inlet-valve assembly (54) changes its state to redirect flow of pressurized cold water from the cold-water inlet (12). The drive-inlet-valve assembly (54) is provided with a pilot-valve member that permits the drive-inlet-valve assembly (54) to be operated with a relatively low force and without introducing excessive shock and noise.

Abstract: A liquid heating apparatus capable of using low pressure steam and having a temperature control system to automatically control the output temperature of a heated liquid. The apparatus includes a tubular housing having an internal annular seal, and a liquid nozzle, that is connected to a source of liquid to be heated, is mounted for axial movement in the housing relative to the seat. The annular space between the nozzle and the seat that defines an annular diverging passage which communicates with a source of steam under pressure. The steam is accelerated as it is discharged through the diverging passage into contact with the stream of liquid being discharged from the liquid nozzle. The liquid and steam then pass through a converging mixing chamber where the momentum energy of the steam transfers to the liquid as the steam condenses on the liquid. The mixture then passes into a diverging diffuser section and the heated liquid is discharged from the diffuser through a discharge conduit to a site of use.

Abstract: A device for transferring pressure from one fluid stream to another utilized in conjunction with a storage vessel where fluid is stored at ambient pressure and a desired temperature. An entering fluid stream at another temperature is introduced to the device under pressure and the energy of the fluid stream is utilized to pump a second fluid stream of approximately the same flow and pressure from the vessel. The entering fluid flows into the vessel at approximately ambient pressure at its original temperature where it replaces the removed fluid.

Abstract: A method for defibrating waste paper and dispersing contained asphalt and wax contaminants within the fibers. The waste paper is initially pulped with water and the resulting stock is then contacted with a high pressure stream of steam having a velocity in the range of 1200 to 1600 ft./sec. The mixture of steam and stock is passed through a mixing tube under highly turbulent conditions to defibrate the waste paper and disperse any asphalt, waxes, and other contaminants throughout the separated fibers. The resulting stock can be used in papermaking processes, particularly for the production of paperboard products.

Abstract: A radiant energy collecting/emitting element, including an absorber plate with a cylindrical bore through which a tool comprising a mandrel having lands is drawn to form helical grooves. A tube formed of a ductile metal dissimilar to the plate metal is placed within the bore and a second tool is then drawn through the tube. The second tool has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the tube so that the tube is radially expanded outwardly into intimate surface contact with the bore. During expansion the material of the tube cold flows into the grooves to form lands which lock the tube against displacement relative to the plate.