Abstract: A decanter centrifuge enables separation of solid and liquid components from a feed solution containing suspended solids by application of centrifugal force. The decanter centrifuge has at least one disc-like dip weir fixed to the outside surface of a cylindrical portion of a screw conveyor on a solid component discharge port side located away from a feed solution supply port. A predetermined distance is provided between the outermost periphery of the dip weir and the adjacent internal surface of a coaxially rotating outer shell or bowl. An overflow hole is formed adjacent the internal periphery of the disc-like dip weir to pass liquid and the outermost edge of the overflow hole is located closer to the rotational axis of the screw conveyor than the outermost edge of a liquid component discharge port.

Abstract: A vacuum filtration apparatus is provided with one or more vacuum chambers fixedly secured at predetermined positions. The interior of the vacuum chamber alternates between a partial vacuum and atmospheric pressure. An endless filter belt has a horizontal section disposed above the vacuum chamber. A slurry is fed from one or more slurry feeders onto the horizontal section of the endless filter belt so as to create a cake of solid particles. Water is fed from one or more water feeders onto the cake to wash the solid particles on the endless filter belt. The endless filter belt intermittently advances by a predetermined length. When the endless filter belt is stopped, the vacuum chamber is under a vacuum so as to draw the liquid constituent from the slurry, thereby obtaining a purified cake of the solid particles. The vacuum filtration apparatus is provided with a coupling bar at which the slurry feeder and the water feeder is attached.

Abstract: A processing method is presented for treating sludges from municipal and waste materials. The ashes from such sludges, containing SiO.sub.2 as a primary constituent, are treated with additives to tailor the feed material composition. Thermal processing, including melting, rapid cooling and subsequent annealing, produces a crystallized glass microstructure in which needle-shaped shaped crystals of anorthite and .beta.-wollastnite are infiltrated with a vitreous material. Such crystallized glasses having superior mechanical and aesthetic properties are an attractive architectural material which can be utilized for interior finishing, exterior walls, flooring as well as for interior decorations.

Abstract: In homogeneous substitution washing method and apparatus for a cake using a filter press which comprises pairs of opposed squeezed and squeezing filtering plate units, pairs of opposed squeezed and squeezing filtering cloths, each pair of filtering cloths being arranged between the pair of filtering plate units, and diaphragms. Each diaphragm is arranged on one side of one of the pair of filtering plate units. Stock solution is supplied into a space between the pair of filtering cloths, and is pressurized and dehydrated by the diaphragm to form the cake. The cake is processed in washing to obtain a clean raw material. In parallel with the pressurizing and dehydrating step of the stock solution, a washing liquid is poured into a space between the diaphragm and the squeezing filtering cloth abutted against the diaphragm, at a pressure at least a pressurizing and dehydrating pressure applied to the stock solution through the diaphragm, to wash the cake between the pair of filtering cloths.

Abstract: A filter press according to the present invention comprises tension bearing means which are mounted on the filter plates respectively and which prevent movements of the forward ends of the filter cloths to bear the tensions for drawing out the forward ends of the filter cloths from the cloth reservoir means when the distance between the filter plates is decreased to bring the filter plates adjacent to each other into contact with each other, so that the tensions of the filter cloths are not applied to the drawing means when the distance between the filter plates is decreased. Therefore, attitudes of the filter plates are not changed by the tensions of the filter cloths and the filter plates can be brought into intimate contact with each other with constant pressure therebetween.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a jig for fixing a bearing with a tapered bore through a tapered adapter sleeve on a rotational shaft comprises a positioning member which is attached to a housing receiving the bearing and which has a positioning surface for positioning the bearing in the axial direction, and drawing means which engages with the tapered adapter sleeve and which have driving means for moving the drawing means axially so that the tapered adapter sleeve is moved toward the positioning member. Movement of the tapered adapter sleeve generates strong fixing forces between the tapered bore and the tapered adapter sleeve and between the tapered adapter sleeve and the shaft. The positioning surface contacts with an end of inner ring of the bearing, which is located on the small diameter side of tapered bore.

Abstract: A process for distillation-crystallization of a zinc carbonate which is characterized in that a distillation column having a plurality of plates or trays is used for crystallizing basic zinc carbonate (2ZnCO.sub.3.3Zn(OH).sub.2 or ZnCO.sub.3.3Zn(OH).sub.2 H.sub.2 O) from a solution of basic zinc ammonium carbonate (Zn(NH.sub.3).sub.4 CO.sub.3); said solution is fed to an upper portion of the distillation column, while heating a bottom portion of the distillation column, to effect a distillation operation.

Abstract: A system for dissolution-purification of Zn-containing materials which comprises a dissolving means for dissolving the Zn-containing materials and an ion-exchanging means for separating heavy metal ions included in the solution resulting from the dissolving means. In these means, the liquid or slurry to be treated is subjected to the dissolution and ion-exchanging operation countercurrently and the treatment residue including impurities is separated from the liquid or slurry to be treated so as not to contaminate the liquid or slurry with impurities and to improve the solubility.

Abstract: A countercurrent, cooling crystallization and purification method for a multi-component molten mixture wherein the mixture is treated by a purification system comprising one or more crystallizers (1A, 1B) each having, at the respective upper portion, a clarifying portion (10A, 10B) and a purifier (2) arranged in series to the crystallizer or crystallizers and having, at its upper portion, a clarifying portion (20), the crystallizer or crystallizers and the purifier having a temperature difference therebetween and disposed in the order of temperature. The starting mixture is fed to one of the crystallizers and subjected to crystallization there, and the resulting crystals are taken out from the bottom of the crystallizer and fed to another crystallizer or a purifier of higher temperature while the clarified liquid, i.e., mother liquor positioned at the clarifying portion of the crystallizer is led to another crystallizer of lower temperature or discharged out of the system.

Abstract: A process for converting solid wastes to gases suitable for use as a town gas comprising the steps of (1) pyrolyzing solid wastes at 550.degree. C. or higher in a pyrolyzing furnace to produce pyrolysis gases containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and dioxide, methane and other hydrocarbons as well as chlorine-containing compounds, sulphur-containing compounds and other impurities, (2) washing the pyrolysis gases with an aqueous alkaline solution or the like, (3) refining the washed pyrolysis gases with the hydrogen contained in the pyrolysis gases, (4) reforming the refined pyrolysis gases by steam reforming, CO conversion and/or methanation and (5) separating the excess steam and carbonic acid gas from the reformed gases. In one embodiment, the washing (2) and refining (3) may be substituted by the high-temperature steam reforming of the pyrolysis gases in hot state supplied directly from the pyrolyzing furnace.

Abstract: A slurry storage tank comprises a central vertical column arranged therein. A drive mechanism is mounted on the upper portion of the column. A plurality of rake arms with rake elements are arranged within the tank adjacent to its bottom. The rake arms are slowly rotated about the column by the drive mechanism to direct the lower portion of the slurry toward the side wall of the tank. The slurry is withdrawn from the lower portion of the tank by a pumping means and delivered through a pipe means to a plurality of vertical guide pipes supported by the top wall of the tank and extending into the tank. The withdrawn slurry is distributed over the entire surface of the slurry in the tank through the guide pipes to thereby maintain the slurry in the tank in a homogeneous state.

Abstract: A mash column (2) and a rectifying column (4) are used in combination, and impurities contained in mash feed (8) is removed out of the mash column. A salt or salts are added to the top of the rectifying column (4). Alcohol supplied from the mash column (2) is subjected to rectification in the rectifying column (4), and ethyl alcohol is obtained from the top of the rectifying column (4). Bottom products from the rectifying column (4) is concentrated by an evaporator (6) and the concentrated salt or salts solution is recycled to the rectifying column (4). Vapor generated by the evaporator (6) is used as a heat source for the mash column (2).

Abstract: A granule producing apparatus comprises: a container; an exhaust means provided to the top of the container; a space in the upper interior of the container for separating solid material from gases; a space for a fluid bed in the lower interior of the container; a porous floor immediately below the fluid bed space for defining the lower limit of the fluid bed; an air chamber beneath the porous floor for supplying air streams to form the fluid bed; a means for supplying jet stream of air, provided below the fluid bed air stream supply chamber; a plurality of parallelly arranged funnels, said each funnel consisting of an inverse truncated cone and a cylindrical pipe connected to the lower end of the cone, said upwardly enlarged cone opens into the interior of the container with its upper end merging with the porous floor, said each cylindrical pipe having its lower end connected to the jet stream supply means; a means disposed within the upper portion of the cylindrical pipe of each funnel for spraying liquid un

Abstract: A flux-cored wire for electrogas arc welding includes a sheath of steel hoop made of material selected from a group of materials consisting of mild steel and stainless steel. A flux is provided internally within the coating. The flux contains CaF.sub.2, Fe--Si, SiO.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, Cr and Mn. The flux may also contain Fe, Fe--Nb, Me--Mo and/or Me--Cu.

Abstract: A basket for a centrifugal separator which has a rotatable shell having at least one flange formed at one end thereof for containing liquid, an exchangeable flat ring having a number of holes radially formed therethrough with respect to the center axis of said shell and removably mounted to the flange of said shell for discharging liquid contained in said shell, and a plurality of circular cover for coating one end surface of said exchangeable ring. Since the basket is thus constructed, it is adapted for high speed rotation.