Abstract: The disclosed portable apparatus for determining leaks in air ducts includes a wheeled cabinet having hand-graspable handles for transport. A front, covered equipment readout includes displays for air duct flow, air duct pressure, blower speed, and smoke generator operation. An on-board variable speed blower control knob also is included on the front panel. Housed within the cart is a variable speed blower, a silencer, a smoke generator, power supply, and multiple venturis of different diameter for different sized air ducts to be tested.

Abstract: The disclosed portable apparatus for determining leaks in air ducts includes a wheeled cabinet having hand-graspable handles for transport. A front, covered equipment readout includes displays for air duct flow, air duct pressure, blower speed, and smoke generator operation. An on-board variable speed blower control knob also is included on the front panel. Housed within the cart is a variable speed blower, a silencer, a smoke generator, power supply, and multiple venturis of different diameter for different sized air ducts to be tested.

Abstract: The improved traveling spray assembly and washing method includes a vertical header pipe mounted on tracks that run the length of the bank of collector plate electrodes. The header bears a plurality of nozzles directed to spray washing fluid onto the collector plate electrodes for their washing. A horizontal supply pipe is mounted along the top or the bottom of the electrostatic precipitator and extends to about the mid-point of the bank of collector plate electrodes. The horizontal supply pipe is connectable outside the electrostatic precipitator to a source of washing fluid. A pair of pivotally-connected pipes next are provided. One of the pipes is pivotally connected to the end of the supply pipe at the mid-point of the bank of collector plate electrodes and extends to a position opposite the supply pipe at either the bottom or top of the electrostatic precipitator. The other pipe extends back to the side of the supply pipe and is pivotally-connected to the header pipe.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for recovering heat from a gas stream contaminated with water vapor and an acid-forming moiety, said gas having an acid dew point ranging from about 200.degree. F. to 300.degree. F. and a water dew point ranging from about 90.20 F. to 150.degree. F. The inventive method comprises passing the gas stream through a heat exchange fitted with a plurality of generally-parallel tubes through which flow heat exchanging fluid counter-current to the flow of said gas stream in said heat exchanger. The heat exchanging fluid is at a temperature such that the exterior tube temperature is at or below both said dew points, or the temperature of the contaminated gas stream exiting the heat exchanger is at or below both said dew points. The tubes are formed from acid-resistant, resin-impregnated graphite and exhibit a smooth, washable exterior surface. The heat exchanger further is fitted with a pair of side apertured tube sheets through which said tubes penetrate.

Abstract: An electrostatic plate type precipitator is provided with plural alternately disposed, vertically arranged, and equally spaced apart discharge and collector plates in a housing support structure with an inlet and outlet, enabling passage of gases between the plates, the discharge plates and the collector plates being electrically insulated from each other. An elongate drag hammer assembly, for each of the set of collector plates and the set of discharge plates, extends through the plates normal to their parallel planes. Each drag hammer assembly includes a drag rod and a plurality of pivotally hanging hammers mounted along the drag rod. Tracks mount the drag rods for reciprocation back and forth relative to the plates to move the hanging hammers past a selected number of the associated plates.

Abstract: A glass tube heat exchanger including a sealing sleeve comprising at least one hydraulic sealing section, an intermediate sealing section and an interior sealing section is disclosed. The hydraulic sealing section has a triangular cross section including one obtuse angle formed by two legs, one of which extends radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the seal. The intermediate sealing section comprises a generally cylindrical shaped body and at least one, and preferably two, toroidal belts. The interior sealing section comprises a lip adapted to seal tightly against the glass tube and a flange adapted to seal against the tube sheet. Preferably, the interior sealing section is a mirror image of the hydraulic sealing section.

Abstract: A thin-walled large diameter spiral plastic tube with interlocking helical seams made from a strip of polyethylene material. The strip of plastic has a thin configuration with edge constructions providing a bead formation along one edge and a groove formation along the opposite edge, which can enable an interlocked helical seam, in the spiral tube. The strip is fed into a special spiral pipe making machine for plastics which winds and interlocks the edges of the strip. Such tubing is used for ducts and pipes and, filled with expanded polystyrene beads can be used very advantageously as flotation devices. The plastic used in the strips is polyethylene, including medium and high density polyethylenes with high molecular weight (HMW).

Abstract: A method of absorbing sound generated within a clean-room environment and the sound-absorbing panel for carrying out that method, wherein said sound absorbing panel comprises a fibrous core material enclosed in a non-porous membrane, said membrane being attached to at least one of the extensive surfaces of said fiberglass core in a series of closed geometric figures. The membrane occupying the central portion of each of said geometric figures defines a diaphragm, the dimensions of the diaphragm being configured such that the lower order natural frequencies of vibration of each of the independent diaphragms correspond substantially to the frequency range of sound to be absorbed.

Abstract: An improved corona electrode for use in an electrostatic precipitator of the parallel plate type that includes the addition of a second corona producing electrode adjacent to and in common plane with a needle-type corona producing electrode secured to a vertical edge of the collecting plates. By locating the two corona electrodes a specific distance apart forms a highly efficent corona electrode pair in proper proximity to a collection plate, gas-borne particles, even very high resistivity particles are more effectively charged, and their collection is promoted through both electrostatic and hydrodynamic collection mechanisms.

Abstract: A method and tooling for making angle ring flanges from relatively light gauge sheet metal. The method starts with a flat strip of sheet metal from which two angle ring flanges are formed. The strip is rolled and butt welded into a band, the butt weld is broached on both surfaces at the weld line to the thickness of the sheet metal band. The band is placed in a roll forming machine between a set of two forming rolls which rotate and merge to rotate the band and form it into a ring of channel section with outward facing channel legs at 90.degree. to the channel base. One roll is male and pushes the center half of the band down into the female roll and the outer quarters of the band are forced into the clearance between the male and female forming rolls to form the standing legs or flanges of the finished channel section. The male roll has an annular central groove and the female roll includes a shearing cutter disc which is complementary to the annular groove.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator comprising a plurality of flat plate dust-collecting electrodes, arranged in substantially equally spaced and parallel relationship with one another and each having a discharge electrode, or electrodes, on and along the edge of one side thereof with the discharge electrodes of the adjacent dust-collecting electrodes alternately facing in opposite directions; the edges having the discharge electrodes are arranged in a setback relation by some distance in relation to the nearby edges of the adjacent dust-collecting plates, where no discharge electrodes are provided, so that uniform and non-uniform electric fields may be produced.

Abstract: High-temperature stack gases contaminated with condensable boron oxides or boric acids are processed to ecologically-acceptable effluent gases by the steps of:(a) cooling the stack gases to a temperature above about 250.degree. F. and converting condensable boron oxides and boric acids to non-volatile boron compounds by spraying the stack gases with an aqueous solution of a strong base;(b) collecting and removing the thus-formed non-volatile boron compounds from the cooled gases and(c) venting the resulting ecologically-acceptable effluent gases to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A modular building panel is provided having interlocking bead and groove conformations formed in mating interfitting tongue and socket structures and provided with sealing strips for forming a fluid seal between adjacent assembled panels. The modular building panel is fabricated with longitudinally extending marginal edge portions of mating tongue and socket configurations for enabling interfitting assembly of adjacently disposed panels. The tongue and socket edge portions of each panel are provided with respective interlocking bead and groove conformations for cooperative interlocking engagement for securing adjacently disposed panels in assembled relationship. A sealing strip formed from an elastomeric material is attached to at least one of the socket or tongue marginal edge portions in longitudinally extending relationship thereto and at a location for contacting interengagement with surfaces of the adjacently assembled panel in forming a fluid impervious seal therewith.

Abstract: A modular type building panel for either vertical or horizontal positioning is provided having a hinge element incorporated to facilitate assembly of the panels. The building panels are of a double walled construction having tongue and socket edge configurations adapted to mechanically interlock when placed in assembled relationship with an adjacent panel. The hinge elements comprise a hinge socket and a hinge pin formed with the respective tongue edge portion and the socket edge portion. The hinge socket is disposed adjacent the upper end of the panel as is the hinge pin which permits interfitting of the two elements during the initial stage of panel assembly thereby providing a support pivot facilitating swinging of two panels into assembled relationship. In one embodiment the hinge socket opens at the longitudinal end of the panel for panels designed for vertical walls.