Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus that cleans contaminants from pipes. The apparatus comprises a high velocity pump, a cleaning solution tank, a first line that selectively connects said cleaning solution tank to said high velocity pump, a solvent tank, a second line that selectively connects said solvent tank to said high velocity pump, a manifold, and a third line that selectively connects said manifold to said high velocity pump.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods, compositions and apparatus for cleaning the surfaces within vessels that have restricted points of entry, and in particular, the surfaces within oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders. These oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders are components of the onboard oxygen supply systems of aircraft. A surfactant and a solvent are mixed to form a cleaning composition that is boiled at reduced pressure and increased temperature within the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder. The oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder is rinsed with pure solvent, and the rinse fluid is measured to determine the level of contaminants. Dry air is forced through the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder to remove remaining solvent. The cleaning composition may comprise a fluorocarbon solvent and a fluorosurfactant.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods, compositions and apparatus for cleaning the surfaces within vessels that have restricted points of entry, and in particular, the surfaces within oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders. These oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders are components of the onboard oxygen supply systems of aircraft. A surfactant and a solvent are mixed to form a cleaning composition that is boiled at reduced pressure and increased temperature within the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder. The oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder is rinsed with pure solvent, and the rinse fluid is measured to determine the level of contaminants. Dry air is forced through the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder to remove remaining solvent. The cleaning composition may comprise a fluorocarbon solvent and a fluorosurfactant.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods, compositions and apparatus for cleaning the surfaces within vessels that have restricted points of entry, and in particular, the surfaces within oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders. These oxygen converters and oxygen cylinders are components of the onboard oxygen supply systems of aircraft. A surfactant and a solvent are mixed to form a cleaning composition that is boiled at reduced pressure and increased temperature within the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder. The oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder is rinsed with pure solvent, and the rinse fluid is measured to determine the level of contaminants. Dry air is forced through the oxygen converter or oxygen cylinder to remove remaining solvent. The cleaning composition may comprise a fluorocarbon solvent and a fluorosurfactant.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus that cleans contaminants from pipes. The apparatus comprises a high velocity pump, a cleaning solution tank, a first line that selectively connects said cleaning solution tank to said high velocity pump, a solvent tank, a second line that selectively connects said solvent tank to said high velocity pump, a manifold, and a third line that selectively connects said manifold to said high velocity pump.

Abstract: The present invention cleans contaminants from pipes. The first step may be pulling a vacuum on the pipe to be cleaned. The pipe is then filled with a solvent, which is preferably a fluorocarbon solvent. After the pipe is filled with solvent, a cleaning solution is pumped at a high velocity through the pipe. The cleaning solution preferably comprises the fluorocarbon solvent, and a fluorosurfactant. The pipe is then rinsed with solvent. A particle counter is used to determine whether the solvent rinse contains an acceptably low number of particles. The solvent is then blown out of the pipe by a gas, such as dry air. A vacuum is then pulled on the pipe. Subsequently, a hot dry gas is pumped through the pipe to evaporate and remove any remaining solvent. The gas is preferably hot, dry air. The gas exiting from the pipe is then checked to confirm that it contains an acceptably low level of solvent vapor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the gas diffusion characteristics of material samples includes a sealed test chamber in which one or more test cells are placed. A material sample is mounted on one end of a substantially cylindrical test cell. The chamber is then charged to a predetermined pressure and concentration of a test gas, such as radon. Periodically, gas samples are drawn through the other end of the test cell for analysis of test gas concentration, which indicates the capability of the material sample to diffuse, or prevent diffusion of, the test gas. For each test, a desired pressure differential is maintained across the material sample, and also between the chamber interior and ambient.

Abstract: A process for making fuming nitric acid involving the reacting of nitrogen dioxide gas with dry hydrogen chloride gas to produce the fuming nitric acid directly, and to produce as a co-product nitrosyl chloride gas; separating the formed liquid fuming nitric acid from the reaction gases and co-product gas; and stripping the liquid product and demisting the gaseous product to complete their separation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the internal gating of molds used to make a shaped article of aggregate filler infiltrated with a curable binder, including preparing a mold having a cavity and having gating tubes extending through the mold cavity and spaced from its surfaces, and the gating tubes having walls with multiple openings therethrough which are located inside the mold cavity, the cavity being dry-packed outside of the tubes with aggregate filler and the interstitial spaces therebetween being pumped full of liquid binder to form a matrix, the binder entering through the tubes and their openings and progressively expanding through the interstices while expelling air from breather holes, the binder then being cured in the mold either with the tubes still in place or with the tubes removed and the spaces filled with similar aggregate and binder before curing is completed.

Abstract: The process of manufacturing shaped structures comprising silicon carbide and carbon, including forming precursors of heat carbonizable synthetic resin material having dispersed therein siliceous material, heating a batch of precursors to a temperature in the range of 2000.degree. F. to 3000.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for making hollow carbon microspheres starting with hollow microballoons made of a material which can by heating be degraded to a carbon structure having a shape similar to that of the original microballoon. The disclosure teaches specific batch treating steps and apparatus for optimizing the rate of production of the microspheres, while at the same time minimizing degradation, rupture and cracking of the resulting carbon product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the level of sufuric acid in atmospheric air which also contains other interferrants, including a sampling cycle to collect sulfuric acid on the walls of a collection chamber tube which is cooled, while at the same time eliminating interfering sulfur dioxide and ammonia by treating them with a dilute flow of hydrochloric acid through the collection chamber, and further including an analysis cycle during which the walls of the collection chamber tube are heated so as to revolatilize the sulfuric acid and entrain it in a clean air stream which then passes to the burner block of a flame photometric detector, the clean air stream being saturated with water vapor to make the revaporization of sulfuric acid more rapid and complete.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making hollow carbon microspheres starting with hollow microballoons made of a material which can by heating be degraded to a carbon structure having a shape similar to that of the original microballoon. The disclosure teaches specific batch treating steps and apparatus for optimizing the rate of production of the microspheres, while at the same time minimizing degradation, rupture and cracking of the resulting carbon product.

Abstract: A high-temperature compressible material especially useful in rocket motors to support nozzle ring inserts, the material including a binder which when pyrolyzed leaves a char having substantial strength, and fillers including carbonaceous fillers such as carbon fibers, wools, powders, etc., plus a special filler comprising hollow carbon microspheres which can crush to provide a compressibility to the material when it is confined in a volume-limiting environment, plus other fillers which may be added to obtain special yield characteristics.

Abstract: An improved method of making microcrystalline mineral fibers using a generally known technique of impregnating precursor organic fibers with salts of desired minerals dissolved in a solvent which is readily absorbed by the fibers, and subsequently heating and calcining the precursor fibers to leave mineral fibers comprising compounds of said impregnating salts which have diameters which in the prior art process are about half the diameter of the precursor fibers, the improvement involving controlling the diameters of the mineral fibers to reduce them greatly below the above-mentioned prior art diameters by impregnating the precursor fibers with a solution whose salt concentration is very small as compared with the high concentrations used in the prior art while taking steps to control the uniformity of the impregnation prior to calcining, the microcrystalline structures of some of the mineral fibers being improved by a final sintering step at higher temperatures than are used in the prior art.

Abstract: A method of passivating iron-containing cuttings and turnings to prevent overheating thereof during storage and transportation, wherein the cuttings and turnings are fed through a rotating tumbler drum while being mixed with an aqueous slurry of calcium oxide or hydroxide, the tumbling being continued until the cuttings or turnings are thoroughly coated with the slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the cuttings and turnings are passed through a tumbling drum continuously, with the slurry being sprayed onto them as they enter the drum.

Abstract: A process for photographing infra red events onto silver halide film including the steps of focusing the infra red radiation directly onto the film to alter the sensitivity of the film to visible light, then flashing the film with a uniform field of visible light at the moment when the sensitivity-altering effect of the infra red is optimum, thereby producing a latent image whose density when developed will vary with the interrelationship between the integrated exposure of the film to infra red and to visible radiation at various discrete areas of the film.