Abstract: An apparatus for selectively recirculating, conditioning, sorting and collecting the balls and discharging the bails from a pipe cleaning system utilizing recirculating foam rubber balls includes a housing having a dividing wall defining an inlet chamber on one side thereof and a collection chamber on the other side thereof, the inlet chamber having an inlet and the collection chamber having an outlet. A movable plate further divides the collection chamber into a acceptable ball chamber and a rejected ball chamber. A roller arrangement is operably connected with the housing and cooperates with the movable plate to condition and sort the balls in the system into the rejected ball chamber and the acceptable ball chamber. The collection chamber has a movable screen which selectively controls the flow of balls from the acceptable ball chamber to the outlet.

Abstract: A ball strainer for foam rubber cleaning balls in a cleaning system for process piping includes a ball collecting and discharge chamber at the downstream end of the screen which is disposed wholly outside the wall of the pipe in which the screen is mounted. The chamber is dimensioned and oriented to completely eliminate the pinch point between the screen and the pipe wall. Mounting the collecting chamber on the outside of the pipe wall allows the use of a planar screen with a smooth elliptical edge which is of substantially simpler construction and offers a minimum resistance to cooling water flow.

Abstract: A ball collecting apparatus for a pipe cleaning system utilizing circulating foam rubber balls includes a cylindrical housing having a rotary ball retaining screen disposed therein which is movable between a ball circulating position, a ball collecting and holding position, and a ball discharging position in a simple and efficient manner. In its recirculating position, a screen is disposed to permit the balls to flow directly from the housing inlet to the housing outlet for recirculation without interruption. When rotated to the collecting and holding position, the screen retains the balls thereon, prevents their passage through the housing outlet and preferably also prevents inadvertent entry of the balls into a ball discharge outlet. The discharge outlet is located near the bottom of the housing and rotation of the screen to the ball discharging position, along with appropriate closure of the flow inlet and outlet oepnings, allows the collected balls to be discharged by gravity and removed the system.

Abstract: A vacuum loading apparatus is adapted to be mounted on the bed of a conventional pick-up truck and includes a primary particulate settling chamber and an integrally attached filter chamber having open communication with the settling chamber through a common separating wall. A pair of cylindrical filter units are mounted in the filter chamber, each filter unit has a pleated filter media disposed with its outer surface exposed to the particulate-carrying air. The open interior of the filter unit, comprising a clean air chamber, is divided into two sub-chambers by an impervious axially disposed separator and a compressed air nozzle is disposed adjacent the opening to each sub-chamber to direct a backflush jet of compressed air through the filter media to clean the entrained particulates therefrom.

Abstract: Fluid flow diverter apparatus is described for reversing the direction of fluid flow through a process loop, such as a bundle of heat exchange tubes in an air conditioning system. The apparatus utilizes a housing enclosing a rotary valve in which the diverter disk seats in two positions against generally U-shape seating frames that can be repositioned to compensate for erosion or other distortion of the seating surfaces on the frames and disk. The seating frames comprise a plurality of seating bars, each of which is adjustably fastened to the interior of the valve casing by at least one threaded fastener that extends through a transverse slot in the bar and engages the casing. All seating surfaces preferably are coated with a resilient material, such as rubber.

Abstract: A diverter valve (1) includes a rotatable axially shiftable element (21) disposed within a housing (10) having a cylindrical wall (11), end walls (12, 14) and four cage bars (42-45). The element has channel plates. One channel plate (29) is disposed adjacent one housing end wall. The other channel plate (30) is disposed intermediate the housing end walls. An end plate (33) is spaced from plate (30) on the side remote from plate (29) and is disposed adjacent the other housing end wall. A tapered plug (27) joins the channel plates and joins plate (30) with end plate (33). Channel walls (34, 35) are spaced outwardly from the plug mounted to the housing wall (11) and extend inwardly between cage bars, with Segmental platforms (50, 51) are their inner edges (52, 53) receiving the edges of channel plate (30) when the diverter assembly (21) is in one position. When the assembly is in normal position, plug (27) is sealed against cage bars (42, 44). Quadrants formed by the cage bars form axial chambers (A-D).

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of metallic fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). A non-corrodible, erosion resistance, non-metallic elongated sleeve-like insert (30) is telescopingly mounted within a tube. The insert length corresponds closely with the length of the finite tube end section (21) subject to damage from fluid turbulence, which has been found to be in the range of about 5 to 12 inches depending upon the tube I.D. as well as fluid velocity and pressures. To prevent undesirable penetration of corrosive materials and gases into any void that may exist between the plastic insert and metallic heat exchanger tube, a filler (33) of adhesive epoxy or the like may be applied to fill the void. The insert (30) provides only a single element reduction in passage diameter. When a tube cleaning brush (25) and basket (26) system is also utilized, brush diameter reduction relative to the tube I.D. is minimized.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having end head elements has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheet elements. Cleaning devices are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by basket elements. A basket retaining plate is disposed outwardly of and parallel to a tube sheet element. A longitudinally compressible device is disposed between the retaining plate and at least one of the elements to compensate for misalignment of a tube sheet relative to the heat exchanger housing.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, outwardly of the tube sheet in an adjacent or proximate, generally parallel relationship to the outer face of the tube sheet. The retaining plate may be mounted either in spaced relationship from or in abutting relationship with the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which terminate within the tube sheet openings.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A removable cleaning element retainer (28) is adapted to be snap fit into the end of each basket via flexible clip legs (30) terminating in radially outwardly extending prongs (31). A notch (39) formed in the outer slot end receives a retainer prong and thereby holds the retainer against basket-wearing rotation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A cleaning element retaining device includes inwardly extending pairs of projections (30, 31) integral with the basket and with the respective pairs being offset longitudinally along the basket axis. A cleaning element can be tiltingly manipulated past the pairs of projections for insertion or removal into or out of the basket without substantial damage to the projections.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a housing (2) containing a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) through which tube cleaning elements (18) are propelled between elongated baskets (17) mounted in communication with the tube ends. The baskets include longitudinally extending slots (22). A removable retainer (28) is adapted for mounting to each outer basket end. The retainer includes a central body portion (29) of molded plastic and a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips (30) for latching onto the basket. Each clip includes a first longitudinally outwardly extending leg (31), a second longitudinally inwardly extending leg (33), and a reverse bend loop (32) joining the legs. A radially extending rib (38) is formed in the reverse bend loop and is connected at its ends to the first and second legs. The ribs on circumferentially spaced clips are of such a length as to normally hold all of the legs in parallelism.

Abstract: A system for concentration of waste cooling tower blowdown in a steam turbine power plant. The cooling tower blowdown feed is withdrawn from a main power plant condenser and is recirculated through an auxiliary cooling tower and an auxiliary condenser. The auxiliary condenser utilizes waste heat steam drawn from the main condenser as an energy source. Evaporation continuously takes place in the auxiliary cooling tower concentrating the cooling tower blowdown so that it may be withdrawn and sent to a concentrating pond or other slurry handling station for final disposal.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated molded plastic slotted baskets (17). The generally uninterrupted basket chamber (25) terminates in an outer end portion defined by the basket body to which is integrally mounted a cleaning element retainer in the form of a closure (26). The closure is pivotally mounted to one side of the end of the basket body by a living hinge (27) which permits swinging of the closure between a fully open position wherein the open-ended basket chamber is unobstructed for cleaning element installation and removal, and a fully closed position which retains the cleaning element within the basket during outward fluid flow. The closure is held in closed position by an integral latch (28, 29) on the side of the basket diametrically opposite the living hinge (27).

Abstract: A four-way diverter valve (1) is constructed with a rotatable butterfly valve element (20) within the cylindrical valve housing (10) and with said element having a pair of end heads (21, 22) joined by a generally planular central tapered plug (23) of longitudinal extent. The valve plug is modified by having mounted thereon between its ends a tubular diverter means (28) which comprises a pair of transversely extending pipe segments (25, 26), one mounted on each side of the plug, which forms a baffle. The valve housing (10) is connected to two pair of in-line ports (16-19) and stub pipes (31, 32) are fixedly mounted to the housing wall, communicate with a pair of diagonally opposed ports (16, 19), and extend inwardly from the housing wall toward the modified butterfly valve element (20) and the tubular diverter means (28). In normal valve position (FIG. 4), a generally straight-through fluid flow is provided. In reverse valve position (FIG.

Abstract: A longitudinally extending housing (21) is provided with a generally cylindrical side wall (22) closed by opposed end walls (23,24). The housing side wall is ported, to connect with supply and return lines (17,18) from a source of pressurized fluid (15), and also to connect with the input and discharge lines (19,20) of a process loop. The housing contains a longitudinally extending rotary axle (33) which forms a part of a valve rotator assembly (42). The assembly includes a plurality of segmental discs (43-46) mounted for rotation with the axle. Axially aligned alternate disc edges are joined by radial longitudinally extending partitions (52,53) to form a plurality of alternating axially oppositely facing rotary chambers (I-IV) adapted to communicate with the housing ports.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Brushes are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. The brushes comprise an elongated wire twist stem having fine wire bristles looped through the twist along the stem length. End caps are secured to the stem ends. The brush basket is provided with a dash pot at its outer end which not only serves as a brush stop but which also creates a hydraulic cushion to slowly decelerate the brush before it engages the stop.