Abstract: A lifting bracket assembly is disclosed. The lifting bracket assembly includes a motor, a pair of gear heads mechanically coupled to the motor such that each of the gear heads is coupled to a jack screw connector, a first and second jack screw, wherein each of the jack screws is coupled to one of the jack screw connectors and one of the gear heads, a first lifting bracket rotatably coupled to the first jack screw, a second lifting bracket rotatably coupled to the second jack screw, wherein the first and second jacks screws are different, a first guide tube fixedly coupled at a first end to the first lifting bracket and coupled to a first rail beam at a second end, and a second guide tube fixedly coupled at a first end to the second lifting bracket and coupled to a second rail beam at a second end.

Abstract: A jack screw connector includes a first clevis including a pair of first clevis legs, an eye block including a first bore and a second bore such that the first and second bores are formed substantially perpendicular to each other, a first pin configured to be supported within the first bore and rotably carried by the pair of first clevis legs when a first end of the eye block is carried therebetween, a second clevis including a pair of second clevis legs sized to engage a second end of the eye block, and a second pin configured to be supported within the second bore and rotably carried by the pair of second clevis legs when aligned therewith.

Abstract: A jack screw connector includes a first clevis including a pair of first clevis legs, an eye block including a first bore and a second bore such that the first and second bores are formed substantially perpendicular to each other, a first pin configured to be supported within the first bore and rotably carried by the pair of first clevis legs when a first end of the eye block is carried therebetween, a second clevis including a pair of second clevis legs sized to engage a second end of the eye block, and a second pin configured to be supported within the second bore and rotably carried by the pair of second clevis legs when aligned therewith.

Abstract: An improved bridge crane electric motor control system is disclosed, wherein a computer, a programmable controller, is employed to not only control the application of electrical energy to the motors of a bridge crane but also to count and store the instances of overload and of use. The controller is operated in accordance with a computer program which is disclosed and information relating to use is accessible by maintenance workers who may read out the amount of use and abuse of the crane and its motors and take corrective steps. The system provides greater security against unauthorized modification in the field by the operators and employs fewer and more reliable parts than previous such systems.

Abstract: An improved bridge crane electric motor control system is disclosed, wherein a computer, a programmable controller, is employed to not only control the application of electrical energy to the motors of a bridge crane but also to count and store the instances of overload and of use. The controller is operated in accordance with a computer program which is disclosed and information relating to use is accessible by maintenance workers who may read out the amount of use and abuse of the crane and its motors and take corrective steps. The system provides greater security against unauthorized modification in the field by the operators and employs fewer and more reliable parts than previous such systems.

Abstract: An improved water-cooled, liningless cupola wherein the lower portion of the water-cooled body section, including the high heat area above the tuyeres, tapers inwardly toward the bottom with the taper terminating a short distance above the tuyeres and with the remainder of the bottom end of the body section, which includes the tuyere area, being either cylindrical or outwardly tapered. Preferably, the cylindrical or outwardly tapered bottom end portion plus an upper adjacent section of the inwardly tapered lower portion are provided with a multiplicity of interiorly projecting studs which serve to anchor the initial refractory lining and, thereafter, skull after it is formed.

Abstract: A cupola installation having a top charging opening and a vibratory feeder mounted to discharge into the top opening from one side. The skiphoist associated with the cupola carries two charging buckets, one for discharging charge material into the top charging opening in the stack while the other is for simultaneously discharging material into the pan or hopper of the vibratory feeder. When the empty charging buckets are lowered, the vibratory feeder is operated to discharge its load into the top charging opening. The use of two charging buckets permits a charge material of a type not suitable for charging along with the main charging material, to be separately charged in a gentler manner. For example, briquettes of cast iron borings and chips or of steel turnings are easily broken into objectionable fines when handled and charged in a conventional manner. Cooperating equipment associated with the trim platform assists in the loading of charge material into the separate charging buckets.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor separation device and method, including a generally horizontally-disposed arcuate passageway which interconnects the outlet of the tube side of a heater component of an evaporator to a condensor or subsequent effect heater. A floor plate is disposed in the arcuate passageway in spaced-away relation from the side walls thereof so as to permit drainage of liquid collected on the interior walls of the passageway into a liquid-collecting section which is provided with a suitable drain for removal of the thus-collected liquid. The floor plate is of sufficient size to minimize re-entrainment of the collected liquid. Adjacent the outlet end of the device anti-swirl baffles are provided to eliminate turbulence in the vapor adjacent such outlet end.

Abstract: An improved rail car moving vehicle adapted for travel alternately in one mode on rail wheels on a railway track and in an off-track mode on ground wheels, with weight transfer capabilities from a coupled railway car when in the on-rail mode, and characterized by improvements, including: a tricycle configuration of ground wheels provided by a pair of non-steerable, closely-spaced rear road wheels adapted to have frictional driving engagement with the driven axle of a rail wheel set and relatively widely-spaced steerable front ground wheels; a frame design that provides ample strength with respect to a bending or vertical load while having torsional rigidity not sufficient to normally cause one of the rail wheels to lift off from the track more than the radial dimension of its flange; a rear coupler assembly including a coupler carrier independently hinged to the vehicle frame for supporting a laterally swinging coupler independently pivoted to the frame at the inner end of the coupler arm; a pair of steerable

Abstract: A weight transfer rail traction vehicle adapted for travel on alternate sets of rail or road wheels which is characterized by a number of features including: a spring and shock absorber system which cooperate to maintain the springs, while in a rail travel mode, in an active condition despite substantial weight transfer loads being placed thereon; a hydraulic system which enables the differential axles to be optionally spring supported to the frame or in a rigid fixed relationship therewith; a differential axle suspension system wherein the spring supported axle moves in a substantially vertical plane without lateral shifting; a shock absorbing coupler; a coupler mounting arrangement which includes a coupler carriage directly mounted to a lateral frame member of the vehicle which serves as a guideway for directing travel of the coupler carriage and hence the coupler mounted thereto in a horizontal direction and wherein the coupler itself is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the coupler carriage; a

Abstract: A weight transfer rail traction vehicle adapted for travel on alternate sets of rail or road wheels which is characterized by a number of features including: a spring and shock absorber system which cooperate to maintain the springs, while in a rail travel mode, in an active condition despite substantial weight transfer loads being placed thereon; a hydraulic system which enables the differential axles to be optionally spring supported to the frame or in a rigid fixed relationship therewith; a differential axle suspension system wherein the spring supported axle moves in a substantially vertical plane without lateral shifting; a shock absorbing coupler; a coupler mounting arrangement which includes a coupler carriage directly mounted to a lateral frame member of the vehicle which serves as a guideway for directing travel of the coupler carriage and hence the coupler mounted thereto in a horizontal direction and wherein the coupler itself is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the coupler carriage; a

Abstract: The transfer of agitational forces from a main vessel to an elutriation leg connected thereto is effectively minimized with a slurry inlet and liquor outlet device mounted in the upper end of the elutriation leg. The device includes a slurry flow directing member which receives the gravitational flow of slurry from the main vessel and directs such flow in a downward path of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to the cross-sectional area of the elutriation leg for impingement onto a target member mounted below the slurry flow directing member. The downward slurry flow is radially outwardly deflected by the target member to substantially reduce the concentrated downward forces of the slurry which would otherwise tend to disrupt or restrict the formation and maintenance of a fluidized bed in the elutriation leg.

Abstract: A weight transfer rail traction vehicle adapted for travel on alternate sets of rail or road wheels which is characterized by a number of features including: a spring and shock absorber system which cooperate to maintain the springs, while in a rail travel mode, in an active condition despite substantial weight transfer loads being placed thereon; a hydraulic system which enables the differential axles to be optionally spring supported to the frame or in a rigid fixed relationship therewith; a differential axle suspension system wherein the spring supported axle moves in a substantially vertical plane without lateral shifting; a shock absorbing coupler; a coupler mounting arrangement which includes a coupler carriage directly mounted to a lateral frame member of the vehicle which serves as a guideway for directing travel of the coupler carriage and hence the coupler mountd thereto in a horizontal direction and wherein the coupler itself is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the coupler carriage; a

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacture of wet process phosphoric acid wherein phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are separately added to a combination reactor and cooler unit at a rate of addition such that the increase in calcium content and sulfate content in the slurry contained in the unit are small. Circulation of the slurry is provided and the rate at which sulfuric acid and phosphate rock are added is small compared to the rate of circulation of the reactor slurry.

Abstract: An improved cupola furnace waste gas recuperative system and method for collecting waste furnace gases, cleaning them for the purpose of safely burning same either in a recuperator-heat exchanger for preheating incoming furnace blast air or for other heating purposes. The improvement consists of a method and means to control the pressure inside of the gas take-off chamber of an open, top charged, cupola furnace for the purposes of preventing gases from escaping through the charging hopper, preventing the indraft of excessive amounts of air, preventing explosive combustion and flashback of the waste gas and maintaining cleaning efficiency at any gas flow rate. Means include the controlled recirculation of a variable portion of the waste gas through part of the gas cleaning system and control of the furnace top gas pressure as a function of the incoming cupola furnace blast air.

Abstract: A mechanical tamper-resistant interconnecting locking apparatus is connected to a top charge tiltable direct arc electric furnace which includes a refractory lined furnace shell and a removable roof covering a top opening in the shell.The apparatus includes a first locking mechanism which, when engaged, prevents the tilting of the furnace, and a second locking mechanism which, when engaged, prevents the swinging of the roof from over the shell top opening. A mechanical linkage interconnects the two mechanisms and prevents simultaneous disengagement of both of them. Also, once one of the mechanisms is disengaged and adjacent portions of the furnace are moved relative to each other, the entire locking apparatus is prevented from further movement until the adjacent portions are returned to the position providing lock mechanism engageability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling aqueous alkali metal hydroxide liquors such as, for example, caustic soda liquors, involving the vacuum cooling of a body of such liquor in an evaporating chamber having a overhead vapor outlet which communicates with a direct-contact barometric condenser supplied with a stream of cooled alkali metal hydroxide liquor. The cooled alkali metal hydroxide liquor has a vapor pressure below the absolute pressure of water vapor evolved from the body of liquor in the evaporating chamber and condenses the water vapor upon contact therewith. A stream of cooled concentrated alkali metal hydroxide liquor withdrawn from the evaporating chamber is, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, further cooled and solids contained therein, such as, for example, sodium chloride crystals, are then removed in a suitable liquid-solids separation device.

Abstract: A crystallization vessel is provided which includes an elutriation column having an outlet at an upper end thereof and an inlet at a lower end thereof which inlet is in communication with a body of slurry contained therein. Flow regulating means associated with the elutriation column outlet enables the flow velocity within the column to be regulated for controlling the size of crystal particles removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. A movable baffle in the column is also provided for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of the column and thereby independently regulating the quantity of slurry removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. In this manner, both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from the slurry body are independently regulated, thereby providing product crystals of improved size uniformity.

Abstract: An orbital service bridge for positioning a work platform at desired positions within an overlying dome-shaped structure comprises inclined leg members pivotally mounted at one end near the top of the dome. A motor driven trolley positions the other end of the leg member along a track circumferentially disposed on the base of the domed area. A carriage movably supported on the leg members positions the work platform at the desired height, and a telescoping mounting assembly extends the work platform in either direction away from the leg members and into the desired position. The bridge may also be assembled with complimentary leg members to form a self-supporting bridge structure useful in assembling the dome and related systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacture of wet process phosphoric acid wherein phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are separately added to a combination reactor and cooler unit at a rate of addition such that the increase in calcium content and sulfate content in the slurry contained in the unit are small. Circulation of the slurry is provided and the rate at which sulfuric acid and phosphate rock are added is small compared to the rate of circulation of the reactor slurry.