Abstract: To produce an image recording medium having a support member and a developer material deposited thereon, the support member is charged to a first polarity and powders of a mixture of the developer material and a thermally fusible material both charged to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity are applied to the surface of the support member. Then, the developer material thereon is fixed to the support member by thermally fusing the thermally fusible material with the use of a fixing unit. The recording medium thus produced is used in conjunction with a microcapsule sheet to form an image on the recording medium. On the surface of the microcapsule sheet, photosensitive and pressure rupturable microcapsules are coated and a chromogenic material is encapsulated therein. The image is formed by the reaction of the chromogenic material with the developer material.

Abstract: A process for producing hermetically sealed filters is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing thermoplastic base and top filter parts and a section of filtration media, sandwiching the media between sections of the base and top filter parts under a compressive force, applying a rapidly repetitive force to at least one of the filter parts to cause movement between the parts and frictional welding of the parts, maintaining the compressive force after frictional welding to allow the melted portion of the parts to solidify and thereby form a fluid seal at the junction of the filter parts and at the junctions of the filtration media and each of the base and top filter parts. In one embodiment, the junction between the filter parts is the periphery of an automatic transmission filter, and the junction is hermetically sealed. A hermetically sealed automatic transmission filter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of separating a lighter gas from heavier gases, in which a molecular drag pump is used. A series of support pumps are connected to the exhaust port of the molecular drag pump. A gas to be separated out from a mixture of gases is introduced at an exhaust port of one of the pumps, with the lighter gas among them traveling upstream through the molecular drag pump, into a container.

Abstract: A modular plate settler for use in a liquid clarifier system having one or more inlet ports for receiving an influent flow of liquid, a settling tank for settling and collecting solids separated from the influent flow of liquid and outlet weirs for discharging an effluent flow of clarified liquid. The modular plate settler comprises a parallelogram shaped enclosure provided with a full bottom opening for receiving the influent flow of liquid from the settling tank, and a plurality of inclined parallel gravity settling plates within the enclosure and over which the influent flow of liquid passes toward a full top opening, whereby the solids settle on the plates and slide downwardly under gravitational force into the tank. The flow of liquid is thus clarified of solids and flows through the top opening and effluent trough toward the outlet weirs.

Abstract: In a single portable housing a system for evacuating a laser plume from a surgical site. The system extracts the laser plume from the surgery site through a primary inlet tube supported on an articulated arm. A suction canister communicating with the primary inlet tube removes liquid contaminants from the laser plume and is connected by a secondary inlet tube to a primary filter canister in which is located a primary filter comprised of activated carbon granules. Also disposed in the primary filter canister upstream on the pathway followed by the laser plume through the system is a disposable prefilter disc. In combination with the primary filter the prefilter disc removes substantially all of the particulate contaminants and odor in the laser plume. Downstream from the primary filter canister is a fan for advancing the laser plume through the system.

Abstract: Natural gas admixed with nitrogen is flowed through an absorber at approximately 250-300 psia and at ambient temperature. An absorbent comprised primarily of a petroleum base fluid having a low vapor pressure and a high boiling point is flowed countercurrently through the absorber. The natural gas is absorbed preferentially to the nitrogen in the absorbent. The nitrogen is exhausted from the absorber. The rich absorbent is flowed into a desorber through a regulator reducing the pressure to approximately 65 psia, thus effecting desorption of the natural gas. The desorbed natural gas is then flowed to market. The lean absorbent is repressurized and recycled to the absorber. Two or more absorbers may be connected in series.

Abstract: A dust buster filter for a vacuum cleaner made up of three layers of unwoven cloth having their circumfertical edges fused together with plastic rings by means of a super-sonic fusing machine and a dirt entrance joined with the upper layer of unwoven cloth with glue. The dirt entrance is provided with four protrusions fitting into glued with four holes in the upper layer of unwoven cloth.

Abstract: An air cleaner comprises a dust collector of the positive corona using high voltage source, for example DC 7KV, to collect the dust particles in the air, a plurality of ionizing wires function as the heating wire, and the separate voltage source for the ionizing wire is a relatively lower voltage source, for example DC 24V, DC 48V, which may be overrided comparing with the voltage difference between the electrifying panel and the ionizing wire so as to prevent the ill influence on the electrifying function and the dust collecting function. Therefore, an air cleaner can combine air with heating a room so as to make air in the room comfortable.

Abstract: Nonwoven fiber bed mist eliminators in which at least one filter element is comprised of a fiber bed of syntheic polymer nonwoven material or fabric containing coalescing or collection sites wherein the ratio of the wet bed pressure drop to the dry bed pressure drop is essentially constant.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner bag is described which has a sealing closure device for an inlet opening in a collar of the vacuum cleaner bag. A disc, partially die-cut out of the collar or a separate disc attached to the collar is arranged for hinged movements between a covering position wherein the inlet opening is effectively closed and sealed and and uncovering position wherein the inlet opening is accessible for passage of an inlet fitting of a vacuum cleaner. A locking mechanism is provided for positively locking the hinged cover to disc in its covering position to prevent inadvertent escape of debris from a filled vacuum cleaner bag after removal from the vacuum cleaner. The locking mechanism may consist of a projecting finger on the disc or cover which is forced beyond the inlet opening and snaps behind the collar, or the projecting finger may be secured with any suitable fastener, such as hook and loop tape.

Abstract: A method of dissolving a powder material is disclosed in which the material is wholly dissolved and the existence of bubbles in the resultant solution is greatly minimized. An agitating blade stirs a liquid in an air-tight tank while the powder material is inserted into the liquid. The pressure is then reduced in the tank causing large bubbles to swell. The bubbles are destroyed by the agitating blade. The pressure reducing operation is then turned off so that the bubbles do not leave the tank through a pressure reduction port. The pressure reducing operation is then repeated a number of times to dissolve the powder material and to destroy bubbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing contaminants from gas or liquid streams, such as contaminated flue gases of refuse incinerators. The method comprises contacting a contaminated gas or liquid with neutralizing and/or absorbing substances in a whirling mixture, wherein the whirling motion is accelerated with simultaneous compression of the mixture; expansion of the compressed, whirling mixture; acceleration and compression of the expanded whirling mixture; and subsequent deceleration of the whirling mixture with removal of reaction products containing the contaminants and neutralizing and/or absorbing substances.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for cooling and removing the toxic particulates, heavy metals, noxious fumes, and acid from the gaseous products of the combustion of materials high in impurities and/or toxic substances. Said invention accomplishes the above when dense exhaust and smoke emitted by a furnace are drawn through a series of three treatment chambers by the tremendous vacuum effect of extremely high-velocity vertical water and alkaline solution jets. The hydraulic pressure of the water and alkaline solution jets, in addition to providing draft, forces impurities in the gaseous waste to hydraulically dilute or dissolve in a turbulent liquid bath below. The apparatus improves the efficiency of any furnace to which it is attached by channeling exhaust-heated water through an external radiator, thereby supplementing the heat output of the furnace to which the device is attached.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bridged stream corona generator including a first electrode comprising an electrical conductor having projections on its surface; a second electrode again comprising an electrical conductor, which is located in opposition to the first electrode; insulator means applied on at least the side of the second electrode in opposition to the first electrode; a high voltage power source connected to the first and second electrodes; and means for feeding a viscous oil onto the side of the insulator means which directs to the first electrode. With this arrangement, it is possible to smooth out irregularities caused by deposits on the side of the insulator means which faces the first electrode, thereby contributing to maintaining bridged stream corona discharge in a stable manner. The present corona generator lends itself well to purifying exhaust fumes from automobiles by corona discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing clouding of a mirror-finished semiconductor wafer in a semiconductor wafer treating zone by controlling an internal atmosphere in the semiconductor wafer treating zone. The apparatus has an air conditioner for introducing the air from an external environment into the semiconductor wafer treating zone, and a removing device disposed in the air conditioner or between the air conditioner and the external environment for removing at least part of the sulfur oxides out of the sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides in the air introduced from the external environment. The air introduced through the air conditioner and the cleaning device forms an atmosphere including a sulfur oxide concentration of 60 ng/l or less in the semiconductor wafer treating zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for fluidizing, degassing and pumping a suspension of fibrous cellulose material is described which comprises a housing, a fluidizing rotor and an impeller of radial type, said housing having a cylindrical portion for the rotor, a portion for the impeller which is radially enlarged in relation to the cylindrical portion, a wall means closing one end of the housing and a shaft rigidly connected to the impeller, an axial inlet for suspension being disposed at the cylindrical portion, and a radial outlet for suspension at the radially enlarged portion. The apparatus has also a degassing system for removing gas which collects in front of the impeller and comprising opening means in the impeller and said wall means, said impeller having a hub, a partition and forward and rear blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in a wet electrostatic precipitator (1) intended for cleansing moisture-and-dust laden gas. The wet electrostatic precipitator (1) includes a condensing cooling arrangement (21) which is integrated with the precipitator unit (20) of the electrostatic precipitator. A plurality of emission electrodes (4) are located within the collector electrodes (5) and the collector electrodes extend through the cooling arrangement (21). Means in the form of distribution pipes (50, 60) are disposed in the upper and lower end-parts of the precipitator unit (20), in a manner such as to achieve uniform distribution of cooling medium (23) on the outer surfaces of the collector electrodes (5), the gas flowing forwardly within the collector electrodes (5).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating particulate pollutants having a size range from submicrons to several tens of microns from a gas stream. The invention utilizes micron sized liquid particles or mists to remove the particles from the gas stream. The apparatus includes twin fluid atomizers to produce the micron sized particles and a corrugated plate interceptor to remove the liquid and entrain particulate pollutants from the gas stream.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator comprising a corona discharging section for charging dust particles as they pass through and a dust collecting section which has at least two sets of negative plate electrodes for collecting the positively charged dust particles and auxiliary plate electrodes to accelerate the dust particles to the collecting plate electrodes. The collecting and auxiliary plate electrodes in each set are so alternately arranged that the arrangement of the collecting and auxiliary plate electrodes in one set is opposite to that in the adjacent sets whereby the positively charged dust particles passing through the dust collecting section can be effectively collected to the collecting plate electrodes to improve collecting efficiency and energy efficiency with mimized noise.

Abstract: A filter and dehydrator device comprising a substantially cylindrical housing having an open end, a removable end cap attached to the open end and forming a gas-tight seal, the end cap having a sight glass, and gas conduits connected to said housing, one on the closed end and one on the side wall. A cylindrical filter core composed of a dehydrator material fits within the housing and has a saturation indicator material impregnated or attached to one end. The opposite end of the filter core has an internal cylindrical chamber extending at least two-thirds of the length of the filter core. A gasket is mounted on the circumference of the filter core such that gas must pass by the indicator material in order to flow from one gas conduit to the other.