Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions. The method employs the concept of utilizing a liquid phase carryover as a combustible gaseous diluent and subsequently, upon separation of the gaseous and liquid phase components, incorporates the addition of a diluent gas to minimize the combustive/explosive potential of the separated gaseous phase component. In a preferred embodiment, the separating apparatus comprises a primary separator, a screen atomizer, a pressure-and-flow control system and a secondary separator.

Abstract: An apparatus, including a manifold pipe, for applying variable amounts of steam to sections of a calenderable material to control certain properties of the material such as gloss. Built-in steam flow control valves are provided along the manifold pipe to control the amount of steam applied to each section. Bucket nozzles provided on the valves decrease the velocity of the steam jetted from the valves and eliminate any condensate present in the steam before discharging the steam against a surface of the calenderable material. Condensate which may form on the apparatus may be channeled away from the calenderable material by a pair of gutters.

Abstract: The method and apparatus include that the rear vanes (11) of the pump or the members operating therewith are arranged so that they either direct the flow of the medium, generated by the combined effect of forces with different directions and different intensities directed at the medium in the space behind the impeller in the vane gaps of said rear vanes, past gas discharge opening (12) in the rear wall of the pump or they slow down said flow so that its extension to said gas discharge opening (12) is prevented.

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds including hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds and other hazardous and toxic chemicals are removed from air streams by contacting the air with a suspension of tiny aqueous droplets sized such that the droplets have an internal pressure significantly greater than atmospheric. The capacity of aqueous droplets to hold organic compounds and the rate of transfer of organic compounds from an air stream to the droplets increase rapidly as the droplet size decreases and the droplet internal pressure rises. After substantial transfer of volatile organic compounds from the air into the droplets is accomplished, the droplets are caused to grow and to coalesce and are separated from the air stream. The resulting liquid effluent is disposed of in a manner which prevents escape of contained contaminant compounds.

Abstract: A gas treating apparatus including a treating flow passage having a first opening and a second opening through which the gas passes to be treated; a pair of ducts for transporting the treatment-target gas or an element-refreshing gas through the treating flow passage positioned between a third opening and a fourth opening; and a rotary frame for radially supporting the treating flow passage and unidirectionally rotatable relative to the pair of ducts. At the upper and lower sides in the rotational direction of the third and fourth openings, there are provided first sealing members. As these sealing members come into sliding contact with at least one of the sealing faces at the upper and lower sides and at the sides of the first opening and of the second opening, the members provide gas sealing effect between the treating flow passage and the pair of ducts positioned between the third and fourth openings and in the vicinity of the same.

Abstract: Scrubbing apparatus for effecting contact between polluted air and a scrubbing liquid may define a serpentine path mounted on a rooftop, an upright tank having a central depending outlet conduit or an upright tank in which contact between the polluted gas and the scrubbing liquid is effected by projecting the scrubbing liquid onto a rotating propeller to effect atomization of the scrubbing liquid. Purification of the scrubbing air is enhanced by producing turbulence in the air carrying the scrubbing liquid by passing the air carrying the scrubbing liquid between closely adjacent, flexible, vibrating sheets disposed parallel to the gas flow. The vibrating characteristics of the flexible sheets can be altered by stretching such sheets and/or by placing such sheets alongside a hard surface struck by the flexible sheets.

Abstract: A cyclone separator (10) of the dewatering type which comprises an elongated separating chamber (12) having an axis of symmetry between opposite first and second ends, the separating chamber being of greater cross-sectional dimension at the first end than at the second end. The cyclone separator further includes at least one inlet (20) which is adjacent the first end and at least one overflow outlet (25) for the less dense component and at least one underflow outlet (24) for the more dense component (24). The cyclone separator has a first section (14) which contains the feed inlet (20) and the first section is of reduced cross-sectional dimension d.sub.2 at its downstream end relative to the upstream end and is characterized in that the ratio of cross-sectional dimension of the overflow outlet for the less dense component d.sub.0 to the cross-sectional dimension of the first section at its downstream end d.sub.2 is as follows 0.25<D.sub.0 /d.sub.2 0.65.

Abstract: A method for removing precipitate from a collecting surface of an electrostatic precipitator by rapping a point on the surface. Mechanical energy is applied a plurality of times with a rapper wherein the level of mechanical energy increases from one application of energy to another. Thus preciptate is removed from regions of the collecting surface progressively more distant from the energy application point. The time period between applications is selected to cause removal of precipitate from a region of the surface to be coincident with falling precipitate from regions above. The level of mechanical energy is controlled by applying to the rapper a sequence of full half-cycles of electrical energy followed by a single phase conduction cycle. The applied current is sensed and the duration of current application is adjusted to provide a predetermined energy level to the rapper. The polarity of the current is reversed to prevent magnetization of the rapper.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner uses a special self-cleaning filter arrangement including an initial fabric filter having a relatively large mesh size with a broad open mesh ratio of 5 to 11 flat filter threads 0.025 to 0.045 inches in width defining oblong filter openings 0.002 to 0.006 inches in width and having a length not greater than will maintain the structural integrity of the filter openings and a total opening area of 5 to 45 times the cross section of the inlet, which inlet faces away from the filter. The initial filter is preferably backed up by secondary filters which filter particulates passing through the initial fabric filter especially during startup and while the filter cleans itself.

Abstract: A rotating particulate trap is disclosed, which may find application in diesel engines, air conditioning systems, industrial air-filters and the like. The invention includes a disk or cylinder which is formed from material suitable for filtering particulates which are present in the exhaust gases of diesel engines, gas turbines, industrial air or other particulate laden gases. The disk is mounted transversely in the exhaust duct of a diesel engine and in a fresh air duct which is disposed parallel to the exhaust duct. As the disk rotates within the exhaust duct, it filters particulates from the exhaust gases of the diesel engine. The filtered particulates are expelled from the disk by fresh air blowing in the air duct as the disk rotates within the air duct. The fresh air is blown in the air duct in a direction opposite to the flow of exhaust gases within the exhaust duct by a fan or compressor or compressed air jets.

Abstract: The invention includes process and apparatus for removing pollutants from a gas including fluidizing a bed of particles in a container, introducing a gas containing pollutant into the bed, removing the pollutant through deposition on the particles, controlling temperatures in the container by injecting coolant fluid through a coolant nozzle, and reducing clogging or fouling on the coolant nozzle. The process and apparatus includes controlling temperatures in the container within narrowly specified ranges of temperatures and providing a constant pressure of coolant fluid and constant pressure of purge gas to the coolant nozzle such that interchangeable selection made between the coolant fluid and purge gas in a time period sufficiently short provides accurate temperature control and reduces clogging or fouling on the coolant nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing selected environmental characteristics in a substantially enclosed area is disclosed for removal of undesired matter therefrom while establishing selected predetermined desired environmental characteristics therein. The apparatus includes structure establishing the substantially enclosed area, the structure having units for negative ion production and positive electrostatic field establishment positioned therein. The electrostatic field establishing unit includes a field collector and pulse generating circuitry for pulsating the positive electrostatic field at a selected frequency, the field collector preferably having a collector surface which is removable and subject to processing to enable analysis of matter collected thereat.

Abstract: In-line filter device including a first and a second filter disposed parallel with each other on a trap structure such that the filters communicate with a trap chamber defined in the trap structure, so that water and/or oil vapor contained in compressed air flowing through the first filter are coalesced into droplets, which are captured in the trap chamber, while any remaining liquid particles in the air are vaporized during passage through the second filter. The device has a reduced-pressure sump in the bottom portion of the trap structure, and inlet holes through which the captured liquid flows from the trap chamber into the sump such that an upper open end of the tube is positioned in a flow path of the air between the trap chamber and the second filter, for sucking the atmosphere in the sump toward the second filter. A draining device is provided in the bottom portion of the sump, for discharging the liquid out of the sump.

Abstract: An instrument for removing chemical vapors from air and concentrating the chemical vapors in a liquid scrubbing medium has been invented. A cylindrical receptacle receives a preselected amount of scrubbing liquid. Air is pulled tangentially into the cylinder through an inlet slit and swirls toward the cylinder top, carrying the liquid with it so that the cylinder wall is coated with the liquid. At the end of a sampling cycle, the air flow is shut off and the liquid is allowed to settle before being drained off for analysis. A cleaning cycle between sampling cycles is possible, during which the cylinder can be heated by an electrical heater cable.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a controlled amount of reagent to a microscope slide or the like includes a spray chamber and a carousel adapted to hold a plurality of slides and to be mounted for rotation in the spray chamber. Nozzles are mounted to spray reagent onto the slides in the carousel as they rotate by the nozzles. Accurate control of the time during which the reagent is sprayed from the nozzles is obtained by placing a control valve in the flow line between a reagent pump and the nozzle and operating the valve to control flow of reagent. Control circuitry coordinates operation of the pumps, valves, and rotation of the carousel to accurately cause spray of reagent onto the slides.

Abstract: There is disclosed an air cleaner of an engine for a vehicle. The air cleaner shaped by fitting upper and lower cases together includes an air intake unit inclined downwards so that a cylindrical part, provided at the top end of the air intake unit, for joining an air valve is disposed in a relatively lower position than the air intake unit. During a process of airtightly fitting the upper and lower cases, this arrangement restrains an engine overall height to a low value and prevents fluctuations in sectional area of the air intake unit which are due to reconstruction of the air intake unit to eliminate the difficulty caused particularly in a portion for joining the air valve to the air intake unit.

Abstract: A controlled rate adsorbent unit including an adsorbent and a heat-shrunk casing of porous material having a predetermined water vapor transmission rate encasing the adsorbent for prolonging the water vapor adsorption time of the adsorbent. The controlled rate adsorbent unit may be in the shape of a recording disc or it may be in the shape of a three-dimensional solid with the heat-shrunk casing stretched tightly thereover. A method of fabricating a controlled rate adsorbent unit including the steps of providing an adsorbent material, heating the adsorbent material to dry off moisture therefrom, providing a porous material having a controlled water vapor transmission rate, sealing the adsorbent material in a casing of the porous material, heat-shrinking the porous material about the adsorbent, and storing the sealed adsorbent material in a moisture barrier package.

Abstract: A grating is fastened to the housing of a computer by threaded nuts and screws, having a truncated-cone head and passing through holes made on the grating, on the housing, and on the frame of an aspirator, as well as through truncated-cone shaped bushings, which are provided with extensions turned towards the center of the grating, so to remain below a portion of a metal net placed over the screws and kept in place by a cover snap-locked to the grating, so that the net is electrically connected with the housing.If the frame of the aspirator is made of plastic material, then an electric connector, is linked to one of the screw or nut, with a conductor connector with the housing.

Abstract: In a coagulator for systems for the purifying of exhaust gases of fossil fuels, in particular of exhaust gases from diesel internal-combustion engines, which has a housing (10), poled as counter-electrode, an electrode (11) arranged concentrically in the housing (10) and at high volotage and an electrically heatable insulator (13) for the insulated leading of the electrode (11) through the housing (10), the insulator (13) is designed in two parts for achieving a great high voltage resistance with relatively small overall dimensions and consists of a ceramic inner tube (17) and a ceramic protective tube (18) surrounding the latter. The heating conductor track (19) required for heating is applied in the shape of a coil as a thick-film conductor to the circumference of the inner tube (17) and the protective tube (18) is sintered on to the inner tube (17) in such a way that the parting line (14) between inner and protective tube (17, 18) is gas-tight (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A self cleaning screen particularly for an engine cooling system comprises a housing having a screen front wall and a rear wall in which there is provided a circular opening. The housing is divided by divider plates connecting between the front and rear walls and extending outwardly from the circular opening to outer side edges of the housing. A baffle is mounted at the center of the opening and is rotatable by a fin or an electric motor. The baffle includes a triangular front plate for closing off a part of the screen aligned with the opening together with a side plate portion which closes off the area defined between the divider plates. As the baffle rotates therefore a portion of the screen extending radially from the centre of the opening to the side edge is closed off so that air does not flow through that area allowing filter debris to fall from the screen.