Abstract: A refrigerant apparatus having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion value, evaporator and an oil repellent coat. An oil repellent coat is coated inside of a low pressure refrigerant passage which lubricant is easy to adhere so that lubricant is prevented from staying inside of the refrigerant passage. Since the oil repellant coat is low affinity for oil, luricant forms guttulate on the oil repellent coat by surface tension. Since the guttulate is easy to move on the inside wall with a flow of the refrigerant, it is prevented lubricant from staying on the inside wall.

Abstract: A liquid accumulator for a motor vehicle air conditioning system having a liquid separator and return pipe having an inlet end formed with a flared or trumpet shape that forms a baffle to prevent liquid entry into the return pipe.

Abstract: A substantially closed vapor control system is provided for recovering volatilized vapors released during the filling of storage and other types of tanks with hydrocarbons or other volatile chemicals. An inert gas is supplied to thetank and mixes with the volatilized vapors during loading of the hydrocarbon or chemical to produce an inflammable vapor mixture. The vapor mixture is then subjected to a two-stage compression and separation process to condense and separate the volatilized vapors from the inert gas. The condensed volatilized vapor is then returned to the storage tank while the inert gas is liquefied and stored for subsequent delivery to the storage tank when the hydrocarbon or chemical is unloaded from the tank.

Abstract: A muffler tube for use in a hermetically sealed compressor is disclosed. The muffler tube of the present invention has a roughened outer finish, and has a protuberance extending radially outwardly therefrom, which protuberance is received in a recess in the inner wall of the muffler. The combination of the roughened outer finish and the protuberance connection assist in preventing the muffler from turning on the tube, and from moving vertically on the tube.

Abstract: An eutectic beam which includes a plastic housing, an eutectic solution in the housing, and an evaporator tube in the eutectic solution having ends which extend outside the housing. The ends of the evaporator tube are adapted for connection to a refrigeration system. The evaporator tube is formed of copper having a thin protective coating on its outer surface formed of plastic, which is preferably a two component, filled epoxy resin system. The housing, in a preferred embodiment, is formed of a plastic, such as polyethylene, filled with a filler material selected to increase the thermal conductivity and thus the efficiency of the eutectic beam. In still another preferred embodiment, the filler material is also selected to increase both the electrical and thermal conductivity of the housing, with the housing including electrodes for electrically heating the housing to remove frost and ice build-up.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for conditioning air utilizing a desiccant based air conditioning system requiring substantially less regeneration energy than typical systems. This regeneration energy reduction is accomplished through the use of two separate desiccant devices and an indirect evaporative cooler having both a wet and dry side for air flow-through. The first desiccant device regeneration air is first passed through the wet side of the indirect evaporative cooler wherein it is humidified and heated. This air is then dehumidified by passing through the second desiccant device which operated at a high moisture content. This results in a substantial amount of moisture being adsorbed from the first regeneration air stream causing a substantial air temperature increase and thereby, reducing the auxiliary heat required. The second desiccant device may be regenerated with ambient air.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for producing ultra-high purity nitrogen. In accordance with the method and apparatus, air is rectified to produce a tower overhead comprising high purity nitrogen rich in light elements, such as neon, helium and hydrogen. The tower overhead is then partially condensed within a condenser and separated into liquid and vapor phases within a phase separator. The liquid phase is lean in the light elements and the vapor phase is rich in the light elements. The liquid phase is removed from the bottom of the phase separator and is introduced into the column as reflux. As the reflux drops from tray to tray it is stripped of the light elements. A product stream containing ultra-high purity nitrogen is withdrawn as a liquid from the column after suitable stripping of the reflux. The product stream can be further purified by stripping the product stream within a stripper column.

Abstract: Rapid cooling or freezing of foodstuffs, perishables or blood products is accomplished by using a thin film membrane to totally envelope the foodstuffs or blood product only during the heat extraction period. This thin film encapsulation system closes around the item and is held tightly to the item by atmospheric and/or hydrostatic pressure. Once the item is encapsulated, low temperature heat transfer fluids are then circulated on the exterior surface of the membrane, thus extracting the heat within the item through the thickness of the membrane. Upon completion of the necessary chilling or freezing, the atmospheric and/or hydrostatic pressure is withdrawn and the chilled or frozen item is extracted.

Abstract: An on-line drying control method for powdered or granular materials and a related system to execute the method. A fixed amount of materials stored and dried in a drying means such as a hopper dryer is sampled, transported into a moisture measuring/operating station wherein the sampled materials are heated in a heat treatment chamber and the moisture content is calculated by an operation unit. The moisture content is sent to a temperature controller to control the temperature of the drying means so that the obtained moisture content corresponds to a predetermined moisture content while comparing both moisture contents.

Abstract: A convection oven comprises a heating compartment, a burner for effecting combustion of gas, a heat exchanger for conducting therethrough the products of combustion of gas initiated at the burner, first and second blowers for blowing air past the heat exchanger and into the heating compartment for heating the compartment, upper and lower blowers each having an inlet through which air is drawn into the blowers from a common side of the heating compartment for recirculation past the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger having first and second outlets for the combustion products respectively disposed in front of the inlets of the upper and lower blowers. Each outlet is located to direct the combustion products towards a lower region of the inlet of the respective blower.

Abstract: A refractory tile for a suspended wall of a glass furnace includes upper and lower horizontal faces having respective raised and depressed tongue and groove portions. The tile is adapted to be laid in overlapping or bonded courses such that the tongue and groove portions of a tile overlap and matingly engage the tongue and groove portions of two tiles in a subjacent course of tiles. Each tile also includes vertical side edges having mating ridges and grooves. Each of the tiles further includes a neck portion outwardly extending from a cold face edge thereof. The neck portion defines open spaces between adjacent tiles for insertion of insulation batts therein. The horizontal faces of the tiles also have slots formed therein for engagement with one of the hanger members. The slots have one of a transverse T-portion or a recessed portion formed therein and spaced inwardly from the cold face of the tile which are adapted to engage the hangers.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system comprising two cryogenic rectification plants wherein a fluid mixture comprising argon and nitrogen is withdrawn in a defined manner from the first plant and passed into the second plant such that argon production is enhanced to more than offset the additional separation power requirements.

Abstract: A refrigerator in which one of the horizontal grill-work shelves is replaced by a shallow, flat, water tank. The tank is supported by the same support brackets as the grill-work shelf it replaces. The tank bottom wall includes fore and aft extending grooves, for engagement by the support brackets. The upturned ledge at the free end of each support bracket engages a deeper groove portion at a front section of the main grooves, this groove portion extending short of the front edge of the tank. Thus, only partial forward withdrawal of the tank from the refrigerator chamber will be possible in the horizontal plane, accordingly with the play of the ledge along the deeper groove portion. This will prevent its accidental fall-out.

Abstract: A board dryer comprises a double-sided conveyor for conveying flat boards through a dryer, the conveyor defining a flat board path and a conveyance direction in the path through the dryer. The dryer also comprises a pair of nozzle devices, which are elongate and arranged to extend laterally across the board path with respect to the conveyance direction, one above the board path and one below it, for directing respective laterally extensive air jets towards the board path from opposite sides thereof. The air jets have a backward component of direction with respect to a forward conveyance direction for facilitating board drying. The board dryer is especially useful for drying printed circuit boards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for slicing tissue sections from a frozen specimen for microscopic analysis or the like without allowing tissue debris or dust to become airborne and thereby transport bacteria or viruses from one specimen to other specimens or to an operator. This is achieved by slicing the specimen while submersed in a subzero dielectric liquid and passing a conveyor, such as a statically charged web or film, adjacent the point of sectioning so that the tissue sections and associated tissue debris generated therewith are attracted to the web and adhere thereto. The conveyor transports the tissue sections, and associated debris adhering thereto, through a sterilizer and staining tanks whereafter the tissue is transferred to a slide for microscopic examination.

Abstract: A sheet drying apparatus wherein the horizontal upper reach of an endless foraminous conveyer transports a series of sheets to be dried between a main suction chamber below and a plenum chamber above the upper reach. The drying station between the two chambers is flanked by two additional suction chambers which extend transversely of the direction of advancement of sheets and serve to attract the sheets to the upper side of the upper reach of the conveyor. A blower is provided to draw air from the main suction chamber and to admit the withdrawn air into channels for admission into the plenum chamber. The sheets are directly or indirectly heated by a stationary heating device between the main plenum chamber and the upper reach of the conveyor, by one or more heating elements in the plenum chamber, by heating elements in the main suction chamber and by heating elements in the channels.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which both floatingly supports a web, and maintains the web in a substantially straight path as it travels through a dryer. The apparatus comprises a steerable air bar assembly comprising: i) one or more adjustable air bars, each having an elongated surface from which air may be discharged, said surface being in opposing relation to the running web, and each having two ends; ii) air supply means, in fluid communication with the air bars; and iii) adjustment means for altering the orientation of the elongated surfaces of the adjustable air bars with respect to the running web. In a preferred embodiment the orientation of the surfaces is adjusted such that each said surface rotates about an axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the running web. Said steerable air bar assembly is positioned in a web dryer such that the web is guided through the dryer in a substantially straight path.

Abstract: In a process for removing propane from a mixed liquid hydrocarbon stream, the depropanizer bottoms from a depropanizer are utilized to reflux the de-ethanizer. The process includes flowing the mixed liquid hydrocarbon stream through a de-ethanizer for separating ethane from the hydrocarbon stream and flowing the de-ethanizer bottoms to a depropanizer for separating the propane. The depropanizer bottoms are used as reflux for the de-ethanizer allowing the overhead temperature to be within range of aerial cooling. Propane recovery of greater than 92% is achievable at these conditions.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a pivotable detector contains a first cooler which serves for cooling the detector and contains a depressurization outlet through which pressurized argon which has been precooled below its inversion point, is depressurized and thereby cooled. A second cooler is operated using pressurized methane and serves for precooling the pressurized argon. The second cooler constitutes a Joule-Thomson cooler containing a depressurization nozzle for depressurizing and thereby cooling the pressurized methane, and a countercurrent heat exchanger arranged upstream of the depressurization nozzle for precooling the infed pressurized methane by the depressurized and cooled methane. The first cooler constitutes an expansion cooler containing a depressurization outlet and a heat exchanger upstream of the depressurization outlet for exclusive heat exchange between the pressurized argon and the depressurized and cooled methane.

Abstract: A vapor collecting apparatus for extracting a condensed, liquefied volatile component carried by a solvent gas. The apparatus includes a single cryogen-cooled vessel into which the gas stream is introduced, along with a flow of liquid cryogen, preferably liquid nitrogen. The output from the vessel contains droplets of condensed vapor which are separated from the gas solvent in a cyclone separator.