Abstract: A continuous furnace for baking ceramic molded parts has a heating area (14), a baking area (16) and a cooling area (18). At least one smoke gas duct (22) extends from the heating area (14) into a combustion chamber (24) and at least one hot air duct (28) leads back from the combustion chamber (24) to the heating area (14). Hot air loaded with binder fractions is extracted from the heating area at one or several spots. The combustion gases are then led into a combustion chamber where they are burned, so that a largely purified hot air may then be led back to the heating area.

Abstract: A waste incinerator is provided which can completely prevent environmental pollution by dioxins. Exhaust gas from an incinerator is guided into a glass melting furnace by a duct, and blown into molten glass through a bubbling pipe to decompose dioxins in the exhaust gas. High-temperature gas produced in the glass melting furnace is supplied into the incinerator by a pipe so as to burn wastes without using auxiliary fuel. Further, exhaust gas is pressurized by pressure pumps in a pipe branching from the duct, while fuel tablets to including ashes are introduced through a fuel inlet and fed into the molten glass under the pressure of exhaust gas to decompose dioxins in the ashes.

Abstract: A gas water heater including a water container adapted to be heated by a gas burner; and an enclosure surrounding the burner, the enclosure having at least one entryway adapted to allow air and fumes to enter the enclosure without igniting flammable gases or vapors outside of the enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively providing convective heat to an object with a dual mode convection oven that is alternatively operable in either a running mode or a bypass mode. Convective heat is channelled into a supply hood through a supply duct. Convective heat is also channelled out of a suction hood through a return duct. An operating mode for the convection oven is selected. If the selected operating mode is the running mode, then convective heat is applied to the object by channelling the convective heat from the supply hood through a heat application zone and into the suction hood, the heat application zone being positioned between the supply hood and the suction hood.

Abstract: An oven which has a floor, a side wall extending upwardly therefrom to define a combustion chamber, and a top having an opening for combustion gases, a fuel support member mounted in a lower part of the combustion chamber, the fuel support member having a raised central portion with a downwardly and outwardly sloping top surface extending therefrom, and means for supplying fuel to the fuel support member. The oven includes an arrangement for providing primary air to the fuel on the fuel support member and for providing secondary air to an upper portion of the combustion chamber, the secondary air being arranged to impart a cyclonic motion to the combustion gases.

Abstract: An air distribution system having a plurality of vents for a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a cylindrical housing having a plurality of passageways that lead to the vents attached thereto, The cylindrical housing encloses two inner barrels are rotatably mounted therein that can independently direct air to selected vents. This provides the ability for the passenger of the vehicle to receive air flow through a selected vent and the driver to receive sir flow through a possibly different selected vent.

Abstract: A reinforced pressure hose for use in boring or other construction work comprises a rubber core tube, a rubber cover tube or sheath and a plurality of reinforcing layers interposed therebetween and adapted for reinforcement against pressure imposed upon the core tube, reinforcement against tensile load and reinforcement further against wear of the hose. The tensile reinforcing or bearing layer is formed from a web of organic fibers knitted at a selected bias angle such that the hose can withstand increased tensile forces while retaining sufficient flexibility to facilitate bending as when it is taken up on a reel. The bias angle relationship between the various reinforcing layers is set so as to allow easy removal of the hose from a mandrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for heating metal billets or other separate pieces of metal in a continuous furnace using two different burner systems. The primary burner system provides the majority of available heat at relatively high flame temperatures. The secondary high velocity burner system extrains how furnace products of combustion that impinge around on the load. Thus, heat transfer and temperature uniformity is improved by forcing hot gases between the metal pieces.

Abstract: A regenerative shaft kiln having at least two vertical shafts and a plurality of lances for introducing fuel into the kiln, with one or more sensor provided proximate a plurality of the lances, each of the sensors producing a first output signal having a magnitude and corresponding to a physical parameter of the kiln adjacent the sensor. Observation of the operating conditions of individual lances enables adjustments to the fuel feed via individual lances to avoid equipment damage and to improve kiln performance.

Abstract: An oxygen enrichment system is provided which uses the existing air/fuel burners of a regenerative furnace to distribute additional oxygen to the burners for increased efficiency, and reduced nitrous oxide emissions. The centrally positioned cooling air lances in the burners of a regenerative furnace are modified to deliver oxygen when the burners are firing for oxygen enrichment. During the burner firing cycle, oxygen is delivered from an oxygen supply through the oxygen lance to provide a central oxygen jet. The fuel is delivered concentrically around the oxygen jet. During the non-firing cycle of the burner, cooling air or other cooling fluid is delivered from the cooling air supply through the oxygen jet for cooling the offside of the furnace.

Abstract: A device for removing carbon deposits on solid objects, includes an inlet (102) for the objects to be treated, a zone (101a) for heating the objects having a feed (104) and an outlet for the heating gas, a zone (101b) for treating the objects by oxidation and/or gasification having a feed (105) and an outlet (108) for the gasification fluid, an outlet (118) for the treated objects. The heating zone (101a ) and the treating zone (101b) are situated in a single enclosure (100) and comprise a substantially flat-bottomed vibrating element (101) intended for transport of the objects, the bottom allowing support of the objects, diffusion of the fluid through the objects and transmission of the vibrations. A zone (101c) for cooling solids, placed in the enclosure (100) downstream from the treating zone (101b) in relation to the direction of displacement of the solids in the enclosure (100), and a heater (115) external to enclosure (100) is provided.

Abstract: A method of disposing of undesirable chemical compounds in waste dust generated in a first kiln in the manufacture of cement clinker by using the dust and slag as the feedstock material to a second kiln, heating the feedstock material in an oxidizing atmosphere, and raising the heat sufficient to diffuse the waste dust and the slag to form a hydraulic product such as cement clinker and lime but insufficient to volatilize previously precipitated chemical compounds in the feedstock material.

Abstract: A water heater including a water tank, a combustion chamber beneath the tank, a gas burner in the combustion chamber, an air plenum upstream of the combustion chamber, a flame arrestor located such that air in the air plenum passes through the flame arrestor to reach the combustion chamber, and a flue extending upwardly from the combustion chamber and through the water tank.

Abstract: An air inlet control device for a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning system in a motor vehicle comprises a main valve pivotable about a first axis of rotation for selectively closing off a recirculated air inlet and a fresh air inlet, and a pressure adjusting valve, which is also movable pivotally so as to act on the dynamic pressure of the air at the fresh air inlet when the main valve is covering the recirculated air inlet. The pressure adjusting valve has an axis of rotation which is carried by the main valve and which is spaced away from the axis of rotation of the main valve.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for automatic monitoring and correction of the regulation pressure of regulation valves in a regulation valve block in a variable-crown roll in a paper machine. The regulation pressure of the regulation valve in each regulation zone in the regulation valve block can be connected alternatingly to a reference pressure detector whose measurement signal is compared with the measurement signal of the actual value of the regulation pressure in the regulation zone concerned. The result of the comparison is stored on the page of monitoring of pressure detectors contained in the central computer system, on which page, in addition to this difference, set values and actual values of the regulation zone pressures as well as the value of the reference measurement are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling widthwise contraction of a conveyed web has opposing first web carrier belts and opposing second web carrier belts forming a generally serpentine transport path for supporting opposite lateral edges of the conveyed web.

Abstract: A drafting apparatus in a furnace. A buffer board having a plurality of gas intakes is disposed in a front end of the drafting apparatus. A laminar flow board having a plurality of gas outtakes is disposed in a rear end of the drafting apparatus. A drafting region is enclosed by the drafting apparatus. The drafting region comprises at least one drafting board to draft and redirect the gas flow. A laminar flow is then obtained to flow through the outtakes on the laminar board.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling semiconductor substrates prior to handling. In one embodiment, a substrate and support structure combination is lifted after high temperature processing to a cold wall of a thermal processing chamber, which acts as a heat sink. Conductive heat transfer across a small gap from the substrate to the heat sink speeds wafer cooling prior to handling the wafer (e.g., with a robot). In another embodiment, a separate plate is kept cool within a pocket during processing, and is moved close to the substrate and support after processing. In yet another embodiment, a cooling station between a processing chamber and a storage cassette includes two movable cold plates, which are movable to positions closely spaced on either side of the wafer.

Abstract: The invention is of methodologies and associated equipment, the practice and use of which, in the context of drying systems used in the drying of conveyorized articles bearing residual moisture from prior manufacturing steps, provides substantially enhanced drying efficacy and substantially accelerated drying rates, when compared with presently available drying systems. The present invention is of certain design parameters for drying systems, and associated methods, the practice of which result in impingement pressures, created by air or flowing from drying system nozzles onto to-be-dried articles of manufacture, which fall between the certain optimum ranges discovered by the present inventor for drying articles such as printed circuit boards in an assembly line context. The design parameters pertain to relative dimensions and positioning of air supply conduits, manifolds, nozzles, and conveyor surfaces, as well as performance parameters such as the velocity of air exiting the drying system nozzles.

Abstract: A gas purge valve comprising a valve housing that has a valve inlet and major and minor valve outlets, a valve partition mounted in the housing divides the housing into a first chamber communicating with the valve inlet and a second chamber that communicates with the minor valve outlet. A restrictive flow passage is defined in the housing that effects communication between the first and second chambers and has a through flow rate less than that of the minor valve outlet. A minor valve closure device is provided for closing the minor valve outlet to liquid outflow. A differential pressure responsive device mounted in the partition member and displaceable in response to a pressure differential between the chambers and a major valve outlet obturating device responsive to displacement of the differential pressure responsive device into the opening of the major valve outlet when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined magnitude.