Abstract: A manifold for a heat exchanger comprising a tank, a plurality of tubes arranged to receive fluid therein, a plurality of fins for interspacing the tubes, the fins extending along the length of the tubes to thereby define a core section, wherein the header section is formed with multi-point brazing interfaces for securing said header and said core section during a brazing process. One embodiment provides at least one doubled wall area in close proximity to the tube slot areas to form a structure of increased strength, permitting the material to be reduced in relative thickness. The manifold may be formed from flat sheet stock by extended side walls of the header portion joined by a separate cap to close a top portion of the manifold assembly for the purpose of collecting fluid to and from the tubes and said at least one inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A natural gas fuel storage and supply system, particularly suited for use in vehicles powered by liquid natural gas (LNG), includes an insulated tank containing a supply of LNG with a headspace there above. A pump and a vaporizer are in circuit between the tank and the engine of the vehicle. When activated, the pump pressurizes LNG from the tank and directs it to the vaporizer where gaseous LNG is produced. The pressurized gaseous LNG is routed to the engine where it is consumed as fuel. An economizer circuit communicates with the headspace of the tank and includes a regulator, a control valve and a flow control device. The control valve opens when the vehicle engine is in operation and the regulator opens when the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined level so that LNG vapor from the tank headspace flows to the vehicle engine air inlet where it is consumed.

Abstract: A coupler for receiving a threaded male luer fitting in sealed relationship includes a housing having an attachment end, a conduit end opposite the attachment end and defining a central passageway for providing fluid communication between the luer fitting and a conduit. An arrangement is attached to the housing for establishing a sealed connection between a luer tip and the central passageway. The conduit end has a relatively larger diameter than the attachment end and defines a shoulder at a junction of the attachment end and the conduit end. A resilient member is disposed on the attachment end adjacent the shoulder for exerting an axially directed compressive force upon the male luer fitting as it is threadably engaged upon the attachment end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating installation comprising a closed liquid circuit which is under pressure during operation, in which are incorporated a heating boiler in which heat is supplied to a liquid circulating in the circuit and heat-generating means such as radiators and/or convectors, further comprising a pressureless liquid reservoir connectable by valve means to the circuit, which valve means are mechanical valve means controlled by the pressure in the circuit.

Abstract: The assembly includes a plurality of flexible and inflatable bags 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 56 and 58, each having a rectangular cross section with an open end for receiving air from various ducts 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 62 and 66, and extending vertically to a nozzle end 52. A plurality of first starboard bags 43 overlap a plurality of second starboard bags 44 in the horizontal direction and a plurality of first port bags 46 overlap a plurality of second port bags 47 in the horizontal direction. Also, the second starboard 44 and port 47 bags are spaced downstream from the first 43 starboard and port 46 bags. The nozzles 52 of the first starboard bags 43 are disposed in a first horizontal V.sub.a.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling a vehicular fuel-combustion heater, comprising an environmental condition input unit for inputting environmental conditions including an ambient air temperature; an operation start-judging unit for judging whether or not the inputted ambient air temperature is lower than a previously set first reference temperature, and starting operation of the fuel-combustion heater when the inputted ambient air temperature is lower than the first reference temperature; and a reference temperature-changing unit for setting, for the first reference temperature, a second reference temperature which is lower than the first reference temperature when the fuel-combustion heater is operated for the second time or later.

Abstract: A wet and/or dry finishing machine for fabrics in rope or open-width form comprising a treatment tank in which a transporting means is installed for the fabric, for example in endless-loop form, the transporting means drawing the fabric from the base of the tank and feeding it against a counteracting fuller element, in proximity to at least one base wall portion of the tank there being positioned a duct provided with apertures and through which an air stream is circulated, a portion of the fabric bearing on the top of the duct. This improves drying and shortens the drying time.

Abstract: An apparatus for the enhanced drying of shoes and boots is provided, having a main housing cylinder having a first end cap secured to a main housing, with a fan motor and screen directing forced air into a heated grid of the main housing cylinder, with the main housing cylinder including directing conduits, with the directing conduits arranged for receiving L-shaped tubes for insertion within boots, and wherein the organization is arranged for disassembly for securing the L-shaped conduits within the main housing during transport and storage of the organization.

Abstract: In a vehicle heating appliance, a burner is supplied with combustion air by a combustion air fan and with fuel by a fuel dosing pump. The heat generated by the burner in a combustion chamber is absorbed by a liquid or gaseous heat transfer medium through a heat exchanger that surrounds the combustion chamber and is transferred to the areas to be heated. In order to avoid malfunctions of the fuel dosing pump caused by steam bubbles produced by overheating, the fuel dosing pump must be kept cool. To ensure an efficient cooling of the fuel dosing pump, the fuel dosing pump is mounted in a compact manner in a suction channel (8) of the combustion air fan (1). When the vehicle heating appliance is in operation, combustion air flows past the outer surface of the fuel dosing pump (14) and cools the pump before being led to the inlet side of the combustion air fan (1, 4).

Abstract: A multi-panel spacer/shipping bracket for supportively spacing at least one panel located within a compartment, the bracket comprising: a base member; an attachment member extending therefrom and attached to the compartment; and a retention member extending from the base member, and further comprising an insertion member having a slot therein for retaining a panel, the slot defining an approach opening sized to receive the panel thereinto, and a spring member, positioned relative to the slot so as to operate to urge the panel against an interior vertical wall of the slot.

Abstract: An air conditioning system has an air handling unit within a housing. The air handling unit is adapted for connection to the supply and return air ducts of a building and for mounting at the roof of the building. A separate and distinct condensing unit can be mounted above, adjacent to, or removed from the air handling unit such that the air handling unit can be installed in relatively small roof spaces, while the condensing unit can be installed in locations where sufficient space exists. Fluid connection structure extends between the condensing unit and the air handling unit. The system is easily serviceable, and pullout sections within this system improve maintenance procedures. The invention has utility as an original installation unit, and has further utility as a replacement unit for small dimension air conditioning unit or units in small roof spaces.

Abstract: One aspect of this invention comprises an improved conveyance system comprises an endless flexible belt which circulates through at least two arcs, at least one gripping member attached to the belt, the gripping member having a free end and an anchoring end, and a biasing means which biases the anchoring end of the gripping member toward the surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the gripping member is open as it traverses an arced path and is closed as it traverses a straight path. A workpiece is loaded as the gripping member traverses the first arc, and offloaded as the gripping member traverses the second arc, Preferably, the first arc has a greater radius than the second arc. The inventive also comprises a heater utilizing the conveyance system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device used for cooling, or keeping cool, an individual liquid container. Although a cooler for milk or coffee creamer will be described in detail, the device can be used for refrigerating any liquid, and the interior of the device may serve as the container. The device is composed of a container, which is normally closed but has an opening feature for loading the device or dispensing a liquid, and a cooling unit. An outer container surface is thermally insulated from an inner container surface and a cooling component portion of a cooling unit is in thermal contact with the inner container surface. In one version of the device the cooling unit is a thermoelectric module, and the insulation is of the vacuum bottle type. In another version of the invention the outer container comprises both the insulation and the outer container surface as a unitary structure. Specially constructed heat dissipating fins remove heat from the heat rejecting portion of the refrigerating unit.

Abstract: A steam generator configuration, in particular of a low temperature carbonization-combustion plant, includes a supporting structure. A flue gas channel is disposed in the supporting structure and has a first vertical segment, a second at least approximately horizontal segment, and a third vertical segment being connected through the second segment to the first segment to form a structural unit. Supporting members suspend the first segment in the supporting structure in order to avoid restrictions to expansion and deformation of the flue gas channel as a result of thermal expansion. The supporting members are in an oblique or slanted position relative to the vertical in a cold condition. The oblique position essentially corresponds to a thermal expansion of the second horizontal segment in a hot condition. The supporting elements are parallel to the vertical in the hot condition.

Abstract: A method and system for recycling a sulfur sorbent present in the combustion residue of a circulating, fluidized bed, fossil-fuel combustor is disclosed. The method can comprise the steps of, adding water to the combustion residue, classifying the combustion residue into a fuel ash portion and a hydrated sorbent portion, and returning the hydrated sorbent portion to the circulating, fluidized bed, fossil-fuel combustor.

Abstract: A dryer control system for controlling the drying of polymer plastic pellets within a dryer hopper is provided. A series of temperature snap switches and pressure switches are strategically located within the dryer control system to cause a variety of passive fault lights to be activated to signal faults while the system continues to operate or to cause an alarm light to be activated which stops the drying cycle. The passive fault lights indicate a situation within the drying cycle which should be corrected but which is not sufficiently serious to stop the drying cycle. An alarm being activated, on the other hand, indicates a situation which requires shut-down of the drying system until the problems which caused the alarm are corrected. A programmable logic controller and a temperature controller control the operation of the system by receiving signals from the snap switches and pressure switches throughout the system.

Abstract: A process and apparatus which mixes yard waste and municipal waste sludge to form fuel, fertilizer, or animal feed supplement. The yard waste and sludge are thoroughly mixed in a mixer and fed into a thermal dryer. A portion of the dried material is then fed back to the mixer to raise the solids content of the mixture entering the dryer and control the solids content of the mixture exiting the dryer. It is preferable to reduce the particle size of the yard waste to shreds or to the consistency of a meal before mixing with the sludge. Yard waste considered usable in this invention is grass, leaves, wood from pallets, and waste grains.

Abstract: A cleaning system to remove soluble hydrocarbon residue and other contaminants from essentially nonporous objects or surfaces including a vapor generating chamber having a vapor generating system and a gas flow control disposed therein to generate a solvent vapor to clean the nonporous surfaces and control the flow of gas through the vapor generating chamber respectively, and a system control to control the vapor concentration or humidity of the solvent vapor.

Abstract: A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and form a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill. The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace to a heating furnace wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of a hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill. In a second embodiment the holding furnace arrangement provides for separate holding furnaces to receive continuous castings from separate continuous casters and prevent unwanted cooling of the cast workpiece until cut to a finite length.

Abstract: To perform the proper control conforming to the intent of a driver of an automotive vehicle under any condition which is encountered by the vehicle, optimum control methods are preliminarily classified in accordance with categories relating to conditions of the vehicle and categories relating to intents of the driver and the classified optimum control methods are stored in a memory, thereby selecting one of the control methods corresponding to the combination of the categories to which the vehicle condition and the driver's intent detected during the running of the vehicle belong.