Abstract: A continuous feed of alkali cellulose (AKC) is partially xanthated, and then dissolved and further xanthated to form a viscose solution, while passing continuously through a series of connected reactors and slurry vessels, wherein slurries of carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) and alkali metal hydroxide are maintained. The AKC feed to the system may be shredded crumbs from any standard alkali cellulose system, to shredded crumbs from a continuous sheet steeping mercerization system. A portion of the xanthate AKC (cellulose xanthate) may be recycled to the various slurry vessels or zones.

Abstract: A relatively small size apparatus for generating hydrogen by the reaction of a metal hydride with water vapor is disclosed. The metal hydride utilized to generate the hydrogen gas is housed in a fuel chamber of the apparatus and water vapor is introduced into the fuel chamber through a porous membrane having selected characteristics. The metal hydride reacts with the water vapor in a conventional manner to produce pure hydrogen. A variable gas pressure - liquid pressure balance means for introduction of water vapor enables automatic hydrogen generation on demand and enables complete shut down when demand ceases. The apparatus of this invention may be operated at any selected constant pressure feed rate. Further, with the apparatus of this invention the water source is effectively isolated from the metal hydride by the porous membrane, which has hydrophobic characteristics, and as a consequence, both contamination of the water source and caking of the metal hydride fuel is minimized.

Abstract: A high-pressure oxygen generator or compressor for filling oxygen diving tanks employing a pressure vessel closely containing a chlorate oxygen producing candle. The generator includes means for initiating the release of oxygen by the candle and for transferring oxygen from the canister with minimum volumetric losses.

Abstract: Apparatus for the regeneration of fluidized solid catalyst including a regeneration chamber adapted to hold a fluidized solids bed, oxygen containing gas source communicating with the chamber, a tangential inlet communicating with the regeneration chamber to impart a swirling motion to spent catalyst entering the regeneration chamber and a free standing drawoff conduit disposed within the regeneration chamber, the drawoff conduit having an upper, open end in communication with the solids bed, the open end being formed by an obliquely truncated, outwardly flared portion of the conduit, the high portion of said truncated conduit lying closest the spent catalyst inlet.

Abstract: A carbon black reactor is comprised of a housing which defines a precombustion zone, a reaction zone and a quench zone which are in flow communication. Inlet means open into the precombustion zone or the reaction zone and is operable to introduce make hydrocarbon into the reactor. Also, inlet means open into the precombustion zone and is operable for the introduction of hot combustion gases into the precombustion zone. The make hydrocarbon is pyrolyzed by contact with the hot combustion gases as same flow along the reaction zone. After a predetermined time as determined by the length of flow along the reaction zone, the effluent produced by the pyrolysis of the make hydrocarbon by contact with the combustion gases is quenched to stop the reaction.

Abstract: Insulating foam producing and delivering apparatus includes foaming agent and resin supplies, means for delivering the foaming agent and resin and also air under pressure and a foam gun for generating the foam and mixing the foam with the resin. The foam gun includes a foaming chamber in which foaming agent and air are discharged in jets so as to impact against blades of a free spinning propeller which is turned by jets to create a mixing turbulence and thereby whips the foaming agent and air into the desired froth or foam. The foam is combined with the resin through an extended resin discharge nozzle located downstream of the foaming chamber so as to confine the resin mixing essentially to the output applicator or dispenser hose and thereby to minimize clogging due to hardened resin residue. Transparent air, foaming agent and resin supply lines enable constant monitoring of the ingredients and facilitate the maintenance of the desired foam density and other desired conditions of the foam.

Abstract: The spiral agitator in a vessel for separating steam from polymer is modified by providing holes in the ribbon flight at locations adjacent to the locations where the ribbon flight is supported by struts for the purpose of allowing the polymer to flow through the holes and sweep the area directly behind the struts to prevent gel buildup in these locations.

Abstract: Rotation of a first drum member at a preselected speed intimately mixes finely divided agglomerative materials to form a loosely coherent, plastic sticky mass. The tumbling action generated by the rotating drum breaks up the loosely coherent, plastic mass into plastic particles or agglomerates which grow in size as they roll within the first drum member. The formed agglomerates are conveyed by rotation of the first drum member into a second drum member that includes an inlet portion surrounding the outlet portion of the first drum member. The second drum member has a longitudinal axis that is coplanarly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first drum member and both drum members are independently rotated at preselected peripheral speeds with the angle of inclination of the first drum member being adjustable relative to the second drum member to control the movement of the agglomerates.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a carbon black with a tint residual below -6. The apparatus entail introducing feedstock axially and generating a hot combustion gas vortex in a cylindrical precombustion section of a tubular carbon black reactor, producing a first mixture of feedstock and combustion gases, passing this mixture through an abruptly restricted passage axially connected to the precombustion section, abruptly expanding the first mixture into a frustoconical venturi converging section of the reactor with mixing of this first mixture with an additional flow of combustion gas at the exit of the converging section with the combustion gas entering the converging section in opposite, radial flow thereby forming a second mixture which is admitted into a reaction section of the carbon black reactor.

Abstract: Catalytic converter vessel consisting of outer casing 1, inner casing 2 and plates 6, one of said inner casing 2 and said plates being provided with louver holes 4 and the other with punched holes 5, and said inner casing 2 and said plates 6 being assembled together with outer case 1 so that said louver holes 4 are coaxially aligned with said punched holes 5.

Abstract: A combustion device comprising a plurality of regenerative units formed by a plurality of separate radially extending compartments each containing a plurality of corrugated highly conductive metal plates compressed together with the corrugations in the adjacent plates intersecting each other at right angles so as to provide meandering passages for the gases between the adjacent corrugated plates; a rotary switching valve provided at one end of said regenerative means for controlling the flow of said waste gases flowing therethrough; a reaction zone provided at the other end of said regenerative means in which said waste gases are reacted; and a temperature-adjusting chamber located within said reaction zone and provided with an auxiliary combustion burner and an excess-heat disposal branch conduit.

Abstract: A catalytic converter of a radial flow type including an outer casing, a cylindrical outer separator, and a cylindrical inner separator, the two separators defining a catalyst chamber therebetween, wherein the end portions at one end of the two separators are firmly connected to the outer casing while the other end portions of the two separators are formed as mutually telescoping closed free ends having a radial and an axial clearance therebetween, these free end portions being flexibly supported from the outer casing by means of a plate element.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor comprising an elongated reaction chamber and catalytic elements composed of alumina and a hydrogenation catalyst vertically disposed within the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Concentric closed tubes define an outer steam vessel with the inner tube constituted by a selective membrane consisting of a metallic oxide having a first doping to effect passage of oxygen ions through the membrane to the interior of the inner tube acting as an oxygen collector and having a second doping to effect return conduction of electrons through said membrane to increase heating of the steam. A vacuum pump is applied to the interior of the inner tube to provide a pressure differential to facilitate oxygen passage through the membrane.

Abstract: In a process for purifying and reducing the acidity of a polymethylene polyphenylpolyisocyanate mixture wherein the mixture is subjected to a distillation step, such as by passing a flowing stream of a crude polymethylene polyphenylpolyisocyanate mixture through a distillation column which has a reboiler means consisting of a thin film evaporator apparatus mounted therewith for rapidly heating the stream to about 190.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. whereby the solvent and impurities are taken overhead, and then allowing the distillation residue of polymethylene polyphenylpolyisocyanate to cool, an improvement is disclosed which comprises maintaining the distillation residue of the polymethylene polyphenylpolyisocyanate at a temperature of about 190.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A reaction chamber equipped with external heat exchanging coils for limiting the range of the reaction temperature, which must not go over 1200.degree. C nor below 900.degree. C, is supplied with hydrocarbon reagent and combustion-supporting reagent (air) in a way designed to enable a partial combustion reaction by which carbon black is formed to provide the main source of heat for maintaining the reaction temperature. At the entry end of the reaction chamber is a header providing a multiplicity of ante-chambers through which the reagents flow in a direction parallel to the axis of the reaction chamber while being heated up by heat from the reaction chamber. When a liquid reagent is used, it is atomized in the ante-chambers and vaporized and mixed with air in its passage through the ante-chambers. The air is preheated by a heat exchanger that cools the reaction products after a preliminary cooling by another heat exchanger.

Abstract: A transfer pipe system for transferring particulate bed material from a fluid bed reactor includes a discharge pipe connecting the fluid bed reactor with a vertical transfer pipe, gas injection nozzles for fluidizing particulate material within the transfer pipe and a standpipe connecting the transfer pipe and the freeboard region of the fluid bed reactor to vent fluidizing gas from the transfer pipe into the freeboard region and so avoid introducing a high velocity, counter-current gas flow into the discharge pipe.

Abstract: A high pressure mixing head is disclosed for combining a plurality of reactive fluid polymeric components to form a mixture thereof for molding purposes. The mixing head incorporates an expulsion plunger operating in a mixing chamber into which the several components are admitted through individual inlet openings which are covered and uncovered by reciprocation of the plunger. The mixing head further incorporates inlet valves and valve chambers located respectively upstream of the several inlet openings and so arranged that the inlet valves prevent admission of the individual components into the mixing chamber, irrespective of the plunger position, unless a predetermined pressure of the respective components is attained. Each valve chamber is connected to component feed and return lines forming part of the respective component circulating systems so that component flow at relatively low pressure takes place at all times between mixing/molding periods of operation.

Abstract: Three chlorate candles are connected to a common conduit to which a normally open pressure switch is connected on the downstream side. The switch closes in response to a flow rate less than its predetermined minimum magnitude of oxygen from each candle flowing through the conduit. The pressure switch and one thermal switch for each candle except the last one are serially interconnected across a DC source through a resistor. When that candle first ignited is weakened in generation of oxygen, the next candle is ignited with the closure of the two serially connected switches and through the resulting heating of the associated resistor. The third candle is similarly ignited.

Abstract: The catalytic element is supported at its both longitudinal ends by two supporting members which are secured to the inner surface of a casing. Each supporting member is formed with a plurality of slits for releasing thermal stresses generated therein due to a high temperature within the casing when used.