Abstract: An air lock for injecting a fibrous or granular material, such as insulation, into an airstream. The air lock has two counter-rotating, generally cylindrical rollers in facing contact with each other along their edges, made of a resilient material such as a closed cell foam. The rollers are also in facing contact with the outside of a tube or cylinder through which the airstream flows. The insulation is positioned on top of the rollers, and the rollers feed the insulation between them and into the airstream. The contact between the rollers and between the rollers and the injection tube create the air lock between the airstream and the atmosphere. The invention can also be used in a vacuum machine, particularly suited for vacuuming and collecting fibrous or granular materials.

Abstract: A method is described for the control or suppression of a fire in which one applies to the fire a suppressant material which contains dealginated, partially dewatered kelp. Other components, such as perlite, may also be present. The suppressant material will have a water content no greater than about 25%, preferably about 5%-10%. It is used in the form of particulates and applied to the surface of a fire to suppress or extinguish the fire. It is particularly applicable to fighting fires in remote or inaccessible locations; large area fires, such as pools of burning oil; or fires where use of conventional water fire fighting methods are either dangerous or insufficient. The material may be molded into various shapes adapted to be used as fire barriers in vehicles and building walls.

Abstract: An alarm valve and a backflow preventer are provided by a check valve and an alarm valve with a passageway provided between the check valve and the alarm valve preferably having a relief valve which selectively drains the passageway in response to the pressure in the main conduit upstream of the check valve. An alarm is sounded when the alarm valve is open. An impeller flow sensor may be provided in the backflow prevention device.

Abstract: Suppression apparatus for suppressing detonations in a pipeline which may contain an explosible vapor comprising suppressant discharge units for discharging a suppressant substance into the pipeline within a predetermined operating time. Detectors are positioned upstream of the suppressor means by sufficient distance in relation to the expected speed of travel of the detonation front along the pipeline, and in relation to the predetermined operating time of the suppressant discharge units, that the pipeline in the region of the discharge units will be supplied with an amount of suppressant which is sufficient to ensure that the detonation is suppressed when it reaches the discharge units. The suppressant may be a powder or water. Mechanical arresting means may also be provided such as a valve for positively blocking the pipeline in the event of the detection of a detonation, and/or the pipeline may have a membrane which is ruptured by the detonation so as to vent it to atmosphere.

Abstract: A fire protection apparatus includes spray nozzles oriented specifically adjacent engines associated with transport vehicles. The transport vehicles each include engine conduits for quick coupling to fire extinguishing agent conduits to permit remote coupling to a vehicle directing fire extinguishing agents such as halon gas and carbon dioxide to the engine for extinguishment of an associated fire.

Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler including a frame having an outlet opening for fire extinguishing fluid and spaced apart frame arms extending from the outlet opening to provide a support at a location spaced from the outlet opening, a sealing member covering the opening, a thermally responsive member connected between the sealing member and the support to seal off the opening during normal temperature conditions and to release the sealing member during abnornally high temperature conditions, an adapter member attached to the frame, one or more pins that are supported by the adapter member, and a deflector that is slidably mounted with respect to the adapter member via the pin or pins. Also disclosed is a clip that retains the deflector in the retracted position in a releasable fashion.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing tool is formed as a paddle plate, including top and bottom planar surfaces coextensive relative to one another, with a handle mounted medially and longitudinally aligned relative to the plate to provide a grasping surface for an individual to direct the plate onto flames by smothering such flames preventing oxygen access to the flame area. A modification of the invention includes a central conduit directed through the plate, with a bottom surface of the plate including a matrix of valves directed therethrough, with the handle defining a pneumatic reservoir for directing an inert gas through the bottom surface upon impacting of flames in a fire extinguishing situation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for thrusting a cover onto a target area from a remote location. The target area may be water containing fish or a hazardous condition such as a fire and/or a chemical spill. The apparatus comprises a housing having an open cavity, a cover within the cavity, and a pressurized gas supply for propelling the cover from the cavity and onto the target area. A guide bar positioned in the housing and a support surface attached to the cover cooperate to impart rotation to the cover as the cover is propelled from the housing. The cover may be impregnated with an agent capable of neutralizing the particular hazard, or such an agent may be injected under the cover after the cover is positioned on the affected area. In the case of a chemical spill, the cover is utilized to contain the liquid and then the liquid can be cleaned up by pumping the liquid from underneath the cover.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveying apparatus for container bodies having neck rings. The apparatus comprises a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced neck tracks, each pair defining an elongated slot therebetween for slidably supporting container bodies by their neck rings and a plurality of inverted, U-shaped, interior channel members, each extending upwardly from one of the pairs of neck tracks spanning the slot and extending longitudinally substantially the length of the slot and having a cross sectional area sufficient to receive the portions of the container bodies above their neck rings, each interior channel member having a top wall and side walls with air directing louvers formed therein to provide a driving force for the container bodies.

Abstract: A device for achieving uniform distribution of airborne fibres, for instance cellulose-fibres, in the outlet of a conduit intended for the air-transport of fibres, the device being placed in the outlet (10) of the conduit. In accordance with the invention, the device includes a plurality of mutually similar, concentrically arranged circular rotors (1) and a plurality of semi-circular stators (6) which are disposed between the rotors on the outlet side of the device.

Abstract: In a new method for the placement of sand, gravel or equivalent particulate material onto a sand trap, tee, putting green or other selected area of a golf course for construction or maintenance purposes, sand or other particulate material is pneumatically transported through a flexible conduit from an off-load site remote to the selected area to a nozzle positioned at the selected area and is sprayed from the nozzle onto the selected area. The new method eliminates the labor intensive prior method of wheelbarrowing sand or gravel from the off-load site to the selected site and the need then to rake or hoe the sand or gravel to properly spread it about the selected area.

Abstract: A system for supplying compressed air and foam to produce a fire stream comprising an aerated foam is disclosed. The system includes an air compressor driven from a split shaft gear box of the type provided on fire trucks.

Abstract: A device for promoting the flow rate of solid particulates from a fluidized bed of solids into a downcomer extending from a discharge outlet in a wall or the bed includes a hollow, funnel-like, horn element having a lower end connected upstream of the discharge outlet and an upper end portion spaced upwardly of the lower end and flared outwardly at progressively higher levels to form an enlarged flow entrance for the fluidized solid particulates to move from said bed toward said discharge outlet into the downcomer. The funnel-like, horn element has an enlarged open upper end formed with a rim around the flow entrance spaced above the lower wall of the bed and has a flow cross-section substantially greater than that of the discharge outlet. A bubble ring is provided adjacent the rim for injecting gaseous fluid into the solids to fluidize the solid particulates for movement in a generally horizontal direction towards a center axis of the flow entrance of the funnel-like, horn element.

Abstract: A foam delivery system which may be worn by a fire fighter is disclosed which comprises a foam containing vest formed of two components filled with foam concentrate in fluid communication with a foam aspirating spray nozzle. The front portion of the vest is provided with adjustable connectors or buckles so that the foam vest may adjusted to fit the fire fighter. A connector hose permits fluid communication between the two vest components. The vest components include vertically extending chambers which open to a bottom fluid chamber. The vest is provided with a fill port and a vent opening permitting the foam concentrate to be evenly distributed throughout the foam vest. A valve and hose arrangement connect the vest to the spray nozzle which is connected to a water hose. The spray nozzle includes a venturi nozzle for developing a low pressure zone within the spray nozzle for aspirating foam concentrate into the water stream.

Abstract: A conformable drag reduction article is provided having a patterned surface capable of reducing drag resistance by fluid flowing thereover.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube system comprising: a pair of terminals; an overhead cylindrical tube connecting the terminals; a captive carrier for passage through the tube, the carrier having an internal cavity for carrying articles and removable caps at the distal ends thereof enclosing the cavity; a carrier receiver enclosed within each of the terminals for receiving the carrier, the carrier receiver being operable to reciprocally move the carrier axially along a pre-determined axis which is angularly movable relative to the tube; and a cap removing assembly in each of the terminals operable to remove a cap from one end of the carrier to permit access to the carrier cavity and to replace the cap to permit transfer of the carrier through the tube.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for establishing and maintaining a uniform mass flow rate of particulate solids and gas mixture from a container to a receiving reactor. A preferred embodiment utilizes an aeration tube suspended in the particulate mixture and serving as a fluidic valve to maintain a uniform mass flow rate. A portion of the aeration gaseous fluid may be directed upward in aid of such flow.

Abstract: An attachable electro-impulse de-icer for de-icing an aircraft structural member includes an inductor coil disposed in proximity with the outer surface of the structural member. The coil is supported by a flexible, ice-accumulating support member (surface ply) that permits the coil to move relative to the structural member. Preferably the coil and support member are formed in an integral construction that can be attached to the leading edge of the structural member. The coil and support member are rapidly, and forcefully, displaced away from the structural member upon passing a short-duration, high-current pulse through the coil. The current flow creates an electromagnetic field that induces eddy currents in the support member (if made of metal), and the structural member (if made of metal). Upon collapse of the electromagnetic field in the coil, the support member is pulled rapidly to its rest position adjacent the structural member.

Abstract: An air conveyor is provided comprising a plenum chamber including a deck plate, a plurality of first apertures in the deck plate for directing air from the plenum chamber to convey articles, and a plurality of protuberances extending from the deck plate for receiving bottoms of the articles. The protuberances preferably protrude from the deck plate far enough to support the articles above accumulated slide resistance increasing material. The air conveyor deck plate preferably also includes a plurality of second apertures for directing air from the plenum chamber to aid in lifting the articles.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for a residential cookstove or range includes a fire extinguisher mounted above a hood in a cabinet positioned over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher is connected by flexible hoses and/or adjustable pipes to a pair of nozzles within the hood to dispense fire suppressant over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher includes an operator normally biased to the operable position, but held in the inoperable position by a cable system having a plurality of fusible or reusable, heat-activated links distributed therein. The cable system is held in tension adjacent the inner periphery of the hood and includes a section of chain to facilitate installation. Upon the occurrence of a fire, at least one of the links separates, releasing the cable system and allowing the operator to move to the operating position whereby the fire extinguisher releases the fire suppressant.