Abstract: A scraper blade assembly utilizes an over-center spring to bias the scraper blade assembly both into engagement and out of engagement with a conveyor, such as a moving belt, on a device for separating solids from liquids. The over-center spring extends between a fixed attachment point on the device and a pivoting attachment point on a handle secured to the scraper blade assembly. The invention is particularly applicable to belt filter presses and gravity belt sludge thickeners. An over-center spring may be secured to both ends of the scraper blade assembly to minimize torsional deformation of the scraper blade by the material being separated from the moving belt.

Abstract: A combined air cleaner and noise attenuating resonator device including a hollow cylindrical air cleaner element pressed to a fitting on a hose, the fitting latched to the housing in a position holding the air cleaner filter element within a cavity in a housing. An expansion chamber and a Helmholtz resonator chamber are both defined in part in the housing and by an insert piece within the housing which also forms an air flow passage in fluid communication with each chamber.

Abstract: A gas treatment system for liquids can increase gas exposure and contact time. A liquid stream into which treatment gas is added is directed into a vortex chamber (130). The vortex chamber (130) creates a downward spiral flow of the liquid stream forcing it into an upper end inlet (145) of a contact tank (114). The liquid stream with entrained gas bubbles is forced to move downwardly through the tank to a lower end outlet (122). The flow then moves upwardly to a degassing chamber (146) wherein the treatment gas is separated from the liquid and delivered through an outlet (124) for use. Because the entrained bubbles are forced downwardly through the contact tank (114), the gas bubbles remain quite small and contact time is prolonged. Release of the treatment gas is further facilitated by positioning the degassing chamber (146) at an elevated position which promotes gas bubble expansion, combination and release.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filter insert, and the filter insert so manufactured. The filter insert includes an accordion fold pack that is made of a filter material and is joined to a filter frame. The material of the filter frame is injected in a flowable state into the folds of the accordion fold pack which are open in the on-coming flow direction of the medium to be filtered. The material is subsequently hardened during automatic claw fixation with the fold walls. The entire peripheral edge of the accordion fold pack sealingly overlaps the outer boundary surfaces of the filter frame, and is designed as a sealing device.

Abstract: An aquarium filter device has a base seat, an air bubble producing device, a hollow lower casing, a hollow lower cylinder, a hollow upper cylinder, and a top disk. The base seat has an upper ring, a center hole, a tube, a pipe, and a vent passage. The air bubble producing device has a lower rod inserted in the tube. The hollow lower casing has an upper annular flange, a through hole, and an annular insertion groove. The hollow lower cylinder has a first opening, a plurality of first annular plates, a plurality of first ribs connected to the first annular plates, and an insertion end on a bottom of the hollow lower cylinder inserted in the through hole. The hollow upper cylinder has a second opening, a plurality of second annular plates, a plurality of second ribs connected to the second annular plates, and an insertion end on a bottom of the hollow upper cylinder inserted in the first opening. The top disk has a hollow center sleeve inserted in the second opening.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a molding apparatus, including a cylinder having an interior sidewall and a fluid inlet, and defining an inner cavity. A porous plate is disposed within the inner cavity, and is disposable in a loading position wherein the inner cavity is divided into a fluid flow chamber and a material chamber. A ram having an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the cylinder interior sidewall is slidable within the cylinder.

Abstract: A grill filter assembly for mounting in the exit or entrance wall opening of a forced air duct wherein the grill plate may be installed in a hinged relation to the duct enabling easy access to the duct opening. In a preferred embodiment, the grill face plate is adapted to have a particulate filter and/or, if desired, a scent dispenser disposed thereon and the hinged relation of the face plate enables easy access to the filter for the changing thereof. Since the grill filter assembly is adapted to be mounted directly into the exit or entrance opening of the duct, the faceplate contains no unsightly screws or other fixtures as are common on heating and air conditioning registers and face plates. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes match means for cooperating with the wall to expeditiously mount the assembly in the duct.

Abstract: The method of reducing the acidity in effluent discharges comprises charging the effluent with carbon dioxide, intermittently fluidizing and expanding at least one pulsed limestone bed with the charged effluent, treating the charged effluent with the limestone in the bed, displacing the limestone treated effluent with untreated charged effluent, stripping excess carbon dioxide from the effluent after treatment in the limestone bed, and discharging the limestone treated effluent.

Abstract: A process for the processing of spent photographic baths of black and white processes, namely developing baths with a preponderant content of alkali sulphite, particularly sodium sulphite, and fixing baths with a preponderant content of thiosulphates, particularly ammonium thiosulphate and/or sodium thiosulphate is proposed and is characterized in that following the deposition of the silver contained in the baths, the spent fixing baths are brought to a pH of approximately 0.5 with concentrated HCl and the elementary sulphur resulting from the decomposition of the thiosulphates is separated, whilst the remaining sulphurous acid intermediate solution is mixed with the spent developing baths and adjusted to a pH of approximately 2 and the resulting, SO.sub.2 -supersaturated solution is heated and pure SO.sub.2 is drawn off in a vacuum. Finally, the residual solution is adjusted to a pH of approximately 10 with Ca(OH).sub.2 and the liberated ammonia is drawn off.

Abstract: An improved filter bag is provided for mounting onto a suction mast of a pool cleaner to retain and collect debris and the like vacuumed by the pool cleaner from submerged floor or wall surfaces of a swimming pool. The filter bag includes a porous bag-shaped filter element having an open mouth mounted to a latch collar adapted for quick release coupling to a downstream end of the pool cleaner suction mast. The filter element and latch collar include interfitting alignment members to insure filter element assembly with the latch collar in a desired front-to-rear orientation. The suction mast and latch collar further include additional interfitting alignment members for latch collar mounting onto the pool cleaner in a desired front-to-rear orientation, thereby insuring proper orientation of the filter bag on the pool cleaner.

Abstract: A particulate trap for a diesel engine use which is less likely to vibrate or deform under exhaust pressures and achieves good results in all of the particulate trapping properties, pressure drop, durability and regenerating properties. This trap has a filter element made of plurality of flat or cylindrical filters. Longitudinally extending exhaust incoming and outgoing spaces are defined alternately between the adjacent filters by alternately closing the inlet and outlet ends of the spaces between the adjacent filters. Gas permeable reinforcing members are inserted in the exhaust outgoing spaces to prevent the filter from being deformed due to the difference between the pressure upstream and downstream of each filter produced when exhausts pass through the filters. Similar gas permeable reinforcing members may also be inserted in the exhaust incoming spaces or at both ends of the filter element to more positively prevent vibration of the filters.

Abstract: A process for preconcentrating and separating radium from a contaminated solution containing at least water and radium includes the steps of adding a quantity of a water-soluble macrocyclic polyether to the contaminated solution to form a combined solution. An acid is added to the combined solution to form an acidic combined solution having an ?H.sup.+ ! concentration of about 0.5M. The acidic combined solution is contacted with a sulfonic acid-based strong acid cation exchange medium or a organophilic sulfonic acid medium having a plurality of binding sites thereon to bind the radium thereto and to form a radium-depleted solution. The radium-depleted solution is separated from the strong acid cation exchange medium or organophilic sulfonic acid medium. The radium remaining bound to the exchange medium or organophilic reagent is then stripped from the exchange medium or organophilic medium and the activity of the radium is measured.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a single layer batt of fibers prepared by multiple die tips. The present invention also provides a novel multiple tip blow spinning die.

Abstract: A microfiltrated clean air supply system for providing a highly filtered supply of clean air suitable for aseptic packaging (for example, class 100 or better) in a filling machine is provided. In an embodiment, the clean air supply system includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A first plurality of filters are arranged in order of increasing collection efficiency within the housing adjacent the inlet. Similarly a second plurality of filters are arranged within the housing near the outlet. The second plurality of filters are also arranged in order of increasing collection efficiency. The clean air supply system also includes a chamber located between the first plurality of filters and the second plurality of filters. The chamber includes a wall separating the chamber from the second plurality of filters. A blower is arranged in the chamber between the first and second plurality of filters.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for separating dirt or dust from an airflow comprising a frustoconical cyclone (12) having a tangential air inlet (16) located at or adjacent the end of the cyclone (12) having the larger diameter and a cone opening (18) located at the end of the cyclone (12) having the smaller diameter is described. A collector (20) is arranged so as to surround the cone opening (18) and has a base surface (24) facing towards the cone opening (18). The distance between the cone opening (18) and the base surface (24) is between 4 and 6 mm or between 45 and 60 mm. The apparatus (10) is reduced in size without substantially affecting the separation efficiency.

Abstract: A low cost, repairable pool cleaning tool for cleaning debris from a pool bottom wall, comprising a mesh fabric debris receiver having a perimetrical portion, a frame supporting the mesh fabric receiver by its perimetrical portion for debris reception, a protective sleeve surrounding the frame against contact with the pool bottom wall, and a pole attached to said frame for manipulating the receiver in the pool to gather debris from the pool, the mesh fabric being adhesively bonded to the frame or to the sleeve for ease of manufacture and for ready replacement and repair. The tool further includes positive clamping of the fabric mesh at the pole connection to the frame, and a rotatable and removable scrubber lip journaled on the sleeve.

Abstract: A dust filter unit for a canister is provided. An inlet port and an outlet port are formed in a housing and opening into the atmosphere. A communication port is formed in the housing and leading to the canister. A filter is arranged within the housing at a location between the inlet port and the output port. A first one-way valve is arranged within the housing at a location between the communication port and the outlet port, for allowing evaporative fuel to flow from the communication port to the outlet port. A second one-way valve is arranged within the housing at a location between the filter and the communication port, for allowing fresh air to flow from the filter to the communication port. Thus, the inlet port, outlet port, communication port, and first and second one-way valves are all provided in one piece within the housing.

Abstract: A filter arrangement is provided. The filter arrangement generally includes an air filter having an upstream surface with a prefilter positioned thereon. The prefilter preferably includes at least two layers of depth media. In preferred systems, the prefilter includes two layers of depth media secured to one another by stitching. In certain preferred arrangements disclosed, the prefilter includes an upstream layer of fibrous depth media and a downstream layer of foam depth media, with the two layers stitched to one another along peripheral edges. The invention also concerns provision of prefilters, and also air filter arrangements which include housings having air filters with prefilters according to the present invention operably positioned therein. Methods of construction and use are also provided.

Abstract: A continuous electrochemical processing method and apparatus for electrochemically removing arsenic contaminants from contaminated aqueous solutions comprising: a) identifying the ion(s) to be removed and their oxidation state, b) identifying the pH of the solution, c) constructing an electrolytic cell with a corroding iron anode and an inert cathode surrounding a reaction zone therebetween into which the contaminated solutions are passed, d) applying the required electromotive force to precipitate the desired ionic species, and e) physically removing the precipitates from the aqueous solution.