Abstract: A flexible screen mounted to pneumatically seal the sides of an opposing belt conveyor system in a porous pack curing oven. Fixed to the upper belt structure and drapingly sealed to the lower belt structure, the screen impedes curing gases directed through the foraminous belts and porous pack therebetween from exiting through the edges of the pack. The draping screen provides a seal over a range of belt-to-belt spacing.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for temperature conditioning of matter of the type wherein matter to be conditioned is exposed to a vapor within a vessel for select heating and/or moisture absorption or desiccation. The system includes selectively providing a mixture of condensible and noncondensible gases while controlling the enthalpy, partial pressure and dew point thereof. The gas mixture is delivered to a vessel and interacted with matter disposed therein. The temperature of the matter is brought to the approximate dew point of the condensible and noncondensible gas mixture. In this manner, both the ultimate temperature and moisture content of the matter to be conditioned may be controlled by selectively controlling the aforesaid parameters of enthalpy, partial pressure and dew point. Control of the aforesaid parameters may likewise be affected by controlling the vessel pressure and the rate at which energy is supplied to the condensible and noncondensible gas mixture.

Abstract: Improved construction for the dehydration sections of pulse jet combustors for the drying of particulate materials including provisions for maintaining the surface of the downstream end thereof at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Pulse combustor apparatus for the drying of particulate materials having the combustion chamber and the exhaust system components disposed on a common longitudinal axis and wherein backflow gas flowing through an adjacent augmenter duct is directed into encircling relation with the downstream exhaust system components to control the temperature conditions therewithin.

Abstract: Improved longitudinal axis feed system for the dehydration section of pulse jet combustion apparatus used for the drying of particulate materials.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for calcining gypsum is disclosed which utilizes a flash furnace for rapidly calcining fine particulate gypsum while the material is suspended in a stream of hot gas. The method and apparatus utilize a two-stage suspension preheater for utilizing waste gases from the calcining furnace for preheating raw material to be calcined and a two-stage suspension cooler for cooling hot calcined gypsum which is discharged from the calcining furnace. Spent cooling gas is supplied to the preheater for use in preheating the fresh gypsum to be calcined. The invention also contemplates recirculating a portion of the gypsum discharged from the furnace back to the furnace for further calcination. Hot product may be discharged directly from the furnace.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for drying material is provided, the method comprising the steps of disposing the material in a heating unit to have the heating unit heat at least part of the liquid particles of the material, disposing a charged electrode unit so as to be adjacent one side of the material when the material is disposed in the heating unit and to define two adjacent electrostatic fields that are substantially constant and non-oscillating so that the fields at least partially extend through the material while the material is disposed in the heating unit, moving the material in one direction through the heating unit to cause at least a portion of the material to have the heated particles of liquid thereof serially move through the electrostatic fields whereby the electrostatic fields augment the drying effect of the heating unit on the material, disposing a nozzle between the adjacent electrostatic fields, directing a fluid flow through the nozzle so as to impinge against the material, and forming the

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high temperature heating, melting, refining and superheating of materials, such a steel scrap, metals, ceramics or glass. The invention provides an economizing method of hydrocarbon fluid fuel combustion in an ongoing flame in a liquid cooled combustion chamber by separately supplying streams of fuel and at least two oxidizing gases wherein a first oxidizing gas reacts with the fuel, and a second oxidizing gas is directed about the flame core to further react with the fuel, while controlling the flow of the fuel, the oxidizing gases and cooling liquid to provide the required heat input, combustion product chemistry, temperature, velocity, emissivity and combustion block temperature. Also disclosed are burners for carrying out the invention.

Abstract: A batch-operated furnace apparatus for manufacturing powdered silicon nitride comprises a reaction furnace having a reaction chamber, an upper portion, a bottom portion and a side portion, a feed pipe placed at the upper portion of the reaction furnace for feeding starting materials in a fine or coarse particle form, an exhaust pipe placed at the upper portion of the reaction furnace for removing gasses from the reaction chamber, a gas distributor plate positioned at the bottom portion of the reaction chamber for introducing nitrogen gas into the reaction chamber so as to form a fluidized bed at the bottom portion of the reaction chamber, a heater for heating the starting materials of the fluidized bed within the reaction chamber, a discharge port formed in the gas distributor plate, a discharge pipe joined to the discharge port of the gas distributor plate, a valve seat formed at the discharge port, a discharge valve means having the valve which engages the valve seat of the discharge port, and a guide tube

Abstract: A transport surface for a kiln for firing heavy ceramic articles includes a loading, an unloading end, a chassis standing between the ends and a transport surface resiliently connected to said chassis; a drive motor for imparting vibratory motion to the transport surface portion is provided externally of a hearth in which the surface portion is disposed; a releasing guide is provided to facilitate movement of the surface portion in a selected direction upwardly and forwardly an extent sufficient to shift an article resting on the surface portion from the loading to the unloading end; loading and unloading devices are provided to automatically load and unload articles from the transport surface; the hearth includes conduits for carrying cooling air along the hearth on the outside thereof.

Abstract: Improved dehydration section construction for pulse jet combustion apparatus for the drying of particulate materials that includes vibratable finger like sections at the downstream end thereof to minimize particle accumulationthereon.

Abstract: Pulse combustion apparatus for the drying of particulate material having the combustion chamber and the exhaust system components that direct the exhaust gas into a settling and collection chamber disposed on a common longitudinal axis and wherein the volume of back flow gas flowing through an adjacent augmenter duct is utilized to control the dew point within the settling and collection chamber.

Abstract: A unit for regenerating the heat produced by exhaust gases in movable hearth baking furnaces not altering the operating conditions of the furnace and not causing any damage thereto, either obtaining steam or heating at high temperature diathermic oil to be used for heating the mixtures intended to be used for preparing carbonaceous articles, which unit comprises: a side inlet mounted on the smokestack and provided with an on-off valve and a sector valve placed at the outlet of the smokestack; an exhauster; a control logic; a pressure adjuster; and, a temperature adjuster associated to a heat regenerator of a known type.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for heating powder material charges to high temperatures at a fast rate, and for moving the charges through process operations, and for maintaining the temperatures of preheated charges and protecting the charges against contamination as they are moved through process operations.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a tungsten electrode in acute relation to the flame of an oxy-fuel cutting torch and permitting the rotation of the electrode during heating, such that the material is vaporized and removed as the electrode is shaped to a needle-like profile. A bearing containing clamp member secures the torch and electrode holder in proper relation to one another and permits the rotation of the electrode holder therein.

Abstract: A reheating furnace has a row of heating chambers and a mobile roof whose sections can be moved relative to each other so as to expose the tops of selected chambers for admission or evacuation of slabs. The slabs are lowered into and lifted out of selected heating chambers by an elevator which is mounted on tracks at a level above the motors for carriages which shift the roof sections relative to the chambers. Each chamber can be heated by a set of burners independently of the other chambers. The elevator stacks the slabs in such a way that one marginal portion of each slab is exposed for pronounced heating by combustion products and the other marginal portion is nested between and is heated by the neighboring slabs.

Abstract: The process of operating a reheating furnace for slabs involves the transport of slabs through the heating chamber of the furnace and contacting the slabs with a hot gaseous fluid which is supplied by one or more channels at a level below the path for the slabs. The fluid is thereby cooled and the cooled fluid is withdrawn to be readmitted into the channels subsequent to mixing with hot combustion products which are furnished by burners. The temperature of the fluid which is a mixture of cooled fluid and combustion products matches or approximates the optimum temperature for rolling of the slabs. That portion of the heating chamber which is adjacent to its inlet constitutes a magazine for temporary storage of slabs and contains ways for a charging machine which delivers slabs into the range of a walking-beam conveyor in the heating chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for contact drying or cooling of printed sheets in or adjacent to a screen printing machine has a rotor which is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis and carries a set of radially outwardly extending vane-like flat suction boxes each having a plate-like foraminous supporting member to which one or more objects to be dried and/or cooled are attracted by suction during travel of the respective box along a portion of one orbit or during one or more full orbits about the axis of the rotor. The suction boxes are connected to a source of compressed air when the objects on their supporting members reach the ejecting station. The rotor can carry a box-shaped nozzle with orifices oriented to direct jets of compressed air against the objects on the adjacent supporting members. Objects can be supplied by hand or by a conveyor and the treated objects gather in a receptacle or are deposited on a take-off conveyor.

Abstract: Spaced-apart skid frames support workpieces in a reheat furnace. Each skid frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart rails arranged to extend along the path of travel of the workpieces in the furnace for engaging the underside faces of the workpieces. A tubular top cord member carries rail members. Two horizontally-spaced tubular lower cord members extend parallel and below the top cord member. Tubular web members extend angularly between joints which intersect with the top and lower cord members to form a lattice structure having triangular open spaces between the top cord member in each of the lower cord members for passage or radiation to heat the underside faces of workpieces along either side of the skid frames. Coolant is supplied to each of the top and lower cord members and the tubular web members to prevent overheating.

Abstract: A continuous heat treating furnace for heat treating a ferrous metal work in a protective atmosphere, including a furnace separated into a charge chamber and a heat treating chamber by a partition door and provided with a transport device for transporting the work. A first heating device, a recirculating fan and a gas purge device are provided in the charge chamber, while a second heating device is provided in the heat treating chamber supplied with the protective atmosphere, whereby the work is preheated through convectional heat transfer in the charge chamber simultaneously with high-temperature purging of the charge chamber and then, is heat treated under the protective atmosphere in the heat treating chamber.