Abstract: A method for distributing, drying and heating a selected mix and weight of metals prior to melting in a furnace, including the steps of placing weights of selected metals in a feeder car according to a predetermined distribution, locating the feeder car beneath the hood of a heater, closing the hood over the car, heating the enclosed metal and transferring the preheated metal from the car to a charge bucket for a furnace. An apparatus is disclosed which includes a feeder car movable between a loading station and a heating and dumping station. A weigh hopper is used for measuring and distributing the selected weights and mix of metals which are then loaded in the feeder car. A hood is adapted to close over the feeder car and seal thereto after which a heater is provided to inject heat through the hood into the enclosed car. A vibratory conveyor is provided which moves the preheated metals from the feeder car into a charge bucket for a furnace.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing the evolution of fine particles during the removal of a solvent from a mass of solid particles containing the fines or which solid particles are attritable to produce the fines in the prior treating steps and/or the solvent removal step. The process employs the addition of 1 to 20 percent by weight of water to the solid particles/solvent prior to or during the solvent removal operation.

Abstract: A rotary kiln for roasting cement raw meals provided with, on the raw meal inlet side of the kiln, a suspension preheater having a calcining furnace, which includes a kiln body lined with refractory materials, a mechanism for supporting said kiln body with a slight inclination to the horizontal, and a mechanism for rotating the change kiln body around an axis thereof and on the supporting mechanism at a variable speed, wherein the slope of the axis of the kiln body ranges from 1.5% to 3.5% and the maximum rotational speed of said kiln body is in a range represented by the following equation: N=(0.2.about.0.4).times.42.3/.sqroot.D wherein N is the maximum rotational speed of the kiln body, and D is the inside diameter of refractory materials in the granulating zone of the kiln, thereby improving the granulation of the cement raw meals in the kiln.

Abstract: Power assist steering gear assembly for vehicle comprises an elongated member linearly movable in opposite directions for pivoting of dirigible wheels. The elongated member comprises a rack portion formed at a first axial position and engaged with a pinion connected to a steering shaft and a thread portion formed at a second axial position and cooperating with a ball nut. The power assist steering unit further comprises an electric motor unit coaxially arranged about the elongated member at a third axial position and including an electric motor connected to the ball nut through rotation transmitting means to assist the linear movement of the elongated member.

Abstract: A workpiece heater suitable for use in heating electronic micro circuitry while minimizing work displacement as an incident to expansion and contraction of the structural components of the heater employs a rotatable work table and a heater disposed to heat the table by radiation. The table is mounted on a shaft supported against axial movement by a tapered bearing. The bearing is pre-loaded by a spring arranged to urge the shaft against the bearing. That structural arrangement is combined with the use of elongated elements and reflecting shields to minimize heat transfer to the mechanism by which the worktable shaft is rotated.

Abstract: A plant for preheating and, possibly, heat-treating bars (2) of aluminum or aluminum alloys and subsequently severing the bars (2) into slugs (10) comprises a furnace (4) for the heat treatment and preheating only, if desired, billet hot shears (7), and a quick preheating furnace (16) connected between the hot shears and the furnace. Upon selection of the operating mode of heat treatment of the bars (2), the quick preheating furnace serves as cooling apparatus providing for temperature controlled cooling and corresponding renewed heating to a predetermined billet pressing temperature when the admissible temperature is not reached. When the plant operates alone to preheat the material, the quick preheating furnace serves as preheating furnace the exhaust gases of which serve to preheat the bars (2) in the furnace (4) through an exhaust gas conduit (19). This plant permits particularly economic and flexible operation, i.e.

Abstract: An upper furnace portion (A) includes side walls (12, 14) extending along its lower edge. A dimensionally stable furnace hearth (B) is movably mounted adjacent the furnace lower edge and is displaced a small distance from the side walls, such that the hearth is movable without engaging the side walls, yet sufficiently close that relatively little heat tends to pass between the hearth and the side walls. The hearth includes a metal base plate (20) to which a plurality of vertically extending anchoring plates (26) are connected and supported by gussets (30). A plurality of wires (28) are welded to the anchoring plates and extend into peripheral refractory elements (24) which are integrally molded to the wires and the anchoring plates. A plurality of refractory slabs (34) and bricks (36) are supported by the base plate and are disposed within an area defined by the peripheral refractory elements to define a workpiece supporting surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for effecting thermal reclamation of granular materials, particularly foundry sand and contaminated soil. In a first embodiment, a sand calciner system (10) includes a refractory-lined drum (12) mounted for oscillation about its longitudinal axis (14). An arrangement of plows (76) are provided along the bottom inside of the drum (12) for mixing the sand received through an inlet (54) and advancing it toward a discharge outlet (56) responsive to oscillation of the drum over a predetermined arc about the axis (14). The plows (76) are arranged in staggered rows with each plow having a transverse front surface facing the inlet (54), an inclined top surface, and an angled back surface facing the outlet (56). An aerator pipe (78) is provided in conjunction with the plows (76) to fluidize the sand and thereby effect more thorough mixing and exposure to burners (58) positioned along the upper side of the drum (12) for complete calcining.

Abstract: The tractor comprises a platform mounted on three wheels, one of which is a drive and steering wheel, and having pivotally mounted thereon a saddle member having shaped uprights which form a supporting structure for a hydraulic jack of the double-acting type the piston rod whereof has a yoke attached thereto, the two legs of the yoke being adapted to securely engage with the front wheel of a helicopter to be towed so as to drag the wheel along the saddle member.

Abstract: A fixed-bed charge in a tube reactor is heated, and at the same time heat is conducted away from, or into, the fixed bed, by a method in which the fixed bed is heated by means of a fluidized material which conducts away and supplies heat and flows through the voids in the charge, and the heat is conducted away or supplied by means of a heat-transfer medium flowing in a heat exchanger, the latter being located in the fixed bed or in a fluidized layer formed above the fixed bed and consisting of the fluidized material.

Abstract: A slip joint tooling fixture for providing unrestricted growth of material used in an airframe structure when heated under high temperatures. The fixture while allowing the unrestricted growth of the material also maintains the overall configuration and integrity of the structure being built. The fixture further provides for minimum restriction of airflow around the outer surface of the structure during the heating up and cooling down process.

Abstract: A portable gas forge. The forge is comprised of a housing having an insulated interior and an opening for insertion of the article to be heated such as a horseshoe or the like. The forge is resistant to blow-out by wind when used in the field and has a specially designed burner connected to the top of the housing. The burner is connected to a source of gas such as an LP gas cylinder. A gas orifice is connected to an enlarged burner pipe having a bell-shaped primary air inlet adjacent the gas orifice. A source of secondary air is located at the exterior pipe connection to the housing to provide an annular air passage through the housing to the burner outlet to obtain maximum flame concentration in the housing and inhibit burn back or back flaming. An internal restrictor adjacent the burner pipe outlet is employed to increase the burner gas velocity and aid in secondary air aspiration and combustion efficiency.

Abstract: A method of polishing the surface of a glass article consists in exposing the surface of the said article to a flame produced by oxygen and by a fuel. In order to obtain a perfect surface quality, whatever the thickness and configuration of the article processed, while preventing any premature collapse of the article in question, use is made of a flame such that the thermal energy originating from the transfer of heat by convection exceeds the thermal energy originating from the transfer of heat by radiation, and preferably of a flame of the oxygen-hydrogen type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating oil field wastes and particularly spent drilling fluids which contain barite and hydrocarbons which includes placing the drilling fluids into the upper end of a downwardly directed rotating kiln. Fuel and pressurized air are inserted into a furnace connected to the upper end of the kiln for supplying a fire to the drilling fluids in the kiln for igniting and burning the hydrocarbons in the drilling fluids as fuel until the drilling fluid is dry. The high weight impurities are separated from the dried drilling fluid by gravity from the kiln and the light weight fines and more valuable components including the barite are removed from the kiln by suction. The more valuable components are mixed with new components for providing a recycled drilling fluid. The gases separated from the light weight dry drilling fluids are washed to remove any pollutants before exhaustion to the atmosphere. The particulates cleaned from the gases may be recycled to the kiln.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for heating an air stream flowing through a conduit which minimizes the introduction of noxious burner exhaust emissions into the air stream. The apparatus utilizes a refractory radiant-type burner disposed within the air stream which includes means for supplying a combustible fuel to the burner and means for igniting the combustible fuel within the burner. The apparatus also includes means for removing the hot products of combustion from the burner and venting these products to the outside atmosphere until the temperature of the burner reaches steady state operating conditions. When steady state operating conditions are reached, a damper means on the burner opens and directs the products of combustion into the air stream to heat the air stream. When the burner is turned off, the damper means closes and directs the products of combustion to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for greatly increasing the efficiency of heater treater units, such as those used in heavy oil recovery, wherein exhaust air from the heater treater is circulated around incoming heavy oil lines from a freewater knockout unit to preheat the heavy oil reducing the required temperature increment provided by the heater treater to achieve a predetermined temperature for water/oil separation.

Abstract: A direct air heater using the air to be heated as combustion air includes means for maintaining a constant flow of air across the burner. The heater also includes means for recirculating inside air and means for controlling the flow of inside air, preferably, to maintain a constant pressure in the space being heated.

Abstract: The specification discloses an analyzer for determining the carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen content of an organic material. The analyzer includes a vertically oriented, U-shaped furnace including a combustion chamber containing a crucible in which the sample is combusted into constituent gases and a reagent chamber containing a reagent through which the constituent gases must pass. A lance extends into the combustion chamber to guide the sample into the crucible and to direct oxygen onto the sample combusting in the crucible. The analyzer further includes an equilibration vessel and means for conveying the constituent gases to the vessel and past CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O infrared cells to monitor the products of combustion. Means are provided for conveying the equilibrated gases past the infrared cells to obtain readings relating to carbon and hydrogen content. A doser doses an aliquot of the equilibrated gas into a nitrogen measurement apparatus to obtain a reading relating to nitrogen content.

Abstract: In a rinser/dryer for carriers of semiconductor wafers, a rotatable frame containing the carrier is directly mounted to, and cantilevered from the drive motor. A container encloses the rotatable frame and carrier. A gas pressurized labyrinth seal separates the inside of the container from the drive motor to prevent contamination. A raised portion in the labyrinth seal, with gas inlets on each side of the raised portion, forms a pressure barrier inhibiting the passage of moisture and contaminates across the barrier.

Abstract: In a power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering apparatus, axial movements of a helical tooth pinion resulting from a torque being applied thereto cause corresponding displacements of the movable member of a control valve of the apparatus. A piston which moves axially together with pinion defines a sealed chamber of variable volume, which is filled with an incompressible fluid, such as oil or grease. The movable member of the control valve is slidably mounted along an axis different from the pinion axis and is operated by a push-rod having one end surface arranged so as to sense the pressure within the chamber of variable volume. Means are provided for holding the movable member of the control valve in its central neutral position in case the fluid contained within the chamber is lost.