Abstract: A fluid collection apparatus is disclosed which is useful in separating blood serum or plasma from blood cellular and particulate matter. The apparatus comprises an elongated hollow body closeable at both ends with a self sealing septum near one end. The septum includes a central cavity extending axially from one end of the septum and terminates in a web portion. The septal web portion is pierced by a composite piston member which includes a passageway equipped with a filter. Fluid, therefore, flows through the filter, the piercing means and into the hollow body. A flange on the composite piston extends laterally of the hollow body and sealingly engages the inner wall of a tube filled with a sample of mixed materials.Upon withdrawal of the apparatus, the composite piston remains sealed in the sample containing tube. The web portion of the hollow body reseals on withdrawal of the piercing means to prevent leakage.

Abstract: A control and monitoring system for an oxygen generation device having a plurality of chemical oxygen generation elements sequentially decomposed to continuously generate oxygen.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine exhaust gas catalytic converter has a simplified basic construction--using only vertically disposed inner and outer louvered tubes defining a radial flow bead catalyst bed, and a pair of shell members embracing the upper and lower ends of the inner and outer tubes to retain the tubes and close the upper and lower ends of the catalyst bed. The shell members have an enlarged waist defining an outlet chamber surrounding the outer tube, and abut along radially-outwardly-directed axially-extending flanges which seal the outlet chamber and close the lower end of the inner tube to direct exhaust gases through the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A mixing device and method of mixing a liquid, vapor, or gas into a slurry of material in a vat in which the liquid, vapor, or gas is introduced into a stream of the slurry passing from the vat through a venturi at the diverging portion of the venturi, and in which the slurry with the entrained liquid, vapor, or gas is returned to the vat below an umbrella of a high velocity stream of slurry in the vat produced by an agitator so as to dissipate the heat of reaction between the two fluids.

Abstract: A process comprising heating coal in a substantially air-free environment to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, condensing at least some of the volatile materials so liberated to liquefied products and dispersing the coke therein to form a coke slurry, feeding the coke slurry to a slurry pipeline, and pumping the coke slurry through the pipeline to a destination.Apparatus comprising a tube furnace having an external heating means for indirectly heating powdered coal therein in a substantially air-free environment to a temperature adequate to liberate volatile materials and produce coke, means to feed powdered coal to the furnace under pressure and force the volatile materials and coke produced in the furnace through the furnace to a condensing means in which at least some of the volatile materials are condensed with the coke dispersed therein to form a coke slurry, and means to convey the coke slurry from the condensing means to a pipeline for transport to a destination.

Abstract: A liquid sample distributor comprises a sample transfer tube having a nozzle at one end for suction and discharge of a sample, a first switchable valve located intermediate the length of the sample transfer tube, a first sample suction pump and a second sample discharge pump located on the opposite sides of the first switchable valve and connected with the sample transfer tube, a second switchable valve connected with the other end of the transfer tube, and a rinsing water vessel connected with the transfer tube through the second switchable valve. The displacement of the second pump is equal to the quantity of a liquid sample to be distributed while the displacement of the first pump is greater than the given quantity of the liquid sample. A liquid sample is initially suctioned into the nozzle by the first pump in a quantity which is greater than the given quantity to be distributed, and the given quantity thereof is discharged through the second pump for purposes of distribution.

Abstract: The circumference of a crystal rod is monitored and controlled during the rod growing process by providing relative rotation between the growing crystal rod and a melt of the crystal material as the rod is being pulled from the melt according to the Czochralski method, and by using a radiation-sensitive control system for adjusting growth conditions of the rod in response to variations in a radiation signal which is indicative of the circumferential dimension of the rod. An electronic circuit integrates the radiation signal over each complete rotation of the rod, thereby eliminating unnecessary adjustment of the growth conditions in response to diametric variations of the rod which recur regularly in each rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an exothermic reaction in a thin film of a photopolymerizable, ethylenically-unsaturated mass, which apparatus comprises a thin foil differential thermocouple means, a pore means adjacent to and mounted above the thermocouple means, a perforated plate means positioned above the pore means and an ultraviolet light source means positioned above the plate means is disclosed.

Abstract: A jumper pipe forms a passageway between the free spaces above coal charges in adjacent coking chambers for the natural flow of relatively cooler coke oven gas from the free space above the coal charge in the most recently charged one of the coking chambers into the free space above the coal charge in the other of the coking chambers to reduce the relatively higher temperature therein. An inert atmosphere is maintained along at least part of the passageway to prevent the flow of coke oven gas essentially during decarburization and the pushing of coke from either of the two adjacent coking chambers. Valve members at opposite end portions of the jumper pipe are moved to at least partially-closed positions to facilitate the maintenance of an inert atmosphere therein. A supply or steam or gaseous nitrogen is used to maintain the inert atmosphere in the jumper pipe. The inert gas prevents the entrance of coke oven gas into a coking chamber while undergoing decarburization.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously monitoring the concentration of oil in a stream f water meters carbon tetrachloride through a first infrared analyzer to generate a reference signal, mixes the carbon tetrachloride with a sample stream of oily water to extract the oil, then separates and passes the oil containing carbon tetrachloride through a second infrared analyzer that is zeroed by the reference signal. The sample water stream is returned to the main flow and the carbon tetrachloride is reclaimed and recycled.

Abstract: A system for detecting live insects in a commodity sample features forming a closed-loop between a stored quantity of fluid and a sample cell and a reference cell. The closed-loop and the stored fluid ensure a controlled environment during incubation and analysis of the commodity sample. This controlled environment achieves a greater sensitivity and reproducibility than prior systems.

Abstract: In a reactant-fluid catalyst suspension system, an arrangement of apparatus is provided contiguous with a riser discharge which centrifugally initially separates the suspension into a solids phase and a gasiform material phase prior to discharge from the riser. The catalyst may be further stripped if desired in equipment above and about the riser discharge. The arrangement contributes substantially to the efficiency and economics of the separation of catalyst from gasiform products including products of hydrocarbon conversion and combustion products of catalyst regeneration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reactor designed to produce phosphoric acid by wet process. The reaction vessel proper is a cylindrical body divided into two compartments by a sinusoidal wall. The first space formed inside by the cylindrical wall of the vessel and the sinusoidal one and by one curved segment joining them is semi-circular and serves as pre-mixer provided with a stirring device and a pocket to allow the fluid flowing down through the bottom to reach the reaction space overhead. The reaction vat has two compartments and provided with a series of stirring devices so located as to permit an efficient, intimate mixture of the reaction medium. The vat is integrally roofed by a tight cover with many orifices left in it fitted for connection sleeves, such as: supply, gas venting, sight holes, and manholes, etc.

Abstract: An inner cylindrical shell assembly includes a metal cylinder with the wall thereof divided along at least one but typically a plurality of longitudinal parting lines. A stress compensator tube extends along each parting line and is welded to the edge surfaces of the metal cylinder. An inner stratum of solid corundum bricks overlies an outer stratum of corundum bricks which has internal spherical hollows. These strata of bricks are retained under stress within the inner cylindrical shell assembly. This assembly is received within an outer cylindrical metal shell and annular members are disposed within an annular space between the shells with a felt mat disposed between the annular members and the inner cylindrical shell.

Abstract: A radial-flow reactor, especially for carrying out endothermic, catalytic reactions, which has a closed reactor housing defining a reactor chamber therein, a centrally arranged, first inlet duct for entry of a gaseous reactant stream and a catalyst bed disposed around the duct located within said chamber, and at least one additional outlet duct arranged on the outer rim of the housing for discharge of a gaseous product stream from said reactor chamber. A plurality of heating elements are embedded in the catalyst bed. Each heating element is constructed as a straight heating tube and each tube has one free end projecting into the reactor chamber, with a part adjacent to the other end attached to a base plate. The base plate forms a part of a wall structure defining the reactor chamber within said housing and can be detached from the wall structure. A group of the heating elements is secured to one base plate so that the group of elements and the one base plate can be removed from the reactor together.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor for the pyrolysis of pieces of rubber or the like, especially old tires the reactor comprising a container at the lower part of which there is discharge device for non-volatile pyrolysis products; gas blowing nozzles arranged in a zone above the discharge device for supplying a fluidizing gas and for producing a fluidized bed from material such as sand or alumina added to the reactor; preferably a heating device, especially one comprising heating tubes extending across the container; a gas outlet disposed in the zone above the fluidized bed; and supply means for conveying pieces of material to be pyrolized to the container; this apparatus is characterized by the fact that the gas blowing nozzles are arranged to direct the gas downwardly, that at least one group of nozzles are arranged in a common horizontal plane, and that the material supply device is such that its dimensions are comparable with the cross-sectional surface of the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A self-adjusting powder distributor--which is particularly intended for use with alumina calcination apparatus--comprises a casing with a permeable partition, a plurality of outlets, and means for introducing preheated hydrate above the partition and fluidizing air therebelow. The fluidized hydrate withdraws through outlets of the casing for further treatment or partly as final product. The casing is provided with means by which the amounts and mutual ratios of the withdrawing material can be adjusted according to preselected values by altering the cross-sectional flow area or the level of the outlets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the destruction of an alkali source in a nitrogen-phosphorus detector by certain reactive and derivatizing reagents encountered in gas chromatography is disclosed. Protection is afforded by lowering the temperature of an electrically heated alkali source during the period in which offensive substances in a gas under analysis are eluted, with the temperature of the source being restored after passage of the offensive substances. The temperature of the alkali source is changed by altering the current through an electrical resistance heater with a temperature control circuit that utilizes a wheatstone bridge.

Abstract: An improved method for producing calcined coke agglomerates having good stability including adjusting the fluidity of coals or blends of coals to within a range of 1300 DDPM and 3000 DDPM, mixing the coals or blends of coals with char and optionally topped tar in a rotating agglomerating drum and agglomerating the mixture at a temperature between 750.degree. F. and 875.degree. F. (399.degree. C.and 468.degree. C.) for a time to form partially coked green coal agglomerates generally spherical in shape and calcining the partially coked green coal agglomerates at a temperature between 1500.degree. F. and 2000.degree. F. (815.degree. C. and 1093.degree. C). The calcined coke agglomerates are characterized by having a stability of not less than 60%.

Abstract: Access to a space is impeded by the generation of a sticky foam from a tacky polymeric resin and a low boiling solvent.