Abstract: An autoclave has a water level sensor in a water reservoir in the pressure vessel. An external water tank is connected to the reservoir via an electrically-operated valve. An electrical resistance heating element in the reservoir heats the sensor if it indicates a full level at the start of operation, in order to dry any exposed part of the sensor and thereby prevent an erroneous output from the sensor caused by water clining to it. This heating of the sensor can be repeated if it continues to indicate a full level. If a low level output is produced by the sensor, the valve is opened to allow water to flow from the tank to the reservoir. If the valve remains open for longer than a predetermined time without the sensor indicating a full level, the autoclave produces a fault signal.

Abstract: A ceramic filter construction having particular use for removing particulate material in a catalytic incineration system. The ceramic filter is mounted in a plenum through which exhaust gas containing particulate material is conducted. Particulate material is removed from the gas stream as it flows through the ceramic filter. To automatically clean the filter, a fuel burner is located upstream of the filter and extends across the plenum and divides the plenum into a pair of flow paths which merge downstream of the burner adjacent the filter. During the cleaning cycle, the burner directs a flame toward the filter. A damper is positioned in each flow path and the dampers can be independently operated to vary the volume of gas in each flow path and deflect the flame to cause the flame to translate across the surface of the filter to burn off combustible material adhered to the filter.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for continuously obtaining a sample of a preselected trace element contained in a combustible liquid comprising a combustion chamber having inlets for combustible liquid and oxygen, an outlet for gaseous combustion products and a combustion dish, means for continuously supplying oxygen and combustible liquid to the combustion chamber, and a recovery vessel containing a chemical treating solution formulated to recover the preselected element from the combination products.

Abstract: A filter-purifier that removes sub-micron particles as well as trace amounts of moisture, oxygen, and other chemical impurities from a gas stream. The filter-purifier has a pair of end caps, a baffle stack, a purifying medium bed to contain a purifying medium, a pair of face-seal style fittings, a pre-filter cup, a purifying medium retaining screen, a final filter, a pair of spring stacks, a pair of collars to retain the spring stacks, and a cylindrical housing welded between the end caps.