Abstract: High pressure washing method utilizing a hand directed spray nozzle for cleaning parts, by eye through a viewing window, and an enclosing chamber containing the parts in a manner whereby the zone for solvent spray by the nozzle is closely confined within the enclosure so as not to expose the operator or the outside environment to the liquid runoff of the solvent, or to the sprayed particles thereof, or to solvent steam or rising vapors. With a view to ecology considerations, and in addition to the concern to confine the contaminant from escaping into the environment, the internal air of the chamber and all solvent are continually recycled for re-use according to the washing procedure. Such procedure entails, in the practice of the instant invention, keeping down the vapor concentration by defogging the chamber air, and simultaneously defogging the viewing window through blanketing same by the defogged air as recycled.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting flat or semiflat materials while simultaneously retrieving bottles and cans includes a ground engageable rotating drum (50) with a plurality of fingers (80) extending radially from the drum. A spring finger assembly (100) cooperates with the drum (50) to retrieve articles from the ground. The spring finger assembly includes an upper and lower unit (104, 102) each including a plurality of spring fingers (128) mounted on a rotary shaft assembly (116, 118, 122) driven in conjunction with the rotation of the drum. The rotary shaft assembly and the spring fingers attached thereto rotate with respect to fixed stripper plates (140). A camming device (122, 130, 132) acts to rotate and extend the fingers beyond the stripper plates when the fingers move adjacent to the drum fingers and to rotate and withdraw the spring fingers behind the stripper plates upon further rotation such that the material engaged by the spring fingers is stripped therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the ultrasonic cleaning of transmissions, such as automotive transmissions and the like, and which comprises a housing or tank for receiving cleaning liquid therein, a turntable mounted within the housing for supporting the transmission within the cleaning liquid, at least one transducer secured to the housing for impressing ultrasonic energy on the cleaning liquid, heating elements secured to the tank for heating of the cleaning liquid, the transmission being rotatable simultaneously with the turntable for passing the entire outer periphery or external surfaces of the transmission across the face of the transducer within specified or selected spacing therebetween whereby the transmission is cleaned both interiorly and exteriorly without the necessity of disassembly and ultimate reassembly of the transmission during the cleaning operation.

Abstract: A positive displacement radial piston flowmeter includes pistons coupled to one another by connecting rods. Fluid passageways interconnect the cylinders and inlet and outlet ports formed in the housing. Piston movement is sensed by a pair of linear differential transducers, including exciter and sensing windings, mounted over the outer end of two adjacent cylinders. An elongate piston extension carrying a magnetic material reciprocates within the coils. Each sensing coil produces a voltage difference having a sinusoidal wave form so the two transducers produce a two phase sinusoidal signal (when demodulated) which allows sensing and control circuitry to make very accurate flow measurements. The coil housing is constructed so the electromagnetic properties at both sensing coils are equal to eliminate the need to compensate for initial signal bias or signal drift. The pistons are attached to the outer ends of the connecting rods through a universal joint to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for magnetically separating particles from a liquid, which particles include diamagnetic, non-magnetic and/or very weakly paramagnetic particles. To achieve separation, the magnetic susceptibility of the liquid is modified, such as through dissolving a paramagnetic substance (such as manganese chloride) or a diamagnetic substance (such as bismuth diiodide) in a liquid (such as water, alcohol or glycerine), after which the modified paramagnetic liquid is passed through a filter formed of magnetic material in a magnetic field with the filter being preferably formed of ferromagnetic material establishing a high gradient magnetic filter.

Abstract: Semiconductor wafer handling equipment is cleaned and rinsed in a sealed first chamber. Thereafter, the first chamber is unsealed and the handling equipment is moved into a second chamber so that only the handling equipment is introduced into the second chamber. The second chamber is then sealed and the handling equipment is dried therein and thereafter subjected to a stream of ionized gas to eliminate static charge therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid filter having a housing with an inlet and an outlet and a filter cartridge disposed in the housing and comprising a generally tubular filter element confined between endcaps at each end thereof. One end cap is closed and the other end cap has a nipple-like extension with an opening therethrough communicating the interior of the tubular filter with the outlet. The extension is telescopically received by a generally mating socket in the housing and is both axially and circumferentially sealed to the socket, with the circumferential sealing being maintained over a limited range of travel of the filter cartridge relative to the housing. A spring urges the extension toward the axially sealed condition in the socket and a perforated cylinder interposed between the one end cap and the housing precludes the filter cartridge from travelling a distance sufficient to break the circumferential seal between the extension and the socket in the event the flow of fluid through the filter is reversed.

Abstract: An adjuvant for use with metham solution consisting essentially, by weight, of:15% isopropanol12.4% water20.2% sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate13.3% nine mole ethylene oxide adduct of nonyl phenol11.7% sodium 2-ethyl hexyl sulfate9.2% triethanol amine sulfonate7.5% tetrasodium N--1,2 dicarboxy ethyl--N-octadecyl sulfosuccinamate4.7% coconut oil superamide4.6% dimethyl or isopropyl amine sulfonate1.4% tetrasodium ethylene diamine acetic acid.Also, the mixture of the adjuvant with a water solution of metham, both dilute and concentrated and with or without dichlobenil.

Abstract: The method according to the invention of polishing glass in a polishing bath containing sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid permits long polishing times and thus reduced alternating treatments in polishing bath and washing bath at high polishing speed due to the fact that the polishing bath contains at least one acid which is stronger than the hydrofluoric acid, in particular acids whose dissociation constants are higher than that of the second dissociation stage of the sulfuric acid; preferably, oxalic acid is used. In order that the sulfuric acid concentration can be increased--in particular for glasses containing alkaline earth--0.1 to 5 g sodium chloride and/or potassium chloride per liter of polishing bath are added to the polishing bath during an 8-hour shift, either all at once or in portions.

Abstract: Bituminous and other coatings are removed from a pipe surface by directing powerful water jets, e.g. under a pressure of 300-600 bars, and preferably under an acute angle of incidence, against such pipe surface. The apparatus has one or more nozzles, each provided with water supply means, in a frame that can be mounted around the pipe to be treated. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzles are arranged in groups on rotatable annular discs which surround the pipe with some clearance and which receive a reciprocating rotary movement during operation, while the frame carrying such discs is adapted for travelling in longitudinal direction of the pipe. If both movements are coordinated, i.e. effected simultaneously then, each nozzle will follow a zigzag path along the pipe surface, thereby covering a vast area and removing bituminous or other coatings in a fast and efficient way.

Abstract: Method for cleaning and retarding corrosion of air-cooled heat exchangers used in hydrocarbon processing operations. Treating liquid is discharged at a plurality of locations in the vapor distribution chamber at the inlets to the tubes of air-cooled exchangers. Treating liquid may comprise corrosion inhibitor-laden hydrocarbon or water.

Abstract: Scrap metal contaminated with hydrocarbon combustibles is reclaimed by vaporizing the hydrocarbon combustibles contaminating the metal in a kiln so as to produce partially unburned fumes in said kiln. The fumes are separated from the metal as the metal is discharged from the kiln, and the separated fumes are then transported to a heat generating means having a burner means secured therein. The fumes are incinerated in the heat generating means by the flame of said burner means so as to provide hot gas which is recirculated to the kiln for purposes of conducting the aforementioned vaporization step. The firing rate of the burner means is regulated to maintain the recirculating hot gas close to a predetermined temperature, and the air to fuel ratio supplied to the burner means is varied to maintain the concentration of oxygen in the recirculating hot gas close to a predetermined level.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating terneplate scrap contaminated with combustibles, such as found in automobile gas tanks, to reduce the alloy content of the scrap to a sufficient level to permit the scrap to be reprocessed in an electric furnace. In the process, the contaminated terneplate metal is introduced into the feed end of a degreaser maintained at about 200 degrees F. by live steam. The degreaser includes a cutting device for downsizing the metal scrap and a vaporized caustic spray, combining with the live steam, to emulsify the residual combustibles. The metal feed exits the degreaser and is dryed while the vaporized emulsion is advanced to a condensor and separator for recycling the caustic to the degreaser and the hydrocarbons to storage. After drying, the metal feed is introduced into a glass bead blaster which removes the lead and tin from the metal feed, thereby leaving a scrap metal feed with a lead and tin percent sufficiently low to be suitable for use as a charge in a steel making furnace.

Abstract: Substantially all the liquid sulfur dichloride in a vessel is removed from the vessel leaving a heel (residue) of liquid and solid material on the bottom of the vessel. The remaining liquid is vaporized by heating the vessel, and the vapors are removed by vacuum and purging. The vessel is purged with an inert gas during heating to prevent exothermic reactions and the formation of toxic reaction products, and to assist in removal of vapors from the vessel. The removed liquid and vapors are neutralized by reaction with sodium hydroxide. The solid residue remaining in the vessel is then removed from both the bottom and wall portions.

Abstract: Pipeline interiors are cleaned by passing a gelled pig containing an aqueous, cross-linked gelled galactomannan gum, or derivative thereof, through the pipeline. Additives can be included in the gelled pig to enhance stability, cleaning ability, etc. The gelled pigs are particularly effective when used in pig trains containing one or more chemical pig segments in the train.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers and the like in a chamber of cleaning fluid vibrating at ultrasonic (megasonic) frequencies utilizing an electrically energized transducer, such as a piezoelectric crystal, mounted on a conductive foil formed of tantalum or zirconium. Pinholes or other ruptures in the foil can cause high energy arcs capable of exploding vapors of inflammable solvents. The foil carrying the transducers is isolated from the cleaning fluid vapors by a closed buffer chamber containing an inert liquid that couples vibratory energy to the cleaning fluid and another closed chamber enclosing the transducers. Accordingly, cleaning fluids, such as the acetones, alcohols and ketones, heretofore considered hazardous fluids, can be used in the apparatus.

Abstract: The generation of total and free halogen in aqueous solutions of halogenated hydantoins is potentiated by the use of a solubility agent selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, barium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, 5,5-dialkyl substituted hydantoin and mixtures thereof. The use of these solubility agents in combination with halogenated hydantoins, such as bromochloromethylethylhydantoin, is especially suitable for use as a toilet bowl cleaner.

Abstract: A sulfur trioxide-containing fluid, e.g., sulfur trioxide gas, is contacted with the surfaces of equipment in contact with crude oil or natural gas to retard the deposition of paraffins from the crude oil or natural gas and/or to react with the paraffins already deposited on the equipment surfaces to produce a water-dispersible material which is removed with an aqueous liquid.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filtering apparatus for use in a material treating system of the type in which treating fluid is recirculated through a treating vessel. The apparatus includes a filtering chamber through which treating fluid flows from a pump to a heat exchanger. A cylindrical perforated filter element in the chamber filters particulate contaminant, such as lint in a textile processing system, onto the element, and a reciprocating cleaning member cleans the contaminant from the surface of the filter element by drawing fluid through an annular slot in a head of the cleaning member, with the fluid being drawn across and through the filter element to remove contaminant therefrom. The contaminant containing fluid is conveyed from the cleaning member back into the treating vessel where it is discharged into a large fabric bag that allows the fluid to filter through into the vessel and obstructs the contaminant for collection in the bag.

Abstract: Industrial water filter comprising a filter housing comprising a sidewall and opposed endwalls, a radial inlet and an axial outlet. A stationary filter is disposed operatively between the inlet and outlet and generally eccentrically relative to the inlet axis so as to produce a sweeping flow pattern along the screen. The interior space between the screen and housing is divided diametrically along an axial plane of the filter housing into two separate channels each of which runs along the screen to a debris recovery zone diametrically opposite the inlet. At the inlet end the interior space is divided by a streamlined flow divider and at the debris recovery end by a separator member which is either a flat plate or a streamlined member. A stiffening web may be joined to the endwalls across an axial plane of the screen. A partition may divide the interior space perpendicularly to the outlet axis into two compartments.