Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for minimizing mass flow rate fluctuations of a particulate solid fuel and gas mixture having a coal mixture mass flow rate of about 50-800 kg/cubic meter and a corresponding frequency range of about 0.1 to 100 Hertz to a reactor.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a sprinkler head comprising a valve seat having a generally frusto-conical surface configuration and an annular rib, a flanged valve member in sealing engagement with said annular rib and having a depending, radially inwardly spaced surface which in cooperation with said annular rib and surface configuration forms a partially enclosed space in which a resilient O-ring is captively held in compressive engagement between the valve seat and valve member.

Abstract: An apparatus for making foam using a foam concentrate, a liquid and a vapor comprises a primary cylinder defining a mixing chamber therein. An eductor is disposed substantially within the mixing chamber for drawing in foam concentrate while mixing the foam concentrate with a portion of the liquid entering the apparatus. A secondary cylinder defining a foam chamber therein is in flow communication with the primary cylinder at one end via a flow passage therebetween. The eductor extends through the flow passage and into the secondary cylinder thereby defining an annulus in the flow passage to allow a portion of the liquid in the primary cylinder to by-pass the eductor and enter the secondary cylinder. Vapor is drawn into the secondary cylinder to mix with the combined liquid stream from the annulus and the stream from the eductor to create foam in the secondary cylinder. The foam may be directed to a storage tank for fire-fighting.

Abstract: A modular liferaft wherein the canopy, canopy support, floor pads if any, boarding ramp and at least one ballast are detachably attached to a liferaft hull and floor assembly. Modular construction facilitates maintenance and repair and may reduce the cost and volume of materials employed in spares programs necessary to support liferafts used in commerce.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and method for distribution at a utilization area of fluid maintained adjacent thereto under pressure to thereby effect movement of articles at the utilization area are disclosed. The device includes a thin plate having a plurality of spaced passageways extending therethrough, which passageways extend substantially normal and open to the opposite surfaces of the plate, with at least a portion of the passageways opening into one of the surfaces at different ones of a plurality of spaced displacement therein, whereby the configuration of the displacements and the size and position of the openings therein determine the volume and direction of fluid distributed in the utilization area. The device is particularly useful in an apparatus wherein the device forms the upper surface of an air containment chamber for containment of air under pressure, and wherein articles are moved thereby adjacent to the upper surface, for example in an air table, air conveyor, article single filer, or the like.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring a SMIF pod.TM. in a clean room, in which the pod is adapted to contain a wafer cassette. The transfer system includes: at least one pair of SMIF arms.TM., the arms disposed adjacent to a semiconductor processing apparatus for transferring wafers, carried in the wafer cassette, into and out of the semiconductor processing apparatus; a transfer tube disposed near the arms; a vehicle adapted to carry the pod and adapted to move within the transfer tube; evacuation mechanism for evacuating the transfer tube to produce a negative pressure within the transfer tube so that the vehicle is moved along an axis of the transfer tube due to the negative pressure; and at least one pair of conveying mechanisms for conveying the vehicle between the transfer tube and respective arms.

Abstract: A device for the transportation of flowable material in pulverulent, granular, lump, granulated or pasty form in a feed pipe comprises a coaxial endless feeder screw which is rotatable in the forward or reverse direction and a drive mechanism for driving said screw. The drive mechanism enables one to obtain a feed motion without rotation and a rearward motion with a forced, regular rotation of the endless screw so that the material to be transported remains axially stationary during the rearward motion. Owing to the dense column of material to be transported the bearings may be suppressed; if they are provided, they will have to be arranged outside the conveying stock. The endless screw is designed as a single piece screw and the distance between the screw and the feed pipe is slightly bigger than the average size of the grains or lumps of material to be conveyed. The device is preferably used for the supply of pneumatic or hydraulic conveyors.

Abstract: A free fall, submersible life saving device for an offshore structure has a spherical pressure shell in a casing. The upper part of the device has a lifting frame and at least one manhole closed with a cover and the lower part has ballast, an anchor, and a windlass 5 for the anchor rope having automatic control of the tension in the anchor rope. The device is launched by a catapult on the offshore structure for horizontal movement in free fall to the water surface, where it submerges and is anchored until resurfacing, by release of the anchor, for rescue.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic fire extinguishing equipment adapted to direct a nozzle towards the position of a flame starting within a supervising zone so as to discharge a fire extinguishing liquid to extinguish the flame, which equipment comprises a flame detecting apparatus including a detecting element for detecting a flame and device for scanning and driving the detecting element in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, for searching the supervising zone and outputting data concerning the flames; a storage section for storing the detection data from the flame detecting apparatus; a fire extinguishment controlling section which decides the sizes of the distributed flames on the basis of the storage data from said storage section; a nozzle assembly including the nozzle and device for controlling the direction of the nozzle in response to a control from the fire extinguishment controlling section.

Abstract: Cabinet assembly for simple placing in a room so that in the event of a fire it detects fire and discharges compressed fire-fighting vapor such as bromotrifluoromethane. Cabinet contains tank of compressed vapor with discharge conduit and controls so that mere connection to electric power supply will place it in operation. Second tank in cabinet can be arranged to discharge such vapor through opening in raised floor to fight fire in space below the raised floor.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube carrier system (10) includes a first carrier receiving and sending terminal (11) and a second carrier receiving and sending terminal (13). A carrier (20) is transported back and forth between the terminals (11,13) through a pneumatic tube (12) interconnecting the first and second terminals. Means are operatively associated with at least one of the first and second terminals for automatically removing contents from the carrier at the at least one terminal before returning the carrier to the other terminal. A cover (30) is held on the carrier by magnetic attraction and without hinges or latches.

Abstract: A fluidizing gravity conveyor for hot particulate material which includes a heat resistant plate having a plurality of holes for receiving bubble caps or nozzles to disperse air flow from a lower plenum chamber to the upper material chamber. The upper material chamber is suitably lined with heat resistant material. Provisions are made for differential thermal expansion.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted feeding apparatus for delivering finely pulverized particulate materials, such as powdered metal, is disclosed in which a material holding hopper has a feeder tube extending into a lower disposed filling chamber subject to sub-atmospheric pressures to effect vacuum assisted gravity flow of the powder material into the filling chamber. Powder in the filling chamber is vacuum/gravity fed to a mold cavity until the cavity is filled, whereafter powder is accumulated in the filling chamber until the discharge end of the feeder tube is occluded by the powder to disrupt the feeding operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in fighting fire in and around heavy, self-propelled vehicles by means of a liquid ballast contained within the large, tubeless tires of the vehicle. In the event of a fire, a hose is connected to a coupling which is in turn connected to a fitting connected to means forming a hole in the rim of a wheel so as to permit liquid to be forced out of the tire and through a nozzle on the end of the hose by air pressure within the tire. The apparatus also includes at least one other fitting and another coupling connectible to the fitting, together with an additional hose connectible to one fitting in order to permit liquid ballast to be added to the tire, as air in the tire is vented through another fitting, and then pressurized by the addition of air through a compressed air line connected to one of the couplings.

Abstract: A filterless loader which entrains particulate material in air flows is described. The loader includes a reservoir in which the materials may be accumulated and from which the materials may be delivered under gravity through a lowermost outlet to appropriate processing equipment. A closed air circuit draws the particulate material into the reservoir from an external storage bin or container. The closed air circuit includes air supply and return conduits communicating with the interior of the reservoir, and a fan unit which circulates air through the conduits. The fan unit draws air from the interior of the reservoir, and forces the air into an inlet end of the supply conduit. A gap is maintained at the junction of the air supply and return conduits external to the reservoir, and supply conduit air flows are guided by a nozzle across the gap into the return conduit. The junction is inserted into the storage container thereby introducing the particulate material into the path of the closed air circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for shielding an area of an aircraft from the adverse effects of a fire, which comprises a wall for enclosing at lease a portion of the area of the aircraft to be shielded, a highly water-absorbent polymer operatively associated with the wall, a reservoir for storing water, conduits for establishing liquid communication between the reservoir and the polymer, and a device for delivering water from the reservoir to the polymer via the conduits.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for subdividing a single stream of powder products entrained in a gas into a plurality of secondary streams. The apparatus comprises an array of identical ducts (33, 47) distributed over the lateral surface of a cone (34, 43) having a circular section, said ducts converging in the vicinity of the apex (35, 44) of the cone to constitute a single intake (36, 41) directed along the axis of the cone and connected to a primary intake pipe (11), said ducts being oriented along the generatrices of the cone and ending at its base in a multiplicity of orifices each connected to a secondary conduit (31) carrying one of the secondary streams.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus for a container having a rim and a cavity to retain combustible materials comprising a reservoir having a chamber for retaining a fire extinguishing fluid under gas pressure, a hollow nozzle for ejecting the fire extinguishing fluid, a temperature sensitive device which softens in the presence of heat, a device for mounting the reservoir on the container rim with the nozzle and temperature sensitive device located ajacent the container cavity, an alarm which issues an audible signal responsive to gas under pressure, and a valve responsive to softening of the temperature sensitive device for simultaneously connecting the fire extinguishing fluid in the reservoir to the nozzle for ejection therethrough into the container cavity and connecting the gas under pressure in the reservoir to the alarm to issue the audible signal.

Abstract: A foamaking generator for use on fires and hazardous material spill control, having a nozzle that may be adjusted to direct a foam concentrate stream to cover variable amounts of area of a screen so that low, medium and high expansion ratio foams can be produced using one foam generator.

Abstract: A generally trapezoidal fin (22) is pivotally fastened to a casing which can receive the entire fin, permitting total retraction of the fin. The casing is formed with at least one notch (42) for selectively positioning the fin relative to the casing. In a preferred embodiment, the fin is operated by a lever member (26) which has a knob (50) at its distal end for use in positioning the fin (22) from above.