Abstract: A method of filtering a liquid comprising the steps of providing a bed of particulate material, withdrawing material from the base of the bed, supplying replacement particulate material to the bed in such a manner that the bed has a free inclined upper surface, and causing the liquid to be filtered to flow through the bed by entering the same through said inclined upper suface, and apparatus for carrying out such method. Preferably the particulate material is comprised by particles of various sizes whereby a classifying action takes place to give a structured filter bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating or classifying the contents of a flowing slurry comprising a descending flow surface having a low profile and associated therewith a relatively low head box, the latter of which is distinguished by a relatively restricted cross sectional area adjacent its top. The flow surface is characterized by screen sections successive of which differ in orientation and profile whereby to produce a compact structure having a high capacity for separation of liquid from a flowing slurry. The design of the head box is such to enable a fast and effective delivery of slurry in spite of the low head provided.

Abstract: A filter for the water of swimming pools or the like comprises: a cylindrical body having, coaxially, an inner hollow surface and an outer peripheral surface; a pair of opposed disks that seal the ends of the body; and an axial fitting, that generally is spaced from the hollow surface and that connects the disks; the direction of flow being through the fitting, to the hollow surface, through the body and from the peripheral surface. Preferably, the cylindrical body is formed by the overlapping convolutions of an elastomeric foam sheet and the filter is incorporated in a system that employs a coagulant for enhancing filtration efficiency and a caustic for enabling filter cleansing.

Abstract: An oil and water mixture is fed under pressure to a lower chamber wherein any free oil rises to the upper part for discharge through an oil outlet while an emulsion of remaining oil and water is displaced upwardly through a baffle and a coalescing bed into an upper chamber having an upper outlet for coalesced oil and a lower outlet for separated water. To clean the coalescing bed, the mixture feed to the lower chamber is interrupted and the liquid level in the chambers is lowered to a region of the coalescing bed, after which gas is delivered under pressure to the liquid in the lower chamber so as to cause bubbling of the liquid in the bed, whereby dirt trapped therein is freed. The liquid level is then raised as the bubbling action continues, so that the dirt-containing liquid can be discharged from the upper chamber.

Abstract: This is an apparatus for continuously separating a liquid mixture comprising particulate carbon produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, water, and liquid organic extractant into two separate immiscible streams i.e. a stream of particulate carbon-liquid organic extractant dispersion and a separate stream of clarified water. The subject apparatus may be referred to as a carbon decanter and comprises a closed pressure vessel whose horizontal cross-section is circular. Thus, the decanter may be shaped like a vertical cylinder or may be spherical shaped with discharge ports in the top and bottom.

Abstract: A fluid dual filter having a primary fine mesh filter element, a secondary coarser mesh element in parallel with the main or primary element and a plurality of bypass valves which are normally closed to block flow through the secondary filter element but which open at an elevated fluid pressure caused by blockage of the main filter element thereby allowing flow through the secondary filter element. The valves are located downstream of the secondary filter element in order to prevent their contamination by any foreign matter in the fluid to be passed through the filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blood filtering bag comprising a bag body provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and a filter supported by a support member and dividing the bag body into two parts -- inlet side part and outlet side part. The support member is thermally fused to a peripheral portion of the bag body.

Abstract: An integrated monitor and control system for continuously monitoring and controlling pH and free halogen concentration in swimming pool water is provided, comprising, in combination, a first electrochemical flow cell having two electrodes and through which swimming pool water flows, giving rise to an electric potential between the electrodes in proportion to hydrogen/hydroxyl ion concentration in the pool water; means for measuring the electric potential across the electrodes in a manner correlated with pH of the pool water; a second electrochemical flow cell having two electrodes and through which swimming pool water flows giving rise to an electric potential between the two electrodes in proportion to the oxidation/reduction potential of the pool water; means for measuring the electric potential across the electrodes in a manner correlated with halogen concentration in the pool water; a first operational amplifier in electric connection with the first cell and arranged to respond to a pH outside a predeterm

Abstract: An improved gravitational separator for mixtures of immiscible liquids of different densities, particularly oil and water, includes a reaction member in the form of a dome or diaphragm immersed in more dense liquid to be separated and which floats upwardly in the more dense liquid under the influence of liquid of less density accumulated beneath the dome or diaphragm, and a precise, passive balance means for the reaction member used to sense the accumulation of a predetermined volume of less dense liquid in the separator. The balance means is a system of weight masses contained entirely in the separator that are raised by the upward movement of the reaction member under the influence of accumulated less dense fluid, in combination with remote sensing means outside the separator for sensing the respective balance conditions and signalling appropriate system controls to cause suspension of the influx of mixture into the separator and discharge therefrom of accumulated lighter liquid.

Abstract: Sewage is heated to a temperature above 100.degree. C. in two steps. In the first step, sewage is heated to a temperature not greater 100.degree. C. and then conducted into the nozzle of a jet apparatus into which heat-carrier steam is also injected so that the sewage is therein heated to a temperature greater than 100.degree. C., which constitutes the second step of heating. The sewage heated to said temperature is maintained in a continuous flow while being discharged from the jet apparatus, the pressure in the continuous flow corresponding to the steam saturation temperature.

Abstract: In the process of producing phenol from cumene, aqueous waste streams result which are contaminated with organic materials, particularly phenol, which are made innocuous to the environment only with substantial difficulty. A process is described to reduce the biological oxygen demand of these aqueous wastes, particularly the phenol content, by a liquid extraction step whereby a highly aromatic fraction of an organic waste stream in the phenol process is used as the solvent. The process includes provision for simultaneous preparation and recovery of the solvent as well as recovery of the phenol.

Abstract: Monohydric and polyhydric phenols are removed from waste water together with hydrogen sulfide, free and combined ammonia, by extraction and distillation. The waste water is formed during the degasification or gasification of coal and is subsequently subjected to biological purification.The steps of the process are as follows:1. Removing a major portion of the monohydric phenol, part of the polyhydric phenol and any free fatty acids present in the waste water by extraction with a small amount of a non-saponifying organic solvent having a boiling point below 100.degree. C;2. separating the phenols from the extract by distillation;3. Removing a major portion of the polyhydric phenols, the remaining monohydric phenols and any free acids by a single or repeated extraction with a large amount of the same organic solvent from the refine phase from step (1).4.

Abstract: Effluent flows into a settling pipe channel or conduit and is prevented from discharge while the solids are settling, by means of airlocks. When the solids have settled, one airlock is opened and the clarified effluent is drawn off and replaced by unclarified effluent at which time the one airlock is closed. When the pipe or the like requires cleaning of solids, the other airlock is opened and untreated effluent is used to scour out the pipe or channel and return the solids to the main settling pond to assist in aerobic action. A plurality of pipes or the like can be automatically sequenced so that continuous clarification and purging is carried out.

Abstract: Gel-like compositions useful for separating and partitioning whole blood into serum and clot portions. The composition comprises a polybutene liquid polymer having an inert high surface area inorganic filler dispersed therein, the filler being present in an amount sufficient to impart to the composition a specific gravity ranging from about 1.030 to about 1.090 and a viscosity ranging from about 200,000 to about 850,000 centistokes. When centrifuged in the presence of whole blood, the composition forms a chemical and physical barrier between the serum and clot portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for separating blood fractions into a specifically heavier non-filtratable and a specifically lighter filtratable fraction, characterized by a piston of a soft resilient material, preferably a thermoplastic material, associated with a cylindrical vessel and adapted for airtight sliding movement therein, said piston containing a filter permeable for the specifically lighter fraction but impermeable for the specifically heavier fraction and having at the top side a constricted neck with a flaring upper opening.

Abstract: Presented is a filter device for the fuel of diesel engines to remove water and entrained solids from the fuel, and which prevents the build-up of pockets of air within the filter device.

Abstract: Control apparatus for swimming pools to automatically regulate chlorinator and acidifier operation, thereby maintaining a desired chlorine residual and pH level. A first liquid sample from a swimming pool along with a chlorine reagent substance and a second liquid sample from the pool along with a pH reagent are sequentially introduced into a sample cell with a light source projecting light through the sample cell onto first and second photoelectric cells. The first photocell produces a signal having a magnitude that is directly proportional to the chlorine residual in the first liquid sample, and the second photocell produces a signal functionally related to the pH level of the second liquid sample.

Abstract: This is a process and apparatus for continuously separating a liquid mixture comprising particulate carbon produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, water, and liquid organic extractant into two separate immiscible streams i.e. a stream of particulate carbon-liquid organic extractant dispersion and a separate stream of clarified water. The subject apparatus may be referred to as a carbon decanter and comprises a closed pressure vessel whose horizontal cross-section is circular. Thus, the decanter may be shaped like a vertical cylinder or may be spherical shaped with discharge ports in the top and bottom.

Abstract: A wet oxidation system comprising a reactor, means supplying liquor and air through preheaters to the reactor, means for cooling the oxidized products from the reactor to substantially less than 200.degree. F, or close to the temperature of the incoming air and liquor, and means for separating the liquid and gas phases at the lower temperature; means for injecting a controlled amount of water into the relatively dry and cool gas stream from the separation means, and means for heating the gas stream with the products from the reactor to substantially completely vaporize the water injected, or completely vaporize and superheat the water injected, and means for delivering the gas stream so generated to a device for recovering mechanical power.

Abstract: The macerator-sterilizer sewage treatment system, that is useful in an overall toilet system to collect, treat and discharge toilet wastes, comprises: macerator/transfer pump means to receive flushed human waste from toilets and urinals; a collection tank connected by conduit means to the outlet of the pump means; a sterilization tank connected by power-operated valved transfer means and transfer pump means to the collection tank; heater means in the sterilization tank; power-operated valved discharge means connected to an outlet of the sterilization tank; and electrical means to control the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means, of the transfer pump means between the collection tank and the sterilization tank, of the heater means, of the power-operated valved discharge means connected to the outlet of the sterilization tank and of the power-operated valved transfer means.