Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for condensing steam emissions from industrial process sites such as in pretreatment plants for painting of car bodies. This includes the formation of a water spray curtain extending across the entrance and exit sections of a pretreatment plant to absorb and condense the steam emissions. The collected spray water is circulated through a heat recovery system such that the heat energy of the absorbed steam is transferred out of the water and heat utilizing processes such as in the heating of the solutions utilized the spray treatment plant itself. The pretreatment plants also include an overhead slot through which conveyor carriers pass, and a condenser surface arrangement is employed to eliminate the escape of steam through this slot, including cooled surfaces converging above and adjacent to the slot. The surfaces are cooled by internal circulation of a cooling liquid. The water generated by the steam condensing on the surfaces is diverted by an overhead panel.

Abstract: A portable lavage device comprising a moveable tank for holding a cleansing liquid, a pump coupled to the tank for circulating the cleansing liquid under a pressure which varies from a maximum to a minimum and spaced nozzles coupled to the circulating pump and arranged to spray the cleansing liquid under varying pressure against an item to be cleaned.

Abstract: The cleaning apparatus disclosed herein employs ultrasonic energy applied through a transducer face which overlies the entire wafer face. A cleaning liquid is introduced through the center of the transducer faceplate into the gap between the wafer and the faceplate. The transducer includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements annularly distributed around the faceplate which are energized for synchronous vibration to provide an essentially uniform acoustic field over the faceplate. The faceplate is essentially flat over a majority of its surface but includes a plurality of grooves facilitating the venting of vapors created by cavitation during cleaning.

Abstract: A beach or other surface cleaning method and apparatus is disclosed, wherein low density debris, particularly oil and tar residues, are removed for subsequent separation and disposal. The apparatus employs hydraulic principles to float the debris from the surface, propel the floated debris into a scoop, and lift the floated debris into a receiving trough for subsequent separation. Water employed to provide the hydraulic actions may be recirculated for continuous reuse.

Abstract: An apparatus for pickling the inner wall of a tubular member, for example, a zirconium or zircaloy tubular member as a cladding tube for nuclear fuel. The apparatus features the use of ultrasonic instruments for measuring the inner diameter of the tubular member while pickling the inner wall of the same. Owing to the interlocked association of the instruments and mechanism for supplying a pickling liquid into the tubular member, the supply of the pickling liquid can be stopped as soon as the inner diameter has reached a predetermined value. Various mechanisms may also be incorporated in the apparatus to minimize the temperature variation along the length of the tubular member and to improve the accuracy of the measurement by the instruments.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for use in pickling facilities for tubular members such as zirconium or zirconium alloy tubes. The apparatus includes a travelling crane for conveying and loading the tubular members from one cleaning tank to another, a pair of endless wrapping connectors such as endless chains spacedly and circulatably provided in at least one tank, for example, in a first cleaning tank filled with slightly warm water below the level of its cleaning fluid, and a plurality of feed claws provided with an interval therebetween on each of the endless wrapping connectors along the length of the same so as to prevent the tubular members from contacting one another during cleaning treatment. Thus, development of stain or physical damage such as scratches or dents is eliminated or minimized. It is possible to tentatively stock the tubular members on the endless wrapping connectors so as to perform a smooth and continuous pickling and cleaning operation of such tubular members.

Abstract: A spray nozzle assembly for spraying washing liquid onto a moving surface of a filter cake. The respective spray nozzles are communicated with a pressurized source of wash liquid, and are arranged adjacent the filter cake in successive doubled rows. The latter are laterally aligned normal to the direction of the filter cake movement. Corresponding spray nozzles of the respective rows are so aligned to define a plurality of nozzle lines which deviate from a parallel relationship with the path of travel of said filter cake.

Abstract: A suction arrangement for removing labels from bottles comprising a label-softening container adapted to contain a liquid, a plurality of elongated bottle-receiving cells having each an open end for insertion and withdrawal of bottles into and from the cell and provided at its opposite end with a plurality of openings, a conveyor for transporting the cells closely adjacent each other and closely past an opening in a bottom portion of a wall defining a suction compartment within the container while liquid is continuously sucked out of the suction compartment and returned into the container so that a stream of liquid passes from the container through that cell which is located at any instant adjacent the opening in the bottom portion of the wall defining the suction compartment to thus remove the labels from the bottles and transport the labels through the opening into the suction compartment while transversely spaced bars extend in the suction compartment over the opening to prevent the bottles to pass togethe

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying tubular members along a plurality of treatment liquid tanks in pickling facilities. The apparatus includes a pair of guide rails and a travelling car adapted to reciprocate on the guide rails. The travelling car includes at least one pair of tube-supporting hooks which can be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly and turned between positions parallel to the rails and other positions perpendicular to the rails. The tube-supporting hooks can be lowered or raised independently so as to support the tubular members aslant near the treatment liquid level in each of the treatment liquid tanks, thereby allowing immersion of the tubular members into the treatment liquid or retraction of the tubular members out of the treatment liquid without forming considerable air bubbles in the liquid. Since such bubbles are known to develop stains on the tubular members, tubular members of high surface quality can be obtained.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for endoscope is adapted to clean an endoscope with a cleaning liquid such as cleaning water, liquid detergent or the like. A liquid disinfectant circulating mechanism is provided which maintains a liquid disinfectant in circulation between a cleaning vessel and a tank of liquid disinfectant to disinfect the endoscope after the cleaning liquid has been drained. Apparatus is provided for supplying an antifoaming agent to the mechanism for effectively preventing a foaming from occurring in the presence of any residue of detergent.

Abstract: The device comprises a ramp for dislodging sludge by high pressure jets fixed permanently inside a steam generator, horizontally and above the tube plate. The ramp is supplied with water under pressure through a movable distributor. The device also includes means for driving the sludge towards the center of the plate and a discharge valve for the sludge arranged above an orifice passing through the tube plate at its central part and opening into the hollow central column. The invention is particularly useful for steam generators of pressurized water nuclear reactors.

Abstract: A stationary member extends across a filter on a movable support. The stationary member has a flexible membrane in contact with the filter. Liquid under pressure is flowed through openings in the flexible membrane and through the filter to remove material from the filter.

Abstract: A machine for chemically frosting articles made of glass, more particularly flasks, of the type comprising a continuous conveyor-chain passing consecutive treatment stations, from frosting to drying, and furthermore comprising holders in the form of sealing stoppers for the flasks; the conveyor-chain is made of a material resistant to the reactants used, is equipped with hooking means co-operating with holders for the articles to be frosted, and is in the form of links hinged in pairs about an axis; the axis is extended outwardly on at least one side of the chain to act as a hooking means for the holders of the articles.

Abstract: This is a cleaning machine for cleaning or washing parts, such as automobile parts and the like, which includes a cabinet having a liquid spray structure therein constructed and arranged to spray a cleaning solution on the parts. It is more specifically concerned with a heating arrangement for heating the solution, which is contained and collected in the sump of such a machine.

Abstract: This printed circuit plate washing apparatus is used for effectively washing the openings of printed circuit plates, eliminating a cleaning water after etching printed circuit plates or nameplates, degreasing aluminum plates before printing and number plates before painting and washing iron, plastic or glass plates. For these purposes, said apparatus is divided into three sections (or chambers) such as a bring-in chamber, a washing chamber, and a wash-out/finishing chamber. Further, this washing line of said apparatus is so composed that a plate to be washed may be elevated in slope with a certain fixed angle for the level line from said bring-in chamber toward said wash-out/finishing chamber, thereby a washing water being overflown to said washing chamber and to said bring-in chamber in this order through respective partition plate. And a carrying means is provided in every chamber by means of belt, chain or wire net.

Abstract: A cleaning head for cleaning elongated tubes having multiple separate paths for different cleaning fluids to be supplied in sequence, and an impeller adapted to throw a first portion of the cleaning fluid centrifugally onto the tube inner wall, and to pass a second portion axially of the tube for subsequent mergence with the first portion, and an outer plenum directing cleaning fluid onto the tube exterior, for cleaning the entire tube top to bottom and inside and out.

Abstract: A washing unit for an offset duplicating machine, with the washing unit including a washing tank for accommodating a cleaning fluid and a washing roller arranged in the washing tank in such a manner so that at least a portion thereof is dipped in the cleaning fluid accommodated in the washing tank. The washing tank is connected to a circulatory system for recirculating the cleaning fluid. The circulatory system includes a pump for pumping the cleaning fluid through the circulatory system and a filter for filtering the cleaning fluid while the cleaning fluid is being recirculated in the circulatory system.

Abstract: A pair of frustoconical bearings for supporting a roller-type applicator and carried within an elongate cylindrical container. One of the bearings is affixed to the closed end of the container while the other is affixed to a cap detachably securable to the open end. Cleaning fluid is directed to the applicator from a plurality of orifices spaced along conduits extending longitudinally within the container. The axis of each orifice is at a compound angle to urge rotation of the applicator and to urge the applicator toward the closed end of the container.

Abstract: A rigid water conduit is manifold connected to a rotary swivel connection and receives high pressure water therefrom and supplies the water to a plurality of jet nozzles. The jet nozzles are rotated about an axis offset from the nozzles and reciprocating means are connected to the manifold for reciprocating the manifold and nozzles about the swivel connection. The swivel connection includes a housing with a water inlet adapted to be connected to a water pump with a hollow mandrel rotatable in the housing and connected to the manifold and having an opening in communication with the water inlet. A bearing and a seal are provided between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated. A track is positioned generally transverse to the manifold and a carriage movable on the track includes a pivoting support having bearings for supporting the mandrel but allowing movement of the mandrel transverse to the carriage.

Abstract: A roller apparatus is disclosed for use in a steel sheet transporting device including a table, a plurality of rolls upon which the steel sheet is transported, and water spray nozzels for cooling the rolls and the steel sheet. The roller apparatus including a plurality of helically arranged grooves for tracking the steel sheet to keep it centered as it passes over the transporting device, and for maintaining a controlled and even film of water over said rolls to cool the rolls and steel sheet while preventing the sheet from hydroplaning.