Abstract: A method of transfer molding fiber reinforced glass composite articles is described. The method has particular utility for providing strength in a particular direction in such a composite. The fibers are aligned in a mold cavity in a predetermined orientation to provide composite strength in particular directions, and a glass billet is heated and transferred to the mold. The article is cooled and removed from the mold producing a composite having longitudinal strength along the axes of the aligned fibers in the composite.

Abstract: The cleaning of barrel type containers, particularly beer kegs which have a fitting including a riser pipe which extends into the keg, is accomplished by incrementally increasing the level of a cleaning liquid which has been introduced into the barrel and, between each step of injection of cleaning fluid, causing turbulent motion of the liquid in the barrel by means of the injection of preselected volumes of a gaseous medium at a point below the surface level of the liquid cleaning fluid.

Abstract: Solid fuels are gasified in a fixed bed with gasifying agents passed through the fixed bed from below. The gasification residues are withdrawn as solid ash or as liquid slag under the fixed bed. The reactor is charged with solid fuels through a lock chamber and with tar through a supply conduit. The tar is delivered to the fuel in numerous individual streams, which are distributed over the cross-section of the fixed bed.In the gasifying reactor, an inclined distributor surface is disposed over the fixed bed and has numerous passage openings for the tar and the solid fuels. The outlet end of the tar supply conduit is directed to the upper portion of the distributor surface. A tar tub having outlet openings is associated with the distributor surface and serves to receive the tar. The distributor surface is rotatable on a vertical axis.

Abstract: A laminated wall for a feeder for supplying molten streams of glass to be attenuated into fibers is provided comprising a refractory metal core having an oxygen impervious, precious metal sheath intimately bonded thereto by hot isostatic pressing, said core having an insert therein having at least one orifice extending therethrough adapted to pass said molten material therethrough.

Abstract: The sludge collecting in a floating roof type oil storage tank is disposed of by inserting a compressed liquid spurting device in a straightened state into the tank through an orifice in the floating roof, feeding compressed liquid to the spurting device, causing the spurting nozzle of the device to be swung about the device proper and, at the same time, releasing the compressed liquid against the sludge inside the tank thereby causing the sludge to be disintegrated and fludized by the force of the compressed liquid, and allowing the fludized sludge to be drawn into a reservoir whose interior is under negative pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting molten glass containing radioactive waste into molded pellets or spheres comprising means for generating a flowing stream of the molten glass and a rotating wheel disposed beneath the flowing stream. The wheel is preferably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and has a series of mold cavities formed in the circumferential wall of the wheel, into which cavities the stream is directed by gravity. The mold cavities have flared side walls so that when the stream strikes the inclined wall it is deflected toward the center of the cavity through a focal point. The side walls of adjacent mold cavities form a knife edge at the surface of the wheel to preclude the bridging of glass from one cavity to another.

Abstract: In the method, organic, i.e. carbon-containing, material, such as straw, wood chips, sawdust, or dead bacterial waste from a sewage treatment plant, is heated in a pyrolytic reactor, thereby driving off volatiles from the organic material, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases, water vapor, and tars, while leaving charcoal (char) behind. The volatiles are then passed over a base material, such as hot char, which is at a temperature substantially above the pyrolizing temperature, e.g. 950.degree. C. and above, which causes a chemical reaction of the tars and volatiles, resulting in an output of a gaseous mixture consisting largely of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, characterized by an absence of tars. The apparatus includes a pyrolytic reactor in which an initial charge of charcoal is located. An inlet is provided for introduction of the organic material and an exit is provided for the resulting gases and ash products.

Abstract: A forehearth supplied with molten glass from a tank furnace, with bottom passages overlying bushings for the extrusion of vitreous filaments, forms an elongate chamber whose sidewalls are penetrated by heating electrodes spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and arrayed in two relatively staggered tiers. The electrodes of the lower tier are more numerous in the vicinity of the bottom passages than between these passages. The heating effect of the electrodes can be supplemented by top burners disposed above the glass level.

Abstract: In a process for the production of mineral wool fibers according to the jet blast process, comprising issuing at least one melt stream from at least one opening in the base of a melting crucible into a converging-diverging drawing nozzle, flowing a gaseous blasting medium into the nozzle substantially parallel to the melt stream so as to separate the melt stream into fibers, the blasting medium being drawn into the nozzle by suction due to a drop in pressure produced between the nozzle inlet and outlet, and passing the fibers and spent blasting gas into a diffuser connected downstream of the nozzle to reduce the gas rate of flow, the improvements which comprise effecting(a) a maximum drop pressure in the inlet of the drawing nozzle;(b) a minimum drop pressure in the diverging portion of the drawing nozzle over a maximum length without separation (transition) of the laminar boundary layer;(c) the subsequent pressure conversion initially with a shock at a constant cross-section of the drawing nozzle and subsequ

Abstract: A forechamber or reservoir to which molten glass is fed, is provided with burners for heating the surface of the glass mass. The molten glass is conducted from the forechamber via at least one opening in its bottom wall into a vertically disposed intermediate chamber which is provided at its lower end with a nozzle heating plate having a plurality of orifices through which the mass is extruded. The intermediate chamber is provided with electrode heating elements so that the glass mass may be heated within the chamber. The height of the chamber is greater than its longitudinal length or diameter so that a laminar flow, caused by the head of the molten glass through the forechamber and intermediate chamber, is effected.

Abstract: A method of securing fiber reinforced glass matrix composite material to structural members is disclosed. Two materials to be secured together are provided with a hole or other opening for insert of the fastening means. A fastening means, preferably a rivet or bolt is provided by hot pressing glass matrix material in and around unidirectionally oriented continuous length silicon carbide fibers. Such material is coined and optionally provided with threading. After formation, the bolt or rivet is inserted into the opening provided to attach the materials together and the open end of the rivet or bolt closed either by nut means or by heat deforming. The resultant secured composite-structural member remains inseparable in use, for example, in an environment of extreme temperature fluctuation. The structural member can also be fiber reinforced glass composite material, metal, unreinforced ceramic or other high temperature composite.

Abstract: An attenuating burner apparatus which requires less energy to soften the glass filaments. A shroud is provided for the attenuation zone which retains heat and limits the amount of dilution air that is entrained by the attenuation blast. The forward portion of the shroud is pivoted to permit adjustment to provide general alignment with the attenuation blast. A closure is provided for at least one of the openings through which dilution air is inspirated and a preheater uses waste heat to increase the temperature of the dilution air inspirated through another of the openings.

Abstract: A process and a product made by the process for producing black glass from incinerated municipal waste including separating metal, stone and ash from the waste; melting the glass material comprising ferrous oxide and ferric oxide to convert at least a portion of the iron oxides to Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, thereby causing the black coloration; and thereafter solidifying the molten glass.

Abstract: A method of making fiber reinforced glass composite articles of complex shape is disclosed which overcomes problems associated with the debulking process common with such procedures. Sheets of woven or non-woven fiber reinforcement are impregnated with a layer of thermoplastic binder containing glass powder and optionally, additional carrier liquid. The thus treated sheets are then dried and cut into a plurality of preforms corresponding to the predetermined pattern of the article being fabricated. The thus treated preforms are then stacked in a mold and warm molded to form an intermediate article of near net shape, during which molding operation much of the ultimate debulking occurs. The intermediate article is then hot pressed to form the final fiber reinforced glass matrix article of net shape and high strength and toughness. These multiple heating steps may also be accomplished in a single molding operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing glass bottles and more specifically an apparatus and a method for forming parisons is disclosed. At least one blank mold defines a mold cavity having an opening at its upper end for receiving a premeasured gob of molten glass from a loading cavity member. A plunger having a volume of at least 15% of the volume of the mold cavity is completely extended into the mold cavity prior to the reception of the molten glass. The molten glass is moved downwardly from said loading cavity member into the mold cavity. Fluid force presses the molten glass against the walls of the mold cavity and against the extended plunger. The opening in the mold is closed by a baffle and the plunger retracted. Compressed air is applied through the neck of the parison to expand the parison outwardly against the mold cavity and a mold surface defined by the baffle means. The parison is then separated for further processing in the bottle making operation.

Abstract: A strong, light-weight foamed weight bearing structural member having insulating properties and withstanding atmospheric erosion is formed by introducing a plurality of hollow bodies with shells thereabout into a molten mass of refractory material as a foaming agent and freezing the hollow bodies in place. These shells provide color, strength and texture characteristics to the structural member and may be steered non-uniformly such as near the outer surface to provide toughness, texture, or color, preferably by electrically charging the bodies and establishing an electric field in the molten mass of refractory material.

Abstract: A process for producing pressurized pipeline gas wherein coal is gasified in oxygen at a relatively low pressure, typically less than 5 atmospheres, to produce a raw gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, gaseous sulfur compounds and particulates. A major portion of the raw gas is cooled, cleaned and methanated to produce a pipeline quality product gas consisting essentially of methane. The remaining portion of the raw gas is cleaned, compressed and combusted to produce a high temperature, high pressure flue gas which is used to power a gas turbine and generate steam to power a steam turbine. The gas turbine and steam turbine each drive compressors for compressing the low pressure product gas to pipeline pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an optical waveguide by melt-drawing a transparent glass rod which has been produced by collapsing a doped porous glass rod. The glass rod is doped with refractive index enhancing dopant materials by depositing said material on the surface of the micro-pores wherein a waveguide having higher mechanical strength and lower transmission loss is obtained upon drawing said glass rod to a fiber. The drawing is performed at a temperature very close to the melting point of the outermost portion of the rod without causing any overmelting and resultant bubbling in the core portion. The drawing process is facilitated by matching the viscosity and softening characteristics of the outer, lower refractive-index portion of the rod to that of the central higher-refractive-index portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for spraying lubricant onto the blank moulds of an IS glass forming machine has static spray heads above the open positions of the mould halves, to spray downwardly onto them when the mould halves are open. Electrical and pneumatic equipment in a separate cabinet causes metered quantities of lubricant to be delivered after a predetermined number of machine cycles. The neck rings may also be sprayed by a further static spray head which is positioned above the mould halves and sprays through the space between them when they are open.

Abstract: An optical fiber drawing furnace includes a graphite element of generally cylindrical shape with a reduced central cross-sectional configuration having a flange at opposite ends thereof and having an axial hole therethrough including a central internal element chamber for receiving a glass preform, means for water cooling the flanges, and means for applying electric power across the flanges to resistively heat the reduced cross-sectional configuration and, hence, the central internal element chamber so that an optical fiber can be drawn from the preform. The invention relates to prolonging the useful life of the graphite element by suitable methods and apparatus. The water used for cooling the flanges can be regulated to a temperature such as to avoid condensation of atmospheric moisture within the room (in which the furnace is located) upon the furnace. The application of electric power across the flanges can be increased and decreased at a gradual rate so as to avoid thermal shock to the graphite element.