Abstract: Coupling means for test tubes and the like, the coupling means enabling the coupling of test tubes to other objects or devices for various purposes, as for example, support purposes. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling means is comprised of a flexible, resilient, tubular body portion which is open at each end and which is adapted to be slidably circumposed on a portion of the periphery of a conventional tubular test tube of the type that is closed at one end, the coupling means also including a pair of circumferentially spaced, flexible, resilient and integral flange portions which project longitudinally outwardly from one end of the tubular body portion and which define openings adjacent the free ends thereof adapted to receive a cooperating member such as the stem of a conventional funnel, a support rod, a thermometer or other object to which it is desired to couple a test tube. In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling means is formed integrally with the body portion of a test tube.

Abstract: Waxy, small granule starch of high spreadability, and waxy, large granule starch which is capable of forming an exceptionally clear and bright paste, are simultaneously produced by steeping waxy barley grain for a period of at least 12 hours in an aqueous solution containing sulfur dioxide at a temperature of 45.degree.-55.degree. C so as to swell the grain and extract soluble protein contained within said grain, water washing and milling said steeped grain, separating the starch from fibers and protein, suspending said starch in water to form a suspension containing less than 15% wt solids, permitting larger granules to settle for a period of at least 2 hours and recovering a larger granule fraction, said larger granules being characterized by an average particle size of greater than 10.mu., and breaking the remaining suspension and recovering therefrom a smaller granule fraction, said small granules being characterized by an average particle size of from 2.5 to 10.mu..

Abstract: An improved moving bed contacting design, which is especially useful for moving bed reforming. A moving catalyst bed is contained in a single, downflowing annular bed. Multiple feed inlet and outlet locations, and baffles on screens containing the catalyst, permit radial flow operation through a single bed of catalyst to simulate several distinct catalyst beds. Some gas may flow up or down, instead of radially to increase or decrease the loading of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel burner for a carbon black reactor comprising a hollow annular metallic ring having a plurality of holes for discharge of fuel radially into a stream of combustion air immediately downstream (or upstream) of a turbulence-creating orifice. The air and fuel pass through and are intimately mixed in a cylindrical refractory mixing chamber adjacent the ring. The ring is affixed to a metallic mounting plate so that the burner and plate are cooled by incoming air supplied to a chamber located between said plate and the upstream end of the reactor.

Abstract: An elongated shaft with a rotating conical cutting head at one end thereof is driven upwardly from within a coke oven chamber through the exhaust port and ascension pipe of the coke oven for loosening and removing from the inner surfaces thereof material deposited thereon. The shaft, the drive means for rotating the cutting head and for moving the shaft upwardly and downwardly and a cylindrical sleeve for receiving the shaft when retracted from the exhaust port are all mounted on a carriage disposed for rolling engagement into and out of the coke oven chamber along a track carried by a support means and chassis which are in turn adapted for rolling along a railway track adjacent to the coke discharge side of a bank of coke ovens.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet and a catalytic layer dividing a chamber formed in the converter casing into an upper chamber connected to the exhaust gas inlet and a lower chamber connected to the exhaust gas outlet. The catalytic layer is arranged so that the thickness of the catalytic layer decreases towards the exhaust gas outlet from the exhaust gas inlet. A restricted opening is formed in the upper chamber on the exhaust gas inlet side.

Abstract: A catalytic oxidation unit of the type used for oxidizing fumes from ovens and the like comprises a metallic housing providing a tubular body portion with spaced shoulders in the through passage and a block of cellular ceramic material therebetween. One of the spaced shoulders is provided by an apertured front wall on the housing, and the block of ceramic material is biased against this front wall shoulder by resiliently compressible means acting between the block and the other shoulder. The ceramic material block has an oxidation catalyst on the walls of the cells thereof which is effective to oxidize organic materials in the fumes passing through the metallic housing and the block of ceramic material therewithin.

Abstract: Apparatus for regeneration of spent, coke contaminated fluidized cracking catalyst by burning coke therefrom with a molecular oxygen containing regeneration gas in a fluidized dense phase bed, and for burning substantially all carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Means are provided for transferring heat from the top to the bottom of the regeneration apparatus, employing catalyst as the transfer medium. Also, conical standpipe means is provided for deaerating regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: A system for imparting vibratory energy to solid particulate matter includes a resiliently mounted vibrator a rotating vertical shaft engaged with the vibrator body but adapted to rotate with the counterweights independently of the vibrator body. A drive motor engaged with the vertical shaft rotates the shaft about its axis to rotate the counterweights and thereby impart a relatively large amplitude vibratory motion to the vibrator body. A closed conduit carried on the vibrator body contains solid particulate matter which travels in a fluidized condition along a linear path through the conduit in response to vibration of the vibrator body. In one form of the invention, the vibrator body comprises a reaction chamber for receiving a gas flow and contacting it with an appropriate solid particulate catalyst contained in the reaction chamber and adapted to promote desired reactions between chemical components of the gas phase.

Abstract: A cylindrical apparatus for continuous sulfonation of an organic liquid is provided with an annular feeding device for permitting the organic liquid to flow in the form of a film down a reaction wall. The annular feeding device is provided with a number of slots in a horizontal and equidistant manner in a row.

Abstract: An improved coke oven sealing apparatus which is adapted to constantly maintain secure contact of the door with the door sealing frame. With respect to the door sealing frame, it is adjustably constructed so as to maintain its outer surface for receiving knife edge constantly vertical. While the door is constructed so that it may not be subjected to thermal bend, the knife edge can be effectively held and adjusted by spring units; and the holding rods are mounted through bracket at regular intervals on the outer side of the side walls of the metallic door body. The knife edge is made broader and thinner than conventional ones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of combusting an acid gas (H.sub.2 S) stream and a second stream containing an organic sulfur compound which may be contaminated with ammonia, and/or hydrocarbons, either liquid or gaseous, to create SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S for ultimate recovery of sulfur.

Abstract: Apparatus for regeneration of spent, coke contaminated fluidized cracking catalyst by burning coke therefrom with a molecular oxygen containing regeneration gas in a fluidized dense phase bed, and for burning substantially all carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Means are provided for transferring heat from the top of said regeneration apparatus to the bottom, employing catalyst as the transfer medium. Additionally, means are provided for maintaining a homogeneous fluidized dense phase bed of catalyst undergoing regeneration. Also, conical standpipe means is provided for deaerating regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: A generally ring-like baffle is located in the bottom of a radial flow catalytic reactor around the central apertured product removal conduit. The annular space between the removal conduit and the baffle is partially filled with solid catalyst support. Above the catalyst support is the catalyst. This prevents feedstock from either bypassing the catalyst completely in the area adjacent the bottom of the reactor or forming hot spots as a result of the normally low rate of flow travel in this section of the reactor.

Abstract: A coke oven door seal of the disclosure includes a metallic diaphragm plate of a vertically elongated rectangular shape and metallic seal members mounted on the edge portions of the plate in a manner that permits thermal expansion of the seal members along their lengths with respect to the plate edge portions. Preferably, each seal member has an integral channel shape, and first and second aligned sets of holes in the plate edge portions and the bases of the seal members receive attachment bolts for mounting the seal members with their bases engaged with an inner side of the diaphragm plate. One of the sets of holes is oversized along the length of the seal members to permit the thermal expansion thereof with respect to the plate. Best sealing is achieved when the oversized set of holes is in the seal member bases so that the attachment bolts do not move during seal member expansion.

Abstract: An improved chemical vapor deposition reactor is characterized by a vapor deposition chamber configured to substantially eliminate non-uniformities in films deposited on substrates by control of gas flow and removing gas phase reaction materials from the chamber. Uniformity in the thickness of films is produced by having reactive gases injected through multiple jets which are placed at uniformally distributed locations. Gas phase reaction materials are removed through an exhaust chimney which is positioned above the centrally located, heated pad or platform on which substrates are placed. A baffle is situated above the heated platform below the mouth of the chimney to prevent downdraft dispersion and scattering of gas phase reactant materials.

Abstract: An improved waste material handling system includes a plurality of waste food disposer units which are operable to disintegrate waste food materials to form a slurry. The system also includes a pulper unit which is operable to disintegrate solid waste materials, such as paper, cardboard boxes, plastic bags, etc., to form a slurry. The waste material slurry is conducted from the waste food disposer units and pulper unit to a press which extracts water from the slurry. To prevent the discharge of waste material slurry from an active one of the waste food disposer units to an inactive one of the waste food disposer units and/or the pulper unit, check valves are associated with each of the waste food disposer units and the pulper unit. A pump is also associated with each of the waste food disposer units and the pulper unit to promote a flow of slurry from the units to the press.

Abstract: Construction of coke oven door which is characterized in that there is mounted an adiabatic layer on the inner surface of a base plate of a metallic door body in addition to conventional adiabatic door plug, the inner surface of the adiabatic layer being provided with a guard plate. A frame-like knife edge is installed on the periphery of the guard plate, the knife edge being formed at suitable intervals with U-shaped slots on the base plate side. The knife edge is further formed with pairs of projections on its outer surface on both sides of the U-shaped slots. A plurality of adjustable spring units are equipped on the side walls of the metallic door body and a hook lever, whose upper end ring portion is fitted on the upper end of the spring units and whose lower end hook engages with the projections, is arranged alongside the spring units.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing carbon black is comprised of an elongate outer housing having mounted therein a tubular member having a flow passage therethrough which forms a reaction zone of the apparatus. At the upstream end of the reaction zone, a perforate cage is provided which has a plurality of perforations through which air enters the interior of the cage to form a vortex flow path. The side wall of the cage is spaced from the interior surface of the housing providing an air flow path therebetween. The upstream end of the cage is a wall and has a centrally located opening therethrough which has an annular ring projecting therefrom to form a seal with another annular ridge which is in sliding and sealing engagement therewith. The seal prevents entry of air through the opening from the annular flow path to the interior of the cage. Coaxial tubes extend through the opening and into the cage and are operable to introduce fuel and make oil thereinto.

Abstract: Solid comminuted catalytic materials are activated by passing an activating stream through a shallow deposit of such materials on a porous substrate, characterized in that the catalyst particles are in a quiescent state during contact with the activating stream.