Abstract: A single column cryogenic rectification system for producing lower purity oxygen wherein a major portion of the feed air is partially condensed in the column reboiler, the resulting vapor turboexpanded and then successively condensed in one or more vertically oriented stages within the column to enhance the generation of upflow vapor and reflux liquid for the column.

Abstract: A dirt drying processing equipment is constructed so that hot air out of a hot-air generator is blown into dirt in a drying reservoir through a hot-air supply pipe having a pointed end opened to the bottom of the drying reservoir, vaporizing water contained in the dirt. Solid matter or evaporation residue of dirt is blown by hot air to a cyclone where it is separated therefrom for disposal.

Abstract: A foodstuff air treatment device includes a housing (1) with an elongated trough (11) for receiving the foodstuffs to be treated. The trough extends through the housing and includes a foraminated bottom (15), a first side wall (17), and a second side wall (15). A heat exchanger (12) is disposed in the housing, and a fan assembly (13) is also disposed within the housing for producing an air flow that circulates through the heat exchanger, up through the trough, and back to the heat exchanger. One side wall (17) of the trough is adjustable, laterally to the length of the trough, for changing the width of the trough.

Abstract: An ultra-high purity nitrogen trifluoride production method comprises: pressurizing a nitrogen trifluoride feed gas, eliminating moisture and carbon dioxide from the feed gas, and cooling down the same feed gas; causing the cooled feed gas to pass through adsorption columns, and introducing it into a medium-pressure rectification column by way of a reboiler in the medium-pressure rectification column, where it is rectified in the medium-pressure rectification column; introducing the resulting gas obtained by this rectification into a middle stage of a low-pressure rectification column, where it is rectified; and taking out ultra-high purity nitrogen trifluoride obtained by virtue of this rectification from the lower part of the low-pressure rectification column.

Abstract: Method of reliquefying gaseous helium produced when transferring liquid helium from a donor container (R1) to a receiver container (R2), characterized in that a stream of gaseous helium is bled off from a point in a compression unit (10) intended for charging with gaseous helium under pressure, this stream of gaseous helium is cooled by heat exchange with the gaseous helium intended for the compression unit (10) and the compressed gaseous helium thus cooled is expanded in order to obtain reliquefied helium.

Abstract: A refrigerator for cooling a sample comprises a container for holding liquid helium refrigerant to cool the sample. First cooling means is provided for cooling a condensation region with liquid helium coolant whereby helium refrigerant condenses on the condensation region and collects in the container. A sorption pump pumps gaseous helium refrigerant from the container. Second cooling means is provided for cooling the sorption pump with the liquid helium coolant. The first and second cooling means are connected in series with a source of the liquid helium coolant.

Abstract: A multi-chamber expansion device for a vehicle cooling or heating circuit consists of a single vessel in which the three successive chambers of the expansion device are aligned horizontally within a rigid elongate casing, which is formed by two moulded hollow members welded together along their respective peripheral edges in a vertical junction plane. These edges are thickened and formed with a groove which extends over substantially the whole periphery of the vessel, at the joint between the two casing members. This groove is interrupted by integral bridges so as to define ducts which connect together, firstly the first and second chambers, and secondly the second and third chambers, through a pressure-limiting valve.

Abstract: The air pressure in a part of an appliance (e.g., a refrigeration pipe of an air conditioner unit) is reduced as the part is conveyed on a conveyor. This is accomplished by means of a vacuum pump which is connected to the part by a hose. The pressure reduction is achieved in a step-by-step fashion by either (a) alternately starting and stopping the pump while the hose remains connected to the part, or (b) alternately connecting and disconnecting the hose to and from the part.

Abstract: An apparatus for cryogenically freezing tissue specimens includes a linear motion platform and a pair of rotary motion platforms. The rotary motion platforms can be used alternatively with respect to the linear motion platform and a mechanism is provided to automatically trigger the linear motion platform for movement and to reset the linear motion platform when the rotary motion platforms are placed in covering relationship with or removed from covering relationship with respect to the linear motion platform. Cryogenic fluids are supplied to tissue receiving cryogenic discs on the various platforms through flexible plastic tubing. The tubing that supplies cryogenic fluid to the rotary motion platforms is constructed so as to form a series of loose loops in conjunction with tails that are mounted over a central rod to allow movement at cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A chiller having a forced air means and a pressure plenum so as to provide a suitably concentrated and even air flow and distribution through spatial gaps between trays on one or more insertable food racks. The plenum has a high pressure cavity at one end and a low pressure cavity at the opposite end. A motorized fan mounted above the plenum and separated therefrom by a ceiling plate draws chilled air from the low pressure chamber and forces it into the high pressure chamber in front of the plenum. A turning vane directs the air into high pressure chamber and reduces potential turbulence. The walls leading from the high pressure cavity to the plenum are preferably tapered at least in part so as to force air into the plenum in a funnel-like manner, and uniformly through spatial gaps between the trays on the rack or racks. A multi-function controller controls the chilling operation by allowing selection of either a chill time or a target product temperature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger device, comprising a first heat exchanger for evaporation of liquid natural gas (LNG), and a second heat exchanger for superheating of gaseous natural gas (NG). The heat exchangers (1) are arranged for heating these fluids by means of a heating medium and have an outlet which is connected to a mixing device (20) for mixing the heated fluids with the corresponding unheated fluids. According to the invention the heat exchangers (1) comprise a common housing (2), in which there are provided separate passages (7, 8) for the fluids. The mixing device (2) constitutes a unit together with the housing (2) and has a single mixing chamber (23) with one single fluid outlet (30). In separate passages (7, 8) there are provided valves (10, 26) and (13, 28) respectively for the supply of LNG or NG in the housing (1) and the mixing chamber (23).

Abstract: The cryopanel of a cryopump can be preferentially defrosted to remove an acid-forming or toxic gas while leaving a second gas substantially condensed upon the cryopanel thereby limiting interaction between the vapor phases of the two gases. The cryopanel is warmed to a temperature within a selective defrost range at which the first gas selectively sublimates from the cryopanel. The temperature of the cryopanel is then maintained at a temperature within this range until the cryopanel is substantially cleared of the first gas leaving the second gas substantially undisturbed as a condensate upon the cryopanel. In a preferred embodiment, the cryopanel is maintained at about 50 to 85K during standard operation before being defrosted.

Abstract: A transportable container (500) for carrying refrigerated products in frozen subzero Fahrenheit (below -18.degree. C.) or refrigerated (for example, 40.degree. F. (4.degree. C.) temperatures) includes a structural container (512) having an insulated outer shell with an access doorway (521). The upper potion of the container (500) includes a tray or drawer in which are disposed a pair of spaced apart canisters containing liquid refrigerant (CO.sub.2, for example). A gas or liquid feeder tube penetrates each bottle and communicates with an on/off valve. A feeder tube can draw liquid to dispense for cooling, or it can release gas and pressure within the canister to boil the CO.sub.2. When CO.sub.2 reaches its boiling point, the canister, its brackets, and the cold plate reach very cold temperatures to cool the cargo area through conduction. The gas is released through an injection nozzle into the cargo holding area.

Abstract: Air is separated in an arrangement of rectification columns comprising a double rectification column (which has a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column), an intermediate pressure rectification column, and a side rectification column communicating with the lower pressure column. The side rectification column is provided with a condenser, and the intermediate pressure rectification column with a reboiler and a further condenser. A stream of oxygen-enriched liquid is withdrawn from the bottom of the higher pressure column through an outlet and is separated in the intermediate pressure rectification column. The reboiler is heated by a stream typically withdrawn from the side rectification column through an outlet. A stream of liquid is withdrawn from the bottom of the intermediate pressure rectification column, is employed to cool the further condenser of the intermediate pressure rectification column, and is partially vaporised therein.

Abstract: Dilution refrigerator equipment, which includes a vacuum vessel with its connections, a dilution refrigerator, made essentially completely of plastic set inside it and supported from a metallic pumping tube, includes an upper still and a lower mixing chamber and a heat exchanger connecting them. The pumping tube is connected to the still of the dilution refrigerator. The tube connection of the still includes an intermediate piece, separating the metallic pumping tube from the plastic structure of the still, which is made from a mixture of plastic and metal powder, to accommodate the greatly deviating thermal expansions of the connection components to one another.

Abstract: A device for in-line surface hardening of products intended to feed a unit for preparation of the products, the unit being located downstream of the device comprising:a chamber comprising a frigorie transfer means for surface hardening the products, at least one conveyor for introducing the products into the chamber and for extracting a surface hardened product and means for receiving a product request signal emitted by the preparation unit,means (i) or controlling the at least one conveyor so as, upon receiving a request signal, to extract from the chamber the surface-hardened product which has resided the longest in the chamber and, substantially at the same time, (ii) for introducing into the chamber a new product to be surface hardened, and means for controlling the frigorie transfer means so as to control the quantity of frigories to be transferred to the products present in the chamber per unit time as a function of at least one elapsed period between two successive times at which preceding request sign

Abstract: A vapor drying system includes a tank for holding a drying liquid and a heater for boiling the drying liquid in the tank to produce a vapor. A manifold is arranged in the tank for bubbling gas into the drying liquid. A controller is configured to cause the manifold to bubble gas into the drying liquid at a time when substrates to be dried are first introduced into the tank in order to quench the boiling of the drying liquid and generate a saturated vapor at a rate sufficient to achieve condensation of the drying liquid over substantially the entire surface of each of the substrates to be dried. In this way, staining of the substrates is reduced and process yield is improved.

Abstract: A fractionation column has a first vapor inlet to a bottom mass exchange region of the column communicating with a source of vapor mixture to be separated and a second vapor inlet to an intermediate mass exchange region of the column. A valve means is operable to place the second inlet selectively in communication with the source of vapor mixture to be separated. The fractionation column may form part of an air separation apparatus.

Abstract: The process and the apparatus are used for low-temperature separation of air in a rectifying column system that has a preliminary separation column (10) and a low-pressure column (20). Feed air (1, 3) is introduced (4, 6, 7, 8, 41) into preliminary separation column (10) and is separated into a nitrogen-enriched overhead fraction and an oxygen-enriched bottom fraction. At least a portion (19) of the oxygen-enriched bottom fraction is introduced into the low-pressure column (20), in which liquid oxygen and gaseous nitrogen are produced. The pressure in preliminary separation column (10) is essentially equal to the pressure of low-pressure column (20). The reflux for the columns can be obtained by one or two cyclic processes operated with overhead gas (11, 23) from one or two columns (10, 20).

Abstract: A pool and spa water heater has a base and an enclosure coupled to the base. The enclosure includes a pair of curved, "shell-like" enclosure components coupled to the base by an overlapping attachment device, e.g., a tongue-and-groove device. The enclosure components may be removed from and attached to the base by moving each component laterally away from or toward the base. The new heater has a platform atop the enclosure for mounting a control panel. The platform and the support device to which the platform is mounted are cooperatively configured so that the platform may be indexed to any one of several positions with respect to the support device and the enclosure. Thus, after placing the base during installation, the control panel may be optimally and independently positioned with respect to the base.