Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus and a method for producing carbonated water capable of obtaining high concentration carbonated water effectively. Carbon dioxide gas is passed through a first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) composed of a membrane module to be dissolved in water and the carbonated water passing through the first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) is passed through a static mixer (13), which is a second carbon dioxide gas dissolver. Consequently, a high concentration carbonated water can be obtained remarkably, effectively and easily with a simpler structure than conventionally.

Abstract: A liquid distributor for use in a column having distillation trays has been developed. The liquid distributor functions to uniformly distribute a descending liquid stream across the tray for interaction with an ascending vapor stream. The liquid distributor has a feed pipe which delivers the liquid stream to an underlying elongated trough. Liquid discharge holes are positioned in the floor of the trough. A perforated v-plate positioned within the trough so that liquid from the feed pipe passes through the perforated v-plate before encountering the floor of the trough. When liquid passes through the perforated v-plate, the stream is divided into smaller streams of lower velocity, providing a more uniform overall flow rate of liquid passing through the trough. Liquid is then delivered from the discharge outlets of the trough onto the upper surface of the tray with a substantially uniform flow rate across the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing gas into a large body of liquid, including a horizontal frame on ballast adjustable floats, a pressurized gas source, a vertical shaft rotatable about its axis, and a plurality of blades submerged in the liquid and extending radially from a hub on the lower end of the shaft. The blades each have an elastomeric membrane around a longitudinal member, where the longitudinal member is hollow with a closed end and in communication with the pressurized gas source through the shaft on the other end, with openings through its lower side, and the elastomeric membrane has perforations which are spaced from the longitudinal member openings. A drive on the platform rotates the shaft via a ring gear around the shaft with a key connection thereto allowing axial movement therethrough, and an inwardly facing surface supported on bearings. A selectively driven and smaller pinion gear directly engages the ring gear.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing a vaporized substance into a space. The apparatus has a base with operating components capable of converting a liquid substance into a vapor, and a substance supply container that is separable from the base. The substance supply container in an operative state in relationship to the base delivers a supply of a substance therein in liquid form to the operating components on the base to be vaporized thereby. Vapor generated by the operating components is directed into a space within which the apparatus is located. The base and substance supply container cooperatively simulate the appearance of at least one of an animate or inanimate object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of perfumery and more precisely it concerns a device, and the consumer articles associated therewith, for dispensing an active composition in the surrounding space. The device includes an active liquid having a specific volatility, a reservoir holding a part of the active liquid, a lid and a wick-emanator superstructure having a wicking part and an emitting part, the latter having an evaporative surface directly exposed to the surrounding space, and a specific absorbency and weight per unit of the evaporative surface.

Abstract: A carbonic water production apparatus equipped with a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 and a circulation pump 1 wherein water in a bath 11 is circulated by the circulation pump 1, and a carbonic acid gas is fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the water, and wherein the circulation pump 1 is a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability; a carbonic water production method using this apparatus; a carbonic water production method comprising an early step for producing a carbonic water and a concentration maintaining step for the carbonic water; a carbonic water production apparatus equipped with a control for controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic water gas so that give an intended concentration of carbonic acid gas; a carbonic water production apparatus which automatically discharges out a drain; and a carbonic water production apparatus combined with a portable foot bath.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporating in its door a water dispenser within a compartment present on the outside of the door, the dispenser being connected to a water container of given capacity carried by the door and provided to enable the contained water to be carbonated via a connection to a cylinder that contains the carbonating gas and is also disposed in the door.

Abstract: The use of a cross-passage packing made of a metal fabric relates to a method in which an exchange of material and/or of heat is carried out between a liquid stream and a gas or vapour stream. The fabric packing (1) used is composed of vertical layers (11?, 12?) which consist of corrugated or pleated metal fabrics (11, 12) which form flow passages (13). The gas or vapour stream flows in the flow passages and the liquid stream flows on the metal fabric. The flow passages of adjacent layers cross in an open manner. The angle between crossing passages is lower than approximately 100°. In this method, the fabric packing is acted on by a relatively small liquid loading. The metal fabric forms a carrier for the liquid stream that is largely free of holes or other apertures.

Abstract: A carbonic water production apparatus equipped with a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 and a circulation pump 1, wherein water in a bath 11 is circulated by the circulation pump 1, and a carbonic acid gas is fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the water. The circulation pump 1 is a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability. A carbonic water production method using this apparatus is also provided, including an early step for producing carbonic water and a concentration maintaining step for the carbonic water. The carbonic water production apparatus includes a control for controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic water gas to give an intended concentration of carbonic acid gas. The carbonic water production apparatus automatically discharges out a drain. The carbonic water production apparatus is combined with a portable foot bath.

Abstract: A humidifier adapted to be connected directly to a faucet, thereby eliminating the need for a water storage container. The humidifier has a main body, vibrator, pipe, fan, air tunnel, drain pipe, and power source. The main body, which includes openings at different height, has a top, bottom, and sides for defining interior and exterior portions. The vibrator and pipe, which transports water from a faucet to the main body, are both secured to the main body. The fan is electrically powered by the power source and produces air flow. One side of the air tunnel allows air flow produced by the fan to enter, while the other side is connected to the main body.

Abstract: An apparatus for stirring and injecting a gas into a liquid. A drive device, located above a container containing a liquid, is connected to a vertical output shaft. The shaft has a self-suction turbine at its. The turbine is made of two stacked disks where the surface area of the lower disk is less than the surface area of the upper disk.

Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid having an air flow inlet stream and a first air flow outlet and a second air flow outlet. The first air flow outlet provides a first outlet air flow stream and has a first outlet door that moves between an open position and a closed position. The second air flow outlet provides a second outlet air flow stream and has a second outlet door that moves between an open position and a closed position. The heating tower also includes a heat exchange portion having coils through which liquid to be heated flows. The heating tower is operable in a first configuration wherein the first outlet door is in the open position while the second outlet door is in the closed position. The heating is also operable in a second configuration wherein the second outlet door is in the open position while the first outlet door is in the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing gas and liquid comprising a dome, lower housing, aerator device and flotation device, wherein intermeshed rotating sets of discs operate on parallel shafts driven by variable speed drives, and strakes are radially mounted on the discs to carry liquid up into a mixing area and to carry air and liquid down into a mixing area resulting in a shear force that drives air into the oxygen depleted liquid. The dome and lower housing create an air tight space, wherein the barometric pressure is raised by a blower, in order to pop foam bubbles and allow for optimum mixing of air into the oxygen depleted liquid, and intake and discharge openings of the lower housing are positioned beneath the liquid line, thereby preventing the escape of foam, noise and odorous gases into the local environment.

Abstract: The invention is a high capacity and high efficiency co-current vapor-liquid contacting apparatus for use in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement of modules in horizontal stages rather than tray-like construction. The modules define a co-current contacting volume and in an exemplary configuration the modules include a liquid distributor, a demister, a receiving pan and a duct. The modules of one stage are rotated to be non-parallel with respect to the modules of an inferior stage, a superior stage, or both. Variations relate to the design of the individual elements such as the demister, liquid distributor, ducts, and contacting volumes, and the overall arrangement of the apparatus.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: In a liquid substance supply device, a three port two valve directional control valve is provided in a transfer line, and a substance container and the transfer line are connected together by a four port three valve directional control valve in such a way that the four port three valve directional control valve and the substance container can be removed from the transfer line as a unit. Furthermore, in a vaporizer, an orifice member is provided to surround the end portion of an internal conduit in which flows a mixture substance consisting of a gas and a liquid substance mixed therewith, and gas for atomization is spouted into a vaporization chamber through a gap defined between the internal conduit and the orifice member. Yet further, the temperature of a vaporization surface in the vaporization chamber can be controlled independently in correspondence with the nature of the liquid substance.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating microbubbles of gas in a liquid. A vertical pipe member is adapted to receive a liquid-gas mixture having gas bubbles of larger diameter therein. A series of horizontally-extending apertures are provided to permit the pipe member to expel such liquid-gas mixture radially outwardly from such pipe member. The expelled liquid-gas mixture may contact the sides of a containment vessel. In a refinement of the invention, a specific relationship is further specified between the exit area of the apertures and the interior cross-sectional area of the pipe member, in order to most suitably convert the gas bubbles in such liquid-gas mixture to microbubbles of a desired small size when expelled under pressure from such pipe member via such apertures. A method of converting gas bubbles in such liquid-gas mixture to gas microbubbles is further disclosed.

Abstract: A submerged gas processor in the form of an evaporator or a submerged gas reactor includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a process fluid inlet that provides a process fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the process fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the process fluid.

Abstract: A vacuum venturi apparatus includes a plug with a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. The first opening is located in the plug so as to receive fluid from a source of fluid and the first opening has a single uniform diameter. The second opening in the plug is connected to the first opening and the second opening has a first diameter and a second diameter and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter and the second diameter is the same as the single uniform diameter of the first opening. Further, the second opening second diameter is connected to the first opening. The third opening is located in the plug and is open to the atmosphere. The third opening has a first diameter and a second diameter and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter and the second diameter is smaller than the single uniform diameter of the first opening, Further, the third opening second diameter is connected to the first opening.

Abstract: A carbonator for a beverage dispenser is characterized by a carbonator tank that is placed at a generally inaccessible first location in the beverage dispenser. Liquid and CO2 are supplied to the tank to carbonate liquid in the tank and carbonated liquid at an outlet from the tank is delivered to a beverage dispensing valve. To control delivery of liquid to the carbonator tank and thereby the level of liquid in the tank, a liquid level sensor is fluid coupled to an interior of the tank and is placed in the beverage dispenser at a generally accessible second location that is remote from the first location and from the tank. Placement of the liquid level sensor remote from the carbonator tank and at an accessible location facilitates its repair and replacement.