Abstract: A humidifier is disclosed having a fine control for the distribution of humidified air. The humidifier contains a multiplicity of air moving devices, e.g., fans, to enable large quantities of humidified air to be distributed in an area or conversely, only a small amount of humidified air to be distributed in the area to maintain the humidity level already achieved. The humidifier requires only the power necessary to achieve or maintain the level desired without excess use of power. Furthermore, the level of fan noise is substantially reduced.

Abstract: Fractionation trays are provided with an antipenetration pan which intercepts liquid falling from the downcomer of a vertically superior tray. The antipenetration pans are supported above the surface of the lower tray by brackets attached to the tray decking and to a horizontal deck brace which extends across the tray deck at the location of a joint or splice between adjacent tray deck plates. The invention thereby provides a simple, low cost and easy to install integral antipenetration pan and tray splice construction.

Abstract: A fragrance enhancer apparatus including a hollow container with a plurality of vent holes formed thereon and with the container having a size for holding a replaceable wick fragrance material therein; an electrically energizable fan disposed within the container for forcing air therefrom through the vent holes; an electrically energizable and user adjustable timer mechanism coupled to the container for allowing the fan to be electrically energized for a period of time; a power supply mechanism for supplying electrical energy for use; and a power switch mechanism coupled between the timer mechanism and power supply mechanism for selectively energizing and de-energizing the timer mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering one or more aromas at selected times includes a housing with a receptacle and an aroma delivery device detachably received in the receptacle. The aroma delivery device includes a carrier having a plurality of aroma-bearing elements that are selectively communicated with an air passageway for providing one or more aromas as desired. The device is especially useful for providing a realistic sensory experience in an interactive or non-interactive use, and may be used in such diverse settings as the entertainment industry, the educational training field or a medical arena.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas/liquid contactor module having hollow fiber membranes and a process for controlling dissolved gases in liquids such as water, beer and the like, by passing the liquid through the shell side of the contactor module to allow addition or removal of dissolved gases by the diffusion of the gases through the membranes into or from the hollow fiber bores. The process permits control of the quantity of such dissolved gases as carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Abstract: A carburetor has a fuel discharge assembly which is much easier to install than known assemblies. The assembly includes a mounting ring that carries a fuel jet therein with the fuel jet extending radially inwardly relative to the mounting ring. The discharge end of the fuel jet is received in a cylindrical central opening in the mounting ring. The mounting ring is abutted against the side of the carburetor body and is clamped in place by the typical air cleaner assembly that normally abuts to the side of the carburetor body using slightly longer attachment bolts. Thus, the mounting ring is interposed between the inlet end of the airflow passage in the carburetor and the mounting hub of the air cleaner assembly.

Abstract: The aerating device compraises a tubular air conduit whose external surface of the side wall is provided with longitudinal ribs alternating with longitudinal recesses and is covered with a two-layer dispersing coating. The first (internal) layer of the dispersing coating is made as a fibrilliform filament wound on the external surface of the air conduit with a surface density of 1.1-2.0 kg/sq m, the second (external) layer of the dispersing coating is a porous envelop made of material with chaotically laid fibers of a diameter from 6.times.10.sup.-5 to 21.times.10.sup.-5 m fused at the points of their intersection and applided to the internal layer with a density of 3.5.times.10.sup.2 to 6.0.times.10.sup.2 kg/cu m. The side wall of the air conduit at the point of each recess has a number of radial holes, each having a diameter (d) varying from 0.05 to 0.12 the inside diameter (D) of the tubular air conduit.

Abstract: A rigid, monolithic, porous gas diffusion element which is formed of a body of solid particles and which is comprised of a partially coated, permeable ceramic substrate is disclosed. The substrate consists essentially of a porous first ceramic material, has an apparent porosity of from about 35 to about 50 percent, and has a minimum active pore size of from about 40 to about 120 microns; and it is partially coated with a coating which consists essentially of a second ceramic material has an apparent porosity of from about 35 to about 55 percent, and has a minimum active pore size of from about 10 to about 40 microns. The minimum active pore size of the substrate is from about 2 to about 5 times as great as the minimum active pore size of the coating.

Abstract: A vaporizer (film evaporator) (13) for halide-free, silicon-containing liquid reactants used in producing preforms is provided. The vaporizer includes a plurality of packed-bed columns (22) surrounding a central tube (24). A mixture of liquid reactant, e.g., octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane, and gas, e.g., oxygen, is sprayed onto the top surfaces (54) of the columns (22) by a set of spray nozzles (32). The liquid reactant and the gas flow downward together through the columns and are heated by hot oil (28) which flows around the columns' walls (50). The liquid reactant evaporates into the gas until the dew point temperature is reached, at which point all of the liquid reactant will have been converted into vapor. The vapor/gas mixture exits the bottom surfaces 56 of columns (22), where its direction of flow changes from downward to upward. This change in flow direction separates higher molecular weight species (46) from the vapor/gas mixture.

Abstract: Plant for briefly heating a free-falling liquid in a pressure chamber (9) by stream which is also supplied to the pressure chamber. The liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber through a supply plate (42) provided with channels (44) and the resulting liquid jets are brought into contact with the steam. Over the thickness of the plate a temperature gradient is maintained at the level of the difference between the steam temperature and the supply temperature of the liquid. The flow direction of the steam in the pressure chamber is essentially equal to the flow direction of the liquid jets. The plate is of plastic so as to have a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. Alternatively, the plate can have cooling channels to keep its upper surface desirably cooler than its under surface.

Abstract: A wet flue gas desulfurization scrubbing tower has means therein for evenly distributing the flue gas flowing through the tower for more efficient treatment therein including a ring plenum for evenly exhausting the flue gas around the periphery of the tower through a series of differently sized openings and a centrally located annular opening for evenly exhausting the flue gas to the center of the tower.

Abstract: A cover for containers, especially glass jars, that are used to store and keep fresh consumable merchandise, such as tobacco, coffee, or tea. The cover includes structure for receiving a cover mount member that facilitates attachment of a mechanical interface structure that carries and supports a humidity control member in a manner that further facilitates gravitational capillary action of the water in the humidistat. In kit form, a cover mount member is provided with structure that facilitates attachment to a container's cover member and also with mounting structure for fitting a mechanical interface, such as a grommet, that receives the inlet end of a humidistat. The cover mount member and humidity control member are detachable from the cover member for filling the humidity control member with water. The humidity control valve at the distal end of the humidity control member is adjustable for delivering the desired humidity according to the dryness of the product contained in the container.

Abstract: A carburetor with a main fuel jet and a throttle valve in a mixing passage and an apparatus for automatically supplying an enriched fuel and air mixture when an engine is cranked for starting and initial running of the engine upon starting. The apparatus has a mixing chamber with an air intake passage communicating with the mixing passage upstream of the throttle valve, a fuel inlet passage, and an outlet passage for the fuel and air mixture which communicates with the mixing passage downstream of the throttle valve. A valve for controlling the flow of the enriching fuel and air mixture through the outlet passage is manually movable to its opened position where it is releasably retained by an actuator mechanism operably associated with the throttle shaft for releasing and closing the valve when after the engine starts the throttle valve is initially moved from its idle position toward a full open position of the throttle valve.

Abstract: High capacity, low cost fractionation trays are formed from a number of adjacent triangular (v-shaped) downcomer modules. The trays are free of the horizontal perforated decking surface of conventional trays. The downcomer modules have perforations only in a bottom region for liquid passage and in an upper region for vapor passage, with the central portion of the two inclined downcomer sidewalls being imperforate. The difference in elevation between the bottom region and upper region is considerably larger than a ripple tray. A layer of packing material may be provided close to or adjacent the bottom surface of the tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming controlled vortexes and for circulating gas thereby in a reactor (1, 15) containing liquid or a suspension of liquid and solids. Into the reactor there is also fed gas, so that the liquid is set into a turbulent motion by means of mixers (4, 17, 18) and flow baffles (6, 17, 19). By means of adjustable flow baffles (6, 19), there are created in the reactor at least two vortexes (10), external to the mixer shaft, for sucking gas from the suspension surface into the liquid phase.

Abstract: A downcomer-tray assembly for vapor liquid contact towers with enlarged effective active areas. The downcomers are constructed with support baffles enabling intermediate areas of the downcomer-tray to be supported therefrom and outer areas of the downcomer-tray to be supported by an active tower support ring. An active bridge may be used between end-to-end downcomers for maximizing the active area of the associated tray.

Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing a volatile active ingredient from an air-transmitting substrate that forms a part of a refill assembly. The dispensing device includes a housing with an intake vent and an exit vent and an air flow path extending between them. Refill assembly support means are provided for removably supporting the refill assembly with its substrate located in the air flow path. Battery-powered fan means are provided for propelling air from the intake vent through the substrate and out the exit vent. A battery holder holds a fan battery in such a manner that a refill assembly not fully inserted within the refill assembly support means blocks the placement of a battery in the battery holder, while a battery correctly held in the battery holder blocks the removal from the air flow path of a refill assembly supported by the refill assembly support means.

Abstract: A portable humidifier including a base defining a reservoir for retaining liquid, a humidification device for inducing dispersion of liquid withdrawn from the reservoir and a liquid storage tank having an outlet for feeding liquid into the reservoir. Also included is a container defining a chamber for a given volume of a treatment substance for liquid and a discharge opening providing communication between the chamber and the tank, and a dispenser for automatically and periodically dispensing through the discharge opening to the tank a dose portion of the treatment substance contained volume within the chamber.

Abstract: A direct forced counterflow cooling tower apparatus includes concrete side walls having L-shaped troughs located at the lower ends thereof. The cooling tower includes a liquid distribution system, fill material located below the liquid distribution system, a drainage collection system located below the fill material and a fan located below the drainage collection system. Liquid is supplied to the tower and is distributed on top of the fill material. The liquid will pass downward therethrough and will be collected by the drainage collection system. The drainage collection system will communicate the liquid to the troughs located at the lower end of the longitudinal side walls. A modular cooling tower construction includes the cooling tower apparatus in combination with at least one additional cooling tower apparatus.

Abstract: To improve a carburetor including a main housing portion (12), in which a Venturi tube (2) and a throttling part (2a) are defined and which has an air intake side and an engine exit side, and a fuel pump (5) to the effect that, on the other hand a better starting procedure is provided and, on the other hand, the carburetor and, consequently, the engine are reliably prevented from getting flooded, it is suggested to supply fuel to the fuel pump (5) via a fuel intake (8) which is connected to the fuel tank (63) through a fuel line (64), and a fuel vapor supply (or vent) line (60) is provided which with its one end (61) is connected to the fuel intake feed channel (28) and with its other end (62) is connected to the fuel tank (63), and that in the route of the fuel vapor supply line (60) a check valve (66) is provided.