Abstract: A method of recovering vapors from exhausts or vents of containers of volatile substances comprising the steps of: providing a scrubber for connection to the vapor space of the container to receive a flow of vapors therefrom; providing a reservoir of absorber fluid; cooling the absorber fluid; introducing the cooled absorber fluid into the scrubber for intimate contact with the flow of vapors therethrough; and returning the vapors absorbed by the cooled absorber fluid to the container. The scrubber may include a spray nozzle adapted to spray cooled absorber fluid in a direction generally concurrent with the flow of vapors. Alternate methods of returning absorbed vapors to the container are disclosed.

Abstract: A heating pack for use with an improved granular chemical composition which produces heat when water is added. The heating pack utilizes an inner and outer bag, the inner bag containing the granular composition and having a closure flap which is partially sealed by means of a barrier envelope which allows water to be added to the inner bag while preventing spillage of the granular composition. The chemical composition contains an improved oxidizing mixture in combination with iron particles which yields a relatively high heat output to weight ratio for the heating pack.

Abstract: An automobile air conditioning evaporator of a given height modified by the use of a pair of plate members extending opposedly outwardly of each of the core pressure and vacuum chambers at one end thereof, each pair of plate members defining therebetween a shallow flow chamber communicating between their respective core chambers and, at outer end portions thereof, respectively with substantially parallel vacuum and pressure line connector conduits, thereby increasing the spacing between said conduits with minimum increase in evaporator core width to enable use as a replacement for evaporators of comparatively greater height.

Abstract: Ventilating apparatus having an exhaust hood for mounting above a stove, grill, or other apparatus from which fumes arise. Ambient air from outside the room being ventilated is forced into an insulated intake chamber within the exhaust hood through a relatively narrow longitudinal slot at the bottom of the intake chamber, thence directed rearwardly and upwardly across a fume collection chamber, through a grease filter, and into an exhaust chamber from which the fumes are exhausted to the atmosphere by a fan. The outside air is forced through the slot in a fast moving narrow stream to form an air curtain across the fume chamber with minimal mixing of the fume laden air and the air curtain. Tempered air is introduced into the room being ventilated adjacent the exhaust hood to provide a minimum influx of tempered air from the room being ventilated into the hood to prevent dissipation fumes into the room, and to facilitate collection of such fume laden air by the exhaust hood.

Abstract: A refrigerator operable with an evaporation chamber and superfluid .sup.4 He II for temperatures below the .lambda.-point of helium, and means for preventing the .sup.4 He II from creeping upward out of the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30.degree.F. to about -17.degree.F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The upper end of the chimney supports an outer upwardly converging funnel and an inner coaxial upwardly converging funnel which are movable relative to each other to open and close an auxiliary annular channel for exhaust gas flow. The drive for moving the funnels relative to each other is connected through the wall of the chimney to the inner funnel via support arms.

Abstract: A simplified refrigeration apparatus in which the evaporator part includes a straight, generally horizontal pipe system that is connected to a linear continuation forming a gas heat exchanger. The assembly is inserted in the cooling chamber of a refrigerator through an opening in the insulated refrigerator cabinet. The gas heat exchanger is positioned within said insulation while the evaporator part is projected into the interior of the cooling chamber. The assembly permits the easy removal from the refrigerator cabinet, when desired, and is of compact construction lending itself to requirements of a small refrigerator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for optimizing the room heating efficiency of a typical fireplace which comprises a plenum including a radially extending housing having sloped top and bottom walls connected at a closed apex. The housing includes respective air inlet and outlet passages and means for removably mounting the plenum a predetermined distance above a fireplace hearth. The means locates the rearward end of the air inlet passage provided in the plenum angularly above the hearth and the apex of the plenum housing defines a flue passage with the rearward wall of the fireplace for expulsion of effluent gases. The plenum and means are discrete and separable from the fireplace.

Abstract: A draft control means is provided for a fireplace structure in which a firebox is provided, which firebox forms a heat generating chamber. The specific improvement provides outside air induction into the firebox proper so as not to rob the room being heated from air which would normally go up the flue.

Abstract: Large-scale cryogenic tanks such as for L.N.G. are supported on spaced-apart wooden bearer members which are part of the outer insulation. The weight of the loaded tank causes the floor of the tank to deflect on each side of the bearer members so that the loading increases to a degree that sometimes crushes the edges of the bearer members. Means are described for obviating this effect by inserts of resilient material extending inwardly from the sides of the bearer members, permitting sufficient deflection of the top edges of the bearer members to spread the load more uniformly over the bearer member.

Abstract: A down-draught deflector - draught interrupter is described having a tube of circular or rectangular cross-section, an internal baffle element for laterally deflecting down-draught gases and peripheral escape openings for such gases. The tube has a substantially constant diameter and is provided in one end portion (upstream end portion) with an annular combustion gas deflector for deflecting combustion gases towards the tube axis and defines a gas flow path which at the position of its smallest cross-section has a diameter of 0.3-0.9 times the internal diameter of the tube.The baffle element occupies within the tube a position wholly or mainly downstream with respect to said position of smallest flow-path cross-section and has a dimension in a plane normal to the tube axis of 0.2-0.9 times the internal diameter of the tube. The apertures in the tube wall are located so as to be at least in part opposite the baffle element.

Abstract: A charcoal fire starter and cooker incorporating an open ended tubular body which is divided by a perforate grate into a charcoal chamber and a combustion chamber; therebeing vents in the body for developing a flue effect to concentrate maximum heat intensity in the vicinity of the charcoal chamber. A pair of closures are telescopically received over opposite end portions of the tubular body, each closure incorporating a flat cooking surface and a skirt formed with vents adapted for adjustable registration with the tubular body vents for developing a cooker in operation. Detachable handles are provided for ready insertion within and removal from the body and closures with the body handles being adapted for supporting an auxiliary grill in usage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system for a mobile home and a method of adapting a mobile home for removably receiving an air conditioning unit. The system includes securing a mounting means to the support structure of the mobile home and an air conditioning unit that is adapted to be removably secured to the mounting means. When installed on the mounting means, the air conditioning unit is aligned to deliver conditioned air into the interior of the mobile home through its built-in air distribution system.

Abstract: The oven cooking cavity has a perforated top wall above which there is a substantially full width plenum chamber which receives from a rear exterior duct heated air and gases under pressure for discharge of the same downwardly through the cavity top substantially uniformly over the area of the same. The heated air and gases exit from the cavity at the bottom and comingle with newly heated air and gases from a bottom forward gas burner in passage therewith to motor-driven impeller means which discharges into the delivery duct. In such gas embodiment, a small portion of the circulation within the cavity is vented to the atmosphere at the top front of the oven and compensating make-up room air supplied. The heat source can also be electric, with full instead of substantially full recirculation as in the gas embodiment.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering cryogenic liquid to a heat exchanger wherein said liquid is vaporized for its cooling effect comprising a return conduit for conveying from a heat exchanger to a separator vessel spent fluid including some vapor, the return conduit discharging at its upper end into the portion of the vessel holding vapor, a return port for receiving spent fluid from an exchanger, a bypass passage constricted at its upper end providing a flow path in parallel with flow through an exchanger from a feed junction to a more elevated return junction, the flow being conducted in an upwards direction to the feed junction and from the feed junction into the bypass passage, the apparatus providing closed loop circulation of cryogenic liquid to a heat exchanger, with the driving force for the circulation being supplied by the differential head between cryogenic liquid in the feed conduit and spent fluid in the return conduit.

Abstract: A thermostatically responsive valve is provided which comprises a thermal element assembled with a housing to sense the ambient temperature, a plurality of responsive valves arranged around the power member of the thermal element within an interior of the housing to control the vacuum applied to pneumatically operated devices, and a spring-loaded movable member separably engaged with the power member within the interior of the housing to operate the responsive valves in response to the movement of the power member.

Abstract: A mine brattice for closing a mine tunnel against the passage of gas including a yieldable framework of lap jointed plate-like beam members having a peripheral configuration corresponding roughly to the peripheral surface configuration of the tunnel to be closed and a sheet metal barrier secured to the framework and extending peripherally beyond the framework into gas sealing engagement with the tunnel surfaces. The barrier is formed of malleable sheet metal such as aluminum by which it may be bent into precise sealing configuration with the rock surfaces of the tunnel. The framework may be supported by anchorage brackets secured directly in the roof, rib and floor surfaces of the tunnel or alternatively on telescopic posts having yieldable shear pin retention means by which telescopic foreshortening of the posts in increments corresponding to spacing of shear pins is permitted to accommodate floor-roof squeeze.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates an insulated cabinet having an access opening and a door normally closing said opening with at least one dry ice carrier removably disposed in said cabinet in alignment with said access opening. Said dry ice carrier takes the form of a container having a solid side and a perforated side and of a size and shape enabling the dry ice carrier to be positioned at one side of said insulated cabinet or transversely thereof as desired.

Abstract: The upper end of the chimney supports a throttling means formed by a pair of pivotally mounted parts which pivot towards each other to form a funnel. The two parts are located within an oval-shaped cover about the upper end of the chimney and are moved by means of a pulley system mounted on the chimney exterior.