Abstract: A thermal sensing bulb for an expansion valve, the bulb containing a ballast material, the ballast material including a plurality of particles including a calcium silicate hydrate.

Abstract: A heatpump system (10) for controlling the temperature of a fluid within a predetermined space (12). The heatpump system (10) comprises a heat-transferring component (14) located proximate to predetermined space (12) and a heat-transferring sink (26) located remote from the predetermined space (12). In the remote heat sink, heat is rejected to and/or absorbed from an environmentally contaminable medium (e.g., soil or water). The heatpump system (10) further comprises a naturally occurring refrigerant (e.g., carbon dioxide) that is carried through the cycle by a circuit (20).

Abstract: Rolls for generally conveying sheets, such as of steel or glass over a roller typically have a steel mandrel and fiber-containing roll cover, with the fiber roll cover pressed between end plates. In a roll end assembly including the end plates there is now provided an axial shaft beyond the end plate. The shaft incorporates a roll compression means. The compression means includes a compression element which element engages the end plate. Pressure from the compression means, which may be exerted from beyond the shaft, can thereby be transmitted to the fiber roll.

Abstract: A heat resistant roll is useful for supporting and conveying articles for transport at high temperature. The roll has a mandrel core and a sleeve. The sleeve is enlarged over the core to define a radial clearance therebetween. The mandrel and the sleeve have differing coefficients of thermal expansion. Interposed between the mandrel and the sleeve is a brush roll. The brush roll maintains engagement with both the mandrel and the sleeve during thermal expansion.

Abstract: A ceramic fiber insulation material is disclosed. It is prepared from a precursor blend generally comprising a gelled colloid and a ceramic fiber filler. Other filler, e.g., other fiber of refractory material, is contemplated, particularly when mixed with ceramic fiber. The gelled colloid ban be formed such as by mixing a gelling agent with a colloid of inorganic oxide or by blending anionic colloid with cationic colloid. The gelling agent is typically nonionic and water-soluble. The blend is trowelable, pumpable and possesses excellent adhesive characteristics including the ability to stick to -most surfaces, including metal surfaces. The blend is also virtually shrink-free during drying and, after drying, can provide the insulation material.

Abstract: A ceramic fiber insulation material is disclosed. It is prepared from a precursor blend generally comprising a gelled colloid and a ceramic fiber filler. Other filler, e.g., other fiber of refractory material, is contemplated, particularly when mixed with ceramic fiber. The gelled colloid ban be formed such as by mixing a gelling agent with a colloid of inorganic oxide or by blending anionic colloid with cationic colloid. The gelling agent is typically nonionic and water-soluble. The blend is trowelable, pumpable and possesses excellent adhesive characteristics including the ability to stick to most surfaces, including metal surfaces. The blend is also virtually shrink-free during drying and, after drying, can provide the insulation material.

Abstract: A method is now disclosed for the making of compressed refractory fiber shapes, e.g., compressed ceramic fiber shapes, having a textured surface and an aggregate body. The shapes can be obtained by molding and therefore may be simple or complex. For the process, small discrete fragments of refractory fiber in accumulated form are suspended in a colloidal dispersion, such as the colloidal dispersion provided by colloidal silica. Colloidal mixtures, as of colloidal silica with colloidal alumina are also most serviceable. The fragments and the dispersion are mildly mixed so as not to thoroughly disperse the fiber fragments, but rather to form globules of the fiber in the resulting blend. The resulting material is shaped, e.g., molded under pressure, and usually dried while under pressure, which drying can be at elevated temperature.

Abstract: An insulating roller cover is now disclosed that provides a highly desirable combination of features. The cover is free from asbestos and is therefore of more desirable construction for handling and use. For the roller cover, at least substantially ceramic fiber is highly compressed, providing a dense and refractory, elevated temperature resistant insulating cover. The cover may itself serve as a load bearing surface; or may provide a foundation or protective media for annular discs or 10 sleeve members made of various, load bearing materials. These load bearing materials may be unable to resist direct contact with the shaft due to thermal shock or the differences in their respective expansion and contraction rates. Where impregnant is utilized with the highly compressed fiber, such will often comprise a colloidal substituent.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for centering a sucker rod within a tubular string that powers the pump within a well bore. The rod guide comprises a spool securable to the rod and having tipper and lower end members thereon, and a plastic material sleeve extending between the upper and lower end members. The sleeve may be mounted to the rod during a molding operation. The rod guide further includes a guide body which may be machined from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material which has desired abrasive and wear characteristics. In one embodiment, the body is rotatable about the spool. A slot within the guide body and scalloped-shaped cut-outs at both ends of the guide body provide fluid communication between an annulus formed between the O.D. of the sleeve portion of the spool and the I.D. of the guide body.

Abstract: A method is now disclosed for the making of compressed refractory fiber shapes, e.g., compressed ceramic fiber shapes, having a textured surface and an aggregate body. The shapes can be obtained by molding and therefore may be simple or complex. For the process, small discrete fragments of refractory fiber in accumulated form are suspended in a colloidal dispersion, such as the colloidal dispersion provided by colloidal silica. Colloidal mixtures, as of colloidal silica with colloidal alumina are also most serviceable. The fragments and the dispersion are mildly mixed so as not to thoroughly disperse the fiber fragments, but rather to form globules of the fiber in the resulting blend. The resulting material is shaped, e.g., molded under pressure, and usually dried while under pressure, which drying can be at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for centering a sucker rod within a tubular string that powers a pump within a wellbore. The rod guide comprises a rotor secured to the sucker rod and having upper and lower stop surfaces thereon, and a sleeve formed from metal to substantially increase the life of the rod guide. The rod guide stator has an elongate slot extending along its axial length. The stop surfaces limit axial travel of the stator on the sucker rod, and the sleeve prevents the stator from engaging the sucker rod. The sleeve may be retained on the rod by a clip, and plastic end members then molded over the clip and the ends of the metal sleeve. The stop surfaces may be formed by a ring member spaced axially between the upper and lower ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: An insulating roller cover is now disclosed that provides a highly desirable combination of features. The cover is free from asbestos and is therefore of more desirable construction for handling and use. For the roller cover, at least substantially ceramic fiber is highly compressed, providing a dense and refractory, elevated temperature resistant insulating cover. The cover may itself serve as a load bearing surface; or may provide a foundation or protective media for annular discs or 10 sleeve members made of various, load bearing materials. These load bearing materials may be unable to resist direct contact with the shaft due to thermal shock or the differences in their respective expansion and contraction rates. Where impregnant is utilized with the highly compressed fiber, such will often comprise a colloidal substituent.

Abstract: A rod guide 10 may be installed on a sucker rod by two distinct impacts with a hammer or mallet. The rod guide 10 includes a slot 30 having a throat 38 defining therein a catch section 50 wherein a sucker rod 22 will be temporarily caught and held after the first impact. The catch section is spaced between a first restricted throat width and a second restricted throat width of the slot 30. On the second impact, the rod guide 10 is driven relative to the sucker rod past the second restricted throat width and into the rod guide bore 18. An entry port 32 is preferably provided with a radiused opening that widens to a curved surface defining the first restricted throat width. Each opposing wall of the throat 38 may be defined by first, second, and third curvilinear surfaces each having a respective center.

Abstract: An insulating roller cover includes a highly desirable combination of features. The cover is free from asbestos and is therefore of more desirable construction for handling and use. For the roller cover, at least substantially ceramic fiber is highly compressed, providing a dense and refractory, elevated temperature resistant insulating cover. The cover may itself serve as a load bearing surface; or may provide a foundation or protective media for annular discs or 10 sleeve members made of various, load bearing materials. These load bearing materials may be unable to resist direct contact with the shaft due to thermal shock or the differences in their respective expansion and contraction rates. Where impregnant is utilized with the highly compressed fiber, such will often comprise a colloidal substituent.

Abstract: Highly compressed ceramic fiber conveyor rolls can provide desirable insulation coupled with extended wear for roller conveying of high temperature articles such as freshly made sheet glass. However, under harsh industrial conditions, as experienced with the conveying of heavy loads consistently at the upper end of operable temperature ranges, such ceramic fiber rolls may be subject to premature wear at the interface between an inner shaft and an outer ceramic fiber roll cover, as well as experience longitudinal roll cracking of the cover. It has now been found that both of these potential cover problems can be successfully addressed by placement within the cover of perforated, rigid disks. Such disks placed occasionally along the roll and within ceramic fiber cover, are particularly suitable for use with hardened covers, where the hardening is more concentrated towards the surface of the cover and the disks are present within a softer inner fiber core of the cover.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for centering a sucker rod within a tubular string that powers the pump within a well bore. The rod guide comprises a spool securable to the rod and having upper and lower end members thereon, and a plastic material sleeve extending between the upper and lower end members. The sleeve may be mounted to the rod during a molding operation. The rod guide further includes a guide body which may be machined from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material which has desired abrasive and wear characteristics. In one embodiment, the body is rotatable about the spool. A slot within the guide body and scalloped-shaped cut-outs at both ends of the guide body provide fluid communication between an annulus formed between the O.D. of the sleeve portion of the spool and the I.D. of the guide body.

Abstract: An insulating roller cover is now disclosed that provides a highly desirable combination of features. The cover is free from asbestos and is therefore of more desirable construction for handling and use. For the roller cover, at least substantially ceramic fiber is highly compressed, providing a dense and refractory, elevated temperature resistant insulating cover. The cover may itself serve as a load bearing surface; or may provide a foundation or protective media for annular discs or sleeve members made of various, load bearing materials. These load bearing materials may be unable to resist direct contact with the shaft due to thermal shock or the differences in their respective expansion and contraction rates. Where impregnant is utilized with the highly compressed fiber, such will often comprise a colloidal substituent.