Abstract: An anchor for stabilizing a mobile home during an earthquake or windstorm has a moving post with an attachment plate that attaches to a frame member of the mobile home. The anchor also has a base unit that includes a stationary post, which has a retention sleeve lining a portion of the interior. The moving post is positioned inside the stationary post to slide along the retention sleeve. A damping mechanism dampens any vertical motion of the moving post. The anchor may also include a mechanism to limit the range of vertical displacement. A hold-down strap may wrap around the mobile home and may be fixedly attached to a base unit at either end of the strap. The anchor may attach to rectangular tube frame members, "I"-shaped frame members, "["-shaped frame members, and a variety of other frame members.

Abstract: A staged retort is provided for the retorting of certain types of carbonaceous materials such as oil shale, coal or lignite, wherein the staged retort includes a number of separate retort chambers arranged in a modular configuration, with one retort chamber above the other, and mounted transversely within the staged retort. Each retort chamber is heated to a different temperature, and carbonaceous material is moved from a given retort chamber to a retort chamber having a higher temperature, whereby heavier fractions of liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons are formed as the carbonaceous materials undergo pyrolysis. Arrangements such as pressure regulating valves are provided to reduce mixing of the various fractions between the individual retort chambers to nearly zero, and conduits are provided to separately withdraw the hydrocarbon gases and/or liquids from each retort chamber.

Abstract: A horizontal retorting apparatus and method designed to pyrolyze tar sands and oil shale, which are often found together in naturally occurring deposits. The retort is based on a horizontal retorting tube defining a horizontal retort zone having an upstream and a downstream end. Inlet means are provided for introducing the combined tar sands and oil shale into the upstream end of the retort. A screw conveyor horizontally conveys tar sands and oil shale from the upstream end of the retort zone to the downstream end of the retort zone while simultaneously mixing the tar sands and oil shale to insure full release of product gases. A firebox defining a heating zone surrounds the horizontal retort is provided for heating the tar sands and oil shale to pyrolysis temperatures. Spent shale and tar sands residue are passed horizontally beneath the retort tube with any carbonaceous residue thereon being combusted to provide a portion of the heat necessary for pyrolysis.

Abstract: A gravity feed inclined retort apparatus provides for a distillation process in which oil is removed from shale ore in the inclined portion of the retort, and the gaseous oil is removed to a vapor condenser/separator in which the vapor is condensed into the product oil. The retorted shale is fed onto a continuous chain stoker, or other similar conveying device, where the coke portion of the retorted shale is burned as fuel for the retort. Hot gases from the combustion zone where air is directed through the burning coke are used to preheat the shale ore above the dew point of the oil, through a heat exchange plate; and the hot gases then flow through the shale ore in the retort chamber, picking up the oil vapors from the heated shale, and carrying this oil-filled gas into a vapor condenser/separator. Some of the oil vapors are also condensed onto cooled side walls extending along the retort chamber and this condensed oil flows into oil collection gutters.