Abstract: A covering system for canals to minimize evaporization loss from water transportation canals. The system comprises a plurality of strips of liquid impervious materials of predetermined length adjacent one another forming a section. The strips are secured to a transverse support at one end of each section. The strips float on the canal surface in both a flowing and quiescent condition. The sections of strips are spaced so that in the direction of flow adjacent sections overlap a predetermined distance to accomodate fluctuations in the water level in the canal.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage container having at least one valved port is filled to about 75% of capacity with particles of low density material having a hydride forming metal coated on the surface of the particles by vapor or vacuum deposition. The density of the particle is on the order of 5% to 50% of the density of the metal coating thereon. Hydrogen gas is adsorbed into or released from the lattice structure of the hydride forming metal.

Abstract: A fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus, such as a paper machine, is described, including a rotary through dryer for drying the sheet material on the same foraminous conveyor where it is initially formed. The dryer is provided with a plurality of separate vacuum chambers circumferentially spaced within the foraminous dryer drum, which are each in registration with a different one of a plurality of sources of hot air outside of the drum. The hot air is transmitted through the sheet material and the conveyor into the vacuum chambers to dry the sheet material. Each of the vacuum chambers and the hot air sources is independently controlled to provide different temperatures and vacuum pressures for more efficient and versatile operation. The air is transmitted from the vacuum chambers out of the drum through their separate exhaust conduits extending through the end of the drum and spaced from the drum support bearings.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a person within a container tank for inspection, cleaning, or repair of such tank is described. The apparatus includes a pivoted parallelogram type support having a cage enclosure at one end and a counter balance weight at the other end, such support being pivotally attached to a hoist member for movement of the cage toward and away from the tank wall while maintaining such cage upright. The hoist raises and lowers the support and cage within the tank and through a restricted opening in the tank when the support is pivoted into a retracted position. Bearing means is provided around the hoist stem for guiding vertical movement and enabling manual rotation of the hoist member and cage. A valve actuated cylinder is employed to control the pivoting of the support by manual actuation of the valve from within the cage.

Abstract: An automatic high pressure spray cleaning apparatus and method for rapidly and efficiently removing material coated on the surface of an object are described. In accordance with the invention the axis of the cleaning liquid spray forms an acute angle with the object surface and such angle, as well as the distance along such axis between the spray nozzle and the object surface, are both maintained substantially constant over a given surface area. In addition, the pressure of the cleaning liquid at the surface of the object is also maintained substantially constant over such given area. The spray nozzles are automatically moved rotationally about a cleaning axis and longitudinally along such axis to scan over the object surface along a predetermined path while maintaining the spacing distance and angle substantially constant during rotation of the nozzles about the cleaning axis at a given longitudinal position on such axis, by motor operated drive means which may be controlled by an electronic computer.