Abstract: The freezing point of a liquid in a chilled liquid containment system is decreased by the addition of a mixture of sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate. Solutions of nitrite/nitrate in a ratio of 1.0:1 to 3.0:1 at a concentration of at least 25% lowers the freezing point of water to as low as ?33° C. or lower, permitting water to remain liquid well below its ambient freezing point and preventing pipes containing the nitrite/nitrate solution from bursting when exposed to subzero temperatures. This allows liquids to remain liquid at much lower temperatures than normal, allowing the circulation of the liquids at lower temperatures and protecting their containment systems from the damage that could occur when the liquids freeze into their solid state while within the containment systems.

Abstract: A burner for the combustion of fuel and air in an industrial furnace, for use in connection with preheated combustion air, is provided having an equal number of evenly spaced air jets and fuel jets. The air jets and fuel jets are discharged so that they initially diverge away from one another, but eventually, the fuel jets are entrained by the air jets. During the course of their trajectories, before meeting, the air jets and fuel jets entrain resident furnace gases which results in heavy dilution of the fuel and air before combustion. The dilution causes off-stoichiometric combustion conditions and results in a lower flame temperature. This is similar in effect to external flue gas recirculation. As well, the fuel jets undergo pyrolysis in the course of their trajectories before entrainment occurs. This creates a reducing zone in which the NOx in the resident furnace gases being entrained is reduced, in part, back to molecular nitrogen.

Abstract: A toilet tank flushing mechanism is disclosed. The toilet tank flushing mechanism comprises a ballcock mounted within the toilet tank for selectively permitting water from an external source to enter the tank.

Abstract: A machine for unstacking and dispensing containers to be filled. The machine includes multiple sprocket wheels and chains which include retaining bars and push tabs for supporting a stack of bins and for dispensing an individual bin. A conveyor transports the bins away from the machine and a programmable controller correlates the motion of both the unstacker/dispenser and the conveyor to allow for continuous dispensing of containers automatically.

Abstract: A machine which supports a stack of bins adapted to store small objects prior to shipment. The machine includes an elevator which acts in conjunction with the bin retainers and a programmable controller to remove one bin from the stack and lower it into a filling position. After the filling is completed the elevator lowers the filled bin onto a transport conveyor which removes the bin to a remote storage area.