Abstract: A rod handling system for a drilling rig includes a rod storage bin incorporating vertically stacked rod supports adapted to hold a respective row of rods in side by side relationship in a substantially horizontally extending storage configuration. A rod loader having a plurality of rod holders is moveable between a loading position in which a rod can be placed into or removed from each rod holder, and a transfer position in which the rods are transferable between each rod holder and a respective rod support of the rod storage bin A rod lifter is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position for lifting rods between the storage configuration and a raised configuration to present rods to a drilling head. A rod transfer assembly can transfer individual rods between selected rod supports of the rod storage bin and the rod lifter.

Abstract: A rod handling system for a drilling rig includes a rod storage bin incorporating vertically stacked rod supports adapted to hold a respective row of rods in side by side relationship in a substantially horizontally extending storage configuration. A rod loader having a plurality of rod holders is moveable between a loading position in which a rod can be placed into or removed from each rod holder, and a transfer position in which the rods are transferable between each rod holder and a respective rod support of the rod storage bin A rod lifter is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position for lifting rods between the storage configuration and a raised configuration to present rods to a drilling head. A rod transfer assembly can transfer individual rods between selected rod supports of the rod storage bin and the rod lifter.

Abstract: A beet washing system features a defoamer dosage controller having a signal processor configured to receive signaling containing information about a volumetric percent of entrained air in a process water used for washing beets; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control a dosage of defoamer provided to the process water to regulate the amount of foam in the process water used for washing the beets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a structure having a fire resistance rated, area separation wall including: a first building unit; a second building unit; and a two- hour fire resistance rated, area separation wall having only outer membranes. In the preferred embodiment, the two-hour fire resistance rated, area separation wall includes: (a) an interior support structure; (b) only an outer membrane on each side of the interior support structure; and (c) a substantially organic thermal insulation barrier between the outer membranes. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the structure having a fire resistance rated, area separation wall includes a tying structure connecting the fire resistance rated, area separation wall to the first unit and the second unit.