Abstract: A seal system for a circular perforated grid floor in a walled process vessel is disclosed, wherein air is passed upwardly through the perforations in the grid floor into catalyst bed, and by-passing of air through a gap between the grid floor and the wall of the process vessel is prevented by the seal. The seal system relies on the grid floor expanding into an annular space which is partially filled with a compressible packing material. When heated, the grid floor compresses the packing material to form the desired air tight seal between the grid floor and the vessel wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for the control of velocity and pressure of hot gases flowing through a conduit wherein generally spherically shaped objects of refractory material are disposed within such conduit during the operation thereof to provide a constriction of the cross-sectional area of the conduit through which the gases are flowing. A particular embodiment of apparatus employed in the present invention comprises generally spherically shaped refractory objects introduced into the conduit immediately upstream of a perforated baffle extending transversely across the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for the control of velocity and pressure of hot gases flowing through a conduit wherein generally spherically shaped objects of refractory material are disposed within such conduit during the operation thereof to provide a constriction of the cross-sectional area of the conduit through which the gases are flowing. A particular embodiment of the apparatus employed in the present invention comprises a pair of generally spherically shaped refractory objects secured together by means of a length of flexible steel cable.

Abstract: An improved universal expansion joint having counterthrust means for controlling pressure-induced expansion. Movable bellows means in the form of one or more expansible bellows or one or more contractile fluid power cylinders are disclosed for applying counterthrust force to the expansion joint. Means responsive to the pressure within the expansion joint or the temperature of or the strain on the conduit connected to the expansion joint are disclosed for applying the desired fluid pressure to the bellows means to achieve the proper counterthrust force. Also disclosed are a method of employing the improved expansion joint and a system in which the improved expansion joint is advantageously utilized.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the control of velocity and pressure of hot gases flowing through a conduit wherein generally spherically shaped objects of refractory material are disposed within such conduit during the operation thereof to provide a constriction of the cross-sectional area of the conduit through which the gases are flowing. A particular embodiment of apparatus employed in the present invention comprises a pair of generally spherically shaped refractory objects secured together by means of a length of steel cable.

Abstract: An improved universal expansion joint having counterthrust means for controlling pressure-induced expansion. Movable bellows means in the form of one or more expansible bellows or one or more contractile fluid power cylinders are disclosed for applying counterthrust force to the expansion joint. Means responsive to the pressure within the expansion joint or the temperature of or the strain on the conduit connected to the expansion joint are disclosed for applying the desired fluid pressure to the bellows means to achieve the proper counterthrust force. Also disclosed are a method of employing the improved expansion joint and a system in which the improved expansion joint is advantageously utilized.