Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for stabilizing the movement of the reactor furnace tubes of a fired heater, furnace, heat exchanger or other device utilizing reactor furnace tubes to thereby reduce harmful stresses on the tubes, extend the useful life of the tubes, increase the efficiency and safety of reaction processes and allow for the streamlining the design of the tubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a furnace and process that relies on a multiplicity of radiant heating tubes, each in the form of a U-shaped coil, that are mounted within a furnace firebox such that an inlet leg of any one of the plural tubes is immediately adjacent and spaced apart from an outlet leg of another one of the plural tubes within the firebox of a thermal cracking furnace. This spacial pairing of an inlet leg of one tube with an outlet leg of another tube of the plural radiant heating tubes of the cracking furnace maximizes utilization of the available radiant heat within the firebox of a thermal cracking furnace while reducing the likelihood of localized hot spotting that could produce coke-tar plugging of a tube.

Abstract: An adjustable foil apparatus for papermaking machines is described in which a pair of rigid foil members are mounted in a pair and are pivotable about substantially parallel longitudinal axes in mirror image fashion to provide selected angularity therebetween. A common operating mechanism is attached to both of the adjustable angle foils in the pair, such that actuation of the operating mechanism produces concurrent mirror image pivoting of the foils in the pair.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a connection that connects an uncooled pipe to several cooled pipes. The connection (3) has a cylindrical intake section that communicates with the uncooled pipe (2) and merges into an outward-tapering terminating section (9. The terminating section encloses several gas-conveying channels. Each gas-conveying channel extends out of the intake section coaxial to one of the cooled pipes (4). The gas-conveying channels (10) branch out in the shape of a star from the connection's intake section (8). The cooled pipes are inserted into a base (6) and arrayed along a segment of a circle. The gas-conveying channels are arrayed along the same segment.

Abstract: A thermal cracking furnace comprising horizontally disposed and vertically disposed radiant tube sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of hollow ceramic beams are described using a plurality of substantially parallel spaced mandrels mounted within a flexible mold bag which is filled with ceramic forming powder and compressed within an isostatic press to produce a compressed body of powder. A sliding spacer shoe slides along the mandrels during filling as the powder is vibrated for compaction to maintain the mandrels in a predetermined spaced relationship. The mandrels are removed from the compressed body and it is machined to the proper dimensions before firing in a kiln to sinter the body into a hollow ceramic beam. The ceramic beam includes internal support partitions formed integral with the outer walls of the beam by web portions of the body produced between the mandrels.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a filled composite product of bite-sized solid cereal-based pieces having a recess, and in which the recess has secured therein a multiplicity of smaller solid food pieces. The process involves (a) admixing the larger cereal-based pieces (having a substantial recess or cavity) with the smaller solid particulate ingredients in a revolving vessel, (b) contacting the admixture with a limited quantity of a low viscosity non-tacky liquid of sufficient quantity to slideably adhere the smaller pieces to the larger pieces, (c) rotating the drum, and then (d) drying the resulting filled composite pieces.