Abstract: Disclosed is a chamber which defines a constant gas flow environment for passing objects therethrough carried by a conveyor. The chamber comprises an elongate housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening in the longitudinal direction and a moving conveyor which runs the length of said housing for transporting object from said inlet opening through said housing and thereout through said outlet opening, the space below said conveyor being enclosed and connected to a source of exhaust for exhausting gaseous substances therein. The space above the conveyor comprises an inlet zone, a central gas zone, and an outlet zone. The inlet zone and the outlet zone both are of a bi-cameral containment arrangement comprising an outer adjustable gate for determining the inlet opening, a central adjustable baffle gate, and an inner deflector wall. The space between the outer gate and the baffle gate is connected to a source of exhaust.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chamber which defines a constant gas environment for passing moving objects therethrough and which is in open communication with the outside. The chamber comprises an inlet zone, a central interior gas flow zone wherein the constant gas environment is maintained, and an outlet zone. All zones are in open communication and the inlet and outlet zones are in open communication with the environment outside of the chamber. The interior gas flow zone has ostensibly transverse laminar gas flow passing through it. The inlet and outlet zones are provided with a source of suction to create a pressure within each zone which is less than the ambient pressure outside of the chamber and wherein such pressures are substantially the same. The interface between the central flow zone and each of the inlet and outlet zones are held under conditions substantially preclusive of turbulent flow conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chamber which defines a constant gas flow environment for passing objects therethrough carried by a conveyor. The chamber comprises an elongate housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening in the longitudinal direction and a moving conveyor which runs the length of said housing for transporting object from said inlet opening through said housing and thereout through said outlet opening, the space below said conveyor being enclosed and connected to a source of exhaust for exhausting gaseous substances therein. The space above the conveyor comprises an inlet zone, a central gas zone, and an outlet zone. The inlet zone and the outlet zone both are of a bi-cameral containment arrangement comprising an outer adjustable gate for determining the inlet opening, a central adjustable baffle gate, and an inner deflector wall. The space between the outer gate and the baffle gate is connected to a source of exhaust.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyester resin from dicarboxylic acid anhydrides and monoepoxides in a specially designed mixing apparatus. The mixing apparatus is a vessel having a centrally disposed vertical draft tube and a centrifugal impeller at the lower end of the draft tube. A plurality of vertical heat exchange tubes surround the draft tube. The reactants are admitted into the vessel and drawn down through the draft tube by the impeller which mixes the reactants and forces the reactants up through the heat exchange tubes. The heat exchange tube portion of the vessel acts as a plug flow reactor, and the upper and lower portions of the vessel act as a back mix reactor. As reactants are admitted into the vessel, product is drawn off from the vessel.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus comprising a vessel having a centrally disposed vertical draft tube and a centrifugal impeller at the lower end of the draft tube. A plurality of vertical heat exchanger tubes surround the draft tube. Ports are provided for the inlet of raw material and the outlet of product. The impeller draws liquid down through the draft tube, mixes it in an area of turbulence below the impeller and forces it up the heat exchanger tubes. Materials react in the heat exchanger tubes as in a plug flow reactor and elsewhere in the vessel the liquids mix and react as in a back mix reactor.The equipment is usable for continuous as well as batch operations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing a thermosetting resin for further processing. The resin is poured from a batch reactor onto a continuously moving conveyor belt to form a layer of about 2 to 4 inches thick. After the batch is received on the conveyor, the conveyor is stopped for several hours to permit the batch to cool and solidify. Thereafter, the conveyor is restarted and a chopper at the downstream end of the conveyor chops the solidified batch into small chunks and flakes. The conveyor has a rigid trough support under the upstream end of the conveyor's upper run and roller assemblies holding the conveyor in a trough configuration at its downstream end.