Abstract: An intensive quenching (IQ) apparatus and method of quenching heated parts is provided. The IQ apparatus includes a chute for placing parts into a tank including liquid quenchant. The parts fall through the quenchant in the chute and are received by a conveyor belt. The parts are then transported on the conveyor through an inner channel of a conduit. An agitation rate of the quenchant in the inner channel is increased by an agitator.

Abstract: System and method are presented for use in inspecting a biological tissue. According to this technique, a predetermined location within the biological tissue is illuminated by an illumination pattern comprising a predetermined exciting wavelength range selected to substantially concurrently induce two or more auto-fluorescent responses of two or more predetermined different biological substances of types naturally existing in biological tissues to enable detection of a combined spectral response of the biological tissue to said illumination pattern. Upon identifying in said detected combined spectral response emission wavelengths of said two or more substances, output data is generated being indicative of simultaneous existence on said location of the combination of said two or more predetermined different biological substances, which provides direct indication about said pathological condition.

Abstract: An intensive quenching (IQ) apparatus and method of quenching heated parts is provided. The IQ apparatus includes a chute for placing parts into a tank including liquid quenchant. The parts fall through the quenchant in the chute and are received by a conveyor belt. The parts are then transported on the conveyor through an inner channel of a conduit. An agitation rate of the quenchant in the inner channel is increased by an agitator.

Abstract: A heat treating furnace having a quenching chamber incorporated therein or associated therewith is disclosed. The heating chamber within the furnace is utilized to heat work-pieces to a desired temperature. When the heating cycle has been completed, the heating chamber and the quenching chamber are back-filled with an inert gas to a redundant pressure (over atmospheric). The work-pieces are then transferred into the quenching chamber and lowered into the intensively agitated water in the water quench tank by an elevator mechanism. High quenchant (water) agitation rates eliminate film boiling on the surface of the hot work-pieces. When the compressive stresses on the surface of the work-pieces are at a maximum and are at an optimum depth, or when the cooling recipes otherwise determine, the elevator mechanism in the quenching chamber lifts the work-pieces out of the water quench tank and into the inert gas blanket above the tank, thus interrupting the intensive quenching process.

Abstract: A gas-fired batch booster water heater for supplying sanitizing water to a dish washing machine comprises a chamber member, a water inlet tube, a gas-fired burner, a water outlet tube, a valve member, and a member for circulating water through the chamber member. The chamber member has a first opening operably attached to the water inlet tube and a second opening operably attached to the water outlet tube. The chamber member comprises an integrated heat exchanger and water tank. The gas-fired burner heats the water in the chamber member as it is circulated. The gas-fired batch booster water heater may further include a temperature sensor associated with the water inlet tube for controlling activation of the member for circulating water through the chamber member.

Abstract: A natural or LP gas-fired laminated griddle top structure providing an even distribution of heat over its cooking surface is disclosed. The griddle top includes an upper plate formed from a relatively thick iron or steel plate and a plurality of relatively thick lower plates formed from a dissimilar material having a high thermal conductivity. A thermal break is provided between adjacent lower plates and each lower plate has a channel provided therein for the receipt of a temperature sensing device. In addition, laterally extending grooves are provided in the bottom surface of the lower plates increasing the resulting heat transfer surface improving the thermal efficiency of the griddle top. One or more natural or LP gas-fired burners and associated controls are provided adjacent each lower plate permitting the entire cooking surface to be maintained at the same temperature or portions thereof to be maintained at different temperature, if desired.

Abstract: Both an apparatus and method are provided for vaporizing a liquid cryogen and super heating the resulting vapor into a heated gas. The apparatus includes a combustion-type heat source which may burn a fuel such as propane that generates water-containing combustion gases, and a vaporizer coil having an inlet conduit for receiving a flow of a liquid cryogen, such as liquid carbon dioxide, and an outlet conduit for expelling vaporized cryogen. An annular casing surrounds but is spaced apart from the vaporizer coil. The casing isolates the vaporizer coil from contact with water-containing combustion gases generated by the heat source, thereby preventing the formation of unwanted water and ice on the coil, while at the same time transferring heat from these gases to the coil by thermal radiation. A superheating coil is serially connected to the vaporizer coil to further heat the vaporized cryogen.

Abstract: A fluid heater and method are disclosed for heating a heat transfer fluid flowing within a heater tube using reradiative and convective heat transfer while avoiding direct flame impingement on the heater tube. The heater tube is separated from the flame by a heat shield that cools the flame temperature and reradiates heat energy to the heater tube. The combustion products are directed around the shield and into contact with the heater tube.

Abstract: A compact heat exchanger for a fuel-fired heating furnace. The heat exchanger has a radiative heat transfer section including at least one firetube for containing flue gases as the air to be heated passes over the firetube and a convective section including a shell-and-tube heat transfer apparatus arranged to receive flue gases from the firetube in the shell region and the air to be heated after it passes over the firetube in the tubes.