Abstract: Process and furnace for producing clinkered cement pellets from pellets of cement-forming batch materials without melting, fusion and agglomeration of said pellets. The furnace comprises an elongate vertical suspension shaft having top, intermediate and bottom portions. Pellets are fed at the top and heated to calcining temperatures before exiting the shaft into a pre-clinkering zone beyond the bottom. The pellets are heated to pre-clinkering temperatures and deposited on a porous pellet bed through which cooling air is forced to control the exothermic clinkering reaction and to regulate the speed at which the pellets migrate through the shaft.

Abstract: Process and furnace for producing clinkered cement pellets from pellets of cement-forming batch materials without melting, fusion and agglomeration of said pellets. The furnace comprises an elongate vertical suspension shaft having top, intermediate and bottom portions. Pellets are fed at the top and heated to calcining temperatures before exiting the shaft into a pre-clinkering zone beyond the bottom. The pellets are heated to pre-clinkering temperatures and deposited on a porous pellet bed through which cooling air is forced to control the exothermic clinkering reaction and to regulate the speed at which the pellets migrate through the shaft.

Abstract: A pulsed combustor comprising at least one aerodynamic diode, a diffuser, fuel injectors, combustion chamber/duct, igniters, and muffler providing plug type flow with successive ignition and wave generation at the hot gas interface of the previous pulse. The downstream wave of each pulse propagates through the muffler whereas the upstream wave of each such pulse is at least partially reflected downstream with the diode(s) and diffuser minimizing reverse flow and maximizing pressure gain in the cumbustor.

Abstract: An electron beam device having a vacuum chamber in which an electron beam generator generates a directed stream of electrons. An electron beam window comprising a foil which seals the vacuum chamber is in the path of the stream of electrons and permits passage of the stream of electrons into a working region exterior of the chamber and adjacent the electron beam window. An electrode is positioned closely adjacent the foil and a second electrode is spaced from the foil to form an elongated working or, in the case of a laser, a lasing region between them. The electrodes are maintained at a high electrical potential which, along with the electron beam, molecularly excites a gaseous working medium between the electrodes. The included angle of electrons passing through and scattered by the foil is limited and the electron beam confined to a desired region by an external shield or bezel overlying the foil.

Abstract: The working parts of a flowing gas laser are enclosed within an airtight housing comprising a first plenum separated from a second plenum. Blower means comprising one or more modules is provided with gas inlet means for receiving gaseous lasing medium from the second plenum and gas outlet means for exhausting the lasing medium to the first plenum. Means defining a lasing region are provided with gas inlet means for receiving lasing medium from the first plenum and gas outlet means for exhausting the lasing medium to the second plenum. The blower means provides a differential pressure across the lasing region sufficient to provide the desired flow of lasing medium through the lasing region. Due to the action of the blower means, lasing medium is caused to circulate from it to and through the lasing region and back to and through the blower means.

Abstract: In a pulsed gas laser, pulses of electrical or other energy are desirably converted in part into pulses of quantum mechanical pumping of the lasable gas, and unavoidably converted in part into pulses of heating of the lasable gas. According to this invention, efficiency and economy of operation are enhanced by exploiting the pulses of heating to propel and recirculate the gas through cooling means to freshen it thermally for further cycles of lasing, utilizing a structure comprising an acoustically tuned duct and an acoustic diode to establish proper phasing and direction of the pulsed and recirculating operation. The invention, although applicable to other gas lasers, is particularly applicable to electron beam ionized, electrical current sustained lasers. The invention reduces if not eliminates the cost, bulk and other disadvantages of a mechanical pump or other conventional recirculation equipment.