Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing organic contaminants from an aqueous metal-cleaning solution. The apparatus includes a first conduit, or pipe, for removing portions of the contaminated aqueous solution from its tank. The solution enters an extractor which permits intimate contact between the contaminated solution and an organic solvent. A second tube, or conduit, returns the aqueous solution, purified by this contact, to the original tank. A third conduit removes the organic solvent from the extractor after its contact with the aqueous solution, by which time it will contain organic components from the aqueous solution. This solvent, with the contaminants, enters a separator, such as a still, which removes the contaminants from it. The purified organic solvent then returns to the extractor along a fourth conduit. The cleansing operation proceeds intermittently or, preferably, continuously.

Abstract: The system comprises a plurality of on-line cleaning tanks, through which continuous metal strip is passed, and a plurality of storage tanks, each containing a different cleaning solution. Different combinations of cleaning solutions are transferred to the on-line tanks from the storage tanks by selecting a particular combination or sequence of cleaning solutions in accordance with the type or composition of metal or metal alloy comprising the strip and automatically feeding the cleaning solutions to the on-line tanks in accordance with the sequence selected. The on-line tanks and storage tanks are interconnected by a network of conduits, pumps and valves which are automatically conditioned by a control element to operate in response to the selection of a particular cleaning sequence. Upon completion of a cleaning operation, each of the solutions is returned to its corresponding storage tank.

Abstract: In a hydro-jet housing the form block, possibly with core, is stripped of mold sand by means of a high-pressure water jet. The sand is fed in the form of a muddy pulp to a first hydrocyclone, where the water is largely separated and is supplied for the formation of new muddy pulp. The sand flows into a scrubbing mechanism for knocking off its binding material, which has settled as a coat around the sand grains. After being scrubbed, the sand is fed to a second hydrocyclone for hydro-extracting water and dislodged binding material from the sand. The sand is then dried and cooled and is available for further use. The contaminated water is neutralized with flue gas, after which a flocculation agent is added to it and the water is then purified for reuse in a settling tank and possibly in a filter.

Abstract: A vapor generating device including a housing having an open top and closed bottom with a cleaning solvent therein. The housing is provided with first heat means in the bottom thereof to boil the solvent and cooling means in the top thereof to condense the solvent and prevent the solvent from escaping from the housing. A second heat means is provided in the bottom of the housing operable whenever a change in energy requirement within the housing is necessary. The vapor generating device is particularly useful as a cleaning device.

Abstract: A separation apparatus for a condensation-drying plant is disclosed wherein in an autoclave the material to be dried is heated by the heat of condensation of a readily volatile fluid and where this material contains a less volatile fluid (e.g. oil). Two evaporators are provided to separate this less volatile fluid during the drying process. Thermal energy is conserved by feeding the steam of the more volatile fluid from the first evaporator to the autoclave.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus of regenerating fluidizing medium employed in a fluidized-bed incinerator, wherein the sticking matter attached to the fluidizing medium employed in the incinerator in the process of burning up in the incinerator the ash collected from power plant boiler exhaust gases (EP ash) is removed from the fluidizing medium chemically and physically.

Abstract: A dishwasher apparatus having an improved soil separator arranged to bypass a portion of the dishwashing liquid being circulated by the circulation impeller and to separate from the bypass portion of the dishwashing liquid soil which may have been entrained therein. The cleansed dishwashing liquid is then returned to the circulation system for reuse in effecting the dishwashing operation. The soil separator is further arranged to separate from the dishwashing liquid delivered thereto air which may have been entrained in the liquid and return the air to the dishwashing liquid being circulated for washing the dishes. The structure for collecting the soil is arranged to collect the soil from a relatively slowly moving portion of the bypassed liquid. The soil separator structure is arranged to effectively discharge the collected soil to drain upon initiation of a drain operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of at least one surface of an article conted therein is disclosed. The treatment apparatus comprises a treatment enclosure which includes at least one inlet lock-chamber and at least one outlet lock-chamber with an article transport device extending therebetween. The treatment enclosure includes a solvent dispenser which is positioned with an outlet thereof adjacent the article transport device. Included within the apparatus is a vapor extractor for extracting air-solvent vapors from the treatment enclosure. The vapors extracted from the treatment enclosure are directed through a condenser positioned between the inlet lock-chamber and the outlet lock-chamber. Recycling ducts, communicating with the treatment enclosure and the vapor extractor, are also provided for recycling air, from which the solvent vapors have been substantially removed, toward the inlet of the inlet lock-chamber and the outlet of the outlet lock-chamber.

Abstract: A boiler feedwater conditioning tank for removing mud, iron and any other settleable solids from boiler feedwater and adding soluble chemicals to the same, wherein the feedwater is mixed and heated by passing the mixture down and around and up into and through a system of concentric open-ended standpipes erected within the tank. The outlet for clean feedwater lies at the top of the tank inside the upper end of the inner standpipe, and the inlets for the same lie distributively around the outside of the outer standpipe at the bottom thereof. The input port for chemicals lies in the tank side walls and steam heating coils lie between the outer standpipe and the wall of the tank in the path of convective flow of feedwater up between the same.

Abstract: Triglyceride oils are bleached rapidly and efficiently in a continuous system wherein a stream of the oil is preheated to bleaching temperature and is introduced into a mixing zone in such manner as to provide a swirling motion, bleaching adsorbent containing moisture is added to the surface of the swirling hot oil and water vapor or steam derived from the moisture in the adsorbent forms a protective atmosphere above the surface of the oil to protect it from oxidation. The oil-adsorbent mixture is pumped continuously from the mixer to a bleaching zone consisting of one or more static mixers, which may be unobstructed pipe sections, under flow conditions providing an average residence time of approximately one minute. The flow regime in the bleaching zone may be laminar or turbulent. Optionally, the oil-adsorbent mixture may flow continuously from the mixing zone to a vacuum dryer where it is deaerated and dried to optimum moisture content for bleaching prior to being pumped to the bleaching zone.

Abstract: A cleaning device including a housing having an open top and a closed bottom with a chamber mounted therein, the chamber having an open top and an open bottom. The housing is disposed to receive a liquid solution therein, the liquid solution containing at least two immiscible components of different densities, the chamber portion of the housing containing only one of the components therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing volatile materials from drill cuttings by vaporizing the materials on the cuttings in a non-oxidative atmosphere.

Abstract: A dirty or otherwise contaminated volatile solvent or other treatment fluid including relatively more volatile non-flammable and relatively less volatile flammable constituents is recovered or reclaimed by boiling it off from its impurities. As the remainder is concentrated, the evaporated vapor becomes increasingly flammable. In a work process, a treatment tank is used for chemically treating work pieces in a volatile treatment fluid which has a liquid phase and a relatively non-flammable heavier-than-air vapor phase. In this process, heat energy is added to the fluid to maintain the upper vapor phase surface at a substantial distance above the upper liquid phase surface in the tank. When the treatment fluid becomes sufficiently contaminated with dirt introduced by the work pieces or otherwise, it must be removed from the tank and replaced with clean treatment fluid.

Abstract: An improved electroplating apparatus comprises a nonlinear array of treating tanks having a central rinse tank. A hoist motor is located on a fixed support structure above the rinse tank. A traversing guide engages a hoist cable to move the cable around the array of treating tanks. An insulating canopy surrounds the array to conserve waste heat given off by any heated treating tanks. A plurality of shower nozzles is located around the rinse tank for rinsing off any articles carried thereto by the hoist cable. The rinse water is heated by the waste heat conserved by the insulating canopy. The rinse discharge from the rinse tank can be conducted to a concentrating device for concentrating any contaminants contained in the rinse discharge.

Abstract: Simple, flow regulating tap-off means are provided in the bottom of a helical eluent supply conduit which is co-axial with a helical separator sluice in a gravitational separator. The tap-off means is an insert in the floor opening of the eluent conduit having an aperture in the insert and an inner lip at the top of the insert that does not extend above the floor of the eluent conduit. A portion of the inner lip is broken away to facilitate directing the eluent to flow through the aperture. Rotating the insert varies the amount of the broken away portion in contact with the downward flowing eluent which in turn regulates the amount of eluent flow through the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating grease-covered rolling mill scale, according to which the rolling mill scale to be treated is weighed, thoroughly mixed with from 10 to 20% by weight of a solvent e.g. a fluorized chlorohydrocarbon, while finely distributing the greases in the thus obtained mixture. The mixture is then added in a continuous manner to a bath containing such solvent, and is distributed therein. The rolling mill scale is then slowly moved out of the solvent containing bath while mixing the rolling mill scale with an oil-free solvent of the above mentioned type passed in counter-current flow to the last mentioned mill scale. The movement of the thus obtained last mentioned mixture is continued while causing the solvent to drip off out of the grease-free rolling mill scale. The rolling mill scale is then heated, and the residual solvent is driven out of the rolling mill scale.

Abstract: Solid soiled materials are machine washed by withdrawing and recycling the wash liquor in contact with said solid soiled materials through a water-insoluble cation exchange polymer in particulate state having a calcium binding power of at least 2 mVal per gram, said polymer in particulate state being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time that the recycling wash liquor has passed through said polymer at least twice, in the presence of other soluble washing and cleaning compounds, while reversing the direction of flow of said wash liquor through said polymer repeatedly.

Abstract: An improved dishwashing system includes operating methods and apparatus for water and energy conservation and elimination of spot-reducing chemicals in the rinse water. Return water from the rinse cycle is stored in insulated tanks and rinse water flowing to the dishwasher absorbs heat from the return water to thereby conserve the heat energy of the return water while simultaneously cooling the return water to a selected temperature in preparing a feed solution for membrane separation. A controlled quantity of make-up water is added to the feed solution which is raised to a selected pressure to provide for reverse osmosis purification and deionization. The reverse osmosis effluent is accumulated and, when needed, boosted in pressure to a desired operational dishwasher pressure, and heated to sanitizing level so as to achieve desired bacterial count levels during rinse cycles. Rinsing with the purified and deionized water results in film-free and spot-free dishes after drying.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for containers, especially bottles, which includes an endless transporting system for transporting containers to be cleaned through the machine, and which also includes a water pre-softening arrangement comprising at least two softening baths arranged one behind the other when viewed in the container transporting direction of the transporting system with the respective front bath having a lower temperature than the respective succeeding bath. The transporting system is over a considerable portion of its transporting path passed through the softening baths in submerged condition so as to also submerge therein the containers being transported by the transporting system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of removing oil from metal scrap, comprising the steps of introducing oil-laden scrap into a hermetically sealed chamber, evacuating said chamber, heating said scrap to vaporize the oil, and removing the vaporized oil from said chamber.

Abstract: A system for cleaning vehicles, such as train cars, locomotives, buses, and large trucks, of various outer configurations, with optimum cleaning of each vehicle regardless of outer configuration and without use of brushes. The apparatus includes a prewet station, a wash station and a rinse station. The wash station has several conduit arches, each with an engineered nozzle arrangement that provides a specific impact angle in the order of about 80 degrees and a specific impact pressure in the order of from about 0.3 to about 0.5 psi of the washing liquid on vehicles of a specific configuration. The rinse station likewise has several conduit arches, each with an engineered nozzle arrangement that provides a specific impact angle in the order of about 80 degrees and a specific impact pressure in the order of from about 1.5 to about 2.0 psi of the rinse liquid on vehicles of a specific configuration. Each arch is shaped and sized to allow passage of the largest vehicle to be cleaned.

Abstract: A truncated cone shaped pump support and fluid deflector is provided with a plurality of intake apertures in the wall thereof and the pump is supported in the wall below the upper side of the sloping wall so that the intake is uppermost and situated above the intake apertures. This maintains the pump and motor submersed in solvent at all times for cooling purposes and also provides self-priming characteristics to the pump. If the pump is switched on for too long a period, most of the fluid will be pumped to the sink of the parts washing machine thus starving the pump which, if fully exposed, can overheat and become damaged. Furthermore, with conventional pumps, if starved of fluid, air locks often occur which prevents the pump from operating correctly once liquid or fluid is restored thereto.

Abstract: A method of heat exchange comprising flowing liquid heat-exchanging media upwardly as a stream containing fluidized particles onto some of which material is precipitated from the liquid thereby enlarging the particles, temporarily increasing the flow rate of the stream to fluidize the thus enlarged particles, expanding the stream to decrease the flow rate and permit settling out of a coarse fraction of particles and returning the stream to its original flow rate to readmit particles into the non-expanded stream.

Abstract: An industrial washing machine for washing each of a continuous flow of production components in turn has a group of jets mounted in a respective manifold casing at each of one or more washing stations. Each manifold casing is hinged to fixed structure and is held in abutment with a locator stop by a toggle lever latch. Each jet is precisely located in position for use by the combination of the respective locator stop and hinge and can be swung from that position when the respective latch is released in order to facilitate access to the jets for cleaning and/or access to a production component which is supported at the respective washing station for cleaning so that, if such a production component should be displaced, relocation is facilitated. The jets in each manifold casing have a smaller diameter and longer bore than do the remaining jets in the washing section of the machine.

Abstract: A cleaning head is adapted to rest on and be moved over the material to be cleaned. The cleaning head has a central chamber, open at its bottom, and at least one relatively narrow chamber, open at its bottom, peripherally surrounding the central chamber. Ultrasonic transducer means are provided in the central chamber and means are provided for supplying a cleaning solution to the central chamber and for maintaining the level of the solution in the chamber such that at least a portion of the transducer means is immersed in the solution so that vibrations of the transducer means are imparted to the solution. Means are provided for adjusting, i.e. controlling, the pressure of the cleaning solution in the central chamber and the pressure in the at least one peripheral chamber to substantially eliminate the flow of air into the solution in the central chamber and to prevent escape of substantial amounts of solution from the cleaning head.

Abstract: Product cleaning apparatus having a treatment chamber provided with unheated spray cleaning zone and a sump separated by a wall and a closure member which cooperates with the wall so that the spray cleaning zone may be isolated from the sump. During such isolation of the sump and the spray cleaning zone, solvent vapors are removed to thereby facilitate introduction or removal of work into the chamber while minimizing solvent losses to the atmosphere and minimizing exposure of workers to solvent vapors.

Abstract: Strip is cleaned by passing it through a molten salt bath in a rectangular tank having U-shaped heating tubes arranged horizontally along each longitudinal side of the tank. Agitators positioned within L-shaped ducts at diagonally opposite corners of the tank cause movement of the bath past the heating tubes, thus heating the bath uniformly and keeping it in motion to prevent sludge from settling out. A second tank arranged along one side of the main tank has two spaced apart openings into the main tank and an agitator which causes movement of molten salt therethrough. The second tank also has a settling chamber therein through which molten salt passes slowly so as to cause sludge to settle out.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously conducting processes of cleaning, pickling or other fluid treatment of small articles such as metal turnings, cuttings, tags, bolts or coin blanks has rotating inclined drum carrying internal scroll with interruptions for providing countercurrent flows of treatment fluid flowing downward and articles moving upward; special embodiments provide for multiple stage treatments passing through plurality of coaxially rotating drums.

Abstract: An improvement in an etching process in which the etched product, the surface of which is covered with a film of aqueous etching liquid containing ions of the material etched, is rinsed with an aqueous liquid and the resulting liquid, now containing said ions in dilute concentration, is passed through an ion exchanger to selectively remove the ions from the rinse liquid which thereupon can be reused or discharged, without ecological damage, from the ion exchanger. The ion exchanger when laden with such ions is regenerated by passage therethrough of at least a portion of an etcher make-up aqueous replenishing solution which contains a zero or low concentration of said ions. The resulting replenishing solution portion, now containing a small concentration of these ions, is passed to the etcher, e.g., to the etcher sump.

Abstract: An immersion type metal degreaser for use with relatively low boiling fluorocarbon solvents or azeotropes thereof in which liquid solvent is boiled and vaporized in the degreaser by a heater immersed in liquid solvent which constitutes the condenser section of a compression-expansion refrigeration system and in which solvent vapors within the metal degreaser are confined within the degreaser by being cooled and condensed by means constituting the evaporator section of the refrigeration system. An adjunct of the cooling system maintains a portion of the liquid solvent within which ultrasonic units are immersed at the optimum temperature thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously removing a film coating material from a photosensitive base comprising continuously removing a photosensitive emulsion from a film base, which is coated with an emulsion, by the contact reaction of a removing liquid with the emulsion, continuously and automatically washing and recovering the emulsion-removed film base, and continuously and automatically concentrating and recovering the silver halide which is contained; also, in the suspension.

Abstract: The back filter automatic vehicle wash water reclaim system of the present invention is adapted for receiving drain water from an automatic car wash bay and includes a plurality of pairs of back wash filter tanks which are connected together in a manner which will provide for filter flow in a forward direction through a pair of such tanks and will then provide for reverse flow of the entire flow volume in reverse direction through a single filtering tank to thereby back wash such filtering tank.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus such as a degreaser tank is provided with a vapor zone divided into upper and lower portions by a wall and a closure member which cooperates with the wall so that the upper and lower portions of the vapor zone may be isolated from one another. During such isolation of the upper and lower portions of the vapor zone, vapors from the upper portion are removed to thereby facilitate introduction or removal of work pieces into the upper portion of the vapor zone while minimizing solvent losses to the atmosphere and minimizing exposure of workers to solvent vapors.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a selected surface portion of the interior liner of a tire includes a frame; three cooperative fingers adapted to be spread apart to engage the beads of a tire and to spread such beads proximate the portion of the liner to be cleaned; a brush; actuators arranged to move the brush into engagement with the liner portion; a rotary actuator arranged to spray solvent on to the liner portion; and a drain insertable into the tire to withdraw dirty solvent therefrom.

Abstract: A workpiece is passed through an etching tank, and then through at least an upstream rinsing tank and a downstream rinsing tank. In each of the tanks a respective liquid is pumped up from a sump at the bottom and sprayed over the workpiece as it passes through. Liquid is drawn out of the upstream rinse tank and mixed with regenerator chemicals to replenish liquid lost by the etcher and maintain the liquid in the etcher at full strength. Liquid lost from the upstream rinser in this manner is replenished by introduction into the downstream rinser of fresh water and passage of liquid from the downstream rinser to the upstream rinser through an overflow that maintains a higher liquid level in the downstream rinser than in the upstream rinser.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus for separating one component from a second component of a liquid solution and recovering the first component including at least one chamber for generating vapor from the liquid solution and recovering the vapor in a liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering portion chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heat to the vapor generating portion of the chamber and removing heat from the vapor recovering portion of the chamber is a refrigerating system which includes condensing coils and evaporating coils in heat transfer relation with the vapor generating and vapor recovery chamber.

Abstract: Metal articles are sequentially treated in a surface-treatment tank containing a solution of surface-treating agents, then rinsed in a plurality of series-connected water-washing tanks.The contents of the surface-treatment tank and water-washing tanks are cycled to a concentrator by way of a heat exchanger and concentrated solution is returned to the surface-treatment tank. Steam is condensed in the heat exchanger to cause evaporation of water in the concentrator and the steam condensate is transferred to the water-washing tanks.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the quantitative presence of ions derived from solids, liquids, gases or similar items in which a deionized liquid dissolves the ions from the items, the liquid then is evaluated for conductivity by virtue of the presence of the ions, the liquid is then passed through a deionizer to substantially remove the ions, and again the liquid is re-exposed to the partially cleansed item; the cycle is continued until conductivity indicates that a predetermined degree of deionization has been achieved.

Abstract: A water recycle treatment system comprising two main treatment sub-systems for treatment of contaminated water from a plurality of concentrated solutions and rinse baths to separate out the impurities therein. A first sub-system treats less concentrated solutions used for the rinse baths by channeling the flow therefrom to a first neutralizing tank which provides for pH control to produce a mixed output solution having a substantially constant pH factor, which is filtered to remove gross particles, the filtered solution being cooled in a holding tank and passed through a reverse osmosis process and carbon bed to produce clean water. The second sub-system treats highly concentrated solutions obtained from a plurality of chemical processes, mixes them in a second neutralizing tank which is utilized to produce a substantially constant pH output, which is fed to an evaporator to precipitate the metals and salts in sludge and also forms a water vapor output.

Abstract: An and apparatus for removing and recovering contaminating liquid from articles comprising washing the article with a liquid two phase system, one of the phases in the two phase system being immiscible with and preferably insoluble with the contaminating liquid. The remaining phase being miscible with but not the same as the contaminating liquid. The apparatus comprises a series of wash and separating tanks in conjunction with appropriate valves and pumps for utilizing the method to automatically recover contaminating liquid and return it to the process step in which it is used. This creates a balanced rinse and recovery system which prevents loss of contaminating liquid and substantially eliminates the necessity for adding new contaminating liquid to the process step in which the contaminating liquid is used.

Abstract: An alkaline wash water system for cleaning metal-working oil and scale from metal parts including a heated wash water recirculation system in which a small portion of the wash water is continuously removed, the oil and scale separated, and the cleaned portion returned with any make-up water required. The wash water is recirculated through a central zone of the separator. The separation may be a dual, alternate batch separation with a surge tank.