Abstract: Wastes from insulated electrical cables, including plasticized polymeric material and metal conductors are treated with a solvent to extract selectively the plasticizers in the polymeric material and subsequently the deplasticized polymeric material is subjected to cold crushing. The method is particularly advantageous in connection with the recovery of mixed wastes including plasticized polyvinyl halides and olefin polymers, allowing the selective cold crushing of the polyvinyl halides and their recovery.

Abstract: The removal of paint from a support device for a product in a paint finishing operation is improved by using a support device with a critical surface tension such that paint adheres to the surface, yet readily fractures and debonds when treated with a cryogenic liquid. The paint is then removed by contacting the cryogenically treated support device with a non-metallic, non-silica base solid, gas or liquid with sufficient force to effectively remove the paint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal of mold core material from metal castings and for fragmentation of municipal waste material, e.g., paper products, involves heating and hydrating the materials within a pressure vessel. Chemicals active on the material to be processed or the hydration water are added during hydration to soften the material to be removed or fragmented. Excess liquid in the vessel is drained and pressurized steam is added for a selected period of time. A suitable temperature and pressure are achieved such that the moisture or liquid carried by the processed material will rapidly turn to steam or vapor when the pressure in the vessel is rapidly reduced by quickly opening an unloading means at the bottom of the pressure vessel. The sudden release of the pressure in the vessel causes the moisture to change to steam and a certain portion of the liquid in the material to flash to vapor in accordance with thermodynamic laws.

Abstract: A process for removing an adhered substance from steel ingots, which comprises heating or cooling a steel ingot after the casting under such conditions that the heating or cooling rate at the surface layer portion of the steel ingot is not less than 2.degree. C./sec and the temperature difference between the starting and end points is not less than 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A coating layer, such as a photosensitive selenium coating is removed from a substrate by producing cracks in the layer, introducing a volume expansive material into the cracks, and then causing the volume expansive material introduced into the cracks to expand and thereby dislodge the coating layer from the substrate.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquid is used to directly or indirectly cool solid or liquid contaminants adhering to apparatus surfaces to effect a change in the physical characteristics of the contaminants and thereby render them more susceptible to removal operations.

Abstract: An item is cleaned in a portable lavage device comprising a moveable tank for holding a cleansing liquid, a pump and flow restricting mechanism coupled to the tank for circulating the cleansing liquid under a pressure which gradually and cyclically varies from a maximum to a minimum pressure greater than zero to reduce noise during operation of the device, and spaced nozzles coupled to the circulating pump and flow restricting mechanism and arranged to spray the cleansing liquid under varying pressure against an item to be cleaned.This is a division of application Ser. No. 248,510, filed Mar. 27, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,331.

Abstract: Contaminated plastic waste material in the form of used Petri dishes, so-called agar plates, is rendered harmless and cleaned by placing the agar plates in a bacterium-tight heating chamber maintained substantially at atmospheric pressure and contacting them with water at an elevated temperature, preferably 90.degree.-98.degree. C. for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period the agar plates are rinsed with water which is then drained off through an outlet in the bottom of the heating chamber. The agar plates to be treated are loaded into the heating chamber in batches contained in bags wholly or partly consisting of a plastic sheet material which is solid and substantially insoluble in water at room temperature but soluble in water at the elevated temperature.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquid is used to directly or indirectly cool solid or liquid contaminants adhering to apparatus surfaces to effect a change in the physical characteristics of the contaminants and thereby render them more susceptible to removal operations.

Abstract: A method for extracting an underground mineral such as coal, which avoids the need for sending personnel underground and which enables the mining of steeply pitched seams of the mineral. The method includes the use of a narrow vehicle which moves underground along the mineral seam and which is connected by pipes or hoses to water pumps at the surface of the earth. The vehicle hydraulically drills pilot holes during its entrances into the seam, and then directs sideward jets at the seam during its withdrawal from each pilot hole to comminute the mineral surrounding the pilot hole and combine it with water into a slurry, so that the slurried mineral can flow down to a location where a pump raises the slurry to the surface.

Abstract: There is provided a coffeemaker comprising a water reservoir, a quartz-glass tubular heating chamber having an external electrical heating element in contact therewith, an inlet tube for conducting water from the reservoir through the chamber, and an outlet tube for discharging the heated water over ground coffee. Associated therewith is a switch responsive to the temperature of the heating chamber wall for automatically de-energizing the heating element. When the flow of water through the heating chamber ceases, the heat capacity of the heating chamber, the electrical power consumption of the heating element, and the location and the adjustment of the temperature-responsive switch are so related to each other that the heating chamber walls will be rapidly heated to a temperature of at least about 450.degree. C. before the heating element is de-energized by the temperature-responsive switch. The result is that any scale on the heating chamber walls is thereby thermally decomposed and removed.

Abstract: Used foundry sand is reclaimed by crushing the sand and separating both metallic material and at least a portion of the unwanted non-metallic portion of the sand, then heating the sand to a temperature of about 1400.degree. F. for burning off the foreign material and causing the sand particles to pass through a strong expansion phase somewhere above 1000.degree. F. and passing through a contractual phase at a higher temperature to thereby cause the foreign material to be cracked or otherwise parted from the particles and the sand particles become increasingly thermally stable from subsequent reuse as clean sand. The heated sand is then cooled to about 400.degree.-500.degree. F. The process includes the utilization of some of the heat of the thermal furnace for a shell coating operation.

Abstract: A method and system for carrying out the method, relating to mixing of solutions, wherein the base liquid in a tank is circulated through an endless circuit while the chemical is gradually introduced into the circulating flow base liquid to achieve thorough mixing. A chemical is withdrawn under valve control into a measuring receptacle prior to mixing same with the base liquid. Provision is included for rinsing the chemical source container, the resulting rinse solution being automatically introduced into the tank, leaving the source container in condition to meet legal requirements for disposal. To simplify disposal of rinsed containers and discourage re-use thereof, a feature of the method and system involves means creating a differential pressure between the outside and inside of the containers for collapsing the containers. A novel multiple valve assembly enables all features to be embodied in a simplified and condensed system.

Abstract: Particles adhering to the internal surfaces of an object are removed by conveying an explosive gas or gas mixture to the chamber defined by the surfaces, and detonating the gas or mixture. The detonation loosens the adhering particles, which are then removed from the chamber. The invention has particular application to the removal of particles from the internal surfaces of a body having a plurality of outlets communicating with the chamber.

Abstract: To remove an old photoresponsive or photoconductive selenium layer from a drum of a copy machine as preparation for the vacuum evaporation of a new photoresponsive layer thereonto, the drum is immersed in a hot fluid such as water, steam or liquid or vapor trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene. Due to the softening of the photoresponsive layer and the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the photoresponsive layer and the drum material, the photoresponsive layer may be subsequently easily physically removed from the drum.

Abstract: The method for removing sea-growth from submerged ship-hull surfaces by the utilization of an apparatus which comprises a net with a predetermined mesh design made from an explosive cord with pre-determined charge and manufactured in a specific net pattern for obtaining sequential ignition in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A method for removing adherent deposits from metal surfaces is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the adherent deposits with a liquid and then heating and cooling the liquid in alternation for a time sufficient to dislodge the deposits from the surfaces.