Abstract: Apparatus for producing uniform velocity distribution of fluids in conduits using a non-homogeneous resistance element. A system is described using a non-homogeneous resistance element together with, in the preferred embodiment, a homogeneous resistance element or a second non-homogeneous resistance element to obtain a uniform velocity distribution of fluids flowing in a conduit. The non-homogeneous resistance element is made up of a plurality of flow channels in the form of a honeycomb, with this honeycomb divided into various regions or zones where flow adjustment is desired in order to achieve the uniform velocity distribution. Specific control within these regions or zones is accomplished by inserting resistance units in the flow channels with the units of highest resistance value being inserted in those regions where the velocity is to be reduced the greatest.

Abstract: In a process for the uniform distribution of a two phase gas/liquid or liquid/liquid mixture comprising delivering a first stream of said mixture to a point, and dividing the first stream at the point into at least two streams, the improvement comprising creating a turbulent environment in the first stream just prior to the point at which the first stream is divided into at least two streams.

Abstract: A turbine engine fuel measuring and control system which incorporates a fluidic density sensor which is unaffected by variations in the physical characteristics of the fuel supplied to the engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against the abrasion of pipe walls in a slurry pipeline caused by slack flow when the pipeline is operated in the batch mode, i.e., when one or more water batches and one or more slurry batches are transported through a pipeline. Pressure transducers sense the pressure at each relatively high point of the pipeline as an interface between a water batch and a following slurry batch passes that point. When one of the sensed pressures falls below a predetermined low value of pressure, a control device actuates valves to divert the flow downstream in the pipeline through a staged choke containing flow restrictors, thus raising the fluid pressure in the water batch which then counteracts the effect of the static head of the slurry batch. The flow is redirected away from the staged choke when one of the sensed pressures exceeds a predetermined high value of pressure, thus lowering the fluid pressure and preventing pipe wall overpressure.

Abstract: A flow controller having a volume, a pressure transducer coupled to said volume, a first valve coupled between a source of gas under pressure and said volume, a second valve coupled between said volume and a reference volume, a third valve coupled between said reference volume and a load wherein said valves are cyclically operated so as to permit gas to flow through said volumes to a load and wherein maximum and minimum pressures are measured with said first and second valves closed.

Abstract: An input valve having an input that can be coupled to a source of pressurized gas is open during first portions of successive cycles and closed during the remainder. A volume V is connected between the output of the valve and a load, and gas flows through the volume V to a load during the entire cycle. Pressure in the volume V is measured at the end of the first portion of each cycle and/or at the end of each cycle, and means responsive to a pressure can be used to control the flow of gas through the input valve so as to maintain the pressure on the load at a predetermined value or the difference in the pressures can be used to maintain a constant flow to the load. An output valve can be inserted between the volume and the load and closed while pressure measurements are being made so that the pressure is constant during the measurement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control the flow of liquid through a valve, especially at very low levels down to about 0.5 ml/hour, by monitoring the liquid level in a column of liquid using a sensor, for example a photo-electric cell, which is moved along the column at a predetermined rate corresponding to the liquid flow rate desired, generating a signal from the sensor which is representative of the liquid level, and using the signal to control the opening and closing of the valve to maintain the liquid flow at the desired rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against the abrasion of pipe walls in a slurry pipeline caused by slack flow when the pipeline is operated in the batch mode, i.e., when one or more water batches and one or more slurry batches are transported through a pipeline. Pressure transducers sense the pressure at each relatively high point of the pipeline as an interface between a water batch and a following slurry batch passes that point. When one of the sensed pressures falls below a predetermined low value of pressure, a control device actuates valves to divert the flow downstream in the pipeline through a staged choke containing flow restrictors, thus raising the fluid pressure in the water batch which then counteracts the effect of the static head of the slurry batch. The flow is redirected away from the staged choke when one of the sensed pressures exceeds a predetermined high value of pressure, thus lowering the fluid pressure and preventing pipe wall overpressure.

Abstract: A control system and a method for regulating the division of a single feed stream between two or more pieces of processing equipment operated in parallel. The feed stream enters a three-way valve and is then equally divided into two smaller streams which flow through separate pieces of process equipment and then through separate check valves. The pressure of each of the smaller streams is monitored to detect leakage in either piece of the equipment. The flow normally passing through the leaking piece of equipment is diverted to the intact piece of equipment when the leakage causes a predetermined pressure difference.

Abstract: A regulator for a damper assembly operable to control the flow of conditioned air through a supply duct. The regulator includes a pressure responsive member connected to the damper assembly to vary the position thereof within the supply duct in accordance with changes in the conditioned air supply pressure to maintain a substantially constant volume air flow downstream of the damper assembly irrespective of such changes. The regulator further includes control point setting means for obtaining the level of constant volume air flow including force generating elements acting in opposition to the pressure responsive member for providing a first force at a maximum level of constant volume air flow and for further providing a second force at lesser levels of constant volume air flow.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus comprising a suction device having at least one nozzle for sucking suspendible material as a suspension from a bed of said material, means for producing suction in the nozzle and means for moving the nozzle horizontally and vertically in relation to said bed, and the invention relates more particularly to a method of controlling the horizontal and vertical movements of the suction device by utilizing as control signals the variations of the solids concentration and volume of suspension sucked through the nozzle per unit of time, and the invention also comprises an apparatus having means for carrying the method into effect.

Abstract: In the cooling of newly formed glass containers, the containers are moved from blow molds and placed on what is termed a cooling "dead plate". The dead plate is supplied with air under pressure which is fed into the casting forming the dead plate. The ware sits on a generally flat, perforate member which is the cover for the dead plate casting. The air supply is found beneath the conveyor belt in the housing for supporting the conveyor for carrying the ware away from the forming machine. A plurality of openings, adjacent each ware forming position, are provided through the bottom of the conveyor housing and air within the housing will enter the underlying, horizontal leg of the dead plate casting whose upper surface has complementary openings to those in the conveyor housing and exit through the perforations in the dead plate to cool the ware sitting thereon.

Abstract: A pipe system for conveying fluids having a straight pipe section with a Reynolds number exceeding 2200 by reason of the critical values of interior surface roughness of the pipe and of turbulence at the pipe section inlet, such values being defined, respectively, by the formulae:(e/d) R .ltoreq. 200and(U/V) R.sup.1.67 .ltoreq.