Abstract: An explosion treatment apparatus useful for confined shock exposure of materials as for removal of sand cores from finished castings and, in particular, cores in permanent mold castings in which a horizontally axised index device successively presents plural and substantially similar cavities to a position at which sealing, evacuating, fueling and ignition occur. This results in an explosion which occurs upon closure of each chamber. After the confined explosion, the cavity is opened and all cavities are indexed so that the fired cavity can be unloaded, the previously unloaded cavity can be dumped, the next adjacent cavity can be reloaded, and the reloaded cavity is presented to closure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating fluids, such as an agglomerating slurry of coal and water, to supercritical conditions, wherein an electrical current is passed directly through the fluid. The fluid is directed through a container and heated by passing an electric current between a conductor positioned within the container and the interior surface of the container. The current passes through the fluid, and the electrical resistance of the fluid dissipates the electrical current into heat energy, resulting in the direct heating of the fluid. The rate of heating is preferably controlled by adding an electrolyte to the fluid.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing blowing wool from bonded glass fibre material are disclosed in which the glass fibre material is conveyed and cut into strips. These strips are then transversely cut to produce individual cut pieces of the glass fibre material, which are then delaminated in an air stream to produce a blowing wool.

Abstract: The decomposition of cells of biomasses or the like or of substrates containing biomass, e.g. for releasing cell content substances, for separating cell content and cell sheath or for inactivating enzymes or the like is performed by heating and expanding. According to the invention, the biomass or the like is heated by friction, optionally under pressure, to temperatures above the point of evaporation of water and it is subsequently expanded into atmosphere or in a reduced pressure. As for the apparatus, the cells of biomasses or the like are decomposed by means of a centrifugal machine in which a rotor and a stator with facing radial surfaces are coacting. Between the rotor and the stator, there is provided a gap producing frictional heat in a predetermined amount for the material passed continuously therethrough, and at the outlet of the gap, there is an expansion chamber which is in communication the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present demolition agent for brittle materials is prepared by pulverizing a clinker which is obtained by mixing a calcareous material, a siliceous material and gypsum at the molar ratio of CaO/SiO.sub.2 =5.0-14.4 and CaSO.sub.4 /SiO.sub.2 =0.13-1.19 and burning the mixture under an oxidizing atmosphere to 1350.degree.-1550.degree. C. The main components of the clinker thus obtained consist of 24-65% by weight of 3CaO. SiO.sub.2 crystals, 30-60% by weight of CaO crystalline particles and 5-17% by weight of CaSO.sub.4, wherein more than 50% by weight of said CaO crystalline particles is included in the large 3CaO.SiO.sub.2 crystals grown.The present demolition agent is used to break brittle materials by means of the expansive stress of aqueous slurry of the demolition agent poured into the hole of the brittle materials.

Abstract: A two-step method for separating mineral grains from their ores is practised by first applying a shock discharge directly through the ore sample producing shock waves emanating from along the discharge path and reflected shock waves (tension waves) from grain boundaries and other discontinuities in the ore, such tension waves resulting in tensile stresses in the ore greater than the strength of the boundary or discontinuity whereby to gross spall the sample generally along the discharge path and to microfracture the region near the discharge path. The second step comprises comminuting the microfractured ore by impact or non-impact means to further reduce the ore generally along microfractures wherein considerably less energy is expended in the second step than would be required to reduce the ore to the same condition without the first step.

Abstract: An apparatus for the activation of cement comprises at least one electromagnetic particle size reducer having a common reducer hopper at the inlet ensuring a gravity feeding of cement to the reducer, and a series sequence including a receiving hopper having a crusher and a conveying screw in a casing having a classifier in the form of a screen arranged at the outlet of the screw and communicating with the reducer hopper having an inclined bottom wall, the screen of the classifier comprising a body of revolution which is rigidly secured to the shaft of the screw coaxially with the shaft and arranged together with a portion of the screw and casing inside the reducer hopper upstream the inlet of the electromagnetic reducer.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus wherein the liquid to be homogenized or emulsified with the use of little energy relative to the amount of liquid is fed into an ultrasonic chamber (1) in which it is caused to flow as a thin layer across one or more ultrasonic generator surfaces (6), the liquid flow thus treated being admixed continuously with the remaining portion of the liquid within the chamber, finished homogenized/emulsified liquid being simultaneously carried past an ultrasonic generator surface (6) and discharged from the chamber (1).

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen through the autothermal gasification of solid combustibles in a pressure reactor which comprises:introducing into a screw machine containing two parallely ordered shafts, a finely divided solid combustible, moistening and intimately mixing the solid combustible with 2 to 30% by weight of water, degasing and compressing the moist solid combustible to a pressure higher than that of the reactor, adding the gas-tight compressed and moist solid combustible to a reaction chamber-through a burner where the combustible is brought into contact with the gasification medium, thereby evaporating the water in the compressed and moist solid combustible and producing a comminuted dispersion of the solid combustible in the mixture of the gasification medium and water vapor;reacting the combustible dispersion to give a raw synthesis gas and removing the raw synthesis gas from the reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a power supply to an electrode within a high pressure, high temperature vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conductor extending through the vessel such that the net force exerted upon the conductor by the vessel pressure is negligible. An elastomeric material seals the vessel conductor interface and the apparatus cools the sealing material to avoid softening thereof.

Abstract: A solid fuel laser disintegrator for the disintegration of solid fuel particles by laser beams in an environment consisting of a gaseous substance with insufficient oxygen to support combustion, typically principally nitrogen. The disintegration of fuel particles results in the production of minute flammable particles which disperse in nitrogen forming a flammable gaseous mixture. The device provides means for controlling the ratio of nitrogen and minute flammable particles dispersed in nitrogen. Optional means are provided for controlled mixing of oxygen with the mixture of nitrogen and minute flammable particles. The device is typically used in conjunction with a molecular air separator for separating air into its component parts, oxygen and nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-mechanical method of converting coarsely ground limestone to a very fine powder. A slurry of ground calcium carbonate or limestone is contacted with carbon dioxide gas at high pressure to convert the solids in the slurry to an unstable form. The carbon dioxide pressure is then instantaneously released to form a slurry of activated calcium carbonate particles substantially reduced in size. This activated calcium carbonate slurry may be used to scrub flue gases.

Abstract: Subterranean coal seams are treated with ammonia to enhance methane removal and improve the mineability of coal. Residual ammonia remaining from the coal treatment is removed by contacting the coal seam with nitrifying bacteria after ammonia treatment and before mining is carried out.

Abstract: A method for disintegrating a material comprises acting on the material being disintegrated with shock waves produced upon applying individual electromagnetic field pulses to a current-conducting element arranged in a close proximity to the material being disintegrated. An apparatus for disintegrating a material comprises a unit forming electromagnetic field pulses connected to a current source and arranged in a close proximity to the current-conducting element.

Abstract: Solid Municipal Waste is loaded, or loaded and compacted, into a pressure vessel which has means for very fast opening for discharging the contents. The pressure vessel is pressurized, with steam, or a compressed gas such as compressed air. The pressure vessel can be fitted with a breech and a quick release muzzle cover and at the discharge end (muzzle) thereof is fitted with an orifice whose purpose is to promote a powerful turbulence and shock wave, through which the exiting solid material must pass to maintain pressure within the vessel during discharge, and to control the rate of discharge. The disruptive forces produced at the orifice, which can be either a sub-sonic, sonic, or supersonic flow orifice, are a function of the strength of the shock wave or the turbulence. The discharged material is then gravity separated in the wet or dry conditions and the separated materials are then employed in additional processes, or employed as landfill depending on its chemical and physical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the destruction of particles entrained in a gas stream are disclosed. Destruction in the context of the subject invention means the fragmentation and/or vaporization of particles above a certain size limit. The subject invention contemplates destroying such particles by exposing them to intense bursts of laser light, such light having a frequency approximately equal to or less than the mean size of such particles. This invention is particularly adopted to the protection of turbine blades in open cycle coal-fired turbine systems. Means for introducing various chemical species and activating them by exposure to laser light are also disclosed.

Abstract: The float-sink separation of coal from pyrite and ash in a bath of liquid SO.sub.2 is disclosed. The specific gravity of the bath may adjusted by the addition of inert materials such as miscible materials or finely divided solids. Additional separation in another dense medium may be employed. The communition, conveying and mining of coal with liquid SO.sub.2 is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of in-situ coal recovery in slurry form from a coal deposit by first contacting the coal with a gaseous mixture of an oxygen-containing gas containing vaporized NO.sub.2, then with an aqueous alkaline solution to slurry the coal, and then recovering the slurried coal from the deposit. The particular aqueous alkaline solution disclosed herein contains ethanolamine.

Abstract: Coal may be effectively comminuted and the ash and sulfur content thereof reduced by contacting the coal with a hydrogen halide such as HF.

Abstract: A concrete or masonry breaker for mounting on a hydraulically operated shovel, for example, in which a pair of jaws pivoted one on the other is operated in pincer fashion by a hydraulic ram, one of the jaws having a long limb along which the ram is disposed to operate the jaws. The long limb provides a long mounting base for the breaker so that high bending moments can more easily be applied to the concrete to break it. A combined forward and backward acting embodiment is described.

Abstract: A method of removing gangue materials from coal characterized by the steps of comminuting and sizing all of the material to have most particles of a size smaller than one hundred microns; slurrying in an alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; thereafter separating by settling velocity separation into an overflow stream containing most of the valuable coal products for storage as a fuel or the like and an underflow containing the gangue materials with some larger sized coal particles; thereafter diluting the underflow with alcohol and separating by settling velocity separation or the like into an overflow stream containing the coal for storage and an underflow containing mostly gangue material with some coal particles; separating the alcohol from the gangue materials and returning the alcohol to the process. The gangue materials can be employed as a fuel if they contain enough of the entrained coal particles.

Abstract: A method of in-situ coal recovery in slurry form from a coal deposit by first contacting the coal with a gaseous mixture of an oxygen-containing gas containing vaporized NO.sub.2, then with an aqueous alkaline solution to slurry the coal, and then recovering the slurried coal from the deposit.

Abstract: Materials such as coal, rock, etc. are comminuted by a combination of mechanical comminution forces and ultrasonic vibratory energy which creates cyclic fatigue stresses in the material being treated.

Abstract: A process for producing pulverous selenium from dried raw selenium by distillation, granulating the molten distillate, dripping it into water, grinding the granules, and drying the powder, in which the drying of the raw selenium before the distillation is by spray drying, the selenium granules being ground while in the form of an aqueous slurry, and the final drying of the ground selenium slurry being again effected by spray drying.

Abstract: A method of processing hydraulically mined ore slurries containing, in addition to the valuable ore, substantial quantities of contaminating argillaceous material and silica, involving initially separating the argillaceous material from the ore slurry while concomitantly concentrating said slurry to at least 65% solids content, depositing the wet concentrate thus formed on a continuous belt and conveying said wet concentrate via said belt to a beneficiation plant for further treatment.

Abstract: Delamination of the coarse fraction of washed secondary kaolin clay results in a product that is brighter than the starting material, has a degree of whiteness rivalling that of imported English clays, and is composed chiefly of platy particles of various sizes.

Abstract: A hard compact material, such as rock, is broken by forcing a longish mass body of relatively incompressible fluid, such as water, against the material to be broken. The mass body is directed into a hole in the material for impacting a surface therein. Prior to the impact delivering the mass body is accelerated to an impact velocity of sufficient magnitude for causing cracks to form in the material. Further, cracks in the hole are propagated toward a free surface in the material by the effect of the momentum or kinetic energy of the mass body.

Abstract: Granular active carbon having satisfactory adsorbency and hardness characteristics and having a high proportion of its porosity in the below 2000 A range is produced from granules prepared from coal fluid energy milled until not more than 1% of the particles have diameters above 38 microns. The coal has a low ash and high carbon content and may have a British Standard Swelling number from 2 to 7 although it is preferred for the volatile matter content of the coal to be not more than 40% on a dry ash free basis. The granules may be produced by compacting milled particles having a temperature of from 50.degree. C to 250.degree. C between unheated pressure rolls.

Abstract: To effect disintegration of cells of microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, and fungi, a suspension of cells is presaturated with a compressed gas and then passed through one or more disintegration units containing a plate valve seat and valve member urged toward each other. The disintegration unit can be attached to a mechanical vibrator-shaker. At the inlet of said disintegration unit there are two thick-wall vessels, i.e. a mixing vessel to effect intermixing of the suspension and compressed gas and a homogenizing vessel to maintain the suspension under pressure. When the suspension is passed through a throttling slit formed between the valve seat and valve member, cell shells are intensively broken due to the internal pressure.

Abstract: By the action of water jetted against the concrete in systematically controlled manner under ultra-high pressures (i.e. above 25,000 psi) areas of structural concrete are removed to required depths through the one or more levels of aggregate involved efficiently and with safety to the basic structure and to attendant personnel. With this method and apparatus employing an array of such jets scanned progressively back and forth over a work area, the rates at which requisite volumes of hardened concrete can be removed, regardless of condition or state of the concrete and the presence of reinforcing bars, are much greater than those customarily achieved with conventional methods. Moreover the operation can be performed without danger of cutting into and weakening embedded reinforcing bars, without damaging the concrete in adjoining regions, without dust pollution and with minimum noise levels that are also readily shieldable.

Abstract: An instrument and method for applying high pressures of short duration, with very little temperature rise in the sample, to disrupt tissue, kill cells, etc., is described. The instrument uses an accelerating piston to apply a strong impact upon a sample contained in a chamber capable of holding the very high pressures produced. Following the chamber is a nozzle section. The nozzle has a receiving end cap with an impact surface and a receiver extension which can vary the distance between the nozzle exit and the impact surface. Depending upon the acceleration of the piston and sample size, a portion of the sample emerges from the nozzle as a hypervelocity jet while the remainder stays in the nozzle. The part of the sample remaining in the nozzle will have been subjected to the pressures built up by the shock wave created when the piston strikes the sample seal.

Abstract: A pulper for reclaiming cellulosic fiber from scrap paper includes a high-speed pressure-wave-generator impeller with individually hinged arms and a movable foraminous filter in the form of a wire screen that is flexibly mounted. A plurality of impellers and filters are used in a multistage pulper. The pulping energy is directed through the movable filter to isolate the energy source from contact with the fibers. In multistage fibering, filtering is performed between each stage and with successively finer filtering.

Abstract: Method of breaking up objects, particularly concrete, blocks of rock, machines, and motors, and an installation for carrying out the method.

Abstract: This invention is a process for treating an underground formation of coal by contacting the coal with a basic aqueous solution for a time sufficient to disintegrate at least a portion of the coal formation. Subsequently, at least some of the disintegrated material is removed to create permeability in the coal formation. The coal is then treated with a heat carrying fluid to recover energy values from the coal. Another aspect of this invention is a process for slurry mining coal which comprises contacting the coal with the basic aqueous solution for a time sufficient to disintegrate the coal and form a slurry, then conveying said slurry to a receiving terminal.

Abstract: Improved allergen-containing extracts are obtained by the extraction of allergy-causing materials, such as pollen and house dust, with hydrophilic aqueous extractants, by pretreating the allergen-containing material with a lipophilic, aqueous extraction liquid. Allergens extracted in the two steps can be combined and formed into allergen preparations, which can be used both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A method of mining rock utilizes a high-intensity electron beam to break the rock. The electron beam is directed onto the surface of the rock, and has sufficient energy either to ablate the rock at the zone of beam impingement and generate an ablation pressure that is sufficiently high to fracture the rock or to expand thermally the rock and generate a dynamic pressure in a lateral direction to fracture the rock. The electron beam is moved along the surface of the rock at a speed in phase with the speed of crack propagation in the rock.

Abstract: A process is provided for freeing cellulose fibers from lignocellulosic material, which comprises subjecting particulate lignocellulosic material to irradiation at a frequency within the range from about 10 to about 300,000 MHz (megahertz), at an intensity of at least 0.5 megajoule per kg. of material, applied in a short pulse having a duration of at most 0.1 second, at such an intensity the water present in the lignocellulosic material is rapidly and even explosively vaporized, and disrupts or destroys the natural structure of the lignocellulosic material, thereby freeing the fibers substantially without deleterious effect upon the length or strength of the fibers.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for conversion of coal powder of 4 micron size into a finer powder of the order of 1/400 micron by passing through a vertical tube of sufficient length at a temperature of -77.degree. C and thereafter passing through a second chamber by force of gravity where a counter stream of heated nitrogen at 780.degree. C causes the powder to break up into the smaller size particles.

Abstract: The proposed method of working materials comprises the action upon a material placed in a chamber by a plurality of magnetic elements of a magnetically hard material placed in the same chamber and moving chaotically under the action of an alternating magnetic field produced by an electric winding in the space where the chamber is found. The method of the present invention is characterized in that the magnetic elements are placed in the chamber to form a layer whose height is selected within the limits: ##EQU1## WHERE A IS THE AVERAGE SIZE OF THE MAGNETIC ELEMENTS, CM;h.sub.c is the height of the layer of the magnetic elements, cm;B.sub.r is the remanent induction of the magnetically hard material, gausses;.sub.I H.sub.c is the coercive magnetic force of the magnetically hard material, oersteds;.rho. is the density of the magnetically hard material, g/cm.sup.3 ;g is the acceleration of gravity, cm/sec.sup.2.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking concrete surface layers, masonry walls, or like planar constructions, includes two foot members for engaging one surface of the construction at positions spaced apart from one another along a free edge of the construction, and a third member disposed so as to lie on the other side of the construction at a position substantially equally spaced from each of the foot members. An expansion device cuts between a body portion of the apparatus and the free end of the third member and operates to bring the three members into or out of gripping relationship with the construction with the third member furthest from the free edge of the construction. The first member is then moved relatively to the foot members, e.g. by tilting the apparatus, and this exerts a breaking moment on the constructions. Free standing and excavator-mounted versions of the apparatus are described in detail.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of comminuting coal to about 1 to 10 microns size comprising introducing the coal particles into a plurality of vessels, each of which is subjected to high pressure, superheated steam which infuses into the pores of said particles equalizing the pressure therein with that surrounding the particles in the vessel. By opening a discharge valve of each vessel connected to a nozzle leading into a housing, in which a paddle wheel is located, the particles will burst in each vessel to smaller size because of the reduction of the pressure therein surrounding the particles. Opening of said valve will effect acceleration, turbulence and collision of the particles to cause further breakage particularly as the particles are further expanded through the nozzle and against the blades of the paddle wheel driven in a direction opposite that of the nozzle jets. The vessel may be operated under partial vacuum by connection to a steam condenser through which cooling water flows.

Abstract: Solid particles, such as medicinal preparations, are tested for resilience in a fluidizing apparatus. The test of this invention has several applications, such as predicting abrasion loss for particles which are to be coated in a fluidized bed coating operation, estimating abrasion loss for particles during shipping, and predicting disintegration rate of particles in fluids.

Abstract: Glass is recovered for use as cullet from mixtures of broken glass with pieces of metal and other heat resistant materials by a method wherein the mixture is thermally shocked by subjecting it to a rapid increase or decrease in temperature to induce cracks in and/or break-up of the glass particles, while the nonglass particles remain unchanged because of their nature, and the mixture is mechanically treated, by agitating or the like, so that the glass particles are broken up by further propagation of the induced cracks. Prior to the mechanical treatment, and preferably prior to the thermal shock treatment, the mixture is screened or otherwise treated to eliminate fines of all kinds. After the mechanical treatment, the mixture is further screened so that the glass particles, which have been reduced in size, can be recovered as the undersized fraction, while the nonglass particles, which have remained generally the same size, are retained on the screen. A number of modifications are disclosed.