Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and activating polymer which includes the introduction of gas with water and polymer in order to create a variable density type foam which aids in the activation and enhances the efficiency of the polymer. The apparatus of the preferred embodiment provides the introduction of water and polymer into a mixing loop having a premixing manifold containing a static mixer, injecting or sparging gas into the outflow from the static mixer, blending and activating by mechanical agitation the water polymer and gas mixture, partially feeding back into the mixing loop the mixture to provide a desired level of polymer activation which is delivered at a desired rate of flow. This system provides capabilities for selecting the desired level of activation, levels of polymer concentration, levels of overall flow rate as well as controlling the various energy imparting elements of the apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integral portable fan and atomizing head unit forming a portable cooling unit adapted for direct attachment to a fluid reservoir such as a bottle, formed by a unit having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and a connector secured to the lower chamber. The upper chamber is provided with a motor and electrical means to activate and deactivate the motor and fan means including flexible fan blades mounted externally on the upper chamber and connected to the motor to turn in response to the activation of the motor. The lower chamber is provided with pump means and pump activation means and provided with an atomizing head in order to atomize fluid pumped up through the head. The connector is attached to the lower chamber and is adapted to disengageably engage a fluid reservoir directly, such as a bottle.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system has a valve in a tap controlling dispensing of the beverage through a first passage from a second rigid or flexible container. Air, nitrogen (or other inert gas) or carbon dioxide gas from a passage is introduced into the beverage in the first passage during dispensing for development of a head of froth. The introduced gas flows under pressure (which is preferably adjustable) from the second passage and by way of a capilliary tube restrictor and a non return valve communicating with the tube into the beverage in the first passage. The non return valve has a resilient diaphragm which normally closes that valve and is displaceable under gas pressure to admit the gas to the beverage. A labyrinthine mixer is located in the first passage downstream of the position where the gas is introduced.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system and distributing process with such a system has a flexible bag 1 containing the beverage which may have carbon dioxide dissolved therein. The beverage is drawn off through a pipe 3 (assisted by a pump 8) for dispensing through nozzle 5 having a tap 6. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen (or other inert gas) and/or air gases are introduced into the beverage through a passage 11 by way of a fixed orifice restrictor 12 and a non-return valve 13. The pressure of the gas which is introduced is adjustable at 14 and baffles 15 can provide turbulence in the beverage during dispensing to promote the dissolution of the introduced gas therein.The facility to introduce the gas or gases permits the beverage in the bag 1 to have a low content of carbon dioxide so that the bag collapses under atmospheric pressure while the beverage as dispensed is additionally gasified for the formation of a froth or head.

Abstract: An aerated cementitious composition is produced by feeding a mixture comprising cement and foaming agent to a mixing chamber open to atmosphere together with a feed of liquid. The ingredients are mixed and the wetted mixture pumped to a desired site, the capacity of pumping being greater than the feed rate of the ingredients into the mixing chamber such that air is drawn into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable fan device including atomizing means associated therewith, particularly adapted for cooling sunbathers. The device is formed by a base which is adapted to contain a source of fluid, an intermediate neck portion extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a head portion, the head portion carrying a fan and atomizing means associated therewith. The portable electrical means, such as a battery pack, are carried in the base, and electrically wired to the fan with a switch interposed in said circuit in order to permit the fan to be actuated to blow air. The atomizing means is positioned in the head portion immediately below the fan means and may be manually manipulated in order to create a mist which blows out immediately in the path of the fan. The subject fan device permits the user to actuate the fan and the atomizing means at any given time in order to create a misting cooling effect, especially in the environment of sunbathing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and apparatus for mixing gaseous mixtures into sea-water pumped from an aquarium through the contact tube of a protein skimmer. The invention forms air bubbles of a specific uniform diameter so as to obtain an optimum skimming. The apparatus has a centrifugal pump closed about the periphery of the vanes at the suction side. A suction port at the axial part of the impeller forms water intake ports which surround an internal gas injection connection projecting into an axial water suction connection of a central disk fixed within the suction port of the impeller. The height of the water column over the suction point can, within limits, be taken into account by different gas and water suction cross-sections, adjustment of the gas injection connection relative to the water suction connection, and different sizes of the impeller.

Abstract: An aerated cementitious composition is produced by feeding a mixture comprising cement and foaming agent to a mixing chamber open to atmosphere together with a feed of liquid. The ingredients are mixed and the wetted mixture pumped to a desired site, the capacity of pumping being greater than the feed rate of the ingredients into the mixing chamber such that air is drawn into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A two stage mixing gear pump for dispersing a gas into a liquid wherein a metered quantity of liquid from the first stage of the pump is supplied to gas filled intertooth spaces of the second stage pump. The gas is introduced into the intertooth spaces of the second stage of the pump through a gas inlet which is adjacent the low pressure side of the gear teeth meshing zone of the second stage of the pump and the liquid enters the gas containing intertooth spaces downstream of the gas inlet.

Abstract: A cream whipping machine has an electric motor (1), a vane pump (3,9) and a whipping barrel (26) fitted closely together in axial alignment. Air and cream are sucked in to the pump chamber (14) via an intake assembly (16). A pump rotor (3) is fixed to a motor shaft (2) and a pump casing (9) together with the whipping barrel (26) and intake assembly (16), may be withdrawn from the rotor by undoing bolts (11). A space (13) to the motor side of a main pump seal (8) is vented to atmosphere through an opening (12) so that if the seal fails the liquid product is not forced into the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the density of dispensed hot melt thermoplastic adhesive foam in order to assure uniform foam characteristics. In order to create the hot melt adhesive foam, air or any relatively inert gas is mixed with the thermoplastic adhesive while the adhesive is in the molten state, and the mixture is then pressurized so as to force the gas into solution with the molten adhesive. As the molten adhesive/gas solution is dispensed at atmospheric pressure, the gas is released from solution and becomes entrapped in the adhesive so as to form a homogenous closed cellular adhesive foam. According to the practice of this invention, the supply of gas is periodically discontinued so as to prevent an excess volume of gas from being admixed with the molten adhesive whenever foamed adhesive is not being dispensed, thereby stabilizing the density of the adhesive foam.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a belt of a material to which a liquid may cling and which is sufficiently transparent to the flow of air therethrough to achieve evaporation of the liquid on the belt by the air. A portion of the belt dips into a reservoir of water. Air is propelled through the belt and the belt is moved through the water. A float valve is responsive to the level of water in the reservoir for maintaining that level upon receipt of an input flow of the water. A separate sump contains a reserve supply of the water. A pump is operated along with operation to move the belt for supplying liquid from the sump through the float to the reservoir.

Abstract: A gear pump for dispersing a gas into a liquid is provided with mixing means for improving the uniformity of the dispersion. In preferred form, the mixing means comprises a series of fixed, shallow, blind cavities that open to the pumping cavity between the liquid inlet and the outlet, and which are positioned to be "wiped" by the gear teeth as the gears rotate. The alternate connection and disconnection of the intertooth spaces to these cavities as the gears rotate establishes motion or turbulence of the gas/liquid mixture within the intertooth spaces, and surprisingly improves uniformity of the dispersion.

Abstract: A mixing and pumping system of high efficiency ideally suited for supplying chemical solutions to automatic film developing machines, which supplies the required intimately and uniformly blended mixture of replenishing chemicals, without objectionable exposure to air, and even though these fluids may be inherently difficult to mix, which system generally comprises a cylindrical chamber having near one end a rotating impeller, and an inner cylinder concentric with the chamber which extends to the end of the chamber remote from the impeller and which defines an opening with the chamber at the end nearest the impeller. Fluids are introduced into the annular space separating the inner cylinder and the chamber, the impeller is rotated to alter the fluids at least in the region of the impeller, and the mixed fluids are then passed from within the inner cylinder to the outside of the system.

Abstract: A fuel injection system is provided for gas turbines or the like which includes a pair of high pressure pumps which provide fuel and a carrier fluid such as air at pressures above the critical pressure of the fuel. A supercritical mixing chamber mixes the fuel and carrier fluid and the mixture is sprayed into a combustion chamber for burning therein. The use of fuel and a carrier fluid at supercritical pressures promotes rapid mixing of the fuel in the combustion chamber so as to reduce the formation of pollutants and promote cleaner burning.

Abstract: A whipped cream making machine comprising a fixed whipping barrel, having a substantially labyrinth passage defined therein, to which a liquid milk product is supplied under pressure after having been sucked by and mixed with a gas in a suction pump. The liquid milk product mixed with air is emulsified as it flows through the labyrinth passage in the fixed whipping barrel and then is supplied towards a rotary whipping barrel having therein a stirring rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The emulsified milk product is stirred so that it can further be emulsified during its flow through the rotary whipping barrel. The machine further comprises a platform arrangement for the support of an article to be decorated with the whipped cream discharged from a dispensing nozzle of the whipping machine.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing a novel adhesive product. The product is a pair of substrates adhered together by compressed hot melt adhesive foam. The foam is created by first mixing a chemical blowing agent, such as powdered azodicarbonamide, into the solid hot melt adhesive at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent. Subsequently, the solid adhesive and powdered blowing agent are heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the solid adhesive and above the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent while confining the molten mixture under pressure in order to force the gas generated by the decomposition of the blowing agent into solution with the liquid adhesive. The liquid adhesive is subsequently dispensed at atmospheric pressure with the result that the gas is released from the solution and becomes entrapped in the adhesive to form a homogenous closed cellular adhesive foam.

Abstract: A novel method and several different unique modifications of apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing a novel adhesive product. The product which results from use of the foam is a pair of substrates adhered together by compressed foam. The adhesive foam is created by intimately mixing air or any relatively inert gas with thermoplastic adhesive while the adhesive is in the liquid state and then pressurizing the liquid/gas mixture so as to force the gas into solution with the liquid adhesive. The liquid adhesive is subsequently dispensed at atmospheric pressure with the result that the gas is released from the solution and becomes entrapped in the adhesive to form a homogenous closed cellular adhesive foam.

Abstract: A vacuum pump of the liquid vortex type including a closed tank and a helical rotor for operation below the level of liquid therein is provided with a readily demountable rotor unit mounted exteriorly of the tank and having its enclosing shroud opening into the tank. Servicing, including that for removal of scale is greatly facilitated. In addition the pump is provided with a system of ultrasonic vibration elements whereby the accumulation of scale is inhibited or greatly reduced.

Abstract: Plywood is made by continuously propelling a liquid plywood glue in unfoamed condition at a predetermined flow rate, continuously foaming the glue as it is propelled, and continuously extruding or otherwise applying the foamed glue to the surface of a plurality of wood veneers. The flow rate of the unfoamed and foamed glue is maintained substantially the same on a unit weight of liquid glue per unit time basis. The veneers then are laid up into a plywood assembly and pressed into a plywood panel. The veneers may be preheated to expedite setting of the glue. The method is applicable generally to the application of a foamed liquid to a solid surface.