Abstract: Packing sheets are disclosed each of which consists of a flat base and parallel tube sectors formed thereon, alternately on opposite sides of the base. The walls of the tube sectors are corrugated preferably transversely to their length. Such sheets may be assembled together, e.g. using integral joint members, to form packing units of high efficiency for use in phase contacting applications such as cooling and distillation towers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an end box for chemical cells, such as cells for producing chlorine. Such end boxes are known and are lined with a corrosion-resistant lining. The end box of the present invention is formed in a plurality of sections and is provided with separating baffles. These sections and baffles are individually and completely covered with a corrosion-resistant lining which is soft and flexible, and which can doubly function as a gasket material so that when the end box sections are assembled, no gaskets are required and the individual sections and baffles can be separately removed for replacement without disassembling the entire end box or removing the complete assembly from an associated cell.

Abstract: Protection of reactors, installed in an enclosed space, in which reactions take place with gases or volatile substances that are toxic and/or that can form an explosive mixture with air. The enclosed space is in open connection with means for passing any gases that may have escaped from the reactor through a liquid bath. The height of the liquid layer and the contents of the liquid bath are sufficient for the maximum possible amount of gas or volatile substance issued from the reactor to be dissolved, condensed, cooled off, inertized or be allowed to react. The liquid in the bath is water, lye, a salt solution, a cooled salt solution or heavy oil.

Abstract: A device for storing sterile instruments and memorizing the count thereof. A main frame includes a plurality of juxtaposed boots, individually and selectively rotatable from open to closed positions. Each open boot stores the handle of an instrument and a rotatable cover plate is locked into position overlaying open and closed boots to apply holding contact pressure against instrument handles inserted in open boots. The number of open boots indicates the number of instruments selected to be stored by the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of hot regenerated catalyst particles from a moving bed regenerator column is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to obviate pressure surges in the regenerator column, a condition which has been determined to result from a periodic discharge of hot regenerator catalyst particles into a catalyst hopper vented to the regenerator column.

Abstract: An open-top container receives a dental tool support in the form of an open-bottom cylinder provided with threads around its upper and lower ends engageable with internal threads at the upper end of the container so that the support may be held by the container in either an upper or lower position. A cap threadedly engages the tool support to seal the assembly when the support is in its lower position.

Abstract: Sparger ring for catalytic cracker regenerator comprises a plurality of converging nozzles for air entry to reduce erosive wear.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for distributing a liquid in film form in the interior of vertical tubes in which a counterflow or cocurrent flow of liquid-vapor takes place. The apparatus includes a cylindrical body having an annular ledge and helical grooves on its peripheral surface, and wherein the cylindrical body is slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly to enable it to be easily introduced into the tube and to enable it to be freely rotated about its own vertical central axis. In the case of counterflow circulation, the cylindrical body has a blind laterally perforated vent tube on its top surface. In each instance the rotation of the body is effected by the liquid being distributed to inhibit the formation of deposits of solids from the liquid being distributed on the inner wall of the vertical tube.

Abstract: A flow dampener apparatus is disclosed for converting a periodic discharge of a measured volume of catalyst particles to a substantially steady state flow.

Abstract: A mass exchanger with a cellular packing in form of checkerworks forming cells bent in the lower part forming the gaps. The bends of the cells are of radial or skew type. The checkerworks are formed by single or duplex walls. Alternate checkerworks are turned in relation to each other at about an angle of from 0.degree. to 90.degree., an advantageous angle is 45.degree..

Abstract: In a vessel such as for a fluid coker burner, there is provided a plenum chamber which functions as a collection header for the clean gas discharge from a plurality of cyclone stages supported within the vessel. The plenum chamber comprises a cylindrically-shaped support skirt welded at one end to the vessel head and at the other end to a relatively thin, flat steel floor, no more than about three-sixteenths to five-eighths of an inch thick. Each of the cyclone stages are individually and separately supported by support means connected directly between each stage and the vessel head and the plenum chamber floor is welded to the cyclone stages, thereby supporting the floor. This permits use of a thinner plenum chamber floor which is capable of sustaining distortions which arise from the differential vertical thermal expansions of the cyclone stages during operation.

Abstract: A safety chemical cartridge for adaptation in an automatic chemical feeder apparatus. The cartridge including a cylinder-like chemical container having an outer surface with first and second ends and a middle portion spaced between the two ends.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the carrying out of gaseous phase reactions, illustrated by way of example by the preparation of sulphur hexafluoride of high purity, starting from elemental fluorine and sulphur, both in gaseous phase. One of the gaseous reactants, e.g., the fluorine, is fed into a reaction chamber through inlets in a metal plate, maintained at between 30.degree. and 70.degree. C. while the other, e.g., sulphur in gaseous phase, is fed in through the nozzle of a burner, e.g., by regulating a current of an inert gas which is saturated with sulphur by passing same through a zone containing molten sulphur at a temperature between 250.degree. and 500.degree. C., and subsequently superheating the inert gas thus saturated with sulphur to a temperature between 300.degree. and 550.degree. C.

Abstract: A catalyst spray nozzle for injecting a finely atomized spray of liquid catalyst into a high pressure chemical reactor such as an autoclave reaction vessel for polymerizing ethylene into polyethylene. The liquid catalyst is fed under pressure to the discharge end of a passageway in the spray nozzle. A cylindrical valve member is positioned in a cylindrical compartment disposed adjacent to and coaxially with the discharge end of the passageway, and is biased against the discharge end by a spring coaxially positioned in the compartment. The spring biased valve element prevents liquid catalyst from passing through the nozzle until a given backpressure on the catalyst is established. When the given backpressure is reached, the pressure biases the valve member away from the passageway and the catalyst is forced through at least one discharge orifice under sufficient pressure to cause it to be sprayed in a finely atomized state into the reactor.

Abstract: A stand for instruments of metal for use in the field of medicine, particularly odontology, comprising a body composed of a large number of sheets of a liquid impregnatable paper material. The sheets are arranged vertically close together so that the instruments are insertable by their operating ends between the sheets to be retained there during the sterilizing process and are thus stored easily accessible for subsequent clinical work. The sheets of paper are impregnated with a corrosion inhibitor to protect the instruments at least during a sterilizing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing hydrocarbon fuel requirements for Haber Ammonia Synthesis by the supply of selected gases to the second reformer of such system, comprising a first cylindrical conduit, a second smaller coaxial cylinder inside of the first conduit, forming a first annular space therebetween, the downstream end of said second conduit closed, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced orifices in the wall of said conduit upstream of the closed end. Means to supply air at selected pressure P1, temperature and flow rate to the first annular space, means to supply at least methane at a pressure P2 greater than P1, to said second conduit, so that the concentration of methane in the air will be less than the lower explosive limit, and means to shield the jets of gas from the orifices in the second conduit, as they flow radially outwardly across the annular space.

Abstract: A surgical instrument rack useful for holding, carrying, organizing, and counting a plurality of ringhandled surgical instruments. The rack is formed of autoclavable polymeric material and includes two movable or separable members which coact with each other and with the surgical instruments to secure such instruments against release in parallel side-by-side relation with the handles and jaws (or blades) of such instruments separated slightly to facilitate sterilization of their surfaces. The structural relationship of parts responsible for the retention and automatic camming of the instruments into such slightly open positions is disclosed.

Abstract: A container is disclosed with a valve opening at its bottom wall to permit steam to circulate into the container and to permit any condensation to drain from the container while the valve is open. The valve is closed by an expandable chamber in response to the pressure drop at the end of a sterilizing cycle. A valve controlling the flow of steam into the expandable chamber closes when subjected to the high temperature steam, thus capturing steam within the chamber. This steam expands when the pressure drops to close the valve in the container. The container lid and gasket permit steam to be withdrawn from the container but prevent air flow into the container. A vacuum created in the container at the end of the sterilizing cycle holds the container lid in place and holds the valve closed.Also disclosed is a bimetallic spring valve which opens when steam is applied to a container and closes when the temperature drops as steaming ceases.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed seal, formed by a vertical vessel divided with a baffle into two parts, closed at the upper end and having a fluidization grid situated at the lower end of the vessel, two vertical pipes which extend into the upper part of the vessel for inlet and outlet of particles and two pipes situated in the upper part of the vessel for inlet of secondary fluid, the cross sectional area of the fluidization grid being from 30 to 100% of the cross sectional area of the upper part of the vessel. The pipes for the inlet and outlet of particles extend into the upper part of the vessel from one to about three diameters of the pipes. The fluidized-bed seal can be used for continuous transport of cracking catalyst into the fluidization reactor.

Abstract: A collar for controlling thermal and mechanical stresses and for reducing failures caused by such stresses in gas-transfer tubings, or pigtails, used in a steam reformer. The control collar, in the form of a section of tubing and having the same alloy composition as the pigtail, is placed over each end portion of the pigtail connected to an extension member attached respectively to a catalyst tube in the steam reformer and to a gas-removal manifold. The control collar fits closely over the pigtail and is welded to the extension member. Use of the same alloy composition in the pigtail and in the control collar eliminates stresses associated with differences in thermal expansion and contraction, and the use of the collar reduces mechanical stress fatigue by displacing the point of maximum bending movement from the area of mechanical stress concentration of the weld, and the metallurgical notch in the heat-affected zone of the weld.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing the flow of gas, usually air, in a fluidized bed includes a plurality of vertically upstanding distributor members extending upwardly from a manifold member to which they are threadedly engaged. The members are of closed end, generally tubular shape and have a helical slotted opening extending along their length. The width of the slotted openings is less than the diameter of the majority of particles utilized in the associated fluidized bed.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of an apparatus for reacting carbonaceous material with heated hydrogen to form hydrocarbon gases and liquids suitable for conversion to fuels wherein the reaction involves injection of carbonaceous material such as pulverized coal entrained in a minimum amount of gas and mixing the entrained coal at near ambient temperature with a separate source of heated hydrogen. The hydrogen is heated in a coil having an increasing inside diameter. The heated hydrogen and entrained coal are injected through a rocket engine type injector device. The coal particles are reacted with hydrogen in a reaction chamber downstream of the injector. The products of reaction are rapidly quenched as they exit the reaction chamber and are subsequently collected.

Abstract: An improved air injector for use in feed preparation in the primary reformer of a HABER processor for ammonia synthesis. In the HABER process, process gas is introduced at relatively high velocity downwardly in a process reactor through a vertical conduit. Along the axis of the conduit is an air supply pipe with a fixture which produces a plurality of downwardly and radially outwardly directed pipes attached to a plenum on the bottom of the air pipe. In this invention the number of circumferentially spaced pipes is doubled over the prior art and they are spaced circumferentially into rows directed outwardly at about a 45.degree. angle so as to present, more or less, a continuous plurality of streams of air which block the annular space and force the downflowing process gas to be turbulently mixed with the air and to form a pressurized mass of process gas and air, which is then forced, by the gas pressure, to flow downwardly in, more or less, a uniform manner through a volume of catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst spray nozzle for injecting a finely atomized spray of liquid catalyst into a high pressure chemical reactor such as an autoclave reaction vessel for polymerizing ethylene into polyethylene. The liquid catalyst is fed under pressure to the discharge end of a passageway in the spray nozzle. A valve member is biased closed against the discharge end of the passageway by a biasing spring in the form of belleville washers located entirely within the housing of the nozzle and prevents liquid catalyst from passing therethrough until a given backpressure on the catalyst is established. When the given backpressure is reached, the pressure biases the valve member away from the passagway and the catalyst is forced through at least one discharge orifice under sufficient pressure to cause it to be sprayed in a finely atomized state into the reactor.

Abstract: A catalyst regenerator is disclosed which incorporates a closed vessel having a centered stand pipe concentrically arranged within a spent catalyst distributor. The catalyst is carried upwardly by the distributor and is scattered evenly and concentrically about the distributor. The spent catalyst is deposited on or near the top of the dense phase catalyst bed. A symmetrically arranged, preferably triangular fresh air distributor system including a number of transverse branches having small nozzles mounted thereon forms a grid pattern below the lower portions of the catalyst bed in the regenerator. Air for burning of the coke on the spent catalyst is introduced evenly to minimize the size of the air bubbles in the dense bed. The catalyst in the lower portions of the bed has a minimum of coke remaining thereon. The oxygen of the air which is introduced in the lower portions of the bed is consumed by combustion of the reduced quantity of coke in the lower portions of the bed.

Abstract: Valve for use with a tubular chemical reactor operating at pressures of over 1000 bar and temperatures of more than 250.degree. C. The actual wall thickness of the lower valve part within the area of the inlet/outlet duct is at least 35% less than the wall thickness of adjacent wall areas, the undersize being compensated by the prestress applied by the tightening bolts of the upper valve part. A lens type seal is located between the lower valve part and the upper valve part and simultaneously (1) seals the connection between the valve parts and (2) comprises the valve seat. The thermal conductivity of the seal is at least 50% lower than that of the valve material.

Abstract: Modular supports for instruments in a sterilization tray having a bottom and a cover each containing an array of apertures, and each support comprising an integrally molded rectangular instrument support base with downward projecting longitudinally split buttons to be inserted in the tray bottom apertures. Each instrument support base has upstanding members with a slot therebetween to receive and hold selected strips notched on their upper edges to cradle and support instruments for sterilization.A hold-down base has upwardly extending buttons to be inserted in the tray cover apertures including a wide slot to hold a downwardly extending block of resilient material for contacting instruments cradled in the strip notches. A bracket with a longitudinal fin inserted in the slot of an instrument support base fixed to the cover may also hold a resilient block to be used as a hold-down.

Abstract: Impervious graphite tubes, rings and other chemical processing structures made from impervious graphite can be improved with respect to impact strength, safety, shock resistance, pressure capability and heat transfer capability by partially thermally degrading impervious graphite structures and coating the outer surfaces of the treated graphite structures with a layer of metal at an elevated temperature. Upon cooling, the structure is under compression and has the improved properties. Structures are claimed comprising metal armored, partially thermally degraded impervious graphite.

Abstract: A sterilizable package for intraocular lens implants is disclosed which is designed to permit optical inspection of the lens and measurement of the lens power under sterile conditions without removal from the sterile package.