Abstract: A dryer hopper assembly that promotes even drying of particulate matter across the horizontal cross-section of the hopper. In an aspect, the hopper promotes airflow up and alongside the interior wall of the hopper in counter-current flow to particulate material passing through the hopper. In one or more aspects, heating and thus drying of the material is promoted from the interior periphery of the horizontal cross-section of the hopper assembly towards the central axis of the hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating particulate material in which the particulate material is transferred from one or more upper storage bins to a circular lower chamber that has an outer, essentially annular, portion which serves as a gas flow passage. The particulate material is directed from the feed bin or bins into a plurality of essentially vertical cylindrical feed cassettes via intermediate feed ducts. The lower chamber has a flat roof which is in contact with the bottom portion of the vertical feed cassettes. The vertical feed cassettes are approximately evenly spaced on top of the outer perimeter of the flat roof. The particulate material is preheated in the annular flow passage by hot kiln gases flowing in countercurrent heat exchange relationship with the particulate material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the continuous calcining of gypsum material in a high-efficiency, refractoryless kettle preferably heated by a multiple series of separate immersion tube burner coils, each coil operating within a specific calcining zone inside the kettle. The lowest, i.e., initial, burner tube coil is formed with a low profile to permit use of a small initial gypsum charge, and hence, a quick kettle start-up cycle. That low profile initial burner design also helps keep the agitator motor's load at a minimum during cycle start-up. Due to the immersion tube burner coil construction, no refractory structure for the kettle is required. Also, no separate hot pit structure is required, as the kettle is used to merely hold the material being calcined and no residual heat is present. A relatively thin kettle can be constructed, as it need only withstand relatively low operating temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the continuous calcining of gypsum material in a high-efficiency, refractoryless kettle preferably heated by a multiple series of separate immersion tube burner coils, each coil operating within a specific calcining zone inside the kettle. The lowest, i.e., initial, burner tube coil is formed with a low profile to permit use of a small initial gypsum charge, and hence, a quick kettle start-up cycle. That low profile initial burner design also helps keep the agitator motor's load at a minimum during cycle start-up. Due to the immersion tube burner coil construction, no refractory structure for the kettle is required. Also, no separate hot pit structure is required, as the kettle is used to merely hold the material being calcined and no residual heat is present. A relatively thin kettle can be constructed, as it need only withstand relatively low operating temperatures.

Abstract: A multiprobe diagnostic system for a cooking appliance using one or more heating elements, one or more error-detecting temperature sensors located near the heating element(s), one or more control temperature sensors spaced away from the error-detecting temperature sensors, and a microcomputer program for identifying and setting error conditions in the appliance based on comparisons in temperature and temperature differentials in the appliance with minimum and maximum predetermined or learned values. Other devices, such as current sensors, are used in conjunction with temperature sensors to augment the diagnostic information obtained from the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A shaft furnace for reduction of oxides includes a shaft member having an oxide inlet and defining a pre-heating and pre-reducing zone downstream of the oxide inlet, a reducing zone downstream of the pre-heating and pre-reducing zone a transition zone downstream of the reducing zone, and a discharge zone downstream of the transition zone; and a gas reforming zone associated with the shaft member for reforming a methane-containing gas into a reformed gas and for introducing the reformed gas into the reducing zone whereby oxides in the reducing zone are reduced by the reformed gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a plurality of bottle caps simultaneously. The apparatus comprises a housing with an air blower, resistance heaters and a thermocouple positioned within its interior. Air blown through the interior is heated by resistance heaters and travels through air ducts positioned at the opposite end of the housing. The air duct is positioned in spaced relation to the interior of a hopper and has a series of apertures through which heated air is injected into the hopper's interior. The flow rate of the air is sufficiently high so that the heated air agitates the caps within the hopper and is evenly distributed throughout the interior of the hopper. The temperature of the air is controlled so that the caps are warmed to a temperature within the range of 88.degree. F. to 92.degree. F.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a formed activated coke for simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification, which includes passing a ground coal through a tubular or cylindrical carbonization retort by using a hot gas stream, to subject the coal to preliminary carbonization to obtain a semi-coke, adding a caking agent to the semi-coke and forming the mixture, subjecting the formed material to carbonization to obtain a formed coke, and transferring the formed coke from the top to the bottom of a vertical multi-tubular retort of indirect heating and cooling (cooling is optional) type that includes a distribution section, a heating section, an activation section and a cooling section (the distribution section and the cooling section are optional) arranged in this order (the distribution section is at the top), to activate the formed coke.

Abstract: Two attachments are provided for an exercise apparatus of the type having a lever arm with an end pivotably connected to a base and a free end adapted to receive weights. A tower attachment provides a flexible tensile member connected at an end to the lever arm, with intermediate portions borne across elevated pulleys, and connectable at another end to various handles, by which a user can perform various pull-down and rowing exercises. A shoulder bar attachment has an elongated body connected at one end to the lever arm and having another end which accommodates the user's head and shoulders and which is provided with handles, allowing a user to perform various press and leg raise exercises.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding preheated aggregate material, such as for the production of asphalt. A feed hopper includes a heater within its interior and positioned adjacent a slotted discharge opening at the lower end of the hopper. A tent-like cover is positioned above the heater to deflect aggregate material from contacting the upper portion of the heater and to transfer heat to the aggregate material in a uniform and efficient manner. The heater may preferably be a gas-fired radiant heater extending lengthwise parallel to and for the full length of the slotted discharge opening. A series of hoppers may be arranged in side-by-side relation and a common conveyor positioned beneath the individual feed conveyors of each hopper to direct the preheated aggregate material to a subsequent processing apparatus, such as a drum mixer or other dryer, used for the production of asphalt.

Abstract: A vertical resistive combustion furnace having a vertically oriented combustion zone in which first and second coaxially aligned tubes depend. The first tube is open at one end and closed at the other. The second tube is open at one end and partially closed at the other end and is mounted within and spaced from the first tube with the space between the coaxial tubes defining a passage for combustion products produced from a sample of material to be analyzed, disposed in said second tube. The combustion products pass upwardly in the channel through the combustion zone of the furnace so that the combustion products are hot when they exit the furnace for analysis.

Abstract: Particulate carbon is reactivated by heating it for an effective reactivation time at a reactivation temperature in a stationary vertical annular heating zone of an unlined metal kiln.

Abstract: A suspension shaft furnace and process for producing clinkers from discrete pellets of cement-forming batch materials, the furnace having a top vertical shaft section comprising a pellet-feeding and preheating zone, an intermediate fluidized bed section containing fuel inlet conduits for clinkering of the pellets in a fluidized bed, an air-permeable clinker-impermeable support for supporting the pellets as a fluidized bed, and a lower clinker-cooling section beneath the fluidized bed section. Clinker-discharge means permit the gravity flow of clinkers from the top of the fluidized bed down into a cooling zone in the cooling section. Air inlet means supply a combustion-supporting cooling gas up through the cooling zone, to cool the clinkers therein, and upstream through the fluidized bed section to support the combustion of fuel at the fuel inlet conduits.

Abstract: Conventional presintering and reaction presintering processes for the production of ceramic powders yield products exhibiting an undesired primary particle size distribution along with localized distribution of impurities, which give rise to the formulation of undesired duplex structures during final sintering.In order to avoid formation of undesired duplex structures within sintered ceramic parts a process and a device for producing ceramic powders based on single- or multi-phase metal oxides (including SiO.sub.2 - compounds), exhibiting a narrow particle size distribution, i.e. with a maximum deviation of the primary crystal size (REM) of +/- 0.75 .mu.m, preferentially less than +/- 0.25 .mu.m, within an average particle size of 0.05 up to 10.0 .mu.m, is conceived. The raw feed material exhibits a specific surface area of 0.05 up to 500 m.sup.2 /g (BET), preferentially 5.0 up to 50 m.sup.

Abstract: A method of operating an industrial furnace, the steps that include providing a process heating zone containing heat exchange tubing for flowing process fluid through the zone; providing first and second fuel combustion zones, and first and second heat regeneration zones; during a first time interval flowing a first stream of air through the first regeneration zone to be preheated therein, flowing the preheated air stream to the first combustion zone to support combustion of fuel therein producing a flame and hot combustion gases, transferring heat from the flame and the hot gases to the heat exchange tubing in the process heating zone, and then flowing the hot gases to the second heat regeneration zone for extracting heat from the gases at the second regeneration zone; and during a second time interval flowing a second stream of air through the second regeneration zone to be preheated therein, flowing the second preheated air stream to the second combustion zone to support combustion of fuel therein producin

Abstract: Process and furnace for producing clinkered cement pellets from pellets of cement-forming batch materials without melting, fusion and agglomeration of said pellets. The furnace comprises an elongate vertical suspension shaft having top, intermediate and bottom portions. Pellets are fed at the top and heated to calcining temperatures before exiting the shaft into a pre-clinkering zone beyond the bottom. The pellets are heated to pre-clinkering temperatures and deposited on a porous pellet bed through which cooling air is forced to control the exothermic clinkering reaction and to regulate the speed at which the pellets migrate through the shaft.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing 1 accommodating inner and outer tubes 2 and 4, respectively, arranged concentrically relative to each other. Lower ends of the tubes 2 and 4 are connected by a flange 15 to a disk-type feeder 14 the flange and feeder having holes 13 and 21 through which the interior of a heating chamber 9 confined between the outer wall of the outer tube 4 and inner wall of the housing 1 communicates with interior 17 of the inner tube 2 and with the interior of the drying chamber 6 confined between the outer wall of the inner tube 2 and inner wall of the outer tube 4. Communicating with the drying chamber 6 are a charging hopper 7 and a discharging means 8 occupying the bottom part of the apparatus. Disposed in the wall of the housing 1 between the flange 15 and worm 5 of the outer tube 4 is a furnace 11 having a burner 12 and communicating with the interior of the heating chamber 9. In addition, the heating chamber 9 communicates with an exhaust pipe 10 of a suction means.

Abstract: An elongated slot dryer is disclosed for drying wet solid particulate material. The slot dryer is constructed in the form of a trench with at least one aperture outlet at the bottom of the trench formed by two non-connecting walls. The wet particulate material (coal) enters through the top and exits through the bottom aperture while countercurrently contacting a drying fluid emitted through perforations situated in a drying fluid access means or conduit located substantially throughout the entire length of the slot dryer. The perforations in the fluid access means or conduit are limited to the bottom one half of the fluid access means relative to the aperture outlet to ensure that drying fluid is passed at first in a downward direction and then gently turns upward to countercurrent contact with the wet descending particles. An underlying conveyor will act to continuously remove the relatively dried particulate material passing through the aperture outlet.

Abstract: The grain dryer of the present invention includes a housing having two spaced apart vertical partitions therein which divide the housing into a central compartment, a front compartment and a rear compartment. Air intake openings are provided in the two vertical partitions so as to provide communication from the central compartment to the two front and rear compartments through the two partitions. The front and rear walls of the housing are also provided with exhaust openings which permit air to exit from the front and rear compartments outwardly through the front and rear walls respectively. A first group of ventilator members are located within the front and rear compartments and are connected to the inlet openings within the partitions for guiding air into the front and rear compartments from the central compartments.

Abstract: A shaft furnace for heat treatment of finely dispersed material has a casing of rectangular cross section with a hopper built into a cover thereof. The top of the casing accommodates pipes for drawing off resultant gases. The casing also houses two groups of plates equidistant from the vertical axis of the casing and having different lengths increasing in the direction from the vertical axis toward a narrow wall of the casing so as to form therebetween and the narrow wall of the casing passages for the flow of gases toward the pipes for exhausting resultant gases.

Abstract: In order to preserve the quality of treated coking coal, the drying and preheating operation is performed in consecutive stages. For this purpose, a set of superimposed containers is provided with vertically oriented pipes for a heating medium, the pipes in each container having separate inlets and outlets. The bottom region of each container is further provided with horizontally directed pipes having separate inlet and outlet for receiving a pressure medium which is discharged into the bottom region of each container to produce a whirling bed of the coal. In this manner, the coal is preliminarily dried in the uppermost container, then additionally dried and preheated in the intermediate container, and heated to the desired final temperature in the lowermost container.

Abstract: Particulate carbon is reactivated by heating it for an effective reactivation time at a reactivation temperature in a stationary vertical annular heating zone of an unlined metal kiln.

Abstract: A furnace for heating particulate material comprises an air-tight shell and a heat insulating lining which define a hollow shaft. Electrical resistance heating elements spaced along the length of the hollow shaft adjacent the insulating lining. A baffle system supported within the shaft promotes heating by radiation and convection. The baffle system has side supports vertically positioned within the shaft, a plurality of inner trays each defining pairs of sloping surfaces joined at a ridge, and a plurality of outer trays each defining a sloping surface. The outer trays are arranged to receive material falling from an inner tray thereabove and to deliver material to the ridge of an inner tray therebelow.

Abstract: A preheating moist fine material, such as pit coal and lignate, peat, wood, oil shale, or even ores or limestone for cement production, and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. Moist fine material is mixed above a heater with predried and preheated material until the mixture is made fluid. The fluid mixture slides down between and piles up to a level above the heater. A part of the predried and preheated fine material is removed from below the heater in an amount corresponding to another part thereof and is conveyed to above the heater with the moist fine material.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a grain dryer having a heat exchange assembly is provided. The grain dryer comprises a housing and a generally vertical granular-material conduit for conducting granular material through the housing. The heat exchange assembly of the dryer comprises heat exchange means having a gas passageway and at least one tubular radiator element disposed in the passageway. Means is provided for causing hot combustion gas to flow through the hollow interior of the radiator element to heat the element, with the temperature of the discharged combustion gas being reduced. A gas conduit directs the flow of discharged combustion gas from the tubular radiator element through the passageway of the heat exchange means externally of the tubular radiator element to increase the temperature of the discharged combustion gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating particulate material in which the particulate material is transferred from an upper storage bin to a lower annular flow passage by a plurality of connecting chutes and the particulate material is preheated in the annular flow passage by hot kiln gases flowing in countercurrent heat exchange relationship with the particulate material and, in addition, by hot kiln gases introduced into the annular flow passage from the lower regions of radially extending ducts.

Abstract: A high temperature furnace adapted to expand mineral ores such as vermiculite, perlite and the like. The furnace preferably includes an upright, vertically oriented frame adapted to support an elongated furnace tube into which mineral ore is delivered for expansion. Raw ore may be routed through a preheating system including a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, inclined baffles removably disposed within a preheating enclosure secured to the furnace. A preheater bypass system is included to facilitate use of the furnace with vermiculite. Flame control and mineral waste control are preferably effectuated with a flame guide adapted to be variably positioned intermediate a lower blast nozzle and a furnace tube heat input orifice. A plurality of thermal expansion couplings and supports are utilized to compensate for thermal expansion.

Abstract: A calcining apparatus comprising a kettle, a heating chamber for heating the outside of the kettle, a stack for exhausting gas from the heating chamber, a duct connected at one end to the stack and having the other end extending for a limited distance into the contents of the reaction chamber of the kettle for introducing a portion of the stack gas directly into the calcining reaction mixture, and means for propelling the stack gas through the duct and into the reaction chamber of the kettle, thereby directly adding heat to the reaction mixture and accomplishing fuel conservation by recapturing and utilizing a portion of the heat from the stack gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the regeneration of wet spent active carbon devised so as to bring the active carbon supplied from a hopper into contact with a reaction gas generated or heated to high temperature in a furnace, wherein an exhaust duct for the high-temperature exhaust gas from the furnace is installed penetrating the hopper in order to heat the active carbon descending therein and a condensate collecting header for discharging water separated from the active carbon is disposed at the lower part of the hopper.

Abstract: This invention relates to a countercurrent combustion method and apparatus for the production of calcined lime in a furnace which contains, in sequence, at least one preheating zone, combustion zone, and a cooling zone. The entire combustion air is passed through the cooling zone thereby to preheat the same. A portion of the thus preheated air is withdrawn from the furnace and heated in a recuperation zone which may be within or outside the vertical shaft furnace but is located between the preheating zone and the combustion zone. In the recuperation zone, the air is heated to approximately the deacidification temperature and then is supplied to the combustion zone.

Abstract: In a top-shaped lime kiln which comprises a slowly rotatable platter-shaped kiln bed having a cylindrical calcined lime-cooling chamber extending downward for connection to the central opening of said kiln bed; an immovably hung round lid having a fuel combustion chamber extending upward for connection to the central opening of said lid; and raw limestone granules-feeding chutes 19 opened to an annular gap 12 formed between the peripheral walls of both bed and lid; an improvement wherein a hot-gas-circulating apparatus is fixed in the maturation zone of the cooling chamber, and automatically reciprocative pushing rods are inserted into the limestone granule layer formed on the rotary kiln bed through the peripheral wall of said bed or lid so as to let fall the calcined lime into the cooling chamber.

Abstract: In regenerating an adsorbent by eliminating water and an adsorbed matter which are contained therein, the adsorbent is indirectly heated while descending within a drying furnace and is indirectly heated while ascending within a regenerating furnace in order to prevent the adsorbent from scattering due to water vapor and the adsorbed gas separated by the heating of the adsorbent and to prevent the adsorbent from burning itself due to heat.

Abstract: This invention comprises an apparatus and process for drying and/or heating materials. This invention was designed for use in the production of charcoal from wood feed material; however, it can be used to heat and/or dry many types of materials. Feed material is disposed in a reactor, wherein there is provided a first array of input channels extending through said feed material, through which hot gases are introduced into said feed material, and a second array of output channels extending through said feed material to collect and exit those hot gases and any gases or vapors derived from the heating and/or drying of the feed material.

Abstract: A calcining apparatus comprising a kettle, a heating jacket surrounding the kettle defining a heating chamber, vertical baffles dividing said heating chamber into a plurality of chambers, and a plurality of horizontally disposed heating flues communicating with said chambers defining a path whereby the heating gas provided for heating said apparatus makes at least two horizontal passes through said kettle before being exhausted, the calcining apparatus being adaptable for calcining material such as gypsum in either a continuous or batch process.

Abstract: In a generally elongated tubular burner heating element for the furnace chamber of an industrial furnace there is provided within the heating element at an end thereof opposite the end at which the burner is located a flame breaker assembly arranged to extend along the length of the burner heating element comprising a plurality of generally circular baffle plates spaced axially along the heating element and arranged basically in three groups. The first group of baffle plates which may comprise one or more plates and which is arranged closest to the burner comprises convex discs with their convex side directed toward the burner. The second group intermediate the first and the third group comprises a plurality of generally planer discs while the third group comprises concave discs having their concave side facing toward the burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a double-cylinder type apparatus for the regeneration of active carbon, which comprises a heating furnace provided with at least one burner and at least one annular regeneration chamber composed of at least one set of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder installed concentrically inside said heating furnace, said outer cylinder having a plurality of holes penetrating the side wall thereof, wherein the spent active carbon is supplied to the upper part of said annular regeneration chamber and the regenerated carbon is to be taken out at the lower part of the same. The heating of said annular regeneration chamber from the side of said inner cylinder is performed either by introducing the flue gas arising in said heating furnace into the inner cylinder or by providing at least one burner within said inner cylinder and utilizing the combustion gas from said burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, and a method for the regeneration of spent wet active carbon, which apparatus comprises a drier for substantially drying the spent carbon, a heating furnace provided with at least one burner and at least one duct, and a regeneration chamber consisting of at least one set of inner cylinder and outer cylinder installed concentrically and vertically inside said heating furnace to penetrate the top and bottom walls of the furnace, wherein said inner and outer cylinders have respectively a multiplicity of holes penetrating the side walls thereof, said inner cylinder is connected with a supply tube for a regeneration gas capable of effecting regeneration of the dried carbon-to-be-regenerated upon contact therewith, the upper end of said outer cylinder is connected with said drier so as to receive said dried carbon therefrom while the lower end thereof forms an outlet for the regenerated carbon, and said duct is connected with the drier so as to facilitate direct or indir