Abstract: In a method of making a component for a motor vehicle, a metal part in the form of a plate, semifinished product, or a formed part, is heated in a fluidized bed of a fluidized bed furnace. The fluidized bed is being fluidized by a fluid, e.g. gas. Subsequently; the metal part is subjected to a forming, hardening or aging process.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for cooling and de-steaming hot calcined stucco used in the production of gypsum boards or bagged plaster. The apparatus is a fluid bed stucco cooler and comprises a cooler housing having a plenum with two chambers, a first chamber having a stucco inlet and a second chamber having a stucco outlet. The stucco cooler includes cooling coils that are located within the plenum and a fluidization pad positioned through the fluidization pad help to mix the air and the stucco powder to insure fluidization, prevent channeling, and prevent the stucco powder from building up on the cooling coils. The air also forces steam from the hot calcined stucco out through an air outlet located at the top of the stucco cooler, thereby de-steaming the stucco. The stucco flows through the plenum and passes over the cooling coils, thereby cooling the stucco as it reaches the stucco outlet.

Abstract: A method and system for calcining gypsum to recover gypsum in a form consisting essentially of calcium sulfate anhydrite is disclosed. The method includes the steps of feeding the ground gypsum material into a first kettle and heating the ground gypsum in the first kettle to the first predetermined temperature. The first predetermined temperature is preferably below 400.degree. F. so that the gypsum will still contain a sufficient amount of chemically-combined water so that it will self-fluidize by release of water vapor so that it will flow through the apparatus. The ground gypsum is then overflowed through at least one subsequent stage and heated to a final predetermined temperature to produce an anhydrite product. To produce insoluble calcium anhydrite or dead burn material, the final predetermined temperature is greater than 900.degree. F. and preferably within the range of about 900.degree. F.-1300.degree. F.

Abstract: A method and system for calcining gypsum to recover gypsum in a form consisting essentially of calcium sulfate anhydrite is disclosed. The method includes the steps of feeding the ground gypsum material into a first kettle and heating the ground gypsum in the first kettle to the first predetermined temperature. The first predetermined temperature is preferably below 400.degree. F. so that the gypsum will still contain a sufficient amount of chemically-combined water so that it will self-fluidize by release of water vapor so that it will flow through the apparatus. The ground gypsum is then overflowed through at least one subsequent stage and heated to a final predetermined temperature to produce an anhydrite product. To produce insoluble calcium anhydrite or dead burn material, the final predetermined temperature is greater than 900.degree. F. and preferably within the range of about 900.degree. F.-1300.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating and conveying a granular material is disclosed, and which comprises an elongate trough, and a framework mounting a plurality of transverse blades mounted above the trough. The framework is moved along a closed path of travel so that the blades move through a forward stroke, a lifting stroke, a return stroke, and a downward stroke which returns the blades to their original position. Thus a granular material may be moved along the length of the trough in a series of sequential steps. Also, the blades are internally heated, and the bottom wall of the trough is also heated, to effect heating of the advancing granular material.

Abstract: A horizontally disposed helical coil is positioned around and in communication with a hollow horizontal shaft extending lengthwise of a tank having oppositely disposed inlet and outlet ports. Hot oil is directed into the hollow shaft and circulated through the helical coil and a device rotates the hollow shaft and helical coil so that pieces of solidified coal tar or a similar material introduced through the inlet port of the tank and directed into the helical coil are simultaneously melted, agitated, and conveyed thereby toward the outlet port.

Abstract: To stir up and mix the substances held inside a retort, a blade is used, of a shape corresponding to that of the retort itself. Inside the blade there is a conduit, connected to outer devices for the admission of gas, and provided with a series of apertures, directed towards the inner part of the retort, for the discharge of the gas.

Abstract: Equipment for heating pulverulent products, including a relatively flat, vertically standing vessel for receiving the product, and a rotatable agitator whose axis of rotation is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the vessel. There are heating facilities in the bottom of the vessel. With these heating facilities, the bottom and side wall of the vessel are heated. The top of the vessel is insulated. The product is introduced into the vessel through the top and discharged in the region of the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a pyrolytic reactor in which an initial charge of charcoal is located. An inlet is provided for introduction of the organic material and an exit is provided for the resulting gases and ash products. The reactor is arranged to permit a continuous flow of organic material volatiles, and char through the reactor, resulting in continual replenishment of organic material in the pyrolizing portion of the reactor, and replenishment of the charcoal bed portion by the char produced from the pyrolysis reaction. The reactor vessel is heated to the correct temperatures by means such as electric heating coils or hot air/flame jackets.

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: A method of and an apparatus for the thermal treatment of organic materials, especially organic wastes, makes use of a horizontally elongated tank in which the waste is agitated in contact with a thermally conductive wall externally heated by the circulation of a hot gas thereover. The hot gas is generated by injecting, into the space between this wall and an insulated wall, a combustion gas from a burner into which vapors released from the organic material are fed so that the vapors are fully burned within the burner.

Abstract: A novel kiln with overlying beds arranged about a central hollow shaft carrying rabble arms attached thereto and with alternate apertures formed in the floors between adjacent stories adjacent the hollow shaft and adjacent the periphery of the floor and with treatment gases being supplied through such orifices in a direction opposite to the direction in which the material moves through a furnace and further providing hot gas feed conduits located in the walls of the furnace in one or more stories and directed in a generally tangential direction relative to the story floors.

Abstract: Furnace apparatus and method used to heat or incinerate materials which are being stirred or rabbled under atmospheres of corrosive gases, and which employs a new material of construction for fabricating rabble teeth to impart improved resistance to mechanical and thermal shock as well as improved resistance to attack by corrosive gases at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The furnace is circular in plan and comprises an annular charge space charged through chutes in its top wall. Effluent gas offtakes are provided in the furnace outer wall and the level of the charge bed is maintained above the chute bottoms but below those offtakes. Hot gases generated externally of the furnace pass into it through an opening in its bottom wall or hearth and travel upwardly through the charge. Solids are discharged downwardly through the same opening in counterflow. A vertical axle is journalled centrally in an upper wall of the annular furnace chamber spaced above the opening in the hearth, and a plow affixed to the lower end of the axle rotates in an open space between the hearth of the annular furnace chamber and its inside wall, so scraping heated charge solids into the discharge opening. The axle is pressure sealed to the wall through which it passes, and that seal is the only rotating seal required for the furnace.

Abstract: A vessel is mounted above a furnace, and is used for retaining gypsum as it is calcined to prepare it for making wallboard or plaster. A feed of crushed gypsum supplies the vessel-kettle regulated by the temperature required to calcine gypsum. Calcined gypsum flows from the kettle while maintaining a predetermined level of gypsum in the kettle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calcining calcium sulphate dihydrate in a calcination vessel in which the dihydrate is heated in the vessel to calcination temperature not only by heat applied to the exterior of the vessel but also by hot gas, especially hot gaseous combustion products, supplied into the interior of the mass of calcining material within the vessel. The supply of hot gas according to the invention can improve the production rate in both batch and continuous calcination operations without adversely affecting the product quality, by permitting increase in the heat input to the vessel without entailing the risk of vessel bottom burn-out.

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: This invention relates to a system for regenerating and manufacturing activated carbon wherein the exhaust gases and vapors from the upper portion of a multiple hearth furnace are passed to a gas cooling apparatus such as a quencher or scrubber, the clean gases from which system are exhausted and from which a slip stream of water saturated gases are conducted to a lower hearth portion of the furnace for reaction with the carbon in the furnace.

Abstract: Continuous calcination of gypsum is provided by uniformly feeding uncalcined gypsum into the calcining batch in a kettle to a location below the surface but above the uppermost agitator, and allowing calcined gypsum to be discharged from the kettle through a discharge outlet in the wall of the kettle at the top surface of the calcining gypsum.

Abstract: An insertable and reversible rabble tooth for the rabble arms of furnaces including specially shaped wedges to clamp the rabble teeth to the rabble arm in either in hearth condition or in out hearth condition by reversing the positions of the wedges and reversing the positions of the teeth held by the wedges.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for reclaiming limestone mud wherein a supply of the mud in a wet condition is passed to a spray type dryer and dried to a bone dry free-flowing powder by the use of hot drying air from a calciner furnace. The dry powder together with the exhaust gases are then passed to a dust collector for removing substantially all of the fines from the gases. The spent lime powder may then be back-mixed with some of the original spent mud in proportions designed to yield a calciner feed having the desired moisture content for optimum physical condition of both feed and calcined product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding polymeric material to processing and mixing equipment is disclosed which includes a hopper located radially from the axis of rotation of the processing equipment in the direction of rotation and with walls that are inclined at angles which direct the feed material toward the direction of rotation. In addition, a passage is provided within the apparatus for venting gases. The rate of egress of feed material from the hopper to the processing equipment is controlled in response to the need of the processing equipment.The disclosed apparatus includes a casing, a hopper inclined in the direction of rotation of the processing equipment, a control means acting as a gate for the introduction of new material and forming a passage in conjunction with the casing to provide a space for the escape and removal of volatile material from the processing equipment.The control means may be moved about a pivot in such a manner as to encourage the feed material into the processing equipment.