Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft preheater for preheating material in lump form with at least one shaft for receiving the material, a bridge disposed in the shaft for delivering hot gases which flow through the material from the bottom upwards, and a device for filling the shaft with the material such that the shaft is charged centrally thereby developing a filling cone. The bridge is disposed at an inclination corresponding to the filling cone in order to guarantee an even flow through the fill. The device for filling the shaft comprises a vertically adjustable feed chute.

Abstract: A shaft preheater to achieve an improved adaptation of layer height to particle size spectrum of material to be preheated. The shaft preheater includes a plurality of shafts for receiving lumpy material, an arrangement for filling the individual shafts with the lumpy material to be preheated and means for limiting the layer height in the shafts. The means for limiting the layer height include a needle valve and have an arrangement for coarse adjustment and an arrangement for fine adjustments.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming foundry sand by (a) providing a treatment tower having a plurality of heat conductive tubes extending across the interior of the treatment tower, the tubes being arranged in rows and staggered with respect to tubes in adjacent rows to create close spacing therebetween sufficient to permit the sand to flow continuously and non-turbulently along the contours of the exterior under the influence of gravity before dropping to the next adjacent tube to thereby again flow continuously and non-turbulently in successive sequence downwardly of the tower; (b) quiescently heating the interior tower space and tubes to a temperature in excess of 1300.degree. F.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sealing device useful for attachment to a process equipment such as vertical shaft kiln (VSK) for providing air-seal self-controlled discharge of product from the said equipment, which comprises a chamber (1) having at its top end an inlet (3) with flange (2) for fitting to the discharge chute of a process equipment and a discharge outlet (16) at its bottom end, the said chamber being provided with a partition wall (4) having an inlet gate (5) & a discharge gate (6) hinged to its top & bottom respectively, the free ends of the hinged gates being such as to sit on means (7) and (8) to provide air seal, means (9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20& SOL) being provided for simultaneous operation of the inlet & discharge gates, the said means [9(a) & (b) and SOL] being connected to a control circuit for actuating the movement of the gates, the discharge outlet being fitted onto a volumetric discharge unit (21) provided with means (22) for measuring the quantity of product discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a a vertical shaft kiln (VSK) useful for manufacturing cement and other allied products, which comprises a rotary nodule feeder for feeding the raw materials, fitted above the kiln bed for uniform distribution of nodules of the raw materials, an air blower being placed at the base of the kiln for feeding air through a duct to a common air header having a plurality of outlet air ducts, the air duct being connected to an air cone placed inside an armoured shell of the VSK, the said air cone being provided with a grate assembly having a plurality of peripheral air slots, the air duct being connected to an air box placed above the said armoured shell, the said air box having perforations on the inside vertical wall, the air duct being connected to an air header having air entry nozzles placed in such a manner so as to supply air just below the sintering zone of the VSK, the air duct being connected to the chimney of the VSK, the said chimney being provided with a butterfly valve below th

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: A control measuring and supply apparatus and method for receiving a substantially, continuous flow of fluent material from a source of supply; the assembly having a bottom-sealed diverter plate, optionally positionable to direct the fluent material, by gravity, to either one or the other of a pair of adjacent, parallel supply chambers, each of the supply chambers having lower, sealed valve plates which can be optionally opened or closed, a and visa versa, one of the supply chambers being filled with the fluent material while the other is simultaneously emptied, and power operated control motors for controlling the operation of the diverter and valve plates; the diverter plate and valve plates cooperating with seals disposed out of the path-of-movement of the fluent material.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.

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: A method for producing a high-purity silica glass powder by calcining a high purity silica gel powder, wherein a vertical-type moving bed apparatus equipped with a heating means is used in a moving bed system such that the feed silica gel powder is continuously supplied from an upper portion of the apparatus and discharged from a lower portion of the apparatus, and wherein a small amount of gas is blown to flow from a lower portion of the moving bed towards an upper portion of the moving bed, and the calcination is conducted at a temperature of from 1,000.degree. to 1,300.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally reclaiming used foundry sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed furnace having a combustion chamber therein. A sand dispersion system supported within the combustion chamber disperses the free falling sand particles to expose the particles to a combustion supporting furnace environment. Disposed immediately below the furnace is a sand retention chamber in which the sand is accumulated. Heated air is introduced into the retention chamber to maintain the combustion supporting environment. Residual coatings remaining on the sand particles are thermally removed in the retention chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally reclaiming used foundry sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed furnace having a combustion chamber therein. A sand dispersion system supported within the combustion chamber disperses the free falling sand particles to expose the particles to a combustion supporting furnace environment. Disposed immediately below the furnace is a sand retention chamber in which the sand is accumulated. Heated air is introduced into the retention chamber to maintain the combustion supporting environment. Residual coatings remaining on the sand particles are thermally removed in the retention chamber.

Abstract: The rolling track comprises a series of rollers which are supported by a fixed reinforcement and on which travels the circular pedestal of the hopper. This circular pedestal is equipped with a toothed ring in order to be driven in rotary movement about its vertical axis. The rollers are grouped in pairs, and each pair of rollers is carried by an axle pivotable about a radial axis; with each of the rollers being carried in its axle by floating bearings mounted on springs.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the density of particulate material flowing from a kiln. The apparatus includes a sampling probe actuatable to divert a sample flow of material from material falling from a kiln. This sample flow on cascading through the apparatus is processed by screening to obtain a flow of sized material having a particle size within a predetermined range. The sized material is collected in a container which collects a measured volume of material. The material in this container is electronically weighed and recorded.

Abstract: A preheater for cullet is disclosed, in which hot gas coming from a hot supply duct can be passed through the cullet while yielding heat to the latter and can be carried away through a hot gas exhaust duct. The cullet is guided between guiding walls forming a cullet shaft and permitting gas entry as well as gas exit. Means are provided for repeatedly moving at least one of the guiding walls (23, 24,25,26) laterally relative to another guiding wall (23-26) so as to change the spacing between them.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging a shaft furnace for burning carbonaceous mineral material in at least two furnace shafts comprises a common feed container, which is connected to each furnace shaft by a separate charging duct. In order to provide a simple structure and to reduce the overall height, the feed container is designed to constitute a lock chamber, which is provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the inlet port of the feed container and with a plurality of shut-off valves for controlling respective outlet ports connected to the charging ducts.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating granular ore includes a shaft defined by vertical walls, an inlet chute disposed above the shaft for introducing the ore thereinto by gravity, an ore discharge collector situated underneath the shaft for receiving preheated ore therefrom, and an arrangement for passing heating gases upwardly in the shaft. The discharge collector has vertical side walls and further, there is provided an insert situated in the discharge collector and extending generally horizontally thereacross. The insert has a downwardly widening configuration. A discharge device is disposed at a lower end of the discharge collector.

Abstract: In a double-incline shaft kiln in which ore materials are charged into the furnace from the top of a vertical external portion of the shaft and are calcined by burners installed in the lower portion of the shaft, the calcining zone is effectively extended by the provision of an injector which causes the hot gas to flow in the lower portion of the shaft parallel to the flow of ore materials. Further, at the turnover locations for the ore descending through the shaft, the width of the shaft is broken into at least two portions which promotes a more even velocity of the material flow across the width of the shaft so as to enable combustion control and the prevention of the ash of solid fuel, such as coal, from mixing with the calcined material to cause discoloration and lumps.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing cement clinker in which pellets of raw material containing the necessary components for manufacturing the clinker are introduced into an apparatus where the pellets flow under gravity, successively through a preheating zone, a clinkering zone using a fluidized bed and a cooling zone. The pellets contain an amount of comminuted carbon determined so that its combustion produces an amount of heat within each pellet sufficient to carry out decarbonation of the material, taking into account the heat introduced by the hot gases passing upwardly through the apparatus. Decarbonation is completed at the base of the preheating zone and the pellets enter the clinkering zone at a temperature which is close to the clinkering temperature. Additional heat is supplied through burners within the clinkering zone.

Abstract: A furnace for treating sewage sludge, ash from municipal incinerators or other industrial wastes by melting the waste with a high-temperature bed formed from a combustible carbonaceous material for the reuse of the resulting molten product, for example, as aggregate. A gas for combustion is supplied to the bed at an intermediate portion between its upper and lower portions while causing the resulting combustion gas to flow through the bed dividedly upward and downward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for economically melting matrix materials, said apparatus comprising a drier, a vertical furnace including a unique arrangement of refractory bars and a rotary kiln and the method including passing the solid matrix material first through a dryer which is heated by the waste gas of a vertical furnace, then to the top of the vertical furnace where it is melted by direct flame contact and thereafter cascading the melted material downwardly through said arrangement of refractory bars as the exhaust from a rotary kiln is blown upwardly through the vertical furnace with the melted material finally flowing from the bottom of the furnace into a rotary kiln where it is further heated and mixed prior to discharge.

Abstract: Finely-divided grain products in general and grain dust in particular are useful fuels which are advantageously employed in the drying of harvested grain to a moisture content suitable for storage and/or further processing. A grain dryer designed for such fuels provides for preheating and predrying fuel prior to feeding it to a burner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a kiln of a compact upright configuration which is constructed so as to successively preheat, heat, and then cool aggregate in a continuous operation while avoiding wasteful loss of heat from the walls of the kiln or in the effluent gases. In the apparatus of this invention there is provided an upright hollow housing having an air inlet opening in a lower portion thereof and an air outlet opening in an upper portion thereof. A fan is communicatively connected to the housing for causing outside air to enter the air inlet opening and flow upwardly through the housing. A fuel burner is provided in the housing for combusting a fuel and thereby heating the air flowing upwardly within the housing.

Abstract: This invention deals with a method of burning crushed or lump-sized combustible material, such as limestone, dolomite, magnesite or a similar material, in an annular shaft kiln having an annular outer shaft and an inner shaft, where the annular and the inner shafts are alternatively charged with fresh air and combustion gases, or are connected with the exhaust gas system. Furthermore, the invention deals with an annular shaft kiln for carrying out this method, which has a shaft insert that is open at the top, whereby the combustion material is selectively fed into the annular shaft formed around the shaft insert, or into the inner shaft which is formed inside the shaft insert. In a first operating position, the inner shaft adjacent its upper end is connected with the exhaust gas system, and combustion gas and combustion air are fed into the outer annular shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calcining limestone in which limestone is burned continuously in a vertical kiln provided with at least one fuel injector which permits pulsed introduction of fuel thereto. Combustion air is passed continuously through the kiln and air/fuel mixing efficiency is enhanced by the use of an arch or hood superposed above the fuel injectors to thereby create a protected space in the mass of charged limestone.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characerized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. Grain turning apparatus is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: Apparatus for melting sulphur, including an upstanding tube, or tubes, each being adapted to receive solid sulphur in its top open end and each having a heating jacket therearound. The sulphur along the tube wall is melted and caused to flow along the wall surface and out of the lower end of the tube. A heated plate is spaced from the lower end of the tube whereby flow of the melted sulphur from the tube is permitted, additional sulphur being melted by the plate, and flow of solid sulphur is stopped. The plate is sloped to permit the flow of the liquid sulphur into a trough for flow for storage or use elsewhere.A method of melting sulphur by which solid sulphur is fed into the upper end of a vertical tube. The tube is heated to melt the sulphur against the tube wall. A film of melted sulphur is caused to flow down the wall and out of the tube bottom onto a sloping, heated plate and into a trough for removal or use. The flow of solid sulphur is stopped by the plate.

Abstract: A process for the firing and sintering of granular material in a gas or oil heated shaft furnace is disclosed in which the material, fed from the top of the furnace passes downwards successively through an entry zone, a preheating zone, a firing zone in which burners are disposed around the furnace wall, and a cooling zone, and in which the feeding of the material at the top of the furnace is so effected that a central depression is maintained in the upper surface of the material in the entry zone, said surface sloping downwardly from the periphery of the entry zone into the central depression, so that segregation of the material occurs automatically, the coarser pieces of material rolling into the central depression, whereby a column of the coarser material is maintained along the vertical axis of the furnace.