Abstract: A fibrous filter element for trapping diesel engine exhaust particulates comprises a mass of coiled wire of flattened cross section compacted into a small passage gas pervious body. The base wire is made of high temperature resistant metal, preferably an iron chromium aluminum alloy. The wire is coated with a particulate collection-enhancing coating of titanate ceramic.

Abstract: A vacuum system includes a vacuum pump, means to provide a flow of lubricant oil to the vacuum pump, and an oil reclaimer and muffler assembly to remove oil that becomes entrained in the gas stream leaving the pump and to permit such oil to be resupplied to the means providing the flow of lubricant to the pump. The oil reclaimer and muffler assembly includes an outer casing having an inlet for the gas stream from the vacuum pump. Wall means are provided within the outer casing to form a passageway to circulate the gas stream adjacent the inner wall of the casing. Entrained oil and water from the gas pump are collected on the inner walls of the assembly and flow under the influence of gravity to a collection pipe at one end of the assembly. The inner wall means also forms a passageway from adjacent the bottom of the assembly to its top from which the cleaned gas passes.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating paint residuals and solvents from the exhaust air of a paint spray chamber comprises a device for blowing a stream of supply air through the spray chamber to take along exhaust air containing paint and solvent particles, a filtering conveyor located below the chamber for intercepting from the exhaust air paint particles and discharging continuously the same, and a second conveyor arranged below the filtering conveyor and adapted for receiving and discharging a layer of adsorptive material that intercepts solvent particles remaining in the filtered exhaust air.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the condensation of sulphur vapor and for the separation of sulphur droplets from a gas flow, preferably from the reaction gas flow from a Claus catalyst. Such apparatus comprises a vessel, a nest of tubes arranged in the vessel between tube plates, pipe connections at the vessel for the supply and discharge of a coolant flowing around the nest of tubes and an inlet pipe connection and an outlet pipe connection for the gas flow at the vessel, upstream and downstream of the said nest of tubes, respectively. Positioned in the vessel is a sulphur separation unit through which the sulphur-containing gas flows and on the surfaces of which sulphur vapor condenses and/or liquid sulphur collects and agglomerates. Sulphur discharge openings are provided in the bottom of the vessel on both the upstream and downstream sides of the separation unit.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing an impurity from a gas by means of selective absorption of a gas impurity by a suitable absorbent. The absorbent and gas are contacted in a cocurrent flow contacter which is submerged in the absorbent. The flow of the absorbent in the absorber can be induced by means of the dispersion of the gas in the absorbent thereby avoiding the need for pumps or other means to induce circulation. The process and the apparatus can be used for the removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas with the use of salt water, e.g., sea water as the absorbent. The invention is specially useful for removing carbon dioxide from natural gas obtained from a natural gas well located in off shore waters that produces a gas with a high concentration of carbon dioxide as the apparatus can be erected on the ocean floor and use the surrounding sea water as absorbent.

Abstract: An oil separator device for use in an automotive crankcase ventilating system. The separator comprises a cannister shell which is made of two shell members and contains upper and lower partitions that define top, bottom and intermediate chambers. When oil laden gaseous fluid is introduced to the intermediate chamber it is directed by a vane member to flow in an orbital path around the intermediate chamber and create a vortex region in the central portion of the chamber. Gaseous liquid with oil removed flows out of the intermediate chamber into the upper chamber via a perforated chimney located in the vortex region. Oil drains from the intermediate chamber into the bottom of the lower chamber through an elongated aperture in the lower partition outside the vortex region.

Abstract: Fines are removed from a fines-containing fluid by fluidizing a bed of fluidizable solids with the fines-containing fluid at conditions avoiding fluid spouting at the bed surface, the bed solids being preferably at least two orders of magnitude greater in size than the particles, and being coated with a substance whose stickiness changes during its residence time in the bed. Particles adhere to the transiently sticky solids and can be recovered for re-use. Useful for cleaning dusty gases and recovering catalyst from cracker flue gas.

Abstract: A riser cracking-catalyst regeneration operation is described wherein a suspension discharged from a riser operation is separated by catalyst particle concentrating means which discharge a concentrated stream of catalyst separated from gasiform material into a downcomer zone and out of further contact with discharged gasiform material in the suspension. A stripping gas is used to particularly aid the separation of catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus for filtering a fluid comprises two coaxial walls which are provided with openings for the radially-outward passage of the fluid to be filtered, granular filtering material being disposed between the walls. The fluid to be filtered is fed into the space bounded by the inner wall and the filtered fluid is abstracted from an annular chamber disposed about the outer wall. The inner wall is formed from a series of annular inclined vanes. A rotary shaft disposed coaxially within the inner wall carries blades which project between the vanes. The blades scrape deposited matter from the vanes and also scrape the radially innermost parts of the granular filter material from between the vanes. In accordance with the method of the invention, the filter material is emptied periodically from between the walls and this emptied material and the material removed by the blades is carried to a treating station for regeneration and re-cycling to the upper end of the space between the walls.

Abstract: An air pre-cleaner of the centrifugal type has a cylindrical housing with an annular louvred air entry structure at a first end thereof and coaxial therewith, and has an inner cylinder forming with the housing and the entry structure an annular separation chamber coaxial with, adjacent to, and axially inward of the entry structure. The inner cylinder forms with the housing a short cylindrical transfer chamber coaxial with, adjacent to, and axially outward of the separation chamber. A ring flange is disposed at the inner end of the inner cylinder along the inner ring of the annular separation chamber lying in a plane normal to the axis of the chambers. A dirt discharge slot is disposed in the side wall of the housing with one end of the slot substantially radially outward from the ring flange, the slot extending along a major portion of the axial length of the separation chamber.

Abstract: Paint particles suspended in a gas are removed from the suspension by coating the surfaces of baffles with a material to which paint particles adhere and having a melting point below 100.degree. C.; positioning said coated baffles in a sequence spaced apart from one another; collecting paint particles suspended in a gas on the coated baffles by flowing said gas around said baffles to thereby saturate said coating with paint particles; melting said paint saturated coating; and removing said paint saturated coating from the baffles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the wet separation of foreign particles from contaminated air includes a closed vessel containing a predetermined level of liquid. A supply duct supplies contaminated air containing foreign particles into the vessel at a position above the predetermined level of liquid. A plurality of air pipes have upper ends directly connected to the supply duct and have lower ends that terminate in the liquid at positions below the predetermined level, such that the air pipes directly supply contaminated air from the supply duct into the liquid. The liquid removes the foreign particles from the air to form purified air. An air outlet discharges the purified air from the vessel at a position above the predetermined level of liquid. The bottom of the vessel is trough-shaped and inclines downwardly to a liquid outlet from which liquid having entrained therein foreign particles is removed from the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing condensate from steam lines, and the like, wherein an orifice is provided in a condensate drain line as new equipment or to replace a conventional condensate trap. A number of embodiments of apparatus are presented. The apparatus includes novel unitary apparatuses and novel means for connecting the apparatus to other equipment.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing domestic and industrial trash and garbage to recover the components that have fuel values by moving the trash and garbage through a fluid bed where it is shredded to a desired size while in the fluid bed, and subsequently causing it to flow in an air lift at a low velocity so that the recoverable light weight components can be separated from the heavy components and collected through a cyclone separator, the heavy components being carried off by suitable conveyor means. The apparatus embodies a system of air moving means and conduits with control valves so that the fluid bed separator is operated at a negative pressure to assure a dust free environment for the apparatus and obtain an even distribution of the shredded material in a moving air stream at a low velocity so the material will separate on the difference in specific gravity, assisted by air elutriation.

Abstract: A fluidized bed, particulate collector system wherein, in one embodiment, the bed particles have applied thereto at the surface thereof, an additive that serves to adhere particulate, once collected, to the bed particles. The bed particles and/or additive may be combustible or may be incombustible. In one embodiment, the system includes two fluidized beds, in tandem, the first of which collects particulate mostly in the supermicron sizes and the second of which is an electrofluidized bed that collects particulate mostly in the submicron sizes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for demisting gases wherein a stream of gas containing submicron liquid particles is caused to pass through a filter material comprising at least in part a material having a porosity of at least 0.985.

Abstract: A cotton condenser for receiving air borne lint cotton or similar material from an air stream and forming a bat therefrom on a screen drum for delivery to a packaging press, wherein the condenser housing forms a chamber outwardly surrounding the screen drum maintained at subatmospheric pressure for receiving the air borne lint where the lint forms the bat on the screen. A doffing roller system withdraws the cotton bat from the screen and passes it to a lint slide and packaging press through a further set of doffing rollers which act as a seal against the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the condenser where the bat exits from the condenser. Means are provided to monitor the moisture level of the cotton bat being delivered by the condenser and activate a humidifying system to supply air of controlled humidity to the condenser chamber and through the bat on the screen to raise the lint moisture to a desired level.

Abstract: Discharge apparatus for filter assembly for radioactive contaminants, the filter assembly including a housing with at least one filter bed therein, the discharge apparatus including a first conduit in fluid communication with an outlet from the filter bed, a closed tank in fluid communication with the first conduit and a second conduit, the second conduit being in fluid communication with a vacuum means with a filter element disposed between the tank and the vacuum means. Upon activation of the vacuum means, the vacuum means pneumatically conveys the filter material from the filter bed.

Abstract: An anti-pollution system for industrial smoke stacks has a source of live steam feeding steam to a nozzle centered in the upper part of the stacks and several concentrically steam cooling towers of progressively smaller diameter. Each chamber opens into the other and has a drain for conveying water laden with unburned particles and soot to filters at the bottom of the stacks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary air filter for use in combination with a cooling radiator or another cooling device and which has to operate in a dusty atmosphere. The rotary air filter comprises a hollow rotary structure having a perforated rotary filter element mounted on the intake side of a fan operable to draw air through the filter element, the rotary structure having a generally unobstructed inner surface lengthwise thereof, and a discharge opening being provided adjacent the fan and generally in line with said unobstructed inner surface for enabling the discharge therethrough of foreign material entering through the perforations in the rotary filter element.

Abstract: A heat and moisture exchanging device for respiration comprising a housing, having an inlet detachably connected to a tracheal cannula and an outlet detachably connected to a tube for passing respiratory air, and a permeable heat and moisture exchange body provided between said inlet and outlet. The device can indicate the respiration state of a patient by including an air pressure differential monitor operating across said outlet and inlet to detect the number of breaths per unit time, respired air volume and volume of tidal air.

Abstract: A running textile web that has been subjected to soaking by a liquid such as a scouring solvent is carried between a suction box located adjacent one face of the web and a source of pressurized and relatively dry heated gas adjacent the other face thereof and opposite the suction box. The heated gas passes through the web and is drawn into the suction box, enhancing the amount of liquid removed at this stage and presenting the web into a drying stage with less entrained liquid than if the web were subject to the action of the suction box only. The amount of mechanical mist is kept to minimum within a closed scouring range by means of a closed loop between the suction box and a return conduit provided with a trap containing a batt of metallic wool. The liquid discharge from nozzles employed to uncurl the edges of the web is directed against shields also containing a batt of metallic wool to reduce bouncing, noise and mist generation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the separation of droplets of a liquid (such as a washing liquid) from a gas, in which a stream of gas is conducted along a broad-fronted arcuate path, defined by interior and exterior walls, liquid droplets impinging upon the exterior wall and being directed through slits provided in said exterior wall. Flow of gas into, through and from the part-annular chamber defined by said walls is substantially in directions lying in planes, extending at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the chamber with little or no movement in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: This invention provides vertically disposed fiber bed elements and separators containing the same wherein "bubble re-entrainment" of a collected liquid phase in a gas stream flowing through the fiber bed is substantially eliminated or reduced. "Bubble re-entrainment" refers to that re-entrainment of liquid which occurs at the bottom of the fiber bed where the cumulative drainage of the liquid is at its maximum. This is accomplished by providing at the bottom of the fiber bed a vertically disposed gas flow baffle means such as, e.g., a baffle plate, such that some portion of the fiber bed is disposed downstream of the baffle means and shielded by the lee side of said baffle means from the moving gas stream, said shielding being effective throughout the shielded portion of the fiber bed to reduce the bed velocity of any gas flowing therethrough to below a bubble re-entraining velocity.

Abstract: Apparatus for the high performance collection of gas entrained particulate, especially submicron particulate, consisting of a fluidized bed of collection sites with an electric field imposed on the bed so that the particulate to be collected, which is charged prior to entering the bed with the fluidizing gas, is electrically induced to agglomerate with the bed particles and the collected matter is removed in a fluidized state with the bed particles, which can consist of the collected material itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to water removal or separator which can remove droplets of water suspended in the air as mist, and can separate the mist from the air to change and to transform "wet-air" into "dry-air." More particularly this invention relates to such devices which have a housing with baffles. The "wet-air" enters the housing from an inlet or orifice and strikes the baffles, and through the action of evaporation and surface friction the air sheds the water droplets onto the baffles. The water thus condensed on the baffles then drops and collects in the floor of the housing wherefrom it may be drained to the atmosphere through a small opening or an exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solid substances from a stream of gas employing vertical deflecting plates extending parallel to one another but arranged inclined to the direction of gas flow. The deflecting plates are provided with open collecting grooves and with a fluidizing layer of gas on the outer surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Relief valve means for dissipating positive compressor pressures which could exist within an industrial vacuum unit after the unit is shut down. A high capacity one-way flow type of valve is mounted on the unit to allow a vacuum to be created within the unit during normal operation and to prevent a build-up of undesirable positive pressure that can result from the brief reverse operation of the compressor immediately after the power is shut off.

Abstract: To increase the degree of separation of liquid droplets from a stream of gas by means of a separator consisting of a packet of wire gauze arranged in a pipe, the packet is subdivided along its height by discharge channels arranged transverse to the direction of flow.

Abstract: A gas stream with entrained liquid is given a helical motion which causes the entrained liquid to impinge and coalesce on the wall of a separation chamber, with gases being discharged through a tailpipe which extends inwardly into the downstream end of the separation chamber. A closed second chamber surrounds the tailpipe downstream of the separation chamber. Aperture means in the tailpipe permits communication between the interiors of the second chamber and the tailpipe. A conduit means, provided downstream of the aperture means but within the tailpipe, is arranged to permit communication between the center of the tailpipe and the interior of the second chamber tending to equalize pressures so as to cause any residual liquid collected on the interior surface of the tailpipe to flow out of the tailpipe through the aperture means.

Abstract: A miniature centrifugal separator for use in an engine air cleaner. Two cn air take-off tubes are coaxially aligned in the main flow tube for successively removing selected fractions of the outer annular portion of the swirling gas stream. The clean air tubes are spaced pre-selected distances downstream from the swirl means such that entrained dust particles are enabled to complete approximately one swirl revolution prior to encountering each take-off tube. The invention seeks to accomplish a relatively high collection efficiency with a relatively short flow tube.

Abstract: The dust collecting efficiency of a gravel bed filter system in which a plurality of filter modules receive dirty gas from and dischage backflush gas and collected dust into a plenum chamber is enhanced by continuously drawing gas from a downstream end of the plenum chamber, passing the withdrawn gas through a cyclone separator, and returning the gas to the upstream end of the plenum chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid particles from a gas-stream by passing the gas stream through a curved tube so that the liquid is caused to concentrate along the inner surface of the outer wall of the curved tube. The concentrated liquid together with some gas is passed to a liquid collecting chamber. The liquid is drained from the liquid collecting chamber and the gas is returned from the liquid collecting chamber to the main stream.

Abstract: An efficient unit for placement on the exhaust cylinder of a dust collector, etc., the unit having a cylindrical filter through which the air passes and deposits dust thereon, the latter being removed by brushes for gravity deposit in an annular trough through which a scraper passes to move the dust particles to an exhaust tube.

Abstract: A lint disposal apparatus wherein lint or other combustible particulate matter entrained in a column of air moving in a duct is held by opposing forces contiguous to the radially outer surface of a rotating screen against which a flame is directed to cause the particulate matter to be ignited as it passes through the flame.

Abstract: A pressure vessel adapted for connection in a high pressure gas line and having a coalescent type filter mounted to extract condensate; a vertical guide fitted with upper and lower magnetically operated switches at positions representing high and low condensate levels; a float carried by the guide for vertical reciprocation and having magnetic means for operating the switches; and an electrically operated valve connected to a condensate drain opening and to a control circuit connected to the switches whereby the condensate will be maintained within upper and lower limits.

Abstract: An air pumping and scrubbing apparatus which is suitable for use in spray paint booths is described. This apparatus uses liquid sprays directed into a conduit to cause an air pumping action to inject air into the conduit and dis-discharge to atmosphere using water pressure to move the air so as to avoid the necessity for any moving parts or electrical corrections in and around the air stream. The liquid sprays impinge on mist eliminator strips and are recovered along with foreign material from the air while the air is exhausted downstream of the strips. A novel transfer plate arrangement is provided between the strips and a sump to minimize foreign material buildup on structual surfaces while allowing stratification in the sump; and novel baffle means are provided to cause a controlled air blowback across the sump to facilitate collection of the floating material therein.

Abstract: An enclosure in the form of a shed is disposed to extend along the entire length of the battery of ovens at the coke discharge side thereof. The shed roof rises from the top of the ovens to a shed wall spaced outwardly from the ovens beyond a track for a quench car. The shed wall essentially supports the weight of the shed roof in a cantilever fashion. Within the shed a baffle plate, carried by the shed wall, extends in an upward direction toward the battery of coke ovens. A conveyor is carried by the shed wall along its length for conveying solid particles of coke dropping from the baffle plate onto the conveyor. The shed further includes a pipe for extracting smoke within the shed which occurs when hot coke is pressed out of an oven chamber. The smoke extraction pipe is carried in one embodiment by the shed roof vertically above the baffle plate, in a second embodiment, by the shed wall above the upper end of the baffle plate and in a third embodiment by the shed wall at the lower end of the baffle plate.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a steam separator between two successive stages of steam utilization that condensate liquid is automatically extracted with negligible impediment to high-velocity passage, to the second stage. The separator separates the liquid component by centrifugal action, into a region outside the region of gas discharge to the second stage, and an inverted-bucket steam trap is the means of continuously draining the separated condensate.

Abstract: Apparatus for purifying an air or gas flow of combustible vaporous or gaseous impurities by passing the air or gas through an adsorption filter and charging the filter to a predetermined level. After the filter is so charged, the air or gas flow is interrupted and the filter is desorbed by passing a heated inert gas generated by stoichiometric burning of hydrocarbons through the filter.