Abstract: The concentration of a hydrocarbon gas in a gas discharged from a drain port is detected by a break-through gas concentration sensor provided in a discharge pipe connected to the drain port. The entire amount of the hydrocarbon gas discharged from the drain port as a result of breaking-through of an adsorbent layer is collected by a break-through gas collecting means, and the entire amount of the hydrocarbon gas collected by the break-through gas collecting means is detected. Thus, in measuring the adsorbing ability of a canister, the concentration of the hydrocarbon discharged from the canister by the breaking-through can be detected with the passage of time and in a stable manner, whereby a measurement value of an excellent accuracy can be provided by a single measurement.

Abstract: A system for recovery of adsorbed gas remaining in a used storage and dispensing vessel containing sorbent material having residual sorbate gas thereon, when the vessel is taken out of service, in which the used storage and dispensing vessel is coupled in flow communication with at least one fresh storage and dispensing vessel containing sorbent material therein having sorptive capacity for the residual sorbate gas. The fresh vessel is maintained in a first zone and the used vessel is maintained in a second zone, at temperature and/or pressure conditions relative to one another that cause the residual sorbate gas to desorb from the sorbent material in the used storage and dispensing vessel and flow into the fresh storage and dispensing vessel for sorption of the residual sorbate gas on the sorbent material in the fresh storage and dispensing vessel.

Abstract: An improved three-bed nonimmobilized rapid pressure-swing adsorber for use in a gas separation system. The three beds are connected in parallel and actuated so that at any one time, at least one of the beds is on-line, purifying the gas stream. The sequence of operation is such that during a full cycle of operation, two of the beds will be purging for at least some of the cycle to reduce the purge gas volume flow requirements, and thus increase the efficiency of the system. When a primary adsorber bed is on-line, another bed may be depressurizing from an on-line condition to a purge condition while the third bed is being purged. At a certain time, both the off-line beds are being purged until the third bed is repressurized in preparation for going on-line. Prior to the first bed going off-line and being depressurized, the third bed is placed on-line to ensure an uninterrupted supply of process gas to the system.

Abstract: A vapor recovery apparatus is provided with an automatic flow control system. The apparatus includes first and second reaction vessels. Each reaction vessel holds a bed of adsorbent for adsorbing volatile liquid vapor and producing relatively volatile liquid vapor-free air. A vacuum pump is provided for regenerating the beds of adsorbent. A cooler and/or absorber tower is provided to recover volatile liquid vapor generated during bed regeneration. Conduits are provided for the passage of air-volatile liquid vapor mixture between the various components of the apparatus. A series of valves direct the flow of the air-volatile liquid vapor mixture through the conduits. The automatic flow control system includes a vacuum transmitter for monitoring air pressure within the apparatus at a selected point and a controller responsive to the sensed pressure for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: Fuel vapors leaving the fuel tank of a motor vehicle are recovered with a filter cartridge inserted between the tank and the intake manifold of the engine. An atmospheric connection duct of the cartridge can be selectively connected to the intake partial vacuum with a pneumatic distributor. The leaktightness of the device is thereby tested.

Abstract: Air dryer mechanism for a compressed air system includes a cover member, a desiccant housing, and an adapter member securing the desiccant housing to the cover member. In one embodiment, the adapter member is a integral purge volume which is releasably attached to both the cover member and to the desiccant housing and which defines a purge volume which stores purge air for later regeneration of the desiccant. In another embodiment, the adaptive member is a plate which is attached to both the cover member and the desiccant housing and provides flow paths communicating the supply port to the desiccant and the desiccant to the delivery port. The second embodiment, the cover member is provided with a purge volume port for connection to a remote purge volume.

Abstract: An improved petroleum vapor control apparatus for scrubbing petroleum vapors at high flow rates without generating dangerous levels of backpressure. The apparatus comprises a substantially air-tight housing into which petroleum vapors are ducted. The vapors are passed through an activated carbon adsorber bed having a large-diameter outlet, after which the scrubbed vapors pass into a zone of controlled pressure. The scrubbed vapors are then vented to the atmosphere. The housing is preferably able to withstand marine conditions, so that the apparatus can be used on marine barges which carry petroleum products.

Abstract: A system for extracting nitrogen from air to produce a flow of nitrogen includes a compressor for compressing air and an air separator connected to the compressor for producing nitrogen from the compressed air. The compressor is provided with a reducing device for reducing an effective length of the rotatable rotors which acts to compress air in order to cause the compressor to operate at less than full capacity. An internal pressure control regulator operatively associated with the compressor regulates the discharge pressure from the compressor and provides a signal air pressure when the compressor discharge pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. An external input device allows an external signal indicative of a compressor operating level that is less than full capacity to be inputted and provides a signal air pressure based on the external signal.

Abstract: A gas purification apparatus has two gas purification units which are alternately operated. A gas purification capacity measuring means includes a means including valves for separating a target gas purification unit from a line, an evacuating means for evacuating the separated gas purification unit at a high vacuum, a means including a supply tank for supplying a predetermined very small amount of an impurity gas to an inlet of the high-vacuum separated gas purification unit, an auxiliary tank (e.g., a pressure reduction tank, a metering tank, and a pressure reduction valve), and a vacuum gauge for measuring a change in pressure at the outlet upon supply of the impurity gas to the inlet. In the gas purification apparatus having gas purification units each incorporating a getter material, the gas purification capacity of each gas purification unit can be more accurately and easily measured.

Abstract: An air drying mechanism for a compressed air braking system includes a housing containing desiccant material, and a purge volume which stores air for backflowing through the desiccant to purge the latter of its moisture content. A flow regulating control valve is located between the purge volume and the desiccant to provide a constant flow rate of purge air through the desiccant during purging.

Abstract: The removal of components from fluid mixtures in aircraft utilizes an adsorbent bed which is regenerated by passing dry ambient air through the adsorbent bed when the aircraft reaches a height at which such dry ambient air is available. An example of mixtures that can be treated in this way are water/oil mixtures, air/water vapor mixtures and air/odor mixtures. By periodically regenerating the adsorbent bed in this way, an adsorbent bed of small size can be used but yet have a substantial life.

Abstract: A system and method for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from a circulating airstream utilizes first and second adsorption beds and first and second adsorption paths alternately coupling the circulating airstream to the respective first and second adsorption beds for removing VOC's during adsorption cycles. First and second desorption loops alternately couple a desorption inert gas through the respective first and second adsorption beds for desorption and regeneration and for recovering VOC's in a VOC condenser. System parameter sensors are distributed in the first and second adsorption paths and first and second desorption loops for sensing system parameters. A programmable controller is coupled to the system parameter sensors, to flow control valves, and to the inert gas heater for controlling the system in response to sensed system parameters. The system parameter sensors include a variety of temperature, O.sub.2, VOC, pressure, and differential pressure sensors.

Abstract: A mobile regeneration apparatus is provided for regenerating dryers. The regeneration apparatus may be used to regenerate single tower desiccant dryers located at natural gas vehicle refueling stations. For optimum performance, each dryer may be located upstream of a respective compressor.

Abstract: A device for filtering hot and dusty gases. The device uses hollow filter components. The components are accommodated in groups in a filter housing (1). Every group communicates with a filtered-gas manifold (21) outside the housing by way of a supply line (9) and a filtered-gas line (11). The supply lines extend individually out of the housing. A valve (13) is accommodated in every supply line. An instrument that determines the state of the filtered gas can also be accommodated in every supply line and/or filtered-gas line.

Abstract: Air dryer for a compressed air system includes a desiccant canister and a tubular oil filter received within a cavity within the canister circumscribed by a desiccant bed. A tubular oil filter is mounted on a removable module so that the module and the oil filter may be removed from the air dryer without disturbing the desiccant canister. Accordingly, the oil filter is replaced at more frequent intervals than is the desiccant. During purging, purge air is bypassed around the oil filter directly to the exhaust port through a check valve permitting communication through a bypass passage only during purging.

Abstract: An air dryer for compressed air braking systems includes a desiccant canister which is provided with a double helix insert which cooperates with the walls of the canister to define a pair of intertwined, serpentine, pneumatically isolated flow paths. The flow paths extend through the canister between the end walls and are filled with a desiccant material. A single center line valve mechanism is provided to switch between the flow paths so that one of the flow paths is purged at the same time that the other flow path is pressurized.

Abstract: A surgical laser smoke evacuation system includes a sensor positioned at the surgical site to determine the need for evacuation. A vacuum pump draws smoke from the site through a system of conduits, including an in line filter. The filter tends to become clogged over time. A sensor determines changes in the pressure drop across the filter, and is connected to a control mechanism which adjusts the speed of the vacuum pump to maintain an approximately constant flow across the filter.

Abstract: A retarding valve at a single-tower air drier for obtaining a controlled time for the flow of regenerating air from an air tank to a desiccant cartridge has a movable valve stem (7), which is provided with a piston (14) having a slightly smaller diameter than a chamber (13), in which it is movable in hydraulic oil (15), so that a narrow circumferential slit for the oil is formed. The valve stem with its piston is biased by a spring (16) from a position--at the beginning of each regenerating cycle--permitting flow through the valve to a position closing off flow through the valve.

Abstract: Photographic additives in particular water insoluble photographic additives are rendered easier to incorporate into photographic layers by finely dividing them, mixing them with a finely divided water soluble substance and preparing granules of the mixture using a hydrophilic colloid as the binder. The granules which contain from about 1 to 50% by weight of the photographic additives are then dissolved in the coating composition and this disperses the water insoluble additive uniformly throughout the coating composition.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion is made by continuous conversion of a more soluble silver halide into a less soluble silver halide. From a first part of up to 50% of the total amount of silver nitrate by reaction with a first water soluble halide a silver halide is precipitated consisting at least partly of a more readily soluble silver halide, e.g. silver chloride. In the presence of this more readily soluble silver halide the remaining silver nitrate is reacted with a second water soluble halide composition to form the residual silver halide (main precipitation). The amount of total halide in the precipitation is slightly more than equivalent to the amount of silver ions. However the amount of halide that forms the less readily soluble silver halide is less by at least 5 mol% than equivalent to the amount of silver ions in the precipitation medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light-sensitive photographic material with a light-sensitive heavy metal compound, e.g. a silver halide, and a spectral sensitizer. The spectral sensitizer is a compound in which the radicals of a sensitizing dyestuff are covalently bonded to amino, imino, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid amide groups of a natural hydrophilic colloid, preferably gelatin.The invention also relates to new sensitizing dyes which are dinuclear cyanine dyes or merocyanine dyes which have attached either to a heterocyclic nucleus of the dye or to its methine chain a group which is reactive with a hydrophilic colloid.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel polymers containing a plurality of hydroxyl groups having aminimide groups attached thereto through an ether linkage and to methods for attaching said aminimide groups onto said polymers containing a plurality of hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive element in which silver halide is the sole source of image-forming silver containing incorporated processing chemicals is processed in a fluid activator which does not cause the processed element to be tacky. The element includes a fluid-impermeable support having thereon a radiation-sensitive material in a hydrophobic binder which is impermeable to water. Activation of the exposed radiation-sensitive material by the fluid activating agent results in a processed element which is dry to the touch and is substantially free from tackiness when removed from contact with the fluid activator. If a stabilizer precursor is incorporated in the element, the image is unaffected by further exposure to radiation.

Abstract: Silver halide emulsion layers are formed by applying a water-soluble silver halide complex to a gelled substrate, and treating to decomplex to form silver halide crystals therein.

Abstract: A direct-positive photographic material for producing images by fogging development wherein the photographic material contains an unfogged silver halide emulsion layer. The silver halide grains in the unfogged emulsion have a layered grain structure wherein there is a first phase in which is localized a relatively high silver chloride content of at least 20 mol percent based on the total silver halide content of the grain. A second phase contains from less silver chloride than the first phase down to no silver chloride and the total silver chloride in the grain does not exceed 30 mol percent.The physical position of the first phase in the grain is not critical.The emulsion is either not chemically sensitized or only slightly sensitized.The photographic material and its use includes both producing black and white and colored photographic images and has high sensitivity to light and by fogging development yields pure image whites.