Disclosed is a vessel for melting and casting meltable materials. The vessel may be a surface temperature regulated vessel for providing a substantially non-wetting interface with the molten materials. In one embodiment, the vessel may include one or more temperature regulating channels configured to flow a fluid therein for regulating a surface temperature of the vessel such that molten materials are substantially non-wetting at the interface with the vessel. Disclosed also includes systems and methods for melting and casting meltable materials using the vessel.

A method for interlocking structural steel components with a metal-filled interlock is disclosed herein. The method comprises placing a mold about aligned contoured portions of structural steel components and attaching a crucible and a spout to the mold. The crucible is charged with exothermic reactive metals which are ignited, forming a molten metal filler. The molten metal filler melts a metal plug in the crucible or spout and the molten metal filler flows into the mold and about the aligned contoured portions of the structural steel components. Cooling of the molten metal filler forms a metal-filled interlock. Molds for performing the disclosed method are also disclosed herein.

A method of casting a semi-liquid or semi-solid iron-based alloy, the method including: applying, to a part or to the whole of an uppermost surface of an inner surface of a die, a lubricating die-release agent in which particles including at least one selected from molybdenum disulfide, graphite, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride, chrome oxide and boric oxide are dispersed in a solvent; and thereafter casting by using the die.

A casting core resulting from alkaline earth metal oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.8-4 mm being dispersed in a water-soluble alkali metal salt matrix. The casting core can be efficiently produced using a method of dispersing alkaline earth metal hydroxide particles having favorable disintegration properties and a particle size in the range of 1-5 mm in a molten water-soluble alkali metal salt, converting to alkaline earth metal oxide particles by means of dehydration, and casting in a mold, cooling, and hardening.

A method of pulsed-air compacting of mold-sand in combination with compacting by compression supplements the pulsed-air compacting of the mold-sand by an operation of re-compacting the mold-sand by pressing which is performed with the pattern plate containing the patterns by the plate moving inside the cavity of the filling frame in the direction of the latticed pressing element which is subjected to a counter-pressure force corresponding in its value to the prescribed level of the half mold compaction. The method is realized with a device in which the pattern plate containing the patterns is mounted with the possibility of a reciprocal motion inside the cavity of the filling frame, and the pressing cylinder is mounted with the possibility to apply a force against the movable pattern plate.

A method for manufacturing a thin metal strip by pouring and rapidly solidifying molten metal onto a cooling roll rotating at a high speed to form a thin metal strip having a width of 50˜350 mm, blowing compression gas from substantially a tangential direction of the cooling roll toward the thin metal strip to separate the thin metal strip from the cooling roll, adsorbing the separated thin metal strip with a permeable belt of a suction type belt conveyor, and transporting to a take-up reel to wind in form of a coil, the thin metal strip is adsorbed by the belt under conditions that a nearest approaching distance L between the cooling roll and the suction type belt conveyor is 2˜50 mm and a suction width S of a suction box arranged in the suction type belt conveyor is 1.2˜2.5 times of a width W of the thin metal strip.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of forming a connection mechanism in or on a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy by casting in or on, or forming with the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, a machinable metal. The connection mechanism can be formed by machining the machinable metal.

A method for producing a metal part, the part including, in particular, a first set of elements having a small thickness, and a second set of elements having a large thickness, the method including: forming a peripheral portion of the elements of the second set of elements by selectively melting a powder by scanning the surface of the powder layer with a laser beam or with an electron beam; using the peripheral portion of the elements of the second set of elements as a mould by carrying out an operation of filling an inner area defined by the peripheral portion with liquid metal; cooling the metal part to solidify the inner area defined by the peripheral portion and filled with metal.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of making use of foams as a processing aid or to improve the properties of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy materials. Other embodiments include the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy/foam composite materials made in accordance with the methods.

An aluminium-copper alloy comprising substantially insoluble particles which occupy the interdendritic regions of the alloy, provided with free titanium in quantity sufficient to result in a refinement of the grain structure in the cast alloy.

The present disclosure is directed to a refractory metal core for use in forming varying thickness microcircuits in turbine engine components, a process for forming the refractory metal core, and a process for forming the turbine engine components. The refractory metal core is used in the casting of a turbine engine component. The core is formed by a sheet of refractory metal material having a curved trailing edge portion integrally formed with a leading edge portion.

Described herein are systems and methods for producing a hardwearing or wear-resistant material. In one aspect, a first group of materials comprising zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and one or both of calcium oxide (CaO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) may be mixed, heated, and cooled to yield a first mixture. The first mixture may be used to generate granules that may then be mixed with a second group of materials comprising iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon, chromium, and optionally, a paraffin, to yield a second mixture. The second mixture may then be compressed, cast, cooled, and heat treated to yield the hardwearing or wear-resistant material.

A rotor core for an electric motor includes a stack of laminations having peripherally spaced openings receiving copper bars with opposite end portions projecting from the stack. The core is mounted on an arbor and is inserted into a mold on a vertical die cast press having a shot chamber. The mold has upper and lower mold members defining annular cavities receiving end portions of the bars. Molten copper or aluminum is poured into the shot chamber and forced upwardly by a shot piston through passages in the lower mold member and into the cavity around the lower end portions of the bars. The pressurized molten metal solidifies and shrinks around the bar end portions to form an endring for the rotor. The core, endring and arbor are inverted and confined in the mold, and the casting steps are repeated to form the opposite endring.

Aluminum alloys are provided that have improved fluidity and elongation, as well as freedom of die soldering. The aluminum alloys are particularly suitable for die-casting of structural components. The aluminum alloy includes silicon at from about 8 weight % to about 11 weight %, manganese at from about 0.8 weight % to about 1.9 weight %, iron at from about 0.1 weight % to about 0.5 weight %, magnesium at from about 0.2 weight % to about 0.7 weight %, boron at from about 0.002 weight % to about 0.15 weight %, strontium at from about 0.006 weight % to about 0.017 weight %, less than about 0.25 weight % copper, less than about 0.35 weight % zinc, less than about 0.25 weight % titanium, and a balance of aluminum. Methods related to the aluminum alloys are also provided.

A method of producing a trailing arm of a torsion beam axle in which an integrated drive unit of a wheel-adjacent electric drive has an electric machine and a transmission. By using the method, the trailing arm is produced in the form of a casting with a box profile. The contours for producing the area that accommodates the transmission, the connection point to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member which connects the two trailing arms to one another, the U-profile of the trailing arm, the box profile and the area that accommodates the electric machine, are modeled by cores such that the contours for producing the connection point of the trailing arm to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member and the U-profile of the trailing arm are modeled by one core.

A foundry mixture for making molds used for molding cast metal parts includes foundry sand, a non-aqueous binder, and a cleaning agent that includes calcium oxide. Residual foundry mixture remaining on the cast part after removal from the mold is removed by electrolytic cleaning of the cast part.

A titanium based, ceramic reinforced alloy ingot for use in producing medical implants. An ingot is formed from an alloy having comprising from about 5 to about 35 wt. % niobium, from about 0.5 to about 3.5 wt. % silicon, and from about 61.5 to about 94.5 wt. % of titanium. The alloy has a hexagonal crystal lattice α phase of from about 20 vol % to about 70 vol %, and a cubic body centered β crystal lattice phase of from about 30 vol. % to about 80 vol. %. The ingot has an ultimate tensile strength of about 940 MPa or more, and a Young's modulus of about 150 GPa or less. A molten substantially uniform admixture of a niobium, silicon, and titanium alloy is formed, cast into a shape, and cooled into an ingot. The ingot may then be formed into a medical implant and optionally annealed.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for casting amorphous alloys. Exemplary casting system may include an insertable and rotatable vessel configured in a non-movable induction heating structure for melting amorphous alloys to form molten materials in the vessel. While the molten materials remain heated, the vessel may be rotated to pour the molten materials into a casting device for casting them into articles.

The invention is a process and apparatus for removing a contaminant from an aromatic selective solvent. A feed stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and a non-aromatic hydrocarbon is contacted with the aromatic selective solvent in an extractive distillation zone to produce a raffinate stream comprising the non-aromatic hydrocarbon, and a rich solvent stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon and the solvent. The rich solvent stream is separated in a second distillation zone to produce an extract stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon, and a lean solvent stream comprising the contaminant and the aromatic selective solvent. At least a portion of the lean solvent stream is washed with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon to produce a clean solvent stream, at least a portion of which is passed to at least one of the extractive distillation zone and the second distillation zone.

An improved system for removing bitumen from tar sands comprises a pre-treatment system utilizing a vibratory load hopper for classifying and sizing said tar sand particles communicating with a dryer for heating and drying said tar sand particles to a predetermined temperature thereby controlling the moisture content of said tar sands. An extraction system is also included for accepting said tar sands from the dryer comprising a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in series for transporting said tar sands from a first extraction vessel to a final extraction vessel. Furthermore, a solvent system for supplying a predetermined volume of solvent flow through said extraction vessels is employed, whereby solvent is supplied to the last extraction vessel and a solvent and bitumen mixture is withdrawn from the first extraction vessel.

A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The stream may then be processed through a sorbent bed to effectively remove the sulfur compounds.

The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.

In one aspect, the present techniques include a heat exchange apparatus including: a) a body comprising an interior cavity, the body including: a first surface and a second surface defining at least a portion of the body and the first surface positioned exterior with respect to the second surface and the interior cavity, and the second surface positioned exterior with respect to the interior cavity and interior with respect to the first surface; b) a first conduit for conveying a fluid to the body; c) a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit wherein the second conduit is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; and d) a joint between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the joint moves between a first location and a second location based on the temperature within the interior cavity, wherein at least one of said first location and said second location is positioned intermediate the first surface and the second surface.

The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. One process provides for operation of a bitumen froth treatment plant at optimum shear rates in the feed pipe carrying the bitumen froth to the froth settling unit. Another process provides for optimizing the design of a bitumen froth treatment plant by optimizing the diameter of the feed pipe to impart an optimum shear rate to the bitumen froth mixture and further optimizing the volume of the feed pipe to impart an optimum residence time for the bitumen froth stream in the feed pipe. An optimal plant design is also disclosed, the plant including optimal diameter and volume of the feed pipe.

A tube coil for a double fired coker heater wherein the tube coil has at least two independent flow passes in an intertwined serpentine pattern. The tubes are located in a common plane and plumbed in parallel with one another. These tube coils can be used in a number of configurations within the radiant section of a coker heater.

A method is provided for producing vacuum in a vacuum oil-stock distillation column and includes pumping a gas-vapor medium out of a column by an ejector into a condenser; feeding a gas mixture and a high-pressure gas into a second gas-gas ejector from which the vapor-gas mixture is fed into a second condenser. A condensate is directed from the condensers into a separator in which the condensate is separated into a water-containing condensate and a hydrocarbon-containing condensate. The hydrocarbon-containing condensate is removed while the water-containing condensate is fed into a steam generator in which heat is supplied to the water-containing condensate from a hot distillate removed from the vacuum column and steam is produced from the water-containing condensate, the steam is fed as a high-pressure gas into the gas-gas ejectors. A plant for carrying out the method is also provided.

The invention relates to a process for the purification of crude and apparatus for its implementation. This process comprises a separation into gas and degassed emulsion and separation of the degassed emulsion into water and oil. The invention also relates to a process of separating a hydrocarbon emulsion and apparatus for implementing this. This process comprises washing of the emulsion at an oil/water interface.

A method of produced water treatment in an in-situ recovery method of producing bitumen from oil sand, the method has the steps of: separating bitumen from bitumen-mixed fluid so as to leave produced water, the bitumen-mixed fluid having been recovered from the oil sand wells; and filtering the produced water via a microfiltration membrane made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Embodiments of extraction unit and an analysis method are provided. In one embodiment, the analysis method includes the steps of providing a feed stream and a species-selective solvent to the distillation column, drawing a vapor sample from the distillation column, condensing the vapor sample, and analyzing at least a portion of the condensed vapor sample.

A method is described to excite molecules at their natural resonance frequencies with sufficient energy to break or form chemical bonds using electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequency range. Liquid, solid, or gaseous materials are prepared and injected into a resonant structure where they are bombarded with electromagnetic energy in the RF or microwave range at resonant frequencies of the molecules of the materials. Alternatively, electromagnetic energy tuned to dielectric particles prepared from the materials may also be supplied to further enhance the reaction.

A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a first spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The device may further include a second spirally wound electrical conductor carried within the hydrocarbon processing container. The first spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields with the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

An improved apparatus strips HPNA's from hydroprocessed streams in a fractionation column having a split shell configuration. Only one vapor stripping feed is required to the split shell of the fractionation column. The resulting reduction in steam requirement provides a superior fractionation in the column.

A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

Systems and processes for improving quality and yield of one or more distillate products generated in a distillation column are disclosed. The system comprises a feed inlet distributor that reduces the amount of liquid entrained in vapor rising from the feed zone of the distillation column, a wash zone collection apparatus having an improved design for collecting slop wax falling from a liquid/vapor contacting structure provided in the wash zone, a recirculation subsystem for recirculating at least a portion of the collected slop wax to the top of the wash zone for distribution as wash oil, and a control subsystem. The feed inlet distributor ensures a horizontal fluid flow path free of transverse surfaces thereby minimizing atomization of liquid droplets entrained in vapor in the feed stream.

Split-shell fractionation columns and associated processes for separating aromatic hydrocarbons. A split-shell fractionation column includes a housing shell having a first height and a partition having a second height and disposed within the housing shell. The partition includes first and second vertically oriented baffles separated by a gap region, a seal plate connecting top ends of the baffles, a first input port formed to extend through the partition for the introduction of a gas into the gap region, and a first output port formed to extend outwardly from a bottom of the gap region and through the housing shell. The partition defines a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone within the housing shell.

The present invention relates to a system and a method for the extraction of hydrocarbons from drill cuttings in drilling mud. The system for extracting hydrocarbons from drill cuttings includes at least one extraction tank, a carbon dioxide tank fluidly connected to the at least one extraction tank, and at least one separation tank in fluid communication with the at least one extraction tank. The method for extracting hydrocarbons from drill cuttings consists of exposing the drill cuttings to liquid carbon dioxide, solubilizing hydrocarbons from the drill cuttings with the liquid carbon dioxide, heating the liquid carbon dioxide and the soluble hydrocarbons to convert liquid carbon dioxide to carbon dioxide vapor, separating the hydrocarbons from the carbon dioxide vapor, and collecting the separated hydrocarbons.

A system and process for the preparation of high quality gasoline through recombination of catalytic hydrocarbon includes fractionator and extractor. The upper part of the fractionator is equipped with light petrol pipeline, the lower part of the fractionator is equipped with heavy petrol pipeline, the middle part of the fractionator is equipped with medium petrol pipeline. The medium petrol pipeline is connected with a medium petrol extractor, the upper part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol raffinate oil hydrogenation unit through the pipeline, the lower part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol aromatic hydrocarbon hydrogenation unit through the pipeline. The medium petrol aromatic hydrocarbon hydrogenation unit is then connected with the light petrol pipeline in the upper part of the fractionator through the pipeline, the lower part of the heavy petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol aromatic hydrocarbon hydrogenation unit through the pipeline, the upper part of the heavy petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol raffinate oil hydrogenation unit through the pipeline.

A filter device for filtering a suspension includes at least one filter for continuous creation of a filter cake including particles from the suspension, at least one dispensing device configured to apply at least one first wash liquid to the filter cakes, at least one steaming unit configured to steam the filter cake using steam; at least one removal device configured to remove a surface layer of the filter cake facing away from the at least one filter, wherein the filter device is configured to convey the filter cake to the at least one removal device, the at least one dispensing device and the at least one steaming device, and at least one transport device configured to transport the removed surface layer of the filter cake away from the filter device.

The invention relates to a method producing a portioned column by forming a first segment and a third segment into arcuate segments, and attaching these arcuate segments to a second z-shaped segment to from two contiguous volumes with approximately semi-circular cross-sections that combine to form a partitioned, approximately cylindrical segment.

The present invention provides a method of converting coal to a petroleum product. The method includes the steps of mixing the coal and water to form a mixture, and heating the mixture to approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The method further includes separating the mixture in a first separator into a liquid stream of a water bearing minerals and a solid stream of coal, and transferring the coal from the first separator to a coking reactor wherein the temperature is raised to approximately 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit to drive off lighter fractions of the coal as a gas. The method also includes transferring the gas to a fourth separator to separate water and liquid petroleum product from the gas.

A system and process for integrated desulfurizing, desalting and deasphalting of hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided. A hydrocarbon feedstock, a water soluble oxidant, and a water soluble catalyst can be introduced in a oxidation zone and retained for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired degree of desulfurization, or introduced directly into the desalting zone along with wash water. Catalyst and dissolved salt are discharged along with the wastewater effluent from the desalting zone. A hydrocarbon stream including converted hydrocarbons and oxidation by-products is passed to a deasphalting zone. In the deasphalting zone, phase separation occurs, whereby a light phase including desulfurized hydrocarbons are produced, and a heavy phase including asphaltenes and oxidation by-products are discharged, e.g., passed to an asphalt pool.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for recovery of spent lubricating oil. The evaporation of hydrocarbon fractions from spent lubricating oil is carried out in three steps. The first step is at approximately 150-1030 mbar and between 70-240° C. in which is greater than 99% water, greater than 99% of ethylene glycol and greater than 50% of hydrocarbon molecules with normal boiling point up to 310° C. are evaporated from spent oil. The second step is operated at 6-30 mbar and 200-2900 C in which predominantly gasoil and light vacuum gasoil fractions are evaporated. The third step is operated at 250-320° C. and 0.5-15 mbar in which mainly heavy vacuum gasoil (boiling range of 425 to 570° C. on ASTM D-1160 test) is evaporated from spent oil.

A crude oil feedstream is treated to remove or reduce the content of known undesired heteroatomic and polynuclear aromatic compounds containing nitrogen and sulfur by contacting the feedstream with one or more solid adsorbent materials selected from attapulgus clay, alumina, silica gel and activated carbon in a mixing vessel for a time that is sufficient to optimize the adsorption of the undesired compounds from the crude oil, subjecting the mixture to atmospheric flash distillation and then to vacuum flash distillation to recover presorbed boiling ranges of products having a lowered content of the undesired compounds, and preferably regenerating at least a portion of the solid adsorbent material for reuse in the process.

Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen.

A biocompatible surgical silk mesh prosthetic device employs a knit pattern that substantially prevents unraveling and preserves the stability of the mesh device, especially when the mesh device is cut. An example prosthetic device employs a knitted mesh including at least two yarns laid in a knit direction and engaging each other to define a plurality of nodes. The at least two yarns include a first yarn and a second yarn extending between and forming loops about two nodes. The second yarn has a higher tension at the two nodes than the first yarn. the second yarn substantially prevents the first yarn from moving at the two nodes and substantially prevents the knitted mesh from unraveling at the nodes.

A method for manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include obtaining a spacer textile material a stabilization structure. A tensile member is removed from an area of the spacer textile material where the stabilizing structure is absent. The tensile member is located between a first polymer element and a second polymer element. Additionally, (a) the first layer is bonded to the first polymer element, (b) the second layer is bonded to the second polymer element, and (c) the first polymer element and the second polymer element are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.

A compression bandage with a tubular, flexible flat material for surrounding a bodily member and with a number of elastic compression threads, whereby this flat material constitutes a main body that can be stretched in the circumferential direction. A number of elastic compression threads run in the plane of the flat material in the direction of the circumference, and create the compressive effect when the compression bandage is applied. At least parts of at least some of the compression threads protrude outside the flat material, allowing the compressive effect to be adjusted by varying the length of each of the protruding external portions.

An orthopedic padding including an elongate spacer fabric having spaced faces interconnected and separated by an intermediate spacer area, the spaced faces having a knitted construction different from a knitted construction of the intermediate spacer area, and the elongate fabric constructed at least in part of hydrophobic monofilament yarn knitted in an open construction for breathability.

A rotary sinker enabling stitch formation by a knitting machine using a rotor for forming a stitch, a knitting machine including the rotary sinker, and a stitch forming method are provided. The ring sinkers as rotating bodies are capable of rotating about a rotation axis independently of each other. The rotation times of the ring sinkers are set to be different from each other. Thus, the rotation times are adjusted to be different between the ring sinker that holds an old loop and the ring sinker that holds a new loop. Adjustment of the rotation times prevents application of a large tension to the knitting yarn made of low stretch fiber, and a stitch can be formed even with a knitting yarn made of non-stretch or low-stretch fiber.

The present invention provides a method for producing thread using nonwoven, which discloses that nonwoven having different materials is slit first to get a plurality of nonwoven threads and then the nonwoven threads are used for performing a twisting process to get a plurality of nonwoven yarns. In the twisting process, each of the nonwoven threads has different materials, so that the nonwoven yarns have good mechanical characteristic and can be added for producing textiles with various functionalities.