INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
January 1948
c
3
(54) Kettele, B. E., and Boyd, G. E., J . A m . Chem. Soc., 69, 2800 (1947). (55) Kielland, J., J . SOC.Chem. Ind., 54, 232T (1935). (56) Kimsey, E. G., J. Junior Inst. Engrs. (London), 56, 270 (1946). (57) Klota, D. M., Chem. Revs., 39, 241 (1946). (58) Kostrikin, Y. M., Prokhorov, F. G., and Mamet, A. P., Iavest. V T I , 15, No. 9/10, 39 (1946). (59) Kunin, R., and Myers, R. J,, J . Am. Chem.Soc., 69,2874 (1947). (60) Kunin, R., and Myers, R. J., J . Phys. LE Colloid Chem., 5 1 , l lI1 (1947). (61) Lourier, Y. Y.,and KIyachko, V. A,, Compt. rend. acad. sci. U.R.S.S.,49, 40 (1945). (62) MoColloch, R. J., and Kertesa, Z. I., J . Biol. Chem., 160, 149 (1945). (63) Marinsky, J. A., and Glendenin, L. E., J. Am. Chem. SOC.,69, 2781 (1947). (64) Marshall, C. E., Div. of Colloid Chem., A.C.S., Sept. 1947. (65) Martin, G. J., and Wilkinson, J., Arch. Biochem.,‘12,95 (1947). (66) Martin, G. J.,and Wilkinson J., Gastroenterology,6, 315 (1946). (67) Maxwell, D. H., Water Works Eng., 98, 1024 (1945). (68) Meincke, H. D., Jr., U. S. Patent 2,391,258 (Deo. 18, 1945). (69) Melsted, S. W., and Bray, R. H., Soil Sci., 63, 209 (1947). (70) Miedendorp, H., Ragon Textile Monthlu, 28. 79 (1947). (71) Miller, S. M., Rayon Textile Monthly, 28, 130 (1947). (72) Myers, F. J., Colloid Chem., 6, 1107 (1946). (73) Myers, F. J., FIAT, PB42802 (1946). (74) Myers, R. J., Advances in Colloid Sci., 1,317 (1942). (75) Nessler, R. N., Rayon Teztile Monthly, 28, 82 (1947). (76) Pfiffner, J. J., Binkley, S. B., Bloom, E. S., and Emmett, A. D., U.S. Patent 2,407,096 (Sept. 3, 1946). (77) Polis, P. D., and Meyerhoff, O., J. Biol. Chem., 169, 389 (1947). (78) Puri, A. N., and Dua, A. N., Soil Sci., 46,113 (1938). (79) Randall, M., Chsm. Revs. 7, 369 (1930). (80) Rawlings, F. W., U. S. Patent 2,413,844 (Jan. 7, 1947). (81) Rawlings, F. W., and deGeofroy, L., Ibid., 2,413,784 (Jan. 7, 1947). (82) Riches, J. P. R., Nature, 158,96 (1946). (83) Riley, F. R., and Sanborn, W. E., Sugar, 42,22 (1947). (84) Rothmund, V., and Kornfeld, G., 2.anorg. u. allgem. Chem., 103,129 (1918). (85) Rymar, J. W., IND. ENG.CHEM.,36,821 (1944). (86) Samuelson, O., Iva, 17, 1 (1946). (87) Samuelson, O., Ph.D. dissertation, Horsal, Sweden (1944). (88) Samuelson, O.,Svensk Kem. Tid., 57,91 (1945). (89) Ihid., 57, 114 (1945). (90) Ibid., 57, 158 (1945). (91) Ibid., 57,250 (1945). (92) Ibid., 58, 247 (1946). (93) Ibid., 59,14 (1947). (94) Samuelson, O., Svensk Papperstidn., 3, 1 (1945). (95) Samuelson, O.,Tek. Tid., 23, 1 (1946). (96) Schubert, J., Boyd, G. E., and Adamson, A. W., J . A m , Chem. SOC.,69, 2818 (1947).
45
(97) Sohulae, H. G., U. S. Patent 2,375,694 (May 8, 1945). (98) Shafor, R. W.S., Ibid.,2,413,791 (1947). (99) Sillen, L. G., Arkiv. Kemi, Mineral. Gsol., A22, No. 15, 1-22 (1946) ., (100) Simonsson, L., Ing. Vetenskaps Akad, Handl., No. 186,1 (1946). (101) Spedding, E. I., Fulmer, E. I.. Butler, a. A., Gladrow, E. M., Gobush, M., Porter, P. E., Powell, J. E., and Wright, J. M., J . Am. Chem. SOC., 69,2777 (1947). (102) Spedding, E. H., Voigt, A. F., Gladrow, E. M., Sleight, N. R., Powell, 3., Wright, T. A., Butler, T.. A., and Figard, P., Ibid., p. 2786. (103) Sperber, E., J. BZoZ. Chem., 166, 75 (1946). (104) Streicher, L., Pearson, A. E., and Bowers, A. E., Am. Water Works Assoc. (July 1947). ENG.CHEM.,38, 1228 (1946). (105) Sussman, S., IND. (106) Sussman, S., Mindler, A. B., and Wood, W., Chem. Ind., 57, 455 (1945). (107) Sweet, W. J., and Sweeny, 0. R., Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., 51,299300 (1944). (108) Tendeloo, H. J. C., “Hydrophobic Colloids,” p. 83. New York, Nordemann Pub. Co.. 1937. (109) Tendeloo, H. J. C., Vervelde, G. J., Voorspuy, G. J., and Zwart, A. J., Rec. trav. chim., 65,539 (1946). (110) Thies, E. R., and Thorstensen, T. C., J. Intcrn. SOC.Leather Trades’ Chemists, 31, 137 (1947). (111) Thomas, G. G., and Davies, C. W., Nalure, 159, 372 (1947). (112) Thompson, H. S., J . Roy. A g r . SOC.Enol., 11,W (1850). (113) Thompson, R. B., and Roberts, E. J., Chem. Eng. Progress, 43, 97 (1947). (114) Tiger, H. L.,and Goeta, P. C., U.S. Patent 2,397,575 (1946). (115) Tiselius, A., Drake, B., and Hagdahl, L., Expeiimcntia, 3, Faso. I, 15.1 (1947). (116) Tompkins, E. R., Khym, J. X., and Cohn, W. B., J . Am. Chem. Soc., 69, 2769 (1947). (117) Tompkins, E. R., and Mayer, S. W., Ibid., p. 2859. (118) Tyler, R. G., U. S. Patent 2,392,435(Jan. 8, 1946). (119) Vallea, H. A., Ibid., 2,388,194 (Ort. 30, 1945). (120) Vanselow, A. P., Soil Sci., 33, 95 (1932). (121) Walters, J. E., J. Chem. Phys., 13,229 (1945). (122) Ibid.. D. 332. (123j Walton, H. F., J . Chem. Education, 23,454 (1946); J . Franktin Inst., 232, 305 (1941). (124) Walton, H. F., J . Phys. Chem., 47, 371 (1943). (125) Ibid., 49, 471 (1945). (126) Way, J.T., J . Rou. AOT.SOC.End.. 25. 313 (1850). (127) Wiegner, G., Kolioid Z., 36,341 11925). (128) Wiegner, G., J. SOC.Chem.Ind., 50, 103T (1931). (129) Wieland, T., Ber., 77,539 (1944). (130) Wilkes, J. F., Div. of Water, Sewage, and Sanit. Chem., A.C.S., Sept. 1947. (131) Wiklander, L., Ann. Roy. Agr. Colt. Sweden, 1 4 , l (1946). (132) Wiklander, L., Svensk Kern. Tid. 57,54 (1945). .
I
R E C ~ I V EOotober D 23, 1947.
MATERIALS HANDLING mg
ROBERT E. WRIGHT,
MONSANTO
CHEMICAL C O M P A N Y , ST. LOUIS 4, MO.
TJRING 1947 there was considerable progress in the materials handling field. Some wholly new devices were introduced, and there were some noteworthy improvements ormodifications to previously known equipment. Direct correspondence with numerous manufacturers and a review of the literature makes i t possible to report a t least some of the significant developments. Liquid and Gas Handling. Pumps. A mixed flow type of pump for the handling of extremely large volumes of water has been introduced by the Peerless Pump Division of Food Machinery Corporation (Los Angeles, Calif.). Mixed flow pumps have characteristics of both centrifugal and axial flow pumps and have the advantage of pumping liquids against maximum heads with minimum submergence. This new line of pumps is available in both single stage and multistage units, with drives from 1 t o 1000 horsepower and with capacities up to 220,000 gallons per minute.
A new line of centrifugal pumps for moderate capacity has been developed by Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company (Milwaukee, Wis.). Their new pumps, called Pedrifugal, employ V-belt drives which permit a wide range of capacity by altering the sheaves and power supply. Mechanical shaft seals are used in place of the conventional stuffing box. Capacities range from 10 to 800 gallons per minute with heads from 10 to 100 feet and power requirements go up to 15 horsepower. After five years of development, Cooper-Bessemer Corporation (Mount Vernon, Ohio) has announced new reciprocating liquid pumps for capacities from 2400 t o 50,000 barrels per day a t discharge pressures from 500 to 2000 pounds per square inch. The manufacturer states t h a t these pumps have mechanical efficiencies exceeding 92% and volumetric efficiencies from 93 to 96%. I n addition, the manufacturer claims great weight and space savings over other reciprocating pumps. The pumps without stuffing boxes developed by Byron Jackson
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
46
Fisure 1.
Pump without Stuffing Box
Cumpany (Los Angeles, Calif.) and nreiridoned in last yeai'i &Itide is not a 1917 deyelopment but is still unique. This pump is worth mentioning again this year because it offers a solution to applications where the slightest leak is dangorous or expensive. This pump (Figure 1) is receiving increasing attention and is being widely applied. One very spocial pump has been developed by Sier-Bath Gear m d Pump Company (N. Borgcn, N. J.) for handling e corrosive nonabrasive, high viscosity solution, which wns also nonlubricab iog against moderately high discharge pressures. Compressors. The increasing use of centrifugal compressors is one of the notable trends of the past year, although centrifugal compressors themselves are not new. The development of processes requiring large gas Row, beyond the ordinary range of reciprocating compressors, has necessitated the use of centrifugal conipressors. The new or expanded application of centrifugal compressors has been fairly limited to the petrole'um, gas, and oheinical industrics. Some of the recent applications of centrifugal compressors are still secret, hut they have been used in such operations a8 gas hoosters for corrosive gas in chemical plant, nir blowers for oxygen phnt, gas hooskrs to supercharge campremars for gasoline plant, gas boosters for fluid catslyst plant, and air blomers for high-top pressure blast iurneees. Centrifugal compressors find their best ficld oi application where large volumes must be handled and, generally, where at least 5 0 0 horsepower is required. Centrifugal compressors can be justified only in certain services; for cxample, at pressures oi 80 to 1W pounds per square inch the volume of air to be handled should be not less than 5wO cubic feet per minute. However, if the compressor w driven by steam turbine which is acting as a rcdueing valve, or where there is need fof oil-free gas or air, or in refrigeration cycles, then t h a e relations may not govern. Engineers interested a in .,.'...
inf*ma,inn
"n oPntrif,roal
COrnnPeRROrs
Vol. 40, No. 1
"lllustriit,ive of the riceds in blower otpnuity for pressure opcrat,ion is llepuhlic Steel's order for the largest blast furnace blower esei built-capnhle of dclivr:riirg 126,000 cubic feet per miniiio a t 40 p w n d s per square inch. The blower, built by Ingcrsoll-Rand. will handle GOW tons of sir per &?--a greiitcr m i g h t of air t,liim t,ho tot,sl weight of all iron om, coke, and limestone charged to tiit, furnace i n a similar length of time." Single turlx,-biower.s are tx:inK built in siaos u p to 14,000 tiorsepoatBr bmcd on atmospheric intake. lngersr~ll-Rand (Kew liork, pi. Y.)has built a mult.istage compressor requiring 26,650 horsepower as one extreme in horscpuwer; another camprcssur with a discharge pressure of 765 pounds p r square inch absolutc as onc ext.rcmnc in pressure; and another compressor to handle gnscs a t tm:mperat,iiresna high as 850" 1'. Motor-driven ccnt,riiugal compressors are heing inst.alled oil Tenncssre Gas 'Transmission Company's 24-inch line. These will he eapablc of handling 350,000,000cubic feeet pcr day with B suction pressure of 600 pourids per squilrc inch ~ a g sand a discharge prcssuro of 750 pounds per square inch gage. This is the first, pipelino iiisLalla,t.ionfor such a high range of prrss~ire(2). During 1947 Carrier Corporation (Syracuse, N. Y,)announced a centrifugal compressor said to be the first ever to use propans in B refrigeration cycle. 'This compressor will be usod in B dewaxing procm. It. is direct-connected to a 1086-horsepower stcam t,urbine and operates a t 9400 revolutions per minute. Carrier also developed centrifugal compressors which are now operating on suliur dioxide and butsnc. Clark Brothers Company. Ine. (Olean, N.Y.), which formerly manufactured reoiprocating compressors only, has announcod a new design of centrifugal compressors. Solids Eandling. Pallets. A new pallct coirs1,ructed of 6/sinch plywood has been announced by Clwk Tructractor Division of Clark Equipment Company (Battle Creek, Mich.) which is said to weigh only a little more than Inlf as much as a conrparable hardwood pallet. Still greater weight savings can be oblained by using an aluminum pallet announced by Reynolds Metals Company (Louisville., Ky.). Tho aluminum pallet weighs only OD(: third as much as pallets of convcritionsl materials; hence freight savings im such pallets may amount lo appreciable sums. A now method of materials handling has been aiiiiouiiced undor the name Pul-Pak by Clark Tructractor which eliminates tho use of pallets. This method omploys a fork lift truck equipped with
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
January 1948
flat steel plate in place of the conventional forks. The unit loads are mounted on disposable sheets of corrugated paperboard. The load is pulled snto the truck by a gripper pulling attachment on the truck. At the destination the load is depdsited by a pusher device on the truck which deposits the carrier sheet and its load
B
*
Figure 3.
47
weighs out batches, transports them about the plant, and then dumps the batches into furnaces, tanks, or hoppers. Crescent Truck Company (Lebanon, Pa.) has gone into production on a new and exceptionally compact electric fork truck known as the Aisle-Saver (Figure 3). This truck operates from an &foot aisle instead of the 10- or 12-foot aisle that is usually required. Thii truck may offer a solution where there is a problem of operating in a congested space or conserving space. A most important development is that of sparkproof and explosionproof electric trucks which bear the underwriter’s label for operation in hazardous atmospheres. Such trucks can be safely used in the dusty atmosphere of flour mills and grain elevators, or in locations where there are combustible fumes in the air. Conveyers. A steel grid conveyer belt has been designed by the Cyclone Fence Division of American Steel and Wire Company (Waukegan, Ill.) that is reported t o be able to turn corners without tipping, describe a complete circle if necessary, or move uphill or down. The belt appears especially useful for drying applications because its open construction permits the circulation of air. An all-aluminum load conveyer is now being produced by Market Forge Company (Everett, Mass.). This conveyer is finding particular application in plants which handle highly hazardous materials, since aluminum is nonsparking and an excellent conductor of static electricity. In addition, the allaluminum conveyer, because of its nonrusting characteristics, should be excellent for outdoor use.
Aisle-Saver Palletier
as the truck backs away and withdraws the carrier plate. This system appears to have all of the advantages of palletized handling of materials but eliminates the storage space required for empty pallets and the cost of returning empty pallets, and reduces the cost of freight by pallet weight elimination. This is perhaps one of the most significant developments in the line of special handling devices. Trucks. In addition to the special attachment just described which eliminates the use of pallets, the truck manufacturers have developed other special attachments for handling particular materials. Automatic Transportation Company (Chicago, Ill.) has announced a new industrial truck designed to handle light and bulky cartons without pallets. This truck, instead of the usual forks, has a pair of hydraulically operated clamping pads which grasp the load. Another adaptation of the standard fork truck is Clark Tructractor’s load pusher which makes it possible to push the load off the pallet directly onto the factory or car floor. Another trend in trucks is the development of models with exceptionally high elevating reaches. One model developed by Elwell Parker Electric Company (Cleveland, Ohio) can lift 3000-pound loads to a height of 18 feet. Automatic Transportation has a hydraulic lift truck which will pass through a 7-foot door, yet will elevate to a height of nearly 11 feet. These trucks permit higher stacking or the use of storage space that was previously inaccessible. Hand-guided, electrically operated fork trucks have been improved, but without basically new conceptions. Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) announced a new and versatile combination of three different handling tools in a single mobile unit (Figure 2). This truck
A-582 Figure 4.
Side-Pull Rsdler Conveyer Cross Section
Stephens-Adamson Manufacturing Company (Aurora, Ill.) has announced a new design for horizontal closed-circuit Redler conveyers (Figure 4). I n this new design a hardened steel track supports the conveying element so that there is no contact between the flights and the trough. This design, in addition to eliminating the metal-to-metal wear of the flights and the trough, permits the lubrication of the chain without contaminsr tion of the product. Weighing Devices. A new weigh batcher making use of a photoelectric cell in a dial scale has been developed by Conveyor Company (Los Angeles, Calif.) which permits the weighing of a four-ingredient batch in aa little as twenty-two seconds. Mov-
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
48
able contact lights placed a t any point on the dial and corresponding with predetermined weights shoot a light beam to the photocell when the weight is reached. The photocell actuates the bin-gate mechanisms, and the process is repeated automatically. When all materials have been weighed out the machine resets itself; an operator needs only to push a button to repeat the cycle. -4new continuous weigher for dry materials carried on a conveyer belt has been announced by Builders Providence, Inc. (Providence, R. I.). The idlers carrying the weighing section of the belt are supported at one end by a self-nligning ball bearing
Figure 5.
Vol. 40, No. 1
time an operator needs to enter a car is to sweep out for final cleanou t. MATERIALS HANDLING SURVEY
A logical plan for analyzing materials handling operations has been developed by Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company working in conjuction with V. S. Karanasz, associate professor of Industrial Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Yale and Towne offer special printed forms, layout paper, and instruction materials for the assembling and filing of the data needed in a materials handling survey. According to Yale and Towne, various estimates indicate that 15 to 40 cents of the production dollar are invested in the simple business of picking up, moving, and
Outride V i e w of Boxcar Unloeder
and on the other end by diaphragms which transmit the load changes hydraulically to the weighing mechanism. The use of diaphragms gives a simpler unit and reduces the size of the machine by eliminating overhead framework, scale beam, knife edges, and tie rods. A new weigher known as Hy-Tra-Lee, made by Wright's Automatic Machine Company (Durham, N. C.), has been developed that has none of the parts of the conventional weighing machine. Its principle of operation is that of positive displacement. In this weigher a number of spaced-apart cylindrical floats are mounted to a vertical bar in a tank. To the top of the bar a platform is mounted with a tray placed in position to receive the material to be weighed. The movement of the floats has been reduced to a minimum by introducing a preloading element, so that the movement does not take place until the last half ounce of material has been placed in the tray. I n commercial weighing of dry products this machine is said to give record accuracy at high speed. Miscellaneous Materials Handling Devices. A new machine has been developed by U. s. Automatic Box Machinery Company (Boston, Mass.) to count automatically a predetermined number of tablets into a bottle. All a n operator has t o do is load empty bottles to the machine. The tablets are fed from a hopper at the top of the machine down individual chutes equipped with specially designed segmental wheels that count the proper number of tablets into each bottle. Counts can be set from 12 to 300, and u p t o 120 bottles can be filled per minute. A new device for unloading box cars has been developed by Stephens-Adamson. Figure 5 shows a view of the unioader outside the box car. The operator rides on a platform, directing the unloading operation without entering the car. The material is discharged through the door into a track hopper below. Figure 6 shows how the pantograph arm is swung into the car and extends to carry the scoop t o the far corners of the car. The only
Figure 6.
Inside V i e w of Boxcar Unloader
putting down, and that in numerous cases this expense has been cut from 10 to 90% through intelligent materials handling analyses. Yale and Towne are offering their plan of analysis t o industry as a contribution toward industrial cost cutting by reducing handling waste. Although not related to specific equipment, this development is a worth-while contribution to the materials handling field. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Photographs and information supplied by numerous manufacturers are gratefully acknowledged. Because of the breadth of this subject it is possible that some significant developments have been overlooked, and the author would appreciate comment on any such omissions. LITERATURE CITED
(1) Anonymous, Chem. Eng. Progress, 43, 19 (1947). (2) Anonymous, Oil Gas J., 46,No. 20, 199 (1947). (3) Karassik, I. J., Chem. Engr., 54, 110-14 (1947). (4) Neubauer, E.T. P., Oil Gus J., 45,No. 52,59-61 (1947). (5) Shaw, M. C.,and Neubauer, E. T. P., Ibid., 45, No. 44, 65-9 (1947). ( 6 ) Traupel, Walter. with translation by Smith, C. W., "New General Theory of Multi-Stage Axial Flow Turbomachines," U. S. Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Washington 25, D. C . RECEIVED November 3, 1947.
