Other

Advanced Input Devices, Inc.

Ronald A Siverson

Michael L Murphy

James M Scranton

Jay A Clark

Michael K Kologi

An apparatus (,) for recovering hydrocarbons or other volatile material from granular solids includes an infeed conveyor (,) that moves the mud, containing a mixture of particulate solids and hydrocarbons, into the fluid bed (,). The fluid bed fluidizes the mud; i.e. transforms the mud from a first condition wherein it is a mass having a consistency with elements of similarity with oatmeal, to a second condition wherein it is a mass of swirling particles. Some of the particles leave the fluid bed through a slide gate at the bottom. Other particles, gas and the hydrocarbons leave the fluid bed through an opening at the top, and are transferred to one or more cyclones (,). In the cyclones, the rapid circular motion of the gas, hydrocarbons and particles results in the particles hitting the inside surface of the cyclone, sliding downwardly, and leaving the cyclone through a slide gate. The mixture of gas and hydrocarbons leave the cyclone and moves through a spray apparatus (,), which removes the hydrocarbons from the mixture, and into an oil-condensing tank (,). A fan assembly (,) draws gas from an upper portion of the oil-condensing tank and delivers it to a preheater (,) where the temperature of the gas is elevated. The heated gas is then recirculated by release through a plurality of nozzles within the fluid bed. A thermal fluid heat source (,) provides heat energy to in-bed tubes within the fluid bed and to the gas preheater.

Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from granular solids

Simultaneous multisurface diffusion printing of indicia into the top and front surfaces of the assembled keys (39) of a keyboard (41) is disclosed. The bottom (29) of a fixture (23) supports a plurality of spring-loaded pedestals (37) for the keys (39) to be imprinted. A locator plate (27) maintains the keys (39) in a fixed position and functions as a heat shield. Positioned above the locator plate (27) is a sheet of transfer paper (61) having an array of reverse image indicia (63) which are located at positions in alignment with the top and front surfaces of the keys (39) to be imprinted. U-shaped incisions (65) allow the portion of the indicia to be imprinted on the front surface of a key to be bent away from the plane of the transfer sheet. Positioned above the locator plate (27) is a printing plate (73) having different shape protrusions (75a and 75b) to impinge on at least the two surfaces of the keys ( 39) to be imprinted. The printing plate (73) is attached to the bottom of a heated platen (15) that overlies the table (13). The heated protrusions (75) press the indicia regions (63) of the transfer paper (61) against the individually upwardly biased keys (39) to be imprinted causing the indicia (63) to be diffusion printed into these surfaces.

Growing community of inventors

Coeur D'Alene, ID, United States of America

Ronald A Siverson