Abstract: Apparatus is presented for removing a faulty component from a printed circuit board when attachment is by a plurality of input/output pins that extend outwardly from the component and protrude through holes in the printed circuit board where they are then soldered to printed circuitry. Removal is accomplished by clamping the printed circuit board in a fixture which includes a container of molten solder together with aligning and retaining elements which support the board over the surface of the molten solder so as to bring the protruding tips of the input/output pins into contact therewith. Above the clamped down printed circuit board a movable trolley is situated on a beam located parallel to and several inches above the printed circuit board. Extending downward from the trolley is a tubular metal bellows on the lower end of which is a rubber suction cup. The upper end of the bellows connects via flexible tubing to a vacuum pumping source.

Abstract: Carbon composite materials of increased resistance to oxidation are produced by heating a porous carbon composite material to an elevated temperature in a reaction chamber and introducing into said chamber a gas mixture comprising a decomposable boron-containing gas and a diluent and effecting deposition of boron as a solid on the walls of the pores of said composite as a consequence of said boron-containing gas decomposing.

Abstract: A cementitious panel is provided with spaced inner and outer surfaces connected by edge surfaces. A waterproof film forms longitudinally extending cavities within the panel, with the cavities being laterally spaced from each other and spaced from the inner, outer and edge surfaces of the panel. Expanded lightweight, inert granular material substantially fills the cavities, and a suitable film closes off the ends of the cavities.When necessary or desirable, the panels are temporarily secured in position adjacent a member and in end to end relation to enclose it and provide fire protection. Holes are drilled through the panels at predetermined locations, and metal studs are inserted through the panel to contact the enclosed metal member and the stud is the welded to the member so that the end of the stud projects outwardly beyond the panel surface. The panels are then secured to the stud end projecting therethrough to enclose and provide fire protection to the member within the positioned panels.

Abstract: Apparatus is presented for slicing a large round bale into two parts prior to discharge from the baler. Slicing is accomplished by inserting a knife blade into the bale forming chamber during or subsequent to the tying-off event while the bale rotates. The knife is inserted between the belts which encircle the periphery of the baling chamber. The butt end of a more than two foot long knife blade is secured to the center of a T-shaped crossbar. One end of the crossbar is hinge mounted to the top rear midpoint of the baler. The second end of the crossbar is pivotally mounted to the piston shaft of a hydraulic cylinder. The base end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted to the top front midpoint of the baler. In the unactivated state of the cylinder wherein the shaft is in its extended position, the top edge of the knife blade will clear the lower edge of the top front roller of the baling chamber.

Abstract: Roll opening apparatus for separating the crop conditioning rolls of a mower conditioner is presented. The mower conditioner is of the type wherein a wheel supported main frame has mounted thereto by pivotal linkage a transversely disposed header having a sickle spanning its forward edge, a rotary reel for rearwardly sweeping the crop cuttings across a platform, and an auger at the rear of the platform for delivering the crop cuttings to the nip of a pair of laterally extending upper and lower crop conditioning rolls. The lower conditioning roll is rotatably mounted to the header on a fixed axis. The upper conditioning roll is mounted on lever arms pivoted to the header and biased by tension springs to an operating position adjacent the lower roll. Each lever arm is fitted with a hydraulic cylinder mounted so that extension of its piston causes the upper conditioning roll to open against the force of the tension springs.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated endgate is presented which places a panel directly in front of the beaters of a manure spreader. The endgate retains all of the manure within the spreader box until the spreading site is reached. The panel is hinged mounted along its top edge to a generally U-shaped structural member. The central portion of the U-shaped member spans the box just in front of the beater. The legs of the U-shaped member are of equal length and extend forward along the sides of the spreader. The very ends are pivotally attached to the box, one on the left, the other on the right. A hydraulic piston attached to an arm secured to one of the pivot points makes it possible to move the structural member upward through an arc of about 100 degrees, then back down to the rest position.

Abstract: A flail auger assembly is disclosed which is useful for unloading semi-liquid material from a holding tank mounted on a tractor drawn trailer. A rotatably mounted shaft extends lengthwise through the lower portion of the tank. One end of the shaft penetrates the front wall of the tank enabling connection with the power takeoff of the tractor. The second end penetrates the rear wall of the tank where it connects with the impeller of the discharge pump. A plurality of flails extend radially outward at regular intervals along the shaft. The flails are pivotally attached via pins which secure them to brackets welded to the rotatably mounted shaft. The pivotal axis of each flail allows it to aggressively attack the material in the tank while at the same time limiting the power drain on the tractor since the radius of effectiveness decreases as a function of increasing load.

Abstract: A novel composition is described comprising an admixture of an unsaturated polyimide prepolymer essentially free of terminal amine groups and an epoxy resin having a homopolymerization temperature that is greater than the temperature at which the polyimide polymerizes. These compositions maintain the superior glass transition temperatures and moisture resistance of the polyimide while picking up the desirable handling properties of the epoxy. These compositions have excellent high temperature and moisture resistant properties and excellent storage stability. For instance, carbon composites made with these materials have exhibited 60% shear property retention at 450.degree. F. after being boiled in water for one week. Also described are prepregs comprising the novel composition, methods for curing the novel composition to obtain the superior properties, and articles of manufacture comprising the novel composition.

Abstract: A passive data determination system (10) for use in a traveling projectile (12) is provided including a logarithmic receiver (20) for receiving a power signal P.sub.r from a source target (14) and emitting in response thereto an output voltage signal E.sub.o which is proportional to the logarithm of P.sub.r. A clock pulse signal is provided, such as by an oscillator (22) to measure a change in output voltage .DELTA.E.sub.o. Means such a microprocessor (28) provides a signal R which is a function of Kv.multidot.(.DELTA.t/.DELTA.E.sub.o), where K is equal to -2 (log e) and V is a known relative velocity between the projectile (12) and the target (14) and which indicates the range of the projectile to the target.

Abstract: Apparatus is presented for slicing a large round bale into two or more parts prior to discharge from the baler. Slicing is accomplished by inserting a knife blade into the bale-forming chamber during or subsequent to the tying-off event while the bale rotates. The cutting means is inserted into the sidewalls of the baler and into the baling chamber. As the bale is rotated, the cutting means cuts the bale. Typically, a ring and core are formed. The preferred configurations of the core are cylinders or conical structures.

Abstract: An improved fiber composite including a first layer (18) having a plurality of elongate flexible fabric segments (16) for laying up on and conforming to an elongate irregularly shaped temporary support (10) to substantially cover support (10) and a plurality of continuous yarns (b 17) extending substantially the length of support (10). A second layer (26) includes a continuous yarn (20) wound peripherally upon the first layer (18) and oriented substantially orthogonally with the longitudinal yarns (17) of first layer (18). A method for manufacturing the fiber composite is also provided.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a time/temperature indicator wherein a fluid is frozen in one compartment and subjected to the pressure of a compressible fluid through a flow control device. When the frozen fluid melts, it is forced from its compartment and the time/temperature indicator at a control rate by the compressible fluid acting through the flow controlled device.

Abstract: Silicon carbide filament is produced by overcoating a carbon monofilament core using continuous process vapor deposition. The deposition takes place by passing the carbon monofilament through a reactor into which gaseous sources of silicon and carbon are injected. At a deposition temperature of about 2370.degree. F., a deposit of fine grained beta crystals of silicon carbide are formed. Application of a thin protective coating of boron-based refractory material on the surface of the silicon carbide filament both adds strength and provides a surface which is readily bonded to both metals and epoxy matrix materials during the casting of composite structures.

Abstract: A material unloader is presented having a cargo box structure with front and side walls. There is a beater mechanism rotatively mounted transversely at the rear of the cargo box and an endless apron conveyor disposed along the bottom for conveying material rearwardly to the beater. A main drive shaft powered from the PTO of the towing vehicle extends along one side of the cargo box where it interconnects with gear boxes for both the beater and the conveyor. The interconnection includes clutches and levers to actuate the clutches, together with drive coupling means. The positioning of the levers is simultaneously affected by a cam actuated control assembly mounted on the front wall of the cargo box. The control assembly comprises a rotatably mounted control shaft on which there is secured a multilobe cam plus a pawl and ratchet mechanism indexed by a pull rope for sequentially establishing a multiplicity of conveyor and beater unit drive conditions using a cam follower to relay commands via a control cable.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a freeze crystallization subassembly having means for continuously removing crystals formed on a heat transfer surface from the surface. A scraper shuttle is moved across the heat transfer surface by a fluid being refrigerated to remove crystals from the surface. The crystals are carried to a mixer where they are mixed with incoming feed until a circulating slurry is produced. Means is provided to remove slurry from the mixer.

Abstract: A crop retainer unit is presented which prevents crop material from blocking the entrance throat of a cylindrical bale forming machine. The crop retainer unit mounts in the entrance throat of a baler having a fixed size horizontally oriented baling chamber. The gate comprises a shaft which spans the length of the chamber at a location near the top of the entrance throat. A plurality of rod-like elements project outwardly at spaced intervals from the shaft. All elements are in line. All extend radially outward from the shaft in a single direction. The shaft is mounted for rotation in the sidewalls of the machine. However, motion is restricted so the free ends of the elements are able to readily swing inward into the baling chamber but their outward motion is stopped at the point where the elements are tangentially in line with the circumferential periphery of the baling chamber.

Abstract: An infrared radiation signature generation system including an enclosed chamber (12), a reactor bed (24) for vaporizing a vapor precursor, a pressure source (16) for introducing the vapor precursor to the reactor bed (24), a valve (22) for controlling rate of flow of vapor precursor to the reactor bed (24), the temperature of the vapor being greater than the ambient temperature surrounding the chamber (12), and at least one manifold (32-33) for distributing the hot vapor to the interior (34) of the chamber (12) at a pressure higher than the ambient pressure. The wall of the chamber (12) is formed of material which allows percolation of vapor therethrough, the percolating vapor transferring heat to the chamber wall and causing a temperature rise therein whereby the chamber wall emits an infrared radiation signature in response to such temperature rise.

Abstract: A control system for a pneumatically powered shock testing machine is presented which utilizes digital logic and an operator programmed computer. The control system was implemented on a shock machine having a carriage assembly that is lifted by an air piston to a specified height above an anvil plate, then accelerated downward until the carriage impacts a shock generator element resting on the anvil. An optically encoded guide rod is attached to the side of the carriage. As the carriage moves up and down, an optical sensor attached to the machine base monitors motion of the guide rod. The measure of this motion is forwarded to a microcomputer. Secondly, charge air pressure used to provide downward acceleration of the carriage is measured by a transducer and this information is also relayed in digital form to the microcomputer. From these two inputs, the microcomputer generates instructions to sequence solenoid actuated valves which operate the various sections of the charge cylinder assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface treatment for stoichiometric silicon carbide. A carbon-rich silicon carbide layer is applied over the silicon carbide. In the case of the silicon carbide surface, the ratio of silicon to carbon in the carbon-rich layer varies from one at the silicon carbide interface to near zero in the interior of the carbon-rich layer to greater than zero and preferably 0.3 to 0.5 on the surface of the carbon-rich layer remote from the interface. A preferred method of making the silicon carbide layer is also presented.

Abstract: In a munitions system, a cylindrical canister is fired over a target. The canister carries a target sensing infrared device and, when a target is detected, a projectile is fired downward from the bottom of the overflying missile. A spinning motion is imparted to the missile to stabilize its flight, and a wobbling motion is imparted to the missile to provide a larger target area. The projectile forms a concave lower end to the missile and is fired by an explosive charge.