Abstract: Porphyridium cruentum is cultured in an enriched seawater medium using a high initial cell concentration until the productivity of polysaccharide production by the alga is maximized. The whole culture is then extracted by making the culture strongly alkaline, and heat treating it. The culture is cooled, acidified and the polysaccharide precipitated by addition of a water-miscible organic solvent such as ethanol. Very high yields of polysaccharide are obtained, in excess of 4.5 grams per liter of culture.

Abstract: The physical size of an inlet plenum (2) for a cluster of pulse combustors (1) may be reduced while maintaining a tuned condition for noise cancellation by constructing the plenum with an annular chamber (8) having internal baffles (20, 21) which make the acoustic path length through the annular plenum (2) substantially larger than its circumference.

Abstract: The cylindrical magnetron sputtering cathode (10) of the present invention essentially comprises a tubular target (20) having a face (20a) of material to be sputtered, and a magnet assembly (45) disposed behind the back face of said tubular target for generating magnetic fields having flux lines which form arch portions (50,51) over the sputtering face. This magnet assembly (45) more specifically consists of a plurality of equiangularly spaced axially extending radially magnetized magnets arranged in such a manner as to form over the sputtering face (20a) a plurality of equiangularly spaced axially extending straight arch portions (50) connected to each other by arcuate arch end-portions (51), whereby defining at least one closed-loop arch (52) over said sputtering face.

Abstract: An improved method and an apparatus for altering properties in a solid target by using the radiation emitted by a high power pulsed laser to generate a short duration, high amplitude pressure pulse is directed at the front side of solid target to alter material properties. The front side of the solid target is covered with an overlay material that is transparent to laser light, and the back side is placed in direct contact with a trapping material having substantially the same acoustical impedance as the metal substrate. When the solid target is processed by the pulsed laser, the microstructure and the stress state of the target are altered in a predictable manner.

Abstract: Calcination of limestone to form a finely divided lime product without substantial contamination by impurities (especially carbon and ash) is accomplished in a secondary fluidized bed with reaction heat provided by recirculating entrained particles from a primary multisolid fluidized bed combustor.

Abstract: In this cylindrical, magnetically-enhanced, sputtering cathode, the magnetic field at the cathode target is generated by applying an electric current through a hollow electrical conductor disposed within a tubular target, so that the electric current flowing along this conductor induces circular magnetic lines concentrically around its axis. By biasing negatively the tubular target immersed in a low pressure gas, a glow discharge is generated. Electrons, emitted from the target surface are accelerated radially by the electric field, but deviated perpendicularly by the magnetic field. The resulting motion is confined in a spirally-shaped area centered on the conductor axis.

Abstract: The manufacturing of at least one photothermal converter element according to the invention consists essentially of implanting a multiplicity of substantially uniformly distributed parallely projecting transparent fibers onto a baseplate element provided with an absorbing coating of a normally solid material capable of being temporarily converted to a plastic state, thanks to the use of an array of guiding means arranged above the baseplate element. The implantation proper of the desired fiber structure is then performed by advancing a series of bundles of fibers through the array of guiding means, to the desired level above the baseplate element, and by clipping the advanced bundles to the desired length above the guiding means, so as to cause the falling with limited transverse spreading of the clipped fibers onto the coating of the baseplate element.

Abstract: The sputtering cathode (10) forming part of the apparatus of the invention essentially comprises a target (20) made of a material to be sputtered, arranged in front of an intermediate support (15) so as to define a first gas tight chamber (30) of narrow thickness therebetween, intended to be provided with an atmosphere of a gas (37) presenting a high thermal conductivity (under a pressure substantially higher than that prevailing inside the vacuum chamber of the apparatus). The intermediate support (15) in turn forms part of the wall of a second tight chamber adjoining said first tight chamber, which is intended to be circulated with a liquid coolant therewithin.

Abstract: A tennis racket comprises dynamic weights (6) distributed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the racket between the throat and the transverse axis of the head and suspended by arcuate straps (7) glued to the racket frame (2), the weights being displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the stringed area (3). The combination of weights and straps is adapted for having an intrinsic vibration frequency about 1.4 to 2 times the fundamental vibration frequency of the racket, such that when the weights are vibrated at their intrinsic frequency (by a ball striking the racket), the vibration of the racket is damped by energy transfer to the weights, and yet energy is also returned to the racket as a reaction in the direction of the ball's flight before the ball leaves the racket. The angular stability of the racket is improved over either fixed weights or dynamic weights having frequencies outside the critical range.

Abstract: Crack and wear resistant concrete overlays for renovation or patching of deteriorated sections over a substratum can be made by incorporating 4-12 volume percent steel fibers in the concrete overlay and bonding at least a portion of the fibers directly to the substratum.

Abstract: Cultures of Pisolithus tinctorius and Thelephora terrestris can be grown by aerobic submerged fermentation in modified Pridham-Gottlieb medium at about pH 4-7 on a vermiculite carrier.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated impact tool is provided for performing land-based or undersea tasks including hammering, chipping, scraping, punching, and cutting. The tool's features include a spring (preferably hydroelastic) for storing impact-stroke energy, a configuration of valves which eliminates flow in the supply and return lines during the impact stroke, and a control approach which provides operator selection of either single-blow or continuous-cycling operation.

Abstract: A two-step method for separating mineral grains from their ores is practised by first applying a shock discharge directly through the ore sample producing shock waves emanating from along the discharge path and reflected shock waves (tension waves) from grain boundaries and other discontinuities in the ore, such tension waves resulting in tensile stresses in the ore greater than the strength of the boundary or discontinuity whereby to gross spall the sample generally along the discharge path and to microfracture the region near the discharge path. The second step comprises comminuting the microfractured ore by impact or non-impact means to further reduce the ore generally along microfractures wherein considerably less energy is expended in the second step than would be required to reduce the ore to the same condition without the first step.

Abstract: Apparatus 30 for detecting the presence of more than a negligible concentration of dust or other particles in a moving stream of air or other gas (31), comprising first (1) and second (2) electrically conductive members spaced apart in a first region (A') of the stream (31), means (32) for providing thereto electrical potentials sufficiently different to provide a potential gradient of at least about 30 kilovolts per centimeter in a limited region adjacent to the surface of one of the conductive members (1 or 2), to provide a corona and thus to produce ions that charge a substantial proportion of any particles in the gas (31) passing through the first region (A'); and passive means (33) in a second region (B") of the stream (31) that is downstream from the first region (A'), for detecting the presence of a detectable concentration of charged particles in the gas (31) while present in the second region (B").

Abstract: An entrained bed combustor may provide constant temperature, superheated steam to a power generating steam turbine independent of the load on the turbine. In a conventional utility boiler heat is transferred in series to the steam generator, superheater and reheater. With the present invention these components may be run in parallel with heat transfer from the entrained bed particles enabling faster start-up and a turn-down capability without a reduction in the superheated steam temperature.

Abstract: A method for detection of unacceptable solder joints, especially solder pads on printed circuit boards (PCBs), by means of the application of acoustic vibrations over a range of frequencies to the solder joint and observation of the acoustic impedance of the joint as reflected back through the driver to the acoustic generator or through an acoustic detector near the generator to electrical detecting apparatus.

Abstract: A process for treating solid particles (66) of a raw carbonaceous fuel (62) such as coal having an original sulfur content comprises producing (at 68) a slurry (74) of a quantity of the raw fuel particles and a liquid medium (70) comprising water, at least one alkali metal compound including a substantial amount of sodium or potassium sulfide or polysulfide or a combination thereof, and a catalytic agent (72) comprising calcium or magnesium oxide or carbonate, or dolomite. The slurry is subjected (in 78) for an effective period of time to elevated temperature and pressure effective with the alkali metal compounds and water to cause the medium to penetrate the microscopic structure of the particles and to chemically and physically incorporate a substantial amount of the catalytic agent into the structure. The readily separable medium is separated (at 84) from the fuel particles and the particles are washed (at 84,106) to produce a particulate fuel product (88,110) containing the incorporated catalytic agent.

Abstract: A crack gauge for monitoring the progress of fatigue crack propagation in a conductive substrate is made by applying an inorganic insulating layer and then a metallic conductor. The conductor is laid in a geometry which results in a change in a measured electrical property of the conductor (e.g., resistance) as a fatigue crack propagates through the substrate and breaks the conductor. The adherent crack gauge is especially reliable in hostile environments. A special conductor geometry is useful for especially fatigue resistant substrates.

Abstract: Methods (and apparatus) for nondestructively testing a body of material having a surface in contact with a gaseous environment (e.g. air, nitrogen, or inert gas), that comprise (A) the step of (and means for) directing to a region at the surface of the body a pulse of laser radiation having sufficient energy density and sufficiently long wavelength to initiate in the adjacent gas a blast wave that impinges on the surface and provides an ultrasonic wave in the body, and (B) the further step of (and means for) detecting a portion of the ultrasonic wave that has been affected by the body. The radiation directing means typically comprises a laser that provides a pulse having a duration of about 0.01 to 10 microseconds, and means for focusing the pulse to provide an energy density of at least about 5 Joules per square centimeter. The detecting means typically comprises an electromagnetic or capacitive transducer.

Abstract: The effect of earth gravity on the self assembly of tropocollagen molecules into collagen fibrils and on the aggregation of fibrils into collagen gels has been found to be surprisingly detrimental to the preparation of desirable biomaterials. Chemically and physically uniform biomaterials for use in repair or replacement of damaged or diseased human tissue and organs are prepared by otherwise conventional reconstitution of soluble tropocollagen carried out, however, under less than one gravity, preferably under zero gravity. Surprisingly better properties of the collagen aggregate suggest that improved biomaterials may be prepared from the uniform gels.