Abstract: An improved belt clamp apparatus for a vehicle occupant safety restraint system includes: a lever, a clamp bar, a mounting device for movably mounting the bar on the lever, a crest on the bar, and a first spring for biasing the lever to a non-clamping position. The bar is movable on the crest for applying a substantially uniform force over an area of contact on a safety belt. The belt clamp apparatus may be used in a variety of ways in an improved occupant restraint system such as to provide: a belt sensitive restraint system, a vehicle sensitive restraint system, a dual sensitive restraint system, or a force limiting restraint system. The invention also relates to a method for absorbing unwinding force and a method for reducing undesired unwinding of the belt.

Abstract: Metallic glass powder is prepared by charging a solid metallic glass body with hydrogen to effect embrittlement, followed by comminution of the embrittled metallic glass body.

Abstract: Monolefins such as ethylene are reacted with ammonia using alkali metal amide catalysts such as cesium or rubidium amides, or low melting mixtures of amides such as cesium/potassium, cesium/sodium or sodium/potassium amides. Conversions are improved compared to reactions using sodium or potassium amide alone. Conversions of ethylene are improved also when liquid ammonia is present.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette is provided with a combined biasing and shielding member composed of flexible ferromagnetic material having at least 50 percent glassy structure. The member decreases construction costs and increases shielding of the magnetic tape recorder head during operation.

Abstract: An amorphous metal alloy which is at least 90 percent amorphous and consists essentially of a composition having the formula Fe.sub.a B.sub.b Si.sub.c C.sub.d wherein "a", "b", "c" and "d" are atomic percentages ranging from about 80.0 to 82.0, 12.5 to 14.5, 2.5 to 5.0 and 1.5 to 2.5, respectively, with the proviso that the sum of "a", "b", "c" and "d" equals 100, is annealed at a temperature ranging from 380.degree.-410.degree. C. The resulting alloy has decreased high frequency core losses and increased low field permeability; is particularly suited for high frequency applications.

Abstract: A magnetic theft detection system marker is adapted to generate magnetic fields at frequencies that (1) are harmonically related to an incident magnetic field applied within an interrogation zone and (2) have selected tones that provide the marker with signal identity. The marker is an elongated, ductile strip of amorphous ferromagnetic material that retains its signal identity after being flexed or bent.

Abstract: An electronic fuel injection system is provided with a closed loop control having a plurality of loops for proportioning a mixture of air and fuel delivered to an internal combustion engine. The system has a sensor for providing an electrical signal, the magnitude of which varies in proportion to the concentration of a constituent of exhaust gas from the engine. A first of the loops compensates for small amplitude, short term disturbances of said signal. The second loop compensates for large amplitude, long term signal disturbances. Signals from the first and second loops are combined to produce a composite signal that maintains precise control over the average air/fuel ratio while generating rapid small amplitude fluctuations in that air/fuel ratio which shortens the response time of the system and increases its ability to reduce exhaust gas pollutants.

Abstract: A seat belt comfort device located in the tongue and buckle interconnection which eliminates the tension exerted by the rewind force of a seat belt retractor. The comfort device is manually actuable between engaged and disengaged positions with the seat belt. Preferably, the comfort device is automatically disengaged when the tongue is inserted into the buckle and when the tongue is released from the buckle.

Abstract: A reel type safety seat belt retractor in which a pawl is triggered to engage a ratchet wheel, serving as a reel flange, by an inertial device sensitive to an accelerated movement of the reel, wherein the inertial device has two levels of sensitivity, a low level to prevent the triggering of the pawl under all normal conditions of belt withdrawal for buckling, and a second level of high sensitivity which prevails after the belt webbing has been buckled about the passenger.This is accomplished by means of a biasing spring shared by both a webbing follower and the inertial device, and by a clutch which rotated when the webbing in initially withdrawn to restrain the webbing follower and the attached spring bias in a condition of high tension for the low level of sensitivity.

Abstract: An aqueous spin finish, a process for treating polyamide yarn therewith and polyamide yarn so treated are all disclosed. The oil portion of the spin finish comprises a rearranged glyceride, ethoxylated oleyl alcohol, ethoxylated nonyl phenol, ethoxylated castor oil, an oxidized polyethylene, a non-nitrogen nonionic emulsifier for the oxidized polyethylene, and an alkali hydroxide. The spin finish has a pH of about 7 to 12. The spin finish has improved thermal stability which results in lower emissions during treatment of tire cord formed from polyamide yarn treated with the spin finish. Cord to rubber adhesion is also improved.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for monitoring the level of a liquid in a reservoir, especially in the situation where the liquid is a high temperature, molten material. The device operates as a static-tube differential pressure sensor and includes an open-ended tube with one end adapted for direct immersion in the liquid and with the other end being in pneumatic communication with a conventional differential pressure transducer. The meniscus of the liquid entering the tube essentially acts as a diaphragm membrane and eliminates the need for an immersible diaphragm, as conventionally used with static-tubes. The device may actuate a controller for compensating any change in the liquid level from a reference.

Abstract: Metallic glass powder is prepared by heating a solid metallic glass body to a temperature below its glass transition temperature for time sufficient to effect embrittlement, followed by comminution of the embrittled metallic glass body.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for planar flow casting of metal ribbon. The apparatus comprises a movable chill surface, a reservoir for holding molten metal and a slotted nozzle whose lips are located close to the chill surface. In operation, molten metal is forced through the nozzle onto the chill surface to form a melt puddle. Rapid cooling of the molten metal results in the formation of a continuous ribbon. The nozzles of this invention provide a planar bottom surface which includes the leading edge of the first lip and the side edges at the bottom of the lips and which is as close or closer to the chill surface than is any other point on the lips. The nozzle reduces air flow around the melt puddle and thereby improves ribbon uniformity.

Abstract: Disclosed are laminated thermoplastic sheets containing one or more pairs of thermoplastic layers wherein the total number of layers are even. Each pair is comprised of a surface layer containing a thermoplastic polymer and high aspect ratio mica flakes and a strength layer containing a thermoplastic polymer and long glass fiber. The laminated sheet is essentially warp-free with exceptionally good surface appearance, and can be stamped into a shaped article retaining these characteristics.

Abstract: The improvement of passing an inert, preferably vaporizable and condensible, liquid material through or over a polyester molten mass in a polymer reactor to further increase surface area-to-volume ratio and/or lower the partial pressure of vaporous products of condensation so that viscosity of the polymer is increased at a substantially greater rate in the same residence time is taught for the prior art condensation process in a film-forming reactor at temperatures of 275.degree. C. to 300.degree. C., pressures of 0.1 to 760 Torr, and residence times of 0.1 to 6 hours. A polymer having an intrinsic viscosity above 0.65, preferably over 0.7, is produced.

Abstract: A process for the production of low organic, low silica, anhydrous sodium carbonate comprising (a) calcining raw trona ore to produce crude sodium carbonate containing soluble and insoluble impurities, (b) admixing said crude sodium carbonate with a substantially saturated sodium carbonate solution to produce sodium carbonate monohydrate crystals containing insolubles and an impure sodium carbonate solution; (c) separating these monohydrate crystals and impurities; (d) dissolving the monohydrate crystals to produce a substantially saturated sodium carbonate solution and insolubles; (e) separating said solution from the insolubles; (f) evaporative crystallization of the separated saturated sodium carbonate solution to produce pure sodium carbonate monohydrate crystals; (g) optionally, subjecting the crystals recovered in step (f) to steps (d-f) once, but no more than once; (h) heating said monohydrate crystals to obtain low organic, low silica, anhydrous sodium carbonate product particles; and (i) optionally,

Abstract: An apparatus and method of monitoring temperature in a multicell electrolyzer used to produce a gaseous product from a liquid phase electrolyte by placing a single temperature sensing means in the common product collection means is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for production of absorptive particles of Wegscheider's Salt (Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.3NaHCO.sub.3) having low bulk density and acceptable flow properties, by reaction of anhydrous sodium carbonate particles with water and carbon dioxide is disclosed. Particles of anhydrous sodium carbonate having a bulk density less than about 750 g/l are contacted with water up to 1.55 times the stoichiometric amount of water required for the formation of sodium carbonate monohydrate. Carbon dioxide is added in two stages; in the first, the reaction zone is maintained at ambient temperatures, the second, the reaction zone is preheated and the reaction temperature is maintained at between about 90.degree. and 105.degree. C. until at least about 50 weight percent Wegscheider's Salt is produced. Water is added to the carbon dioxide in the second stage if less than about 1.20 times the stoichiometric amount of water is added to the particles of anhydrous sodium carbonate in the first stage and when about 1.20 to 1.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing organic substrates such as ketones and ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The substrate is contacted with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in a solution or in a two-phase liquid system, in the presence of a polymeric catalyst containing chemically bonded arsenic. This process can lead to lactones or hydroxy acids from cyclic ketones or to esters or mixtures of alcohol and carboxylic acid from open chain ketones. Unsaturated compounds afford epoxides and/or diols. Preparations of certain polymers substituted by arsenic groups, particularly from polystyrene, poly(vinylpyridine) and copolymers thereof, useful as catalysts in such oxidation process, are described. For example, polystyrene is brominated, bromine therein is replaced by lithium and the resulting lithiated polymer is converted into a polymer containing an arsenic group, such as arsono, --As(O)(OH).sub.2, as substituent group, by reaction with arsine triethoxide followed by oxidation and hydrolysis by aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Calcium nitrate with low nitrate content is prepared by reacting in a series of absorption reactors lime slurry and nitrogen oxide gases. The lime slurry flows serially through the series of absorption reactors with a major portion being recycled to the inlet of a Venturi absorber in each reactor. Nitrogen oxide gases flow cocurrently with the slurry from each reactor to the following Venturi inlet and are contacted by recycle slurry in each Venturi with a molar ratio of calcium hydroxide to nitrogen oxides of at least about 20. Slurry from the last reactor with a calcium nitrite content of below about 22 weight percent and a calcium hydroxide content of at least about 2 weight percent may be freed of unreacted calcium hydroxide, for example by treatment with NO.sub.x gases, and then concentrated to the desired product concentration. The exit gases may be scrubbed with incoming lime slurry after passing through a holdup vessel which increases the ratio of NO.sub.2 to NO.