Abstract: A suspended centrifuge apparatus has been improved by the addition of a restraint that closely maintains the original, static, vertical axis of a suspended centrifuge vessel during rotation. The restraint is preferably located to act on the lower half of the suspended vessel and preferably limits axial gyration to less than 5-degrees. A further improvement is a centrifuge bowl configuration which provides a protected surface to be acted on by a gyration restraint while partially eliminating centrifuge bowl capacity in a lower, central region subjected to inherently low centrifugal forces. An improved liquid separation process results from the use of the improved apparatus to better control the liquid discharge trajectory from the rotating centrifuge. Process control and safety are also improved.

Abstract: Insulators, heated to a temperature which prevents solidification thereon, are used to confine all but one side of a continuous flow of initially-liquid metal alloy until it is solidified. The remaining side is confined by a thermally conductive material which is cooled by means to provide for essentially unidirectional rapid solidification of the alloy flow. Operational control and product quality are enhanced by establishing and conditioning a surface film on the liquid metal to be cast by controlling the gaseous environment available to the liquid metal prior to contact with the thermally conductive chill. The method and apparatus can produce cast strip with minimal shrinkage porosity from alloys with wide freezing ranges. The cast product is suitable for producing wrought products of high quality. The method is particularly applicable to aluminous alloys.

Abstract: The handle device of the invention extends from a hand hold at one end of an elongated member to a cross member at the other end. The cross member is connected to straps for ready attachment to and detachment from a child's vehicle. A pair of interengageable surfaces, such as Velcro.RTM. material, are positioned on each strap to enable the free end of the strap to be secured after being looped around a structural part of a child's vehicle. One engageable surface of the pair is fixed to the cross member, and the second engageable surface of the pair is on the free end of the strap. A pair of additional engageable surfaces for anchoring the free ends of the straps is positioned on the cross member between the parts of the straps fixed to the cross member. A duplicate of the cross member may be used for the hand hold and other purposes as well, such as connecting two vehicles together.