Abstract: Explosive charges for blasting purposes are actuated by a system of optical fibres supplied with energy from a laser. The laser energy output is substantially in excess of that required for detonation and does not need to be preserved in coherent form, enabling transmission to be via optical fibres and connecting and/or distributing devices of quality or properties unsuitable for data transmission. Simple intermittently driven mechanical arrangements can be used for the sequential firing of a set of charges. Connection to detonators can be by expendable lengths of fibre fed from a main optical channel via simple, economic, plug-and-socket arrangements. The detonators, or components containing flashing composition coating the end of the expendable fibre, may be supplied with an attached fibre ready connected to an expendable optical plug.

Abstract: A flexible, electrically conductive jointing material consists of an elastomer containing metal in a divided state distributed in its mass. The metal is in the form of laminae or paillettes of aluminium or of aluminium alloy, the length of which is greater than their width or thickness. The elastomer, which may be the product known under the name "Thiokol", exhibits a pasty consistency when applied enabling it to be spread with a spatula and mixed in situ. The jointing material may be used for connecting together the structural parts of aircraft.

Abstract: Cathodically depositable, aqueous coating compositions comprising the reaction product of (A) diene polymers containing free hydroxyl groups with a hydroxyl number of at least 40 mg KOH/g and an average maximum molecular weight of 4000; and (B) a compound having an average of from about 0.8 to 1.5 free isocyanate groups and at least one basic aliphatically bound nitrogen atom. Optionally, there can be included in the reaction product a compound having from about 0.8 to 1.5 free isocyanate groups and from 1 to 3 ethylenically unsaturated double bonds. The coating compositions cure at relatively low temperatures and relatively short curing times to provide films having excellent resistance to water, chemicals, and corrosion.

Abstract: A process for feeding defibrators with sheet pulp delivered in batches. Rectangular sheets are deposited one behind another on a feed belt with their longitudinal axis offset by 45.degree. with respect to the direction of advance of the belt, whereupon two equal lateral parts from each sheet are folded back along two folding lines parallel to the direction of advance of the belt, the distance e between said lines being equal to l/.sqroot.2 and two consecutive sheets being mutually apart by x=L/.sqroot.2, L and l, respectively, being the length and the width of the pulp sheet. Feeding a machine for diapers.

Abstract: Rebonded polyurethane foams having incorporated into the foam urea and/or melamine are described. The rebonded foams have excellent resistance to smoldering combustion and flaming combustion. The rebonded foam is highly suitable, inter alia, for cushioning and seating structures.

Abstract: A method of preparing an antistatic coating exhibiting a desired value of surface resistivity which is substantially stable with respect to time takes as its starting point a commercial antistatic product having a synthetic resin base and substantially free from metallic particles but of which the surface resistivity, measured after mixing with its hardener and drying, is very much below the desired value. A compatible insulating resin is added to this product so as to raise the surface resistivity, still measured after mixing with the hardener and drying, to a value much higher than the desired value. The resulting product is then subjected to an accelerated ageing treatment causing a reduction in surface resistivity with terminal asymptotic development to the level of the desired value. Such a coating may be applied to radomes and other aircraft surface elements, and has the advantage that its conductivity does not increase appreciably with age.

Abstract: A device for mounting a gas spring for opening the hatch door or the like of an automobile which is produced by helically winding one elastic wire is described. The gas spring mounting device includes a mounting end, which is helically wound with the same pitch as the diameter of the wire for rotatable fitting onto a bolt anchored at either the door mounting base of the car or the door itself; a flexible portion, which is helically wound with a slightly larger pitch than the diameter of the wire and having an axis at a right angle with respect to the axis of said mounting end; and a gas spring connecting portion which is wound with the same pitch as the diameter of the wire for connection to a thread formed in the end portion of the gas spring. Since the described gas spring mounting device is made of the single wire, it can be produced at lower cost.

Abstract: This invention relates to the method of making a pizza in a cooking utensil which includes the steps of adding the ingredients to a pizza skillet; cooking the pizza first on the stove top to cook and brown the crust and, thereafter, placing the pizza in the broiler of the stove to cook the top of the pizza to obtain a finished pizza. A finished pizza is obtained in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: A solar energy collector in the shape of an inverted geometric cusp of the second kind which permits the collection of direct and diffuse solar radiation, and which attenuates losses by thermal convection, conduction, and reverse radiation or re-radiation of energy to the cold or night sky. The solar collector when utilized in a composite unit is compact, has an aesthetically pleasing low profile, and alleviates the need for elaborate sensing and tracking mechanisms.

Abstract: A photographic material for diffusion transfer photography containing a quinonoid compound, which is capable in reduced state and under alkaline conditions of releasing a photographically useful group and corresponds to one of the following general formulae: ##STR1## wherein: each of (Nuox).sup.1 and (Nuox).sup.2 (same or different) represents an oxidized nucleophilic group,Z represents a bivalent atom or bivalent atomic group, which is electro-negative,Q together with the group Z represents a releasable photographically useful group,Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 together represent the necessary atoms to close a p-quinonoid ring substituted with (a) directly linked monovalent organic ring or ring system substituent(s) having aromatic character,Y.sup.3 represents the necessary atoms to close a o-quinonoid ring substituted with (a) directly linked monovalent organic ring or ring system substituent(s) having aromatic character, andeach of R.sup.1 and R.sup.

Abstract: A radio direction finder, which is designed to determine the direction of arrival of a radio wave by causing the rotation of a directional antenna arrangement or a goniometer, to which the output of the directional antenna arrangement is coupled, or rotating the directivity by an electric means and combining the output of the directional antenna arrangement or goniometer and the output of a non-directional antenna. With this system, it is possible to detect and display the bearing of the received radio wave with a higher place counter and precisely track and display the second bearing of the wave with a lower place counter.

Abstract: A log splitter which utilizes as the prime mover a one-cylinder internal combustion engine. The engine is a two-cycle engine, with the fuel-air mixture being manually supplied to the engine by way of a charging unit. The internal combustion engine is of a size to provide the desired impact striking of the log to be split, followed by the application of sufficient force to continue the splitting.

Abstract: Auto-crosslinking, cathodically depositable binders which are water-dilutable upon neutralization comprising the reaction product of:(A) 2 moles of a polyepoxy compound with from 2 to 10 epoxy groups per molecule and an epoxy equivalent of from 100 to 1000;(B) 0.1 to 2.0 moles of a diamine, the nitrogen atoms being secondary-secondary or primary-tertiary;(C) from 1 to 10 moles of an alpha,beta-unsaturated monocarboxylic acid; and(D) from 0.5 to 10 moles of dialkanol amine and/or of a monoalkanol monoalkyl amine,whereby the weight ratios of the components are chosen in order that the sum of the epoxy-reactive hydrogen atoms of components (B) through (D) substantially correspond to the number of epoxy groups of component (A), and the binder contains from 0.5 to 2.5 basic nitrogen atoms and from 0.5 to 2.5 polymerizable double bonds per 1000 molecular weight units.

Abstract: Polymer dispersions characterized in that they contain N-methylol(meth)acrylamide groups, comprising30-65% by weight of methylmethacrylate,10-17% by weight of ethylacrylate,10-30% by weight of butylmethacrylate,5-20% by weight of styrene,3-10% by weight of N-methylol(meth)acrylamide,and containing as a coalescing agent from about 5 to 15% by weight, based on the dispersion, of a blend comprising20-65% by weight of a high boiling paint solvent such as 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-1,5-diol-monotrimethylacetate and80-35% by weight of ethylene glycol monoethyletheracetate, and/or ethylene glycol monobutyletheracetate,optionally in conjunction with basic varnishes based on cationic water-soluble acrylic copolymers, are described. The dispersions when used in coating compositions for coating wood surfaces provide a coating on wood having good mar resistance, hardness, and flexibility, while accentuating the wood grain and color.

Abstract: Auto-crosslinkable, cathodically depositable aqueous coating compositions which are the reaction product of 2 moles of a diepoxide, 1 mole of a secondary-secondary or primary-tertiary diamine, 0-1 moles of a saturated and/or unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, and 2-1 moles of a secondary amine with optional subsequent partial or total reaction of the hydroxy groups of the reaction product with an alpha,beta-unsaturated monoisocyanate. The binders are rendered water-soluble by neutralization with inorganic and/or organic acids. The binders are capable of being neutralized with low levels of neutralizing acids to provide a component of a coating composition which will cure at low temperatures to give films having excellent surface qualities.

Abstract: The reflector of an acoustic echo ranging system is matched so as to make up for the influence of the temperature at the bottom of the reflector, on the measurement of the back-reflected signal. The acoustic signal receiver being stationary the transmission frequency is controlled by a temperature responsive electronic circuit so that the receiver is always located at the same pressure antinode. Alternatively, the transmission frequency being fixed, the position of the receiver is controlled by a temperature responsive mechanical gear causing the position of the receiver to coincide with the same pressure antinode.

Abstract: Heat-hardenable synthetic resins which are water soluble upon partial or total neutralization comprising the reaction products of epoxy groups containing unsaturated diene polymers and amine compounds, graft polymerized with alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are free from epoxy reactive groups, the homopolymers of the monomers having a glass transition temperature of over 320.degree. K. A process of preparing the heat-hardenable resins is also described. The synthetic resins can be employed as binders for cathodically depositable aqueous coating compositions to provide coatings which will cure at relatively low temperatures and relatively short curing times to provide smooth and hard films having good resistance to water, chemicals, and corrosion; and which adhere well to the coated surface.

Abstract: Binder combinations for the formulation of cathodic paints comprising blends of epoxy resins as follows: (A) 40 to 80% by weight of reaction products of epoxy acrylates with basic monoisocyanates; (B) 5 to 30% by weight of reaction products of epoxy amine adducts with unsaturated monoisocyanates, and (C) an epoxy resin modified with a semi-ester of a dicarboxylic acid anhydride and an N-hydroxyalkyloxazolidin and an amine, rendered water soluble through neutralization of the basic groups. The binder combinations as defined have enhanced throwing power and improved stability of the paint tank.

Abstract: A dye-diffusion transfer process for producing (a) dye image(s) with improved dye density is provided, said process comprising the steps of:(1) image-wise photo-exposing a photographic color material, which contains at least one alkali-permeable silver halide hydrophilic colloid layer which contains in operative contact therewith or therein a non-diffusing dye or dye precursor compound that when contacted with an aqueous alkaline liquid remains immobile in an alkali-permeable colloid layer and is capable of being reduced by a silver halide developing agent at a rate slower than that of imagewise developable silver halide and in reduced state under alkaline conditions is capable of releasing a diffusible dye or dye precursor moiety, and(2) applying in the presence of a developing agent an aqueous alkaline liquid to said photoexposed material, characterized in that said liquid contains triisopropanolamine.