Abstract: A "one pot" process is taught for the preparation of a water-soluble interpolymer starting with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, and a lower aliphatic alcohol. The process comprises concurrently converting the lower carboxylic acid to an ester, and polymerizing reactants and reaction products under reflux conditions in the copresence of a strongly acid esterification catalyst and a free radical initiator for the polymerization; and, recovering the copolymer. In the reaction mixture there is simultaneous formation (i) of water, the removal of which determines the amount of ester formed, and (ii) of polymer. The initiator survives the strongly acid esterification catalyst, and polymerization is not adversely affected by the formation of water and the presence of the esterification catalyst, despite elevated temperature conditions.

Abstract: A device is disclosed in which an edge-sensing means ("sensor") and a work-performing assembly are combined to perform work on a belt, strip or other work (hereafter "material"). It may be desired to slit the material, or simply position it with respect to a reference mark, but whichever the work-performing function to be discharged, it is required to do so with accuracy relative to one or both edges of the material. The sensor comprises a silicon solar cell ("cell") and a light source ("lamp") between which an edge of the material is sensed, and the deviation from a reference position measured. Depending upon the area of the cell exposed to light from the lamp due to the variable placement of an edge of the material as it traverses the cell, an electrical current is generated in the cell which current is directly proportional to the area of the cell upon which the light falls.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of treating papermakers' forming and press belts made from polyethylene terephthalate mono or multifilament yarns so that the belts substantially resist the deposition of pitch on the belt yarns while in use in a papermaking machine environment. Pitch-contaminated water and pulp mixtures in contact with the belts are subjected to suction and pressure pulses which remove water from the mixture. The belts are coated with a coating compound which is co-crystalline with the polyethylene terephthalate at the surface of the filament. The coating compound contains a profusion of oxalkylene groups to establish a hydrophilic barrier of active oxyalkyene groups by solvation with water to repel the pitch from the belt and to prevent clogging the belt.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) ("CPVC") which is dissolved in liquid chlorine ("Cl.sub.2 ") to form a CPVC solution. CPVC is recovered by adding the CPVC solution to a halogenated lower alkaline ("HLA"), which is simultaneously an excellent solvent for liquid Cl.sub.2 and a very poor solvent for CPVC. This peculiar property causes the CPVC to be precipitated from the three-component mixture as a finely divided solid with different morphological properties than if the HLA was added to the CPVC solution. The solid CPVC precipitated may then be separated from the solution of liquid Cl.sub.2 in the HLA. This solution of Cl.sub.2 in HLA is further separated into its component liquids, namely HLA and liquid Cl.sub.2 which are then each reused.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for delivering the precise optimum number of cure equivalents to the exact point of least cure for each tire, though the location of the point varies from one tire to another tire of different geometry, and may vary in tires of the same geometry if there is a change in normal operating conditions. A cure is effected with the aid of a small computer means utilizing only two boundary temperature conditions and the ambient temperature, irrespective of where the boundary conditions are sensed.

Abstract: To "set" the relative angular disposition of cords in plural inextensible belts on an inflated green tire carcass before it is cured in a mold, a roller is provided which momentarily presses a belt upon the carcass, thus "printing" the belt thereon at a fixed distance from the longitudinal axis of the carcass, and thereafter releases the belt. The carcass is inflated into a toroidal shape so that a point on the circumference of the carcass is at a predetermined inflated distance from the longitudinal axis of the carcass. The roller is placed on each belt to be "set" so that the roller contacts each belt prior to printing it on the carcass. The roller biases each belt on the carcass toward its (the carcass') longitudinal axis, and it is essential that the distance between the bottom surface of the roller and the longitudinal axis of the inflated carcass is maintained constant while each belt is in contact with the roller.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which recirculates air to raise air temperature near the floor in winter, and to provide a direct flow of air blown generally horizontally slightly above persons standing on the floor in summer. A fan assembly is housed in a unitary duct-like housing which is open near its base to take in air. The duct-like housing is capped with an outlet hood which adjustably telescopes on the housing so that air flow from openings in the outlet hood can be adjusted for winter or summer operation.

Abstract: Numerous alpha-carboxylic acids are prepared in a liquid medium by the reaction of an organic compound having at least one reactive hydroxyl or thiol group, with a monoketone, and a haloform, in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and an alkali metal hydroxide. The term "alpha-alkoxycarboxylic acids" includes alpha-phenoxycarboxylic acids, alpha-thioalkoxycarboxylic acids and alpha-thiophenoxycarboxylic acids. Specific substituents on the beta carbon atom of an alpha-alkoxycarboxylic (or "2-alkoxycarboxylic") acid reaction product formed in this novel synthesis, are introduced by appropriate choice of the ketone reactant; alkoxy and phenoxy substituents on the alpha carbon atom of a 2-alkoxycarboxylic acid are introduced by appropriate choice of the organic compound having a hydroxyl or thiol group. De-alkoxylation of the 2-alkoxycarboxylic acid yields alpha-beta monoolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids which are necessarily alpha substituted, and may also be beta-substituted.

Abstract: A deliberately simple ski vise is provided which utilizes essential structural elements requiring only a minimum of machining. The vise is preferably used in conjunction with another identical vise to hold skis securely to a table top or other flat surface while the skis are `tuned` or otherwise worked upon. The skis may be clamped in any desired position, and irrespective of the widths of the skis, the skis may be clamped in position and unclamped with unprecedented ease and speed. A novel, quick-release mechanism is provided on the vise which serves to lock movable jaws of the ski vise relative to each other so as to negate longitudinal travel relative to each other except by rotation of a rod which is at least partially threaded to provide a screw-clamping action.

Abstract: The addition of a getter consisting essentially of reactive oxides of boron and silicon, to a melt of an alkali metal halide serves to overcome problems of unacceptable color, afterglow and hardness attributable to trace impurities present in the melt. These trace impurities are generally metals present in a concentration less than 1 part per million (ppm) parts of melt. An ingot melt-grown from charge stock treated with the getter provides high quality optical bodies such as light pipes, laser windows and scintillators. Specific problems characteristic of a scintillator ingot grown from a highly purified alkali metal halide "remelt", such as is obtained by crushing and melting portions of a melt-grown ingot, are overcome by adding to the remelt a portion of fresh powder stock in which the getter has been uniformly distributed.

Abstract: An additive composition has been formulated which accelerates the setting time, and also improves the compressive strength of Portland type cement, mortars and concretes. The additive composition consists essentially of a concentrated aqueous solution of calcium nitrate and a waste byproduct stream of a mixture of polyethanolamines (referred to as "triethanolamine bottoms") to which solution is added a minor amount of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of a polyhydroxy aliphatic compound such as gluconic acid, or of lignosulfonic acid.

Abstract: A folding screen is formed by a plurality of successively hinged, rigid, radiation-controlling planar panels supported so the screen can be opened (or extended) and closed (or collapsed). Adjacent panels are supported only at their edges, by a hinge member having symmetrical back-to-back tubular channels. The hinge member possesses sufficient rigidity to permit hinged, side-by-side coaction of the panels from a stacked, generally vertical relationship when the screen is collapsed, to an undulating planar relationship when the screen is opened, which relationship is essential if the screen is to be collapsed without binding. The screen is translatable on a pair of parallel, mono-level tracks, and operated by a flexible drive member extending along a rail and connected to the screen's leading ("lead") panel.A novel skylight includes a curb assembly, a "bubble" (or "dome") and a folding screen translatable to-and-fro below the bubble.

Abstract: An improved syringe assembly is provided in which a double-looped ring member comprising an index finger loop and a stem loop, permits the index finger of one hand to be inserted in the index finger loop so as to actuate withdrawal of the plunger of the syringe. Utilization of the index finger allows the exertion of a withdrawal force on the plunger along a much flatter arc than if the thumb of the same hand is used. The different articulation of the index finger of a person's hand, compared with the articulation of the thumb, allows even an elderly person to utilize the syringe assembly with one hand, without binding the plunger in the barrel of the syringe. The double-looped ring member is made of wire stock, is removably positioned on the stem of the syringe, and the stem loop is necessarily movable with respect to the stem of the plunger. Further, though the wire loops are stiff, they are manually deformable.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting potential defects as evidenced by surface irregularities in the sidewalls of a tire to be tested. A test is performed on a "uniformity machine" programmed to run standard tire tests. The system preferably utilizes a pair of oppositely disposed non-contact probes, means for distinguishing between `noise` and a desired signal, means for analyzing and identifying the signal, means for determining whether the identified signal falls within a preselected range, and means for identifying a tire having acceptable or unacceptable bumps and/or depressions. A tire is deemed acceptable when it qualifies within preselected limits for bumps and/or depressions, and unacceptable if it does not so qualify.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for curing a sand-furan resin mixture used in foundry practice to form cores and molds by the use of sulfur dioxide gas without forming sulfuric acid. Curing occurs when the furan resin, that is one containing a predominant amount of a furan moiety, is intermixed with a minor amount of a diisopropylbenzene monohydroperoxide (DIPBMHP) or diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide (DIPBDHP), or a mixture thereof. In addition to reacting with gaseous sulfur dioxide without forming sulfuric acid, these specific alkaryl hydroperoxides of which the monohydroperoxides have at least one alkyl ring substituent, have the peculiar characteristic of curing the resin in such a way that the DIPBMHP or DIPBDHP moiety becomes chemically bound in the cured resin. The result is a cured core or mold having a novel composition and superior physical properties compared to prior art cores and molds made with furan resins, in which the reaction with sulfur dioxide produces sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Novel .alpha.-aminoacetamides are powerful stabilizers for organic materials subject to oxygen and heat degradation, and particularly for synthetic natural rubber and synthetic ester lubricants. A wide range of substituents on the amine and amide N atoms, and also on the saturated carbon atom, yields an array of stabilizers having a wide range of compatibility in compositions comprising various synthetic resinous compounds to be stabilized.Novel syntheses are provided utilizing at least one amine nucleophilic agent, a dichlorocarbene ion generating agent, and an alkoxide ion generating agent, which together in the presence of aqueous alkali and an onium salt, yield novel .alpha.-aminoacetamides in which a wide choice of substituents may be introduced. The nucleophilic agent may be a primary or secondary amine, or one of each. The dichlorocarbene ion generating agent is a haloform. The alkoxide ion generating agent may be a ketone, an aldehyde, or a cyanohydrin which reacts with the haloform. An .alpha.

Abstract: Novel polysubstituted 2-keto-1,4-diazacycloalkanes are powerful stabilizers for materials subject to ultraviolet (UV) light degradation, particularly for polyolefins. The cyclic 2-keto compounds of this invention have (a) a fixed two-carbon bridge between the N.sup.1 and N.sup.4 atoms of the diaza ring, the remaining portion of the ring having a variable length bridge of two or more carbon atoms, (b) an N-adjacent carbonyl in the fixed two-carbon bridge, and (c) at least one N.sup.4 -adjacent carbon atom of the diaza ring is polysubstituted, that is, has two substituents which may be cyclizable.Compositions containing (a) the polysubstituted 2-keto-1,4-diazacycloalkanes of this invention, and (b) prior art polysubstituted 2-keto-1,4-diazacycloalkanes, exhibit excellent stability to UV light.

Abstract: The addition of a getter consisting essentially of reactive oxides of boron and silicon, to a melt of an alkali metal halide serves to overcome problems of unacceptable color, afterglow and hardness attributable to trace impurities present in the melt. These trace impurities are generally metals present in a concentration less than 1 part per million (ppm) parts of melt. An ingot melt-grown from charge stock treated with the getter provides high quality optical bodies such as light pipes, laser windows and scintillators. Specific problems characteristic of a scintillator ingot grown from a highly purified alkali metal halide "remelt", such as is obtained by crushing and melting portions of a melt-grown ingot, are overcome by adding to the remelt a portion of fresh powder stock in which the getter has been uniformly distributed.

Abstract: Conjugated diolefins contaminated with relatively high levels of acetylenic impurities in a hydrocarbon feedstream are purified by a cyclic, liquid phase, predominantly catalytic cracking process which selectively removes alpha-acetylenes in a single pass. The energy requirement for removing the alpha-acetylenes in this liquid phase process are from about one-third to about one-fifth as great as that required in a comparable vapor phase process. A feedstream containing about equal weights of butadiene and mixed monoolefins and alkanes contaminated with alpha-acetylenes including vinyl acetylene and methyl acetylene, inter alia, in an amount up to about 1.0 percent by weight (% by wt) of the feedstream, is contacted in the liquid phase with a supported Group I B metal oxide catalyst in the absence of hydrogen, at a temperature in the range from about 200.degree. F. to about 260.degree. F.

Abstract: A foot-launched and foot-landed hang glider is powered by an internal combustion two-cycle engine drivingly connected through a reduction-drive unit to a large relatively slow-moving propeller. A reduction mount, so referred to because it couples the reduction-drive unit closely to the engine, allows the engine to rotate a large propeller relatively slowly, thus providing more thrust at near-stalling flight conditions. The hang glider, thus powered, also obviates the necessity of being launched from the edge of a precipice and permits flight which is not predicated on the fortuitous selection of favorable air currents.