Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a mixture of hydroxyl containing di- and trisulfides, from either 2-mercaptoethanol or 3-mercaptopropanol, directly in two steps, without the formation of deleterious byproducts. Precise control of process conditions (a) in a first step in which the disulfide is formed, includes oxidation of mercapto-lower alkanol with a stoichiometric amount of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 while maintaining the pH and temperature of a relatively dilute aqueous reaction mixture within a specific narrow range; and, (b) in a second step in which a predetermined portion of the disulfide is converted substantially exclusively to the trisulfide, requires controlled heating of the reaction mixture to a temperature not to exceed 100.degree. C. The process may be carried out in a single reaction vessel, and directly yields a preselected distribution of disulfide and trisulfide in the mixture.

Abstract: A phase transfer catalyzed "soft ion synthesis" is disclosed in which the presence of a "soft ion" generated in situ by a soft ion catalyst has a directive effect which favors the formation of a polysubstituted 2-keto-1,4-diazacycloalkane isomer having substituents on both N.sup.4 -adjacent carbon atoms ("C atoms") of its diaza ring; this isomer is formed at the expense of isomers in which an N.sup.4 -adjacent C atom is not substituted. Such an isomer which has substituents on each N.sup.4 -adjacent C atom is generally more effective as a u-v light stabilizer than an isomer which has an unsubstituted N.sup.4 -adjacent C atom, and therefore the former is more desirable.

Abstract: Substituted 2-piperazinones are prepared by reacting a substituted 1,2-diamine with (a) an acyclic or cyclic cyanohydrin acetate, (b) a haloform, and (c) alkali metal hydroxide, in the presence of a suitable organic solvent, at ambient pressure and temperature preferably lower than about 20.degree. C. In an analogous manner, substituted 1,4-diaza-2-keto-cycloheptanes are prepared by reacting substituted 1,3-propane-diamines. In this synthesis, referred to as "the cyanohydrin acetate synthesis," the reaction is accelerated with a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group consisting of a polyether, an onium salt, and a tertiary amine. This synthesis yields predominantly a 2-keto-diazacycloalkane with substituents desirably substituted on carbon atoms on either side of the N.sup.4 atom of the diaza ring.

Abstract: An adjustable apron is disclosed which is made of three separate pieces of vinyl fabric, namely a body member and two identical crescent-shaped arm cut-out strips. The vinyl fabric is a soft and flexible vinyl laminate formed by bonding poly(vinyl chloride) to a woven cotton cloth. The apron is so constructed as to provide a neck loop which is adjustable for wearers having a wide variety of body shapes and sizes. The apron is provided with a pair of arcuate arm cut-outs having seams each of which has a critical radius in the range from 25 cm to about 40 cm. With this radius, when the apron is worn, with its vinyl surface exteriorly disposed, the cotton cloth inner surface of the laminate frictionally engages the clothing of the wearer and provides a good fit with a relatively large contact surface which allows the wearer to secure the apron in a comfortable position on his body.

Abstract: An impeller-type mixing machine is provided with movable wedge-shaped or ploughshare shaped mixing tools. Each tool has a tip running upstream and lateral cheeks emanating from it and acting as working surfaces. At least one of the cheeks is placed obliquely to the direction of movement of the mixing tools. The cheeks of each mixing tool run at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a pendulum viscometer having damped torsional oscillations, in a laboratory catalytic fluid-bed reactor, to monitor a propensity to stick which is exhibited by certain supported catalysts. A fluid-bed of such catalysts has been found to become suddenly more sticky just before a point at which a change in pressure drop across the fluid-bed can be measured due to a process "upset". At this point ("the inversion point"), the upset is usually irremediable. The method includes correlating data on catalyst stickiness from a laboratory reactor operating at atmospheric pressure, with an expected level of catalyst stickiness in a commercial reactor operating at elevated pressure.A pendulum viscometer and related auxiliary apparatus is disclosed for magnetically and electrically measuring and recording the rate at which the pendulum's torsional oscillations are damped.

Abstract: The compositions are formed as the reaction product, preferably in an organic solvent, of phosphorous acid or PCl.sub.3 and a water-soluble carboxyl polymer. A precursor of phosphorous acid, which precursor is capable of generating phosphorous acid in aqueous solution, may be used, and preferably, the water-soluble carboxyl polymer has a relatively low molecular weight, preferably in the range from about 400 to about 6000. The molar ratio of the reactants, namely of carboxyl polymer, calculated as carboxyl groups to phosphorous acid is in the range from about 10:1 to about 1:1. The carboxyl polymer, such as polyacrylic acid, may be derived from an .alpha.,.beta.-olefinically unsaturated monomer having a carboxyl group, or the carboxyl polymer such as an acid anhydride polymer may be derived from a monomer readily converted to one having a carboxylic acid group.

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: This invention is designed to lock a trailer coupling, which includes a trailer hitch of the lever type and a ball-type connector. The coupling is locked by a locking-ball which is constructed by modifying a conventional ball to conceal the locking element, and how it provides the locking function. The locking-ball includes a substantially spherical ball in which a hardened steel bolt is threadedly disposed axially therewithin for vertical axial movement of the bolt through the upper surface of the locking-ball. The locking-ball is inserted in the socket of the trailer hitch, and the lever is closed in the "down" position so as to actuate a cam against a jaw, which jaw in cooperation with the socket, snugly holds the ball in position. The bolt is then advanced vertically by a key in mating relation with the lower end or head of the bolt, until the upper end of the bolt is forced against the inner surface of the socket, and the ball is forcibly biased within the socket against the jaw.

Abstract: A security stand is provided which secures a motorcycle and each of its major, valuable components against theft. The stand does not utilize a padlock or chain either of which can be attacked by acid, quickly supercooled and embrittled by a cryogen, or easily cut with an oxyacetylene torch. The stand does utilize an internal locking means such as a dead bolt, which engages the ends of cross bar pipes necessarily containing cementitious material, which pipes are inserted in passages through a pair of angulated arms. The arms extend upwardly from a base, and, preferably both arms and base are also filled with cementitious material. The angulation of the arms is such that they do not provide a horizontal surface against which a hydraulic jacking means may be biased in cooperation with the base, or ground upon which the base is disposed. The cross bar pipes function as locking members when they are inserted through openings between the frame and engine of the motorcycle and locked in the arms.

Abstract: Conjugated diolefins contaminated with relatively high levels of acetylenic impurities in a hydrocarbon feedstream are purified by a cyclic, vapor phase, predominantly catalytic cracking process which selectively removes alpha-cetylenes in a single pass. A feedstream containing about equal weights of isoprene and mixed monoolefins and alkanes contaminated with alpha-acetylenes including isopropenyl acetylene inter alia, up to about 5.0 percent by weight (% by wt) of the feedstream, and a larger amount of cyclopentadiene, is contacted in the vapor phase with a supported Group I B metal oxide catalyst in the absence of hydrogen, at a temperature in the range from about 300.degree. F. to about 360.degree. F. In this narrow temperature range, the loss of diolefin is less than 1% by weight. Essentially all the cyclopentadiene (CPD) is left unconverted.

Abstract: A polycrystalline shaped article useful as a light-transmitting body or scintillation phosphor is formed from an essentially moncrystalline melt-grown macrocrystal ingot by pressing the ingot between opposed surfaces with no radial restraint, at a temperature below its melting point and under sufficient pressure to transform the ingot, in situ, into a fully dense, homogeneous, polycrystalline mass of unrestricted width.A polycrystalline shaped article useful as a light-transmitting and/or light-generating body may also be formed from a fully dense, homogeneous, optically integral polycrystalline mass by pressing the polycrystalline mass between opposed surfaces with no radial constraint, at a temperature below its melting point, but greater than one-half its melting point measured in degrees centigrade, under sufficient pressure to form a relatively larger polycrystalline mass of lesser height.

Abstract: A compact, double-acting piston-type fluid activated device having an axially reciprocable piston for controlled, predetermined deceleration of the piston as it approaches the limit at each end of its travel within a cylindrical bore. The cylindrical bore is sealed at each end by end walls removably retained in the bore. Each end wall is provided with a central counterbore in its inner surface which in cooperation with the piston provides a cushioning chamber. The area of the counterbore central surface is critically related to the circular cross-sectional area of the cylindrical bore in which the end wall is to be secured, being in the range from about 60% to about 85% thereof. A vent passage places the cushioning chamber in preselectedly restricted flow communication with porting means in the wall of the device, each port being located intermediate the end walls. A method is provided for removably circumferentially locking each end wall in the operating cylinder with a wire snap ring having a hooked end.

Abstract: Several novel syntheses have been discovered for preparation of 2-keto-1,4-diazacycloalkanes and their derivatives. Trans isomers of polysubstituted quinoxalin-2-ones may now be prepared.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of controlling and improving the sensitivity of silicon PIN diodes to dosage by fast neutrons. The method includes selecting a silicon mass of high resistivity n or p-type material having a relatively long minority carrier lifetime, in excess of 250 microseconds ( .mu. sec) providing n.sup.+ and p.sup.+ -type junctions, and arranging the mass to obtain a silicon PIN diode dosimeter having a preselected ratio of edge area to volume. A silicon PIN diode personnel dosimeter sensitive to a radiation level of absorbed dose as low as 0.1 rad has been produced; this dosimeter, in the range from about 0.1 rad to about 10 rads has a sensitivity of at least 10 mV/rad.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for continuously stripping chloroform (CHCl.sub.3) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl.sub.4) contaminants from a slurry of agglomerated particles or macro-granules of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) utilizing a stripping agent chosen from a lower primary alcohol and a lower normally liquid alkane. In this process, the stripping agent has a peculiar affinity for each of these contaminants, does not dissolve or otherwise deleteriously affect the CPVC macro-granules, and efficiently reduces the level of the contaminants in the CPVC to less than 10 ppm each of CHCl.sub.3 and CCl.sub.4, based on solid resin.

Abstract: A tank for volatile fluid is fitted with a diaphragm vent valve as an integral portion of a system in which both emission control regulations and safety regulations are met.Vapors are recovered in this system but more importantly, the tank such as the one on a tank truck, cannot be filled through a bottom loading valve normally provided near the bottom of the tank, unless the vent valve is open. The vent valve includes a disc which, when the vent valve is closed, sealingly engages the interior upper surface of the tank, and when opened, is pushed away from the interior upper surface. This design provides for a low exterior profile of the valve body, and a valve operable with relatively low air pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for manually sharpening the bottom, radially divergent, flute ends or cutting edges of an end milling cutter (hereinafter referred to as an "end mill") which apparatus includes: a stationary, beveled disc-type or plain grinding wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis (or y-axis), so as to present the face of the wheel to an operator, and a tool-holding fixture having a base member mounted on the worktable of a conventional tool grinder. The worktable of the grinder is capable of movement along three axes, namely a longitudinal axis (or x-axis), a horizontal axis (or y-axis) toward and away from the circular face of the disc, and a vertical axis (or z-axis), by manual manipulation of individual table-adjusting wheels. The fixture includes a workhead mounted on a carriage which in turn is translatably mounted for linear to and fro motion, on a base member with bearing means. The workhead is mounted on the carriage for pivotable movement about a longitudinal axis (x-axis).

Abstract: A cooled magnet is disclosed for lifting magnetic materials with incident savings in the cost of energy. The magnet comprises a dome-shaped metal case open to the atmosphere under the case, and, for producing a magnetic field, a continuous hollow conductor electrical winding removably disposed on a central core within the metal case. The metal case and central core are each provided with a radial slot in a vertical plane to inhibit the build-up of eddy currents. The hollow conductor offers an electrically continuous path, but is preferably so constructed as to provide a fluid discontinuous path for a cooling medium circulated within the hollow conductor.The dome-shaped metal case includes an inverted dished housing and a reinforcing cap member. The dished housing and cap member are fabricated from plural arcuate steel shells of predetermined configuration, superposed and nested one upon another in unimpeded magnetic communication with the central core.

Abstract: This invention comprises a scintillator capable of generating light radiation upon exposure to nuclear radiation such as gamma rays, beta rays, X-rays, etc., in which the transparent optically integral crystalline component thereof consists of a major amount of cesium iodide and a minor amount of a sodium compound, this material being characterized by having an emission peak of about 4200.+-.100 angstrom units.