Abstract: A cylinder head, more preferably a piston, of an internal combustion engine is provided on its compression face with a substantially central bowl and an annular common squish jet pocket encircling and spaced radially from the bowl to define an annular lip separating the squish pocket from the bowl. A plurality of discrete squish jet channels are formed through the lip and connect the squish pocket with the bowl at locations circumferentially spaced about the bowl. Each of the channels is open to the compression face along its full length from an inlet end connected to the annular squish jet pocket to a discharge end opening into the bowl. The channels provide the main paths for fluid flow from the area on the compression face surrounding the bowl into the bowl and in particular from the annular pocket into the bowl.

Abstract: A method of producing ceramic composites of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 reinforced by shaped SiC particles preferably shaped as fine particles (random), platelets, whiskers or fibres by in situ production of SiC particles by heating a mixture of carbon particles of the desired shape with silicates of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 to a temperature above 1500.degree. C., convert the silicates and carbon to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiC to produce in situ SiC particles of the desired shape and provide a ceramic powder that may be densified by techniques such as hot pressing, isostatic pressing or sintering.

Abstract: A sheet having substantially all of the qualities of liner board is formed solely from mechanical pulp using two different stocks to form discrete layers, one of the layers being preferably at least 50% coarse chemi-mechanical pulp and at least one surface layer being preferably of a chemi-mechanical fine pulp. Preferably the coarse layer will be a chemi-thermo-mechanical Douglas Fir pulp and the fine pulp will be a chemi-thermo-mechanical Western red cedar pulp.

Abstract: A system for producing ceramic or cermet material in a plasma type thermal reactor wherein a reactor flame and reactants are introduced into one end of a reaction chamber through which a concentric film of collecting liquid (oil) flows and empties at the opposite end into a pool of collecting liquid. The collecting (and cooling) liquid enters the chamber at the same end the flame enters and forms a liquid wall surrounding the flame that sweeps substantially the whole inner periphery of the walls of the chamber from one end to the opposite end and empties into the pool of collecting (and cooling) liquid. Liquid from the pool is recirculated back to the one end and is filtered to remove the particulate formed from the reactants.

Abstract: A cylinder head, more preferably a piston, of an internal combustion engine is provided on its compression face with a substantially central bowl and a plurality of discrete squish jet channels circumferentially spaced about the bowl. Each of the channels is open to the compression face along its full length from an inlet end to a discharge end opening into the bowl. The channels provide the main paths for fluid flow from the areas on compression face surrounding the bowl into the bowl. The piston and cylinder are so shaped that as the piston approaches top dead center position the air fuel mixture is forced from the compression face into and along the channels from the inlet end to the discharge end and are discharged as interacting jets into the bowl and increase the turbulence in the air fuel mixture in the bowl.

Abstract: An articulated arm employs a controller to generate .delta.r, .delta..THETA. and .delta.z signals for controlling the movement of the arm in r, .THETA. and z directions to product movement of an end point from an initial location along a desired path toward a desired location. The actual location is determined by sensing the relationships between the arm segments and determining the actual location of the end point. The actual location is continuously compared with the desired location represented by the r, .THETA. and z signals and, if the difference between the actual location and desired location exceeds preselected limits, the .delta.r, .delta..THETA. and .delta.z are scaled down thereby redefining the desired location to ensure that the actual arm movement does not lag an unacceptable amount relative to the desired location.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is formed by a first element incorporating a plurality of different sized piston cavities by a first set of piston elements which cooperate with a second set of piston elements and piston cavities respectively formed on a second element. Each of the cavities is selectively connected to a source of high pressure fluid or a source of low pressure fluid. The second element forms a driven piston in a cylinder formed by an extension of the first element. A second cylinder of a cross sectional area different from the first cylinder is hydrulically connected to the first cylinder and incorporates a second piston at its end remote from the first piston. The force or distance travelled by the second piston is correlated with that of the first or driven piston in a ratio equal to the ratio of the cross sectional areas of the two pistons. Preferably the second piston will be a double acting piston so that pressure may be applied to force the driven piston and first element together.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is formed by an assembly including a first element, a cylinder, a body section and a chamber. The first element is provided with a first set of a plurality of different sized piston cavities and piston elements which cooperate with a second set of piston elements and piston cavities respectively formed on a second element. The second element forms a piston in cylinder. The body sides incorporates, preferably in symmetrical relationship around the axis, of the assembly a plurality of valves, one valve for each of the pairs of cooperating pistons and cavities. A piston divides the chamber into a high pressure reservoir and a low pressure reservoir with the piston being urged toward the high pressure reservoir to maintain a difference in pressure between the high and low pressure reservoirs.

Abstract: A system for establishing a base between a light projecting station and a light receiving station of a triangulating coordinate finder incorporates a target on the light transmitting station and a reflector appropriately positioned relative to a photo sensitive receiving array in the light receiving station. A beam of light is directed through a peep hole through the target onto the reflector and is reflected back onto the target. By adjusting the relative orientation of the two stations so that the light beam is reflected back from the reflecting surface in a direction substantially co-axial with the beam of light projecting through the peep hole the bases of the two stations are arranged to be substantially in the same plane and on a base line. The base length between the two stations is measured and the orientation of the projected beam and the focal axis of the receiving station are established relative to the base line to provide coordinates for the triangulating coordinate finder.

Abstract: A tester for testing the strength (wall stiffness) of a tubular sleeve applies axial pressure to the sleeve via a pair of sealing platens closing the open ends of the sleeve and holding the sleeve in the desired configuration. With the sleeve so held air pressure is applied to the inside of the sleeve and the deflection of at least one of the walls is measured and correlated with the applied air pressure applied thereby to obtain an indication of the strength and stiffness characteristics of the container. Generally with a rectangular cross section sleeve deflection of all four sides of the sleeve are measured.

Abstract: A cryogenic detector comprises an array formed from a plurality of spherical grains made of type I superconducting material arranged in a preselected pattern and each having a preselected size (generally less than about 100 microns in diameter). Also disclosed is a method of making such an array by depositing a film of selected thickness of type I superconducting material on a substrate, etching the film to provide an array formed by a plurality of discrete pixels, melting the pixels under conditions whereby the pixels are transformed into substantially spherical shape, and cooling to freeze the molten pixels into substantially spherical grains.

Abstract: A system for delivering fluid lubricant to the surfaces of the sidewalls of a mold of a continuous casting machine is provided by a continuously surrounding lubrication gap connecting a manifold to the sides of the casting mold. The lubricating gap has substantially the same resistance to flow between the manifold and the adjacent side of the mold cavity of the mold around the complete perimeter of the mold cavity and has significantly higher resistance to flow of lubricant from the manifold to the mold cavity than the resistance to flow around the manifold and into the gap, whereby the lubricant is uniformly distributed to all the walls of the mold. Preferably the gap will be divided into discrete passages, one for each side of the mold cavity by means of a shaped spacer which also defines the height of the gap and thereby the height of each of the passages. Each passage will normally be of substantially constant width corresponding substantially to the length of the adjacent side of the mold cavity.

Abstract: An integrated optics Pockels cell for use in a voltage sensor includes a crystal exhibiting the electro-optic effect in which an integratd straight line wave guide substantially aligned with a z axis of the crystal is incorporated. The wave guide has two substantially orthogonal polarization axes substantially aligned with an x and y axis of the crystal respectively. In operation light polarized at a selected angle of orientation to the x and y axes of the crystal is applied to one end of the wave guide and polarized light leaving the wave guide and polarized along two substantially orthogonal axes one of which is at about the same orientation to the x and y axes as the polarized light entering the wave guide is detected to determine the electric field to which the sensor has been subjected. Preferably the sensor will include polarization maintaining optical fibers appropriately oriented to the wave guide for delivering and receiving polarized light to and from the wave guide.

Abstract: A radiant heating panel is formed using a foam insulation core surrounded by a reinforcing mesh and having a pair of wiring harness fixtures snapped over each end of the reinforced core. A radiant heating wire is strung back and fourth between the fixtures to provide a radiant heating element and the core structure, including the radiant heating element, is then wrapped in a paper wrapper which is secured to the core through the reinforcing layer on the side of the core opposite the heating element. A cementicious thermal insulating layer is applied to encase the heating element and the paper wrapper is wrapped into overlying relationship with the cementicious layer to substantially completely enclose the core.

Abstract: The perimeter and height of an inlet gap to a dryer syphon shoe (for a steam heated dryer drum) are selected to provide an area which at maximum design condensate flow rate accommodates both condensate and steam flows and in proportions and at speeds that will ensure distributed flow of the steam and condensate while maintaining efficient dryer operation. A plate is positioned inside of the shoe and combines with an inside wall of the shoe to define a transition passage leading from the gap wherein flow is axial of the drum to the condensate return pipe where flow is substantially radial of the drum. The transition passage has a cross sectional area measured substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow that is substantially equal to or less than the area of the inlet gap, provides a smooth transition for the flow between the gap and the condensate return pipe and insures distributed flow through the syphon.

Abstract: A liquid pump for conveying sensitive materials from a first to a second location through a main duct. The pump has a first segment through which secondary liquid flows with the materials. An inlet orifice receiving primary liquid from a plenum has a convex or Coanda surface and injects primary liquid into the main duct downstream of the first segment. The primary liquid intercepts the convex surface substantially tangentially and is turned through an angle to one more closely resembling the angle of the longitudinal axis of the pump. The first segment has a fustro-conical control surface which diverges outwardly immediately adjacent the outlet end of the first segment. The inside diameter of the outlet end of the first segment immediately before the control surface is substantially identical to the inside diameter of the second segment immediately downstream of the Coanda surface. Liquid directing vanes are positioned in the plenum just prior to the inlet orifice.

Abstract: A valve control system for an air displacement type pump operates the inlet or outlet valve in accordance with the pressure differential between the inlet line and the main pump chamber or the outlet line and the main pump chamber respectively such that the inlet valve is open when the pressure in the pump chamber is less than the pressure in the inlet line and the outlet valve is opened when the pressure in the chamber is greater than the pressure in the outlet line.

Abstract: A method of producing ceramic composites of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 reinforced by shaped SiC particles preferably shaped as fine particles (random), platelets, whiskers or fibres by in situ production of SiC particles by heating a mixture of carbon particles of the desired shape with silicates of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 to a temperature above 1500.degree. C., convert the silicates and carbon to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiC to produce in situ SiC particles of the desired shape and provide a ceramic powder that may be densified by techniques such as hot pressing, isostatic pressing or sintering.

Abstract: A digital suspension for a wheeled vehicle incorporates digital hydraulic actuators at each wheel and includes a system for sensing lateral and longitudinal accelerations of a body portion of the vehicle and the position of each wheel relative to the body provides this information to a computer. The computer computes the forces required at each wheel and controls the digital hydraulic actuator at each wheel by adjusting in increments the force applied at each actuator between the wheel and the body to maintain the body portion of the vehicle in a substantially stable position.

Abstract: A plasma torch incorporated at plurality of arc forming chambers arranged symmetrically about an axis and each containing a first electrode. A common electrode cooperates with the electrode in each chamber to form an arc in each chamber and is provided with converging passages leading one from each chamber and converging into a common nozzle passage extending along the axis. A reactant feed passage opens into the common nozzle passage co-axial with the nozzle passage in a region of convergence of the converging passages to inject reactants into the center of the plasma jet formed in the nozzle passage in the direction of movement of the plasma jet through the nozzle passage.