Abstract: High concentrations of small (<4 microns) crystalline catalyst ingredients such as ZSM-5, low-soda exchanged Y-zeolite, ultra-stable Y-zeolite etc., can be incorporated into a durable matrix by use of binder formulations prepared from amorphous silica, alumina and zirconia, particularly those of colloidal dimensions. The binder formulations are slurried and associated with at least one active catalyst ingredient, which preferably is up to 60% ZSM-5. The resulting material is then spray-dryed and calcined to form binder matrices which are particularly resistant to attrition and particle density change.

Abstract: A pedal system equipped with braking apparatus which inhibits rotation of a pedal body about an axle when the pedal body is not engaged with the shoe of a cyclist. The brake system is released to permit normal pedal rotation when the shoe of a cyclist engages with the pedal body.

Abstract: An impulse rocket propellant is comprised of highly hydrated minearl salts such as boric acid hydrate HBO.sub.2.H.sub.2 O and a plaster forming agent comprising calcium oxide hydrate CaO.H.sub.2 O and sodium sulfate hydrate Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.10H.sub.2 O, all of which are compounded and intimately commingled with a heat conducting inorganic fiber such as glass wool. When these compounds are allowed to dry, loaded into suitable rocket devices, and instantaneously heated, the water of hydration of the hydrated mineral instantaneously vaporizes into steam which can be used to propel the rocket. The resulting unhydrated mineral salts are entrained within the steam. Upon coming into contact with the atmosphere, the steam condenses into fine water droplets into which the entrained salts dissolve and ionize.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for using a head having narrow write gap to write tracks of information on a tape for subsequent reading by other apparatus including apparatus having heads with a wide read gap. An inter track erase operation is performed prior to the writing operation. Density information is written on a plurality of tracks to indicate the flux reversal signal density used for the writing of user data elsewhere on the tape.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal system which attaches a cyclist's shoe to a bicycle pedal. The system consists of a cleat attached to the cyclist's shoe under the ball area of the foot. The cleat has two downward projections. These projections feature arcuate tracts for matingly engaging the cleat to a pedal body. The pedal body is shaped to matingly engage the cleat and contains a tensioned mechanism centered in the back of the pedal body. If a rotating force on the cleat exceeds a predetermiend level, a release of the shoe cleat from the pedal body occurs. If such rotating forces do not exceed said predetermined level, the shock or movement will be absorbed and the shoe cleat is returned to the optimum position in the center of the pedal body.

Abstract: In a reel to reel tape transport system for determining the radii of the reel to reel tape by generating a series of forward and reverse pulses from a brushless DC motor driving the reel to reel tape, generating a forward series of pulses when said tape is turning in the forward direction and a reverse series of pulses when the tape is turning in the reverse direction, using a state machine to determine a forward or reverse revolution of the tape despite tape reversals before the completion of the revolution, and a counter and decoder for decoding the output of the state machine to provide an accurate determination of one revolution of the brushless DC motor.

Abstract: Apparatus including a calculator that can also function as a horn button is provided for a motor vehicle. The apparatus is mounted on the center of the steering wheel and its downward depression actuates the horn circuit of the vehicle in the same manner as does a conventional horn button. At other times, the keys associated with the calculator portion of the provided apparatus may be operated to perform whatever calculations the operator may desire during periods of time in which the operator's attention is not required for the operation of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A portable cooking grill device is formed from two vertical posts removably attached to the upturned ends of a U-shaped base. The cooking surface of the device is a grill having a rod attached along its rear edge, and a plurality of parallel rods extending perpendicular thereto from front to back of the grill. Two braces attached to the grill extend diagonally downward and rearward from the grill. The vertical posts pass through the grill between adjacent parallel rods. The grill is held in place with respect to the vertical posts and base by the rod attached along the rear edge of the grill which seats against the back of the vertical posts, and by the distal ends of the diagonal braces being seated against the front of the vertical posts. A number of horizontal ribs may be spaced along the length of the vertical posts to provide better support for the braces.

Abstract: An integrated down converter and interdigital filter apparatus having a down converter and the interdigital filter mounted on the same printed circuit board and installed in the watertight housing. The housing of the interdigital filter is cut from sheet metal and a conductive surface on the printed circuit board as one side. A method for construction of the interdigital filter is also set forth.

Abstract: A device and method for transferring data from a microprocessor located in a transaction card through a card reader by emulating a prerecorded magnetic stripe on a conventional transaction car such as a credit or debit card. Data is sequentially produced by the microprocessor within the card and applied to a magnetic field generator which produces magnetic fields that emulate prerecorded data on a conventional magnetic stripe of a transaction card. This allows transfer of data from a microprocessor to standard card readers without the necessity of substantially modifying the card reader device. Circuitry is also provided for detecting the position and speed of movement of the card through the card reader to ensure that all of the data is transmitted from the microprocessor to the magnetic field generators within the scanning time of the card across read head of the card reader.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for maintaining the interlocked relationship of at least two relatively thin flat structural members positioned at right angles to each other. Bosses are provided on a notch on each element together with a spring means to receive and hold the other element in an interlocked state. The spring means comprises the material of a member intermediate a boss and a void formed in the material adjacent the boss.

Abstract: A process for removing toxic or hazardous substances from soils, sludges, sediments, clays, aqueous streams, and other non-hazardous materials comprises collecting the contaminated material, converting it to a slurry, adding one or more surfactants and/or alkaline agents to the slurry to free the toxic or hazardous substance(s) from the contaminated material and place it in the liquid phase of the slurry. Preferably, a modifier is added to the slurry in order to aid the concentration of the toxic substance in the liquid phase of the slurry. The concentrated toxic substance is then collected for disposal. Most preferably the concentration of the toxic substance is carried out in a froth flotation cell.

Abstract: Semiconducting metal silicide electromagnetic radiation sources and detectors have a thin film of semiconducting metal silicide grown or deposited on a silicon wafer. The metals are chosen from a group consisting of iron, iridium, manganese, chromium, rhenium, barium, calcium, magnesium and osmium. The detectors are intrinsic semiconductors and can be formed either as discrete devices, or monolithically on a silicon chip to provide an integrated detector or detector array. The semiconducting metal silicide devices are efficient detectors at wavelengths which mate with the transmission capabilities of certain optical fibers enhancing the combination of infra-red detectors and optical fiber transmission preveously known. Iron disilicide is useful as an infra-red radiation source and as an extrinsic detector as well.

Abstract: An antibody specific to trifluralin can be produced by first substituting a soluble, straight chain amino acid for a propyl group of .alpha.,.alpha., .alpha.-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N-N-dipropyl-p-toluidine. The trifluoro group at the 4 position, the nitro group at the 2 position and the other nitro group at the 6 position are left exposed. Thereafter, the resulting substitution product is conjugated, at the site of the substituted amino acid group, with a lysine-rich protein. The resulting compound is then used as an antigen to evoke an immune response in a host animal or antibody producing cell line. The antibody produced against the antigen is then harvested and used in an assay such as a radioimmunoassay or enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) to determine the presence and concentrations of trifluralin in agriculturally significant substances such as plant materials, soil and water or to otherwise test for trifluralin contamination of water, food and air.

Abstract: A system for displaying the occurrence and magnitude of stride forces produced by a sport participant in a sporting event having a first portable housing placed on the legs of the participant for sensing the stride force and a second portable housing located elsewhere on the body of the participant for receiving the force signals from each portable sensor located on the legs of the participant and for storing that information or for transmitting it to a remote location.

Abstract: A fire starter material is comprised of a mixture of magnesium and at least one heat-processable polymeric material. It can also be comprised of a mixture of magnesium and calcium carbonate or a mixture of magnesium, calcium carbonate and one or more heat processable polymeric materials. Binders such as waxes or resinous substances may also be present, especially in the presence of calcium carbonate. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the heat-processable polymeric material also serves as such a binder. The fire starter material can be formed by compacting the magnesium/heat-processable polymeric material into the desired shape under high pressures and temperature capable of heat processing the polymeric material.

Abstract: A satellite dish antenna having parabolic-shaped support ribs firmly engaging the sides of adjacent screen-mesh reflected petals along the entire longitudinal length of each petal. Each support rib having an upper reflective surface lying in the same plane as the surface of the reflective petal, under which is located a locking arrangement which engages adjacent reflective petals the entire length of the petal.

Abstract: A sensor capable of being adapted to sporting protective gear for sensing forces or vibrations encountered by the protective gear. The device senses the forces and delivers a signal proportional to the sensed force into a circuit for determining the accumulative force encountered by the protective gear over a period of time. The determining circuit is capable of decrementing the accumulated force according to a predetermined source-time pattern in order to allow the user of the sporting protective gear to recover. The accumulated force is sensed and as decremented is suitably displayed.

Abstract: An improved reaction time and force feedback system including a first portable housing for placement on the limb of a sporting participant for detecting the time and magnitude of force incurred by the limb during a sporting activity. A second portable housing is located on the body of the participant and receives signals proportional to the magnitude of force and time from the first portable housing in order to transmit the magnitude and time information to a remote location. At the remote location is located a central control which is capable of receiving the transmitted information and displaying that information.