Abstract: Method of producing polysilazanes from precursors having Si-H, Si-N or Si-Si bonds in the presence of a catalyst effective to activate such bonds. The catalyst may be a metal complex, e.g. a carbonyl cluster, which is soluble in an organic solvent and is homogeneous or it may be a heterogeneous catalyst. Higher polymers, and/or less crosslinking and oligomer formation, and/or greater control over the product and/or faster reactions and/or greater yields result. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents and/or are solids which can be shaped. The products can be pyrolyzed to silicon nitride or used without pyrolysis.

Abstract: The invention is a therapeutic horseshoe (10) including an impact frame (12) for supporting a horse's foot and a cushioned insert (14) for nesting into an insert depression (16) formed in the upper surface (40 ) of the impact frame such that the insert (14) provides force absorption and kinetic energy return to a ringlike portion of the sole of the foot. The lower surface (50) of the impact frame includes a front slope (62) and a rear slope (64) which improve shock impact and step characteristics in the foot and are important in specifically preventing and alleviating symptoms of laminitis and navicular disease in horses. An alternate toe-in, toe-out shoe (80) is adapted for correction of unbalanced hoof conditions. The therapeutic horseshoe (10) and the toe-in, toe-out shoe (80) are ideal for use by horse professionals such as farriers, veterinarians and trainers. The shoes are also usable on healthy horses as a preventive measure against causes of lameness and as a racing speed enhancement.

Abstract: An imaging sensing system (10) has a laser light source (12). Steering mirrors (16), (18) and (22) are used with scanning mirror (20) to produce scanning of beam (24) in a line (26) across a workpiece (28). Beam (36) is reflected from the workpiece (28) and directed to a linear photodiode array (38) by the scanning mirror (20). The scanning mirror (20) is connected to a galvanometer (40) to move the beams (24) and (36), both for scanning the workpiece (28) and for supplying the scanned image in sequential fashion to individual linear diodes (42) in the array (38).

Abstract: Back rest having a semi-rigid frame having the shape, in longitudinal section, of a shallow S formed by an upper concave portion and a lower convex portion, a cervical support affixed to and projecting from the upper end of the frame, a thoracic support extending downwardly from the cervical support along the median line of the frame, a lumbo-sacral support extending downwardly from the thoracic support, said thoracic and lumbo-sacral supports being formed with a groove to receive bony spinal prominences, and a kidney support on each side of that frame, said supports being of foam material.

Abstract: A workpiece positioning mechanism (10, FIG. 1) includes a movable arm (12) having a plurality of joints (14). A pair of grippers (26 and 28) are movable toward and away from a semiconductor wafer boat (44). The grippers are held in position by a stop member (70, FIG. 4) when they engage the boat (44) and locked in an open position by prongs (86). A solenoid (30) is actuated to allow the grippers to move between their open and closed positions. Flexible bellows (22 and 94) and tubing (24) surround moving parts (e.g., 14, 62, 64, 66, 80) of the mechanism (10) to prevent contamination of the semiconductor wafers (52).

Abstract: A system (50) includes a labeling machine (52) and a digital data processing system (54) connected to the labeling machine (52). A cutter (56) of the labeling machine (52) has a shaft (58) with a mark (60), which is sensed by a sensor (62). The sensor (62) supplies shaft (58) information on line (64) to digital data processing system (54). The digital data processing system (54) supplies control signals on line (64) to feed roll (66) stepper motor (67). The digital data processing means (54) is also connected to an optical sensor (76) by line (78). The optical sensor (76) senses the position of position mark (74) on the labels (70), which is correlated with the position of shaft (58) in order to feed the labels (70) to the cutter (56) at the proper rate so that the labels (70) are always cut at the kerf (72) between each label (70).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for heat shrinking projecting edges of heat shrinkable (but unshrunken) film onto articles such as cylindrical containers. The film is tightly wrapped around the bodies of the articles and the overlapping ends are held together by glue. The projecting edges of the articles are then heat shrunk onto the shoulders and/or curved lower ends of the bodies as the containers are transported and are caused to spin while being transported. In so doing the hot air is blown in a direction such that it does not blow directly onto the glue at the side seams. This may be accomplished by using a circular, turret type transport and by having blowers which blow hot air obliquely, rather than radially at the articles. Where the articles are closely packed, each article acts to shield the next article when its side seam is parallel to the flow of hot air.

Abstract: A nutcracking apparatus (50) has a tube (56) dimensioned and configured to allow nuts to be propelled along the tube (56). An opening (58) spaced circumferentially around the tube (56) is angled to direct air along the propelled direction of the nuts. A blower (62) is connected to supply sufficient air to the openings (58) to create suction for pulling a nut into the tube (56) past the openings (58) and then to push the nut through the tube (56) after it has passed the openings (58). The nuts are propelled against a rotating impact roller (70), which cracks each nut and moves the cracked nut out of the path of the travel to prevent interference with a succeeding nut. Air from the tube (56) propels the nut shells through outlet (72) of chamber (68), while the nut meats are deposited on screen (74).

Abstract: An instantized blend of a major amount of a caseinate (sodium, calcium or a mixture of the two) and a minor amount of a soya protein is prepared. The soya protein is pre-instantized by blending with a surfactant such as lecithin, preferably by an incremental process in which a small amount of the soya protein is blended with the surfactant and the balance of the soya protein is added in small increments and blended before the next increment is added. The resulting pre-instantized soya protein is then blended with the caseinate by adding the latter to the soya protein in small increments with blending of each increment before the next increment is added. The instantized blend contains more than 75% caseinate and less than 25% but not less than 0.5% soya protein based on the quantity of soya protein and caseinate present.

Abstract: Cylindrical containers are fed by a star wheel or the like such that their sides come into tangential contact with a label-bearing vacuum drum having a resilient outer portion. A resilient roll-on pad is disposed opposite the vacuum drum and at a distance therefrom such that containers fed into tangential contact with the vacuum drum will be rotated (as viewed in the drawing) as they contact glue-containing labels held on the drum. The roll-on pad preferably has an outwardly slanting portion at its container-receiving end, and a length of contacting surface of about twice the diameter of the containers to be labeled. Accordingly, labels can be cut and fed onto the vacuum drum, after which glue is applied to the exposed surface thereof, and the containers fed between the vacuum drum and the roll-on pad to securely bond each severed label to a separate container in rapid succession.

Abstract: A variable delay memory system (200) has an addressable memory means (66-1) having a data input port and a data output port. A counter (206) is connected to supply a write address on bus (212) for storage of data supplied to the data input port on bus (64-1). A subtracter means (214) is connected to receive the write address as one input on bus (210) and a second input proportional to a desired delay time on bus (72-1). The subtracter means (214) is connected to supply its output as a read address on bus (216) for data stored in the memory means (66-1) to be supplied at the data output port on bus (76-1).

Abstract: Energetic copolymers having repeating mer units derived from different monomers, one or both of which have pendant energetic groups such as azido, nitro or nitrato groups. Copolymers have improved formulating characteristics compared to homopolymers of the energetic monomers; e.g., they are less crystalline or less viscous. Preferably the monomers are cyclic oxides having three to six atoms in the ring. The energetic monomers are preferably azido, nitro or nitrato derivatives of oxetane or THF. Copolymerization is preferably carried out by cationic polymerization using an adduct of the preinitiator precursor (e.g., 1,4-butane diol) and a catalyst suitable for cationic polymerization (e.g., boron trifluoride etherate) which is employed in stoichiometric proportion to the monomers and a low molecular weight, low polydispersity copolymer results. Certain novel monomers also are provided.

Abstract: Process for applying a protective coating to a metal substrate which provides a thermal barrier and a barrier against oxidation of the substrate. The coating material is a mixture of two metals M.sub.1 and M.sub.2, e.g., cerium (M.sub.1) and cobalt (M.sub.2), one of which when exposed to an atmosphere containing a low partial pressure of oxygen and at a high temperature forms a stable oxide, the other of which does not form a stable oxide under such conditions. A coating consisting of such a metal alloy or mixture is subjected to such conditions to produce an outer oxide layer of metal M.sub.1 and an inner metal layer of M.sub.2 alloyed with one or more components of the substrate. The oxide layer provides thermal and oxidation protection and the inner layer bonds the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system (50) has an array (52) of transducer elements (54-1 through 54-21) for receiving ultrasonic signals reflected from within an inhomogeneous object (16) being examined. The system (50) has a means (80, 84, 88, 94) connected to generate an image in response to the ultrasonic signals. A cross-correlator (70) is connected to compare the signals received by the transducer elements (54-1 through 54-21). An output addressing circuit (130) is connected to inhibit or otherwise modify gain of selected ones of the signals based on the comparison to reduce multipath ultrasonic wave interference, refraction or obstruction image distortion or degradation. A preferred ultrasonic imaging array (52) for this purpose and for time delay image distortion correction has a plurality of segmented, annular transducer elements (54-2 through 54-21). The elements (54-2 through 54-21) are formed as sectors of circles with substantially equal arc lengths.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for analyzing gases, especially respiratory gases for oxygen and carbon dioxide content, and for measuring pulmonary functions; such comprising a detector employing thermistors forming parts of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, one of which is in contact with a carrier gas, the other with a sample of the gas to be analyzed sandwiched between carrier gas in advance of and trailing the sample, the output of the detector being sensed by a recorder and transduced into a tracing; the gas to be analyzed being passed through a column or columns of adsorbent material which selectively retains certain components of the gas and releases them in a time ordered sequence; the test thermistor having its temperature varied in accordance with the composition of the gas; the adsorptive material being selected as to its composition and geometry to bring about separation and release of components of the gas in a time ordered sequence and within a very short period of time; the gas circuit being adapted to minimi

Abstract: Roaster for green coffee beans and other beans and nuts comprising a dish or tray, preferably of lightweight, disposable construction having a rim of sufficient height to contain the beans or nuts during roasting and a bottom which is formed with openings, the number, size and pattern of openings being such as to support the beans or nuts yet to allow free and uniform flow of hot air and gases from below the roaster through a mass of beans or nuts on the bottom. The tray bottom is preferably formed with downward extensions of the material, e.g., material resulting from piercing the tray bottom. Also, the same roaster but with a downwardly extending rim or legs to support the bottom above an open source of heat and a cover fitting the upper edge of the rim with an opening permitting escape of air and gases. Also, such roasters with a supply of green beans or nuts to be roasted and a disposable cover or enclosure enclosing the roaster and beans. The roaster is preferably made of metal, e.g., aluminum foil.

Abstract: Defiberized lignocellulosic material, such as wood, is treated with a liquid carrier containing an oxidizing agent (a per compound, a chlorate or a nitrate), and the wet mat thereof is subjected to pressure, and to heat for a sufficient period of time to cause an oxidative reaction among the fibers resulting in a strong interfiber bond. Where the oxidizing agent is a per compound, the pH of the mixture or lignocellulosic material and per compound is less than 7. Catalysts or other reaction modifying agents are employed if needed. By virtue of the enhanced interfiber bonding effect, paper sheets, such as liner board, which are usually formed of delignified cellulosic material, the fibers of which are highly refined, can be formed totally or partially of less expensive sources of material such as ground wood, semi-chemical or semi-mechanical lignocellulosic pulps without sacrifice of strength.

Abstract: Extracting anthocyanin-containing pulp from a vegetable source with sulfur dioxide to form an extract, treating the extract with enzymes to reduce suspended solids, reducing the sulfur dioxide content of the extract, acidifying and recovering the anthocyanin by ion exchange resin.

Abstract: Machine for transporting and stacking cartons loaded with containers comprising two transport systems one above the other with restraining means to restrain motion of each loaded carton on one or the other or both systems, and pusher means which releases the restrained carton or cartons and pushes both of them in unison and with one above the other to a delivery point where the upper carton is deposited on the lower carton.

Abstract: This ultrasonic imaging apparatus has an array (44, 52 or 100) of transducer elements (44, 50 or 104) for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency (fc1) into an object (12) to be analyzed through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object. A means (150, 116-1 through 116-X and 120-1 through 120-X) is connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from the array (44, 52 or 104) in a stepped array mode. A means (150, 116-1 through 116-X and 120-1 through 120-X) is connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from the array (44, 52 or 104) in an angle scanning mode. There is a means (150, 128-1 through 128-X) for focusing the transmitted signals at a desired depth within the object (12). The reflected signals sensed by the apparatus have a second center frequency (fc2) less than the first center frequency (fc1) as a result of signal attenuation by the object (12).