Abstract: MEMS structure and a method of fabricating them from ultrananocrystalline diamond films having average grain sizes of less than about 10 nm and feature resolution of less than about one micron . The MEMS structures are made by contacting carbon dimer species with an oxide substrate forming a carbide layer on the surface onto which ultrananocrystalline diamond having average grain sizes of less than about 10 nm is deposited. Thereafter, microfabrication process are used to form a structure of predetermined shape having a feature resolution of less than about one micron.

Abstract: A novel NMR principal detector element of the present invention comprises a NMR-active inductor in a radio frequency (RF) resonance circuit, and mitigates the distortions in a static magnetic field caused by the introduction of a toroid cavity NMR detector. The RF resonance circuit includes a novel principal detector element, capacitor elements, and a sample chamber (the cavity). The novel principal detector element defines the NMR active portion of the inductance of the electronic resonance circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, the novel principal detector element includes two hemispheres connected by a central rod. The central rod can be of any length and diameter, and the hemispheres can be of any diameter. A typical embodiment of the invention would include a rod that is 2 cm long having a diameter of 1 mm, and hemispheres having a diameter of 5 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a frame carried by an elongated and laterally extending bar and having mounted thereon a first pair of rotatable trash wheels and a second pair of rotatable trash wheels longitudinally spaced behind the first pair of rotatable trash wheels and forward of a furrow opener. The first pair of rotatable trash wheels is angularly disposed toward each other forming a first angle therebetween and staggered such that one rotatable trash wheel contacts soil forward of the other rotatable trash wheel. The second pair of rotatable trash wheels is angularly disposed toward each other forming a second angle therebetween greater than the first angle. The apparatus cuts and clears trash from minimally and untilled soil.

Abstract: A superconducting fault current controller/current controller employs a superconducting-shielded core reactor (SSCR) with a variable impedance in a secondary circuit to control current in a primary circuit such as an electrical distribution system. In a second embodiment, a variable current source is employed in a secondary circuit of an SSCR to control current in the primary circuit. In a third embodiment, both a variable impedance in one secondary circuit and a variable current source in a second circuit of an SSCR are employed for separate and independent control of current in the primary circuit.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The cell has an intermetallic negative electrode of Cu6-xMxSn5, wherein x is ≦3 and M is one or more metals including Si and a positive electrode containing Li in which Li is shuttled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode during charge and discharge to form a lithiated intermetallic negative electrode during charge. The voltage of the electrochemical cell is controlled during the charge portion of the charge-discharge cycles so that the potential of the lithiated intermetallic negative electrode in the fully charged electrochemical cell is less than 0.2 V but greater than 0 V versus metallic lithium.

Abstract: A device and method for separating water into hydrogen and oxygen is disclosed. A first substantially gas impervious solid electron-conducting membrane for selectively passing hydrogen is provided and spaced from a second substantially gas impervious solid electron-conducting membrane for selectively passing oxygen. When steam is passed between the two membranes at disassociation temperatures the hydrogen from the disassociation of steam selectively and continuously passes through the first membrane and oxygen selectively and continuously passes through the second membrane, thereby continuously driving the disassociation of steam producing hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A gas sensor for detection of oxidizing and reducing gases, including O2, CO2, CO, and H2, monitors the partial pressure of a gas to be detected by measuring the temperature rise of an oxide-thin-film-coated metallic line in response to an applied electrical current. For a fixed input power, the temperature rise of the metallic line is inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity of the oxide coating. The oxide coating contains multi-valent cation species that change their valence, and hence the oxygen stoichiometry of the coating, in response to changes in the partial pressure of the detected gas. Since the thermal conductivity of the coating is dependent on its oxygen stoichiometry, the temperature rise of the metallic line depends on the partial pressure of the detected gas. Nanocrystalline (<100 nm grain size) oxide coatings yield faster sensor response times than conventional larger-grained coatings due to faster oxygen diffusion along grain boundaries rather than through grain interiors.

Abstract: A lithium metal oxide positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell is disclosed. The cell is prepared in its initial discharged state and has a general formula xLiMO2.(1−x)Li2M′O3 in which 0<x<1, and where M is one or more ion with an average trivalent oxidation state and with at least one ion being Mn or Ni, and where M′ is one or more ion with an average tetravalent oxidation state. Complete cells or batteries are disclosed with anode, cathode and electrolyte as are batteries of several cells connected in parallel or series or both.

Abstract: A lithium metal oxide positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell is disclosed. The cell is prepared in its initial discharged state and has a general formula xLiMO2.(1-x)Li2M′O3 in which 0<x<1, and where M is one or more trivalent ion with at least one ion being Mn or Ni, and where M′ is one or more tetravalent ion. Complete cells or batteries are disclosed with anode, cathode and electrolyte as are batteries of several cells connected in parallel or series or both.

Abstract: A method of fabricating high aspect ratio ceramic structures in which a selected portion of perovskite or perovskite-like crystalline material is exposed to a high energy ion beam for a time sufficient to cause the crystalline material contacted by the ion beam to have substantially parallel columnar defects. Then selected portions of the material having substantially parallel columnar defects are etched leaving material with and without substantially parallel columnar defects in a predetermined shape having high aspect ratios of not less than 2 to 1. Etching is accomplished by optical or PMMA lithography. There is also disclosed a structure of a ceramic which is superconducting at a temperature in the range of from about 10° K. to about 90° K. with substantially parallel columnar defects in which the smallest lateral dimension of the structure is less than about 5 microns, and the thickness of the structure is greater than 2 times the smallest lateral dimension of the structure.

Abstract: An ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) element formed in a cantilever configuration is used in a highly sensitive, ultra-small sensor for measuring acceleration, shock, vibration and static pressure over a wide dynamic range. The cantilever UNCD element may be used in combination with a single anode, with measurements made either optically or by capacitance. In another embodiment, the cantilever UNCD element is disposed between two anodes, with DC voltages applied to the two anodes. With a small AC modulated voltage applied to the UNCD cantilever element and because of the symmetry of the applied voltage and the anode-cathode gap distance in the Fowler-Nordheim equation, any change in the anode voltage ratio V1/V2 required to maintain a specified current ratio precisely matches any displacement of the UNCD cantilever element from equilibrium. By measuring changes in the anode voltage ratio required to maintain a specified current ratio, the deflection of the UNCD cantilever can be precisely determined.

Abstract: A method of separating a portion of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) from a mixture containing ABS and for separating a portion of ABS and polycarbonate (PC) from a mixture of plastics containing ABS and PC is disclosed. The method includes shredding and/or granulating the mixture of plastics containing ABS and PC to provide a selected particle size; sequentially dispersing the shredded mixture of plastics in a series aqueous solutions having different specific gravities and separating the floating fraction until the desired separation is obtained. Surface tension and pH are also variable to be controlled.

Abstract: A method of forming a biaxially aligned superconductor on a non-biaxially aligned substrate substantially chemically inert to the biaxially aligned superconductor comprising is disclosed. A non-biaxially aligned substrate chemically inert to the superconductor is provided and a biaxially aligned superconductor material is deposited directly on the non-biaxially aligned substrate. A method forming a plume of superconductor material and contacting the plume and the non-biaxially aligned substrate at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° to deposit a biaxially aligned superconductor on the non-biaxially aligned substrate is also disclosed. Various superconductors and substrates are illustrated.

Abstract: For use in the manufacture of gas tags such as employed in a nuclear reactor gas tagging failure detection system, a method for designing gas tagging compositions utilizes an analytical approach wherein the final composition of a first canister of tag gas as measured by a mass spectrometer is designated as node #1. Lattice locations of tag nodes in multi-dimensional space are then used in calculating the compositions of a node #2 and each subsequent node so as to maximize the distance of each node from any combination of tag components which might be indistinguishable from another tag composition in a reactor fuel assembly. Alternatively, the measured compositions of tag gas numbers 1 and 2 may be used to fix the locations of nodes 1 and 2, with the locations of nodes 3-N then calculated for optimum tag gas composition.

Abstract: A thread-forming screw includes a tapered end portion having a tri-roundular cross section with three spaced flats and three threaded, round portions disposed in an alternating manner about the screw's periphery. The screw is formed by inserting a tapered blank between paired dies each having threads provided with undulations along their lengths corresponding to the circumference of the screw blank so as to form a trilobular thread on the screw which spirals around its circumference from one end of the cylindrical, untapered portion of the screw to the other in a direction opposite to that of the threads. While the untapered portion of the screw is provided with fully crested threads, the tapered end portion includes partially formed, or somewhat flattened, threads. The three spaced flats on the tapered end of the screw provide relief from contact with the workpiece into which the screw is driven for receiving deformed portions of the workpiece as the screw is driven into a workpiece aperture.

Abstract: A dual beam Fourier transform spectrometer produces two beams from a single infrared (IR) source. The beams are directed through a sample region, with one beam transiting a sample and the other beam transiting a reference cell. The sample and reference beams are then directed to a Michelson interferometer with cube corner retroflectors for optically cancelling the background signal from the separate sample and reference beams and for optically combining the sample and reference beams in an optically accurate and stable manner. The single combined beam, which contains the difference interferogram is directed to a single detector.

Abstract: A superconductor comprised of a polycrystalline metal oxide such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-X (where 0<.times.<0.5) is capable of accommodating very large current densities. By aligning the two-dimensional Cu--O layers which carry the current in the superconducting state in the a- and b-directions, i.e., within the basal plane, a high degree of crystalline axes alignment is provided between adjacent grains permitting the metal oxide material to accommodate high current densities. The orthorhombic crystalline particles have a tendency to lie down on one of the longer sides, i.e., on the a- or b-direction. Aligning the crystals in this orientation is accomplished by mechanical working of the material such as by extrusion, tape casting or slip casting, provided a single crystal powder is used as a starting material, to provide a highly oriented, e.g., approximately 90% of the crystal particles have a common orientation, superconducting matrix capable of supporting large current densities.

Abstract: An arched tubular frame for building construction includes a plurality of box beams comprised of double edge abutting, welded C-beams coupled together by internal nut/bolt combinations which are hidden from view and not exposed to the elements. The lower end of each vertical column is adapted for secure coupling to an anchor bolt extending upward from the building's base, or foundation, and permits an arched rectangular frame of modular construction to be pivotally raised to a generally vertical orientation and secured to the building's base. Sandwich-type foam core roof panels may be secured to an upper portion of the tubular frame.

Abstract: A lightweight, high speed roll-up door, or curtain, is unrolled from and rolled upon a cylindrical tube disposed above or within an opening in a wall by a drive motor/drive shaft combination coupled to one end of the tube. A non-rotating support shaft is attached to the other end of the tube which has disposed within respective ends thereof first and second coiled springs. A pair of belts are coupled to lower opposed ends of the door and are wrapped around respective pulleys positioned at each end of the tube and mounted to the drive and support shafts, respectively. With one end of each of the coiled springs coupled to the tube and each of the other ends respectively coupled to one of the pulleys, the coiled springs urge the two pulleys and the tube in opposite directions of rotation to maintain the door in a tightly stretched condition.