Abstract: It has been discovered that a glass envelope at elevated temperature containing a noble gas will result in electrons being evolved. The phenomenon has been employed to construct both argon and helium detectors for gas chromatography.

Abstract: A novel iron based alloy is disclosed which is characterized by high resistance to wear and corrosion. The alloy consists essentially of 0 to 40% chromium, 1 to 40% molybdenum, 1 to 15% copper, 0.2 to 5% boron, and 0.01 to 2% carbon; the balance being incidental impurities and at least 30% iron, with the molydenum being at least 10% if the boron is greater than 2%. The alloy is preferably in the form of a powder for thermal spraying, and coatings produced thereby may have an amorphous structure.

Abstract: A vacuum plasma spray system includes a spray chamber, a motor-driven manipulator including a drive mechanism and a respective control system, and a plasma gun mounted on the manipulator in the spray chamber. The drive mechanism comprises three drive groups of which a first drive group facilitates upward and downward motion of the gun for adjusting spray distance and second and third drive groups facilitate swiveling motions of the gun around horizontal axes. The manipulator has a hermetically sealed outer housing and a hermetically sealed inner housing contained in the outer housing. The inner housing contains the second and third drive groups, protrudes into the chamber and carries the gun. The first drive group is arranged at least partially in the outer housing to effect lifting or lowering of the inner housing thereby adjusting spray distance.

Abstract: A direct-imaging, monochromatic electron microscope includes an objective lens for collecting a substantial portion of emitted electrons from an area across a sample surface, a first transfer lens for collimating the electrons into beams, an energy filter receptive of the beams to transit monochromatic beams, and a second transfer lens receptive of the monochromatic beams for refocusing the same through a projection lens to effect an image of the plurality of spots in a projection plane. The objective lens is formed of a magnetic toroidal coil having a central hole therein with a dish-shaped magnetically permeable member cupped coaxially over the toroidal coil. The permeable member has a neck portion protruding through the central hole. The sample surface is interposed proximate the objective lens between the objective lens and the energy filter.

Abstract: An energy analyzer for electrons comprises three spherically configured cylindrically symmetric members. An outer member is a hollow spherical section having a first inlet edge. A first inner member is a spherical portion disposed concentrically within the outer member with a defined space therebetween, and has a second inlet edge cooperative with the first inlet edge to form an inlet opening receptive of electrons from a conical lens. A second inner member is a spherical segment disposed concentrically within the outer member and has a second outlet edge cooperative with a first outlet edge of the first inner member to define an exit slot for egress of charged particles having selected trajectories in the defined space. A cylindrical detector is situated within the spherical members for detecting the egressed charged particles. The inlet opening and the exit slot are such that the angle subtended by the selected trajectories between the inlet opening and the exit slot is preferably between about 0.8.pi.

Abstract: A predetermined volume of a gaseous mixture of combustion products component is collected in a gas mixer up to a preselected pressure. A portion of the mixture is discharged successively through the tubular column and a sample chamber for a predetermined time period with the mixture being initially at the preselected pressure in the volume. Detection of delayed output of gas constituents from the column provides an analysis of constituents. The apparatus further comprises a furnace, a magazine for holding the plurality of test samples, a transfer device connected to the furnace for sequentially transferring a successive sample from the magazine to the furnace, and a furnace seal integral with the transfer device for temporal sealing of the furnace from ambient atmosphere after the sample is transferred to the furnace until subsequent transferral.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading workpieces without exposure of a work chamber to the atmosphere comprises a transfer chamber formed in part by an inner plate section which serves as a cover plate with an inner port therethrough to the work chamber. An entry plate section has an entry port therethrough to the atmosphere, is spaced laterally from the inner port and has a door. A plurality of tubular loading members are equally spaced arcuately in a wheel member mounted in the transfer chamber. Each loading member is displaceable at a loading site between a normal position in the wheel in which each loading member is relocatable laterally by the wheel, and a sealed position proximate the entry port. A seal between the entry plate section and the loading member in its sealed position allows access of a workpiece to the loading cylinder through the entry port without exposing the remainder of the transfer chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Described is a gas mixer preferentially employed for mixing at least two gas flows. The gas mixer comprises a first filter adapted to have a first gas flow directed therethrough from a first surface to a second surface thereof. A second gas flow is directed along the second surface of the filter so as to entrain the first gas exiting therefrom. The resulting gas mixture is subsequently caused to pass through a second filter and, if need be, through one or more additional filters.

Abstract: An arc plasma generating system includes components for adjusting spacing between the cathode and the anode. A piston affixed to the cathode is slidingly positioned in a cylinder partitioning therein a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is receptive of discharged cooling fluid at reduced pressure. A first valve selectively infuses pressurized control fluid into the second chamber such as to move the piston against the reduced pressure and thereby move the cathode axially in a first direction. A second valve selectively discharges the control fluid from the second chamber such that the reduced pressure in the first chamber moves the piston opposite the first direction. Telescoping tubing affixed between the piston and the end wall of the cylinder is located within the cylinder and conveys cooling fluid to the cathode. A flexible electrical cable connected between the cathode and a source of arc current is located within the cylinder member such as to be cooled by fluid therein.

Abstract: A plasma generating system comprises a plasma gun including a hollow cylindrical anode member, a hollow cylindrical intermediate member electrically isolated from and juxtaposed coaxially with the anode member to form a plasma-forming gas passage through the intermediate member and the anode member, and an axially movable cathode member. The intermediate member comprises tubular segments separated by resilient insulating spacing rings held in compression. Arc radiation is blocked from the spacer rings by meanders in the inter-segment slots and further by ceramic barrier rings. An electric motor or pneumatic piston responsive to a measurement of arc voltage continually adjusts the axial position of the cathode tip relative to the anode nozzle so as to maintain a predetermined arc voltage.

Abstract: An induction plasma system comprises a torch and an induction coil. A sample substance is injected into the plasma at an axial position that is adjustable while the plasma is being energized. The plasma-forming gas flows through the induction coil prior to passing through the plasma torch. A piezoelectric crystal is used for initiating the plasma. An oscillator network generates radio frequency power at a first frequency, and an output LC network that includes the induction coil is tuned to a second frequency higher than the first frequency. Means for maintaining constant power to the plasma includes an AC circuit for duty cycling AC power input to a DC power supply in response to a feedback signal relative to the rectified voltage. Thus a change in the rectified voltage effects an inverse change in the duty cycling such as to nullify the change in the rectified voltage.

Abstract: A composite wire useful for arc gun spraying is formed of an alloy sheath comprising iron, nickel, or cobalt, and a core comprising boron-containing powder of boron and/or boron carbide sufficiently fine in size such that the boron is substantially dissolved in a coating produced by arc gun spraying the composite wire. Where the boron substance includes boron, the core should further comprise fine carbon powder less than 20 microns in size blended with the boron powder. Preferably a substantial portion of the boron-containing powder is less than 20 microns. In a particularly desirable embodiment, the sheath is formed of mild steel and the core comprises boron carbide and an alloy powder such as ferromolybdenum.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an energy analysis and detection system for surface chemical analysis which includes an input lens system for receiving charged particles, said lens system having a first lens stage for definition of analysis area and angular acceptance and a second lens stage for energy adjustment with an aperture assembly interposed between the first lens stage and second lens stage, a spherical capacitor energy analyzer for receiving the output from the input lens system and performing spectroscopic energy resolution, and a detector assembly for receiving the output from the spherical capacitor energy analyzer and detecting the charged particles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus for monitoring epitaxial crystalline growth mounted in a vacuum chamber, said apparatus including a support for mounting a single crystal substrate surface, a device for applying epitaxial material to the substrate surface, a device for impinging an electron beam upon the substrate surface to emit secondary electrons therefrom, and a system for detecting the secondary electrons emitted and for outputting a corresponding signal.

Abstract: In a system and a method for measuring the rate at which powdered material flows from a container wherein a first analog signal representing the weight of the container is produced, the analog signal is differentiated to obtain a second signal corresponding to the flow rate and the second signal is passed through an adaptive filter. The adaptive filter includes a first low pass filter having a first time constant for producing a third signal and a second low-pass filter to produce a fourth signal.

Abstract: A thermal spray material has been developed that includes a composite powder comprising chromium carbide or chromium boride and copper or copper alloy in the form of kernels of the chromium carbide or boride clad with the copper or copper alloy. Preferably the thermal spray material includes a self-fluxing alloy composition.

Abstract: A novel alloy is disclosed which is characterized by high resistance to wear and corrosion. The alloy consists essentially of 2 to 25% chromium, 5 to 30% molybdenum, 3 to 15% tungsten, 2 to 8% copper, 2 to 8% boron, and 0.2 to 2% carbon; the balance being incidental impurities and at least 30% of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and combinations thereof, with the total of molybdenum and tungsten being at least 16%. The alloy is preferably in the form of a powder for thermal spraying, and coating produced thereby generally have an amorphous structure.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a plasma gun is disclosed, containing an annular coolant passage for extended nozzle life, providing for convenient and low cost replacement of the nozzle member and for improved gun operation. To form the assembly a jacket is disposed about the nozzle member in a predetermined coaxial position. An inner surface of the jacket cooperates with the cylindrical exteriority of the nozzle to define an annular coolant passage. The jacket and the nozzle are in relative slidable relationship such that the nozzle member is removable and replaceable forwardly with respect to the jacket, forwardly being in respect to the direction of the plasma flame. A flange at the forward end of the nozzle member retains the nozzle member from sliding rearward from the predetermined position with respect to the jacket. The jacket has coolant ports for the coolant connecting with the annular passage. A seal such as an O-ring is interposed between the rear portion of the nozzle and the jacket.

Abstract: The position sensor senses the position of a movable finger in relation to a cooperating finger. The position sensor includes a variable reactance device including two cooperating relatively movable reactance elements. One of the reactance elements is mechanically coupled to the movable finger and the other one of the reactance elements is mechanically coupled to a cooperating finger. The relative movement between the reactance elements is effective to vary the reactance of the variable reactance device. An oscillator circuit is connected with the variable reactance device so that the frequency of the oscillator circuit varies to provide a variable frequency output which represents the position of the movable finger with respect to the cooperating finger.

Abstract: A low expansion ceramic composition is represented by the formula Ca.sub.0.5 Ti.sub.2 P.sub.3 O.sub.12 in which up to 100 percent of the Ca is replaced by one or more of the other alkaline earth metals and alkali metals, the alkali metals being selected from the group consisting of Na, Li, K and combinations thereof and substituted in the ratio of two units of alkali metal for each unit of Ca replaced. Up to 100 percent of the Ti is replaced by one or more members selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, Nb, Ta and Cr. For each unit of Cr replacement an approximately equal unit of alkali metal is added. For each unit of Nb and/or Ta replacement an approximately equal unit of Na and/or K replaces a unit of Ca. Up to 100 percent of the P may be replaced by Si and/or S. The total of the amounts of Ca, other alkaline earth metals, Li, K, Ti, Sn, Nb, Ta and Cr is greater then zero. Preferably up to 100 percent of the Ca is replaced by Na, and up to 100 percent of the Ti is replaced by Zr or NaCr.