Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting apparatus is provided wherein the perforated trays are divided into portions by a lattice-like pattern of downcomers which deliver liquid to central regions of the tray portions immediately below them. An odd number, X, for example three parallel downcomers which are at right angles to an even number or X−1, for example two parallel downcomers are provided so that adjacent trays be turned at right angles so that the downcomers of the upper tray extend centrally between the downcomers of the lower tray. The downcomers reduce stagnant liquid regions, distribute the liquid more evenly on the trays and allow longer flow paths to be provided on the trays.

Abstract: An optical, image producing device of the Camera Lucidas type is provided wherein the panel on which the optical image is superimposed may be supported at different angles of inclination on a base, to which a mirror assembly carrying column is rigidly attached, so that the inclination of the panel can be adjusted allowing the device to be used tilted to observe an object at different elevations. The column has a viewing aperture which is wide enough for an image to be viewed simultaneously by both eyes to give a panoramic view.

Abstract: A liquid/gas contacting apparatus is provided wherein the perforated trays have an upper liquid repellent layer of a fluorocarbon polymer, to increase, and spread, liquid flow over the tray, and a rough underside for bursting any bubbles of any spray there against. Ridges are provided forming chevron patterns between perforations in the trays to deflect liquid towards the casing sides and remove sediment therefrom.

Abstract: A ladder-upright-mountable, paint tray assembly is provided wherein at least one bracket assembly is provided on the underside of upper, paint draining portion of the paint tray assembly. Therefor each bracket assembly is a sliding fit on the ladder upright and hooks over a portion of a ladder rung adjacent that upright. A central bracket assembly may be provided alone or in combination with two side bracket assemblies. In other embodiments only two side brackets are provided. Pairs of paint container wall members may also be provided, aligned with the bracket assemblies, for the ladder upright to be slidably retained therein.

Abstract: A stirrup assembly for securing a cargo having upper and lower pairs of opposed, ball headed studs, extending laterally from each side of a cylindrical, securing stud, has a side member for attachment of a cargo to, for example, the side wall of a cargo bay of a space shuttle. Two upper U-shaped stirrups are attached to an upper portion of the side member. The upper U-shaped of the stirrups have flared entries for receiving the ball heads of the upper studs and have fixed resilient seats, as well as a carriage spring like contact for the ball stud shaft. Two lower U-shaped stirrups are spaced across, and attached to, a lower portion of the side members. The U-shapes of the lower stirrups also have flared entries for receiving the ball heads of the lower studs. Each lower U-shaped stirrup has a spring loaded ball head retaining lever pivotally attached to that stirrup so as to be depressed by, and swung around, that ball head from the undepressed position.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting device is provided having increased gas-liquid flow rate capacity. Each perforated tray is provided with an upstream downcomer in addition to, and immediately adjacent to the conventional downcomer which in this device forms a downstream downcomer. The upstream downcomer is provided with a perforated plate sealing the lower end at a height above the froth of the tray below.

Abstract: An orbital replacement unit electrical connector assembly is provided which is releasably attachable to a threaded bore of a target area of a support structure having at leat one first electrical connector and nut mounted thereon. The orbital replacement unit includes a casing in which a base panel housing is mounted together with a threaded shaft for engagement with the nut. A spring loaded transfer mechanism is provided between the shaft and the base panel which has at least one second electrical connector for mating with the first electrical connector. The spring loaded transfer mechanism serves to apply a disconnecting load at the interface between the shaft and the base panel to align the threaded shaft with the nut. Rotation of the aligned threaded shaft causes a second load to be applied for aligning the second electrical connector with the first electrical connector as the threaded shaft is screwed into the nut.

Abstract: A single step process for the oxidation of an olefin to its respective .alpha.-,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid is described. The olefin in vapor form is reacted with oxygen in the presence of a noble metal oxidation catalyst on a hydrophobic support and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A process for removing volatile organic compounds such as methanol from wastewater comprising first stripping the organic compound from water and then oxidizing the organic compound in the gaseous phase using a hydrophobic catalyst, to form harmless reaction products.

Abstract: A thermally-releasable-sample collecting device is provided comprising a pistol-shaped casing, a blunt ended probe in the front end of the casing barrel, an adsorber tube locating collar in a rear end of the casing barrel, and an adsorber tube slidably located in the collar and having an open ended, sample adsorber end portion in a central portion of a gas passage extending through the probe. The adsorber tube has a closed rear end and gas ports which are located by a spring loaded plunger in a first position for drawing air through the probe into the adsorber tube, and a second position where carrier gas passes along the adsorber tube, to entrain thermally released sample, while the sample adsorber end portion is protruding from the probe into the heated entry of an analyzer.

Abstract: An alignment lever is provided for aligning a load item with respect to a target. The alignment lever has a body which has a V-shaped alignment seat. The body is pivotally mounted to displace the seat through an arc of about 45.degree.. A plurality of these alignment levers are used to provide an alignment assembly that is effective for aligning a load item with respect to a target area as the load item moves toward the target area. The alignment levers are located at spaced locations about the perimeter of the target area and serve to provide a target zone which is larger than the target area. An orbital replacement unit is provided which is releasably attachable to a target area of a support structure in which a first electrical connector and nut are mounted in a predetermined spaced relationship. The orbital replacement unit includes a housing in which a threaded shaft is mounted for engagement with the nut.

Abstract: A stacked permeable membrane envelope assembly comprises two clamping plates with spaced, permeable membrane envelope assemblies clamped between them on frames. Each membrane envelope comprises two membrane covered, perforated plates clamped together to provide inner permeate chambers and outer feed fluid passages. Fluid distributing and permeable membrane sealing collars are provided comprising two annular plates with a radially scalloped, stiff-spring-like, channel separator ring located between them. The annular plates seal the membranes against the dished plates around feed fluid passages through the envelope assemblies while the radial scallops form passages for fluid to flow between adjacent membrane envelopes.

Abstract: Halogenation of Udel (trademark) and Radel (trademark) polysulfone occurs adily by electrophilic substitution. The reactive substitution position is situated ortho- to the aryl ether linkage in the Bisphenol-A portion of the repeat units. Halogenated polysulfones are obtained by reaction of the polymer with elemental halogen. Thus, a solution of Udel polysulfone in chloroform, treated with excess bromine at room temperature, gives dibrominated polysulfone III in high yield. The degree of substitution after 18-24 hours is typically 1.80 to 2.05 by bromine analysis. Similar results are obtained by reaction of the polymer with elemental chlorine. Lower degrees of substitution are obtained with shorter reaction times or using lesser amounts of halogen.

Abstract: A simple but precise procedure for measuring fish freshness in terms of trimethylamine (TMA) headspace concentration of a fish sample is provided based on air sampling the headspace with Carbotrap.RTM. or Tenax.RTM. sorbent tubes and subsequent thermal desorption and gas chromatographic analysis. The sampling and analysis are completed in less than five minutes. Fish freshness as determined by the TMA headspace concentration is consistent with the grading estimated by organoleptic tests, but the instrumental method provides a more objective and quantitative assessment of quality and an estimation of the post mortem age of the fish.

Abstract: A non-pressure-dependancy infrared absorption spectra recording, sample holder comprises a sample holder having an infrared light beam transmitting passage, two windows of infrared light transmitting material in the passage in face-to-face contact, with at least one window having an inner surface portion contoured to provide between the windows a sample space shaped to provide adjacent light beam paths which are different in length and a clamp for resiliently clamping the windows in the sample holder. A deformable sample is lightly compressed to fill the sample space, and an infrared light beam is passed through the sample. The adjacent light beam paths being of different lengths avoids optical interference fringes so that absorption spectra of the sample can be recorded.

Abstract: An infrared absorption spectra recording, high pressure sample holder comprises a gasket for high compression between two diamond anvils, and an infrared light beam transmitting material partially filling a light passage through the gasket at a position between the two anvils to leave an infrared light beam transmitting, sample cavity adjacent one anvil. The surface of the filling is shaped, e.g. dished so that an infrared light beam passing through the sample will have light paths of different lengths, thereby avoiding optical interference fringes.

Abstract: The equipment and calibration of a luminance and image analysis device is ovided for acquiring and interpreting calibrated images. The device is comprised of a solid state video camera with V-lambda (photopic) correction filter for acquiring light (luminance) and spatial information from a scene and a personal computer with image capture board for storing and analyzing these data. From the acquired spatial-luminance information the software may, for example, predict Relative Visual Performance, or RVP. Essentially, the RVP is computed on the basis of three stimulus variables contained in a captured image; the age dependent adaptation luminance and apparent contrast of the target against its background, and the apparent size of the target. The device is not limited to assessments of RVP, but can acquire and process images according to any set of algorithms where light (luminance) and size information is required. The device is capable of providing information for almost every vision algorithm.

Abstract: An AC/DC converter is provided, suitable for use in an advanced single phase, sine wave voltage, high frequency power distribution system, such as that used on a 20 kHz Space Station Primary Electrical Power Distribution System. The converter comprises a transformer, a resonant network, a current controler, a diode rectifier and an output filter. The voltage source is converted into a sinusoidal current source. The output of this current source is rectified by the diode rectifier and is controlled by the current controller. The controlled rectified current is then filtered by the output filter to obtain a constant voltage across the load.

Abstract: A window glaze cleaning device comprises an outer frame and an inner frame which have magnets attached so that when they are placed face-to-face on opposite glazings of a window, the outer frame can be moved, by movement of the inner frame, over the outer glazing. The frames have bearings, e.g. air bearings to reduce friction, and the outer frame, which is counter-weighted, has nozzles for spraying cleaning liquid on to the outer glazing, a scrubber which may be positioned for cleaning the outer glazing, and a wiper blade which may be positioned for removing the cleaning liquid therefrom as is done in conventional window cleaning. The outer frame is counter weighted by pulleys on rocker arms which move the outer frame away from the window when it is to be repositioned.

Abstract: The grapple fixture, with improved docking and engaging capabilities, is provided for use with, for example, a relocatable space station remote manipulator system. The grapple fixture is for use with an end effector having grappling capabilities and latching capabilities and which may include a force moment sensor which can cooperate with the arm in order to align the end effector with the grapple fixture without the aid of a grappling mechanism. The grapple fixture comprises a base, having a flange and a cylinder with an end effector abutment face, a plurality of end effector latching trunnions extending radially from the cylinder, a cone-shaped, grapple fixture aligning body with a cylindrical, end effector locating base portion attached to the abutment face, and a plurality of laterally extending, grapple fixture recess engaging, rounded shoulders spaced around the cylindrical base.