Abstract: A vacuum heat treating furnace includes a pressure vessel having a wall that defines a chamber wherein metal parts are vacuum heat treated. A fan is disposed inside the chamber for circulating a cooling gas therein. An electric motor is mounted externally to the pressure vessel for driving the fan. A drive shaft interconnects the fan and the electric motor through an opening in the wall of the pressure vessel. The vacuum furnace incorporates a dual seal for providing a vacuum-tight seal and a gas-tight seal where the drive shafts passes through the pressure vessel wall. The dual seal includes an inflatable seal surrounding the drive shaft for providing a vacuum-tight seal around said drive shaft when the furnace chamber is evacuated to a subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel alloy is disclosed having a unique combination of machinability, cold-formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance. The disclosed alloy has the following weight percent composition.______________________________________ wt. % ______________________________________ Carbon 0.08 max. Manganese 1.00 max. Silicon 1.00 max. Phosphorus 0.045 max. Sulfur 0.030-0.30 Chromium 10.5-11.75 Molybdenum 0.50 max. Copper 0.50 max. Nickel 0.50 max. Aluminum 0.10 max. Columbium 10 .times. C to 0.80 ______________________________________The balance is essentially iron. The novel alloy is particularly suited for components used in automotive fuel and exhaust systems. A number of such components made from the aforesaid alloy are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for mass-producing customized video recordings is provided with a plurality of video recording devices under the control of a central controller having access to a database of information pertaining to individuals for whom the recordings are to be made. The customized recordings are made by inserting personalized information within videotapes having pre-recorded information common to all of the customized recordings. The insert locations are signified by a predetermined video signal, such as a monochromatic or black video signal. During customization, a playback signal from each pre-recorded videotape is monitored to detect the presence of the predetermined video signal to locate successive insert locations. When an insert location is detected, the tape is cued to the first video frame of the insert location and the customization information is retrieved and recorded on the tape to replace the predetermined signal.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for noninvasive, stereotactic immobilization in reproducible position with a head ring providing a firm reference system, a mask consisting of several parts attached to the head ring. The mask is individually adapted to the anatomical contours of a patient, and has mask parts connected with one another as well as with the reference system. The connections enable adjusting the relative position of the mask parts to one another.

Abstract: Flocculated bacterial cells are utilized as high-density crop inoculants and delivery systems for one or more agriculturally beneficial microorganisms. The flocculated form of bacteria, such as Azospirillum and Rhizobium, possess superior survivability under storage, as a seed coating and mixed seed priming media. Other microorganisms may be co-flocculated with the aforementioned bacteria, thereby providing a crop inoculant for delivery of multiple agriculturally beneficial microorganisms.

Abstract: A folding spare seat for a vehicle, adapted to be arranged in a space about a side of a seat cushion of a main seat and adapted to be accommodated vertically in the space about the side of the seat cushion of the main seat after use of the spare seat, the spare seat comprising a seat cushion, a seat back foldably supported to the seat cushion of the spare seat, a support mechanism for pivotally supporting the seat cushion of the spare seat, the seat cushion of the spare seat pivotally supported to the support mechanism at points thereof which are spaced laterally from the side of the seat cushion of the main seat at an interval which is longer than a total width of the seat cushion and seat back of the spare seat in a folded state, and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the seat cushion of the spare seat to keep the seat cushion of the spare seat horizontal or vertical.

Abstract: A process for preparing a duplex ferromagnetic alloy article is disclosed. The process includes the step of providing an elongated intermediate form of a ferromagnetic alloy having a substantially fully martensitic structure. The martensitic intermediate form undergoes an aging heat treatment under conditions of temperature and time that are selected to cause controlled precipitation of austenite in the martensitic alloy. The aged article is then cold-worked to a final cross-sectional dimension, preferably in a single reduction step, to provide an anisotropic structure and a coercivity, H.sub.c, of at least 30 Oe.

Abstract: A device for transmitting intravenous fluids between a patient and an external reservoir is provided with a retractable needle for penetrating an intravenous fluid port or for directly penetrating the skin of the patient. The retractable needle renders the device safe for disposal after use. The device comprises a housing for holding the needle in a projecting configuration, a needle retainer for holding the needle in the projecting configuration against a rearward bias exerted by a spring, and an actuating member slidably positioned in the housing for releasing the needle retainer from the needle. An intravenous tubing connector is positioned to extend from the housing to provide a fluid connection between the needle and the external reservoir.

Abstract: A transcription control element is provided for controlling gene expression in myogenic cells. The transcription control element comprises an isolated DNA segment having an enhancer activity in cultured cells and in non-cultured myogenic cells. The transcription control element is isolated from upstream regions of genes encoding bHLH myogenic regulatory proteins. Specifically, an enhancer element from the upstream region of human myoD and an enhancer element from the upstream region of a quail qmf1 are provided. These myoblast-specific transcription control elements are capable of significantly increasing the levels of gene expression in myogenic cells and are intended to be applied in gene therapy, using myoblast transfer and microinjection techniques, wherein myoblast-specific gene expression is desired or required.

Abstract: A cabling system for an enterprise having multiple, remotely located work sites or branch offices is described. Each work site has a plurality of workstations that are interconnected in a computer and/or communication network and the cabling system includes a plurality of cabling kits that are prefabricated for installation. Each cabling kit includes a prefabricated equipment rack, at least one cable interconnection device mounted on the equipment rack for providing an interconnection to a centralized network or communication system device, a plurality of distribution outlets, each located at one of the workstations, and a plurality of multiconductor distribution cables formed in lengths dimensioned according to the physical layout of a work site for interconnecting the cable interconnection device and the distribution outlets. Except for the number and lengths of the multiconductor distribution cables, the cabling kits are configured identically for each of the work sites.

Abstract: A precipitation hardenable, martensitic stainless steel alloy is disclosed consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about______________________________________ C 0.03 max Mn 1.0 max Si 0.75 max P 0.040 max S 0.020 max Cr 10-13 Ni 10.5-11.6 Ti 1.5-1.8 Mo 0.25-1.5 Cu 0.95 max Al 0.25 max Nb 0.3 max B 0.010 max N 0.030 max ______________________________________the balance essentially iron. The disclosed alloy provides a unique combination of stress-corrosion cracking resistance, strength, and notch toughness.

Abstract: An electrode assembly comprising concentric tubular electrodes is provided for high temperature processing of materials. The electrode assembly is connected with a power supply that includes switching means for alternatively operating the electrode assembly in a transferred mode of operation, in a non-transferred mode of operation, or according to a controlled sequence of non-transferred and transferred modes of operation. The power supply system includes variable inductors, such as leakage-coupled reactors, for controlling the electrical power supplied to the electrodes for producing a DC arc. The electrode assembly can be incorporated into an arc furnace for processing waste material in the furnace. The electrode assembly is also suitable for use in the practice of in-situ vitrification and remediation of contaminated soil.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cleaning surfaces such as glass. A roller wringer mop having a sponge head uses cleaning fluid to clean a surface. To wring the cleaning fluid from the sponge head, an operator displaces the sponge head between two parallel roller segments. A wiper connected to the mop head wipes residual cleaning fluid from the surface that has been cleaned, and is connected to the mop head so as to avoid interfering with the wringing action of the sponge head.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail which incorporates a number of operating stations that serve to accomplish the various aspects of mail extraction, as well as the subsequent processing of extracted documents, and which are operatively associated with one another to serially process envelopes and extracted documents in continuous fashion and substantially independent of their characteristic features. To this end, the operating stations of the apparatus are configured to be as independent as possible of the characteristics of the envelopes and their contents so that envelopes and contents of varied characteristics can be effectively handled by the apparatus without requiring any significant adjustments.

Abstract: To identify the orientation of specified documents, such as checks bearing magnetic ink markings, steps are taken to magnetize ink markings associated with the document, and to then detect magnetized ink markings on the document to develop electrical signals which can then be subjected to processing for identifying the orientation of the document based upon certain preestablished criteria. The result is a stand-alone device adapted to operate upon documents which are contained within envelopes to be subjected to an extraction procedure, prior to extraction from the envelopes, achieving a pre-processing of envelopes to identify those which contain the specified documents, and the orientation of the identified documents. The device is similarly adapted to operate upon the extracted documents, to identify those requiring special handling, and their orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for detecting and sorting a document containing an address change request from a group of documents. The apparatus includes a document transport for conveying the document along a selected path of movement. An image scanner positioned along the selected path is provided for reading an image of the document or of a selected area on the document. The image scanner provides density levels corresponding to discrete areas on the document. An image processor determines a set of density levels corresponding to a test line passing through the selected area on the document. Density level transitions are detected along the selected line when two adjacent areas on the document have substantially different density levels. If a sufficient number of density level transitions are detected along the selected line, the document is sorted from the group of documents.

Abstract: The present invention comprises novel superconducting materials exhibiting superconductivity at temperatures exceeding 90 K. with chemical formula Tl.sub.a Pb.sub.b Ca.sub.c Sr.sub.d R.sub.e Cu.sub.f O.sub.g where R=Y or the lanthanide rare earth elements and where 0.3.ltoreq.a,b.ltoreq.0.7, 0.05.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1.1,2-c.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.1.95, 0.05.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.1, 1.9.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.2.1 and 6.5.ltoreq.g.ltoreq.7.5. These compounds, which are layered perovskite-like oxides, exhibit a high chemical stability, form readily into nearly single phase, do not require adjustment of oxygen stoichiometry after synthesis and compositions may be chosen allowing superconductivity at temperatures exceeding 100 K. A preferred form of the superconducting materials is the range of compositions given by the chemical formulaTl.sub.0.5+x Pb.sub.0.5-x Ca.sub.1-y Sr.sub.2-z R.sub.y+z Cu.sub.2 O.sub.7.+-..delta.where 0.ltoreq.x, 8.ltoreq.0.3, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.95, 0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1-y of which a preferred form isTl.sub.0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for magnetic treatment of liquids by concentrating primarily south pole magnetic fields on the liquids to provide descaling and deliming properties thereto.One embodiment of the invention generally comprises a cylindrical casing of molded plastic or the like for surrounding a pipe through which a liquid is passed. The casing includes plural magnets arranged around the periphery of the pipe in such a manner that their north poles are directed radially outwardly from the central axis of the pipe and their south poles are directed radially inwardly toward the central axis in order to concentrate the south pole magnetic fields more strongly upon the fluid. In an alternate embodiment, the orientation of the poles has been reversed such that the liquid is subjected to predominantly north pole magnetic fields.