Abstract: A method of producing carbonyl fluoride by multiphoton decomposition of carbon dioxide-sulphur hexafluoride mixtures comprising irradiating gaseous carbon dioxide-sulphur hexafluoride mixtures in a reaction chamber at a pressure in the 10-50 Torr range with a laser beam at a frequency of about 944 wavenumbers and passing the material from the reaction chamber after irradiation through a chemical processing stage to obtain a carbonyl fluoride product.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon-13 using CF.sub.2 HCl as the feedstock (substrate) material in which the CF.sub.2 HCl is enriched up to a first level of C-13 by I.R. laser photodissociation and then to 90-99% C-13 by a second exchange process. In the preferred arrangement the second stage is a chemical exchange process.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a product containing a minor proportion of pre-vitamin d.sub.2 or pre-vitamin d.sub.3 and a major proportion of tachysterol comprising irradiating the product with laser light in the wavelength range 330-360 nanometers to obtain a product containing approximately 95% pre-vitamin -D.sub.2 or pre-vitamin -D.sub.3, and heating this product to convert the pre-vitamin -D.sub.2 or pre-vitamin -D.sub.3 to vitamin -D.sub.2 or vitamin -D.sub.3.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon--13 by multiphoton decomposition of C.sub.3 F.sub.6, said material containing carbon--12 and carbon--13 isotopic species, comprising irradiating gaseous C.sub.3 F.sub.6 in a reaction chamber at a pressure below 10 Torr with a laser beam at a frequency in the range of 950 to 1020 wavenumbers and providing a minimum fluence of 1 joules per sq. cm. and passing the material through a physical separation stage to obtain a .sup.13 C.sub.2 F.sub.4 product.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in pattern recognition comprising a two-dimensional lattice array of nodal points, said points being occupied by summing amplifiers having positive and negative input terminals, and output terminals, a corresponding input array of points carrying voltage levels, said points being representative of a two-dimensional array of pixels the pattern of which is to be analyzed, said pattern being a member of a set of patterns characterized by an archetypal pattern, electrical connections from the input array of voltage points via resistors to the inputs of the summing amplifiers, the connections being made in a predetermined pattern and the conductance values of the resistors being set by computational procedures such that a prescribed set of input patterns of pixels is formed into output patterns at the output of the amplifiers that are analysable as to correlation between output array patterns and the archetypal pattern for the prescribed set, and correlation means and discrimination means for anal

Abstract: A transducer for measuring the velocity and displacement of ferromagnetic materials comprising first and second magnetic read-heads positioned close to but not contacting the magnetic element whose velocity is to be measured with the two read-heads located a fixed distance apart in the direction of travel of the element, magnetic means positioned close to the magnetic element ahead of the first and second read-heads in the direction of travel of the magnetic element for increasing the magnetic surface noise levels of the material or the magnetic element, amplifiers connected to the two read-heads for amplifying the random voltage noise signals induced in the read-heads, said signals being substantially identical with one being delayed in time with respect to the other, zero-crossing detectors connected to the outputs of the amplifiers, means for correlating the noise signals obtained from the zero-crossing detectors and providing an output frequency signal, an electronic digital delay line circuit connected b

Abstract: A method for analysis of chemical compounds comprising forming a fine droplet spray of a solution containing the compound to be detected and analyzed, electrically charging the spray droplets and allowing said spray to evaporate such that either ionized molecules or atoms of the compound of interest or the neutral species attached to another ion are ejected into the air introducing the ions which may or may not be clustered with neutral solvent molecules into an analyzer, and obtaining a read-out indicative of the chemical compound is obtained.

Abstract: A cathode structure for gas lasers comprising a flat plate of non-conducting material positioned in the laser in spaced relation to the laser anode to define a discharge region therebetween, a two-dimensional array of metal sub-electrode rods passing through the plate and having their upper ends lying flush with the surface of the plate, a block of dielectric material positioned below the plate and containing a series of transverse channels therein, electric current conductors lying in the channels and adapted for connection to a power supply, the lower ends of the said rods passing through openings in the block into the channels to define a predetermined uniform gap between the ends of the rods and the electrical conductor, and a liquid electrolyte solution filling the channels and electrically connecting the sub-electrode rods and the conductors.

Abstract: A system of corona injection and repelling electrodes are positioned such that airborne particulates are charged in situ and are propelled to collecting grids above a furnace, or concentrated into particle streams directed into ventilation hoods to be collected by low volume, high efficiency precipitators.

Abstract: An animal trap having an upstanding frame member mounted on a base, a metal anvil bar connected at one end to the frame and extending outwardly from the frame generally parallel to the base, a metal striker bar positioned above and generally parallel to the anvil bar, said bars being connected at their outer ends to a spring adapted to urge the striker bar forcibly towards the anvil bar, a trigger pan mounted below the two bars and connected to a trigger arm extending upwardly along the frame, a latch arm swivelly mounted on the upper portion of the frame and containing a notch or recess such that when the striker bar is moved upwards against the force of the spring away from the anvil bar, the bar fits into the notch, said latch having an extended arm contacting the upper end of said trigger bar such that the trigger bar is operative to trigger the latch arm from the set position on movement of the pan and allow the latch arm to swing free and the striker bar to move towards the anvil bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing tritium from heavy water and light water comprising contacting tritiated feed water in a catalyst column in countercurrent flow with hydrogen gas originating from an electrolysis cell so as to enrich this feed water with tritium from the electrolytic hydrogen gas and passing the tritium enriched water to an electrolysis cell wherein the electrolytic hydrogen gas is generated and then fed upwards through the catalyst column. The tritium content of the hydrogen gas leaving the top of the enricher catalyst column is further reduced in a stripper column containing catalyst which transfers the tritium to a countercurrent flow of liquid water.

Abstract: A sugarcane pith and rind separation unit comprising a power driven rind gripping roll, a power driven pith milling roll in close spaced relation, said rolls having surface indentation and being driven at such rotational speeds so as to accept incoming longitudinally split sugarcane stalk halves, flatten them, and mill out the pith away from the rind, and a pith deflecting plate or shroud positioned at the output of the two rolls, said plate having shaped surfaces for causing the rind and pith to travel further on separate paths and having, adjacent the leading edge and closely positioned in the output side of the pinch between the rolls, an elongated cylindrical roller of relatively small diameter and adapted to be driven at a rotational speed such as to effectively move any fibrous material that might cause clogging and binding out of the confined region between the rolls and the deflecting plate and pass to the output.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separation of bitumen from tar sands involving an electric flotation cell formed of a container in which is placed a charge of unseparated tar sand to a first level and which is then filled with water to a second level and electrodes positioned in the cell in relation to the tar sand such that on application of a voltage to the electrodes an electric current flows through the tar sand and water. It has been found that after application of the electrical energy to the tar sands agitation and then separation takes place with the bitumen being floated to the upper surface.

Abstract: A low frequency radio position location system for aircraft or other vehicles for operating in conjunction with ground stations transmitting at a first VLF radio frequency which is shifted in frequency by a small amount to a second frequency at fixed intervals with the shifting being carried out coherently with a defined transition point at the frequency signal is made up of an RF receiver and amplifier, a phase-locked loop for providing a continuous output frequency signal precisely locked to the first frequency, a detector for deriving a signal at the modulation frequency, a phase comparator for comparing the phase relationship of the derived modulation frequency signal to the phase relationship of the output frequency signal and the second frequency signal. The derived modulation frequency signal and its phase information is then available for providing distance and position information in relation to the ground stations.

Abstract: The basic module of a microwave Travelling-Wave Hybrid Junction amplifier (TWHJ) consists of a hybrid junction (0.degree., 180.degree. or 90.degree. hybrid) combined with an appropriate phase-shifting element (.pi./2 element is needed for 0.degree. and 180.degree. hybrids and no element is needed for a 90.degree. hybrid) and three negative conductance circuits terminating three ports of the modified hybrid while the fourth port serves as an input-output port. Because of proper stabilization and matching, the negative conductance circuits are not oscillating but are acting as reflection type amplifiers. Any RF energy applied to the input port of the hybrid is multiply reflected while travelling through the hybrid giving rise to amplified RF energy emerging from the input port of the hybrid junction.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and measuring fluorescence emission comprising a fluorometer probe including a light emitting means for illuminating the object under study, a red cut-off filter, a light sensitive detector for obtaining the fluorscence signal from the object, and a preamplifier connected to the phototransistor for amplifying the said signal to a first level, and power and control unit including electronic indicating means. In the preferred embodiment the sensor and emitter are a light emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor arranged in piggy-back relation with the LED having an epoxy body acting as a fluorescence light guide from the object to the phototransistor.

Abstract: An overspeed spoiler for vertical axis wind turbines of the type having straight or curved airfoil blades attached to a vertical shaft formed by a relatively thin flat blade shaped spoiler element hinge mounted on the trailing edge, leading edge, or at a central position of a portion of the airfoil section with the element having two portions one of which is held flush or against a surface by spring means with a surface of the blade towards the turbine rotor axis and the other lies substantially parallel to the chordline of the airfoil, the weight and configuration of the element being such that a predetermined turbine rotor speed the element rotates against the spring force because of centrifugal action and takes up a position generally transverse to the air flow direction such as to cause much increased drag and control overspeeding of the rotor.

Abstract: A dual temperature extraction apparatus comprising a hot and cold tower with liquid and gas streams passing in countercurrent deuterium exchange relation therein, the gas being recycled from the top of the cold tower to the bottom of the hot tower, a humidifier section through which the said recycled gas stream and also the liquid stream from the hot tower passes, a dehumidifier between hot and cold tower through which both gas and liquid streams pass, means for heat exchange between humidifier and dehumidifier, means for heating cold inlet feed liquid and feeding it to the system at the top of the dehumidifier section at a point between the liquid outlet of the hot tower and the liquid input to the humidifier, means for recovering heat from a first portion of the liquid stream leaving the humidifier and passing the stream to waste, means for recycling a second portion of the liquid stream leaving the humidifier to the top of the cold tower, said humidifier section comprising a humidifier recycle section and

Abstract: A systemic fungicide and method of application to trees subject to the Dutch elm disease fungus and other fungus diseases wherein the fungicide material used is a water-soluble derivative of methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate (BCM) and the method of introduction is a positive pressure root injection method. Examples of the water-soluble derivatives are chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, and sodio derivatives of BCM. The injection method is achieved by severing one or more roots below ground level and applying the fungicide solution to the severed root end under pressure via suitable tubulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement in realtime of the transfer function in both magnitude and phase of an unknown system including apparatus for generating a pseudo-random binary sequence as a test signal, means to match the timing of this sequence and of the sampling process so that the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of the test signal and the response signal obtained from the unknown system can be computed, means such that this operation can be repeated successively in precisely the same manner without significant time (phase) jitter, means such that the magnitude function obtained from any single transformation can be computed and displayed, and means such that the difference between the phase functions obtained from two distinct DFT's can be computed and displayed.