Abstract: Investment casting molds embodying a material comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 flour with an average particle size less than 100 microns and silica binders exhibit superior physical properties at elevated temperatures up to about 1800.degree. C. The superior physical properties, including an excellent resistance to sag at about 1800.degree. C., are attributed to the formation of a metastable mullite phase. When the average particle size of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is less than the order of 10 microns, resistance to sag is present up to about 1900.degree. C.

Abstract: An elongate electrical conductor is continuously coated with electrostatically charged powder by passing the conductor upwardly through a tube into the upper portion of a container having a charged fluidized bed of the powder in a lower portion thereof. The tube extends upwardly through the bed and the tube height is adjusted relative to the upper surface of the bed to control the thickness of the powder coating. An array of electrodes having associated switches permits application of uniform coatings to conductors having a variety of shapes. Two or more conductors may be uniformly coated from the same fluidized bed in a container having a baffle which divides the upper portion into two or more compartments and spaced apart tubes extend upwardly into the different compartments.

Abstract: Catalytic aromatic carbonate process which comprises contacting a phenol, carbon monoxide, an oxidant, a base, and a Group VIIIB element selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum. The resulting aromatic mono- and polycarbonates are useful in the preparation of polycarbonates or as polycarbonates, per se, respectfully, which can be molded or formed into films, sheets, fibers, laminates or reinforced plastics by conventional techniques.

Abstract: A multiple disk, pancake, self-fed brushless dc motor characterized by high power density has a variable number of interleaved, axially spaced rotor and stator disks. The annular rotor disks are made of high coercive force permanent magnets such as cobalt-samarium and ferrites which do not demagnetize easily. The annular stator disks are yokeless and include a spirally wound laminated magnetic core made of steel strip or amorphous metal ribbon with opposing sets of stator slots and windings on both sides of the core. The permanent magnet machine can be operated as a generator.

Abstract: An improved method for removing a component from a fluid mixture by transport of the component through an immobilized liquid membrane is described. The method includes introducing fresh membrane liquid into a first region of the membrane to effect emission of at least partially deactivated liquid from a second region of the membrane, thereby restoring or maintaining the separation efficiency of the membrane. Also described is an improved packaged membrane system including a plurality of at least partially spaced immobilized liquid membranes disposed in generally parallel surface-to-surface array to define both a first group of flow volumes and a second group of flow volumes alternating between the first group. Screens for spacing apart adjacent membranes are disposed in each of the flow volumes of at least one of the flow volume groups. Frames define the periphery of the flow volumes and flow passages provide separate access to and egress from the flow volumes in the two groups.

Abstract: A transformer particularly useful in conjunction with solid state high frequency push-pull inverter supplies for discharge lamps is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, two E-shaped core sections are disposed adjacent to one another in a mirror image fashion with corresponding core legs aligned but with an air gap provided between the middle legs of the core structure. The transformer disclosed permits the use of non-bifilar winding methods in the manufacture of transformers particularly useful in square-wave push-pull inverters used in discharge lamp ballasting circuits. In addition, the core structure disclosed provides for an integral ballasting reactance which minimizes power loss induced in the surrounding metal casing or other nearby metal structures.

Abstract: Spurious electromagnetic radiation from an electrodeless fluorescent lamp having a phosphor-coated, globular glass envelope containing an ionizable gas surrounding at least a portion of a toroidal magnetic core is reduced by situating a conductive loop about the envelope such that the loop and core planes are normal to each other. The loop also acts as the harp for a lampshade. Radio frequency energy, coupled into the gas from the core to ionize and excite the gas to emit ultraviolet radiation and thus stimulate visible radiation from the phosphor, also radiates from the lamp. The loop, driven by the radiated radio frequency energy, creates an opposing electromagnetic field. Cancellation of the radiated radio frequency energy thus tends to occur at a distance from the lamp, sharply reducing electromagnetic interference from the lamp.

Abstract: A solenoidal electric field lamp comprises a plurality of toroidal ferrite cores connected to a radio frequency energy source and disposed in an ionizable gas. The cores are so connected and oriented that circulating discharge currents passing through each core produce magnetic dipole fields which tend to cancel one another. Near and far field electromagnetic interference is thus reduced even when the lamp is operated at higher, more efficient frequencies. The cores are disposed in a variety of configurations.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously forming an integral barrier layer on selected external surfaces of a fired alumina-based compound ceramic article and for increasing the porosity and crushability characteristics thereof embodies the sintering of a ceramic compact comprising a reactant fugitive filler material and the alumina-based compound ceramic material in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: Structures for containing and supporting scintillator bodies are disclosed in which the optical output of the scintillator body is channeled by light reflective means to photoelectrically responsive devices mounted on the top and bottom of the detector array. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the internal surfaces of the collimating array are coated with either a diffuse or specular reflective coating. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the photoelectrically responsive transducers are located at the top and bottom of the array rather than at the rear. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, reflective light channeling wedges are provided to improve spacing requirements for the photoelectrically responsive transducers. The scintillator structures of the present invention provide superior optical coupling to photoelectrically responsive devices.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for more practical construction of liquid-cooled buckets able to efficiently transport heat energy from the inside of the airfoil skin surface in contact with hot gas to the outer surface of preformed tubes recessed into the bucket core, through which tubes liquid coolant is passed during operation. The bucket is made of a series of preformed solid components, which are assembled, consolidated and then converted into a unified structure. In each arrangement illustrated one of the preformed solid components is a flat bimetallic sheet comprising an erosion, corrosion resistant layer and a layer of high thermal conductivity, these layers being joined by an optimized metallurgical bond.

Abstract: Rupture of the transition piece in one or more combustors of a gas turbine, due to resonance at the transition piece natural modal frequency, is avoided by interconnecting pairs of fuel lines having sinusoidal fluctuations in fuel flow that are 180.degree. out of phase with each other through opposite ends of an accumulator containing a movable partition displaced according to relative pressure on either side of the partition.

Abstract: By adding a relatively small amount of boron to the electrolytically-deposited Mg(OH).sub.2 coating on silicon-iron magnetic sheet containing a small but critical amount of boron, a substantial improvement in permeability of the finally-annealed product sheet material can be obtained.

Abstract: A current collector for an electrical machine employs a rotor collector ring encircled by a stator collector ring to which a compliant brush of U-shaped cross section and fabricated of an electrically conductive, liquid metal-permeable material is attached. The region enclosed between the stator collector ring and the brush is filled with liquid metal which seeps outward through the brush interstices, forming on the brush a thin liquid metal film which makes sliding contact with the rotor collector ring, enhancing conductivity between the rotor and stator collector rings through the brush filaments.

Abstract: A metal oxide varistor with high breakdown electric field values, in excess of 1200 v.mm.sup.-1, is processed by sintering a mixture which comprises zinc oxide with significant amounts of bismuth oxide, from approximately 10 mol percent to approximately 25 mol percent silicon dioxide and other beneficial metal oxide additives at temperatures between 800.degree. C. and 1100.degree. C.

Abstract: A fired alumina article having a core of material having from 20 to 65 percent continuous porosity by volume and desired crushability characteristics and an integral outer barrier layer consisting of porous alumina having a density gradient.

Abstract: A redundant digital address and function code is generated at a central location and transmitted through a signal circuit or an A.C. power distribution circuit to a plurality of receiver locations. At each addressed receiver location, the encoded function is performed to control selected loads in a predetermined manner. A signal may be transmitted back to the central location for controlling a pre-programmed combination of loads in response thereto.

Abstract: Carrier droplets are employed in moving melts of metal-rich semiconductor material through a solid body of semiconductor material by thermal gradient zone melting. One element of the droplet is selected for its ability to penetrate and migrate through the semiconductor material at a reasonable rate. One or more second elements are included in the droplet to impart the desired level of resistivity, conductivity type and/or level of lifetime to the recrystallized semiconductor material or to the material of the body.

Abstract: A conductor-insulator-semiconductor (CIS) structure for a random access surface charge memory system is disclosed. The memory system comprises an array of memory cells including charge storage regions, charge transfer regions and charge receive-source regions formed along the surface-adjacent portions of a semiconductor substrate. A charge-storage line insulatingly overlies the storage regions of a row of memory cells and a bit line, comprising an extended region of opposite-conductivity-type, interconnects the receive-source regions of the same memory cells. Addressing in the Y-direction (word selection) is provided by charge transfer lines insulatingly overlying the charge transfer regions of a column of memory cells. Selected memory cells are addressed for read and write purposes by first activating the word select line which makes available one cell in each row of the memory. The desired row is then selected by means external to the array of memory cells.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte is described which comprises a polymer film, a plurality of solid polycrystalline ion-conductive particles embedded therein, and the particles exposed at both opposite surfaces of the film.