Abstract: A method for the determination of the value of a property of the material within a mill during the comminution of solid material within the mill comprises the steps of:(a) detecting the noise intensity of milling by means of an analog electrical signal, the intensity of which is proportional to the intensity of the noise in the audio frequency range,(b) converting the analog signal to a digital signal,(c) passing the digital signal through a digital band-pass filter to select at least two frequency bands, and(d) analyzing the data from the bands by means of a multivariate statistical technique to obtain the value of the property. The method is particularly suitable for determining the particle size distribution of material being ground in a ball mill.

Abstract: A crystalline material having, in the dehydrated form, the empirical formula:m(M.sub.2/a O):X.sub.z O.sub.xz/2 :.sub.y YO.sub.2 (I)in which m is 0.5 to 1.5; M is a cation of valency a; X is a metal of valency x, selected from aluminium, boron, gallium, zinc, iron and titanium; z is 2 when x is an odd number, and z is 1 when x is an even number; y is at least 5; and Y is silicon or germanium; and having, in the calcined hydrogen form, an X-ray diffraction pattern including significant peaks substantially as shown in Table I herein. The material has been designated SUZ-2, and is used in the conversion of hydrocarbons or oxygenates.

Abstract: A process for depositing a silicon carbide coating on a filament, which comprises heating the filament in a deposition chamber containing a gaseous atmosphere which on contact with the hot filament deposits a coating of silicon carbide; characterized in that the atmosphere in the deposition chamber includes a minor amount of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: As an article of manufacture an intumescent conforming mounting pad for fragile structures comprised of at least two plys of intumescent sheet material adhesively bonded together over a predetermined part of their adjoining faces said plys and being offset a predetermined amount lengthwise whereby said pad can be bent around a fragile structure and the ends can be joined without cracking or buckling.

Abstract: Apparatus and process useful in the separation of undesirable organics from various types of compositions including sludge. The apparatus comprises a contactor vessel, a sludge conduit for conveying sludge to the contactor vessel, and a sludge cutter for reducing the sludge conveyed by the conduit to reduced cross-section extrudates for deposition in the contactor vessel. The sludge cutter includes a foraminous member and can operate to roughen the surface of the extrudates to provide increased surface area for contacting with solvent. The sludge cutter is arranged to effect free fall of the reduced cross-section extrudates from the sludge cutter for initiating breakup of the extrudates into reduced length segments. A deflector preferably is positioned in the path of the free-falling extrudates to promote further breakup of the extrudates into relatively short segments or pellets.

Abstract: Fused cast refractory moldings having a random microstructure, which are near in size and configuration to the desired final shape, and process and apparatus used in their manufacture are described. The process includes rapid melting of the refractory material followed by controlled rapid cooling. Laminated composite fused cast refractories may be produced.

Abstract: The naturally occurring metal oxide layer in contact with a metal in the bulk state is treated with a solution of a salt of yttrium or the lanthanide metals. The treatment is applied in order to increase the adhesive strength of bonds between the metal and subsequently applied adhesives and to enhance the durability of such bonds in aqueous environments. The concentration of the applied solution is preferably in the range 10.sup.-2 to 10.sup.-6 M. Yttrium or samarium nitrate is the preferred salt. The treatment is preferably used in conjunction with epoxy resin adhesives.

Abstract: A latching mechanism comprises a cam operated pivoting member within a first cylinder. The member has a lug which can project through an aperture in the cylinder. The cylinder slides into a second cylinder which has a corresponding aperture to receive the projected lug.The pivotting member has no internal axis of pivot. Instead it has a rolling axis depending on the position of the cam and a rocking axis about a shoulder of the member in contact with the interior wall of the first cylinder.This results in a small, light-weight structure.

Abstract: A process for converting a gaseous reactant comprising methane or natural gas to higher molecular weight hydrocarbon products is disclosed which comprises: (1) contacting said gaseous reactant with an oxidative coupling catalyst at a reaction temperature in the range of about 500.degree. C. to about 1100.degree. C. for an effective period of time to form an intermediate product comprising ethane, ethylene or a mixture thereof; and (2) pyrolyzing said intermediate product at a temperature in the range of about 900.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C. for an effective period of time to form said higher molecular weight hydrocarbon products.

Abstract: A thermal conductive polymer composition comprising a mixture of a polymer and a thermally conductive filler material, said filler material having a median particle size of between about 130 to 260 microns and a size distribution characterized by the formula: ##EQU1## where % represents the wt. % of the particles below or above the median particle size and M represents the median particle size in microns.

Abstract: A fibre optic data coupler comprises (a) a fibre optic data link input module comprising an input connector for a fibre optic connected to a fibre optic receiver for providing a digital electrical output signal corresponding to the fibre optic signal, (b) a coupler drive module for converting the digital electrical output signal to an analogue drive signal for input to an inductive coupler, (c) an inductive coupler unit comprising an inlet element for receiving the analogue drive signal and an outlet element for transmitting an induced analogue drive signal, corresponding to the input signal, (d) a coupler output module for converting the induced analogue drive signal to a digital electrical output signal for input to a fibre optic data link output module, and (e) a fibre optic data link output module comprising a fibre optic transmitter module, for providing a fibre optic signal corresponding to the digital electrical input signal, connected to a connector for a fibre optic.

Abstract: An epoxy fluorocarbon coating composition in the presence of a curing agent and, wherein the fluorocarbon polymer is about 5 to about 24 percent of the total weight of the coating composition and has a particle size less than 500 microns which has excellent corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly is formed of a length of hollow pipe with means at either end for joining lengths of the pipe, one or more electrical cables within the pipe, and connectors with electrical contacts at either end of the cable(s) held within the ends of the pipe so that, on joining lengths of pipe, the connectors are also automatically joined to form an electrical path through the joint.

Abstract: An offshore oil production and mooring system comprises a subsea well head production system connected to a subsea base located on the sea bed. A subsea restraining buoy is located at a position below the sea surface but above the sea bed. The buoy is pivottally connected by a flexible lower support line to the subsea base and by a flexible upper support line to a buoyant riser endpiece adapted for connection to a loading vessel. The endpiece is located in its rest position at a position below the sea surface but above the sea bed and is anchorable to the sea bed. A flexible production riser rises from a subsea connector to the production system to the subsea restraining buoy and is supported by the lower support line. The riser then passes over the buoy and so to the riser endpiece, this section of the riser being supported by the upper support line.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing biological materials from fluids includes the step of passing the fluids over an affinity membrane which comprises a precursor filtration membrane and a plurality of reaction sites provided on the surface of the membrane selective to binding a specific biological material.

Abstract: A guide base for a sub-sea well is formed in two parts, an annular portion fixed to a conductor housing and a retrievable portion surrounding and releasably attached to the annular portion. The retrievable portion can be recovered and used elsewhere if a well is suspended or abandoned or changed for another type of guide base after drilling and before completion. A trawler board deflector can also replace the retrievable guide base portion, and a retrievable protective cap may be placed on the well head housing of a suspended well. A hydraulically-operated multi-purpose tool may be used for placing or retrieving any of the retrievable items.

Abstract: A vibrator and method for transmitting seismic signals into the earth to obtain data on various subsurface characteristics. The vibrator is driven with piezoelectric transducers, and can produce better signal resolution at higher frequencies than is possible with hydraulic vibrators. The piezoelectric vibrators can be used in various embodiments at the earth's surface, within a borehole, or while permanently buried in the earth.

Abstract: Polymeric affinity membranes comprise a precursor filtration membrane and a plurality of reaction sites provided on the surface of the membrane selective to binding a specific biological material. A process for the preparation of such affinity membranes includes the steps of providing a copolymer compatible with a water insoluble polymer matrix and having a plurality of hydroxyl groups, activating the hydroxyl groups with a compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds reactive with a hydroxyl group in the presence of a water miscible solvent to provide a derivatized copolymer containing active adducts, forming a solution of the derivatized copolymer and the polymer matrix to form a polymer blend solution, casting the polymer blend solution and, quenching the cast polymer blend solution in water.

Abstract: A polymer blend comprises a high nitrile copolymer and a compatible thermoplastic polymer or copolymer containing polar groups, formed from monomers selected from the group consisting of alkylacrylamides, aliphatic and cyclic methacrylates, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides, vinyl pyrrolidones, heterocyclic ring compounds containing two hetero atoms, lactones and phosphorus-containing monomers that form highly crystalline polymers. Such blends can be used to form films and membranes having improved thermal, mechanical and optical properties.

Abstract: Metal surfaces are treated with an aqueous medium containing a phosphate diester of a hydroxyacrylate or methacrylate containing a hydrocarbon chain having from 7 to 16 carbon atoms. The treated metal surfaces give improved retention of adhesive strength when adhesives are subsequently applied.