Abstract: The present invention broadly relates to a catalyst for promoting oxidation-reduction reactions of the exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine wherein the catalyst comprises a first-stage high temperature catalyst and a second-stage lower temperature catalyst. The first-stage catalyst comprises between about 0.1 and 3% by weight tungsten carried on a support material comprising mostly .gamma.-alumina. The second-stage catalyst comprises a base metal catalyst carried on a support material and preferably comprises between 0.1 and 6% by weight copper carried on a support material comprising mostly .gamma.-alumina.

Abstract: An electronic engine controller operates to control the phase angle of a variable position camshaft. The engine controller receives signals indicative of engine coolant temperature, aircharge temperature, throttle position, engine speed and camshaft position, and generates a camshaft position signal to a variable camshaft control actuator to alter the phase angle of the camshaft with respect to the engine crankshaft. The engine controller contains two tables which contain cam phase angles. The first table contains a plurality of values indexed by engine speed and engine aircharge and the second table contains a plurality of values indexed by engine speed and throttle position. The engine controller generates the camshaft position signal in one of three manners depending on the mode of engine operation. In a first mode of engine operation the camshaft position signal is generated as a function of engine coolant temperature and aircharge temperature.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an ER elastomer composition comprising natural rubber and polarizable particles dispersed therein, which elastomer can undergo changes in Youngs modulus when subjected to an electric field and having a Youngs modulus of at least about 2 Mpa when not subject to an electric field, wherein the ratio of the electrical conductivity of the particles to the electrical conductivity of the natural rubber is between about 10.sup.4 and 10.sup.10. The invention also include variable stiffness mounts, such as engine mounts, made from the composition.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for separating glass sheets in a stack by providing a coating of substantially parallel, spaced apart strips of a powdered separating agent on one of the broad surfaces of the sheet leaving uncoated regions of the glass between the strips. When these glass sheets are stacked together, the are arranged so that the coating is carried on only one of the two proximate surfaces of the glass sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a rhodium containing phase of a catalyst system useful to treat the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The method comprises hydrothermally pre-treating the alumina prior to its impregnation with a preferably low loading of rhodium. Preferably the alumina is .alpha.-alumina.

Abstract: This invention is a catalyst for treating the exhaust gases produced during lean-burn engine operation, the gases comprising nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. The catalyst comprises a support material comprising gamma-alumina, a layer of about 0.01 to 1.5 wt. % tungsten deposited onto the support followed by a layer of about 1 to 3 wt. % silver, both being individually based on the weight of the support material.

Abstract: Low transparency, or colored, copper oxide is taught as a new electrochromic material, in combination with a metallic oxide. The material is formed by application of the copper oxide to a substrate followed by application of the metallic oxide. A low-E glass substrate is heated, and cupric acetylacetonate powder is sprayed at the glass; the cupric acetylacetonate powder is atomized with dry oxygen. The glass/SN.sub.N O.sub.2 F/Cu.sub.x O system is then re-heated. After reheating, tungsten hexachloride dissolved in N,N-dimethyl formamide is sprayed at the copper oxide on the substrate. In a sample material, visible transmission is improved from 33% for copper oxide alone, to 65%.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of reducing the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust streams of internal combustion ignitions wherein a selected producing agent is introduced into the combustion chamber of such an engine via the fuel and/or air feed stream introduced into the combustion chamber. Also disclosed is an apparatus for reducing the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust streams of internal combustion engines having a piston-cylinder assembly having an air fuel mixture contained therein, a means for storing a selective reducing agent selected from the group consisting of ammonia, hydrazine and cyanuric acid and a means for introducing the reducing agent into the lean air/fuel mixture before combustion occurs such that upon combustion of the air/fuel mixture, the reducing agent decomposes to react with one or more products of combustion to produce an engine exhaust stream having a reduced concentration of NO.sub.x.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a water-based paint composition comprising sodium silicate, water, water-soluble base, metal oxide pigment, and zinc oxide as an adhesion promoter. Preferably, it further comprises glass frit and surfactants. In other aspects, it is directed to the method of making the composition, and glass sheets having a cured paint field thereon, and the method of making such glass sheets.

Abstract: A method for assembling windshield assemblies for vehicles includes a conveyor for delivering at least two plys of glass to an assembly station, a first robot for lifting one of the two plys from the conveyor, a second robot for gripping and removing at least one adhesive sheet from a stack of adhesive sheets and placing the removed adhesive sheet adjacent the other one of the two plys, whereby the first robot places the one of the two plys adjacent the removed adhesive sheet to assemble the windshield assembly. The step of removing a top adhesive sheet from the stack of adhesive sheets includes moving a knife along an edge of the top adhesive sheet to separate the edge of the top sheet from the next lower sheet in the stack. Alternatively, a blade is moved along a longitudinal length of the top sheet to separate it from the next lower sheet in the stack.

Abstract: This invention is a method for preparing an automotive catalyst system. It comprises the steps of providing a substrate, providing a gamma-alumina support material, depositing a lanthana precursor and calcining the precursor, depositing an oxygen storage material precursor like ceria precursor and calcining this precursor material, and subsequently depositing catalytic material like platinum on the oxygen storage material. The alumina may be initially washcoated on the substrate or at any stage after deposition of the lanthana precursor.

Abstract: A windshield assembly system for assembling windshield assemblies for vehicles includes a conveyor for delivering at least two plys of glass to an assembly station, a first robot for lifting one of the two plays from the conveyor, a second robot for gripping and removing at least one adhesive sheet from a stack of adhesive sheets and placing the removed adhesive sheet adjacent the other one of the two plys, whereby the first robot places the one of the two plys adjacent the removed adhesive sheet to assemble the windshield assembly. The apparatus includes a sheet edge separator such as a knife or blade movable along a longitudinal edge of the top sheet for separating at least a portion of the top sheet from the stack of adhesive sheets.

Abstract: This invention relates to first and second plate glass templates each having an outer smooth major surface and an inner rough major surface, only each of the major outer smooth surfaces being peripherally bounded by a chamfer formed at the cut edge. In this invention, the first and second templates are joined together with the rough surfaces in facing retention. The first and second plate glass templates may be used in forming a window.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for evaluating the bonding strength of a laminated glazing is disclosed. A sample of pummeled laminate is rotated while a collimated beam of white light is directed onto the sample at a predetermined angle of incidence. The intensity of light reflected from the sample is measured. The measured intensity is correlated with a standard light intensity corresponding to a known adhesion value.

Abstract: The invention is a process for decomposing dried paint sludge to recover the organic and inorganic components of the paint sludge as gaseous, liquid, and composite materials. The process comprises drying the paint sludge to remove water and organic solvents, pyrolizing the dried paint sludge in an inert atmosphere in an elevated temperature of up to about 600.degree. C. to form gaseous and liquid decomposition materials and a solid residue. The process further comprises collecting the gaseous and liquid decomposition materials and subjecting the solid residue to sintering in an elevated temperate of about 900.degree. to 1300.degree. C. in an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon or ammonia to convert the solid residue to composite materials comprising barium nitranate and titanium compounds such as titanium dioxide, titanium nitride, and titanium carbide. The gaseous and liquid materials may be further pyrolyzed to carbon materials.

Abstract: Novel single-source volatile precursor compounds are disclosed, having the general formula(RO).sub.3 Si--O--Ti (OR).sub.3where each of the six R moieties in the C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 alkyl, preferably all being tert-butyl. The precursor compounds are suitable for use in dissociation methods, such as sol-gel and chemical vapor deposition, for preparing powders and films of stoichiometric SiO.sub.2.TiO.sub.2. Optical films to provide an anti-reflective surface on a lens, window or the like and powders for catalytic substrates, etc. are prepared using the SiO.sub.2.TiO.sub.2 yielded by the single-source volatile precursor compound.

Abstract: A determination of the temper quality of a tempered glass sheet is made which includes determining the percentages of the thickness of a tempered glass sheet which are in compression as well as the sheet's tensile membrane stress. The process uses a CO.sub.2 laser beam, either on a painted or unpainted glass sheet, to shatter the glass sheet and then comparing the number of pulses required for the glass sheet to shatter to a correspondence, e.g., a graph, of tensile membrane stress v. compression layer thickness as a % of the total thickness of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A neutral gray, heat absorbing soda-lime-silica glass having at 4 mm. control thickness a light transmittance using illuminant A of 10.0% to 55.0%, ultra violet transmittance less than 25.0%, and infra red transmittance is less than about 50.0% produced with colorants consisting of 0.90 to 1.90 percent by weight total iron oxide as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.002 to 0.025 percent Co, 0.0010 to 0.0060 percent Se, 0.10 to 1.0 percent MnO.sub.2, and 0 to 1.0 percent TiO.sub.2. The flat glass products having such a composition is particularly suitable for use as a privacy glass or sun roof product in trucks and automobiles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a water-based paint composition comprising sodium silicate, water, water-soluble base, metal oxide pigment, and zinc oxide as an adhesion promoter. Preferably, it further comprises glass frit and surfactants. In other aspects, it is directed to the method of making the composition, and glass sheets having a cured paint field thereon, and the method of making such glass sheets.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for providing a hard, transparent, hydrophobic film of hydrogenated boron nitride on a substrate and the film so made. The process comprises depositing the film condensation from a flux of ions generated from gaseous precursors comprising borazine, the kinetic energy of the ions being between 50 and 300 electron volts per ion. Preferably the process is plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition carried out in a radio frequency plasma system.