Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for slurry casting an ingot having a non-dendritic structure across substantially its entire cross section. The casting mold has a first chamber for extracting heat from the molten material. The amount of heat extracted from the molten material and the cooling rate of the molten material is controlled to initiate growth of primary phase particles and to form a semi-solid slurry having a desired fraction solid. The mold also has a second chamber for casting the slurry into an ingot. Adjacent the exit portion of the first chamber and the inlet portion of the second chamber, a transition member is provided for delivering the slurry to the casting chamber and for preventing the ingot shell from extending back into the first chamber.

Abstract: An ion plasma electron gun for the generation of large area electron beams with uniform electron distribution. Positive ions generated by a wire in a plasma discharge chamber are accelerated through an extraction grid into a second chamber containing a high voltage cold cathode. These positive ions bombard a surface of the cathode causing the cathode to emit secondary electrons which form an electron beam. After passing through the extraction grid and the plasma discharge chamber, the electron beam exits from the gun by way of a second grid and a foil window supported on the second grid. The gun is constructed so that the electron beam passing through the foil window has a relatively large area and a uniform electron distribution which is substantially the same as the ion distribution of the ion beam impinging upon the cathode.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing shaped metal parts of a semi-solid metal slurry. The metal slurry is introduced as a preform slug or ingot to a prechamber which is subjected to sufficient pressure to force a portion of the semi-solid metal slurry from the prechamber to a metal part shaping die cavity. The completed metal part, together with the portion of metal which remained in the prechamber during part formation, is removed and the metal which remained in the prechamber is detached from the final metal part.

Abstract: A gas injector element for use in a mixing apparatus having a plurality of mixing elements, where the injector element is airfoil-shaped and is installed adjacent to the first of the plurality of mixing elements. The airfoil-shaped injector is fabricated from a metal or other suitable material having a porosity within a range of 0.5 to 100 or more microns, such that fluid injected into the mixing conduit through the injector will be released from the injector and will immediately contact material flowing through the conduit without the undesirable result of bubbles of the fluid or gas flowing from the injector coalescing with larger bubbles resulting in ineffective mixing of the gas with the material in the mixer.

Abstract: A fruit shredding apparatus comprises fruit shredding means for shredding fruits, and fruit conveying and pressing means for conveying and pressing the fruits toward the fruit shredding means. The fruit shredding means in turn comprises a generally planar cutting disc that has a plurality of cutting holes for shredding the fruits into a plurality of elongated strings so as to enhance the production of fruit juice.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting articles, such as cylindrical containers, between differing elevations by initially moving the articles on an upper surface of a first plenum by air pressure. The articles are then transferred to a moving belt supported on an upper surface of a second plenum and held on said belt by vacuum. A transfer means is provided at the overlap of the first and second plenums to enhance the transfer of the articles between plenum sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately aligning the top and bottom edges of a garment's workpieces to assure even cuffs after sewing, the apparatus comprising two locking jaw assemblies which cooperate with drive rollers (all of which are located upstream of the sewing head) and the conventional bottom feed action of the lower feed dogs on a sewing machine to capture any excess length or slack of the garment's panels between the locking jaws (to match the cuffs ) and then to drive any excess slack out of the panels as they are fed to the sewing head to be sewn.

Abstract: A slider for flying a magnetic head on a fluid bearing above moving magnetic recording media is disclosed in which a fluid bearing surface includes a generally planar fluid support surface extending generally transverse to the direction of movement of the media, a ramped leading edge and a cavity having a generally spherical surface formed in the fluid support surface and spaced from the leading edge thereof. A method of making such a slider is also disclosed.

Abstract: A unitary pegboard hanger assembly is disclosed which comprises a hanger protruding perpendicularly from a hook back plate, a hook member protruding on the opposite side thereof as the hanger, at least one protrusion perpendicular to the hook back plate on the same side thereof as the hook member and proximate thereto, and further characterized as being of such size and shape as to snugly fit into a pegboard hole together with the hook member.

Abstract: A device for removing or sending an article from a conveyor of a transport system to and from work stations located therealong comprising platforms capable of being raised or lowered so that an article being carried by the conveyor can be taken out of physical contact with the conveyor at various work station locations. Once the article has been raised out of contact with the central conveyor, a closed loop belt driven by a fluid actuated cylinder causes the article to be conveyed onto or away from the central conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high impact hose coupling having a hollow body constructed of plastic, a helical restriction means to hold the hose end within the coupling body, a double locking means for locking coupling halves together, and a static electric conducting gasket to allow the conduction of static electricity within the coupling.

Abstract: A tracer particle for determining the concentration of a microingredient in a bulk material is disclosed. The tracer particle comprises a finely divided ferromagnetic particulate material approximately 90% of which is approximately 325 mesh or smaller, a microingredient and a binder wherein the microingredient and ferromagnetic material are entrapped in the binder and wherein the tracer particle is approximately 35 to 80 mesh in size.

Abstract: A reserve battery cell which includes a battery cell housing, an anode and cathode collector, and a reservoir housing which includes a quantity of electrolyte which, when applied to the anode and cathode collector, cause the battery to generate an electric current through an external load. Burst discs are located proximate the extremities of the reservoir housing. The upstream burst disc is capable of rupturing upon the application of sufficient externally applied pressure while the downstream burst disc is capable of rupturing upon the application of sufficient hydraulic pressure exerted thereon by the electrolyte. The piston is located within the reservoir housing which establishes the upstream boundary of the electrolyte and which is capable of traveling down the reservoir housing upon the application of an externally applied pressure and which is characterized as preventing electrolyte from leaking around the piston and any substantial amount of gas from entering the electrolyte through the piston body.

Abstract: A material mixing apparatus for the mixing of two or more fluids. A tubular conduit is provided for the passage of a first fluid. A casing is caused to pass through the tubular conduit, eminating substantially radially toward the center thereof and a quill is slidably located within the casing. The quill is hollow for the passage of a second fluid therethrough and possesses a discharge port for discharging the second fluid into a stream with the first fluid when the quill is radially extended within the casing, but which is blocked by the casing when the quill is not fully extended. Downstream from the second fluid discharge port is located a mixing means for mixing the first and second fluids.

Abstract: An article support and display device for use with gondola shelf uprights which is capable of converting the shelf uprights into a pegbar support. The device includes an elongated pegbar having a longitudinal dimension approximately equal to the spacing between the gondola shelf uprights themselves, two support brackets for supporting the elongated bar which is capable of engaging slots within the gondola shelf uprights and support pegs removably insertable within the elongated pegbar.

Abstract: A stationary material mixing apparatus for mixing various components in a fluid stream. The mixing apparatus is in the shape of a conduit which is made up of individual biscuit sections which are aligned along a longitudinal axis, the biscuit sections each containing a plurality of openings therethrough where within openings are located mixing elements which induce a rotational angular velocity to the fluid stream.

Abstract: A mold for use in an apparatus and process utilizing an electromagnetic field to stir a molten metal or metal alloy comprises a plurality of laminations of thermally and electrically conductive material separated by electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is oriented to minimize at least some of the flow path lengths of currents induced in the mold whereby magnetic induction losses caused by the mold are substantially reduced and the stirring efficiency is enhanced.

Abstract: A process and device for producing a flexible layered article suitable for use in water proof garments wherein one of said layers is a microporous membrane material produced from the "solvent non-solvent" method wherein a fabric backing coated with the membrane material dissolved in a solvent is contacted with a drum having gripping means offering substantial resistance to the natural tendency of the coated fabric to curl when immersed in a non-solvent for the polymer material.

Abstract: An article support and display assembly is disclosed wherein a common peg bar is used to accept molding support pegs and merchandise pegs which are readily removable from the peg bar and which are thus adjustable so that the tag molding can be located above and forward of merchandise being supported by the merchandise pegs.