Abstract: A ball joint for support of and orientation of a device in any direction stabilized against rotation on its own axis including means locking the ball in a selected position.

Abstract: A transducer assembly capable of radiating and detecting energy over a controlled beam width around a selected axis is formed by a piezoelectric element mounted in a cylindrical resonant cavity defined by a Helmholtz chamber. The resonant chamber has an energy emitting end wall positioned normal to the selected axis and is arranged to have a single aperture ring which emits energy symmetrically around the axis at a predetermined radial offset distance therefrom. The energy emitted from the chamber through the end wall sums to form along and around the selected axis a beam-like pattern of controlled width, the beam width being controllable as a function of the offset distance and the energy wavelength. In one embodiment, circular apertures which operate to emit spherical radiation patterns are formed in the chamber end wall. In another embodiment, an annular aperture is formed in the chamber end wall concentric with the selected axis.

Abstract: Two types of highly filled, elastomeric silicone-base abiative compositions whose densities range from about 0.20 g/cc to about 0.30 g/cc. One type is a carbon char forming, high thermal efficiency ablator containing at least 92 percent by volume of low density filler with a total filler-to-resin volumetric ratio of at least 16 to 1. The additives comprise ground cork, silica or glass microspheres, phenolic microballons and silica and/or carbon fibers. The second type is a silica char forming, RF-transparent ablator containing at least 90 percent by volume of low density filler with a total filler-to-resin volumetric ratio of at least 11 to 1. The additives comprise silica or glass microspheres and silica fibers.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge type ignition system is arranged for selective operation by timing signals generated by either breaker points or a breakerless timing signal generator. The generator utilizes the signal generated by an inductive pickup to modulate an oscillator output. The modulation signal is detected and by use of a peak point detector and converted to accurate timing pulses. Circuitry is included to bias the oscillator in a linear mode and inhibit timing signal generation at turn on until the oscillator is operating stably.

Abstract: A fire alarm system utilizes an ionization type aerosol detector having first and second intercommunicating and electrically in series ionization regions or chambers irradiated by a particle source. Electrodes are provided which operate in conjunction with a DC voltage source to establish a relatively large voltage gradient across the first region and a relatively small voltage gradient in the second region. Also, the location of the ion source and the effective volumes of the regions are arranged to establish a comparatively high ion density in the first region. In operation, the impedance or resistance of the first region to ion current flow is substantially uninfluenced by the presence of combustion or smoke aerosols due to the relatively high field gradient while the impedance or resistance of the second region is measurably changed thereby. The insensitivity of the first region to the presence of smoke is due to the high voltage gradient therein, as well as to the high ion density therein.

Abstract: A new ceramic treatment process and product and, more particularly, a process for forming and treating and shaping and treating of porous skeletal bodies to produce hardened dimensionally stable end products at relatively low temperatures and the resulting materials produced thereby which comprises the steps of treating a porous skeletal body by impregnating the interstices of the porous body with a compound of a metal capable of being converted to an oxide in situ at relatively low temperatures, heating the body so impregnated at temperatures well below normal vitrification to a temperature of at least 600.degree. F. and for a period of time sufficient to convert the compound impregnated therein to an oxide and repeating the impregnation and heating steps until the desired degree of hardness is obtained.

Abstract: This apparatus provides a stamp time indication of when a medical or scientific specimen container is made available for use and a second time stamp indication of when the specimen container is rendered unusable, thereby providing a time indication of when the specimen was collected or the specimen container was otherwise utilized.

Abstract: Porous chrome plated surfaces are densified by treating the surface with a chromic acid solution and heating the treated surface to convert the chromic acid to chromic oxide. Repeated treating and conversion steps may be used to completely fill the pores and cracks.

Abstract: A transducer assembly which generates a cone shaped radiation pattern concentric with a selected axis is formed by a piezoelectric element mounted in a cylindrical resonant cavity defined by a Helmholtz chamber. Circumferentially spaced apart and radially aligned circular apertures are formed in the chamber's cylindrical side wall and an inclined reflecting plate is spaced apart from the apertures a selected distance. The plate extends outwardly from the chamber at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the chamber axis. The cone shaped radiation pattern is produced by generating a plurality of discrete spherical radiation patterns, combining these patterns to form an annular radiation pattern and partially reflecting the annular radiation pattern from an inclined reflection plate extending at an angle to the chamber axis of less than 90.degree. to produce a cone shaped radiation pattern.

Abstract: Heat from spent shale combustion is removed from shale ash and combustion gases by direct contact thereof with raw shale particles wherein the fine raw shale particles not easily separable from the shale ash are removed prior to contact of the raw shale with the shale ash and combustion gases.

Abstract: This particulate solids pump is of the screw conveyor type for transmitting particulate solids from a hopper through a barrel when the screw conveyor is rotated and in which a flowstream of gas is supplied for facilitating the movement and suspension of the particulate solids after exiting the barrel. A sealing chamber formed by termination of the screw conveyor short of the exit end of the barrel provides an accumulation of particulate solids therebetween and a spring biased flapper valve to form a blow-back pressure seal. A flapper valve at the exit end of the barrel operates to loft the particulate solids exiting from the barrel into the flowstream of gas. A sealing apparatus provides lateral and axial sealing of the rotating shaft of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A cable for high frequency use in an environment with high and varying thermal changes whereby the thermal expansion of the cable is controlled by having a highly electrically conductive metal bonded to a metal of low coefficient of thermal expansion relative to the high electrically conductive metal. This is accomplished by providing a thin layer of highly electrically conductive metal over an inner core of a metal of low coefficient of thermal expansion. The cable can also utilize a similar bonded metal configuration for an outer concentric conductive sheath having a mineral dielectric between conductors that also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion.