Abstract: A curable phenolic resin composition comprising (A) a major proportion of an aqueous phenolic resole resin and (B) a minor proportion of a poly(1,2-alkylene oxide) having terminating groups selected from the group comprising --NH.sub.2, --CONH.sub.2, --CH.CO.NH.sub.2 and --OCONH.sub.2 groups. The compositions are preferably cured with an acid catalyst and post cured at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Ceramic pellets, which may have, or not, nuclear fuel materials embedded therein, are formed by first preparing a gel by precipitation of metallic salts from solutions of their compounds at a concentration of at least 10 grams per liter, said solutions being added dropwise to a coagulation bath which contains, for example, ammonium or sodium hydroxide, whereafter the precipitated gel are fired, in one or two stages, to precondition them prior to the compaction to form the final pellets which are subsequently sintered at an appropriate temperature.

Abstract: A method of mounting a fibre composite flywheel on a relatively stiff shaft, such as a metal or carbon fibre shaft, comprising passing the shaft through a hole in a hub at the center of the flywheel and securing the flywheel to the shaft wherein the shaft has a tapered portion and a deformable sleeve is positioned between the shaft and the hub of the flywheel on assembly. The deformable sleeve comprises a hollow cylinder having a tapered bore which corresponds to the tapered portion of the shaft and having an outside diameter which, before deformation, is larger than the diameter of the hole in the hub of the flywheel by an amount which is greater than the theoretical amount of radial growth which the hole in the hub would experience at the maximum operating speed of the flywheel.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for characterizing the unknown state of a physical system having a time varying history, the characterization being made with reference to a known state of like physical systems. A response signature representative of the unknown system state is compared to a standard signature representative of the known system state. The standard signature includes a primary signature comprising a multi-dimensional region within a pre-defined, transformed coordinate system having an inner and outer boundary, and a secondary signature comprising at least one, but preferably two or more isoclines situated within the bounded region. If the response signature lies wholly within the bounded region and does not cross any of the region's isoclines, the system being characterized is deemed to be in the known state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a domestic hot water heater system in which the actual temperature of the water in the storage tank of the system is continuously measured and the measured water temperature is continuously displayed at a location remote from the water heater. There are control means located at a remote location for actuating energizing means at the water heater for heating the water. The energizing means is actuated by the person intending to use the heated water on the basis of the measured temperature of the water displayed at the continuous display at the time of measurement and the intended use of the water.

Abstract: There is provided a process for making anhydrous alcohol denatured with gasoline for ready mixing with additional gasoline to make gasohol and in which aqueous alcohol is introduced into a dehydration drying column along with gasoline. The alcohol, containing gasoline, flows into the lower zone of the drying column and is recovered as a substantially non-aqueous alcohol-gasoline mixture which may be classified as completely denatured alcohol. The rising vapors of the gasoline entrain the water and some alcohol as azeotropes which flow out the top of the column as vapors which are condensed to form a gasoline layer which is returned to the column and a water layer which is removed. Additional water is also removed by decantation on the top several trays of the drying column where it is present as a separate liquid phase.

Abstract: There are described silanic phtalocyaninic dyes; composite pigments obtainable by grafting said dyes on an inorganic substrate, and, processes for preparing said dyes and said composite pigments.The dyes are of the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein: Pc is the residue of the phtalocyanine which may be metallized with a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni and Cu; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of H and alkaline metals; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, equal or different, are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyls having up to 4 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls and aryls; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl with from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 and phenyl; R.sub.5 is an alcoxyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 ; n is 3, 4 or 5; q is 0,1; p and m are such integers that when q is 0 p is 3 and m is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and when q is 1, p is 2 and m is 0, 1, 2; a and c are numbers in the range of 1 to 3 and b is a number in the range of 0 to 2, chosen in such a way that the sum a+b+c.ltoreq.

Abstract: A composite floor covering comprising a rubbery backing strip or layer in intimate contact with the floor, ceramic tiles placed over the backing layer and flexible grouting between the tiles.

Abstract: An assembly for disposing passenger compartment air outlet and reading light units in either a first exposed orientation or a second hidden orientation includes a utility unit, providing unit support means and actuating means linked via linkage means to pivoting unit support means, the actuating means actuating the linkage means to dispose the unit supporting means in either an exposed or hidden orientation about a pivot point. In the exposed orientation, the utility unit may provide light or air functions to the passenger depending on the utility provided within the supporting means. In the hidden orientation, the respective air or light unit is hidden from the view of the passenger and a substantially contiguous surface of the unit supporting means is instead presented.

Abstract: Electric arc conversion process in which C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkane is brought into contact with an electric arc and higher molecular weight carbonaceous material is brought into contact with the hot gas derived from the C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbon in the vicinity of the arc.

Abstract: Memory device comprises a glass substrate (1), a layer of indium tin oxide (2), a layer of p type semiconductor (3), a layer of i type semiconductor (4), a layer of n type semiconductor (5) and a layer of spots of an electrically conducting material (6). Silicon is the preferred semiconductor. The device is conditioned by the application of a voltage sufficiently large to cause the structure to be permanently modified to reduce the electrical resistance of the layers.It is a feature of the device that no p and n layers are adjacent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing circuit boards using two or a small number of probes for making resistive and radio frequency impedance measurements e.g. capacitive measurements. The combination of resistive and impedance measurements substantially reduces the number of tests required to verify the integrity of a circuit board. The impedance or capacitive "norm" values used in testing the circuit boards can be obtained by operating the system in a learning mode. Analysis of the data provides not only fault detection but also can indicate approximate fault location.

Abstract: In articles formed from at least two boards in each of two planes and joined by plugs fitted into spaced holes formed in the faces of the boards in one plane and aligned holes in the ends of the boards of the other plane, the boards in each plane are of different width and arranged so that the adjacent edges of the boards in one plane are covered by a board in the other plane. The narrower boards are provided with at least two holes and the wider boards with at least three holes across their width, the spacing of all the holes being equal.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes of specified molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are effective anti-foam agents for reducing foaming in crude oil/gas separators. They are particularly useful in breaking microgas dispersions.The polysiloxanes, preferably polydimethyl siloxane, contain not more than 10% by weight of components of molecular weight 50,000 and lower, at least 15% by weight of components of molecular weight 200,000 and higher and not more than 6% by weight of components of molecular weight 370,000 and higher, molecular weights being expressed as polystyrene equivalent molecular weights.

Abstract: Silica may be deposited on metal surfaces e.g. on heat exchanger surfaces to reduce undesirable deposits by the following aqueous process. Finely divided moist silicic acid of defined particle size is mixed with hot (e.g. at least 98.5.degree. C.) pure water for not more than 1 hour. The mixture is subjected to depolymerization by heating at specified pH so as to depolymerize substantially all the silica. The resulting aqueous silica is then passed over the surface to be coated at temperature above 80.degree. C. so as to deposit a hard bound silica coating.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a tubular member over an article includes a supply of individual tubular members. A pair of opposed gripping members that are movable towards and away from each other are disposed on a rotatable pick-up and deposit wheel. As the wheel rotates, the gripping members come together to mechanically grip a tubular member from the supply. A vacuum is connected to the gripping members after they have mechanically gripped the tubular member, and the gripping members are moved apart as the wheel rotates them towards the application station so as to open the tubular member. The article is conveyed to the application station at a speed greater than that of the tubular member such that at the application station, the article meets the tubular member, is threaded therein, and pulls it fully open and around the article by a camming action. The vacuum is then disconnected so that the tubular member rests loosely around the container for further processing such as heat shrinking.

Abstract: In a microprocessor controlled fire alarm system, a chain of continuous pulses is generated by the microprocessor. The chain of continuous pulses is monitored, and if there is an interruption in the chain of continuous pulses a signal is generated to automatically reset the microprocessor.

Abstract: An alternator for use in a brushless DC tachometer which produces are output voltage with a trapezoidal waveshape. The alternator includes a three phase toroidal winding on a plotless core. The windings are concentrated rather than being distributed. The rotor includes high intensity permanent magnets configured to provide uniform flux density over a large segment at least equal to a commutation increment.

Abstract: In a motor control system for a DC motor, a modulation circuit provides a plurality of pulse width modulated signals to control the current applied to the motor. The motor is coupled to a current sensing resistor and a plurality of switches responsive to the pulse width modulated control signals. The output of the current sensing resistor is summed with an input current command to provide an error signal. A modulation circuit which includes a waveform generator generates a plurality of interposed triangular waves adjustably offset by a predetermined amount. The triangular waves are compared to the error signal to provide pulse width modulated control signals which cause a "dither" current to be applied to the motor when there is substantially no input command and currents having substantially decreasing form factors to be applied as the input command increases.

Abstract: An hydraulic steering device for a crawler-mounted vehicle, in which a couple of pressure-regulating steering valves controls the rotation direction and speed of two respective rolling trains of the vehicle, is described. Each of the valves is provided with an end chamber having a piston sliding therein in response to a control pressure depending on the pilot pressure regulated by the other steering valve, and each piston is designed to shift respective shouldering means for respective contrast springs of respective shuttles provided on the valves in such a manner that both the rolling trains are stopped whenever both of the valves are activated simultaneously.