Abstract: In vehicle assembly plants or storage depots, newly assembled motor vehicles having spark ignition, internal combustion engines are driven under their own power between several locations separated from each other by short distances, the engine being allowed to cool in each location. Fouling of the spark plugs is reduced by using a gasoline fuel composition (e.g., 95-98 Octane) containing a small proportion (usually 0.2-10% by volume, preferably 0.4%) of a mineral oil, e.g., engine lubricating oil.

Abstract: An ignition system for a stratified charge internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has at least one combustion chamber and a fuel injection means effective to inject fuel in a conical spray pattern into a predetermined zone of the combustion chamber for establishing a stratified charge. The system has walls dening a plasma ionizing chamber with an outlet orifice, electrical discharge means to apply an electrical charge across the plasma ionizing chamber causing the contents thereof to be shock heated to an ionized condition and released through the outlet orifice as a jet, and means interrupting the outlet orifice to form said plasma jet into a hollow cone and to direct the conical jet into the zone of the injected fuel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making as-cast ductile iron wherein an iron melt having a chemistry capable of forming gray iron having flake graphite is treated with a nodularizing agent and solidified to provide a microstructure consisting substantially of a pearlite matrix containing uniformly distributed graphite nodules surrounded by ferrite. The iron melt is alloyed with: (a) at least one of 0.02-0.06% Sb and 0.02-0.08% Sn, (b) 0.001-0.0015% each of Ce and La, and (c) 0.5-1.0% Mn.

Abstract: A method of densifying an article formed of reaction bonded silicon nitride is disclosed. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article is packed in a packing mixture consisting of silicon nitride powder and a densification aid. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article and packing powder are sujected to a positive, low pressure nitrogen gas treatment while being heated to a treatment temperature and for a treatment time to cause any open porosity originally found in the reaction bonded silicon nitride article to be substantially closed. Thereafter, the reaction bonded silicon nitride article and packing powder are subjected to a positive high pressure nitrogen gas treatment while being heated to a treatment temperature and for a treatment time to cause a sintering of the reaction bonded silicon nitride article whereby the strength of the reaction bonded silicon nitride article is increased.

Abstract: A method of machining cast iron by using a ceramic cutting tool of specific composition at specified removal rates which results in increased tool life.

Abstract: An oxidation resistant ferritic steel alloy composition is disclosed consisting essentially of up to 0.05 carbon, 0.1-2% silicon, 2-8% aluminum, 0.02-1.0% yttrium, the balance being substantially iron and normal impurities.

Abstract: A rapid method for dehydrating a water-sand mixture containing sodium or potassium silicate to produce a strongly bonded sand core is disclosed. The silicate is mixed in a water/silicate ratio of 1.45-3.22:1 and is limited to 0.25-3% of the weight of the mixture. The core box is semi-foraminous and partially transparent to micro-wave energy whereby generated vapor is reduced due to the heated inner surface of the core box (some degree of lossiness) and due to some escape through limited core-box openings. The controlled supersaturated environment about the core serves to prevent micro-porosity and surface defects when controlled micro-wave energy is used to heat cure the mixture. To promote resistance to humidity after curing, the mixture may contain 0.5% zinc oxide, chromic oxide, or aminoaldehyde.

Abstract: A method of joining silicon nitride based ceramic bodies is disclosed. At least one interfacing surface of shaped bodies (one or both of which may be hot-pressed or reaction-sintered) receives a layer of metallic aluminum based material. The bodies with the metallic aluminum based material therebetween are subjected to heating at 1400.degree.1900.degree. C. for a period typically 0.5-2 hours in a nitriding atmosphere to effect a chemical bond consisting of a conversion of the interfacing ceramic to a Si--Al--O--N system.

Abstract: A process for machine cutting of cast iron with a shaped tool which is a ceramic having as constituent ingredients about 4 to about 12% by weight Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and a balance consisting essentially of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and which has a density of at least 3.25 gm./cm.sup.3.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improved method for achieving the best bond strength and for minimizing distortion and cracking of hot pressed articles. In particular, in a method for hot press forming both an outer facing circumferential surface of and an inner portion of a hub, and of bonding that so-formed outer facing circumferential surface to an inner facing circumferential surface of a pre-formed ring thereby to form an article, the following improvement is made.Normally, in this method, the outside ring is restrained by a restraining sleeve of ring-shaped cross-section having an inside diameter. A die member, used to hot press form the hub, is so-formed as to have an outside diameter sized to engage the inside diameter of the restraining sleeve in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween. The improved method is one in which several pairs of matched restraining sleeve and die member are formed with each matched pair having a predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A method of treating metal sliding contact surfaces is disclosed. The method comprises pitting the surface (as by shot-blasting with glass or sand), impregnating the pitted surface with a dry lubricant (such as powdered graphite or MoS.sub.2), and roughening the impregnated surface to partially close the pits and to generate "peaks" of metal which are worn away during a bedding-in of the interengaging sliding contact surfaces.

Abstract: A method of making a silicon nitride part is disclosed. In this method an article of silicon nitride is first made which has a density less than the theoretical density of silicon nitride. This article also contains a densification aid. The entire surface area of this article is coated with a thin silicon nitride skin which is gas impervious. The so coated article is heated to a temperature for a time sufficient so that some of the densification aid may diffuse into the silicon nitride skin. The so treated article is then subjected to a pressure sufficiently high, for a time sufficiently long and at a temperature which permits the silicon nitride article and skin thereon to be compacted to increase the density of the article to a density greater than it originally had and to form the silicon nitride skin about the article so that the skin becomes an integral of the finished part.

Abstract: An improved oxygen sensor of the type adapted for installation in the exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine. The improved sensor uses a metal oxide element to sense the partial pressure of oxygen in the exhaust gases to which the sensor is exposed. The sensor has a steel body and a ceramic member which extends into the exhaust gases to permit the exhaust gases to produce variations in an electrical characteristic of one of the sensor components. The improved sensor has a perforated protection tube that has a radially extending flange. The flange is located between the steel body and the ceramic member, which forms a seal preventing exhaust gases from inside the engine's exhaust conduit from leaking beyond the sensor to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Thermosetting compositions comprising a film forming component bearing or capable of generating hydroxyl functionality, amine-aldehyde crosslinking agent, and a latent reactive catalyst comprising the reaction product of (i) a copolymer bearing pendent epoxy functionality, and (ii) a sulfonic acid having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is selected from linear or branched alkyl groups and aryl groups.Preferred compositions within the scope of the invention include high solids, thermosetting coating compositions suitable for automotive applications.

Abstract: A method of rapidly compounding melt forming resin (such as polypropylene) mica, and heat sensitive additives, such as chlorinated waxes, which comprises providing a molten mass of the resin, introducing the mica and heat sensitive additive into the molten resin and kneading the so introduced mica and additive to provide admixture thereof. The compounding is rapid and at optimal temperature.

Abstract: A method of oxidizing that portion of a methanol fuel which has not been burned in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Briefly, the method includes the following steps. A methanol fuel is burned in an internal combustion engine thereby to produce exhaust gases which contain unburned methanol. The exhaust gases containing the unburned methanol are passed over a catalyst consisting essentially of silver dispersed on a washcoat material. The washcoat material is in turn dispersed on a substrate. In this manner, the unburned methanol is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water without any significant production of aldehydes, ethers or carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Instrument panels or other such panels are made by injection and distribution of foam precursors into a cavity between rigid and flexible sheets tightly clamped at their borders. FIG. 3 shows relative portion of rigid sheet (A), flexible sheet (B) and mold members (M1) and (M2). Injection preferably occurs through an injection port at a parting line between (M1) and (M2) defined also by sheets (A) and (B).

Abstract: Light weight component (FIG. 1) comprising hollow, tubular member (A) with load transmission means (B) at its ends and filaments (E) in a plastic matrix C encircling the member and transmission means may be used as tension compression member. The tubular member preferably is a pultrusion adapted to contain sufficient filaments to tensilely strengthen the component. The component may be made, for example, by winding or wrapping filaments about the member while load transmission means are at its ends.

Abstract: A thermosetting coating composition which may have nonvolatile solids content as high as 60% or greater and which may be employed as an automotive topcoat. The composition, exclusive of pigments, solvent, reactive and non-reactive diluents and other non-reactive components, consists essentially of:(A) A binder composition consisting essentially of:(1) Between about 30 and about 75 weight percent of one or more low viscosity resins selected from hydroxy functional acrylic polymers, hydroxy functional polyethers and hydroxy functional polyesters, each of which (i) is substantially soluble in the solvent of the composition and (ii) has a number average molecular weight of between about 1000 and about 2500; and(2) Between about 70 and about 25 weight percent of one or more crosslinked dispersion polymers each of which is substantially insoluble in the solvent of the composition; and(B) An aminoplast crosslinking agent in an amount of between about 5 and about 40 parts per 100 parts of said binder composition.

Abstract: A new article of manufacture is disclosed. This article includes a glass substrate having at least first and second surfaces. A coating is placed on at least a portion of one surface of the glass substrate. The coating has a thickness in a range from about 70 angstroms to about 120 angstroms. The coating consists, on a mixed metal oxide weight basis, of about 60 to 70% cobalt, 12 to 18% chromium, and 16 to 24% iron. A protective layer is placed over the coating.