Abstract: A holster for holding clips of fasteners for fastening application by power tools used in the construction trades. The holster includes a substantially rigid, hollow, upright pouch for vertical storage of the fasteners, said pouch having a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-section, a back wall extending upwards and having means for attaching the holster to a worker, and an angled bottom side having a hole at its lowest point, through which moisture and debris may exit the pouch.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device including an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet. The stationary permanent magnet levitates the iron structure while the superconductor structure can stabilize and levitate the rotating iron structure.

Abstract: A nonimaging solar collector. A method and article of manufacture of a solar collector includes an outer housing transparent to light, a reflector element positioned within the outer housing, an absorber concentrically disposed relative to the outer housing, and a heat conduction fin coupled to the absorber and having a wedge shape which tapers to a smaller thickness as a function of increasing radial separation from the absorber.

Abstract: Ceramic materials which exhibit stability in severely-corrosive environments having high alkali-metal activity, high sulfur/sulfide activity and/or molten halides at temperatures of 200.degree.-550.degree. C. or organic salt (including SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.2 Cl.sub.2) at temperatures of 25.degree.-200.degree. C. These sulfide ceramics form stoichiometric (single-phase) compounds with sulfides of Ca, Li, Na, K, Al, Mg, Si, Y, La, Ce, Ga, Ba, Zr and Sr and show melting-points that are sufficiently low and have excellent wettability with many metals (Fe, Ni, Mo) to easily form metal/ceramic seals. Ceramic compositions are also formulated to adequately match thermal expansion coefficient of adjacent metal components.

Abstract: An engine-driven generator having a battery powered starter motor includes a permanent magnet battery charger/pre-exciter for charging the starting battery and for exciting the main alternator field winding of an AC synchronous alternator included in the engine-driven generator. A first winding in the permanent magnet battery charger/pre-exciter provides power to a first voltage regulator that, in turn, maintains a desired load voltage substantially independently of alternator loading. A second winding within the permanent magnet battery charger/pre-exciter supplies power to a second voltage regulator that maintains a desired battery charging voltage substantially independently of the alternator loading. Use of the permanent magnet battery charger/pre-exciter maintains a desired battery charge current and a desired main alternator field excitation substantially independently of the load current supplied by the alternator.

Abstract: A molten salt electrolyte/separator for battery and related electrochemical systems including a molten electrolyte composition and an electrically insulating solid salt dispersed therein, to provide improved performance at higher current densities and alternate designs through ease of fabrication.

Abstract: A method for rapidly solidifying water in a container includes the steps of disposing a predetermined amount of sand in a container which contains water and solidifying the water in the container.

Abstract: A materials grinding and processing machine includes a sizing concave having a sizing screen contained therein. Ordinarily, the sizing concave is pivotally connected adjacent its upper end to the frame of the materials processing machine. To replace the sizing screen, a temporary pivotal connection is made between the lower end of the sizing concave and the frame. The upper end of the sizing concave is permitted to swing away from the frame to provide access to the sizing screen from above. A hydraulic cylinder, coupled between the frame and the sizing concave, can be selectively attached at different points on the sizing concave to move the sizing concave and improve access, from above, to the sizing screen.

Abstract: An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A wedge layer has an optical index of refraction n.sub.1, and top, bottom and side surfaces intersecting to define an angle of inclination .phi.. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n.sub.2. The first layer index n.sub.2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as a light polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light or diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

Abstract: A high temperature superconductor and composite structure. A superconductor is disposed on a silver substrate without interdiffusion. The superconductor is formed by heating to a temperature not exceeding the peritectic point of the superconductor material, providing an oxidizing atmosphere while not exceeding the melting point of silver and disposing the superconductor on the silver substrate.

Abstract: A ceramic superconductor is produced by close control of oxygen partial pressure during sintering of the material. The resulting microstructure of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x indicates that sintering kinetics are enhanced at reduced p(O.sub.2). The density of specimens sintered at 910.degree. C. increased from 79 to 94% theoretical when p(O.sub.2) was decreased from 0.1 to 0.0001 MPa. The increase in density with decrease in p(O.sub.2) derives from enhanced sintering kinetics, due to increased defect concentration and decreased activation energy of the rate-controlling species undergoing diffusion. Sintering at 910.degree. C. resulted in a fine-grain microstructure, with an average grain size of approximately 4 .mu.m. Such a microstructure results in reduced microcracking, strengths as high as 191 MPa and high critical current density capacity.

Abstract: A thermotherapy device for use in treating cancer. The thermotherapy device includes a radio frequency power source for energizing transducers to output ultrasound waves to heat a patient treatment site. The transducers are arranged in a cylindrical shape to treat the patient and a variable number of ultrasound transducers can provide a customized therapy treatment.

Abstract: A collimator assembly for removing selected radiation output from a specimen. The assembly includes collimator elements with each element having walls comprised of a first material covered by an inner layer of a second material which preferentially absorbs inelastic scattered radiation created in the first material.

Abstract: An anchor having a tapered shape is attached to a decoration, such as a pine cone, by way of wires or strings. The anchor is then inserted into the front of a wreath, narrow end first, through the branches making up a wreath, until the branches lie between the anchor's wider end and the decoration. The branches prevent the wider end of the anchor from being easily withdrawn through the wreath, and thus keep the decoration attached to the wreath.

Abstract: A combined snow plowing and snow throwing vehicle includes an elongate plow blade at its forward end. The plow blade can be shifted to direct snow to either of the right or the left and includes separate snow throwing fans mounted, respectively, at the right and left ends of the plow blade. A user-actuable control system provides independent actuation of the snow throwing structures so that the snow throwing structure at the downstream end of the plow blade is actuated regardless of whether the plow is directing snow to the right or to the left. This enables the vehicle to plow and throw snow to either the right or to the left and further enables the vehicle to clear snow while traveling both up and down an airport runway.

Abstract: A method and system for synthesizing nanocrystalline material. A system includes a chamber, a nonconsumable cathode shielded against chemical reaction by a working gas not including an oxidizing gas, but including an inert gas, a consumable anode vaporizable by an arc formed between the cathode and the anode, and a nozzle for injecting at least one of a quench and reaction gas in the boundaries of the arc.

Abstract: A medium for enhancing growth and availability of water during a mushroom life cycle, comprising a synthetic resin and a casing material, the resin consisting essentially of a substantially-linear water-soluble polymer capable of forming a water absorbing network within the casing material, such that the polymer is dispersed within the casing material upon exposure to water and retains water for mycelia to mushroom growth progression. Use of polyacrylamides benefits growth by retaining water, reducing evaporation loss, improving yields, and increasing product distribution into larger size ranges.

Abstract: A materials grinder has a materials receiving hopper, an exit opening into a shrouded grinding chamber and a powered ram for driving materials accumulated in the hopper to and through the exit into the grinding chamber. As grinding drum is rotatably disposed inside of a shroud adjacent the exit of the hopper to grind the ends of materials to be ground as they enter the grinding chamber and to continue to grinding as the materials are carried downwardly toward the bottom rear of the grinding chamber. The bottom of the shroud is open to receive an adjustable transverse shear bar assembly that is pivotally mounted to provide adjustment of the upper edges of the transverse shear bars with respect to the materials grinder drum.

Abstract: An expandable braided sleeve having an acrylic resin coating on its individual filaments. The braided sleeve can be expanded by pushing its ends inwardly toward each other. The resin coating on the filaments of the braided sleeve creates friction that causes the expanded braided sleeve to retain its expanded shape even when the ends of the sleeve are released. This makes it easier to install the braided sleeve onto a wire bundle. Once the expanded braided sleeve is in place over the wire bundle, the ends of the sleeve are pulled apart to return the sleeve to its narrow or unexpanded shape. The increased friction provided by the resin coating has the further effect of avoiding fraying at the ends of the braided sleeve.

Abstract: An engine-driven generator includes an internal combustion engine, a permanent magnet alternator and an AC to AC converter. The output frequency and voltage of the permanent magnet alternator are largely dependent on engine speed and the alternator load. The AC to AC converter converts the speed-dependent alternating potential developed by the alternator to another alternating potential whose frequency and voltage are largely independent of engine speed. Voltage regulation is provided by varying the engine speed in accordance with the load current. Frequency regulation is provided by frequency dividing the alternator output by an integer divisor that varies in accordance with engine speed. Additional voltage regulation is provided by deleting selected cycles of the alternator output current as needed to maintain the RMS output voltage within predetermined limits.