Abstract: A method for producing thick ceramic films of greater than 10 .mu.m on selected substrates is described. Conventional sol gel solutions are loaded with up to about 90% by weight of finely divided ceramic particles and mixed. The resulting slurry or paint can be either spun or dip coated or sprayed or painted onto a planar or other substrate, fired to remove the organic materials and to develop a microcrystalline structure. The fired film may then be heated. Composite films are also contemplated.

Abstract: A light emitting diode array mounted on a printed circuit board is provided with capacitive means to reduce voltage, mounted in a glass tube and provided with a standard candelabra or other base for insertion into a light socket in a slim line exit or other sign. In a preferred embodiment the circuit board is rotatable relative to the metal base so as to facilitate maximum light emission from the sign.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for damping vibrations in high Tc superconducting magnetic levitation bearings and the like is described. By controlling the temperature of the superconducting material at the "energy dissipation peak", which is a few degrees below the temperature of the transition to the superconducting state, a damping effect can be switched on or off as required.

Abstract: In monitoring systems for acquiring data about a subject, such as are used, for example, in the medical, scientific and engineering fields, determination of temporal relationships between data acquired from multiple monitoring devices is facilitated by means of an interface unit which interconnects the monitoring devices with tape recorders for storing the data and a computer for processing the data. The interface unit generates various timing and control signals including a time code signal. The interface unit supplies the time code signal to the recording devices for recording simultaneously with the data. The time code signal may be a linear time code (LTC) derived from a video sync signal generated by the interface unit for synchronizing a camera. A sampling clock signal for controlling digitizing of the analog data acquired by the system is derived from the time code signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring differential oxygen concentration between two flowing gas streams is described. A reference gas and a sample gas in separate gas flow paths are passed, at selected temperature, pressure and flow rate over a respective one of a pair of electrically connected oxygen sensors which produce an output signal proportional to the differential oxygen concentration between the sensors. The output signal may be amplified and recorded by any conventional means. An internal calibration system is also described.

Abstract: A method for rapidly collecting kinetic rate data from a temperature scanning reactor for chemical reactions. The method, which is particularly useful for studying catalytic reactions, involves ramping (scanning) of the input temperature to a reactor and recording of output conversion and bed temperature without waiting for isothermal steady state to be established.

Abstract: An integrated self service package pick up and drop off system which is particularly suitable for retail dry cleaning operations is described. A fully enclosed cabinet contains a customer drop off chute, and a customer pick up door which are computer controlled in response to customer signals. Inside the cabinet, which can be entered only by an authorized attendant, to remove dropped off orders and load complete orders, there is provided a motorized gantry system which can select and remove an individual customers order from bar coded storage rails and transport the order down the central aisle to the customer pickup point for removal from the cabinet.

Abstract: A simple bore hole plug for either temporarily or permanently sealing mine bore holes and ventilating shafts or the like is described. A plurality of used motor vehicle tires are arranged one upon the other coaxially in increasing order of diameter. Steel plates are placed at the top and bottom of the tire pile and maintained in spaced relation by means of a metal separator pipe. A steel rod having a lifting eye at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, is passed axially through the pipe and a nut is tightened on the threaded portion to draw the tires tightly together.

Abstract: C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 hydrocarbons may be produced under the action of pulsed microwave energy in a reactor containing activated charcoal as a catalyst/reactant. Methane and/or water is the other active ingredient and the product is primarily acetylene.

Abstract: A pressure cleaning device for cleaning paint from a paint roller is described. An elongated housing of any selected cross section having an open end and a closed end is provided with a solvent inlet either adjacent to or in the closed end and a flexible seal partially closing the open end. A paint roller is forced into the cylinder past the flexible seal and pumped up and down two or three times so that solvent pressure builds up in the cylinder and cleans the roller quickly and with minimum solvent use. In a preferred embodiment the paint is a water based paint and the solvent is water.

Abstract: Iso-butylene based polymers and particularly butyl rubber may be polymerised from iso-butylene or iso-butylene/isoprene mixtures respectively using a metallocene type catalyst. In particular, polymerization or co-polymerization takes place very rapidly under anhydrous and anaerboic conditions at temperatures between -100.degree. C. and -20.degree. C. in the presence an initiator co-initiator system comprising Cp'MXX'X"/BRR'R" in an organic solvent such as toluene, where Cp' is a .pi.-bonded cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand; M is selected from titanium, zirconium and hafnium; XX' and X" are the same or different anionic groups containing 1-20 nonhydrogen groups; B is boron; and R, R' and R" are the same or different anionic groups containing 1-30 nonhydrogen groups.

Abstract: High molecular weight syndiotactic polystyrene having greater than 96% syndiotacticity can be produced in very high yield (greater than 92%) by polymerizing styrene monomer, under rigorously anhydrous conditions, with a catalyst comprising Cp*M(CH.sub.3).sub.3, where Cp* is a single .eta..sup.5 -cyclopentadienyl or an .eta..sup.5 -cyclopentadienyl group optionally covalently bonded to M through a substituent, and M is selected from Ti, Zr, Hf and a co-catalyst comprising B(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.3 dissolved in an aromatic solvent such as toluene or styrene, at carefully controlled temperatures in the range -15.degree. C. to +50.degree. C. The rapid rate of polymerization and high yield make the production of hard, rigid products by reaction injection moulding possible.

Abstract: A process for producing nanocrystalline materials, and in particular nanocrystalline nickel having an average grain size of less than about 11 nanometers and ternary and quaternary nickel-iron alloys, such as NiFeCr and NiFeCrMn alloys, having a grain size less than about 100 nm is described. The nanocrystalline nickel is electrodeposited onto the cathode in an aqueous acidic electrolytic cell by application of a pulsed D.C. current. The ternary and quaternary Nickel-Iron alloys and other binary, ternary and quaternary alloys may be produced by D.C. electroplating or by pulsed D.C. electroplating. The cell electrolyte also contains a stress reliever, such as saccharin, which helps to control the grain size. The novel products of the invention find utility as wear resistant coatings, hydrogen storage materials, magnetic materials and as catalysts for hydrogen evolution.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting or measuring movements in geological and other formations and capable of carrying out such measurements on a three-dimensional basis. The apparatus has a housing acting as a support and an elongated arm, e.g., a stiff measuring rod of adjustable length, projecting from the housing and acting as a movement following element. One end of the rod is secured within the housing by sliding and pivoting connections so that the remote end of the rod may move freely in three dimensions relative to the housing. Three movement sensors are positioned within the housing. A first one of the sensors measures translational motion of the rod in the axial direction. A second sensor measures rotation of the rod about the pivot in a first plane. A third sensor measures rotation of the rod about the pivot in a second plane which intersects the first plane at right angles. The first movement sensor is preferably a linear potentiometer and the second and third sensors are preferably rotary potentiometers.

Abstract: A self crimping connector for securing very fine wires of the order of 0.0015" diameter into an electrical connector is described. A terminal block having an opening at least five times the diameter of the wire is preferably gold plated and the wire is inserted. A malleable metal pin means, preferably a gold pin having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the opening, is inserted between the wire and a sidewall of the opening. A longitudinal force is applied to the exposed end of the pin so as to radially expand the pin and force it into locking engagement with the wire and the sidewall without deforming or nicking the wire and thus weakening it.

Abstract: A method of detecting and treating malignant and non-malignant tissue abnormalities and lesions of the skin; conjunctiva; respiratory, digestive and vaginal mucosa; endometrium and urothelium; and for ablating the endometrial tissue and treating body fluids, including blood containing suspended abnormal cells, and for treating cancers of the nervous system in which 5-aminolevulinic acid or precursor thereof is administered to the patient in an amount sufficient to induce synthesis fluorescence and/or photosensitizing concentrations of a protoporphyrin IX in the abnormal cells, followed by exposure of the abnormal cells to light of photoactivating wavelengths.

Abstract: A polymer supported catalyst comprises Ziegler-Natta catalysts immobilized on a magnesium-modified polymer support. The catalyst support is prepared by (1) dissolving a carboxyl group-containing polymer in a solvent and precipitating the polymer in a polar non-solvent, (2) wet-grinding the precipitated polymer, and (3) mixing the ground polymer with an organomagnesium compound or a complex of an organomagnesium compound and an organoaluminum compound to give a magnesium-modified polymer support. Optionally, the resulting magnesium-modified support is treated with a halogen-containing silicon compound. The catalysts may be loaded onto the support by reacting the magnesium-modified support with a transition metal compound to form a catalyst constituent, and then combining the catalyst constituent with an appropriate organo-metallic compound.

Abstract: A system for coupling a plurality of solar powered bubble pumps in series is described. By controlling the boiling temperature of the circulating fluid contained in the system, the flow of liquid between the units of the series can be balanced and the pressure differential between the first and last units can be used to convert heat energy into kinetic energy by use of an external turbine or electrical generator.

Abstract: A method for rapidly collecting kinetic rate data from a temperature scanning reactor for chemical reactions. The method, which is particularly useful for studying catalytic reactions, involves ramping (scanning) of the input temperature to a reactor and recording of output conversion and bed temperature without waiting for isothermal steady state to be established.