Abstract: An improved structural member includes a pair of top flanges each extending along the member's length in a separated and opposed co-planar fashion, and a pair of similarly separated and opposed co-planar bottom flanges also extending throughout the member's length. At least two web members connect the lowermost surfaces of the top flanges to the uppermost surfaces of the bottom flanges, and at least one leg member connects these web members together and holds them in a spaced-apart relationship. The invention also includes cooperatively configured components for connecting the inventive structural members together in end-to-end and perpendicular relationships, and also strengthening members which may be added to or removed from the structural members, as needed. Additionally, components for attaching the structural members to other mechanisms and to conventional accessories are provided, so that a modular beam and scaffold system is formed.

Abstract: A modular truss frame system which can be assembled in a variety of sizes and configurations includes a plurality of interchangeable tubular chord members, as well as a plurality of interchangeable tubular diagonal web members. A plurality of top node connection members join together predetermined ones of the top chord members in an end-to-end relationship. The top node members also serve to join one end of each of the web members to the ends of predetermined ones of the top chord members. A plurality of bottom node connection members are used to join together predetermined ones of the ends of the web members which are opposite the ends thereof that are joined to the top chord members by the associated top node members. The top chord members and the associated ends of the web members are connected to the top node, and the opposite ends of the web members are connected to the bottom node, by means such that each member is attachable to its respective node without rotational movement of the member.

Abstract: A temperature controlled fluid system includes hot and cold fluid supply connections and hot and cold fluid valves for controlling the flow of the hot and cold fluids into the system. Each valve has a valve seat and a valve member which is moveable with respect to the valve seat. First and second stepper motors are connected to the valves in such a manner that actuation of the respective stepper motor moves the corresponding valve member in relationship to the associated valve seat. The system includes a mixer for promoting mixing of the hot and cold fluids into a fluid mixture which has a substantially uniform temperature throughout a given cross section of the mixed fluid flow.

Abstract: A faucet supplies water at a computer controlled temperture. Hot and cold water valves are connected to hot and cold water supplies. A mixing connection is attached between the valves for mixing the hot and cold water together and supplying it at a faucet discharge. Each valve has a movable valve member which can be moved toward and away from a valve seat to control the flow of hot or cold water. A stepper motor is connected to each of the valve members and can be controlled by a digital error signal to rotate, in steps, either to increase or decrease the flow of hot or cold water. A temperature sensor is provided at the faucet outlet for sensing the actual temperature. A microcomputer receives signals corresponding to the actual temperature. The actual temperature is compared to a selected set point temperature which is programmed into the microcomputer.

Abstract: A method for coating quartz with a protective boron nitride film constitutes heating the quartz member to a temperature of 900.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. in a stream of inert gas. After heating the quartz member to the desired temperature, the flow of inert gas is discontinued, whereupon ammonia and diborane gases, mixed at a temperature of 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C., are allowed to flow past the quartz member. The flow of mixed ammonia and diborane gases is maintained for a time sufficient to deposit a boron nitride film of desired thickness. The boron nitride is produced by chemical reaction between ammonia and diborane.

Abstract: Sintering and gas hot isostatic pressing are used to prepare polycrystalline yttria-gadolinia ceramic scintillator bodies. Multi-component powder compacts, formed by cold pressing cold isostatic pressing, are sintered to the closed porosity stage. The density of the sintered compacts is then increased by gas hot isostatic pressing. The finished scintillator includes Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and one or more of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3, Dy.sub.2 O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3 rare earth activator oxides. The finished scintillator may also include at least one of SrO and CaO as afterglow reducers.

Abstract: A metal oxide varistor with controllable breakdown voltage and capacitance characteristics is fabricated by controlled diffusion of lithium into conventional metal oxide varistor material at elevated temperature. The varistor layer containing lithium exhibits an increased breakdown voltage, lowered capacitance, and low leakage current while maintaining a high coefficient of nonlinearity.

Abstract: A molded commutator is made up of segments arranged in a ring with their brush contact surfaces facing inwardly and forming a cylindrical shape. A matrix of plastic is molded between and around the outside of the segment ring in order to separate the segments electrically and to hold them in the ring configuration. A reinforcing metal casing serves to contain the commutator against breaking up due to centrifugal forces experienced during rotation. An alternate embodiment uses metal bands embedded within the matrix for this purpose.

Abstract: A method for preparing high density yttria-gadolinia ceramic scintillators includes cold-pressing a multicomponent powder to form powder compacts and then sintering the compacts to form transparent-to-translucent ceramic scintillator bodies. The powder compacts are formed by either die pressing or die pressing followed by isostatic pressing to further increase green density. The powder compacts are sintered in vacuum or a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of between 1800.degree. C. and 2100.degree. C. The preferred heating sequence includes a holding period at a temperature lower than the final sintering temperature. The finished scintillator includes Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and one or more of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3, Dy.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3 rare earth activator oxides. The finished scintillator may also include at least one of SrO and CaO as afterglow reducers.

Abstract: A flow nozzle for a circuit interrupter includes a plurality of at least two throat regions which permit at least two transitions from subsonic to supersonic flow in the main nozzle flow channel. Very high speed photographs made of the operation of arc interruption devices of the type considered herein have shown that the greatest amount of arc cooling occurs in transition regions between subsonic and supersonic gas blast flow. Accordingly, the ability of arc interruption devices to quickly extinguish resulting arcs between electrodes in the main flow channel is significantly enhanced by the presence of a plurality of throat regions. These throat regions may be provided by shaped constructions or by bypass collars disposed in the downstream position of the main flow channel. The instant invention is applicable both to conventional single-flow and dual-flow interrupter nozzle designs.

Abstract: Polycrystalline ceramic scintillators are prepared by a vacuum hot-pressing method. The process includes pressing a multicomponent powder at high temperature under vacuum. Following a holding period, the pressure and temperature are increased and maintained for a predetermined length of time. The finished scintillator includes Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and one or more of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3, Dy.sub.2 O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3 rare earth activator oxides. At least one of the oxides of elements Zr, Th, and Ta is included as a transparency promoting densifying agent. At least one of CaO and SrO may be included as a light output restorer.

Abstract: Polycrystalline ceramic scintillators are prepared by a vacuum hot-pressing method. The process includes pressing a multi-component powder at high temperature under vacuum. Following a holding period, the pressure and temperature are increased and maintained for a predetermined length of time. The finished scintillator includes Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and one or more of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3, DY.sub.2 O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3 rare earth activator oxides. The finished scintillator may also include at least one of SrO and CaO as afterglow reducers.

Abstract: A bismuth-free, zinc oxide based varistor exhibits a controllable overshoot/undershoot voltage characteristic. The varistor is composed of zinc oxide as the primary constituent, with smaller quantities of barium, boron, one or more transition elements and aluminum. Varistor voltage versus time response is dependent on the degree of aluminum doping. Typically, more than approximately 0.003 mole percent, but less than approximately 0.1 mole percent aluminum is employed, depending on desired voltage overshoot/undershoot characteristic. Varistors having a controllable voltage versus time response are used in a method for providing a rectangular voltage pulse in response to a current input.

Abstract: An integrated coal-fired gas turbine power plant includes a hydraulic compressor for providing pressurized air to a coal combustion system and cooling air to the gas turbine.

Abstract: Diffusing boron-containing glass, such as bismuth borosilicate glass, into conventional sintered zinc oxide based varistor material reduces varistor material intrinsic capacitance. In the method, a layer of glass powder is screen-printed, painted, or otherwise applied to the varistor material surface. Upon firing, a portion of the glass diffuses into the material, while the remainder creates an insulating layer on the varistor material surface which may be removed by grinding. The varistor material may then be annealed to restore varistor electrical properties which may have been degraded by mechanical damage caused by the grinding. Device electrodes are attached by conventional means.

Abstract: The external segments of a commutator for rotating electrical machinery are mechanically interlocked to a molded matrix by a plurality of tang assemblies having protrusions at their ends for engagement deep within the internal matrix, to hold the segments against centrifugal forces. The tang assemblies also have anchoring bars shaped for interlocking engagement with the longitudinal channels located on the inner surfaces of the segments.

Abstract: A method for fabricating high resolution magnetic printing head wherein a comb-like magnetically permeable member is formed by electrodeposition. The magnetic printing head, comprising a substrate with an elongated gap across which conductive lines pass, is formed by electrodeposition of magnetically permeable material between adjacent conductive lines positioned on the substrate. A special jig facilitates electrodeposition by ensuring constant flow of electrolyte through the gap and between the conductive lines during the plating process. A single substrate with its associated gap and conductive lines is employed in certain applications. However, a dual or triple substrate configuration, wherein each substrate and respective conductive lines are aligned with each other, is preferred in a coincident current printing head.