Abstract: A Reliability and Maintainability Indicator (RAMI) is disclosed which effectively predicts the remaining time of operation of a system, equipment, component, or device before it would fail to perform its intended functions. The ability of RAMI to predict the remaining time of operation before failure is accomplished by having key parameters of an equipment monitored by applicable transducers to sense measurands periodically over a period of time. Then, these measurands are analyzed to project when they would reach pre-established limits which would indicate equipment failure or serious degradation resulting in the equipment failing to perform its intended functions.A micro-processor based computer is used to analyze the measurands, as required, and correlates them, by means of mathematical extropolation to obtain the time at which failure, or a pre-established limit of degradation of the equipment is expected to occur.

Abstract: A physical property of the solid component of a slurry, for example the percentage content of a selected element such as iron, is continuously measured. A sampling device (2) carrying a filter element is immersed in the slurry at a sampling station (A). Vacuum is applied to the sampling device (2) to cause the liquid content of the slurry to pass through the filter element, leaving the solid component deposited on the filter element as a filter cake. The sampling element is transferred to a heating station (B), where the filter cake is dried, and then to a measuring station (C), where the desired physical property is measured. The sampling device is then transferred to a washing station (D), where the filter cake is washed from the filter element so that the procedure can start again. The process is automatically controlled by a microprocessor, enabling continuous sampling of the slurry to be carried out.

Abstract: A granule comprises an inner core, which is formed from a material which does not expand appreciably in the presence of organic compounds, and an outer shell formed from an organo-clay which is preferably held on the inner core with the aid of a binder.The granule can be prepared by tumbling a particle of the inner core material in admixture with a powdered organo-clay and a binder therefor. A particulate bed of the granules can be used for separating organic compounds from a mixture thereof with an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A camera support or holder for a hand-held camera has an arcuate member for reception in the user's palm, and a camera-engaging assembly secured to it for adjustable connection to the camera, at the conventional or standard threaded recess in the camera normally used for attaching a tripod to the camera.

Abstract: A method for increasing the bulk density and decreasing the time of wetting with water of a substantially anhydrous kaolin clay powder, comprising dry milling said powder in a media mill wherein the media is at least +5 mesh, and using work inputs of from about 5 to about 40 HP-hrs/ton of dry clay. The process enables improved handling characteristics for the treated clay with respect to bulk material handling systems.

Abstract: Directly aminating the surface of a 2-dimensional layered lattice silicate comprising reacting the lattice silicate in particulate form with gaseous NH.sub.3 at temperatures below 100.degree. C. to form bound NH.sub.2 groups at the surface, the resulting modified 2-dimensional layered lattice silicate and a filled resin system employing the thusly modified silicate.

Abstract: A chocolate feeding device for chocolate refiners which has a chocolate feeding conveyor provided with movable pick-up blades feeding the chocolate to several points in an adjacent refiner feeding hopper which cooperates with an electric cell, the output of which is representative of the chocolate quantity in said feeding hopper. The feeding hopper is provided with an oscillable shield-like bottom wall the movements of which are controlled by a pneumatic cylinder/piston unit connected to it and controlled in turn by an actuator having a circuit controlled by an oscillable front wall of a chocolate-receiving chamber of the chocolate refiner.

Abstract: Resin-containing compositions, e.g. unsaturated polyester or epoxy resin compositions, are prepared using an organoclay of improved dispersibility. The organoclay is prepared by suspending a smectite clay in water to form a fluid suspension; treating the suspension with a solution of an inorganic salt, the cation of which has a valency of at least two, the concentration of the salt being such as to flocculate the smectite clay substantially completely; mixing the suspension of the flocculated smectite clay with a quaternary ammonium compound, at least one of the four alkyl groups of which has from 10 to 24 carbon atoms; and dewatering the resultant product.

Abstract: A method for improving brightness in a calcined kaolin pigment while minimizing detrimental effects on abrasiveness. The kaolin calciner feed is intermixed with a particulate material which is oxidizable during calcining to provide a source of auxiliary thermal energy in the kaolin bed; and the mixture is calcined at a temperature in the range of about 900.degree. C., but below about 1100.degree. C., and in the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere throughout the calcining step.

Abstract: An automatic soldering device is characterized in that the end portion (solder nozzle) 30 of a feeding tube 10 for guiding thread solder 22 is supported near and directed toward an iron tip by means of a holder 23, the base of which is fixed by means of a spring 25 to a base plates 24 and 54 that are freely adjustable positionwise relative to the iron tip 9, and that the angle of the base plates 24 and 54 relative to the iron tip can be adjusted in all directions by adjusting the protrusion of plural screws provided on the base plates 24 and 54 so that thread solder 22 can be supplied to the iron tip 9 in a suitable manner irrespective of the wear thereof.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus is provided which comprises (a) a fluidized bed container having gaseous fluidization agent intake means and discharge means; (b) gaseous fluidization agent distributor means comprising a distributor-separator plate arranged intermediate said gaseous agent intake and discharge means that is adapted to receive a mass of solid particles and substantially separate said particles from said gaseous agent intake means and has a plurality of parts therethrough spaced over substantially the entire surface thereof which have means for controlling the velocity and dispersion of a gaseous fluidization agent passing between said intake means and said discharge means; and (c) vibrating means for vibrating said container. Preferably, said container includes filter means intermediate said distributor-separator plate and said gaseous agent discharge means.

Abstract: A tool is provided having a back wall, two spaced bottom walls extending from the bottom end of the back wall and two spaced front walls extending upwardly from the ends of the bottom walls which form a generally "U"-shaped channel that is suitable to be used as a retaining clamp for disc brake pistons during the replacement of the disc brake pads in heavy duty, multiple piston brake systems.

Abstract: In the electrodeposition of gold by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing potassium gold cyanide, the improvement which comprises including in the solution a critical concentration of formic acid, a phosphonic acid type chelating agent and a cobalt or nickel compound, at a critical pH, to achieve extremely rapid plating speeds. Relatively high plating temperatures in the range of about 90.degree. to 160.degree. F. and high current densities ranging up to about 1000 ASF may be used to achieve fast plating speeds without degradation of the quality of the deposit.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger wherein a plurality of flat plates are stacked in face-to-face relationship and diffusion bonded together. The plates are formed within their respective thicknesses with channels forming heat-exchange zones through which fluid passes to exchange heat with fluid passing through channels in adjacent plates. Each of the channelled plates has an inlet port which communicates with one end of the heat-exchange zone, an outlet port which communicates with the other end of the heat-exchange zone and, located between the respective ports and the associated ends of the heat exchange zone, a smoothing zone and a distribution zone. The smoothing zone comprises transverse fluid-flow passages wherein a transverse-flow component is imparted to fluid flowing between the distribution zone and the heat-exchange zone, and the distribution-zone comprises a plurality of fluid-flow passages extending between the port and the smoothing zone.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed for use in the process wherein an organophilic clay is manufactured by reacting a smectite-type clay with a higher alkyl-containing quarternary ammonium compound. According to the improvement of the invention, the gelling properties of the resulting organoclay are enhanced, by subjecting the clay as a pumpable slurry, to high-speed fluid shear, prior to the reaction thereof with the ammonium compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing a stable pillared layered lattice clay, comprising the steps of preparing a hydrolyzed solution of ferric ion by reacting a solution of a salt of the said metal with a base at temperatures in the range of 22.degree. to 28.degree. C. and aging the solution within said temperature range to develop the hydrolyzed pillaring agent, contacting an aqueous slurry of a layer lattice clay selected from the group consisting of smectites, vermiculite, and flurohectorite, with said hydrolyzed solution, and recovering the intercalated pillared clay product. The resultant pillared clay product has a unit clay cell containing from 6.1 to 9.8 ferric ions per cell, and has a repeating spacing of from about 22 to 28 Angstroms. The product is particularly useful in catalyzing conversion processes such as the well-known Fischer-Tropsch process.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pillared layered lattice clay, comprising the steps of preparing a hydrolyzed solution of chromium ion by reacting a solution of a salt of the said metal with a base at temperatures above 60.degree. C., aging the solution at or above the said temperatures to develop the hydrolyzed pillaring agent, and contacting an aqueous slurry of a smectite, vermiculite, or flurohectorite with the hydrolyzed solution, and recovering the intercalated pillared clay product. The resultant products have unit cells containing from 1.2 to 4.2 chromium ions per cell, and have a repeating spacing of from about 18 to 28 Angstroms. The products are uniquely active catalysts for numerous applications, e.g., in the petrochemical industry.

Abstract: A key retaining device for capturing and selectively locking therein a portion of the working section of a key. When the key is locked in the device, its handle section is visible so that the presence of the key can be instantly determined without the unlocking of the apparatus, yet the key cannot be removed from the device until unlocked with a master key. Retention of the key within the housing is accomplished by a clamping mechanism employing a longitudinally sliding member having a wedge-like member which is urged toward the working section of the key upon the sliding member moving in a first longitudinal direction. The sliding member is moved by a bolt couled to a lock by a master key and which is rotated by the master key, and a nut which is held in a transverse slot of the slideable member.