Abstract: A method of controlling bulk absorption of atomic hydrogen and facilitating degassing of hydrogen from aluminum alloy workpieces during heat treatments in furnaces with ambient and/or moisture-laden atmospheres to prepare for fabrication in sequential working stages, the method includes exposing the surface of the workpieces to an etching process after each or any of the sequential working stages, and subjecting the workpieces to a final etch treatment using an inorganic alkaline or acidic etch solution modified by an addition of five to twenty-five weight percent transition metal chloride salt before being subjected to said heat treatment. The workpieces exposed to the transition metal chloride salt modified etch solution are subjected to the heat treatment. The etch solution is used to substantially decrease the amount of atomic hydrogen entering the bulk of the workpieces and to facilitate removal of atomic and molecular hydrogen from the bulk of the workpieces during the heat treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing fiber optic cable to a connector, comprising providing a cable, said cable having an outer surface, an end section, a cable jacket, and a strengthening material; positioning a strain relief boot on said outer surface of said cable, said strain relief boot having an inner surface, wherein said inner surface has a first geometric pattern; providing a connector assembly, said connector assembly having a connector assembly part, a plug end, a cable end, and an exterior surface, wherein said exterior surface has a second geometric pattern which cooperates with said first geometric pattern on said inner surface of said strain relief boot, said connector part being located on said cable end; positioning said end section of said cable in a manner such that said cable jacket and said strengthening material touch, and cover said outer surface of said connector part; and using a simple tool to slide said strain relief boot toward said connector, and over said connector part, thereby

Abstract: A monolithic terminal interface for supporting, and establishing electrical contact to, components such as relays and fuses includes a terminal board fabricated from a self-supporting sheet of resilient, electrically insulating material. The terminal board includes one or more terminal sockets, each being defined by a terminal slot formed through the board. The terminal slot creates opposed contact beams which include contact portions spaced by a distance less than the thickness of a terminal. The contact portions of the contact beams engage a terminal inserted therebetween, and because of the resilient nature of the material of the board, maintain contact pressure with the terminal. A pattern of metalization extends across at least one face of the board and into the terminal slot so as to cover the contact regions in this manner, electrical contact can be established through the conductive metal pattern to a terminal inserted in the slot.

Abstract: A new and unique connector adapter shutter door assembly retrofitable to many existing connector adapters or receptacles which becomes a part of the same by connectedly fitting or snapping into place. The shutter door assembly can be used as a safety device to prevent laser light from escaping when a connector is removed from an adapter or receptacle. Because of the ease with which the shutter door assembly can be retrofitted to existing adapters, it is possible to selectively install the shutter door assembly only when a safety hazard is present. Also the shutter door assembly can be used to shield a connector end to prevent foreign matter, such as dust and dirt, from entering the connector. The shutter door assembly is a molded one-piece structure and has inwardly hinged doors permitting one hand connector insertion and withdrawal. The streamline design of the shutter door assembly takes very little space when in use making it desirable for typical space constrained applications.

Abstract: The splice enclosure of this invention provides an environmentally safe means for splicing, or joining together, two or more fiber optic cables. This particular enclosure is designed to handle re-entry for possible future splicing of cables not currently active, the addition of more cables or servicing of the existing cables. Further, the enclosure can be mounted to a support structure via mounting plates and fasteners or can be banded to the support structure. The enclosure includes a weather and impact resistant casing and a covered drawer that can be easily removed from the casing and taken to an area wherein splicing can be conducted. The drawer includes a splice tray retaining area that can accommodate several splice trays at a time. Further, the drawer includes a buffer tube storage area where stored buffer tubes will not exceed desired bend radius.

Abstract: An easily installable, robust device capable of securing and supporting cable even under extreme weather and loading conditions. The device supports cable during and after stringing of the cable. The device is easily adaptable to accommodate a large range of cable diameters and can be mounted to a variety of support structures.The device includes a body and cap formed via die casting. A non-machined hinge mechanism that is die cast as a portion of both the body and the cap connects the same and allows the device to be mounted as a single unit to a support structure. A two piece grooved elastomer bushing seats in the body and cap to surround and cushion the cable extending through the device. By altering the size of the grooves of the bushing, various diameter cable can be accommodated.Side walls having windows formed on the body of the trunion help facilitate distribution of the load of the cable.

Abstract: A method of controlling bulk absorption of atomic hydrogen and facilitating degassing of hydrogen from aluminum alloy workpieces during heat treatments in furnaces with ambient and/or moisture-laden atmospheres by exposing the surface of the workpieces to a low molecular weight solution or dispersion of an alkyl phosphonic acid, an olefinic phosphonic acid or an aryl phosphonic acid before subjecting the workpieces to heat treatments. The workpieces exposed to the phosphonic acid solution or dispersion are subjected to heat treatment in furnaces having ambient or moisture-laden atmospheres. The solution or dispersion involves chemical species that are deposited onto the aluminum surface from the phosphonic acid solution or dispersion which substantially decrease the amount of atomic hydrogen entering the bulk of the workpieces from their surfaces during heat treatment and, in addition, facilitate removal of atomic and molecular hydrogen from the bulk of the workpieces during heat treatment.

Abstract: A method of controlling bulk absorption of atomic hydrogen and facilitating degassing of hydrogen from a metal or metal alloy workpiece during heat treatments in furnaces with ambient and/or moisture-laden atmospheres, the method includes exposing the surface of the workpiece to an acidified inorganic salt solution or dispersion, with the inorganic salt of the solution containing a transition metal cation and a sulfate, phosphate or nitrate anion, before being subjected to said heat-treatment, said transition metal cation having an equal or positive standard reduction half-reaction potential relative to metal or metal alloy workpiece, the workpiece exposed to the acidified transition metal sulfate, phosphate or nitrate salt is subjected to a heat treatment.

Abstract: A method for making an essentially unsaturated synthetic meixnerite with high CO.sub.2 adsorption abilities. The method comprises activating hydrotalcite, then cooling and rehydrating such activated material in a carbon dioxide-free environment. The resultant material can absorb more than 10 milliliters of CO.sub.2 per gram.

Abstract: A method for welding together two workpieces includes the steps of abutting workpieces together along respective edges of each of the workpieces, and locating one end of a rotatable tool astride the edges and against the workpieces. The tool is provided with a relatively narrow pin extending from the working end of the tool to engage the workpiece edges. The tool and pin are rotated to heat the workpiece edges, and the tool and workpieces are relatively moved. Electric current is supplied between the workpiece edges and the pin, with electrical resistance occurring between the workpiece edges and pin to provide heat in addition to the heat generated by friction occurring between the pin and workpieces to weld the workpieces together.

Abstract: A method of fabricating MMCs having high thermal conductivity coupled with coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values which approximates the CTE of ceramics and semi-conductor materials typically used in electronic packaging. The method comprises preparing a formed agglomeration of powder particles (preform); partially sintering the preform; placing the partially sintered preform into a forming chamber; infiltrating the preform with liquid-phase metal; and allowing the liquid-phase metal to solidify and form an MMC around and through the preform. In a preferred embodiment, the preform is constructed from silicon carbide, and the metal matrix is an aluminum-silicon alloy.

Abstract: A method of controlling bulk absorption of atomic hydrogen and facilitating degassing of hydrogen from aluminum alloy workpieces during heat treatment in furnaces with ambient and/or moisture-laden atmospheres. The method includes exposing the surface of the workpieces to an acidified inorganic salt solution or dispersion, with the inorganic salt of the solution containing a transition metal cation and a sulfate, phosphate or nitrate anion, before being subjected to the heat treatment. The workpieces are next subjected to the heat treatment, and the acidified transition metal sulfate, phosphate or nitrate salt is used to substantially decrease the amount of atomic hydrogen entering the respective bulks of the workpiece during heat treatment and to facilitate removal of atomic and molecular hydrogen from the bulks of the workpieces.

Abstract: A method for making a synthetic mixed metal oxide or meixnerite which, when activated, has a high B.E.T. surface area, typically about 290 m.sup.2 /g or greater. The method comprises activating hydrotalcite, then cooling and hydrating such activated material with a metal salt solution in a carbon dioxide-free environment. Such hydration can produce a material that absorbs more than 100% of its weight in water. Following hydration, this material is activated a second time in a virtually carbon dioxide-free environment. Such reactivation decomposes the salt and leaves a supported metal oxide readily available to be used for catalyst reactions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making wire harness. The apparatus includes the use of a sequential wire processor that serially and sequentially fabricates circuits having terminal ends. The terminated circuits are transferred by a transfer means to an upstanding carousel provided with arrays of circuit-receiving clips. The transfer means receives terminated circuits from the sequential wire processor and places them on the clips of the carousel. The carousel is then moved to an assembly line and robotic station where robots remove the circuits from the clips of the carousel and place the terminated ends of the circuits in cavities of connectors strategically located on the assembly line. The robots have end effectors that physically insert the terminal ends into the connector cavities.

Abstract: A multi-fiber receptacle that aligns and mates an MT or similar multi-fiber ferrule of a connector to an active device or to a lightguide means. The receptacle contains a lower chamber that houses a lightguide means that may be provided on a circuit board containing electronic components needing connection to the outside world via optical means. Above the lower chamber, the receptacle has an upper chamber which receives a connector employing a multi-fiber ferrule. The receptacle and connector are designed such that when the connector is received by the upper chamber, the ferrule fits into the lower chamber and is automatically aligned and mated with the lightguide means. Further, the receptacle and connector can be keyed in a manner that limits reception of a transmitter connector in a transmitter receptacle and a receiver connector in a receiver receptacle. The transmitter and receiver receptacles are preferably identical except for the keying feature.

Abstract: A method of preventing roll chatter in a stand of a rolling mill during the process of directing a strip of material through the mill. The method comprises the step of introducing into the stand a low power vibration component that prevents the rolls in the stand from vertically oscillating in any generally large, uncontrollable manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting ultrasonic waves to and from a body of a molten material. The apparatus includes a buffer rod for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the molten metal, a second buffer rod for receiving ultrasonic waves from the molten metal, piezoelectric elements associated with each buffer rod, and cooling mechanisms for protecting the piezoelectric elements by maintaining the buffer rods at a prescribed rate of thermal equilibrium with the molten metal. The cooling mechanisms are configured so as to facilitate regulation of the air flow about the apparatus.

Abstract: A junction box for motor vehicles in which first and second housing portions are provided for receiving and containing, respectively, low and high electrical current circuitboards. The housing portions extend in a generally common plane when connected together to form a housing unit. A planar insulating panel member containing buses and integral insulation displacement terminals are located between the housing portions and in a plane generally perpendicular to the common plane of the housing portions. The first and second housing portions are abutted and fastened together on opposed sides of the panel member with the buses and integral insulation displacement terminals. The insulation displacement terminals are effective to directly receive insulated wires of an electrical harness and electrically connect the same to the buses and to circuits of and electrical components associated with the circuitboards.

Abstract: An elongated metal frame structure for connecting a large elongated container to a vehicle employed in transporting the container. The frame comprises a plurality of aluminum alloy tubes connected together at certain corners of the frame by corner assemblies. The assemblies comprise a "standard" cast iron or steel fitting and at least one steel member connected to one face of the fitting. The exterior surfaces of each steel member are coated with materials that are effective in electrically separating the steel member from an aluminum tube of the frame when the corner assemblies and aluminum tubes are assembled together. The size of the steel members in cross section with the materials applied to the surfaces of the steel member is such that the steel member can slip into the end of the aluminum tube located at a corner of the frame.

Abstract: A refractory brick and system of bricks for constructing flue walls of a ring furnace. The brick and the bricks of the system have opposed sides and upper and lower surfaces when disposed in a vertical wall structure, with one of the surfaces having at least one crosswise groove while the other surface has a corresponding crosswise tongue for seating in the groove of an adjacent brick, the tongues and grooves terminating short of the ends or sides of the brick when the bricks are disposed in a vertical wall structure. The crosswise tongues and grooves have rounded configurations sized to mate with bricks having the same tongue and groove configurations when a plurality of such bricks are stacked one upon the other in constructing a vertical wall.