Abstract: A container is provided which can be designed to heat its outer surface as to sterilize it, or to heat its inner surface and any contents therewithin. In a container that self sterilizes its outer surface, the container includes a combustible layer of thermit-type pyrotechnic material which can be ignited to generate considerable heat, and a thin casing around the combustible layer which is of highly thermally conductive materials such as aluminum which can be heated to a high temperature by the ignited combustible layer. A buffer layer which may be of metal, lies within the combustible layer, and a layer of insulation such as Teflon lies within the buffer layer to insulate the contents of the container from the heat. The thicknesses of the thermit-type charge of the combustible layer and of the casing are chosen so that the amount of heat from the charge heats the casing to a temperature which is only moderately high to avoid melting the casing.

Abstract: An improved system having at least one endless band saw blade characterized by a continuously regenerated cutting edge and unidirectionally driven along a pair of courses extended in mutual parallelism through a cutting station located near the midportion of said courses. The blade is supported at the cutting station by pairs of guides continuously rotated through less than 360.degree. of angular displacement during each cutting operation for thus continuously regenerating the blade-supporting surfaces of the guide whereby blade wobble substantially is eliminated.

Abstract: A liquid reactant injector assembly especially suited for the injection of liquid reactant into a high temperature metal reductant vapor and carrier gas stream for the production of metal is disclosed. The assembly is especially adapted for the continuous production of high purity silicon by the reduction of SiCl.sub.4 with sodium. The assembly includes a refractory-lined, hollow, metal shell having a plurality, suitably ten, equally-spaced, concentric, radially directed ports provided in the shell and wall. A hydraulic, atomizing type, spray nozzle is sealingly mounted in each of the ports recessed from the inner wall surface.

Abstract: A method characterized by the steps of positioning a plurality of uniformly dimensioned photovoltaic cells in registered relation with a plurality of openings formed in a planar tool for affording access to the P contact surface of each of the cells, connecting the N contact surface of alternate cells to the P contact surface of the cells interposed therebetween, removing therefrom residue of solder flux, applying to the N contact surfaces of the cells a transparent adhesive, placing a common transparent cover plate in engaged relation with the adhesive, placing a film over the circular openings for hermetically sealing the openings, and establishing a vacuum between the film and the cover plate for thus simultaneously forcing the cells into vacuum bonded relation with the cover plate.

Abstract: An over-under double-pass interferometer in which the beamsplitter area and thickness can be reduced to conform only with optical flatness considerations is achieved by offsetting the optical center line of one cat's-eye retroreflector relative to the optical center line of the other in order that one split beam be folded into a plane distinct from the other folded split beam. The beamsplitter is made transparent in one area for a first folded beam to be passed to a mirror for doubling back and is made totally reflective in another area for the second folded beam to be reflected to a mirror for doubling back. The two beams thus doubled back are combined in the central, beam-splitting area of the beamsplitter and passed to a detector. This makes the beamsplitter insensitive to minimum-thickness requirements and selection of material.

Abstract: An endoscope is disclosed having a propulsion mechanism and at least one transmitter at the distal end transmitting bursts of energy waves (radio frequency or ultrasonic) for tracking the position of the distal end through the use of two or more transducers on the anterior or lateral surfaces of a patient. The propulsion mechanism may consist of two radially expandable bladders separated by an axially expandable bellows with only the forward bladder attached to the distal end so that by expanding and contracting them in proper sequence, propulsion of the endoscope is achieved. Alternate mechanisms comprise compliant paddles on the distal end directly on an articulated section, or compliant paddles on a rotatable sleeve on the distal end. The endoscope has a sheath which includes material having a sharp melting point slightly above body temperature so that the sheath may be made flexible at selected sections by applying current to separate heating wires in the sections of the sheath.

Abstract: A method for forming a solar array strip including the steps of depositing solder pads on printed circuitry deposited on flexible substrate storing the resulting substrate on a drum, withdrawing the substrate from the drum and incrementally advancing it along a linear path, serially transporting solderless solar cells into engagement with the pads and thereafter heating the pads for thus attaching the cells to the printed circuitry, cleaning excess flux from the solar cells, encapsulating the cells in a protective coating and thereafter spirally winding the resulting array on a drum.

Abstract: A method wherein a quartz tube is charged with chunks of metallurgical grade silicon and/or a mixture of such chunks and high purity quartz sand, and impurities from a class including aluminum, boron, and the like, as well as certain transition metals including nickel, iron, manganese and the like. The tube is then evacuated and heated to a temperature within a range of 800.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C., whereupon a stream of gas comprising a reactant, such as silicon tetrafluoride, continuously is delivered at low pressures through the charge for causing a metathetical reaction of impurities of the silicon and the reactant to occur for forming a volatile halide and leaving a residue of silicon of an improved purity. Additionally, the reactant may include carbon monoxide gas, whereby impurites such as iron and nickel react therewith to form volatile carbonyls.

Abstract: Continuous ozone injection into water circulating between a cooling tower and heat exchanger with heavy scale deposits inhibits formation of further deposits, promotes flaking of existing deposits, inhibits chemical corrosion and controls algae and bacteria.

Abstract: A sodium storage and injection system for delivering atomized liquid sodium to a chemical reactor employed in the production of solar grade silicon. The system is adapted to accommodate start-up, shut-down, normal and emergency operations and is characterized by a jacketed injection nozzle adapted to atomize liquefied sodium and a supply circuit connected to the nozzle for delivering thereto liquefied sodium comprising a plurality of replaceable sodium containment vessels, a pump interposed between the vessels and the nozzle, and a pressurizing circuit including a source of inert gas connected with the vessels for maintaining the sodium under pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing geological assessments of a formation located along a borehole, which includes a boring tool that bores a pair of holes into the walls of the borehole and into the surrounding strata, and a pair of probes installed in the holes. One of the probes applies an input such as a current or pressured fluid, and the other probe senses a corresponding input which it receives from the strata. The boring tool can include a series of rigid bore segments that can be easily installed in a housing that lies in the borehole, and apparatus for connecting the bore segments in series while also advancing them into the strata surrounding the borehole, so that a straight hole can be bored in the strata.

Abstract: An improved solar cell, and method of forming the same, characterized by a semiconductor silicon wafer of P-type material having diffused therein a shallow N-type region, a sintered silver contact affixed to the surface of the N-type region at the outer surface thereof formulated from silver powder blended with silver metaphosphate for establishing a zone of increased carrier concentration, and an aluminum or silver/aluminum alloy contact affixed to the P-type wafer at the outer surface thereof opposite the N-type region.

Abstract: A method for determining the characteristics and amount of microscopic contaminants lodged on a photographed surface. An image enhanced full-color photographic negative and print are taken of the contaminated surface. Three black-and-white prints are developed subsequently from red, green and blue separation filter overlays of the color negative. Both the color and three monochromatic prints are then scanned to extract in digital form a profile of any contaminant possibly existing on the surface. The resulting profiles are electronically analyzed and compared with data already stored relating to known contaminants.

Abstract: A high performance propellant having greatly reduced hydrogen chloride emission is disclosed comprising a minor amount of hydrocarbon binder (10-15%) and at least 85% solids including ammonium nitrate as the primary oxidizer (about 40% to 70%), a significant amount (5-25%) powdered metal fuel, such as aluminum, a small amount (5-25%) of ammonium perchlorate as a supplementary oxidizer and optionally a small amount (0-20%) of a nitramine such as HMX.

Abstract: In a solar cell array of terrestrial use, an improved double-sided solar cell package consisting of a photovoltaic cell having a metallized P-contact strip and an N-contact grid provided on opposite faces of the cell, a transparent tubular body forming an enclosure for the cell, a pedestal supporting the cell from within the enclosure comprising an electrical conductor connected with the P-contact strip provided for each face of the cell, and a reflector having an elongated reflective surface disposed in substantially opposed relation with one face of the cell for redirecting light to impinge thereon whereby the cell is subjected to incident radiation at each of its opposite faces.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a substantially oscillation-free siesmic signal for use in underwater petroleum exploration, including a bag with walls that are flexible but substantially inelastic, and a pressured gas supply for rapidly expanding the bag to its fully expanded condition. The inelasticity of the bag permits the application of high pressure gas to rapidly expand it to full size, without requiring a venting mechanism to decrease the pressure as the bag approaches a predetermined size to avoid breaking of the bag.

Abstract: A saturated solution of silicon and an element such as carbon having a segregation coefficient less than unity is formed by placing a solid piece of carbon in a body of molten silicon having a temperature differential decreasing toward the surface. A silicon carbide seed crystal is disposed on a holder beneath the surface of the molten silicon. As a rod or ribbon of silicon is slowly pulled from the melt, a supersaturated solution of carbon in silicon is formed in the vicinity of the seed crystal. Excess carbon is emitted from the solution in the form of silicon carbide which crystallizes on the seed crystal held in the cool region of the melt.

Abstract: A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector may be constructed by a process utilizing well-known freeway paving machinery. The solar energy absorber is preferably a fluid-transporting pipe. Efficient utilization leading to high temperatures from the reflected solar energy is obtained by cylindrical shaped secondary reflectors that direct off-angle energy to the absorber pipe. To obtain higher temperature levels, refocusing secondary reflectors, that cause a series of discrete spots of highly concentrated solar energy to fall on the fluid-transporting pipe, are utilized. A seriatim arrangement of cylindrical secondary reflector stages and spot-forming reflector stages produces a high temperature solar energy collection system of greater efficiency.

Abstract: A machine for attaching solar cells to a flexible substrate having printed circuitry deposited thereon. The strip is fed through a first station in which solar cells are elevated into engagement with solder pads for the printed circuitry and thereafter heated by an infrared lamp, a second station at which flux and solder residue is removed, a third station at which electrical performance of the soldered cells is determined, a fourth station at which an encapsulating resin is deposited on the cells, a fifth station at which the encapsulated solar cells are examined for electrical performance and a final station at which the resulting array is wound on a take-up drum.

Abstract: A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector may be constructed by a process utilizing well-known freeway paving machinery.