Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing highly effective head exchanger elements of the type which comprise corrugated surface enlarging members of strip material fixed to thin walled substrates. The strip material which can be either pre-corrugated or corrugated synchronously with the heat exchanger element manufacturing process is advanced concurrently with a substrate material to a station at which the strip is lightly held in firm abutment with the substrate material by means of an impinging stream of gaseous medium and simultaneously metallurgically bonded to the substrate. The composite product is then cut into lengths to form finished heat exchanger elements.

Abstract: A method of making a portion of a sodium sulfur battery is disclosed. The battery portion made is a portion of the container which defines the volume for the cathodic reactant materials which are sulfur and sodium polysulfide materials. The container portion is defined by an outer metal casing with a graphite liner contained therein, the graphite liner having a coating on its internal diameter for sealing off the porosity thereof. The steel outer container and graphite pipe are united by a method which insures that at the operating temperature of the battery, relatively low electrical resistance exists between the two materials because they are in intimate contact with one another.

Abstract: This application discloses a new powder composition which may be plasma sprayed onto the surface of an article to provide a protective coating therefor. The protective coating may be resistant to heat, wear, and corrosion. The coating may also provide a thermal or radiation barrier.In particular, the coating composition for arc plasma spraying consists of finely divided silicon carbide mixed with finely divided silicon. This coating composition is applied to a substrate by developing a plasma spray, feeding the coating composition to the plasma spray and directing the plasma spray at an exposed surface of the substrate so that the exposed substrate is coated with a coating which consists essentially of beta silicon carbide and silicon.The new article of manufacture disclosed in this application, is a substrate with a tightly adherent coating thereon consisting essentially of beta silicon carbide and silicon. The substrate may be any material, either metallic or non-metallic, to which the coating adheres.

Abstract: A method of densifying a reaction bonded silicon nitride article is disclosed. In accordance with the broadest principles disclosed, a densification aid is incorporated into a reaction bonded silicon nitride article. The so-made reaction bonded silicon nitride article is enclosed in a chamber which also contains a mixture of silicon nitride powder and powder the same as the densification aid incorporated into the reaction bonded silicon nitride article. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article, and the powder mixture associated therewith, is subjected to a nitrogen gas pressure sufficient to prohibit a significant volatilization of silicon nitride at a sintering temperature. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article, the powder mixture and nitrogen gas associated therewith are heated to a temperature above 1700.degree. C. for a time sufficient to permit sintering of that article whereby the strength of the reaction bonded silicon nitride article is increased.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a dam structure which may be used in a float glass chamber for separating a hot entry end of the chamber from a cold exit end of the chamber. The dam has been specially designed so that it will mix tin currents sheared from a glass ribbon moving thereover of higher temperature with colder tin moving around the edges of the dam and returning from downstream of the float chamber. The mixing of the tin currents occurs at a position spaced outwardly fromm the position of movement of the glass ribbon over the dam so that glass ribbon is not subjected to zones of tin having varying temperatures which could cause optical distortions therein.

Abstract: A method of forming a slip cast article having at least one zone of cellular construction is disclosed. The method may be utilized to make articles having zones of different cellular size as well as articles having zones of cellular construction adjacent zones of noncellular construction. In its simplest form, the method is carried out by providing a slip casting mold which has a casting volume formed therein. A stabilized casting slip is poured into the casting volume. The pH of the stabilized casting slip is increased until a hydrolysis reaction takes place between the water forming the vehicle and an oxidizable metal forming the casting material. This hydrolysis reaction results in the evolution of gases, some of which are trapped within the slip to develop a zone of cellular construction. The greater the increase in pH, the more vigorous is the hydrolysis reaction and the resulting cellular construction has larger sized cells.

Abstract: A coating of chromium/chromium oxide is disclosed for coating the surfaces of electrically conducting components of a sodium sulfur battery. This chromium/chromium oxide coating is placed on the surfaces of the electrically conducting components of the battery which are in contact with molten polysulfide and sulfur reactants during battery operation.

Abstract: A method of forming a sodium sulfur battery and of starting the reactive capability of that battery when heated to a temperature suitable for battery operation is disclosed.An anodic reaction zone is constructed in a manner that sodium is hermetically sealed therein, part of the hermetic seal including fusible material which closes up openings through the container of the anodic reaction zone. The hermetically sealed anodic reaction zone is assembled under normal atmospheric conditions with a suitable cathodic reaction zone and a cation-permeable barrier. When the entire battery is heated to an operational temperature, the fusible material of the hermetically sealed anodic reaction zone is fused, thereby allowing molten sodium to flow from the anodic reaction zone into reactive engagement with the cation-permeable barrier.

Abstract: This invention sets forth the details of an electrical terminal for connecting a heating grid on a thermal window to a source of electric power. In general, such terminals have at least one bonding foot and a lead area to which an electrical connection can be made. The improved terminal of this specification is one in which the bonding foot is formed so as to have at least a first planar portion and a second planar portion interconnected by an interconnecting portion. The first and the second planar portions extend in spaced but substantially parallel planes. By such a construction, when the terminal is solder bonded to a heating grid on a terminal window, the first planar portion of the bonding foot is in close proximity to the heating grid and the second planar portion of the bonding foot is spaced from but interconnected by solder with the heating grid.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an improvement in a sodium sulfur battery construction in which a seal between various battery compartments is made by a structure in which a soft metal seal member is held in a sealing position by holding structure. A pressure applying structure is used to apply pressure on the soft metal seal member when it is being held in sealing relationship to a surface of a container member of the sodium sulfur battery by the holding structure. The improvement comprises including a thin, well-adhered, soft metal layer on the surface of the container member of the sodium sulfur battery to which the soft metal seal member is to be bonded.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon carbide ceramic material without forming large areas of a feathered alpha silicon carbide microstructure is disclosed. Basically, the method involves heating the silicon carbide material to a temperature in a range from about 1850.degree. C. to about 1920.degree. C., preferably about 1900.degree. C., and maintaining the material at the selected temperature for a period of time from about 6 hours to about 12 hours. Such a heating cycle produces silicon carbide ceramic material which does not have large areas of a feathered alpha silicon carbide microstructure therein.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing silicon nitride particles, either in an aglomerated or unaglomerated form, is disclosed. Basically, the particles to be nitrided are placed in an enclosed furnace and heated to a suitable temperature at which the enclosed furnace is filled with an initial gaseous mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, the mixture containing not more than about 6% by volume hydrogen. Thereafter, the material is heated in the enclosed furnace to a temperature of about 900.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. at which time the nitrogen starts to react with the silicon in the furnace. Thereafter, the enclosed furnace is demand filled with a nitriding gas mixture consisting essentially of 1 to 10% by volume helium and about 99 to 90% by volume nitrogen. The furnace is heated to a suitable nitriding temperature and the demand filling of the chamber with the nitriding gas helium/nitrogen combination is continued until the nitriding operation is terminated.

Abstract: A method of applying a metallic oxide coating to a moving ribbon of glass is disclosed for four thicknesses of glass, namely, 7/32; 3/16; 5/32 and 1/8 inch. In each of these methods, first and second spray zones are established at opposite edges of the moving ribbon. The spray zones are moved in a simultaneous manner at the same speed from one edge to the other edge whereby the spray zones pass each other at the center line of the moving ribbon. When each of the spray zones reach the opposite edge of the moving ribbon, their direction of travel is reversed so that they once again pass one another at the center line of the moving ribbon. The first and second spray zones are spaced a slight distance from one another in the direction of movement of the moving ribbon. The moving spray zones are cycled back and forth in the aforedescribed manner continuously as the ribbon of material is moved thereunder so that a coating is applied to the moving ribbon.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a machine for applying a spray coating across the width of a glass ribbon. The glass ribbon is one which generally has recently been manufactured and is carried on a conveyor moving below the machine. In accordance with the preferred teachings of this apparatus, two spray applying devices are used. These devices commence their spraying at opposite edges of the moving ribbon of glass. The devices are moved in a simultaneous manner at the same speed from one edge to the other edge of the glass ribbon whereby the apparatus pass each other at the center line of the moving ribbon. When each of the spray apparatus reach the opposite edge of the moving ribbon of glass, their direction of travel is reversed so that they once again pass one another at the center line of the moving ribbon. The first and second spray apparatus are spaced a slight distance from one another in the direction of movement of the ribbon of glass.

Abstract: A catalyst system and method of making the same is taught for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. A catalyst system includes a substrate and a washcoat on the substrate. The washcoat is formed of zirconia. A catalyst is placed on the washcoat consisting of rhodium metal or rhodium metal with another catalyst metal. By using zirconia as a washcoat, the rhodium is not dissolved into the washcoat during periods when the catalyst system is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions, as is the case when a gamma alumina washcoat is used.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an equilibrium catalyst for treating oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons found in an exhaust gas stream from an internal combustion engine. The catalyst includes a substrate, a selective three-way equilibrium catalyst, an oxygen storage material component for maintaining the activity of the equilibrium catalyst during momentary excursions of the exhaust gas stream into oxygen rich conditions, an active metal component for a water gas and steam reforming process which maintains the overall activity of the equilibrium catalyst when treating an exhaust gas stream deficient in oxygen, and a component for oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides when the exhaust gas stream is developed from the burning of air mixtures of about stoichiometric proportions.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of this specification, a sodium sulfur battery is formed as follows. A plurality of box shaped sulfur electrodes are provided, the outer surfaces of which are defined by an electrolyte material. Each of the electrodes have length and width dimensions substantially greater than the thicknesses thereof as well as upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface. An electrode structure is contained in each of the sulfur electrodes. A holding structure is provided for holding the plurality of sulfur electrodes in a stacked condition with the upwardly facing surface of one sulfur electrode in facing relationship to the downwardly facing surface of another sulfur electrode thereabove. A small thickness dimension separates each of the stacked electrodes thereby defining between each pair of sulfur electrodes a volume which receives the sodium reactant. A reservoir is provided for containing sodium.

Abstract: This application discloses a new powder composition which may be plasma sprayed onto the surface of an article to provide a protective coating therefor. The protective coating may be resistant to heat, wear, and corrosion. The coating may also provide a thermal or radiation barrier.In particular, the coating composition for arc plasma spraying consists of finely divided silicon carbide mixed with finely divided silicon. This coating composition is applied to a substrate by developing a plasma spray, feeding the coating composition to the plasma spray and directing the plasma spray at an exposed surface of the substrate so that the exposed substrate is coated with a coating which consists essentially of beta silicon carbide and silicon.The new article of manufacture disclosed in this application, is a substrate with a tightly adherent coating thereon consisting essentially of beta silicon carbide and silicon. The substrate may be any material, either metallic or non-metallic, to which the coating adheres.

Abstract: This specification teaches a device for dispensing a mirror button from a stack of mirror buttons, and for feeding that mirror button to a predetermined position from which the mirror button can be bonded to a surface of a windshield. A mirror button is the means by which a mirror structure is secured to the windshield. The mirror button is formed of a sintered metallic compound and it has a plastic material thereon which is used to bond the mirror button to the windshield. The device disclosed includes a closed dispenser housing for keeping the mirror button at a constant temperature and humidity. The divice also includes structure for dispensing mirror buttons, one at a time, and structure which brings the dispensed button to a predetermined position at which it can be applied to the windshield.

Abstract: Device for adding secondary air to a converter structure including a converter housing with inlet and outlet structures attached to opposite ends thereof. A pair of catalyst containing beds are supported within the housing in spaced relationship. The improved device for introducing secondary air in the space between the spaced catalyst containing beds includes structure for forming a restricted throat between the spaced catalyst containing beds and structure forming an annular zone between the structure and the interior surface of the converter housing. The annular zone encircles the restricted throat and is connected thereto by a plurality of openings. A secondary air supply supplies air to the annular zone which can flow through the openings to the restricted throat.