Abstract: A method for manufacturing flexible Nb.sub.3 (Al,Ge) multifilamentary superconductive material in which a sintered porous niobium compact is infiltrated with an aluminum-germanium alloy and thereafter deformed and heat treated in a series of steps at different successively higher temperatures preferably below 1000.degree. C. to produce filaments composed of Nb.sub.3 (Al,G3) within the compact. By avoiding temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. C. during the heat treatment, cladding material such as copper can be applied to facilitate a deformation step preceding the heat treatment and can remain in place through the heat treatment to also serve as a temperature stabilizer for supeconductive material produced. Further, these lower heat treatment temperatures favor formation of filaments with reduced grain size and, hence with more grain boundaries which in turn increase the current-carrying capacity of the superconductive material.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for promoting selective shell-side flow distribution between and providing structural support for modular straight tube bundles in a heat exchanger or the like, wherein a plurality of flow guides, each of which includes three axi-symmetrically-located radial panels, are connected along their outer radial edges to form a polygonal array establishing mutually shared partitions between modular tube bundles. Various flow guide configurations permit gaps in the mutually shared partitions to promote uniform shell-side communication between the modules, and accommodate individual tube bundle support grids in assembled relation with the flow guides.

Abstract: An improvement in a tritium control system based on a catalytic oxidation reactor wherein accidental releases of tritium into room air are controlled by flooding the catalytic oxidation reactor with hydrogen when the tritium concentration in the room air exceeds a specified limit. The sudden flooding with hydrogen heats the catalyst to a high temperature within seconds, thereby greatly increasing the catalytic oxidation rate of tritium to tritiated water vapor. Thus, the catalyst is heated only when needed. In addition to the heating effect, the hydrogen flow also swamps the tritium and further reduces the tritium release.

Abstract: A duct system for distributing humidified air from a humidifier has a duct and an eliminator sheet assembly mounted at an outlet of the duct. The eliminator sheet assembly includes eliminator sheets movably mounted in the outlet of the duct, and means for securing the eliminator sheets in a plurality of positions so that the direction of air discharged from the outlet can be changed. A structural member for mounting the eliminator sheet assembly at the duct includes a track defined by sidewalls, one of which sidewalls extends upward of the other to capture droplets emitted from the eliminator sheet assembly, and a drain plate assembly for catching condensation falling from the duct. The drain plate assembly includes an elongated trough for attachment to the duct, the trough having two sidewalls and a flexible partition. The partition has an inverted V-shaped cross section and divides the trough into two compartments extending side-by-side.

Abstract: A humidification apparatus including a housing, a fan assembly mounted in the housing and having conduits extending therein, a slinger assembly rotatably mounted in the housing adjacent to and coaxial with the fan assembly and having vanes on a surface thereof, and water feed means for delivering water through the conduits in the fan assembly to the surface of the slinger assembly.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for micro-coulometric determination of sulfur in hydrocarbon samples in which interference of chlorine and oxides of nitrogen is minimized. The process comprises the steps of oxidizing the sample, scrubbing the oxidized sample with a tin-containing agent and coulometrically titrating the sample thereafter.

Abstract: A process for producing carbon monoxide and synthetic coal by treating carbohydrates with acid in the absence of any appreciable gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: An assembly for restraining emitting electrodes (14) in an electrostatic precipitator of the type having collecting electrodes (12, 13) arranged in rows spaced at equal distances in parallel planes and spaced-apart emitting electrodes (14) hung in rows centrally between adjacent collecting electrodes (12, 13), such assembly including a rigid electrically-conductive grid (16) suspended from and maintaining the mutual spacing of the emitting electrodes (14), non-conductive rods (34) attached to and extending out from the grid (16) toward the walls (10) of the precipitator, and non-conductive plates (38) attached to the walls (10) interposed between the ends of the respective rods (34) and the walls (10).

Abstract: A secondary hardening alloy steel composition consisting essentially of about 0.25-0.5% carbon, about 0.5-1.0% manganese, about 1.5-3.0% nickel, about 0-1.0% chromium, about 1.75-2.5% molybdenum, about 0-0.4% vanadium, and an additive selected from about 1-3% aluminum and a combination of at least about 1% aluminum and at least about 1% silicon for a combined Al+Si content of about 2-4%, the balance being iron and impurity elements. The present steel composition has the following characteristics: it exhibits a flat tempering response, it is hardenable upon tempering to a Rockwell C hardness of at least 50, and it has an improved combination of hardness vs. toughness properties after tempering in the secondary hardening range. A method of preparation is also described.

Abstract: A ferritic, nickel-free alloy steel composition, suitable for cryogenic applications, which consists essentially of about 10-13% manganese, 0.002-0.01% boron, 0.1-0.5% titanium, 0-0.05% aluminum, and the remainder iron and incidental impurities normally associated therewith.

Abstract: A method for recovering lithium from its molten amalgam by electrolysis of the amalgam in an electrolytic cell containing as a molten electrolyte a fused-salt consisting essentially of a mixture of two or more alkali metal halides, preferably alkali metal halides selected from lithium iodide, lithium chloride, potassium iodide and potassium chloride. A particularly suitable molten electrolyte is a fused-salt consisting essentially of a mixture of at least three components obtained by modifying an eutectic mixture of LiI-KI by the addition of a minor amount of one or more alkali metal halides. The lithium-amalgam fused-salt cell may be used in an electrolytic system for recovering lithium from an aqueous solution of a lithium compound, wherein electrolysis of the aqueous solution in an aqueous cell in the presence of a mercury cathode produces a lithium amalgam. The present method is particularly useful for the regeneration of lithium from the aqueous reaction products of a lithium-water-air battery.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a calcium anode and a suitable cathode in an alkaline electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of an hydroxide and a chloride. Specifically disclosed is a mechanically rechargeable calcium/air fuel cell with an aqueous NaOH/NaCl electrolyte.

Abstract: A sintered rare earth-iron Laves phase magnetostrictive alloy product characterized by a grain oriented morphology. The grain oriented morphology is obtained by magnetically aligning powder particles of the magnetostrictive alloy prior to sintering. Specifically disclosed are grain oriented sintered compacts of Tb.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2 and their method of preparation. The present sintered products have enhanced magnetostrictive properties.

Abstract: An eliminator core having a hinged member for sealing the top edges of a plurality of eliminator sheets formed in a bundle. More particularly the core having a cam for displacing the hinged member.

Abstract: A burner assembly for combusting pyrolysis gases includes a chamber, a first cone-shaped conduit connected at its larger end to the chamber and a second conduit mounted to extend through the smaller end of the first conduit to have an open end positioned in the interior of the first conduit. Further, a conical baffle is mounted within the first conduit to have its apex adjacent the open end of the second conduit and a duct means is mounted to the first conduit for admitting air into the first conduit.

Abstract: A burner in which steam is utilized to atomize fluid fuels such as natural gas and fuel oils. The burner includes a first tubular housing having a first outlet defined at one end; and a second tubular housing fixedly mounted within the first housing having an end which defines an exit adjacent and enclosed by the first outlet and so mounted to define an annular space between the housings. The burner further includes a plurality of fuel nozzles mounted within the second housing wherein an initial mixture of steam and a fluid fuel is formed and from which the initial mixture is emitted toward the exit and a confluence with air flowing in said annular passage so that a combustible mixture is formed; and a turbulator ring mounted within and at the exit to define a sharp-edged orifice and a narrow annular orifice.

Abstract: An assembly for an ultrasonic flowmeter apparatus includes a housing having first and second opposite ends, an inlet and an outlet, a tube within the housing to define a passage in the housing, a wall within the housing to support the tube and to partition the housing into first and second plenums which are in flow communication through the passage of the tube and ultrasonic transducers mounted at the opposite ends of the housing to transmit ultrasonic signals in an axial direction through the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for steam drying a cake of filtered solids formed on a filter element of a rotary disc vacuum filter where the disc filter element is mounted for rotation in a container, the lower portion of which includes a slurry tank and the upper portion of which includes a steam hood. The steam hood encloses a portion of the filter element in a steam chamber and includes tubular members which are connected to support the steam hood walls and which serve as an element of an introduction means for conveying steam into the chamber.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for a system for determining liquid levels by echo ranging composed of a housing including a piezoelectric crystal mounted within the housing to transmit acoustic waves, an impedance matching medium mounted within the housing adjacent the crystal and including a window layer and a diaphragm layer to transmit acoustic waves between the crystal and a gaseous environment which window layer is composed of a material having hollow glass spheres dispersed therein, and a dampening backing mounted in said housing to abut the crystal which backing includes a plurality of solid lead spheres; a tube mounted to extend from the housing to form a beam of acoustic waves propagated from said crystal, the tube having an end which is telescoped into the housing and spaced a short distance from the diaphragm to form a gap for flow communication; and a reference reflector assembly mounted to extend from adjacent said housing, which assembly includes a U-shaped member having two legs extending in slideabl

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting two otherwise coupled railroad vehicles in gaseous flow communication comprises first and second ducts each mounted respectively at one end to one of the railroad vehicles, first and second coupling ducts each mounted respectively at an opposite open end of the first and second ducts to pivot about a vertical axis with one end enclosed in its respective duct and with a second end extending out from its respective duct, first and second frame members each mounted respectively at the second end of the first and second duct and having a mating surface circumferentially surrounding the second end, and first and second biasing means to extend between the respective pair of duct and coupling duct to urge the second end away from its duct and maintain the respective mating surfaces in abutting and sliding engagement one with the other.