Abstract: An underwater sonar transducer includes a centrally located beam with a plurality of stacks of piezoelectric transducer elements extending from each side, with a rigid end beam at the opposite end of each stack. A plurality of bolts extending from one end beam to the other on opposite sides of the stacks are tightened to apply a desired amount of prestress on the ceramic stacks. Arcuate radiating elements are welded to opposite sides of each end beam, end cap members are fastened to the centrally located beam at each end of the transducer and a jacket of elastomeric material is bonded to the edges of the end cap members to prevent ingress of fluid into the piezoelectric elements. Energizing of the piezoelectric elements causes expansion and contraction of the stacks, pushing the end beams in and out and causing bowing of the radiating elements to project sonar energy.

Abstract: Method and improved apparatus for recovering a volatile organic material, such as caprolactam, from a liquid mixture of organic and inorganic materials are disclosed. The method features the step of mixing the liquid mixture with superheated steam for 0.005 to 1.0 second to vaporize a large portion of the volatile organic material without degrading the organic materials. The steam and vaporized organic materials are then separated from the liquid mixture remaining, followed by separation of the vaporized organic material from the steam. The vaporized organic material subsequently is condensed. The improved apparatus features means for introducing superheated steam into a vaporizer feed pipe, as well as means for mixing the superheated steam with the liquid mixture in the pipe for 0.005 to 1.0 second so that a large portion of the volatile organic material is vaporized and feeds with the steam and remaining liquid mixture into the vaporizer for separation.

Abstract: A fuel injector, system and method comprising means for ejecting fuel directly into a cylinder (14) an engine through a non-conductive, heat storing element. The element including a nozzle (44) portion comprising a preferably ceramic body having a narrow, first passage (158) in communication with a conical second portion (164). The two portions cooperating to cause the fuel to flow turbulently therethrough. The nozzle further includes a heater (174) for elevating the temperature to the nozzle to a predetermined temperture. In this manner, as the fuel contacts the heated nozzle it is atomized. In one embodiment of the invention a solid ceramic body is employed. In another embodiment, the nozzle (178) is formed by a plurality of stacked ceramic disks which include a central opening (182) therethrough and a plurality of heating elements (184), one for each disk. The openings (182) are sized to approximate the continuous conical portion of the solid body nozzle.

Abstract: A wheel rim assembly (10) includes a first bead flange and a separable second bead flange (16), the separable second bead flange (16) being maintained on the rim assembly (10) by a separated retaining ring assembly (20). Each terminal end (22) of the retaining ring assembly (20) has an arcuately shaped bore (24) extending circumferentially, the bore (24) having an enlarged opening area (30) communicating with an axial opening (28) located at the outboard axial surface (23) of the retaining ring assembly (20). Located within the bores (24) is a flexible locking member (40) comprising a stranded wire cable (42) having balls (44) affixed securely thereto, the balls (44) being captured within the enlarged opening areas (30) and the flexible cable (42) being maintained within the arcuately shaped bores (24) by means of retaining connections (36) received in radial openings (34) passing through the terminal ends (22) and bores (24 ) of the retaining ring assembly (20).

Abstract: A control valve assembly for use in an anti-lock braking system wherein a 3-way isolation valve normally connects a wheel cylinder to a master cylinder and isolates that wheel cylinder(s) from the master cylinder and simultaneously connects the wheel cylinder to the common connection of a pressure modulating unit when the anti-lock system has been energized. The assembly enables use of a three channel anti-lock system in a dual circuit cross split brake system and increases the protection of the normal brake circuit from leakage in the modulating unit.

Abstract: A proportioning control valve for a fluid pressure braking system for a tractor-trailer combination vehicle permits unproportioned communication of control pressure when the tractor is pulling a trailer but proportions communication of control pressure when the tractor is operated without a trailer to establish a proportionally lower pressure level at the outlet of the valve. When the pressure level at the control port exceeds a predetermined level established by a spring, the control valve proportions at a rate which increases the pressure level at the outlet at a rate greater than the rate of increase of control pressure until the unproportioned pressure level is attained.

Abstract: Modified phenolic resins and cured resins prepared therefrom.

Abstract: A low voltage supply control system provides on command a voltage doubling of the supply voltage to the fuel injector coils of a fuel injection system. The command signal is responsive to the magnitude of the battery voltage falling below a predetermined level at any time during the operation of the fuel injection systems be it on cold starting or during a component failure in the power generating system of the vehicle during operation. The advantage of this system is that the impedance of the fuel injector coils is typically many times higher than that of coils used without the low voltage supply control system. Overall the cost advantages of the low voltage supply control system are very attractive.

Abstract: The invention is a hydraulic failure compensating switch which incorporates a differential pressure valve which responds to a hydraulic failure in one of a pair of vehicle braking circuits and altering the pressure reducing function of the braking system proportioning valve(s) in response thereto to increase braking torque at the vehicle's rear wheels.

Abstract: A method of forming foamed fibers which comprises the steps of forming a melt of a polymer of fiber-forming molecular weight in which is admixed a blowing agent, and a closed-cell-forming additive, extruding said melt through a spinnerette, quenching said melt downstream of said spinnerette under conditions at which bubbles form in said melt, and drawing said melt as it is quenched to produce a foamed fiber having fine bubbles contained therein is disclosed. The product fibers may contain substantially only closed-cells and/or substantially uniform cross sectional area cells.

Abstract: The compact brake piston-return mechanism (10) comprises a housing (22) having a bore (40) with a longitudinal sleeve (50) received fixedly in said bore (40). The sleeve (50) has a through opening (56) receiving therein a piston (60) which extends exteriorly of the through opening (56) to an enlarged diameter portion (69) for engaging a brake stack (32, 35, 36). The piston (60) has an interior opening (66) in which is disposed a deformable member (80) connected by means of a ring (70) with the piston (60). A deforming member (90) is disposed within said deformable member (80), deforming member (90) extending axially through an aperture (63) at an end (62) of the piston (60) disposed within said bore (40). The deforming member (90) includes a radially extending member (94) which has an axially extending portion (95) that encircles interior ends (52, 62) of the sleeve (50) and piston (60).

Abstract: A cable driver and method for an underwater telemetry transmitter puts a signal on a single insulated wire forming part of a cable pack in which the wire is coiled and which is connected to a surface transmitting unit. The underwater transmitter includes an amplifier having an input, directly, time division multiplexed or digitally encoded from one or more hydrophones and an output into the primary winding of a toroidal transformer having a center hole through which the cable passes as it is deployed from the cable pack. The cable also passes through a similar toroidal transformer whose winding is connected to provide a feedback signal to the input of the amplifier. Since the insulated wire may be of greatly varying length and the cable pack may have greatly varying numbers of turns, the load impedance and resulting noise also vary and the above described arrangement makes the signal on the wire substantially independent of the variable load.

Abstract: A method of voltage compensation for an air/fuel ratio sensor as may be used in the exhaust system of a fuel injected internal combustion engine. The method comprises the steps of storing the design supply voltage in a look-up table, measuring the real time supply voltage and calculating a binary fraction value from the ratio of the present or real time supply voltage value and the design supply voltage value. The predetermined design threshold voltage value of the sensor is stored and then it is multiplied by the binary fraction value to get a real time threshold voltage value. The voltage output of the sensor is measured and compared with the real time threshold voltage value. In response to the comparison, a control signal is generated indicating whether or not the air/fuel mixture is lean.

Abstract: A method of assembling a heated electrochemical sensor (24) for use in sensing exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine (16). A tubular electrolyte member (72) having a closed end (74) is insulated from a metal shell (30). The external surface (80) and internal surface (82) of the electrolyte member (72) are coated with a conductive material. A sleeve (96) retains a terminal member (120) having first (142) and second (144) contact rings located on shoulders (126) and (140). Terminals (164 and 164') are located in slots (160 and 162) in bore (138) on terminal member (120). A tubular heater (92) has an end (93) inserted in bore (138) until contact surfaces (161 and 163) engage terminals (164 and 164'). A coil spring (146) is placed on tubular heater (92) and a wave or washer spring (148) is placed adjacent contact ring (142). Sleeve (96) and shell (30) are brought together and spot welded (108). Thereafter, a sealed joint is produced to complete the manufacture of the heated electrochemical sensor (24).

Abstract: This invention relates to a crystalline polyamide corporation having dispersed therein a nucleating agent composed of one or more finely divided inorganic materials, one or more fatty acid amides and one or more low molecular weight polymers selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyoxides and polsulfides.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fluid pressure braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes an operator controlled mechanism which generates independent brake pressure command signals, each of which are transmitted to separate auxiliary controllers. Each of the controllers transmits its command signal to the other auxiliary controllers and also to a master control unit. The master control unit sorts between the command signals and generates a preliminary brake pressure request signal which is transmitted back to each of the auxiliary controllers. Each of the auxiliary controllers then examines the brake pressure request signal received from the master controller and actuates the corresponding vehicle brakes if the pressure request signal is within normal limits. If the signal is not within normal limits, each of the auxiliary controllers is capable of generating a brake pressure request signal independently of the master control unit.

Abstract: A composition of matter for use as a friction material having soft malleable metallic (zinc) powder therein to attenuate low frequency vibrations that produce undesirable noise during a brake application.

Abstract: A high tenacity fiber for reinforcing plastic composites, the fiber being selected from the group consisting of polyester, aliphatic polyamide, and combinations thereof. The fiber is treated with a composition consisting essentially of an organofunctional silane in an amount sufficient to achieve 0.02 to 1.0 weight percent of the silane on the fiber, and a diluent which provides for the hydrolysis of the silane to a silanol. The fiber is used to reinforce a plastic composite additionally comprising a resin matrix.

Abstract: Semipermeable composite membranes which comprise an interpenetrating polymer network of the isocyanate-capped polymer which is the reaction product of a polyether and an isocyanate with a copolymer containing at least two saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds composited on a porous backing support material may be used in various separation systems. These separation systems may include reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, gas separation, dialysis, etc., an especially useful system being the separation of sugars.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, composite article of manufacture which comprises a network of fibers having a tensile modulus of at least about 500 grams/denier and an energy-to-break of at least about 22 Joules/gram. An elastomeric matrix material having a tensile modulus of less than about 6,000 psi, measured at 25.degree. C.