Abstract: Inorganic metal oxides having high surface area and pore volume are prepared by spray drying. The admixture which is spray dried to yield the metal oxides is produced from reactants comprising at least one hydrolyzable metal compound, a sufficient amount of water to at least partially hydrolyze the metal compound and an organic solvent. The admixture is supplied as a plurality of droplets to a reaction zone operated under conditions of temperature and pressure below the critical temperature and pressure of the reactants but sufficient to produce a product comprising metal oxide powders and a gas comprising organic solvent vapors. The powders are separated from the gas in a known fashion and collected. Spray drying of non-aqueous systems unexpectedly produces metal oxides having properties generally intermediate conventionally produced oxides and aerogels.

Abstract: A nickel based high melting point, homogeneous, ductile brazing foil composition consists essentially of about 17 to 20 atom percent chromium, about 4 to 10 atom percent boron, about 10 to 16 atom percent silicon, the balance being nickel and incidental impurities. The composition is such that the total of nickel and chromium ranges from about 74 to 84 atom percent.

Abstract: The invention is a fail-safe circuit for an anti-lock braking system which includes a drive circuit connected between the output of an anti-lock control and an output connector thereof that also provides connection for the system's solenoid actuated modulating valves. An energizing relay for the solenoids is connected to receive the output from the drive circuit. Control signals for the energizing relay and solenoid actuated modulating valves are of opposite polarity such that a short circuit to either positive or ground will disable the anti-lock system and obviate false operation thereof.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described for detecting gas constituents in an ambient air incorporating a cylindrical tube containing a reaction region, a shutter assembly and a drift region therein, the cylindrical tube fits within a housing having a chamber or space between the cylindrical tube and the housing for heating drift gas prior to entry into the drift region. Further, the cylindrical tube may have interior annular ledges to facilitate positioning of the shutter assembly and an aperture grid. The invention overcomes the problem of controlling the temperature of the drift gas prior to entry into the drift region to enhance the uniformity of ion drift mobility times and the problem of a mechanical assembly which is difficult to dissemble.

Abstract: This invention relates to solutions comprising doped and undoped poly(substituted heterocycles) and an organic solvent which can be used to form conducting polymer articles, including films.

Abstract: Polymer-bound alkyl diarylphosphinite catalyst compositions having the formula I: ##STR1## wherein the trivalent phosphorus is substituted by one alkoxy group and one aryl group and wherein the third bond of phosphorus is a P-C bond to a pendant aryl groups of the polymer matrix and wherein .circle.p --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -- is a polymer matrix containing aromatic groups such as polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene and wherein at least 1% of pendant aryl groups of the polymer matrix are bound to phosphorus and wherein Ar is substituted by electron-donating groups such as alkyl, alkoxy, and N,N-dialkylamino, are disclosed. Polymer-bound aryl dialkyl phosphonites having the formula II, .circle.p --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --P(OR).sub.2 and polymer-bound diarylphosphinous chlorides having the formula .circle.p --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --P--(Ar')--Cl are also disclosed. Processes for making the polymer-bound phosphinites, phosphonites and phosphinous chlorides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A target adapted for use in a magnetomechanical transducer system is activated by an ac magnetic field and a variable dc bias field to produce a resonant frequency which corresponds to the effective strength of the dc bias field. The target includes an elongated ductile strip of magnetostrictive ferromagnetic material enclosed in a nonmagnetic container in a manner to allow the strip to vibrate freely. The strip has a magnetomechanical coupling factor, k.sub.1 greater than O, where k=(1-fr.sup.2 /fa.sup.2)1/2, fr and fa being the resonant and antiresonant frequencies, respectfully. The system is economical to construct and affords accurate and efficient measurement of displacements and angles at locations proximate to or remote from the signal source (target).

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and improved hermetically sealed container for semiconductor and other electronic devices, to a novel sealing cover for use in fabricating the above-referenced hermetically sealed container, and to novel processes for manufacturing said container and cover wherein the cover is plated with a nickel/indium alloy in which the weight percent indium in said alloy is less than about 10 weight percent.

Abstract: A towed underwater transducer assembly includes a spherical housing (10) suspended from a towing vehicle at the end of a cable (12). The housing includes mounting brackets (26, 28) located less than one-half of the circumference of the housing apart along a meridian of the housing (10) centered in the direction of tow with a bridle cable (24) extending between the mounting brackets including a turnbuckle (32) to adjust its tension and a mechanical stop (30). A grooved pulley wheel (22) is mounted at the end of the towing cable (12) with the bridle cable (24) riding in the groove and the pulley wheel (22) free to seek a position along the bridle cable (24) such that the projected line of the tow cable (12) passes essentially through the geometric center of the spherical housing (10) thereby causing the spherical housing (10) to maintain an essentially vertical orientation irrespective of variations in the speed of tow.

Abstract: A flexural disk transducer includes two thickness poled piezoelectric disks each of which is bonded on one side to a metal backing plate of substantial thickness and on the other side to a thin metal "skin" or plate. The metal backing plates are, in turn, bonded to a ring-shaped metal spacer member having a rectangular "C" shaped cross section with the axially extending web made sufficiently thin and the radially extending flanges grooved such that the spacer member is sufficiently compliant that it has minimal effect on the resonant frequency of the disks. The disks are coated on each side with a thin layer of conducting material such as silver or copper and have radially extending wires serving as connections to such layers. The entire assembly is contained within a handling ring with the wire connections and the space between the assembly and the handling ring filled with electrical potting material. A thin layer of neoprene rubber covers the exposed faces of the disks for waterproofing.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of methyl ethers of the type in which methanol is reacted with a branched monoolefin in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of one or more acid catalyst, said improvements comprising carrying out said reaction in one or two steps in the presence of one or more liquid organic compounds having one or more hydroxy substituents which functions as a carrier for the branched monoolefins. The hydroxy compound also inhibits the polymerization of the branched monoolefins.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved rapid solidification casting system which employs one or more metal conditioning brushes. The casting surface is cleaned by the brushes and the pressure on the brushes is adjusted so as to deposit a layer of the brush metal onto the casting surface, the casting surface so conditioned increases the quality of the resulting cast material.

Abstract: A mono-lobe tracker is described for tracking a target emitting radio signals incorporating an antenna, a circuit for sequential lobing, a radio frequency amplifier, a mixer, an intermediate frequency amplifier, an amplitude modulator detector, and integrators for storing the amplitude signals corresponding to predetermined off boresight positions, means for taking the difference of two integrators indicating the boresight error, a motor coupled to the error signal for driving the antenna in response to the error signal and a random number generator for generating at random a plurality of frequencies which are coupled as randomly selected to the sequential lobing circuit. A random number generator is also described incorporating a noise diode, an amplifier, a voltage comparator and a counter.

Abstract: Solid hydroxylammonium sulfate is reacted with an alcohol solution of an alkali metal hydroxide or alkoxide to produce an alcoholic hydroxylamine liquid phase and a sulfate-containing solid phase. The liquid phase may be used for further reactions such as oxidations, hydroxamic acid production or neutralization to other hydroxylammonium salts. The different bases behave differently with regard to suitable and preferable solvents and temperatures.

Abstract: An injection molded universal joint (10) includes a central retaining member (40) captured between spherical balls (30, 32, 34, 36) seated in bores (22, 24, and 26, 28) located in diametrically opposed arms (14, 16, and 18, 20) of respective shaft members (11, 12). The spherical balls are each pressed through an associated bore until a portion of the ball extends radially inwardly of the arm, and then maintained in position by a plastic material (80) insert molded into and retained in the bore. The insert molded plastic material (80) retains each of the spherical balls in place and permits the central retaining member (40) to be accurately positioned and with a predetermined preload applied to the universal joint (10).

Abstract: A vapor phase synthesis of hexafluoroisobutylene, which comprises contacting in the vapor phase in a catalyst zone, B, of a reactor hexafluoropropylene oxide with a fluorinated catalyst such as fluorinated silica-alumina at a temperature of about 400.degree.-600.degree. C. for a residence time sufficient to form a vapor stream comprising hexafluoroacetone which is thereafter directly contacted in a heating zone of the reactor with a vapor stream comprising a keytone-generating compound such as acetic anhydride at a temperature of about 500.degree.-700.degree. C. for a residence time sufficient to form a stream comprising hexafluoroisobutylene, substantially-free of perfluoroisobutylene and recovering the hexafluoroisobutylene product is disclosed.

Abstract: A bias control circuit controlling the power transistor Q2 in a transistor amplifier circuit for supressing the arc formed across the contacts 12, 14, 16 in a glow plug controller 10 for diesel engines. The bias circuit generates a load line for the contacts 12, 14, 16 which has a high voltage, low current portion and a high current, low voltage portion. The arc is formed when the contact 14, which may be slow operating, is required to break a high current, high voltage line.

Abstract: Novel ortho alkoxy substituted phenyl oxime compounds which are useful for selectively separating and recovering palladium from aqueous compositions and mixtures containing palladium and other metals.

Abstract: A disc brake (10) having friction pads (42) and (44) whose arcuate foot prints (80, 82, 84) on a rotor (12) is les than a nodal diameter of a frequency that would create an undesirable noise during a brake application.

Abstract: The brake booster (12) includes a housing (30) with at least one piston (38) disposed in a bore (32) between a pressure chamber (42) and a work chamber (76). The piston (38) is disposed adjacent a valve housing (79) containing therein a valve assembly (80) and the valve assembly (80) is connected to an input assembly (72) at an end of the valve housing (79). The piston (38) includes a cam surface (78) engaged by a lever (17), the lever (17) abutting an actuator part (81) biased by a resilient spring (83) toward the lever (17). Actuation of the booster (12) effects a greater displacement of the piston (38) than the input assembly (72) and valve housing (79) because of the engagement of the lever with the cam surface (78) of the piston (38).