Abstract: A process for forming a uniform nanoporous dielectric film on a substrate. The process includes horizontally positioning a flat substrate within a cup; depositing a liquid alkoxysilane composition onto the substrate surface; covering the cup such that the substrate is enclosed therein; spinning the covered cup and spreading the alkoxysilane composition evenly on the substrate surface; exposing the alkoxysilane composition to water vapor and base vapor to thereby form a gel; and then curing the gel. The invention also provides an apparatus for spin depositing a liquid coating onto a substrate. The apparatus has a cylindrical cup with an open top section and removable cover which closes the top. A vapor injection port extends through the center of the cover. Suitable means hold a substrate centered within the cup and spin the cup.

Abstract: A surface-coated nanoporous silica dielectric film that is prepared by a process comprising the steps of forming a nanoporous silica dielectric coating on a substrate, and coating the formed nanoporous silica dielectric film with a coating composition comprising a polymer precursor, under conditions effective to form a strength-enhancing and/or hydrophobicity enhancing layer on the treated nanoporous silica dielectric film.

Abstract: An air turbine starter with an improved seal assembly disposed between the turbine and the housing is provided. The seal assembly comprises a face seal, a non-contacting seal axially spaced therefrom to define an air filled annular chamber therebetween and a flow passage having an exit fluidly communicating with said chamber and an inlet fluidly communicating with a source of air.

Abstract: An electronically controlled, programmable searchlight (1), particularly useful for mounting on helicopters. The searchlight (1) uses a digital electronic control circuit (30) in conjunction with rotary potentiometers (32), (34) to control movement of the searchlight (1). Adjustable trimpots (22) are employed to provide the searchlight (1) with preset positions, each preset position having an easily alterable operating envelope. The searchlight (1) may have light sources (50, 52) of varying type, which may also be controlled by the electronic control circuit (30).

Abstract: A process for molding metal knife blades from powders and molding compositions therefor are disclosed. Parts produced by this process are formed near net shape without the need for machining or other finishing operations. The process comprises forming a mixture containing metal powders, a gel-forming material and an aqueous gel-forming material solvent, and molding the mixture in an injection molding machine under conditions of temperature and pressure to produce a self-supporting knife blade having a sharp edge.

Abstract: A fuel control system for supplying metered quantities of fuel from a fuel supply (11), through a fuel pump (13), a metering valve (15) and a pressurizing valve (17) to a plurality of engine fuel manifolds (31a, 31b, 33) includes an ecology valve (43) for withdrawing fuel from the engine fuel manifolds (31a, 31b, 33) during cessation of engine operation and for returning fuel to the engine fuel manifolds (31a, 31b, 33) to be burned during normal engine operation. The ecology valve (43) includes a valve housing (44) having a plurality of ecology ports (50, 52, 54) adapted to be coupled to corresponding ones of the engine fuel manifolds (31a, 31b, 33) and a control port (46) adapted to be connected to a corresponding control port (45) of the fuel pressurizing valve (17).

Abstract: A mesophase pitch material having a melting point in excess of 350° C. has a solvent added thereto to provide a solvated mesophase pitch. A low molecular weight solvent is used so that the melting point can be brought low enough to create a carbon foam at a convenient temperature. The solvent is then removed by heat and/or vacuum and, consequently, the pitch reverts to a high melting point of approximately greater than 350° C. The pitch can then be heated or carbonized without an oxidative stabilization step. Alternatively, a solvated mesophase pitch material may be used initially for foaming.

Abstract: The present invention provides load leveling and impact energy absorption webbing comprising warp yarn. If the webbing is used in seat belts, the webbing provides load leveling behavior from about 450 pounds (about 2,000 Newtons) to about 1,800 pounds (about 8,000 Newtons) in vehicle collision. The yarn has a force-displacement profile such that: (a) when the yarn is subjected to an initial barrier stress of from about 0.2 gram/denier to less than or equal to about 1.4 grams/denier, the yarn elongates to less than 3 percent and the initial modulus ranges from about 20 grams/denier to about 150 grams/denier; (b) upon subjecting the yarn to greater than the initial barrier stress and less than or equal to 1.8 grams/denier, the yarn elongates further to at least about 10 percent and the energy absorbed from 0 to the elongation at 1.8 grams/denier is at least about 0.0008 Joule/denier·meter; and (c) upon subjecting the yarn to greater than 1.

Abstract: According to principles of the present invention, a sensor beam provides a linear or non-linear continuous signal to a computer that translates the signal into a valve position reading. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a sensor beam incorporating piezo-resistive components forming a Wheatstone bridge abuts a cam mounted on a butterfly valve spindle. Valve movement causes rotation of the cam that, in turn, imparts a bending moment to the sensor beam. This bending moment strains the piezo-resistive components, thereby altering the resistance of the Wheatstone bridge. The computer measures the resistance change using an output signal transmitted by the sensor beam and calculates valve position based thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tailcone and power assembly mountable to the body of an aircraft using a height adjustable dolly. The tailcone assembly comprises a longitudinal support member, a gas turbine engine mounted to the support member; a firewall; two curved rotatable casings hingeably connected to the support member; an inlet duct extending from an aperture in one of the rotatable casings to the engine inlet; an integral exhaust casing, and interface means for making necessary engine accessory connections to the aircraft. The tailcone is installed on the aircraft by mounting the tailcone in the adjustable dolly, rolling the dolly up to the aircraft, adjusting the dolly until the auxiliary power assembly is properly aligned for attachment to the aircraft, connecting the engine accessories to the aircraft, and bolting the assembly to the aircraft.

Abstract: An improved coating composition having one or more polymeric binders dispersed in a liquid medium, wherein the improvement comprises an anti-sag and anti-settling effective amount of a copolymer comprising a polymeric backbone comprising recurring monomeric units derived from monomers selected from the group consisting of one or more &agr;-olefins and one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, said backbone having grafted thereto, by a covalent amide linkage, one or more polymeric grafts comprising at least one recurring monomeric unit selected from the group consisting of: —NHC(O)RC(O)NHR1 and —NH—R—C(O)— or a combination thereof, wherein R is an alkylene group of at least about 2 carbon atoms, and R1 is R or aryl.

Abstract: Vinyl ether compounds having the formula:

Abstract: A method for making a glass frit paste is provided. First, nitrocellulose is dissolved in a high vapor pressure solvent of the nitrocellulose to make a solution. A portion of the solution is then mixed with alpha-terpineol to form a vehicle. Glass frit is mixed with the vehicle and then ground to form the paste. During the grinding step most of the high vapor pressure solvent evaporates. The resulting paste has a composition comprising about 0.3-12.0 wt. % nitrocellulose, about 0.5-2.0 wt. % of a high vapor pressure solvent of said nitrocellulose, about 14.0-25.0 wt. % alpha-terpineol, and the remainder glass frit.

Abstract: An integrated bleed air and engine starting system for an engine utilizes an innovative flow multiplier air turbine starter to provide bleed air supply to an ECS as well as starting an engine. The technique reduces bleed air consumption by mixing fan stage air and high stage air for ECS fresh air usage. It also can eliminate or reduce the size of the precooler heat exchanger. The system includes an air turbine starter subsystem and an air flow subsystem. The air turbine starter subsystem includes a compressor, a turbine, and a common shaft fixed between the compressor and turbine. Also provided is a gear coupled to a gearbox which links the engine with a shaft, as well as a variable nozzle valve intermediate the turbine and engine. The air flow subsystem comprises a diverter valve downstream of the turbine, an isolation valve intermediate the turbine and an auxiliary power unit, and a check valve downstream of the compressor and turbine. A fan is in air flow communication with the compressor and engine.

Abstract: Vinyl ether compounds having the formula: R—O—X—O—CH═CH2 wherein R is a radical having the formula: R1—CFH—CF2— or R1—CF═CF—, wherein R1 is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic radical, unsubstituted or substituted cyclic aliphatic radical, an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic radical, an unsubstituted or substituted araliphatic radical, or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic radical, and X is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic radical, an unsubstituted or substituted cyclic aliphatic radical, unsubstituted or substituted aromatic radical, unsubstituted or substituted araliphatic radical or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic radical. Curable compositions containing the vinyl ether compounds and methods in which the substrate coating layers of the vinyl ether compositions are cured, particularly on optical devices, are also disclosed, as well as polymers polymerized from the vinyl ether compounds.

Abstract: Multilayer fluoropolymer films are formed from a layer of a fluoropolymer, a tie layer and a thermoplastic layer. The tie layer is a blend of an olefin-containing polymer, preferably at least one polyolefin having at least one functional moiety, such as an unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, and a styrene-containing polymer. Preferably, the fluoropolymer is a chlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer and the thermoplastic layer is a polyethylene. The preferred styrene-containing polymer is a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer. These films exhibit increased adhesion between the layers as compared to a multilayer structure in which the tie layer is formed only from the olefin-containing polymer. The multilayer films are useful in packaging applications, including pharmaceutical packaging.

Abstract: Dielectric compositions encompassing one or more poly(arylene ether) polymers are provided. The dielectric compositions have the repetitive structural unit: where n=1 to 200, Y and Ar are each a divalent arylene radical, Y derived from bisphenol compounds of general formula HO—Y—OH, Ar derived from difluoro diarylacetylenes and/or ethynylated benzophenones of general formula F—Ar—F and Z is optionally hydrogen, a methyl group or derived from a monofluoro-benzophenone derivative of general formula Z—F. Such poly(arylene ether) polymers are employed with a variety of microelectronic devices, for example, integrated circuits and multichip modules.

Abstract: An axial fan includes a hub within a housing. A cavity is formed between the hub and housing. A plurality of blades is on the hub, with an air separator ring disposed operatively adjacent to the blades. The ring supports a plurality of vanes that are longitudinally aligned with the blades. A diverter is disposed operatively adjacent to the vanes so that the diverter directs a skip-stall air flow about the ring.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of aromatic hydroxythiols including oxidizing an aromatic aminothiol to form an aminodisulfide compound; forming a bis-diazonium salt of the aminodisulfide compound; and reacting the bis-diazonium salt with water to form an aromatic hydroxyldisulfide compound, which is then reduced to the hydroxythiol. New bis-diazonium aromatic disulfide compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high stack factor amorphous metal transformer core, and to a process for constructing a high stack factor amorphous metal transformer core. The process uses high lamination factor amorphous metal ribbon (the term lamination factor is generally used to express the smoothness and uniformity of the ribbon, whereas the term stack factor is applied to cores made from ribbon); that is, amorphous metal ribbon with a highly smooth surface and a highly uniform thickness as measured across the ribbon width. High stack factor amorphous metal ribbon can be efficiently packed, by winding or stacking operations, into compact transformer core shapes. The transformer core can then be clamped, to further reduce overall dimensions, and annealed, to relieve residual mechanical stresses and to generate a desired magnetic anisotropy, without detriment to the final magnetic properties.