Abstract: The invention is directed to sterilant gas compositions of pentafluorodimethyl ether and ethylene oxide which possess improved environmental properties.

Abstract: A turbocharger for internal combustion engines having a valve mount cast or machined integral with the compressor housing and disposed along a compressor housing outside surface, the valve including a first air port in communication, through a restriction orifice, with the compressor volute and at least one of a second air port in communication with the first port, and a third port in communication with the compressor air intake. The mount includes attachments for a solenoid valve to the valve mount and a means for forming a leak-tight seal between the solenoid valve and the second and third air ports. A control system for actuating the solenoid allows venting of pressure from the second air port to the third air port for application in controlling a wastegate actuator or disengaging the wategate actuator by venting pressure from the first port to the second port.

Abstract: A process for removal of photoresist present on a polymer dielectric on a semiconductor substrate and for removal of photoresist residues on the inside walls of microvias formed in the dielectric layer. The process is conducted by generating a plasma in a plasma generator from a gas comprising one or more fluorine compound containing etchant gases and etching the substrate having a dielectric layer thereon, and a photoresist layer on the dielectric layer and on the inside walls of microvias formed in the dielectric layer. The etching is conducted at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 90° C. and at a pressure of from about 10 torr or less, to thereby remove the photoresist present on the dielectric layer and on the inside walls of the microvias.

Abstract: An improved catalytic converter which comprises a metal monolith made of aluminum or aluminum alloy having an anodized surface layer on which is disposed catalytic metals, particularly noble metals from Group VIII and optionally base metals. In a preferred embodiment the metal monolith employs plate fin elements defining a large plurality of fins arranged in an axial succession of offset fin rows. The catalytic converter has application in the conversion of ozone and the oxidation of atmospheric pollutants.

Abstract: A method for rapidly manufacturing soft tooling from organic polymer-based resins and reinforcement filler materials for use in an injection molding machine to make complex metal and ceramic parts from powders. The cost to produce the tooling is relatively low and the manufacturing time is relatively short compared to conventional processes for making metal tooling. The finished parts are near-net shape, requiring little or no machining, and have excellent sintered properties.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a composite pressure vessel to a vehicle includes a saddle having a curved surface extending between two pillars for receiving the vessel. The saddle also has flanged portions which can be bolted to the vehicle. Each of the pillars has hole in which is mounted the shaft portion of an attachment member. A resilient member is disposed between each of the shaft portions and the holes and loaded by a tightening nut. External to the holes, each of the attachment members has a head portion to which a steel band is attached. The steel band circumscribes the vessel and translates the load on the springs into a clamping force on the vessel. As the vessel expands and contracts, the resilient members expand and contract so that the clamping force applied by the band to the vessel remains constant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel low dielectric constant nanoporous dielectric films having improved mechanical strength, and to improved processes for producing the same on substrates suitable for use in the production of integrated circuits. The nanoporous dielectric films are prepared by a process of preparing a mixture of a spin-on-glass material with a suitable thermally degradable polymer that is soluble in polar solvents. The resulting mixture is then applied onto a substrate suitable for use in the production of an integrated circuit, to produce a coated substrate that is heated for a time and at one or more temperatures effective to degrade the polymer, so as to produce the desired low dielectric nanoporous dielectric film.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fluorinated product comprising: (a) reacting a molar excess of an aliphatic starting compound in liquid phase with fluorine in the presence of actinic radiation to produce a product mixture containing a fluorinated product having at least one hydrogen atom; and (b) recovering the fluorinated product from the product stream.

Abstract: Premixes of a polyol suitable for polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam preparation, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and optionally additives and/or auxiliary blowing agents which do not require a stabilizer to inhibit reaction between the fluorocarbon and the polyol. These mixtures are useful for polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam preparation.

Abstract: A nickel-chromium-based brazing alloy has a composition consisting essentially of about 9.5 to about 16.5 atom percent chromium, 0 to about 5 atom percent iron, about 10 to about 15 atom percent silicon, about 6 to less than 7 atom percent boron, and 0 to about 5 atom percent molybdenum, the balance being essentially nickel and incidental impurities. The alloy is especially suited for use as a brazing filler metal for joining stainless steel and/or superalloy at temperatures above 1100 degree(s) C. Such a filler metal has a thickness ranging from about 65 to 100 micrometers and a width ranging from 100 to 250 millimeters and more. Honeycomb structures and thin corrugated fin/plate structures particularly suited for use in manufacture of plate-type heat exchangers formed at least in part from stainless steels and/or superalloys are brazed using a unique process. The process is characterized by a long holding time at brazing temperature, and combines brazing and diffusion annealing in one technological step.

Abstract: A microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. The turbine, compressor and electrical generator are secured together by a tieshaft. The tieshaft is prestressed such that faces of the turbine, electrical generator and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system.

Abstract: A transportable cart assembly is described which controls various environmental conditions within an enclosure while transporting items such as semiconductor wafers or flat panel displays. A fan and filter unit is used to control the spread of small particles within the cart and a heating and cooling unit, such as a thermoelectric heater, is used to control the temperature within the enclosure. The fan and filter unit works in conjunction with the heating and cooling unit in a single-pass flow or recirculating cycle to maintain the temperatures within the enclosure at predetermined levels. The cart also has lighting and an ionization unit to control electrostatic discharge. The cart assembly is powered by an external power supply through a retractable power cord or through its on-board power supply.

Abstract: A fuel control system for supplying metered quantities of fuel from a fuel supply (11), through a boost pump (13), a filter (21), a high pressure fuel pump (14), a metering valve (15) and a pressurizing valve (17) to an engine fuel manifold (19) includes an ecology valve (43) which provides a fuel flow path (41, 42, 71, 46, 18) between the pressurizing valve (17) and the engine fuel manifold. The status of the ecology valve (43) is solely determined by the status of the pressurizing valve (17). The ecology valve (43) includes a housing (93, 95, 97) with a piston (61) disposed therein which is reciprocable between two extreme positions. The piston (61) defines, in conjunction with the housing, a variable volume chamber (55) for withdrawing a one piston stroke volume of fuel from the engine fuel manifold when the engine is de-energized and the piston (61) moves from one extreme position to the other thereby purging the fuel manifold of fuel.

Abstract: An annular sealing apparatus is disclosed for disposition in cooperation with a body defining a bore and a rotating member rotatably received in the bore, the bore and rotating member bounding a high fluid pressure region and a relatively lower pressure fluid region therebetween, the sealing apparatus inhibiting fluid leakage between the high and lower fluid pressure regions, the sealing apparatus has a fore cover plate disposed in the high fluid pressure region and aft cover plate disposed in the lower pressure fluid region. A sealing element comprised of a plurality of comb-like diaphragm members is disposed between the two cover plates. Each of the diaphragm members has a foot portion that seals against the rotating member. A fore spacer is disposed between said fore cover plate and said sealing element and an aft spacer is disposed between said aft cover plate and said sealing element. The aft spacer has a plurality of cavities that are separated from the low fluid pressure region.

Abstract: An improved fluid flow measuring device having more nearly linear response characteristics over a wide range of fluid flow rates measures the force exerted on a fluid flow sensing element (21, 37, 41, 47, 55, 61) located in the fluid flow. The effective area of the sensing element subjected to the fluid force decreases as the flow rate increases and increases as the flow rate decreases thereby compensating for the nonlinear relationship between fluid flow rate and the force exerted thereby. The sensing element may retract somewhat into a calm or minimal flow region (27, 35) in response to increased flow rate. The sensing element may include resilient vanes (45, 51, 52, 53, 57, 59) which bend thereby reducing their effective area in response to increased flow. The sensing element may include one or more flow passing apertures (43, 49) the size of which varies with flow rate.

Abstract: Two polygon shaped articles having walls of different thicknesses are mated and welded together. Specimens cut from this composite part are used to evaluate the performance of welded joints with the influence of design, processing conditions such as welding, molding, and the like, and material composition. The evaluation advantageously provides an accurate predictor for linear vibration, orbital vibration, hot plate, hot gas, hot gas extrusion and infrared welding at a variety of bead thicknesses.

Abstract: A die cast compressor housing includes an outer shell having a partial outer circumferencial volute wall portion and a projection surrounding the circumference of an aperture in the shell that mates with an insert having a first portion with a substantially cylindrical outer wall that is received in the aperture in the outer shell and includes an air inlet. The insert has a second portion extending radially outwardly and including a mating projection for engagement with the outer shell projection to form an inner circumferencial volute wall portion. A backplate has a third projection adjacent its outer circumference that is received in a relief in the outer shell and completes the outer circumferncial volute wall portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of 1-chloro-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-235fa), useful as an intermediate in the production of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa). The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of HFC-245fa comprising reacting HCFC-235fa with hydrogen in the presence of a reduction catalyst wherein the said HCFC-235fa is prepared by reacting CCl3CHCCl3 with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of fluorination catalyst in either the liquid phase or the vapor phase.

Abstract: A process for preparing a haloalkane comprising: (a) contacting a haloalkane starting material with a haloalkene starting material in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst complex under conditions effective to facilitate an addition reaction and to form a product stream comprising a haloalkane product from said addition reaction, wherein said catalyst complex has a boiling point higher than that of said haloalkane product; and (b) recovering said haloalkane product from said product stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of purified caprolactam comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerizing polyamide-containing carpet in the presence of steam to obtain crude caprolactam and steam; (b) condensing or distilling said crude caprolactam and steam to form aqueous crude caprolactam comprising at least ten percent by weight water; (c) removing substantially all floating oil from the aqueous crude caprolactam so as to form a substantially floating oil-free aqueous crude caprolactam; (d) removing substantially all of said water from said substantially floating oil-free aqueous crude caprolactam; (e) distilling the resulting concentrated crude caprolactam at a pressure of less than about 8 mmHg and a temperature from about 110° C. to about 145° C. so as to form overheads and bottoms of the caprolactam; and (f) crystallizing the caprolactam overheads to obtain caprolactam crystals and mother liquor.