Abstract: Dispersed solids, particularly fine peptized hydrophobic solids, present in some petroleum oils, bitumen solutions or concentrates, heavy oils and the like, may be removed by distributing an additive selected from resorcinol, catechol, formic acid, maleic acid or anhydride, chloral hydrate and asphaltene - precipitating solvents (preferably certain mixtures thereof) throughout the dispersion to cause small agglomerates containing the solids to form, and separating the agglomerates from the residual liquid. This residual liquid is rendered more suitable for various refining processes. Agglomerates containing asphaltenes and mineral solids may be used e.g. in hydrogen generation, for compounding roofing materials and in paving materials.

Abstract: A process for preparing silica comprising:(a) acidifying a basic aqueous solution containing silicate ions and molybdate ions to produce silicomolybodic acid;(b) adding to the acidified solution an organic base to precipitate a silicomolybdate; and,(c) heating the resulting precipitate to drive off volatile components and leave a purified form of silica is disclosed. The process is particularly useful for producing purified silica from dilute aqueous media.

Abstract: A transconductance amplifier for emitting an output current that is a replica of a input voltage has its accuracy enhanced by a current comparator having a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, a pair of ratio windings electromagnetically coupled with both the cores, and a detection winding electromagnetically coupled with the first core but not with the second core. A first of the ratio windings is connected in series with the output current of the transconductance amplifier. A high value resistor is connected in series with the second of the ratio windings across the input voltage of the transconductance amplifier whereby the current in the second ratio winding accurately reproduces the waveform of the input voltage. A further amplifier has its input connected to the detection winding. The output of this amplifier is so connected as to add a correcting current to the output current of the transconductance amplifier and thus provide the necessary accuracy enhancement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making multi-layered plastic tube reinforced with fibers by a co-extrusion process. The method and apparatus provide more specifically a multi-layered plastic tube with an intermediate layer thereof having discrete fibers where at least a major portion of the fibers is oriented to extend predominantly in a general direction lying between the circumferential and the longitudinal axis of the tube with the orientation of the fibers being generally the same throughout the thickness of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: The degree of cure in a polymeric composite is evaluated in a simple, rapid and non-destructive manner by heating a surface portion of the polymeric composite to substantially curing temperature, over a predetermined period of time, and continuously monitoring with a non-contact temperature sensor temperature fluctuations of the heated surface portion during the predetermined period of time to obtain data comprising surface temperature values measured as a function of time. By processing such data including comparing with a calibration reference, for example by providing a curve of the measured surface temperature values against time and comparing with a reference curve, one can evaluate the degree of cure of the polymeric composite.

Abstract: Methylotrophic yeasts of the genera Pichia, Torulopsis, Candida and Hansenula when grown on methanol, make use of an enzyme, alcohol oxidase, to catalyse the initial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. Non-growing whole cells of such methylotrophic yeasts were used in place of purified alcohol oxidase for the production of flavoring aldehydes from their respective alcohols. To reduce end product inhibition a number of amine buffers, which chelate the aldehydes, were studied and an increase in aldehyde production was demonstrated with selected buffers which maintain a weakly alkaline pH.

Abstract: Novel processes are provided for the preparation of useful materials from tubers of Jerusalem artichoke or similar inulin-containing plants. In one process, a flour is prepared from such tubers which comprises the steps of: macerating the tubers to a pumpable fluid homogenate, preferably in an environment of steam; heating the pumpable fluid homogenate at a temperature ranging from about 150.degree. C. for a time ranging, respectively, from about 15 seconds to about 10 minutes; subjecting the heated, pumpable fluid homogenate to spray-drying in a stream of hot gas, and recovering a flour comprising a mixture of monosaccharides, small oligosaccharides and large oligosaccharides, e.g. about 50-60% small fructooligosaccharides and about 40-50% large oligosaccharides. In another process, a food-grade accidulant, preferably acetic acid is added, either before, during or after the macerating step to provide an acidified, pumpable fluid homogenate of such tubers.

Abstract: A method of simulating phase coherent signal reflections in media containing randomly distributed targets capable of scattering signals transmitted through the media, wherein the energy of signals directly scattered by the targets is significantly greater than the energy of signals multiply scattered by the targets. A reference signal having a wavelength which is small in comparison to the mean spacing between the targets is modulated and then transmitted through the target-containing medium. The targets produce scattered echoes of the signal, from which normalized in-phase and quadrature components are derived and separately, cumulatively summed, "n" times, until their variance becomes a linear function of 1/n.

Abstract: There is described a vessel such as a semi-submersible drilling unit having a drilling deck structure with a plurality of columns depending from the deck. Pontoons are provided at the ends of the columns and a buoyant configuration modifying sleeve-like element is mounted around the columns. The sleeves are annular in cross-section and of generally cylindrical form and terminate at their lower ends in cuffs of reducing outer diameter. This provides an inwardly tapered or curved end to the sleeve. A cable and pulley arrangement is provided for vertically moving the sleeves along the columns and for locating them on the columns close to the unit transit waterplane and at a survival waterplane position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unitary anti-ballistic composite armor of the type which comprises a base layer element and an energy absorbing body, the base layer element comprising a plurality of layers of reinforcing fibrous material embedded, in laminar relationship, in an organic polymeric shatter-resistant matrix, the base layer element also being adapted to entrap particles produced on impact of a projectile with said energy absorbing body. The composite armor in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that it also includesa frontal layer element, andsaid energy absorbing body is disposed betweenthe frontal and base layer elements, said frontal layer element comprising a plurality of layers of reinforcing fibrous material embedded, in laminar relationship, in an organic shatter-resistant polymeric matrix, said frontal layer element being capable of deforming the geometry of the projectile, and said energy absorbing body being bonded to said frontal and base layer elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transition between a "stripline" and a "microstrip" transmission line which uses printed circuit board materials and processes. The transition, which includes a stripline region and a microstrip region, also includes a transitional region in which a quasi coaxial line section is provided in the stripline region near the termination of the upper ground plane. A double tapered double slot line is used to avoid discontinuity. The two slots taper to minimum width at the termination of the upper ground plane, and widen in the transition to the microstrip region. The transition is of wideband operation (e.g. from near DC to 20 gHz) and of high performance.

Abstract: A fungicide which is particularly effective against benomyl resistant fungi is selected from the group of fungicides represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and n is 1, 2, 3 or 6 or R is phenyl. The method comprises applying as a suspension an effective amount of the one or more fungicides selected from the formula to benomyl resistant fungi, such as benomyl resistant isolates of Botrytis cinerea.

Abstract: A holder assembly for a plastic bag of a frozen liquid, e.g. blood plasma, is designed to be manually removably mounted on an arbor that projects into a microwave oven cavity from a wall thereof. The holder is metallic and has a circular base from which a peripheral wall projects upwardly to a rim across which an apron extends. A semi-flexible bar of microwave transparent material is mounted to extend across the holder to retain the bag therein. A plurality of such arbors, e.g. four, are disposed around the oven cavity whereby a number of bags can be heated simultaneously. Each arbor is rotatable for agitating the bag holder assembly and hence the bag therein. Devices associated with each arbor detect the presence of a bag holder assembly on such arbor and also detect the temperature of thawing liquid in the bag supported in each bag holder assembly. A controller to which this information is supplied drives the oven through an appropriate program that ensures that none of the bag contents overheats.

Abstract: A building of generally spherical configuration has a lower portion and an upper portion and includes an outer skin of first triangular panels and an inner skin of second triangular panels. Substantially all of the panels are light-transmitting, and may be made of glass. Partitions extend from the lower to the upper portion of the building between the two skins and divide the inter-skin region into a plurality of sectors running from the lower to the upper portion of the building. Particulate insulative material is provided, along with apparatus for selectively filling the sectors with insulative material by delivering insulative material to the upper ends thereof, and to selectively empty the sectors of insulative material by withdrawing insulative material from the bottom ends thereof.

Abstract: An oceanographic sampling bottle providing low drag for a rapid descent rate and low susceptibility to leakage after sample acquisition. The sampling bottle comprises streamlined inlet and outlet valve members shaped and positioned to avoid flow separation. The bottle with valves occupies a relatively small cross-sectional area facilitating design of a rosette or cluster of bottles. A hollow resilient conduit interconnecting the inlet and outlet valves draws the valves against seats on the sampling bottle when released. Vents in the conduit provide pressure equalization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for quantitatively determining the different forms of sulphur present in a solid matrix, e.g. coal. The novel method comprises intimately mixing finely divided coal with a finely divided solid diluent material, e.g. silica, which is inert to sulphur under reaction conditions. This mixed sample is then burned within a confined combustion zone at a predetermined elevated temperature and the combustion gases from the combustion chamber are continuously removed. These gases are passed through an infrared analyzer which continuously monitors the intensity of the infrared spectra for sulphur oxycompounds in the combustion gases. The infrared intensity is measured as a function of evolution time of sulphur oxycompound from the sample to obtain peaks in an infrared intensity-time pattern indicative of different forms of sulphur.

Abstract: A mechanically amplified electroacoustic transducer system comprising an electroacoustic transducer having a vibrating element and an amplifier rod forming a probe extending from the transducer and in acoustically coupling contact with the vibrating element over a relatively small region thereof. The probe has a length which is approximately equal to the quarter wavelength or a multiple of the quarter wavelength of the acoustical energy generated by the transducer, the exact length of the probe being selected to provide optimum output from the system at a selected operation frequency of the transducer.

Abstract: A potentiometric electrochemical sensor for detecting gaseous concentrations of arsenic oxides or arsenic-bearing species at elevated temperatures. The sensor is comprised of: an ionically conducting solid state membrane which may be made of silver zirconium arsenate, sodium beta-alumina or silver beta-alumina; a reference electrode which may be silver wire packed in silver powder; and a working electrode which may consist of a platinum mesh electrode or a silver wire exposed to the arsenic oxide-bearing gas. The probe is responsive to arsine [AsH.sub.3 ] concentrations in the range 5-1000 ppm in oxidizing gases, such as air, which have been raised to the temperature range 600.degree.-900.degree. C. The compound silver zirconium arsentate is also novel.

Abstract: A new type of passive trihedral corner reflector is described which rotates the polarization of a reflected microwave beam by 90.degree. and thereby permits a reflected radar beam to be more easily distinguished by the interrogating radar system from the random reflections from nearby objects, i.e., clutter. Rotation of the incident beam is provided by locating a passive polarizing or "twist" grid of closely spaced thin parallel wires spaced above one conducting surface by air or by a dielectric to give an electric spacing from the surface of about 0.25 .lambda.. The spacing of the wires is less than 0.25 .lambda. so that the wires constitute a reflecting surface for signals polarized parallel to the wires. The reflector can have triangular or square sides which are mutually orthogonal. In a preferred embodiment the reflector is tipped forward by 35.degree. from a reference horizontal plane and tilted clockwise in a vertical reference plane by 15.degree. to optimize reflections.

Abstract: A current ratio device for use in constructing a current transformer comprises a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, a measuring winding electromagnetically coupled with the first core but not with the second core, and a compensating winding electromagnetically coupled with both cores. An externally powered amplifier has its input connected to receive the voltage waveform across the measuring winding. Its output provides a compensating current through the compensating winding equal to a magnetizing current required to magnetize the second core. The amplifier output also provides a measuring current through the measuring winding in the direction opposite that of the compensating current and equal to the compensating current multiplied by the ratio of turns in the compensating and measuring windings.