Abstract: A novel excitation scheme has been developed for discharge lasers. The technique uses an auxiliary circuit based upon pulse transformer technology to induce a fast, high voltage pulse directly onto a ground potential laser electrode resulting in the breakdown of the laser gas mix. Saturation of the pulse transformer core inductance then permits the efficient "switching" of the main energy storage circuit into the discharge.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are organometallic ternary charge transfer complexes of the formula (I)a(RX).multidot.MX.multidot.b(Ar) (I)whereinRX is an inorganic chloride or fluoride which contains at least one oxygen and/or sulfur atom and is capable of forming a complex salt a(R).multidot.MX.sub.(a+m) with the Lewis acid MX.sub.m, such as NOCl or NOF,MX.sub.m is a Lewis acid metal chloride or fluoride, such as BCl.sub.3, BF.sub.3, AlCl.sub.3, GaCl.sub.3, TlCl.sub.3, AsCl.sub.3, AsF.sub.5, SbCl.sub.5, FeCl.sub.3, SnCl.sub.4, TiCl.sub.4, ZrCl.sub.4, NbCl.sub.5, TaCl.sub.5, MoCl.sub.5 and WCl.sub.6,Ar is an aromatic compound, such as napthalene, anthracene, thiophene, furan and benzene which is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl, halogen, diloweralkylamino, oxo or lower alkoxy,m is an integer representing the valency of the metal M,a is an integer selected such that the sum of a and m does not exceed the coordination number of the metal M of the given valency,b is 0.

Abstract: Spraying apparatus comprising a shroud in the form of a tube flared at one end and made of electrical insulating material, said shroud adapted for connection to an air supply such that in operation a high velocity air stream issues from the flared end of the shroud, at least one air shear nozzle mounted inside the shroud adjacent the flared end, a tube adapted for connection to a liquid spray source for supplying the nozzle such that in operation the liquid is atomized by the high velocity air flow and the expansion of compressed air from the supply passing over the nozzle, means for maintaining the liquid in the nozzle at ground electrical potential, a high voltage metal electrode positioned inside the flared end of the shroud in spaced relation to the nozzle, and means for supplying high voltage to the electrode such that in operation the electrode carries a high voltage positive or negative potential effective to charge by induction liquid particles or droplets issuing from the said nozzle.

Abstract: A wet air oxidation process for oxidizing organic matter dispersed in a liquid fuel stream at controlled high temperatures and pressures is capable of treating concentrations of organic matter in the feed stream far in excess of concentrations of organic matter treated in the normal type of wet air oxidation process. The improvement in the process is in the provision of a vapor phase effluent from the reactor system which is considerably greater than normal due to the introduction of high volumes of the oxidizing gas. This provides for increased concentrations of organic matter in the feed stream; however, resulting in the generation of excess energy within the reactor system which cannot be removed in the vapor and liquid phase effluents from the reactor system.

Abstract: An atomized cloud of droplets having an electric charge is generated wherein different discrete parts of the cloud are formed from different liquids. The discrete part of the cloud which has an active ingredient, such as a chemical insecticide or herbicide, is contained such as by enveloping it or directing it in a particular direction by a further discrete part of the cloud that includes an inert liquid such as water. The spraying apparatus comprises a plurality of nozzles positioned in a high velocity air stream to disperse liquid and generate an atomized cloud of the liquid. The nozzles are grouped into at least two sets, each set being arranged and positioned to generate a discrete part of the cloud. An electric charge is placed on the droplets as they are emitted. Each set of nozzles further include a liquid reservoir connected to the nozzles. Each reservoir is to contain a different liquid whether it be an inert liquid or different concentrations of an active liquid.

Abstract: The light guide apparatus will guide a beam whose rays have a predetermined phase space distribution with a maximum deviation angle .theta..sub.max in a first plane perpendicular to the beam axis. The guiding apparatus includes an optical system positioned at a distance l/2 from the first plane for receiving light from the edge of the spreading beam along an edge of width l tan .theta..sub.max and for diverting the light towards the beam axis to reproduce the predetermined spatial distribution in a second plane perpendicular to the beam axis at a distance l from the first plane. The optical system can be made from annular or cylindrical, regular or fresnel lenses. A number of systems may be sequentially mounted to guide a beam along any desired distance with in a straight line or perpendicular to its original direction.

Abstract: An apparatus using optical techniques for simultaneously detecting surface defects and measuring the diameter of a wire coming out from an extruder. A combination of cylindrical lenses is used for projecting, perpendicularly across the longitudinal axis of the wire, a sharply focused laminar beam. This apparatus includes an optical source system for emitting optical rays, an optical system for focusing the rays on the wire, an optical detector system for receiving the rays and generating a detector signal to be processed by a signal processing system, the processing system generates an electric signal indicative of the amplitude of the defects and another electric signal indicative of the diameter of the wire.

Abstract: Non-contact reception of ultrasonic waves is accomplished by the use of a laser beam and an interferometer of the confocal Fabry-Perot type. The interferometer detects the frequency shift caused by the Doppler effect in an incident layer beam as a result of ultrasonic deformations of a workpiece. Improved stabilization and calibration techniques are disclosed.

Abstract: Three-terminal negative admittance networks are disclosed. The preferred networks include either a bipolar junction transistor or a field-effect transistor phase shift mechanisms are used to generate a negative admittance. Various biasing schemes for proper operations of the network are also explained.

Abstract: The spray-drying of a feed liquid mixture containing dissolved feed elements is used to produce precursor powders of Na.sup.+ -super conducting sodium gadolinium silicate (Na.sub.5 GdSi.sub.4 O.sub.12), (NGS), and sodium yttrium silicate (Na.sub.5 YSi.sub.4 O.sub.12), NYS. Using these powders, very dense (>97% theoretical) solids are obtained on sintering. The resistivities of the NGS and NYS polycrystalline ceramics are 5 and 7 (.OMEGA. cm) respectively at 300.degree. C. and are dependent on the f(NGS) or f(NYS) values. In the case of NYS, the resistivity/f(NYS) relationship takes the form ##EQU1## indicative of resistive and conductive phases mixed more in parallel than in series.

Abstract: The position of a peak in a digital signal is determined by a circuit consisting of a finite impulse response filter constructed in accordance with either the expression (1+z.sup.-1)(1+z.sup.-2) (1-z.sup.-5) or the simplified expression (1+z.sup.-1) (1-z.sup.-3), where z is the z transform function and the index indicates the number of clock intervals in each delay. The practical realization of the filter for applying these expressions to the input signal involves the use of three (for the first expression) or two (for the second expression) delay circuits in series. The output of the filter is a differentiated signal, the zero crossing point of which represents the desired peak position. This crossing point is detected in an interpolation circuit which linearly interpolates the location of such point to a fraction of a clock interval or pixel.

Abstract: A feed meter for determining the feed rate of conveyed material comprising a rotatable encoded disc which rotates in proportion to the velocity of conveyed material and displaces the disc in proportion to the depth of material being conveyed, whereby a fixed detector provides an output representative of feed rate. One use of the feed meters is for controlling the application rate of additive material to conveyed material.

Abstract: The direct recovery of precious metals, particularly gold and the platinum group metals, from chloride solutions, is achieved by solvent extraction and selective stripping/precipitation. Substituted quinolines are used as active extractant, in particular alkyl substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline. Gold is precipitated either by hot water, or by hydrogen after a cold water wash. Palladium remains in the organic phase and is precipitated by more severe hydrogen reduction or is stripped with acid. Platinum (and other precious metals) is stripped into water (the aqueous precipitant or wash), and can be recovered by hydrogen reduction (in stages). The organic phase is not degraded providing acid is washed out before any hydrogen reduction, and can be recycled.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonic irradiation of the heart either when the chest is open after surgery or through the chest wall. It may also be used in conjunction with electrical defibrillation equipment or alone. The apparatus includes an EKG for detecting the heart beat, an ultrasonic generator and timing and pulsing circuits for providing timed pulses of ultrasound to coincide with selected events in the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A viewing angle color sensitive lighting accessory comprising a sheet member capable of transmitting light, emitting from a visible light source, forwardly towards an area from which light is to be perceived, at least one optical interference multilayer coating on the sheet member and a reflector secured to the sheet member and extending around the light source. The coating has a transmittance which is a function of wavelength and angle of incidence, and in most instances, of state of polarization of the visible light thereto so that the light perceived from the light source has a particular coloration and, if desired, polarization at a particular viewing angle to the coating. The light source may be, for example, an incandescent light source or a light guide, or any other luminaire. The means securing the sheet member to the reflector preferably removably secures the sheet member thereto.

Abstract: Persistent chemisorption bonds of clay solids in clay-containing heavy oil and water emulsions, from oil sands, heavy oil or conventional oil wells, are broken down by mixing the emulsion with an aqueous mixture of coal particles so that the mixture has a suspension density in the range 1 to 50 weight % solids. The coal particles have a particle size in the range 5 to 100 .mu.m so that occluded hydrophilic, inorganic solids are separable from a substantial portion of the hydrophobic, carbonaceous substances of the coal. The mixing of the emulsion with the aqueous suspension of coal particles is continued until agglomerates are formed comprising essentially carbonaceous components of the coal and the heavy oil thereby breaking down the chemisorption bonds by interdependantly dissociating carbonaceous components of the coal and heavy oil from the clay solids and other hydrophilic, inorganic solids and water from the coal and heavy oil.

Abstract: The cable carriage is for use with a skyline log yarding system. The carriage runs and is supported on the fixed skyline. One main-haulback cable connected to winch drums at each end moves the carriage back and forth on the skyline. A tagline wound on a tagline drum is fed out as needed and is used to pull a log toward the carriage, raise it and hold it as the carriage is moved.

Abstract: An imaging device employs a known bidimensional, position sensitive light detector of the CCD type. A converging lens system images points on a target surface onto the detector to generate data on the X and Y coordinates of each point. The invention is characterized by a mask located in the aperture plane of the lens system. This mask either has a pair of spaced apart, separate, circular apertures or an annular aperture symmetrical about the optical axis. In the first instance, the result is to form spaced-apart dots on the detector for each point of the target surface, the distance between these dots being a measure of the Z coordinate of the respective point. When using the annular aperture, rings are formed on the detector, the ring diameter representing the Z data. The arrangement provides a compact and robust device for obtaining three dimensional data on a target surface.

Abstract: A signal processor for providing a continuous raised cosine output signal having no jitter or intersymbol-interference and with controllable main and side lobes. An NRZ input signal is converted to a double interval raised cosine pulse signal having an amplitude normalized to 1.0. Another single interval raised cosine pulse signal having a peak amplitude (A-1) is superposed with the former raised cosine pulse to provide the output signal.

Abstract: A multi functional high capacity insect trap for efficiently trapping insects especially flying insects. The insect trap uses a lure to attract the insects and comprises a base wall, a side wall and a funnel member, attached to the side wall, with its narrow end directed at the base wall. The base and side walls with the funnel member delimit an insect receiving chamber for retaining the insects in the trap. The side wall has also openings situated above the funnel member and a cover attached over the side wall, the cover being equipped with a lure mounting means for receiving a lure.