Abstract: A process is described in which a brine from natural or other sources, containing lithium and other alkali and alkaline earth metals primarily as the halides, is preliminarily concentrated to a lithium content of about 2 to 7% to separate most of the alkali and alkaline earth metals other than lithium by precipitation, the pH of such a concentrated brine is then increased to about 10.5 to about 11.
Abstract: A transmission with multiple forward speeds and an improved shifting arrangement is provided. The transmission is particularly adapted for use on riding lawn mowers, garden tractors, and the like. The shift mechanism includes a pivotable shift lever which requires the operator to interrupt the motion of the lever when shifting from neutral to reverse and from neutral to successive forward speeds. This enables the operator to know by feel what gear the transmission is in. The transmission can also be quickly shifted from reverse to neutral or from any forward speed down to or toward neutral without interruption. The pivotable shift lever is located outside a cover of the transmission and is mechanically connected through the cover with an internal shift lever or arm which engages a pawl pivotally mounted on a carrier, with a stop member being engageable by the pawl to control the movement of the carrier, the pawl, and the levers.
Abstract: A shift dog for an in-line transmission is provided to engage and disengage rotatable members or gears in the transmission. The shift dog has resiliently-mounted teeth which can yield if the teeth are not properly aligned with recesses in the gear when the dog is attempted to be moved into engagement therewith. The transmission can then be shifted through that gear to another position, and particularly to neutral, even though the dog and gear are not aligned for engagement.
Abstract: Rare earth metal silicide alloys comprising about 25 to about 40% rare earth metals, about 35 to about 50% Si, about 5 to about 25% Fe, about 2 to about 8% Ca, about 2 to about 4% Ba and about 1 to about 3% Sr, the proportions based on the weight of the alloy are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of making rare earth metal silicide alloys and a method of treating high strength-low alloy steel with the rare earth metal silicide alloys of the invention.
Abstract: A safety system for a lawn mower is provided for disengaging the blade from the drive when the mower is backing up. The safety system includes a gear which rotates with a wheel of the mower and a toothed member engagable with the gear. When the mower backs up and the gear rotates in one direction, it engages the toothed member and moves it from a first to a second position. A linkage connected with the toothed member and a clutch in the drive train then disengages the clutch and disconnects the mower blade from the drive. When the mower moves forwardly again, the toothed member is moved by the gear back to the first position and the linkage moves the clutch to its engaged position again to rotate the blade by the drive, assuming the shift lever is in its engaged position.
Abstract: A riding vehicle, such as a lawn mower, has a flexible apron positioned behind the rear wheels with a lower edge of the apron above the ground. The mower can back up without impediment from the apron, unless an object is encountered. In that case, the object contacting the apron pushes it against the rear wheels and the apron is pulled under the tires where it abruptly snubs the tires and prevents further backing motion. To achieve this, the apron is supported by the mower through yieldable means which holds the apron above the ground until it contacts the wheels. The apron is also anchored to the mower to limit the extent of downward movement of the apron. In a preferred form, the yieldable supporting means for the apron also is resilient so that the apron can be returned to the original position after it is released from the rear wheels, as by driving the mower forwardly again. The apron is capable of stopping the mower securely and abruptly and reliably does so in a fixed, relatively short distance.
Abstract: Butynyllithium is prepared by passing a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of 1,2-butadiene or a mixture of 1,2-butadiene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-butyne and 2-butyne into a slurry of lithium metal dispersed in a strong coordinating ether solvent, said slurry being under a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere.
Abstract: A process for the manufacture of iron or steel utilizing lime as a flux improved through use of a lithium containing material as an auxiliary flux.
Abstract: A method, compositions and articles are described for the direct addition of alloying metal to a molten metal to be alloyed, which provide more rapid dissolution of the alloying metal in the molten metal than has been possible heretofore. The alloying metal is added to the molten metal to be alloyed in finely particulate form in intimate admixture with a flux suitable for the purpose and finely particulate phenolic resin. The phenolic resin, in particle form, and preferably in the form of low density microballoons, is employed in an amount such that the ratio of the volume of the metalflux mixture to the volume of the microballoons is in the range from about 2:1 to about 12:1. The flux-alloying metal mixture contains about 3 to about 10% flux and about 90 to about 97% alloying metal, by weight of the flux-metal mixture. The compositions may be added to the molten metal bath in powder or lump form or may be incorporated in articles such as bags or briquettes containing the compositions.