Abstract: An electrode assembly comprising an organic plastic sample flow-through tube, a portion of the wall of which comprises a membrane, the membrane comprising a matrix of an organic plastic material containing a non-volatile solvent-plasticizer and an ion exchange material dissolved in the solvent plasticizer, the membrane chemically bonded to and integral with said tube. The method of forming the membrane to the tube comprises dissolving the matrix material, the ion exchange material and the non-volatile plasticizer in a volatile solvent, placing the resulting solution on a surface and evaporating the volatile solvent to form the membrane, contacting an edge of the tube to the membrane material, contacting the tube edge with said volatile solvent and allowing the solvent to evaporate.

Abstract: Apparatus for directing a beam at a workpiece in vacuum has a special planar sliding multiple seal arrangement that enables repeated scanning movement of the workpiece across the beam. The seal includes a planar slide plate and an opposed relatively movable seal support member, also preferrably a plate parallel to the slide plate. Aligned apertures are in the members, one of which is larger in the direction of relative movement than the other enabling the relative movement while maintaining the alignment. A plurality of concentric resilient seals, which may be of oval race track configuration, bear with a sliding contact against the planar surface, these seals preferably comprising composites of a thin high density polyethylene seal element and a soft and only milding compressed backing element that applies a feather-light seal pressure. Between-seal pumping is provided to reduce the differential pressure across any seal to to remove gas that may leak into the space.

Abstract: Ion implantation equipment of the spinning disk type has an automated disk exchange system employing a pair of arms that interchange disks between a pair of exchange stations. One exchange station is defined by a back cover of a target chamber that hinges down. The disk drive motor is mounted on that cover and introduces water cooling for the disk through the drive shaft. Heat conductive elastomeric material interposed between the disk and its support on the shaft ensures good heat transfer from the disk in a high vacuum environment. The exchange system employs linear and rotary actuators of the fluid cylinder type, and the pickup head employs a pneumatic robot that operates a toggle clamp that secures the disk for its scanning rotation.

Abstract: Device for locking a male element such as a shaft engaging in the bore of a female element such as a wheel hub against axial displacement. An annular groove is provided in the bore of the female member and has a first annular surface engageable by an elastically deformable locking ring mounted on a reduced section of the shaft member. A displaceable member such as a nut is moveable relative to the shaft member and has a second surface engageable with the locking ring. At least one of the surfaces is tapered so that upon movement of the surfaces toward one another, the locking ring is displaced radially outwardly to engage in the groove and lock the elements together.

Abstract: A device for transferring a rotational motion into a longitudinal movement or vice versa. The device comprises a cylindrical shaft (1), a sleeve (2) enclosing the shaft and displaceable along and rotatable relative thereto. A cage (3) is mounted between the sleeve and shaft for axial movement with the sleeve as a unit. A plurality of rolling bodies (4) are mounted in elongated apertures in the cage and are arranged during operation to roll in a closed track around the shaft. The track has a helical portion and a recirculation portion. The rolling bodies contact the shaft and the sleeve in the helical portion and are axially moveable in the recirculation portion. Cam profile members (5, 6) are arranged at the ends of the cage for actuating the rolling bodies in the recirculation portion.

Abstract: A device for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement. The device comprises a retainer and a shaft extending through the retainer which are mounted for movement relative to one another. A plurality of annular bearing members, in the illustrated embodiment, comprising ball bearings, circumscribes the shaft and engages the same at axially spaced locations. The bearings are mounted for tilting movement relative to the shaft. The outer ring of each of the bearing assemblies is supportd in a housing and each housing has an external surface section defined by a circular arc having a center on the rotational axis of the housing which slidingly engages internal walls of the retainer of complementary form.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing a high-protein snack food. The method comprises admixing a plastic protein gel with about 17 to 50% by weight, based on weight of the gel, of dry starch or flour to obtain a homogeneous mass of protein gel-starch material which is subsequently extruded into desired shapes and thereafter cooked. Vegetable oil or fat may also be incorporated into the gel-starch material to improve the texture and taste of the final product. Preferred starches or flours include those derived from potato, corn and rice. The plastic protein gel, which is prepared by conventional procedures, may be fish, soybean gel, or mixtures containing both fish and soybean gels with the proviso that all steps prior to cooking must be carried out at a temperature of 5.degree. C. or less when any fish gel is utilized. The cooked product can readily be prepared in the form of chips and can be coated subsequent to cooking with flavoring and/or flavor-enhancing agents.

Abstract: A centering ring for a rolling bearing assembly comprising an outer ring, an inner ring and at least two rows of rolling elements in the annular space between the rings and a retainer having pockets for the rolling elements. The centering ring is of T-shaped cross section and preferably made of sheet metal and the outer surface of the bar of the T conforms to the shape of the outer raceway and the vertical leg of the T is connected to the retainer. The centering ring may also be provided with grooves or be knurled to retain lubricant and the inner face of the T-shaped bar is preferably conical and outwardly divergent from the vertical leg to aid in the distribution of lubricant to the rolling elements.

Abstract: A manually adjustable open four-sided frame and a number of improved clips that cooperate to provide an assembly that removably and frictionally engages a sheet of fabric on which needlepoint or other decoration is being defined to maintain a desired portion of the sheet within the confines of the frame in a taut condition. The clips if desired may be of such structure as to positively as well as frictionally engage peripheral edge portions of the sheet material when the latter is supported in a taut condition on the frame.

Abstract: A method for improving the impact strength of fiber reinforced plastic materials hard at ambient temperatures is described, the improvement comprising introducing particulate metal in the form of deformable particles of about 2-20 .mu.m thickness and having a length of about 10-20 times the thickness, the metal particles constituting about 10 to 80% and preferably about 20 to 50% by weight of the composition, and said particles being in contact with each other, and the composition containing a fiberglass mat of about 300 g/m.sup.2, whereby the impact resistance of the composition is rendered many times greater than the additive impact resistance imparted by either the reinforcing fibers or deformable metal particles alone.

Abstract: A magnetic drive for coupling mechanical power to the interior of a high pressure vessel is disclosed. The drive includes an output or driven portion including a non-magnetic housing hermetically sealed to a wall of the vessel and containing an output shaft which extends into the vessel. The shaft is mounted for rotation in bearings contained within a cylindrical extension of the housing projecting into the vessel interior. The opposite end of the shaft carries a plurality of permanent magnet segments coaxial therewith and is located within a high pressure gas barrier of the housing external of the vessel. Input power is provided by an input shaft connected to a power source, the input shaft carrying a housing which is coaxial to the gas barrier and has permanent magnets therein which will interact with the output shaft magnets upon rotation of the input shaft to cause rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: A device for transforming a rotational motion into a linear motion comprising a shaft and a sleeve enclosing the shaft, the shaft and sleeve adapted for relative axial movement upon relative rotation of the shaft and sleeve. A plurality of rolling bodies between the shaft and the sleeve arranged in a closed track with a load carrying part in the form of a spiral line and a relieved recirculation part. The sleeve includes an inner portion of flexibly deformable material suited for contracting the rolling bodies and have a helical race track therefor and an outer portion provided with a recirculation channel for the rolling bodies. The shaft which is enclosed by the sleeve has a smooth surface and the rolling bodies are urged against the shaft by means of the inner elastic portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: An improved garden tool comprising an end plate attached to a tubular fitting extending vertically from the substantial center thereof, the tubular fitting being adapted to receive a wooden handle. The end plate itself is cut in plan form to provide a conventional hoe blade extending over a segment of an arc with a Warren hoe and a rake equally spaced therefrom. The hoe blade surface is further provided with two openings for securing a lead weight biasing the hoe in a preferred orientation. Furthermore the plate area of the Warren hoe and the rake is distributed to provide equal weight distribution, thus insuring a balanced configuration during the use of the hoe which entails the most pronounced impact stroke.

Abstract: Workpieces to be joined by welding are held in juxtaposition to provide a joint location to which welding wire is to be fed. The welding wire is fed to the joint location from a passage in a welding wire feeder that is guided for movement relative to the workpieces and the joint location. As the welding wire feeder is moved relative to the joint location, welding wire passes from a groove in the feeder through an arcuate passage directed toward the joint location. During welding the feeder is moved relative to the workpieces along the weld line. The welding wire is melted at the joint location by being heated, such as by connecting a workpiece and the welding wire feeder to an electric circuit for producing a welding arc between the welding wire and the workpieces at the joint location.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring a rotary motion into an axial motion. The assembly includes a shaft having a smooth, cylindrical envelope surface, a retainer enclosing the shaft and rotatable relative the shaft. A plurality of bearing housings with bearing seats inclined towards the shaft are arranged in the retainer. Bearings having outer and inner race rings are arranged in the bearing seats. The bore diameter of the inner race rings, which are arranged to enclose the shaft, are larger than the diameter of the shaft. The bearing seats are designed completely to enclose the outer race rings of the bearings. The retainer has a recess having opposing sidewalls defining guide surfaces. The bearing housings are slidable in and guided by the sidewalls of the recess for displacement substantially perpendicularly to the shaft. The bearing housings are subjected to a force in the direction of displacement so as to urge the inner race rings of the bearings against the envelope surface of the shaft.

Abstract: A clamping device adapted to be secured on the wrist of a person and conformed to retain portable calculators of various sizes thereat. In a first embodiment the clamping device comprises an angulated base plate including wrist band receiving slots along the lateral edges thereof and provided with an outwardly extending longitudinal securing lip. The base plate surface subjacent the wrist band furthermore, includes two transverse surface recesses conformed to receive at various depths of insertion, two parallel tongues extending from a locking plate similarly provided with a longitudinal retaining lip. Both the tongues and the recesses and the interiorly opposed surfaces of the locking lip each include longitudinal serrations biased to maintain the calculator in position and to provide an engaging interface. In a second embodiment a single, unitary, structure is utilized to form the base plate, such base plate including two spirally wound longitudinal edges which by spring deformation retain the calculator.

Abstract: A bearing housing characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement providing an adjustable bearing seat. The housing has a longitudinal slot and mounting portions protruding at each side of the slot. Each of the mounting portions is provided with a support surface confronting a base which in the unloaded condition is disposed at an angle relative to the base. The angular relationship of the mounting portions to the base can be selectively varied by pressing the mounting portions against the base by fastening elements engaging through openings in the mounting portion and engageable in the base. The housing is elastically deformable and when so adjusted the width of the slot is selectively varied and thereby the diameter of the seat can be adjusted.

Abstract: A support assembly for a flat soaker hose comprising a spike insertable into the ground, said spike including mounting provisions at the top end thereof for receiving a clamp assembly at various angular dispositions. The clamp assembly is conformed to provide a plurality of cantilevered fingers disposed in staggered opposing alignment, the interior separation between fingers being dimensioned to provide a clamping fit about the soaker hose. One exterior surface of said clamp is furthermore joined to a mounting structure variously conformed for attachment to the upper end of said spike at various angular alignment. In a first embodiment the upper end of the spike is provided with a planar or rectangular cavity extending vertically downward along or parallel to the axis of the spike and the support structure is conformed as a planar member having a plurality of elongate, coplanar elements extending at various angular alignments therefrom each element being conformed for receipt in said cavity.

Abstract: A planetary gear system comprising housing, an input shaft at one end and an output shaft at the opposite end and transmission means drivingly connecting the shafts to one another. The transmission means includes a planet support having at least two planet wheel journals mounted therein. At least one of the journals mounts a planet friction wheel adapted to contact a friction ring having at least an elastically deformable portion. Means is provided for adjusting the pressure applying relation between the planet friction wheel and the elastically deformable portion of the friction ring. This arrangement provides a multiple step gear system wherein the play in the system is minimized and the system operates at low noise levels.