Abstract: A longitudinally compact vacuum generator having an incorporated check valve. The generator includes a valve assembly housing having top and bottom portions. An exhaust housing is coupled to the top portion of the valve assembly and a venturi inlet port is located in the bottom portion of the valve assembly. A vacuum inlet port is configured in fluid communication with a suction chamber within the valve assembly and a pneumatic valve pressure supply port is configured in fluid communication with a pneumatic pressure supply channel.

Abstract: A check valve comprising of an inlet body portion, an outlet body portion, and a resilient o-ring. The o-ring being the only moveable part is slightly stretched and sealingly contacts the exterior corner edges of an annular groove. The annular groove corner edges are concentrically aligned and of distinctly different diameters. The inside diameter area of the o-ring communicates with an inlet passage through radial holes. Inlet pressure forces the o-ring to "tilt" off of the larger diameter groove edge by pivoting on the smaller diameter groove edge, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the inlet passage to an outlet passage.

Abstract: A braided fiber reinforced composite shaft with yoke member of a universal joint (8) having a tubular portion (10) integrally connected with the yoke portion (12). The yoke portion (12) has a pair of opposed axially extending arms (20) which extend beyond the tubular portion (10). The yoke arms (20) contain diametrically opposed holes (22) centrally located and near the end of each arm (20). A portion of the braided fiber reinforcement extends continuously around the tubular portion (10), into the axially extending arms, around the respective holes (22) and back around the tubular portion (10).

Abstract: A method for treating articles with heat and pressure is disclosed. The articles are placed in an isostatic press, the press is evacuated of air and thereafter filled with an inert gas, the pressure and temperature of which is raised to predetermined levels. These predetermined levels are maintained for a period of time sufficient to effect the treatment, and thereafter the inert gas is circulated to promote cooling of the gas and reduce the cooling time of the press and the article treated.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating articles by heat and pressure and then cooling by forced circulation may have a pressurized heated chamber for holding such items to be treated, this chamber being positioned within a cooled, pressure sustaining enclosure, a pressure developing mechanism may be positioned at one side of this enclosure and may include a valving function for selectively drawing inert gas into the enclosure and into the heated chamber the heated chamber including a wall having a plurality of openings spaced throughout into the item-holding chamber, a passageway may extend from one end of this item-holding chamber, past the cooled area of the sustaining enclosure and onto the pressure developing mechanism whereby the valving function may be selectively operated allowing the pressure developing mechanism to circulate the gaseous medium within the apparatus more evenly and uniformly over all items held within the chamber, the heating operation of the chamber being selectively disabled during this circulati

Abstract: An apparatus for operation in the temperature range above 1000 degrees Centigrade and at pressures above 50 kilobars, for making industrial diamonds or the like, includes arrangements for more reliably maintaining uniform temperature while compressing the charge. The high pressure cavity includes the usual insulating cylindrical liner made of a salt, or other insulating material, to facilitate the application of electricity to heat the charge, and the liner stops short of the end of the cylindrical high pressure cavity to avoid deformation as the main piston moves into the end of the high pressure cavity. A ring or rings of zinc and/or lead and/or a zinc-lead alloy, may be located immediately adjacent the end of the insulating liner, and a thin layer of lead may extend across the main piston, to insure confinement within the cavity. Heating arrangements are provided to compensate for the cooling which occurs along and at the ends of the high pressure cavity to thereby achieve more uniform temperature.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating articles with heat and pressure is disclosed. Included in the apparatus is a furnace in which the articles are to be treated. The articles are placed in the furnace and, the furnace is evacuated, then filled with an inert gas the pressure and temperature of which is raised to predetermined levels. These predetermined levels are maintained for a period of time sufficient to effect the treatment, and, thereafter the inert gas is circulated to promote cooling of the gas and reduce the cooling time of the furnace and the article treated.

Abstract: A piston type system for forming industrial diamonds is provided with a pressure vessel which includes a tungsten carbide member having a central opening which has a tapered mouth at one end, and which is lined with a salt bushing. A charge including invar and graphite to be converted to diamond is inserted within the pressure chamber inside the salt bushing. An end load plate has a central opening of substantially the same diameter as the opening in the salt bushing and has a tapered flange which fits into the tapered mouth in the tungsten carbide pressure vessel. A tungsten carbide piston which has a diameter about 0.003 inch less than the diameter of the opening in the end plate, and which has a lead gasket between its surface and that of the opening in the end plate, is forced through the end plate and applies high pressure at high temperatures to the charge, thereby converting the graphite to diamond after the passage of a suitable period of time.