Abstract: A method and means for changing the characteristics of a substance, particularly a viscous substance, involves passing the substance into a path, passing a solvent for that substance into the path, and subjecting the substance and the solvent to a pulsating electric field in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz.

Abstract: According to this invention there is provided a process and apparatus for the ignition of a pilot burner in an inert atmosphere without substantially contaminating the inert atmosphere. The process includes the steps of providing a controlled amount of combustion air for a predetermined interval of time to the combustor then substantially simultaneously providing a controlled mixture of fuel and air to the pilot burner and to a flame generator. The controlled mixture of fuel and air to the flame generator is then periodically energized to produce a secondary flame. With the secondary flame the controlled mixture of fuel and air to the pilot burner and the combustion air is ignited to produce a pilot burner flame. The pilot burner flame is then used to ignited a mixture of main fuel and combustion air to produce a main burner flame.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the properties of materials. This nondestructive, noncontacting instrument detects electromagnetic radiation from the materials across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and combines these diverse data so as to derive the material property values desired. In particular, the properties detectable through particle magnetic resonance, spectroscopy of light in the infrared-visible-ultraviolet range, and detection of x-ray and gamma ray radiation may be included in the instrument. Sensors detect each wavelength band of electromagnetic radiation, and data from all of these sensors is merged in a central data processor to evaluate the material properties of interest.