Abstract: Zirconium or zirconium alloy components of a cylindrical shape are cleaned with an ice blasting process to produce a defect-free bondline in multi-layered tubing suitable for nuclear fuel cladding and the chemical processing industry. The ice blasting process improves the integrity of the metallurgical bond by removing foreign contamination that can initiate non-bonding defects.

Abstract: A methods and apparatus for exhausting flue products and removing condensate from a combustion of air/gas mixtures provide a condensate collecting pan for flue products. That pan is provided with an inlet for flue products and condensate, and with an outlet for flue products spaced from that inlet. That inlet is provided with a larger cross-section for flue product and condensate flow than the outlet. A space is provided in the pan for a flow of flue products from the inlet at a substantially even velocity across the larger cross-section of the inlet to the smaller cross-section outlet. Condensate collecting in that space is removed from the pan.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an overriding starter clutch assembly includes an axial input passage through the clutch shaft to radial passages supplying the oil to the inlet of the clutch working unit. A centrifugal pump created by vanes in the clutch housing end face pulls the lubricating oil axially through the clutch.

Abstract: A process for the low temperature, low pressure preparation of the hydride product of ferroalloys of Group IV and Group V metals including niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and silicon and the novel hydride product of ferroniobium.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry method in which notch-filtered noise is applied to an ion trap to resonate all ions except selected parent ions out of the region of the trapping field. Preferably, the trapping field is a quadrupole trapping field defined by a ring electrode and a pair of end electrodes positioned symmetrically along a z-axis, and the filtered noise is applied to the ring electrode(rather than to the end electrodes) to eject unwanted ions in radial directions (toward the ring electrode) rather than toward a detector mounted along the z-axis. Application of the filtered noise to the trap in this manner can significantly increase the operating lifetime of such an ion detector. Also preferably, the trapping field has a DC component selected so that the trapping field has both a high frequency and low frequency cutoff, and is incapable of trapping ions with resonant frequency below the low frequency cutoff or above the high frequency cutoff.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing metals such as zirconium, hafnium, titanium, niobium, vanadium, silicon and tantalum. The corresponding metal halide is reacted with a metallic reducing agent such as aluminum, calcium, magnesium and sodium in a reactor where the reaction takes place at a temperature where the metal reducing agent is below its vaporization temperature and where the metal halide is above its vaporization temperature. The metal formed by the reaction is recovered from the reactor by collecting it in a pool of molten product metal contained in a cold wall induction heated receptacle in the reactor from which the metal product is removed.

Abstract: A relay test assembly including a majority of parts adapted to be injection molded and capable of withstanding large and rapid swings in temperature and humidity. These include a central approximately cylindrical body portion having a plurality of channels of generally-conical shape running therethrough generally-parallel to the axis of the body portion. The channels provide easy entry and straightening to leads of a relay Each channel includes a spring which may be brought to bear against a lead positioned in the channel to provide positive electrical contact to the lead while requiring no force to insert the lead. A sleeve positioned about the body portion is shaped to force the springs into contact with the relay leads.

Abstract: A microwave multi-port switch has three operating positions and three RF paths. Six peripheral contact junctions are provided adjacent corners of a hexagonal cavity in an RF body and a common contact provided at the cavity center. Six reeds bridge over in and out of contact with adjacent ones of the peripheral contacts and six reeds extend between and in and out of contact with the peripheral contacts and the common contact. Reeds are actuated by movement of a coil-driven rocker through three actuating mechanisms, including a center post, at three levels above the body. The mechanisms include radially extending leaf springs, an actuator loosely keyed to the center post and a pivoted leaf spring movable by rocker tilting depressing the actuator, the leaf springs and fixed dielectric posts extending upwardly from the reeds.

Abstract: A solid state relay comprising a pair of SCRs connected in inverse parallel relationship across a pair of output terminals adapted to be connected in series with a source of AC power and a load, each SCR having an anode connected to one of the pair of output terminals, a cathode connected to another of the pair of output terminals, and a gate terminal; a pair of MOSFETs connected as a bidirectional switch for providing a single current path connecting the gate terminals of each of the pair of SCRs, the bidirectional switch allowing current application to the gate terminals without generating switching noise; a pair of diodes allowing current to transfer in one direction from each of the output terminals to each of the gate terminals of the SCRs; a source of optically coupled input signals which are applied to rapidly enable the bidirectional switch to provide a current path to the gate terminals of the SCRs and to maintain the bidirectional switch in the on condition as long as an input signal is furnished by

Abstract: Air pollution from combustion of air/gas mixtures is reduced effectively and reliably at a porous burner providing flames with a downstream reaction zone where the ignition of the air/gas mixture initiates. The porous burner is loaded with the air/gas mixture sufficiently, such as at from 1000 to 2500 kWm.sup.-2 or 2200 to 5500 Btu/sqin-hr, to locate the downstream reaction zone at a downstream surface of the porous burner, while the air/gas mixture is provided with sufficient excess air, such as more than a quarter of excess air, for the flames to burn blue. In a typical combustion of that air/gas mixture, less than 20 ppm of NO.sub.x are produced. A related method loads the porous burner with the air/gas mixture at from 1000 to 2000 kWm.sup.-2 or 2200 to 4400 Btu/sqin-hr, while providing that air/gas mixture with more than about forty-five percent of excess air for the flames to burn blue. That combustion of the air/gas mixture including its excess air produces less than 10 ppm of NO.sub.x.

Abstract: A nickel base alloy is provided having excellent hot and cold workability and superior corrosion resistance to a variety of media including deep sour gas well environments and highly corrosive oxidizing environments. The alloy consists essentially of, by weight, about 27 to 33% chromium, about 8 to 12% molybdenum, about 1 to 4% tungsten, and the balance nickel. The alloy may also contain as impurities or as additions, up to about 1.5% iron, up to about 0.15% carbon, up to about 1% aluminum, up to about 1% titanium and up to about 2% columbium.

Abstract: A turbocharger having a heat insulating system whereby an aluminum bearing housing, its internal components including bearing assemblies and lubricating oil are insulated from the heat of the turbine. The insulating system includes three basic component parts. The first component part is a partially convoluted backplate interconnecting the bearing housing and the turbine housing. The second component part is an insulator situated next to the backplate and the third component part is a heat shield provided between the turbine wheel and the insulator. Between the backplate and the bearing housing is defined a cavity near the turbine shaft. Oil slingers are provided on the shaft within the cavity to create an oil-air mist when the shaft is rotated, thereby enhancing cooling.

Abstract: An oral hygiene appliance includes a base on which upstands a cabinet having top, front and rear vertical walls. A pair of recesses are formed in either side of that front wall. A plurality of seats within those recesses are each receptive of a jet tip. An inlet is defined in the top wall. A cover is shaped to envelope the cabinet over the recesses and the inlet with the cover being invertable to serve as a reservoir. Disposed within the cabinet is a pump responsive to a pressure control for delivering water received from the inlet.Seated toward one end of the base is the lower end of an elongated electric toothbrush body. Individual brushes are seated in the base around the body and those brushes ordinarily to the rear of the body are elevated on a pedestal. At the opposite end of the base is a well in which is seated the lower end of a handle in which a faceted lower end of one of the jet tips may be captivated.

Abstract: A power transfer method and apparatus for efficient transfer of power are disclosed. Input power is converted in an essentially lossless manner to an intermediate form having a voltage or current in excess of that desired at the load. The intermediate power form is split into first and second parts, where the first part of the intermediate power form approximately matches an output power form desired at an output of the power transfer apparatus and the second part represents an excess power form. The first part of the intermediate power form is transferred to the output of the power transfer apparatus and the excess part is stored. Part or all of the stored excess energy is recycled in an essentially lossless manner, converted into a form that approximately matches the output power form desired at the output of the power transfer apparatus and transferred to the output of the power transfer apparatus.

Abstract: Improved non-electrostatic spray coating process and apparatus are provided. The process and apparatus of the present invention permit significant reduction in over-spray conditions as well as, the disadvantages and drawbacks associated therewith, without causing corresponding reduction in coating efficiency.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry method in which an improved field comprising two or more trapping fields having substantially identical spatial form is established and at least one parameter of the improved field is changed to excite selected trapped ions sequentially, for example for detection. The improved field can also include a supplemental field of different spatial form. The changing improved field can sequentially eject selected ones of the trapped ions from the improved field for detection (or other purposes). An improved field comprising two quadrupole trapping fields can be established in a region defined by the ring and end electrodes of a three-dimensional quadrupole ion trap, and the amplitude of an RF (and/or DC) component (and/or the frequency of the RF component) of one or both trapping fields can be changed to sequentially excite trapped ions.

Abstract: The reflectivity of a porous burner matrix is enhanced in order to enhance burner performance, capacity and capability. More specifically, a porous matrix is coated with a layer of a material, such as gold, having a higher reflectivity than the porous matrix by itself, and gas-flow pores of the porous matrix are preserved in that layer. A burner has a porous matrix and a porous coating on that porous matrix including a porous layer of a material, such as gold, having a higher reflectivity than the porous matrix by itself.

Abstract: A battery-plate separator system includes three layers in face-to-face relationship, the first and third layers including a porous mat of randomly oriented fibers, and, between the first and third layers, a second layer comprising a porous organic polymeric sheet with tortuosity and pores sufficiently small to substantially block penetration by metallic particles. A storage battery includes a plurality of positive lead peroxide elec-trodes, a plurality of negative metallic lead electrodes, and the same three-layer separator system in a closed case with a body of electrolyte to which the system is inert, that is absorbed by the separator system, and that is maintained in contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: An aerial gunnery target system having a visual augmenter release which includes a detention member that is moved to enable a spring biased rod to shift forward. The rod moves a pivoting contact member received within a bracket assembly extending from an end cap secured to the aft end of a towed forebody. The shifting of the rod causes the contact member to pivot so as to move the swivel connector of the visual augmenter from a position fixed within the bracket assembly to a position where the swivel connector is free to slide off. A deployment mechanism is also provided which includes a cutting assembly designed to cut a retention line extending about an end cap formed at the aft end of the forebody and about a two segment visual augmenter cover A transient force absorbing adaptor is connected between the tow cable and forebody. A cone shaped ballast member redirects projectiles so as to protect the scoring sensor.