Abstract: A process for the synthesis of homogeneous advanced ceramics such as SiC+AlN, SiAlON, SiC+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 +AlN from natural clays such as kaolin, halloysite and montmorillonite by an intercalation and heat treatment method. Included are the steps of refining clays, intercalating organic compounds into the layered structure of clays, drying the intercalated mixture, firing the treated atmospheres and grinding the loosely agglomerated structure. Advanced ceramics produced by this procedure have the advantages of homogeneity, cost effectiveness, simplicity of manufacture, ease of grind and a short process time. Advanced ceramics produced by this process can be used for refractory, wear part and structure ceramics.

Abstract: A dam spillway system for embankment dam overtopping protection comprising a layer of free-draining, angular, gravel filter material, a plurality of rows of overlapping, tapered, concrete blocks assembled over the filter material in shingle-fashion, from the toe of the dam, up the slope to the top of the dam, and a plurality of fixed concrete toe blocks located at the toe of the dam, usually beneath the tailwater, and supporting each of the rows of concrete blocks.

Abstract: A computer vision system and image processing method is provided for accurately determining the size and shape of coarsely textured, irregular and layered pieces of ore and the like. The system comprises a camera for producing an image of the ore, a digitizer for digitizing the camera image, and a video processor for processing the digitized image. An optional digital computer may be employed for controlling the overall system and for determining the dimensions, mass, and surface area of each piece of ore based on the processed image. The digitizer breaks down the camera image into a plurality of pixels and a set of line-spin masks, each including a line of negative unit or center weighted values and a central positive value equal to the absolute value of the negative values and each with the line disposed in a different orientation, are multiplied by the digital values of each of the pixels to determine new values for the pixels.

Abstract: A video photometric color sensing system is provided for characterizing the color of a homogeneous substance on a real time basis. The sensing system includes a sample port for holding a homogeneous substance and a camera quantifies a color video image of the homogeneous substance and provides as outputs analog voltage signals representative of the amount of red, green and blue in the color video image. A peak detector circuit receives the analog voltage signals representative of the amount of red, green and blue in the color video image and generates peak red, green and blue analog voltage signals and uses these individual voltage values of each component to derive the luminance value from software generated nonadditive matrix.

Abstract: A process of recovering magnesium from an aluminum-magnesium alloy using a two electrode cell, comprising:placing an engineered scavenger compound in an electrode basket of a two electrode cell;adjusting the temperature of a surrounding heating furnace to a temperature below at the melting point of an Al--Mg alloy under a salt bath in a crucible disposed in the cell;immersing the electrode basket containing the engineered scavenger compound into a molten salt bath and making an electrical connection between the crucible and the electrode basket until the engineered scavenger compound is charged with Mg to a point sufficient to cause cessation of voltage and current flow; andmaking an electrical connection between the basket electrode containing the engineered scavenger compound and Mg and a stainless steel rod electrode disposed within the molten salt bath, and applying a current through a DC voltage sufficient to cause captured Mg to leave the engineered scavenger compound and become electrodeposited on the

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the position of a mining machine cutting a new entry in a coal seam relative to an adjacent, previously cut entry to determine the distance between a near face of the adjacent previously cut entry and a new face adjacent thereto of a new entry being cut by the mining machine which together define the thickness of a coal rib being formed between the new entry and the adjacent previously cut entry during the new entry-cutting operation. The monitoring apparatus; includes a transmit antenna mounted on the mining machine and spaced inwardly from the new face of the coal rib for transmitting radio energy towards the coal rib so that one portion of the radio energy is reflected by the new face which is defined at an air-coal interface between the new entry and the coal rib and another portion of the radio energy is reflected by the near face of the coal rib which is defined at an air-coal interface between the coal rib and the adjacent previously cut entry.

Abstract: A process for producing intermediate grade manganese concentrate from low grade manganiferous ores is disclosed. A low grade manganiferous ore containing silicon, iron, between 1 and 20 per cent manganese and oxides of silicon, iron and manganese is first crushed to reduce the size of the manganiferous ore to a fraction of its original size. The crushed manganiferous ore is then heated to a temperature sufficient to chemically transform the manganese and iron in the manganiferous ore to an artificial magnetic, manganese-iron spinel. The heat treated manganiferous ore is cooled, preferably by air, and then beneficiated by further crushing and grinding to liberate the artificial manganese iron spinel from the silicon and other oxides within the ore. Finally, the artificial manganese-iron spinel is magnetically separated from the silicon and other oxides within the ore to increase the concentration of the manganese and thereby provide an intermediate grade manganese concentrate.

Abstract: A process for removal of thorium from titanium chlorinator waste comprising: (a) leaching an anhydrous titanium chlorinator waste in water or dilute hydrochloric acid solution and filtering to separate insoluble minerals and coke fractions from soluble metal chlorides; (b) beneficiating the insoluble fractions from step (a) on shaking tables to recover recyclable or otherwise useful TiO.sub.2 minerals and coke; and (c) treating filtrate from step (a) with reagents to precipitate and remove thorium by filtration along with acid metals of Ti, Zr, Nb, and Ta by the addition of the filtrate (a), a base and a precipitant to a boiling slurry of reaction products (d); treating filtrate from step (c) with reagents to precipitate and recover an iron vanadate product by the addition of the filtrate (c), a base and an oxidizing agent to a boiling slurry of reaction products; and (e) treating filtrate from step (d) to remove any remaining cations except Na by addition of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 and boiling.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte circulation manifold system for use in a copper electrowinning cell which includes an array of alternating cathode and anode plates positioned within a holding tank is disclosed. The manifold system itself includes a first manifold section positioned within the holding tank adjacent to a first lateral edge portion of each cathode plate and anode plate in the array. The first manifold section includes a first plurality of holes formed along it's length so that each hole is oriented in a horizontal plane and a single hole is positioned between and facing each anode plate and an adjacent cathode plate. A second manifold section is positioned within the holding tank adjacent to a second lateral edge portion of each cathode plate and anode plate in the array.

Abstract: A process for separating scandium from an aqueous solution comprised of a first group of metals, scandium and a second group of metals includes the steps of: (a) providing a scandium-containing material and preparing therefrom an aqueous sulfuric acid solution containing a first group of metals, scandium and a second group of metals; (b) contacting the aqueous sulfuric acid solution with an organic liquid solution whereby scandium and the first and second groups of metals are extracted into the organic liquid solution to create a loaded organic solution; (c) scrubbing the loaded organic liquid solution first with an sulfuric acid solution to remove selected metals in the first group of metals from the organic liquid solution and then with a dilute HF solution to prepare the organic liquid solution for stripping; (d) stripping the remaining metals in the first group of metals from the loaded organic liquid solution with a HF solution so that only scandium and the second group of metals remain on the organic li

Abstract: The invention pertains a method of determining elastic and plastic mechanical properties of ceramics, intermetallics, metals, plastics and other hard, brittle materials which fracture prior to plastically deforming when loads are applied. Elastic and plastic mechanical properties of ceramic materials are determined using spherical indenters. The method is most useful for measuring and calculating the plastic and elastic deformation of hard, brittle materials with low values of elastic modulus to hardness.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating seismic waves utilizes a heavy flywheel positioned for rotation in a vertical plane to generate and store energy which is then transferred to the ground. The device includes two balanced hammers mounted on the flywheel as impact members. In operation, the flywheel is spun to a predetermined speed and then, on command, the hammers are extended outward from the flywheel so that one hammer strikes either a vertical or a horizontal strike member, thus providing a rapid transfer of a large amount of kinetic energy to the ground resulting in the generation of a set of seismic waves.

Abstract: A method for producing microcomposite powders for use in superconducting and non-superconducting applications.

Abstract: A rock breaker uses shotgun cartridges or other firearm ammunition as the explosive charge at the bottom of a drilled borehole. The breaker includes a heavy steel rod or bar, a gun with a firing chamber for the ammunition which screws onto the rod, a long firing pin running through a central passage in the rod, and a firing trigger mechanism at the external end of the bar which strikes the firing pin to fire the cartridge within the borehole. A tubular sleeve surround the main body of the rod and includes slits the end to allow it to expand. The rod has a conical taper at the internal end against which the end of the sleeve expands when the sleeve is forced along the rod toward the taper by a nut threaded onto the external end of the rod. As the sleeve end expands, it pushes against the borehole and holds the explosive gasses within, and also prevents the breaker from flying out of the borehole.

Abstract: The seal is a lightweight, inflatable, bag which may be inflated by a portable air generator and is used to seal a burning mine passage. A collapsible tube-like aperture extends through the seal and allows passage of high expansion foam through the seal in a feed tube. The foam fills the passageway and extinguishes the fire. In other embodiments, the feed tubes incorporate means to prevent collapse of the aperture. In these embodiments a shroud connects the feed tube to a foam generator. This seal allows creation of a high expansion foam fire fighting barrier even in upward sloping passages.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the separation of components of a slurry by froth flotation are provided. The apparatus includes a flotation column having a slurry feed for introducing slurry into the flotation column, a bubble generator for generating bubbles of gas at the bottom of the flotation column and a froth overflow at the top of the flotation column for collecting and discharging a froth fraction of the slurry. The central portion of the flotation column includes a plurality of vertically-spaced tail ports disposed alternately on opposite sides of the flotation column for discharging a non-float fraction of the slurry. In addition, a single, fluid-impermeable baffle having at least two edges is associated with each tail port. The baffles are of sufficient size to block the vertical flow in at least 50% of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the flotation column to thereby create a quiescent flow zone in the area of each tail port, wherefrom the non-flotable fraction of the slurry is removed.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge process for welding a braided cable formed from a plurality of individual cable strands to a solid metallic electrically conductive member comprises the steps of: (a) preparing the electrically conductive member for welding by bevelling one of its end portions while leaving an ignition projection extending outwardly from the apex of the bevel; (b) clamping the electrically conductive member in a cathode fixture; (c) connecting the electrically conductive member clamped in the cathode fixture to a capacitor bank capable of being charged to a preselected voltage value; (d) preparing the braided cable for welding by wrapping one of its end portions with a metallic sheet to form a retaining ring operable to maintain the individual strands of the braided cable in fixed position within the retaining ring; (e) clamping the braided cable and the retaining ring as a unit in an anode fixture so that the wrapped end portion of the braided cable faces the ignition projection of the electrically cond

Abstract: A process for forming a hard surface coating on titanium alloys includes providing a piece of material containing titanium having at least a portion of one surface to be hardened. The piece having a portion of a surface to be hardened is contacted on the backside by a suitable heat sink such that the melting depth of said surface to be hardened may be controlled. A hardening material is then deposited as a slurry. Alternate methods of deposition include flame, arc, or plasma spraying, electrodeposition, vapor deposition, or any other deposition method known by those skilled in the art. The surface to be hardened is then selectively melted to the desired depth, dependent on the desired coating thickness, such that a molten pool is formed of the piece surface and the deposited hardening material. Upon cooling a hardened surface is formed.

Abstract: A process for producing titanium aluminide weld rod comprising: attaching one end of a metal tube to a vacuum line; placing a means between said vacuum line and a junction of the metal tube to prevent powder from entering the vacuum line; inducing a vacuum within the tube; placing a mixture of titanium and aluminum powder in the tube and employing means to impact the powder in the tube to a filled tube; heating the tube in the vacuum at a temperature sufficient to initiate a high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction between the titanium and aluminum; and lowering the temperature to ambient temperature to obtain a intermetallic titanium aluminide alloy weld rod.

Abstract: A process for recovering metals from an aqueous metal-ion bearing solution includes the steps of:(a) forming an affinity chromatography matrix by providing a metal bearing protein bound to an insoluble support material to form an immobilized metalloprotein material;(b) introducing into the affinity chromatography matrix a quantity of aqueous metal-containing solution having a pH, redox potential or other property properly adjusted to cause ions of a selected metal entrained within the solution to bind to the immobilized metalloprotein material;(c) washing the matrix with a first buffer which does not elute the metal ions of interest but does remove other species of metal entrained in the solution; and(d) applying a second buffer or solution of appropriate pH, redox potential or other property to the affinity chromatography matrix to elute the metal ions of interest from the immobilized metalloprotein material.