Abstract: A thruster is described which is utilized, especially among other applications, for the tracking or orbital correction of a spacecraft, which comprises a housing configured as an anode, an expansion nozzle and a rod-shaped electrically insulated cathode centrally retained therein. The cathode is disposed in a combustion chamber into which propellant or propulsive gases are injected. The tip of the cathode is spaced so as to form a small air gap from the constricted cross-section of the nozzle neck. An electric arc is ignited between the anode and the cathode during the gas flow, from which arc the propellant gases receive additional thermal energy.

Abstract: A cutter and housing assembly for a lawn mower has a cutter having a plurality of blades disposed dispersely as viewed in plan, and a cutter housing accommodating the cutter therein and having at least an upper panel and a side grass clipping discharge outlet. The upper panel has an elevated panel portion which defines a grass clipping discharge passage. The elevated panel portion is spaced from lower ends of the blades by a distance ranging from 120 mm to 140 mm, and is higher than the upper panel by a distance ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm.

Abstract: Polyester resin compositions include a crystalline thermoplastic polyester resin (such as polybutylene terephthalate), a polyester elastomer (such as a copolymer including recurring hard and soft segments) and between 0.005 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the crystalline and elastomeric resins, of an amide compound having the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R is an organic group such as an aromatic ring, X is an alkylene of C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 such as ethylene and propylene, Y is --COOH, --OH, --SH or --NH.sub.2 and n is 2 to 4, inclusive.

Abstract: In a switch with pre-alarm means (101) having pre-alarming apparatus (20, 21) and an indicator (103) for alarming that value of current flowing on a load is above a predetermined alarming level, output of the pre-alarming apparatus is held at a predetermined level after the value of the current once becomes above the alarming level by self-holding function of thyristor (CR) even when the value of the current becomes below the alarming level after that.

Abstract: A vehicle chassis is disclosed that includes a frame, front suspension, rear suspension and vertically adjustable bed. The frame includes two mirrored image side rails connected to each other by a bumper, torque box and at least one cross member. The frame structure forms an enclosed frontal section and a U-shaped back section. The front section is adapted to receive a motor, transmission, cab, and the front suspension. A roll bar support assembly is disposed above the torque box to support the U-shaped section of the frame. The back U-shaped section is adapted to receive the adjustable bed and rear suspension. The adjustable bed maintains a constant horizontal orientation when moving from a grounded loading position to a raised transporting position. The rear suspension includes two separate independently acting assemblies with one disposed on each side of the back U-shaped section.

Abstract: A relatively long needle (22) is supported at the lower end of a needle bar (28). The needle bar (28) and needle (22) are moved up and down and forwardly and rearwardly. The needle bar (28) and needle (22) are moved forwardly while they are in materials (M) which are being sewed together, to in that manner advance the materials (M) stitch by stitch. The materials (M) are supported on a bed (10) which includes a slot (20) which is elongated in the direction of the stitch path. The needle (22) is received in the slot (22). A side boundary of the slot (20) provides a side guide surface (84) which is contiguous a first side of the needle (22). An upper thread (76) extends downwardly from a thread guide (110) into a side groove (86) in the first side of the needle (22), to and through a needle eye (80). A recess (82) is formed in the second side of the needle (22) above the needle eye (80). Following downward movement of the needle (22) through the materials (M), the needle (22) is moved upwardly.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of nitriles and oxides from hydrocarbons by reaction with oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air, preferably the latter, and ammonia where a nitrile is desired, in the presence of a suitable catalyst. An alkane, e.g. propane, is converted to an alkene in a catalytic dehydrogenator. The product stream is introduced into an ammoxidation reactor. The product formed therein is recovered in a conventional quench tower. The pressure of the gaseous effluent from the quench tower is raised and it is introduced into an absorber/stripper unit to form a recycle stream containing unreacted alkane and alkene as well as a minor amount of oxygen, typically 1-2 percent by volume, and a waste stream comprising the remainder of the quench tower gaseous phase. The recycle stream is introduced into a selective oxidation unit to remove the oxygen therefrom and then recycled to the dehydrogenator.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which, in a planar type bipolar transistor having a collector layer (22) in a substrate side, a base layer (23) formed on the collector layer (22) and an emitter island (24) formed in the base layer (23), a groove (25) is provided in the emitter island (24) to reach at least the interface between the base layer (23) and the collector layer (22) to form a conductive film (27) through a dielectric film (26) in the groove to be employed as a gate electrode of a MOS-FET thereby to implement a monolithic parallel Bi-MOS device, while the base electrode (28) of the bipolar transistor (40) and the gate electrode (29) of the MOS-FET (50) are connected with a help of diodes including a zener diode (10) thereby to implement a monolithic three-terminal parallel Bi-MOS switching device of small chip size.