Abstract: For the fabrication of pipeless explosive and/or propellant charges there is provided an insulation sleeve, whose radial thermal conductivity or heat transmission, at a random cross-section, essentially corresponds to the quantity of heat which radially flows out at such location and is released as a result of the solidification of the melt. By means of the insulation sleeve there is produced a pipeless casting without any subsequent supply of external or separate energy, e.g. electrical heating and so forth, even if the cast or molded article has very small pour openings. The required thermal conductivity or heat transmission in the insulation sleeve can be adapted to the thermal conditions of the cast article by employing insulating elements or parts and/or hollow spaces or chambers with heat carriers, e.g. melt. Corresponding casting methods are predicated upon a carefully directed preheating and stepwise cooling of the cast article and the insulation sleeve.

Abstract: 1. A novel composition of matter comprising a mixture of pentaborane and s (difluoroamino) fluoromethane.

Abstract: New intercalated compounds comprising a cation intercalated in a layered mixed oxide, said oxide having layers of corner linked octahedra and tetrahedra. The composition has the formula A.sub.q MOXO.sub.4.nH.sub.2 O where A is a monovalent, divalent or polyvalent cation, MOXO.sub.4 is a layered mixed oxide selected from the group consisting of VOPO.sub.4, VOSO.sub.4, VOAsO.sub.4, VOMoO.sub.4, NbOPO.sub.4, NbOAsO.sub.4, TaOPO.sub.4 and MoOPO.sub.4, n is a number from 0 to 4 and q is a number from about 0.001 to about 1.0.

Abstract: A castable high-energy explosive composition comprising trinitrotoluene (TNT) and crystalline explosives of the RDX or HMX type as well as aluminum powder, and, optionally, flegmatizing agents and stablizers consisting of wax, lecithin and nitrocellulose (NC), is prepared by dispersing crystals of RDX (or HMX) in water with wax, under heavy stirring and a temperature above the melting point of the wax, then adding aluminum powder, treated in order to tolerate water, to the dispersion, and then, optionally, cooling in order to separate the explosive as granules. A further step comprises melting and dispersing TNT in hot water under heavy stirring, optionally under the addition of wetted NC and lecithin, then reducing the temperature to below 80.degree. C., and separating the solidifying, dispersed explosive droplets in the form of granules.

Abstract: A device for pressure sealing a reactor or thermowell extending therein comprising a disc having individual tubes welded thereto and sheathed thermocouples passing through such tubes and brazed thereto.

Abstract: A reloader for a shotgun primer housing, comprising anvil means mounted on a platform for supporting the primer housing in either an upright position for removing the primer from the housing or in an inverted position for inserting a new primer into the housing. A punch is provided having an elongated tip portion which is capable of entering an aperture in the primer housing when it is in the inverted position for removing the primer from the housing and a ram is provided having a flat pressing surface for forcing a new primer into the housing through the upwardly-facing open bottom of the primer housing when the housing is supported on the anvil means in the inverted position.

Abstract: The improvement of the electrolytic and additive methods of coloring alkali fluoride crystals comprising the step of selecting an alkali fluoride crystal having the impurities of between 0 and 5 ppmA of OH; between 0 and 50 ppmA of one or more alkaline earth cations, of which between 0 and 10 ppmA Mg.sup.++ and between 0 and 10 ppmA Ca.sup.++ ; between 0 and 50 ppmA of non-fluorine halide anions; between 0 and 10 ppmA of SiF.sub.6.sup.= ; between 0 and 30 ppmA of other ions; and the method of preparing these crystals which comprises converting the alkali fluoride to alkali hydrofluoride, crystallizing and vacuum drying the alkali hydrofluoride crystals, regenerating the alkali fluoride by expelling hydrogen fluoride, and crystallizing the alkali fluoride.

Abstract: In a process for converting UF.sub.6 into UO.sub.2, the UF.sub.6 is brought into contact with an aqueous aluminum nitrate solution. The resultant product is solvent extracted with tributyl phosphate to remove uranyl nitrate. The raffinate has a fluorine/aluminum (F/Al) weight ratio within the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.2. A sufficient quantity of hydrofluoric acid is added to the raffinate to minimize the solubility of aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) therein and thereby maximize the precipitation potential of AlF.sub.3. Generally this occurs when sufficient hydrofluoric acid has been added to cause the F/Al weight ratio to be within the range of from about 1.8 to about 2.2. As a result of this treatment, the raffinate is divided into an uranium-containing aqueous solution and an AlF.sub.3 precipitate which contains substantially no uranium.

Abstract: A rapid, efficient and accurate method is provided for quantitatively assaying for an enzyme, such as angiotensin converting enzyme, an aminopeptidase, a carboxypeptidase, or trypsin, which catalyzes hydrolysis of a radiolabelled substrate to produce a radiolabelled remnant product preferentially soluble in a water-immiscible organic solvent, whereby the assay is conducted in a vial having a volume of not more than 20 milliliters, preferably 7 ml. or less, by incubating substrate in buffer and sample, stopping the reaction after a predetermined time with, e.g., acid or base, adding the water-immiscible organic solvent containing scintillant, capping the vial, mixing by inverting the vial whereupon a spontaneous phase separation occurs. The radioactivity of the organic phase is then counted in an appropriate scintillation counter and the enzymic activity is thereupon calculated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ammunition handling system in which a steel carrier is supported on a chain running along a cruciform track. The carrier has an inner lining (19) (FIG. 1) which is shaped so that when the carrier (10) is tipped from the position shown in FIG. 1, by turning it bodily in an anti-clockwise direction, ammunition contained within the liner will gently and smoothly run out into a receptacle.The opening and closing of the door, the tipping of the carrier and the deposit of its contents are all controlled automatically by ramps and a rack and pinion device located at various points along the track. The carrier can be lowered manually and is then automatically unloaded when it reaches its destination. The shape of the inner liner (19) is such as to provide a gentle and smooth flow for the ammunition and the liner itself is made of brass, or other suitable material.

Abstract: A process, and apparatus for performing same, of simultaneous mixing and placement of an explosive composition comprising a dispersion of an explosive component located in and immobilized by a solidified foamed non-explosive matrix.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel microspheres are made by sintering microspheres containing uranium dioxide and uncombined carbon in a 1 mole percent carbon monoxide/99 mole percent argon atmosphere at 1550.degree. C. and then sintering the microspheres in a 3 mole percent carbon monoxide/97 mole percent argon atmosphere at the same temperature.

Abstract: A method for preparing substantially pure 2,4-DNT isomer from its admixture with other DNT isomers which comprises contacting the isomer mixture with aqueous sulfuric acid at an elevated temperature, separating excess DNT isomer mixture from the sulfuric acid phase and cooling the sulfuric acid phase.

Abstract: A very thin insulator having a dipole structure such as a dielectric material having ferroelectric, pyroelectric and or thermodielectric properties, is used as the insulator insulating an electrode of an electrode pair from a semiconductor body sandwiched between said electrode pair forming a MIS structure. Radiation and solar energy conversion systems based on establishment of an inversion layer by the thermally released bound charges of a polarizable dielectric layer or an electret and irradation of the semiconductor to separate the electron-hole pairs and subsequent collection of mobile carriers. Since there is no metalurgical junction, the generated carriers are not junction limited therefore the generated voltage could be higher than in an ordinary junction solar cell and could also be, an alternating current voltage which can be transformed or rectified.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator panel and heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger, in a preferred form, is comprised of a water compartment or chamber, fixed relative to the normally cool side of a solar panel, comprised of a substantial plurality of substrate strips, each strip carrying a plurality of thermocouples, printed in series, and in metallic inks, along one side of the respective strips. Terminal tabs are provided on opposed ends of each strip of thermocouples which are electrically interconnected, in parallel, and a voltage regulator, connected between the panel strips and a pump, serves to energize the pump when the voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level, to circulate water from any suitable source, such as ground water, through the water chamber to enhance the cooling of the normally cool side of the thermocouple panel.