Abstract: In a first embodiment a stop having a plurality of ports is connected to and covers an end of a rectangular sleeve. In a region near the stop a narrow wall of the sleeve also has a plurality of ports. Near the other end of the sleeve the other narrow wall includes a plurality of ports communicating with the space inside the sleeve and a chamber of a grounded metallic manifold coupled to the sleeve. Insulators support in the chamber an electrode connected to a voltage source and a pump forces air past the electrode and into the sleeve to provide therein an ionized fluid. The fluid exits through the ports in said narrow wall and stop and if a charged sheet is in the sleeve it is neutralized and registered against said narrow wall and stop. In a second embodiment, similar to the first, the ports in the narrow wall and sleeve communicate with the chamber of a second manifold coupled to the sleeve.

Abstract: A furnace for melting metal by the Joule effect to enable extraction of gases contained in the metal comprising a hollow tubular body which constitutes a heater resistor clamped between two electrodes, and a separate crucible for the metal which is supported within the tubular body and out of direct contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A multi-purpose laboratory light box for observation and photographic procedures comprises a box of convenient size having two slidable top panels adapted to be moved toward and away from each other to provide an opening of variable width and location. The box is covered with light-absorbing black material inside and out. A pair of tubular fluorescent lamps are mounted respectively within the box on the facing edge portions of the two top panels, the lamps being adjacent the panels and substantially flush with the facing edges of the panels. In use, the lamps are energized to provide light in the variable opening between the top panels for purposes of observing and photographing desired characteristics of various laboratory specimens. Fluorescent lamps of different characteristics such as white light and ultraviolet light are useable interchangeably, depending on requirements.

Abstract: A direct-heat arc furnace for the production of molten iron by continuously melting and reducing directly reduced iron or directly reduced iron ore, which comprises electrodes fixed in position and a furnace body to be driven so that the relative position of arc spots at the tips of the electrodes and the surface of the molten material in the furnace move continuously, and in which the shape and moving path of the furnace body are such that the range of tapping port movement is minimized and the melting of the feed stock and the tapping of the molten iron are performed continuously.

Abstract: In making .beta.-alumina ceramic articles by a fast firing technique in which the green shapes of compressed powder material are sintered by passing them continuously through a tubular furnace, the furnace is sloped upwardly to give convective air flow forwardly through the furnace at a speed not less than the speed of movement of the article or other means are provided for causing such an air flow or flow of other oxygen-containing gas. An induction furnace is described having a rotating tube and automatic temperature control means.

Abstract: A skull furnace is provided with an expansion vessel filled with neutral gas and communicating with a cooling agent space made in the wall and bottom of a crucible. Used as a coolant is liquid metal cooling agent in which a tubular heat exchanger is immersed. The latter by its one end is connected with a cooling water inlet pipeline and by the other--with an outflow one. The heat exchanger may be constructed to have a double-layer wall with longitudinal passages having at their outlets cooling agent leakage indicators electrically connected with an alarm signalling device.

Abstract: A searchlight or the like comprising a base, a housing rotatable horizontally and accommodating one or more lamps and reflectors, and a planetary rotation mechanism provided between the base and the housing to rotate the housing. A support frame carrying lamps and reflectors thereon is pivotally connected within the housing for vertical tilting movement centering around a horizontal axis passing through focal points of the reflector. The irradiation angle can be easily varied by tilting upwardly or downwardly the supporting frame without tilting the heavy housing. The circumferential position of irradiation can be changed by operating the planetary rotation mechanism which is compact in size.

Abstract: A method and system for ionizing air passing through a metallic duct, e.g. to maintain precise electrically neutral, positive or negative atmosphere in an area, such as a textile mill, by adding charged ions to air being pumped into that area, with at least one electrical grid mounted in the duct by means of one or more insulator posts connecting the grid to a duct wall and adapted for connection to a DC high voltage source whereby buildup of conductive material such as grease or lint in a conductive path between the grid and duct wall is prevented. In one embodiment this is accomplished by providing an insulating sleeve within the duct and surrounding the grid, this sleeve by protecting against short circuits also permitting high currents to be safely used. In a second embodiment air deflectors mounted on the grid wall deflect the air in the duct away from the insulator posts, preferably with the aid of clean air injected between the air deflectors and duct wall.

Abstract: An electron beam evaporator employs an electron gun which projects a beam of electrons over an arcuate beam path to a crucible target for heating and evaporating the target material in use. The electron beam passes through the magnetic field supplied by a pair of pole pieces of a beam focus magnet which produces a main field transverse to the direction of the electrons to cause the beam to take the arcuate trajectory. Two pairs of auxiliary pole pieces project inwardly of the main pole pieces to provide a pair of beam focus lenses. One of the magnetic lenses is disposed on the inside of the beam path, whereas the other is disposed on the outside of the beam path to provide beam lateral focusing and defocusing lenses, respectively. The lenses are adjustable, preferably electromagnetically for controlling the beam spot size on the target crucible so that the evaporation characteristics can be optimized for a given beam power.

Abstract: A method of detecting electrode displacement in an opaque melt of heat softenable material heated by Joule effect through said electrode by monitoring the current, voltage and electrical displacement characteristics of a body of heat softenable material and the electrodes. A relatively rapid change in monitored resistance is an indication of and often characteristic of given changes in the geometric relationships between an electrode the heat softenable material and other electrodes which can accelerate the failure of a system if corrective action is not taken. Alarm indicators, instruction print out, and/or process controls can be actuated in response to a given current voltage or resistance change. Slumping of electrodes and the direction of the slumping is indicated by the nature and magnitude of changes detected on a long term basis at least of the order of days in length.

Abstract: A dual ring liftable and swingable roof for an electric furnace is provided with an outer, hanger-suspended, refractory tile, apron-defining roof portion between its outer fluid-cooled ring and its upwardly positioned inner ring. A central part of the roof is covered by refractory tile members that are hanger-suspended and that define spaced-apart, electrode-receiving and fume exhaust-discharging hole portions. An overhead metal frame structure has a pair of spaced-apart, water-jacketed, primary side beams that extend across the roof to support a centrally disposed air supply ductwork that extends about the hole portions, and that supplies cooling air to adjacent hanger and tile member. A quadrant arrangement of secondary beams is utilized, to connect the inner and outer ring members; one part of the secondary beams is also water-jacketed to connect opposite ends of the pair of primary beam members and provide a continuous flow of cooling fluid.

Abstract: A lamp system for a light projector for continuous light projection upon burn-out of a main lamp. A main lamp with a highly directional light pattern is mounted to the frame for light pattern alignment with the optical axis of the projection lens. A spare lamp is mounted at a location remote from the optical axis. Electronic circuitry detects failure of the main lamp and energizes the spare lamp. A mirror pivots about a point remote from the optical axis for positioning the mirror between the first position which does not effect nor obstruct light transmission between the main lamp and the projection lens and between a second position where the mirror reflects light from the automatically energized spare lamp along the optical axis of the projection lens upon failure of the main lamp.

Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature and/or temperature distribution in a semiconductor diffusion furnace. The temperature and/or temperature distribution inside the reactor tube of the furnace is directly detected by thermocouple means inserted in the reactor tube, and correction is effected with respect to the temperature and/or temperature distribution on the basis of the foregoing detection. There are also disclosed thermocouple devices for use with the aforementioned control system. Each of the thermocouple devices can be manufactured at lower cost and is arranged to provide for a high freedom of measurements.

Abstract: Electron gun for heating, melting and vaporizing purposes having an electron-emitting cathode, at least one beam-forming electrode associated with the cathode, an accelerating anode, an electromagnetic lens and a beam guiding-tube extending in the direction of the beam path and surrounded by an electromagnetic deflection system for the x-axis deflection and one for the y-axis deflection. An envelope tube is disposed outside of the deflection systems and is joined at its extremity to the end of the beam guiding tube by an end plate through which the pole shoes of the x-axis deflection system are brought. The end plate is inclined towards the cathode beginning from the pole shoes of the x-axis deflection system.

Abstract: An induction melting furnace comprising a conical crucible and a conical induction coil which envelops the crucible. The induction furnace comprises means for bringing the crucible under a compression stress and for maintaining this compression stress during the melting process.

Abstract: The side wall of a right-cylindrical crucible is formed by pairs of concentric tubes, one the outer and one the inner. Open upper ends of the inner tubes are spaced below closed upper ends of outer tubes, and a cooling water circuit serially through the inner and outer tubes is established by manifolds.

Abstract: A linear electron beam evaporation source for a high vapor temperature material such as uranium which is protected against filament degradation from reverse accelerated ions in the generated vapor. Electron beam evaporation is produced by the energy in a focused, cylindrical electron beam emanating from an elongate filament and impinging upon a trough shaped crucible of the material to be evaporated. A set of linear electrodes are provided adjacent to the trajectory of the focused electron beam from the filament to provide a slight deceleration voltage in the electron accelerating potential between the filament and the crucible. The decelerating voltage acts as a potential barrier to the few ions in the generated vapor.

Abstract: An electrode system for resistance furnace includes a pair of electrodes, one of which is movable to selectively clamp a resistive crucible between the electrodes. A specimen placed in the crucible is combusted by the application of electrical power to the electrodes in electrical contact with the crucible. One of the electrodes includes a demountable housing extending therefrom for surrounding a crucible held between the electrodes and sealing the crucible between the electrodes. The demountable housing permits easy cleaning of the system by removal of the housing. In one embodiment one of the electrodes includes a surface configurated to engage the crucible and provide self-centering of the crucible as the electrodes are moved to clamp the crucible therebetween.

Abstract: An electric heating furnace which includes a conductive electric resistance heating element strip mounted within a chamber defined by walls of porous refractory insulating material. Terminal or mounting pins extend through the wall of insulating material and the heating strip are secured thereby. A sleeve of non-porous refractory material surrounds the portion of the pin within the wall of insulating material for electrically insulating the pin from the porous refractory wall material which may have a conductive layer of carbon build up therein under certain heat treating conditions.

Abstract: A supporting means for a flexible graphite cloth heating element comprised of a conductive bar having a dovetail shaped slot and a mandrel shaped to fit within the slot and to hold a loop of the graphite cloth heating element therein.