Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting metals uses microwave energy as the primary source of heat. The metal or mixture of metals are placed in a ceramic crucible which couples, at least partially, with the microwaves to be used. The crucible is encased in a ceramic casket for insulation and placed within a microwave chamber. The chamber may be evacuated and refilled to exclude oxygen. After melting, the crucible may be removed for pouring or poured within the chamber by dripping or running into a heated mold within the chamber. Apparent coupling of the microwaves with softened or molten metal produces high temperatures with great energy savings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting metals uses microwave energy as the primary source of heat. The metal or mixture of metals are placed in a ceramic crucible which couples, at least partially, with the microwaves to be used. The crucible is encased in a ceramic casket for insulation and placed within a microwave chamber. The chamber may be evacuated and refilled to exclude oxygen. After melting, the crucible may be removed for pouring or poured within the chamber by dripping or running into a heated mold within the chamber. Apparent coupling of the microwaves with softened or molten metal produces high temperatures with great energy savings.

Abstract: A device for controlling the pouring of a molten material from a crucible or other container. The device (10) includes an annular retainer ring (12) for mounting in the drain opening in the bottom of a conventional crucible (16), the retainer ring defining a opening (14) therethrough. The device (10) also includes a plug member (22) having an annular forward end portion (24) for force-fit reception in the opening (14) of the retainer ring (12) to selectively seal the opening (14) and for being selectively forced through the opening (14). The plug member (22) has a rear end portion (26) for being positioned within the crucible (16), the rear end portion (26) including stop means for prohibiting the rear end portion from passing through the opening (14) in the retainer ring (12) when the forward end portion (24) is selectively forced through the opening.

Abstract: A resilient unit able to accomodate a large movement comprises a stack of elastomeric bearing units arranged to be loaded in series and to deform primarily in shear. Preferably a plurality of the stacks are provided in a nested configuration and interconnected in series to enable even greater movements to be accommodated.The resilient unit is particularly suitable for use on an offshore platform to accommodate movement between the platform and a riser pipe while also maintaining a tension loading in the riser pipe.

Abstract: For use, for example, in mounting a personnel accommodation module on an offshore drilling rig to attenuate the transmission of vibration use is made of an anti-vibration mounting comprising a rigid fluid container having an opening, a rigid support member for closing at least a part of that opening, a flexible seal comprising at least one element of elastomeric material arranged to extend between confronting surfaces of the fluid container and rigid support member thereby to form a fluid chamber within the anti-vibration mounting, liquid supply passage for the flow of liquid to and from that chamber, and gas supply passage for the flow of gas to and from that chamber, the liquid and gas supply passage being independent of one another whereby the quantities of liquid and gas within the chamber may be varied independently by flow through the passage.

Abstract: In a flexible joint having a through-bore for the flow of fluid and comprising a pair of annular rigid members relatively rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the flexible joint, an annular elastomeric bearing is interposed between the relatively rotatable annular rigid members to flexibly interconnect the members and transmit load therebetween, and a normally sealed annular chamber is provided between the relatively rotatable annular rigid members and arranged to extend over an otherwise exposed surface of the bearing. Preferably the annular chamber is defined in part by a flexible diaphragm; the flexible diaphragm or the manner in which it is located permits relative rotational movement of the rigid members.

Abstract: In a resilient bush comprising elastomeric material sandwiched between inner and outer rigid members the elastomeric material is subject to radial compression without any need to deform either of the rigid members. The elastomeric material is part of a bearing assembly for insertion between the rigid members. The bearing assembly also comprises a pair of support members arranged respectively to bear against the inner and outer rigid members. The support members are movable one relative to the other in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the length of the bush thereby to result in radial compression of the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A resilient bearing able to accommodate relative torsional movement between two concentric inner and outer tubular rigid members comprises between those members a resilient bearing having a layer of elastomeric material secured relative to one of the rigid members and a support member for sliding relative to the other rigid member. The support member is axially movable and preferably inclined relative to the axis of the bearing at its interface with the elastomeric material whereby any such axial movement results in compression loading of that elastomeric material.

Abstract: Flexible joint means for fluid conduits comprises an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member having an end portion positioned within the outer member and a bearing assembly acting between the outer and inner members. The bearing assembly comprises first and second bearings each of laminated construction comprising interleaving layers of elastomeric material and reinforcement material. The bearings are disposed on opposite sides of an annular collar associated with an inner member and act between the collar and a pair of axially spaced annular flanges associated with an outer member. Collar and flanges extend axially and radially such that one bearing is disposed radially inwards of the outer bearing. The radially inner bearing includes elastomeric material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the elastomeric material of the outer bearing such that the bearings have substantially similar axial stiffnesses.

Abstract: Joint means for flexibly coupling a first member having a body portion and at least two arms extending from the body portion generally parallel to and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the joint means to a second member positioned radially inwards of said arms comprises elastomeric means acting between an internal curved surface on the body portion of the first member and an external curved surface on the second member opposite to and axially spaced from said internal curved surface.

Abstract: Dantrolene sodium is useful as a cardiac antiarrhythmic agent in hypothermic and normothermic warm-blooded animals.

Abstract: Flexible joint means in which a flexible bearing positioned between a hollow outer member and part of an inner member received within the outer member accommodates tension loads applied to either member and a substantially incompressible fluid contained within a fluid tight cavity in the outer member accommodates compression loads applied to either member.

Abstract: In a resilient coupling of the kind comprising an inner shaft nested concentrically within an outer shaft by means of a sleeve unit of elastomeric material for transmission of torque between the shafts there is provided a buffer unit mounted within the outer shaft to transit torque between the shafts only when a certain degree of torsional deflection is exceeded by the sleeve unit.