Abstract: Improved battery separators, base films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of making and/or using such separators, films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of enhancing battery or cell charge rates, charge capacity, and/or discharge rates, and/or methods of improving batteries, systems including such batteries, vehicles including such batteries and/or systems, and/or the like; biaxially oriented porous membranes, composites including biaxially oriented porous membranes, biaxially oriented microporous membranes, biaxially oriented macroporous membranes, battery separators with improved charge capacities and the related methods and methods of manufacture, methods of use, and the like; flat sheet membranes, liquid retention media; dry process separators; biaxially stretched separators; dry process biaxially stretched separators having a thickness range between about 5 ?m and 50 ?m, preferably between about 10 ?m and 25 ?m, having imp

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the electrical characteristics of a superconductive material in a range of microwave frequencies and in a range of cryogenic temperatures has the material incorporated within a resonant cavity mounted on a cold finger for maintaining the material at a predetermined temperature. A pair of test waveguides extend oppositely of the cavity and terminate in separable waveguide junctions for passage of microwave energy to measure the microwave characteristics of the cavity as affected by the superconductive material. The cavity and test waveguides are enclosed in a vacuum chamber from which the cold finger extends for connection to controlled temperature cryogenic cooling equipment. The chamber also contains a plurality of calibration waveguides which extend parallel to the test waveguides, each calibration waveguide terminating oppositely in separable junctions.

Abstract: A microwave power combiner having a spherical region from which six rectangular waveguides extend oppositely along mutually orthogonal diameters. The long dimension of each waveguide cross section extends along a diagonal of a cube circumscribing the region and extends orthognally to this long dimension of the opposite waveguide. One waveguide is an input for an injection locking signal, and four waveguides are inputs for power to be combined in the region from oscillators controlled by the signal. No circulator is required, and the combined power may be output through the remaining waveguide or through the injection locking input waveguide. A number of the combiners may be connected with the output of one combiner serving as an injection locking input or as one power input to another of the combiners.

Abstract: An inside collet assembly for positioning an IMPATT diode precisely axially long and coaxially of a cylindrical cavity. The assembly serves for convenient removal and repositioning of the diode within the cavity and provides effective electrical and thermal connection to the diode. The assembly is not significantly larger in diameter than the cavity and does not require surfaces producing undesired reflections of microwaves within the cavity.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for setting a cement plug in the wide-mouth shaft of an earth cavern. The apparatus includes a deflated balloon with a liquid fill pipe therein. In practice, the cavern is first filled with a liquid. Following this, the balloon is encased in a releasable girdle and lowered into the cavern through a casing, along with a cement fill pipe which remains above the balloon. When the balloon reaches a certain point in the cavern, below the casing, the girdle is released from the balloon and the balloon is filled with a liquid to inflate it. The inflated balloon seats against the cavern walls to provide an excellent support for the cement, which is pumped down the cement fill pipe.

Abstract: A welded composite fusible element utilizing weld joints, or welded hinges, to interconnect the component parts of it. The above referred-to weld joints or hinges interconnect portions of a fusible element which are fragile and easily damaged with portions of the fusible element which are rugged and which involve little or no danger of damage in the process of assembly. The function of stress relieving hinges or weld joints according to this invention is to protect the delicate component of the composite fusible element.