Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydrogenated deodorized polybutene polymers, wherein the polybutene polymer is hydrogenated, distilled to substantially remove low boiling odorous compounds, and treated with silica gel to substantially remove the remaining odorous compounds thereby providing an improved hydrogenated, distilled, silica gel-treated polybutene polymer substantially free of odorous compounds.

Abstract: A non-sticking kitchen spatula comprises a protective jacket made from heat-resistant and non-toxic material and detachably and securely attached to the front edge of the spatula body by means of hooks and insertion portion of the protective jacket and the grooves of the spatula body. Such kitchen spatula does not scrape the non-sticking coating of pots and pans, and can be also used to spread and turn over food in the ordinary non-Teflon pots and pans.

Abstract: A shaped charge device having a cylindrical housing, an explosive charge with a cavity at one end, a fuze, booster, a multimaterial vertically layered liner having a hemispherical, semi-hemispherical, arcuate or conical shape with a number of segments of materials, each segment in contact with the explosive charge and the cavity, each segment oriented normal, parallel or oblique to the charge axis. The detonating of the explosive charge causes the liner to form a jet of a plurality of the segments. A method of manufacture is also disclosed wherein the liners made in the vertical manner avoid mixing or interaction between dissimilar materials undergoing the jetting action. Vertically layered liners provide excellent material flow and liner collapse diagnostics.

Abstract: A longer effective automatic umbrella comprising mainly a tubular shank provided with an upper pulley therein; a cylinder at top end of the shank for receiving an umbrella opening spring; a handle at lower end of the shank, having upper and lower clamps and a middle pulley; an actuating mechanism comprising a pair of springs co-extending through the lower and upper clamps and at most up to the upper pulley to accumulate the energy; and an actuator to actuate and release the upper and lower clamps, respectively, for controlling the operation of opening and closing the umbrella.

Abstract: A binding band tightener with bands comprising two buckles and three bands extended to go around the two buckles and overlaid on a piled packaged merchandise loaded in a truck and two of the bands being manipulated to tighten this tightener with bands and keep it immovable by the two buckles for binding tight the merchandise to prevent it from loosing and falling down from the truck in transportation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing sulfonyl acids from mercaptans in a single reactor. The mercaptan is converted to a mercaptide and reacted with an acrylic acid or salt thereof in a basic reaction medium. After formation of the thioether, the reaction medium is treated with chlorine gas to oxidize the thioether to the sulfone. Mild conditions and readily available starting materials render the method capable of preparing such acids efficiently in large scale amounts.

Abstract: An axisymmetric bluff body is proposed for a vortex flowmeter as the vortex shedder. It is found that vortex shedding frequencies measured can be nondimensionalized into a linear relation with the Reynolds number for area blockage ratios of circular disks up to 29.2%. Vortex shedding frequency can be clearly sensed by a pressure transducer installed on the pipe wall in the neighborhood of the maximum pressure fluctuation being measured. This suggests a feasible design that the sensor of a vortex flowmeter can be removed from the flow field or changed easily.

Abstract: A novel praseodymium-palladium oxide compound has the formula Pr.sub.4 PdO.sub.7. The compound has utility as a catalyst for oxidation of combustion mixtures comprising oxygen (e.g., air) and gaseous carbonaceous fuels such as methane and displays excellent regeneration characteristics after exposure to decomposition-causing temperatures. The compound may be used in a catalyst composition by being coated as a washcoat on a suitable carrier. Catalytic combustion processes are carried out by contacting such combustion mixture with the catalyst under combustion conditions, including catalytically supported thermal combusiton. Regeneration of over-temperatured catalyst is also provided for.

Abstract: A blade (14) for a centrifugal flow fan (11) having forward curved blades. The blade has a boundary layer trip (21) on its pressure surface (14). The trip promotes the transition of the boundary layer from laminar to turbulent flow and enables the layer to remain attached to the pressure surface for a greater distance. The increased amount of attached flow enables greater fan efficiency and reduces fan radiated noise. The boundary layer trip may be of a variety of configurations.

Abstract: A clasp is disclosed which includes two mating elongate jaw members that are pivotally connected together about a pivot axis such that the jaws of the members are longitudinally spaced from, but in abutting relationship with, each other. Each jaw member has a longitudinal recess in its inner surface, and is also provided with an inwardly depressed rib that defines a slot between the rib and the inner surface of the member and which mounts the front end of an arcuate elastic member such that the arcuate sections of the members bow outwardly and resiliently engage their respective jaw member in the recess.

Abstract: A method for reproducibly making a structural joint between a metal and a ceramic for practical uses above 600.degree. C. comprises uniformly metallizing the ceramic and increasing the ratio of the ceramic material strength to the dynamic and static mismatch stresses due to differential thermal expansions so that these mismatch stresses do not exceed the ceramic material strength at any point and time thereby preventing bond failures.

Abstract: An iron-based inlay alloy composition for high pressure injection molding of plastics. The composition includes carbon, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium, and may be used as an inlay for bimetallic cylinders for injection molding plastic at pressures above 40,000 psi.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical plug for automobile cigarette lighter sockets and in particular to one including a body portion formed with four slots and external threads at one end and a tubular member at the other, a cover provided with a pin at the center and threads in the inner side, two conductor rings each provided with a hole at one end and two curved portions with different curvatures, and a connector connected with the two conductor rings by a screw, whereby the electrical plug may be conveniently adapted to various kinds of automobile cigarette lighter sockets.

Abstract: A hybrid carbon/carbon composite and a method of manufacturing a hybrid carbon/carbon composite, wherein a raw material containing carbon fibers with two or more different lengths and meso-phase carbon as a binder are raw materials. The raw materials are kneaded in the presence of adhesives, dried and defibrated, then molded under heat and pressure by hot press, and thereafter subjected to heat treatment.

Abstract: Membrane separation process is improved by use, as a support membrane, of a polyacrylonitrile membrane the surface of which has been oxygen-plasma treated whereby at least a portion of the surface has been oxidized to --COOH groups.

Abstract: A fully automatic collapsible umbrella comprises a hollow shank including an upper, a middle and a lower tubes, telescopic to each other, an expansion spring disposed between the upper and lower tubes, and an umbrella closing spring disposed between the upper and middle tubes, as well as an upper, a middle and a lower rings; a grip mounted outside of the lower tube at lower portion, having an actuator for carrying out the umbrella opening and closing operation; a pawl provided at the upper portion of the upper tube; an inner tube provided with a positioner; twin wires movably connected to each other by a connector, in which the upper wire is provided at upper end with a slidable block for controlling the pawl and the lower wire is operated at lower end by the actuator; and an umbrella opening spring disposed between the middle and lower rings. Further, a safety member is provided for prevent the umbrella from opening by accident.

Abstract: A plastic lighter is disclosed having an improved control valve, gas nozzle, and pressing plate. Two opposite sub-walls are provided in the gas reservoir to form a capillary groove to enable a liquid gas to flow upwards by means of capillary effect. The gas control valve has a section of outer threads in a lower part, a seal ring mounted around a neck portion, and disc portion on an upper part. The disc portion has a ratchet gear to carry out the flame adjustment. The gas control valve has a cylindrical hole for receiving a gas nozzle to control the flow of gas. A leaf spring made of plastic material to be molded integrally with the pressing plate and extends into a cylindrical reservoir beside that flint base so as to bias the pressing plate to push the gas nozzle downwards in order to close the gas nozzle.

Abstract: A razor blade includes a substrate with a wedge-shaped edge, a layer of molybdenum on the tip and flanks of the wedge-shaped edge, the thickness of the molybdenum layer preferably being in the range of about 50-500 angstroms, and a layer of diamond or diamond-like material on the molybdenum layer that preferably has a thickness of about 200-1,500 angstroms and that defines a tip radius of less than about 1000 angstroms.

Abstract: Membrane separation process is improved by use, as a support membrane, of (i) a polyacrylonitrile membrane on which at least a portion of the surface --CN groups have been hydrolyzed --COOH groups or (ii) a membrane formed of polyacrylonitrile and polyacrylic acid.