Abstract: An improved stainless alloy has application in handling concentrated sulfuric acid. The alloy of the invention preferably comprises 23 to 33% chromium, more than 20% nickel, 6% or more of silicon, 0.2% to 0.4% nitrogen and minor amounts of molybdenum, copper, and tungsten with the balance iron. The alloy offers superior corrosion resistance by comparison with the standard stainless steels over the range from 90% sulfuric acid into the oleum range. The alloy is readily weldable and may be used in either cast or wrought form. After heat treating the alloy acquires a duplex structure which has a mixture of austenite and ferrite phases. The heat-treated alloy is ductile.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for very rapid tuning of a phase-locked loop. A fixed oscillator feeds a reference frequency to a phase comparator via a fixed divider, while a variable frequency oscillator (VCO) feeds its output frequency to the comparator via an adjustable divider. In response to a phase error, the comparator produces a control signal which is integrated in an integrator to adjust the VCO frequency. The value of the control signal is such that the VCO frequency is changed in a sense and by an amount which produces a temporary phase error in the opposite direction to the detected phase error. At such time, before the next phase comparison, as the temporary phase error has compensated for the detected phase error, a switch makes a set change in the integrator output so as to eliminate the temporary phase error and thereby to tend to equalise the control and reference frequencies at the end of that cycle.

Abstract: A frequency tuning arrangement for tuning a source of variable frequency to a desired frequency, comprises a phase lock loop having a reference frequency source, an adjustable divider dividing the variable frequency to produce an adjustable control frequency, a phase comparator for comparing the phases of the control and reference frequencies to produce a control signal dependent on any phase error detected, and adjusting means responsive to the control signal for adjusting the variable frequency so as to equalize the phases of the control and reference frequencies. In accordance with the invention, means responsive to the phase error imposes on the leading one of the control and reference frequencies a phase delay which is substantially equal to the phase error. This enables the system to respond very rapidly to changes in desired frequency.

Abstract: A ski pole has a tubular body member having an upper end portion of enlarged diameter to provide handle means and a removable cap at its upper end. A cylindrical chemiluminescent member having an enlarged head portion is disposed in said body member with its head portion seating against an internal ledge at the lower end of the handle means. An opening in the wall of said tubular body member emits light from the chemiluminescent member. In a further embodiment a dry cell battery is disposed in the upper end of the body member and includes a pair of probes connected to the battery terminals and adapted to be projected downwardly through the upper end of the chemiluminescent member to re-energize the same.

Abstract: A ski pole has a tubular body member with an arcuate or circular transparent or translucent insert in the wall thereof comprising a window element and a light source within the body member illuminates this window member and also projects light along the interior of the body member to an inclined mirror element at a lower portion of the ski pole. The light impinging on this mirror element is directed radially outwardly through a lens member fitted into the wall of the ski pole so that reflected light from the mirror is projected outwardly to illuminate the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: The present anti-theft device includes a lock housing having a cable winding spool therein with the free end of the cable extending out of the housing. A control member carried by the housing includes means for locking the housing to an intermediate portion of the cable to form a closed loop. A combination lock within the housing controls locking and unlocking movements of the control member and the control member is adapted when in locked position with respect to the cable to engage the winding spool and prevent winding or unwinding movement of the spool. The housing is in the form of an elongate cylindrical member and the combination lock and the winding spool are both coaxially disposed in the cylindrical housing member.