Abstract: An inexpensive, robust concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond front and rear major surfaces (18 and 16) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high-strength, cementitious material, such as a macrodefect-free cement, reinforced with electrically nonconductive fibers (54) distributed throughout the matrix layer. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers. An aluminum sheet (28) attached to the rear major surface provides electrical contact to one of two electrical region (22 and 24) of the semiconductor particle, and a translucent conductive layer (30) on the front major surface provides electrical contacts to the second electrical region.

Abstract: A gondola railway car with a structural frame of metal has panels of lightweight composite tension-bearing sheet material attached to the frame by clamps which grip the margins of the panels. The panels thus are structural components of the car body, while also acting to contain bulk cargo such as coal. The panels may be of aramid fiber cloth coated with a wear-resistant polymeric material, and particles of hard material may be embedded in the polymeric material to enhance resistance to mechanical erosion.

Abstract: An inexpensive, robust concrete solar cell (10) comprises a photovoltaic material embedded in and extending beyond the major surfaces (16 and 18) of a matrix layer (14). The matrix layer typically comprises a high strength, cementitious material, such as a macrodefect free cement. The photovoltaic material comprises particles (12) of high-resistivity single crystal silicon, typically ball milled from ingot sections unsuitable for slicing into silicon wafers. The ingot sections include unprecipitated dissolved oxygen that is electrically activated by a low temperature annealing process to produce n-type silicon, even in silicon crystals that include a p-type dopant. An aluminum sheet (28), positioned on the backside of the matrix layer, is briefly melted together with the silicon particles to produce a p-type aluminum-doped silicon region (22) that forms a pn junction with the n-type region (24) of the particle. The aluminum sheet also provides the electrical contact to the p-type regions.

Abstract: A gondola railway car with a structural frame of metal has panels of lightweight composite tension-bearing sheet material attached to the frame by clamps which grip the margins of the panels. The panels thus are structural components of the car body, while also acting to contain bulk cargo such as coal. The panels may be of aramid fiber cloth coated with a wear-resistant polymeric material, and particles of hard material may be embedded in the polymeric material to enhance resistance to mechanical erosion.

Abstract: A test sample support assembly having its greatest utility in a length measuring device in a temperature controlled environment. The sample support assembly has a main support, a pair of insulating members and a sample support. In one embodiment of this invention the sample support is made of a substantially distortion-free material thereby precisely positioning the sample within the temperature controlled environment. In the other embodiment of this invention the sample support acts as the temperature controlling element. The sample support is adjustably mounted with respect to the main support. This adjustable feature permits corrective movement of the sample support to take place in order to compensate for the undesirable movement of the sample support.