Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically and continuously feeding, blending and mixing particulate material. In a non-mixing mode, a primary material is gravity fed through a vertical flow tube disposed in a chamber. Material flows into the chamber until an equilibrium level is established within the chamber. The volume of material fed through the system is governed by the through-put of a take-off screw, which communicates with a port in the bottom of the chamber. In a mixing mode, secondary materials, such as additives, are metered into the chamber at a point above the equilibrium mixing level, which secondary materials are mixed with the primary material, thereby automatically proportioning the final product feed. The vertical flow tube can be rotatable about its longitudinal axis in either mode to enhance mixing and feeding.

Abstract: A method for depositing thin films of gold having a high degree of orientation on surfaces previously yielding only unoriented gold by sputtering a layer of glass over the surface of the material followed by depositing a layer of oriented gold over the layer of glass. The additional step of depositing a layer of piezoelectric material over the layer of oriented gold is included to provide piezoelectric material having good orientation due to the oriented gold. A transducer is described having a layer of glass deposited over a material which previously provided unoriented gold followed by a layer of gold, a layer of piezoelectric material and a top conductive electrode to form a transducer wherein the piezoelectric material has a high degree of orientation.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovery of vapor which is contained with air in a space above a volatile liquid which is stored in a container, especially a petroleum distillate or other costly liquid. The process employs the pressure build up due to thermal effects on the space above the volatile liquid to drive the vapor through a heat exchanging region at which a venturi evaporative cooling unit is used to extract heat from the vapor and partially condense the vapor without significant compression. A part of the condensed vapor is recycled to the heat exchanging region and introduced as a spray for a condensation "seeding" effect. The vapor is further cooled after cooling by the venturi evaporative cooling unit in a second and even a third cooling stage; these stages can include use of a conventional refrigeration unit to chill a heat exchanger and an ultra low temperature can be achieved by expanding liquified gas such as nitrogen in an insulated cyclone to achieve high percentage recovery of the vapor.

Abstract: An emulsifying composition for preparing low solids drilling fluids containing a mixture of polyoxyethylene glycol 500 mono-tallate, nonyl phenol ethoxylate containing approximately 43% by weight of oxyethylene groups and nonyl phenol ethoxylate containing approximately 65% by weight of oxyethylene groups; a well servicing fluid comprising an aqueous medium, a liquid hydrocarbon coating agent and an emulsifying amount of the emulsifying compositions; and a method of servicing a well during drilling, fracturing and completing operations.

Abstract: An aluminium foil electrode 11 is secured to a flexible insulating sheet 10 by pressure sensitive adhesive. The foil has a slot 14 extending for the major portion of the foil's length from a contact edge 12b. To test for cracks in the foil which might cause poor electrical contact with the patient and thus cause diathermy burns, the resistance around the U-shaped pathway from the contact edge on one side of the slot to the other side of the slot is monitored.The adhesive is exposed through the slot 14 and through cut-out apertures 15,15a in the foil 11, to improve contact of the patient plate with the patient. A removable cover sheet 16 protects the exposed adhesive when not in use.

Abstract: A container assembly for growing and transplanting plants is disclosed. The container assembly includes an open ended pot, a drainage tray, and a drainage disc removably supported on an annular flange near the bottom end of the pot. The drainage disk is movable through the pot for displacing a volume of soil and a rooted plant through the top opening without disturbing the soil surrounding the roots of the plant. The tray sidewall and pot sidewall define an open reservoir space between the sidewall of the tray and the sidewall of the pot to permit the plant to be watered from the bottom.

Abstract: A slide gate valve for use with a molten metal teeming vessel is provided with elongated resilient supports that may be in the form of leaf springs, or the like, and are operative to resiliently bias the slide plate of the valve against the head plate thereof. The resilient supports are releasably secured to the vessel by linkages that facilitate disassembly of the valve elements for servicing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for comminuting a colored pigment bar and mixing the comminuted pigment with an uncolored plastic material to form a colored plastic material which is subsequently molded or extruded into a colored plastic article. The apparatus features a rotating, discontinuous cutting blade to minimize static electricity formation so as to allow more thorough mixing of the pigment with the uncolored material. A storage mechanism is also disclosed to store the colored pigment bars and bring them into contact with the cutting blade.

Abstract: For use in the lost pattern process of investment casting, an improved pattern assembly of the type having a pattern supporting center tree or sprue member including a rigid tube surrounded by a sleeve made of a flexible material, characterized by longitudinally spaced, thin bands of pattern material extending around the sleeve at those locations where the patterns are to be attached.

Abstract: A micrometer mixer having a rotary cutter with a replaceable shaver means is used to powderize pigment bars and mix it with plastic pieces. The apparatus further has a hopper and chute mechanism and a controllable trigger mechanism to automatically feed the pigment bar to the replaceable shaver means.

Abstract: Molded articles of carbon or graphite suitable as heat absorbing or friction elements in brakes for jet aircraft are made by coating devolatilized carbon particles with a phenolic resin, especially boronated phenolic resin, reducing the volatile content of the coated carbon to below a critical value, mixing these with a resin coated or uncoated powdered abrasive, molding under critical pressures and temperatures, and then post-curing the resin and carbonizing and optionally graphitizing the product according to a schedule whereby delamination is avoided.