Abstract: An apparatus has a rotatable shaft driven within a vacuum chamber through a magnetic clutch. A mounting block is carried on a test bearing adjacent one end of the shaft and is restricted from rotating with the shaft by a friction torque measuring device engaged therewith. The block is subjected to axial and radial loads which are adjustably variable during testing by control devices located outside the vacuum chamber and connected to the mounting block by traction linkages passing through seals in the chamber walls. The test bearing is heated inductively; cooling discs and a reservoir are provided on and adjacent the shaft. Vibration measuring and visual observation devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode, particularly for use in tungsten inert gas welding, and a method for the production thereof wherein the electrode consists of a thoriated tungsten electrode rod having a bore in the working end thereof with an internal surface roughness formed by electro-errosion, the bore being filled with a mass of an electron emission increasing metal-nonmetal compound which is fuse-sintered in place to form a centrally disposed plug in the working end of the electrode.

Abstract: A mass for emission electrodes and the like operating at high temperatures, employing a mixture of thorium dioxide and aluminum oxide, which contains tungsten, the thorium dioxide being present from 33-50% by weight, and the aluminum oxide from 4-15%, to which mixture is added 63-35% of tungsten powder, the powdered tungsten preferably being imbedded in a crystalline melt of thorium dioxide and aluminum dioxide, and a method of producing the same.