Abstract: A vehicle differential unit including adjustable bearing assemblies has a differential carrier adapted to support a differential case assembly including differential case bearings associated therewith. The differential case bearing assemblies rotatably support the differential case assembly within the carrier of the differential unit. Adjusting rings are provided and supported internally in the differential carrier. The adjusting rings are selectively biased against the bearing assemblies to impart the desired bearing preload and backlash within the differential unit. The adjusting rings replace the use of adjustment shims, and are accessible to permit adjustment if necessary without the need to remove the differential case assembly. The adjusting rings are threadably supported on the carrier and the adjusting rings are further provided with internal splines sized to engage the axle shaft splines to provide an convenient and effective bearing adjustment of the differential unit.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker slurry composition for reducing the viscosity of a fracturing fluid. The slurry has a flashpoint above 93° C., and the liquid of the slurry does not facilitate release of the breaker from the coating. Methods of using the slurry composition are also described.

Abstract: A process for reducing the propensity of riboflavin-containing malt beverages employs the treatment of beer or its intermediates with Fuller's earth absorbents and, in particular, colloidal magnesium aluminum silicates, especially attapulgite and montmorillonite clays. This process effects absorbance of riboflavin contained in such beer or its intermediates and can be shown to improve the stability of a treated beer against the formation of skunky off-flavors following exposure to visible wavelengths of light.

Abstract: The present invention provides generally a support post system comprising a support member. The support member comprises at least one recess in a surface of the support member for receiving a rail member. The support post further comprises at least one attachment member which extends outwardly substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support member. The attachment member extends through the recess. The support post system further comprises a finish plate for being placed over the rail member when after the rail member is seated in the recess. The finish plate has a passage formed therein to allow passage of the attachment member therethrough. The support post system also comprises a mechanism for removably securing the finish plate to the attachment member.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker is enclosed within a hydrolytically degradable polymer coating. Compositions containing this encapsulated breaker, methods of making and methods of use are also described.

Abstract: A method of forming a diffusion bonded joint during superplastic forming of a hollow metal structure (43) from sheet material (15, 16, 17, 18) using a two-piece die (1) having opposed clenching faces (9, 10) disposed along a split line (2) thereof, the structure 43 being formed with a joint at the split line, the method including placing the sheets (15, 16, 17, 18) between the faces (9, 10) clenching the sheets with a pressure sufficient to locate same during superplastic forming while being insufficient to deform the metal and prevent superplastic flow in the sheets between the clenching faces (9, 10), heating the sheets to a superplastic forming temperature and applying a gas pressure between the sheets to commence superplastic forming, when superplastic metal flow between the clenching faces substantially ceases upset forging metal from between the faces towards the interior of the die to increase wall thickness at the joint upon trimming off a flange formed by that part of the sheets trapped between the c

Abstract: A reaction vessel for biologically decomposing a material comprises a frame, an airtight housing rotatably mounted on the frame defining an enclosure therein, and a device for controlling environmental conditions within the enclosure so that biological decomposition of the material can occur at a controlled rate. Air is circulated through the enclosure in a closed loop so that air leaving the enclosure will be recirculated back into the enclosure. A computer controls the oxygen level of the air inside the enclosure, the humidity of the air inside the enclosure, the temperature of the air inside the enclosure, and the carbon dioxide level of the air inside the enclosure. The housing is disposed at an incline relative to the frame so that the material introduced into the enclosure proximal to the higher portion of the housing tends to flow toward the lower portion of the housing. A separating wall is disposed within the enclosure, forming therein a first chamber and a second chamber.

Abstract: A pipe crimping apparatus comprises holding means to externally engage and hold a joint formed by locating one end of a pipe connection onto a pipe end, the holding means having a crimping tool movable relative to the swaged end to cause the swaged end to be deformed and crimped onto the pipe end. In a preferred embodiment, the holding means is elongate and at one end thereof has a gripping zone to engage behind the inner side of a swaged end of the pipe connector, and at the other end thereof the crimping tool is movable longitudinally and internally of the holding means. Means are provided to cause axial movement of the tool towards the gripping zone so to engage the outer side of the swaged end and crimp it to the pipe end.

Abstract: A method of and means for making pipe-to-pipe connections in which the pipes are provided with socket ends and with spigot ends for mating with the socket ends of pipes to be connected therewith. Each socket end being provided with an annular portion of increased diameter. The socket ends are of malleable material capable of being crimped around a spigot end of the mated pipe. An annular element is provided within the pipe connection. The annular element is positioned in the inside of the annular portion.

Abstract: A structural box beam of the type formed by a method using superplastic forming and diffusion bonding techniques (SPF/DB). The basis is a SPF/DB four sheet cellular structure box beam, for particular application to a flap track beam for aircraft, said box beam including integrally formed flap track flanges and corrugated shear webs. The corrugations serve the dual purpose of reacting local track bending moments. Internal shear webs are integrally formed as part of the cellular structure. The box beam is designed to be manufactured from a flat blank assembly consisting of four chemically-etched sheets with local reinforcements placed between the core and skin sheets providing a low cost means of tailoring the beam to minimum thickness requirements.

Abstract: A retainer block and pinion cross shaft structure for a bevel gear differential eliminates the need for securing the cross shaft to the differential case by means of a conventional pressed roll pin. The retainer block is slotted and is adapted to be slipped over opposed flat surfaces formed on the central portion of the cross shaft to prevent axial and rotational movement of the cross shaft relative to the retainer block. The retainer block includes opposed end portions which extend axially outwardly into both side gear spline bores. The inner ends of the axle shafts are adapted to engage the opposed end surfaces of the retainer block to maintain the block and cross shaft in a fixed position relative to the differential case.

Abstract: Test equipment is described for testing a transponder and an interrogator positioned in close proximity to one another to cause suppression of its receivers while either transponder or interrogator is transmitting incorporating an RF receiver, detector, shift register, timing controller, modulator and RF transmitter. The invention overcomes the problem of testing an interrogator and transponder with cryptograms that must be generated or stored in the test equipment and overcomes the problem of requiring two test sets for testing the interrogator and transponder.

Abstract: A multi-component puzzle comprised of ring-forming components which are rotatable about selected orthogonally related axes to move individual components into various relationships. The components are co-acting and constrained to move about each other without the need for a central framework. The absence of a central framework permits a variety of puzzle forms, including intersecting rings, lattices, cubes and combinations of these forms.

Abstract: A method of forming a stiffened panel from first and second metal sheets, at least the first sheet being capable of both superplastic deformation and diffusion bonding, and also provided with at least one control region of different thickness compared with other regions of the sheet, includes the steps of:attaching the sheets together at a series of attachment lines across their faces, the attachment lines and the control region or regions being in predetermined relationship with one another, placing the attached sheets in a mould and heating to within that temperature range within which superplastic deformation and diffusion bonding takes place,urging those areas of the first sheet between the attachment lines away from the second sheet by a common differential pressure at a rate within that range of strain rates at which superplastic deformation occurs to form a series of cavities between the two sheets such that peripheral parts of those areas urged away from the second sheet form side walls of neighboring

Abstract: A two dimensional logical toy comprises a frame structure having a slide passage in which a slide plate is slidably mounted and on an apertured surface of which a plurality of parallel grooves are formed together with a single transverse groove, a lift including an elongated pedestal slidably and rotatably mounted within the aperture in said slide plate and provided with a platform on one end in which two sets of parrallel grooves are formed, one set of grooves being normally disposed in alignment with the parallel grooves formed in the slide plate and the other set of grooves being transverse thereto, said lift being movable in said aperture in a direction axially of said pedestal and being rotatable so as to cause the second set of grooves in the lift platform to become aligned with the parallel grooves formed in the slide plate, and a plurality of unitary elements slidably mounted in the grooves formed in the guide plate and in the platform so as to form a wide variety of geometric patterns.

Abstract: An earth mass forming an embankment, bridge abutment or the like has a fag of light concrete panels from which steel rods project into the earth mass, the ends of the rods being bent in one direction and then the other (in the same plane) to form anchors which will oppose thrust on the facing but will permit deposition of earth fill in layers with each layer capable of being readily compacted without interference from the anchors. The rods extend through the panels in extended slots to accommodate earth settlement and are secured thereto by nuts. The facings are desirably lap jointed laterally and the anchors extend through adjacent overlapping portions.