Abstract: Electrical contact terminals having two layer plated coating thereon is disclosed. The coating consists of a layer of palladium having a macrostress in the range of 30,000 to 140,000 psi and a layer of gold, the gold being at lest 99.9% pure and having a Knoop hardness from 60 to 90. A coating comprised of medium stress palladium and gold substantially and unexpectedly inmproves the durability of terminals as compared to similar coatings using gold and low or high stress palladium.

Abstract: An extended life capacitor is disclosed in which an enclosing body is made from a tantalum can and tantalum cap and enclosing a plurality of double layer capacitor cells. Each of the capacitor cells includes a conductive material, such as activated carbon, with an aqueous electrolyte therein such as dilute sulfuric acid. In the preferred embodiment, this is about 38% by weight of sulfuric acid, and the remainder water. Lead-ins are provided to make electronic connection to the two ends of the capacitor cell stack as anode and cathode electrodes. The entire unit is hermetically sealed to inhibit the loss of electrolyte from the capacitor body to less than 2% per year, and the electrodes are at least partly coated with a noble metal such as gold to limit the establishment of a spurious capacitor which would be in series with the stack of plurality cells, which would otherwise greatly decrease the capacity of the entire unit.

Abstract: A sputtering process for efficiently preparing amorphous semiconducting films having a reduced number of localized states is disclosed. In particular, hydrogenated semiconductor films free of polyhydrides may be prepared according to the inventive process. In one application of the process, a silicon target is simultaneously bombarded by separate beams of relatively heavy sputtering ions, such as argon ions, effective in sputtering the target at relatively high rates, and by ions of a substance effective in passivating localized states in amorphous semiconducting films, such as hydrogen ions. The products of this sputtering process are collected on remotely located substrates to form a passivated amorphous semiconductor film. In another application of the process, a target composed of a semiconductor alloy is used with separate sputtering and passivating ion beams directed at the target to deposit a passivated compound semiconductor film.

Abstract: A gear shaping machine includes a cutter mounted at the lower end of a spindle and a worm gear surrounding the spindle. A first guide is provided on the spindle and has axially extending guide flutes formed thereon. A second guide is disposed in surrounding relation to the spindle and has axially extending guide grooves formed in an inner surface for sliding engagement with the spindle guide flutes and helically advancing guide flutes formed in its outer surface for engaging corresponding guide flutes formed in the inner surface of the worm gear. A first adjustable eccentric is coupled to the spindle for controlling the vertical movement thereof and a second adjustable eccentric is coupled to the second guide for selectively controlling its vertical movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening a rail spike or the like includes a pair of said facing support arms mounted for pivotal movement about spaced axes on a frame, male die blocks mounted on the arms for movement therewith toward confronting angularly related surfaces of a female die member. A plurality of such female die members may be mounted on a rotatable support table such that the support surfaces of the female dies define radially extending angular grooves. The support table may be incrementally rotated for sequentially effecting a spike straightening operation, the table being locked at the spike straightening station and thereafter automatically ejected.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving plugs into railway tie holes remaining after the removal of at least one rail and its associated tie plate and rail spikes from the railway ties, includes a vehicle adapted for travel along narrow gauge rails temporarily installed on the ties, or along the standard gauge rails while spanning a rail removed section of the track. Vertically reciprocable tamper plates are mounted on the vehicle frame and are reciprocated by the provision of limit switches on the frame in timed relationship to the rate of travel of the vehicle along the rails.

Abstract: A method is provided for the deposition of coatings upon substrates utilizing a high pressure, non-local thermal equilibrium arc plasma including the steps of generating a non-LTE arc plasma at a pressure greater than about 0.1 atmospheres, introducing a coating material into the arc plasma, positioning a substrate material proximate to the arc plasma whereby activated species of said coating material formed by the arc plasma contact the substrate to form a coating.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are given for producing cryogenic inertially driven fusion targets in the fast isothermal freezing (FIF) method. Improved coupling efficiency and greater availability of volume near the target for diagnostic purposes and for fusion driver beam propagation result. Other embodiments include a new electrical switch and a new explosive detonator, all embodiments making use of a purposeful heating by means of optical fibers.

Abstract: A new technique for producing uniform layers of solid DT on microballoon surfaces. Local heating of the target, typically by means of a focused laser, within an isothermal freezing cell containing a low pressure cryogenic exchange gas such as helium, vaporizes the DT fuel. Removal of the laser heating source causes the DT gas to rapidly condense and freeze in a layer which exhibits a good degree of uniformity.

Abstract: A new technique for producing uniform layers of solid DT on microballoon surfaces. Local heating of the target, typically by means of a focused laser, within an isothermal freezing cell containing a low pressure cryogenic exchange gas such as helium, vaporizes the DT fuel contained within the microballoon. Removal of the laser heating source causes the DT gas to rapidly condense and freeze in a layer which exhibits a good degree of uniformity.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cleaning of dirty railway ballast includes a dirty ballast remover and a ballast cleaner in the form of a hollow perforate drum rotatable about a central axis inclined upwardly from an inlet to an outlet end thereof. A spiral conveyor is mounted on the inner wall of the drum, and the inlet end thereof lies within a tank filled with a cleaning fluid, while the outlet end lies outwardly thereof. A spoils conveyor is disposed in the tank for the removal therefrom of spoils particles separated from the dirty ballast which is conveyed into the drum through its inlet end whereupon it is cleaned as it is tumbled by the spiral conveyor during drum rotation by separating the spoils particles from the dirty ballast which spoils particles move through the drum perforations. An unclogging device in the form of cylindrical rollers bear against the outer surface of the drum for unclogging any ballast particles from the perforations which may extend therethrough during drum rotation.

Abstract: Ballast is removed from beneath railroad ties in accordance with a ballast treating method and apparatus without disturbing the ballast in the cribs between adjacent ties, and is deposited into a trench formed along the railway. The crib ballast is likewise removed and deposited in the trench. A plow structure used for the ballast removal operation has cutting blades curved toward the trench and disposed with their leading ends lying along a line sloping rearwardly away from the trench. The rail vehicle which supports the plow structure is stabilized against transverse forces imposed on the vehicle during the ballast removal operation, and the plow itself is likewise stabilized against such forces.

Abstract: A liquid binder forming material is added to a preform mold, dispersed chopped glass fiber strand is allowed to free fall into the preform mold to build up a layer of chopped fibers wherein substantially all of the strand is horizontal but otherwise randomly oriented, and the layer of chopped strand is forced down into the resin until completely immersed therein. Preferably, thereafter, the preforms so produced are stacked into tubular magazines with separator sheets between the preforms in each magazine; and the magazines are transported first to a maturation room where the viscosity of the binder forming material is increased to above 20 million centipoise, and then to matched metal dies where the preforms are sequentially fed out of the magazine to between the dies which shape and cure the preforms.