Abstract: A rotary oil seal gas purge system for a rotary carburizing furnace, having a rotatable hearth in a furnace chamber containing a high carbon-potential furnace atmosphere comprising an endothermic carrier gas enriched with a hydrocarbon gas, features gas purge ports located adjacent to the oil seal(s) of the hearth for injecting non-carbon-enriched endothermic gas to purge the high carbon-potential furnace atmosphere from the area adjacent the seal(s) and prevent carbon precipitation into the seal(s). Also disclosed is an oil seal management system for a rotary carburizing furnace including a settling tank for accepting seal oil from the furnace oil seal(s), a pump supply tank for receiving oil from the settling tank, a pump for pumping oil from the pump supply tank through a heat exchanger and to the furnace oil seal(s), and a centrifuge for cleaning seal oil coming from the heat exchanger before returning it to the pump supply tank.

Abstract: An integrated continuous/batch furnace system for heat treating metal parts combines a continuous furnace system and a batch furnace system. The continuous furnace system includes a preheat furnace, a rotary carburizing furnace, an equalize/diffusion furnace, an oil quench, a press quench chamber and a slow cooling chamber. The batch furnace system includes a temper furnace, a carburize/quench/slow cool furnace, and a washer. A parts tray system for holding parts to be heat treated includes a parts tray for transporting parts through the continuous furnace system, and a parts tray assembly for transporting parts through the batch furnace system. The parts tray assembly includes two parts trays detachably coupled together with rigid U-shaped alloy chips.A method for heat treating trays of parts in an integrated continuous/batch furnace system includes determining whether to heat treat the parts with the continuous furnace system or the batch furnace system.

Abstract: A polymer solution contains a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone in a solvent mixture containing at least three components, where the solvent mixture has a delta-H in the range from 3 to 8.5; a delta-P in the range from 4 to 8 and a delta-D in the range 7.2 to 9.5 and each component of the solvent mixture is a liquid or low melting solid which is a non-solvent or poor solvent for the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, and at least one of the components satisfies at least one of the conditions:a) said component has a delta-D of less than 8 when the value of delta-P is not more than 3; andb) said component has a delta-H of greater than 3 when the value of delta-P is at least 8.5; andc) said component has a delta-H of less than 8 when it contains at least one hydroxylic group; andd) said component is free of hydroxylic groups and has a delta-P which is greater than 3 and less than 8.5.The solution can be used for the production of membranes suitable for use in reverse osmosis applications.

Abstract: The carrier cage of the invention is dual compartmented, with an open-walled living compartment at one end and a closed-walled sanitation compartment at the opposite end divided by a position having a passageway therethrough for arrival movement between the two compartments. The sanitation compartment is provided with a removable litter box preferably located under an apertured floor with provision for moving the litter box as a drawer. Space under the floor of the living compartment may be used to store grooming and other useful articles.

Abstract: A label with a polypropylene core is provided with an extruded skin of polypropylene bonded to each face of the core, and opaquing agent layer bonded to one extruded polypropylene skin to provide opacity to block out preprinted graphics or printing on the object to which the label is secured, pressure sensitive aqueous acrylic polymer emulsion adhesive bonded to the opaquing agent layer for securing the label to any object, and printing or graphics bonded to the face of the other extruded polypropylene skin, and a clear polypropylene skin with pressure sensitive aquaous acrylic polymer emulsion adhesive bonded to the graphics or printing to protect the graphics or printing.

Abstract: An automobile brake switch assembly including a mounting clip and two brake switches, each brake switch including a threaded, cylindrical plunger housing. The mounting clip includes two hollow, cylindrical sleeves, each having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the threads on one of the brake switches. The sleeves are integrally molded, together with a plate that joins them, out of acetal plastic. Each sleeve includes a thread-like tooth molded about the inner circumference and located approximately centrally in the cylinder. Four slots are formed in each sleeve parallel to and spaced about the cylindrical axis, the slots cutting the tooth to form four teeth. The slots permit expansion of the teeth when the threaded plunger housing of the corresponding brake switch is pressed into the sleeve so that the threads may ratchet on the teeth.

Abstract: An asymmetric membrane formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone has a salt rejection of at least 99%. Alternatively, a membrane has a good salt rejection and an acceptable water flux such that the ratio ##EQU1## has the value of at least 0.7. The membranes can be obtained using barium salts of the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, with the proportion of barium being controlled to be at least 85%, preferably at least 86%, and not more than 91%, preferably not more than 90% of the barium required to react with the sulphonic acid groups on the sulphonated polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a part-handling apparatus for a heat-treating furnace system and its use in transferring parts such as bearing races into, through, and out of a quench tank while avoiding any part-to-part contact and thus preventing nicking of parts. The apparatus includes a charge elevator formed of closely-spaced rails divided into lanes and which lowers parts into a quench fluid. A walking beam system for moving parts along the tank has movable rails which mesh with stationary rails and with the rails of the charge and discharge elevators when the elevators are located in their lowermost positions and includes a frame which is movable vertically and longitudinally. A push-off device near the tank discharge end pushes parts from the discharge elevator either directly onto an in-line conveyor of a washer or tempering furnace or onto a rotatable arm which alters the travel path of the parts a selected angle such as 90 degrees before delivering the parts to the conveyor of the washer to temper furnace.

Abstract: A housing includes a switch chamber and a plunger chamber communicating with the switch chamber. A plunger is slidable within the plunger chamber. Cam surfaces on the plunger operate electrical switches in the switch chamber. There is an axial channel in the plunger, and a slot through the plunger wall communicates with the channel. A vacuum passageway passes from one side of the housing, into the channel, and a solid extension of the passageway passes through the slot, and into a hole in the opposite wall of the housing. As the plunger moves in and out, the slot slides on the extension to guide to stabilize the plunger. A vent hole in the vacuum passageway opens into the channel. A sealing member slides in the channel along the axis of the plunger, alternately sealing and unsealing the vent hole as the plunger moves. A spring seated between the plunger and the sealing member permits the plunger to continue moving when the sealing member is seated in the passageway vent hole.

Abstract: A superheater spray water control system for variable pressure applications produces an output signal representative of expected superheater absorption as a function of measured steam flow, compensates the signal for temperature variations within the superheater and adjusts it for over/under fire transients. An output signal representative of required superheater absorption from the drum to the superheater outlet, together with a spray water enthalpy signal obtained as a function of measured stem flow, is used with the compensated and adjusted actual superheater absorption and measured steam flow signals to produce a spray quantity demand signal.

Abstract: An asymmetric membrane formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone has a salt rejection of at least 99%. Alternatively, a membrane has a good salt rejection and an acceptable water flux such that the ratio ##EQU1## has the value of at least 0.7. The membranes can be obtained using barium salts of the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, with the proportion of barium being controlled to be at least 85%, preferably at least 86%, and not more than 91%, preferably not more than 90% of the barium required to react with the sulphonic acid groups on the sulphonated polymer.

Abstract: Solutions of sulphonated polyaryletherketones in a solvent mixture of at least three liquids or low melting solids which are non-solvents or poor solvents for the polymer, can be used to produce asymmetric semi-permeable membranes. The polymer may be a polymer of--Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.2 --O--Ph.sup.1 --CO--and optionally--Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 --CO--and--Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 13 COp13 p0wherein Ph.sup.1 and Ph.sup.2 are respectively unsulphonated and sulphonated phenylene residues. The components of the solvent mixture have specified solubility parameters. A suitable solvent mixture is one formed from water, 1,4-dioxane and acetonitrile.

Abstract: A continuous carburizing furnace system is disclosed having at least two series-connected rotary furnaces. The rotary carburizing furnace, a rotary equalizing furnace, and a rotary diffusion furnace which may be included between the carburizing and equalizing furnaces, allow trays of parts to be discharged from any position at any time by suitable rotation of their hearths, thus allowing parts with different cycle times to be run simultaneously in each rotary furnace. Each donut-shaped rotary furnace includes one or more captive chain type pusher mechanisms mounted in vertical fashion within a central area or hole, and the rotary carburizing furnace is multi-zoned and includes wall-mounted fans for uniform circumferential control of the gaseous atmosphere within its annular chambers.

Abstract: Solutions of sulphonated polyaryletherketones in a solvent mixture of at least three liquids or low melting solids which are non-solvents or poor solvents for the polymer, can be used to produce asymmetric semi-permeable membranes. The polymer may be a polymer of(Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.2 --O--Ph.sup.1 --CO)and optionally(Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 --CO)and(Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 --O--Ph.sup.1 --CO)wherein Ph.sup.1 and Ph.sup.2 are respectively unsulphonated and sulphonated phenylene residues. The components of the solvent mixture have specified solubility parameters. A suitable solvent mixture is one formed from water, 1,4-dioxane and acetonitrile.

Abstract: An electrical contact blade and an electrical terminal are locked together within two intersecting slots provided in a terminal block, and at least one of either the electrical terminal or the electrical contact blade is prevented from axial movement in a predetermined direction by a stop provided in its respective slot.

Abstract: A damping structure is disclosed to float freely within the envelope of a waterbed mattress. The damping structure comprises a bottom panel of flexible sheet material with a number of tubular structure extending upwardly therefrom. Each tubular structure is coupled to the bottom panel with a portion of the bottom panel closing the bottom end of the tubular structure. The tubular structure has side walls and is closed at a top end by a top panel. The top panels are buoyant and float the tubular structures upwardly so as to suspend the bottom panel spaced above the bottom sheet of the waterbed envelope. Ports are provided through the top panels, side walls and bottom end of the tubular structures and serve to permit fluid flow into and out of the tubular structures to assist in facilitating fluid displacement within the mattress and dampen wave motion therein. The ports through the side walls are open to permit flow even when the mattress is compressed in use.

Abstract: A space-saving back-up power supply apparatus has length and width dimensions substantially the same as those of a conventional integrated circuit connector. The apparatus includes sockets arranged on its top for making connection to a socket-pluggable integrated circuit such as a standard CMOS RAM, and the apparatus has pins extending from its bottom for making connection to a printed circuit board or connector of a host electronic system. Control circuitry and one or more batteries are located within the apparatus. The back-up power supply is operative to provide power to the socket-pluggable integrated circuit even if the normal power supply of the host electronic system is short-circuited. The control circuitry of the back-up power supply controls the chip enable signal and performs a battery test upon power-up.

Abstract: A system for controlling the bed level of a fluidized bed independent of the density of the bed material using a minimum number of pressure sensors is disclosed. A pressure sensor is positioned at the base of the bed, at approximately eight feet above the distributor plate, and at one or more intermediate locations therebetween. The measurements from the foregoing sensors are selectively processed through the use of a specific logic arrangement to produce an output signal representative of the bed level of the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A method for recovering precious metals such as gold and silver from precious metal-bearing materials that include other solids comprises treating the precious metal-bearing materials with an aqueous, basic solution having a pH in the range of about 12 to about 14 for a time sufficient to suspend the precious metals in substantially free form in the solution, followed by recovery of precious metals from solids and from the solution by known methods.