Abstract: There is disclosed an infrared reflecting composition for topical application to the skin of a warm blooded animal comprising fine particles of an epidermally suitable substrate coated with at least one layer comprising an infrared reflecting amount of an infrared reflecting material. Also disclosed are methods of protecting the skin against infrared radiation by employing said composition or an infrared reflecting material alone.

Abstract: An improved tamper indicating seal is disclosed, characterized by the generation of a unique signature pattern which, if altered, is indicative of tampering. The seal includes a layer of transparent material which is applied to at least a portion of a secure object or container. A plurality of particles of refective material are randomly arranged within the layer in a unique orientation. When the seal is exposed to light, the particles reflect a portion of the light to produce a unique reflective pattern which corresponds with the orientation of the particles. Alteration of the particle orientation as a result of tampering alters the reflective pattern. Thus when the reflected pattern of a seal does not correspond with its original signature pattern, tampering is indicated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing white cement in which a reducing atmosphere is maintained over the entire length of a rotary kiln and precalcination takes place in a preheater supplied with heat exhaust gases from the kiln. Additional fuel is delivered to the preheater in such quantity that the CO contained in the kiln exhaust gases is burnt. As a result the essential reduction processes take place reliably in the rotary kiln without any problems occurring in the preheater as a result of a high CO content.

Abstract: A drive shifting apparatus for a valve control and the like is provided with a source of power for motor operation, a separate source of power for hand operation and a shifting means shiftable between the hand power and motor power sources. The shifting means may be a spring loaded clutch normally connecting the motor power source with the valve control, a latch means to hold the clutch in the hand power position against the spring pressure and a cam on the motor automatically releasing the latch when the motor is energized.

Abstract: The time of arrival of a constant speed moving object at a given location is calculated from data representing the time of arrival of the object at two preceeding locations and the relative physical distances between the three locations. An up-down counter counts up at a fixed frequency f.sub.1 during the time interval of the object's transversal of the distance between the first two locations and counts down at a pre-selected frequency f.sub.2 thereafter. The preselected frequency f.sub.2 is a function of the distances between locations and the fixed frequency f.sub.1. When the counter counts down to zero it produces an output pulse that occurs at the time the object reaches the given location. Operation of the time delay computer is independent of object speed.

Abstract: Fine-grained material is heat treated by being preheated and then is heated to its calcining or sintering temperature, following which it is again heated to such temperature and subsequently cooled. The concentration and residence time of the material during its second heating are greater than they are during its first heating, and the concentration of oxygen is greater during the first heating of the material than during its second heating.

Abstract: A cooling tower with a non-self-supporting envelope which is supported by a net of cables and by pulling elements extending from a portion of a supporting post which portion protrudes upwardly beyond the outlet opening of the cooling tower mantle, in which annular means surround the outlet opening of the mantle and are connected to the supporting post by elements extending in a spoke-like manner from the supporting post and at least partially subjected to pull only.

Abstract: Fine-grained material such as raw ground cement adapted to be fired in a rotary tube furnace is introduced to a vertical preheater and falls through a heating zone located at a level below the level at which the material enters the preheater. A stream of air enters the preheater at a level below the heating zone and passes upwardly at sufficient velocity to entrain the material that has passed through the heating zone, thereby causing such material to pass again through the heating zone. From the preheater the material is delivered to the furnace for final firing.

Abstract: A valve comprising: a housing having an opening therethrough around which is provided a seat; a closure assembly for blocking flow through the opening and for sealing engagement with the seat; and an actuator assembly connected to the closure assembly for moving the closure assembly between a first position, out of the flow path of the opening, to a second position, in the flow path, and for expanding the closure assembly for sealing engagement with the seat.

Abstract: Acicula of rare earth pentaphosphates, of a diameter and length ideal for waveguiding laser-type applications, are grown by controlling the rate of metaphosphoric acid conversion by introducing water vapor into an inert gas atmosphere continuously flowed through the reaction zone. The required amount of water vapor in the reaction zone has to be within the range between approximately 14 grams per cubic meter and 290 grams per cubic meter of the flowing atmosphere. This control is implemented by bubbling the inert gas atmosphere through a water bath at temperatures between 15.degree. and 80.degree. C. It is believed that the control of the water vapor eliminates problems of supersaturation in the forming of pentaphosphoric crystals in the growth solution and thereby promotes their natural tendency to form purely chainlike polymer structures.

Abstract: A photopolymerization process is adapted for the production of various optical devices by means of a modified process which serves to increase the index change obtainable in a variable pattern of index of refraction. The process comprises the steps of flowing into place in a supporting structure a mixture of two components of differing reactivity and polarizability, partially polymerizing the mixture, writing a pattern of varying index of refraction in the partially polymerized mixture by further polymerizing it by suitable optical radiation in a corresponding pattern, and fixing the mixture against subsequent changes in polymerization. Typical components used in the process include a mixture of the monomers cyclohexyl methacrylate and N-vinylcarbazole together with benzoin methyl ether as a photosensitive initiator of polymerization, which proceeds by free radical reactions. In the limit of our technique, one of the components can have zero reactivity.

Abstract: A technique for the fabrication of integrated optical circuits is described wherein a transparent polymer film, which is doped with a polynuclear aromatic thiol having higher index of refraction than the polymer, is deposited from a liquid solution on a smooth substrate. Upon selective exposure to radiation there is a substantial reduction or elimination of the mobility and volatility of the dopant in the polymer matrix, a phenomenon known as "photolocking". The described class of dopant permits the attainment of higher resolution than previously reported, as well as the preparation of optical direction couplers having higher coupling strengths than those of the prior art.

Abstract: New lasers employ a halide crystal including alkali metals and rare earths with a very high concentration of the active ions that are arranged to have largest possible separation between themselves. Such laser crystals provide very high energy storage that is finally released in the form of optical radiation. The high energy storage is attributable to a relatively low gain per unit length. The halide crystal is of the perovskite type and typically includes two alkali metals, one of which, for example, sodium, has a much smaller ionic charge than the rare earths and, therefore, will be ordered on the octahedral sites of the perovskite crystal with respect to the rare earth atoms. The stoichiometry of the materials facilitates the high concentration of the rare earth active ions; and the ordering or strict sequencing of alkali and rare earth ions facilitates the large separation of the rare earth active ions which is necessary to minimize non-radiative decay via rare earth pair interaction.

Abstract: Fine-grained material such as raw ground cement adapted to be fired in a rotary tube furnace is introduced to a vertical perheater and falls through a heating zone located at a level below the level at which the material enters the preheater. A stream of air enters the preheater at a level below the heating zone and passes upwardly at sufficient velocity to entrain the material that has passed through the heating zone, thereby causing such material to pass again through the heating zone. From the preheater the material is delivered to the furnace for final firing.