Abstract: An integrated circuit for use in fiber data distributed interface (FDDI) system has four elastic layer and buffer management (ELM) circuits (12, 14, 16, and 18) coupled through a crossbar switch (20). The crossbar switch (20) allows any of the ELM circuits (12, 14, 16, and 18) to be coupled to any other ELM circuit (12, 14, 16, or 18) or to one of three external buses for FDDI communication. By using a crossbar switch and four ELM devices on a single integrated circuit, FDDI performance is improved while system design is made easier and more flexible than previously possible. Cipher circuitry (22, 24, 26, and 28) is used to scramble and descramble data ingoing and outcoming from the ELM devices. Concentrators, workstations, local area networks (LANs), and the like may incorporate the circuit (10) to improve performance and flexibility.

Abstract: A bicycle has front and rear wheels, a sprocket coupled to a pedal crank, a sprocket gear, gears on the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the rear wheel gears. The chain is adjustably coupled to the individual gears on the rear wheel to respectively increase and decrease the gear ratio relative to the sprocket gear for sprocket speeds above the upper limit and below the lower limit. The upper limit is adjustable as by initially operating up and down switches together within a particular time limit and then operating the up switch for upper limit increments or the down switch for upper limit decrements. The sequence may then be repeated for lower limit adjustments. The movement of a particular number of sprocket ribs past a detector and the time for such movement are measured and processed to determine the sprocket speed. When the sprocket is rotating continuously at a speed below the lower limit, as when coasting downhill, the gear ratio is not changed.

Abstract: An array of connected plates mounted on the inside wall of the vacuum vessel of a magnetic confinement reactor in order to provide a protective surface for energy deposition inside the vessel. All fasteners are concealed and protected beneath the plates, while the plates themselves share common mounting points. The entire array is installed with torqued nuts on threaded studs; provision also exists for thermal expansion by mounting each plate with two of its four mounts captured in an oversize grooved spool. A spool-washer mounting hardware allows one edge of a protective plate to be torqued while the other side remains loose, by simply inverting the spool-washer hardware.

Abstract: Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30.degree. F. to about -17.degree. F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A reusable thermally actuated linkage arrangement includes a first link member having a longitudinal bore therein adapted to receive at least a portion of a second link member therein, the first and second members being sized to effect an interference fit preventing relative movement therebetween at a temperature below a predetermined temperature. The link members have different coefficients of thermal expansion so that when the linkage is selectively heated to a temperature above the predetermined temperature, relative longitudinal and/or rotational movement between the first and second link members is enabled. Two embodiments of a thermally activated linkage are disclosed which find particular application as actuators for a grapple head positioning arm in a nuclear reactor fuel handling mechanism to facilitate back-up safety retraction of the grapple head independently from the primary fuel handling mechanism drive system.

Abstract: Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30.degree. F. to about -17.degree. F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30.degree. F. to about -17.degree. F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably cold liquid anhydrous ammonia at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure is applied to feed grains, forages and anaerobically fermentable plant material to supply thereto and provide therein non-protein nitrogen (NPN). The cold anhydrous ammonia is obtained by supplying a stream of ambient temperature, pressurized anhydrous liquid ammonia to an expansion chamber for expansion therein to provide the cold anhydrous ammonia. Cold anhydrous ammonia, preferably substantially only cold liquid anhydrous ammonia, is recovered from the expansion chamber operated under substantially adiabatic conditions, at a temperature in the range -30.degree.F. to about -17.degree.F. and at substantially ambient or atmospheric pressure, such as at a pressure in the range 1 pound per square inch below atmospheric pressure up to about 5 pounds per square inch atmospheric pressure.