Abstract: Novel musical instrument strings and methods for making the same. Polymer cover combined with a low temperature resin is provided to the strings. Also disclosed are novel plastic materials comprising a film of porous fluoropolymer having UV-cured resin applied to at least a portion of the porosity of the film.

Abstract: Novel musical instrument strings and methods for making the same. Polymer cover combined with a low temperature resin is provided to the strings. Also disclosed are novel plastic materials comprising a film of porous fluoropolymer having UV-cured resin applied to at least a portion of the porosity of the film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coating electrodes in spark gap devices which minimizes filament formation. A coating (21) such as carbon is deposited on the electrode surfaces (11 and 12). A signal is then applied so that the device conducts in the arc mode for several short periods. A small spot of the coating bonds with the negatively biased electrode during each conduction. This operation continues at alternating polarities until essentially the entire surface area of both electrodes is bonded.

Abstract: Electrical equipment, such as telephone station apparatus, exposed to occasional, destructively high, voltage surges (e.g., lightning strikes), is protected by a device placed in parallel with the equipment, including two metal electrodes and an insulating housing. The electrodes define a fixed narrow spark gap which breaks down (arcs over) to short the voltage surge to ground. The width of the spark gap is critical, since it determines the protective breakdown voltage. In the disclosed devices the gap is closely defined although tolerances on the piece parts from which the device is made may be loose. At least one electrode consists of a flanged support member soldered to an electrode cap. The piece parts are assembled with the electrode faces in contact and raised to the soldering temperature. The gap forms as the temperature is reduced from the liquidus temperature of the soldering alloy to ambient temperature because of differential contraction between the insulator material and the metal parts.

Abstract: Electrical equipment, such as telephone station apparatus, exposed to occasional, destructively high, voltage surges (e.g., lightning strikes) is protected by a device, placed in parallel with the equipment, including two electrodes defining a fixed narrow spark gap which breaks down (arcs over) to short the voltage surge to ground. The predominant failure mode of such devices is shorting across the narrow gap, due to electrode damage produced during the protective arcing mode. In the disclosed devices, the electrodes are contoured to define a narrow region, determining the protective breakdown voltage, and a wider region, sustaining the major part of the electrode damage. Shortly after the initiation of the protective discharge in the narrow gap region, the discharge moves into the wider gap region. Since the major portion of electrode damage is sustained by the wider gap region of the electrodes, the incidence of shorting failure is suppressed.