Abstract: A ceramic filter element is formed from a flocculated slurry predominantly containing inorganic fibres, of 100-150 ?m length and 1-5 ?m thickness. The slurry also contains inorganic yarn in lengths of from 10 mm or greater, e.g. 10-150 mm and thickness 0.1-0.5 mm diameter. The slurry is formed in water with colloidal silica and starch added to flocculate the slurry. The flocculated slurry is then injected to a mould comprising an appropriately shaped mesh form, and water removed by vacuum, and the filter thus formed dried in an oven for 8-12 hours at 120° C. The addition of yarns, which may be glass or alumina mono or multifilament yarns, increases the shock resistance of the ceramic filter element produced.

Abstract: A method of propulsion and attitude control in fluid environments is disclosed by examples of preferred embodiments of vehicles utilizing said methodology. The preferred embodiment of a vehicle utilizing said invention comprises at least one pair of left and right wing assemblies of an airfoil profile separated by a fuselage that combine to form a fluid dynamic body. Each wing assembly houses within its interior at least two longitudinally adjacent, counter-rotating drive-fans mounted on fixed approximately vertical axes that are capable of being powered by various means. Each wing assembly has operable interior and exterior venting means that control fluid flow to, from and between respective drive-fans. Each wing assembly has control surfaces at its trailing edge and is itself hinged to the fuselage with means to change the dihedral of the wing assembly. Each wing assembly has surfaces of designed permeability that create a dynamic laminar flow envelope about the vehicle.

Abstract: A polish is provided for cleaning metallic and fiberglass surfaces, such as an automobile, truck and boat bodies, and for providing a protective film on the surface. The polish comprises water in an amount between about 40.0 to about 75.0 percent, a solvent in an amount between about 12.0 to about 35.0 percent, a rheological additive in an amount between about 0.30 to about 1.0 percent, an ultraviolet absorber in an amount between about 0.05 to about 0.50 percent, a dye in an amount between about 0.0005 to about 3.0 percent, a first silicate in an amount between about 5.0 to about 15.0 percent, dimethylpolysiloxane in an amount between about 0.50 to about 6.0 percent, a silicone resin solution in an amount between about 0.10 to about 3.0 percent, oleic diethanol amide in an amount between about 0.50 to about 2.0 percent, a second silicate in an amount between about 0.10 to about 3.0 percent, and a bactericide in an amount between about 0.05 to about 0.20 percent, by weight of the total polish.

Abstract: A method of treating a painted vehicle or glass to form a film which protects the surface and can be easily cleaned. A treatment solution including a surfactant mixed with water is rubbed into sections of the surface being protected until a tacky residue forms on the surface. The tacky residue is then rubbed into the surface until the surface is wiped free of any streaks.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a collecting lens, filters and detectors. The colleng lens is fabricated from a single piece of optical material and has a truncated conical surface, an input surface adjacent the wide end of the truncated conical surface and an output surface adjacent the narrow end of the truncated conical surface. A plurality of detectors is positioned proximate the output surface and a filter, which allows the passage only of radiation of a predetermined band of wave lengths is positioned between each of the detectors and the output surface. When radiation is incident on the input surface, it is passed through the filters to the detectors. The resultant detected optical signals are translated into electrical signals which are compared to discriminate between a radiating source or sources having the desired spectral characteristics and a source or sources having undesired spectral characteristics. The result of the comparison is an output signal indicative of the presence of the desired radiation.