Abstract: A system for non-destructively characterizing laser welds that includes at least one phased array probe that includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in an array at one end of the probe, wherein the transducer elements are operative to both generate ultrasonic signals and to receive reflections thereof, wherein the transducer elements are further arranged into discrete subgroups, and wherein each subgroup may be activated independently of the other subgroups and at different time intervals; a combination of materials for allowing the probe to conform to a contoured surface of a laser weld while enabling sound energy to be transferred directly into a laser weld under test conditions, wherein the combination of materials further includes a flexible membrane mounted on the end of the probe and a fluid filled chamber material disposed between the membrane and the array of ultrasonic transducer elements; and a data processor in communication with the at least one phased array probe that incl

Abstract: A method for characterizing a spot weld, including acquiring a sequence of A-scans from an ultrasonic phased array, wherein the A-scans describe individual portions of a field of view of the phased array; manually applying an interface gate and a flaw gate to each individual A-scan within the sequence of A-scans; calculating a gate ratio between a maximum amplitude under the interface gate and a maximum amplitude under the flaw gate for each individual A-scan; plotting the gate ratio for each individual A-scan as a function of location within the phased array field of view to generate a weld fusion map; using a predetermined threshold to differentiate fused locations from unfused locations on the weld fusion map; and calculating predetermined weld metrics, wherein the predetermined weld metrics include area, diameter, width, length, percent fused, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An automated system for non-destructively evaluating spot welds that includes at least one matrix phased array probe; a fixture adapted to be mounted on a robot or other mechanical actuator, wherein the fixture is further adapted to retain the at least one matrix phased array probe; and an enclosure that includes at least one input for connecting to the at least one matrix phased array probe, ultrasonic phased array transmitting and receiving circuitry in electrical communication with the at least one input, at least one data processor running software that includes at least one algorithm for processing data received from the probe and generating discrete specifications of evaluated welds, wherein the discrete specifications further include pass indications or fail indications regarding weld acceptability; and at least one output for outputting the discrete specifications of evaluated welds.

Abstract: A system for non-destructively characterizing laser welds that includes at least one phased array probe that includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in an array at one end of the probe, wherein the transducer elements are operative to both generate ultrasonic signals and to receive reflections thereof, wherein the transducer elements are further arranged into discrete subgroups, and wherein each subgroup may be activated independently of the other subgroups and at different time intervals; a combination of materials for allowing the probe to conform to a contoured surface of a laser weld while enabling sound energy to be transferred directly into a laser weld under test conditions, wherein the combination of materials further includes a flexible membrane mounted on the end of the probe and a fluid filled chamber material disposed between the membrane and the array of ultrasonic transducer elements; and a data processor in communication with the at least one phased array probe that incl

Abstract: A method for characterizing a spot weld, including acquiring a sequence of A-scans from an ultrasonic phased array, wherein the A-scans describe individual portions of a field of view of the phased array; manually applying an interface gate and a flaw gate to each individual A-scan within the sequence of A-scans; calculating a gate ratio between a maximum amplitude under the interface gate and a maximum amplitude under the flaw gate for each individual A-scan; plotting the gate ratio for each individual A-scan as a function of location within the phased array field of view to generate a weld fusion map; using a predetermined threshold to differentiate fused locations from unfused locations on the weld fusion map; and calculating predetermined weld metrics, wherein the predetermined weld metrics include area, diameter, width, length, percent fused, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An automated system for non-destructively evaluating spot welds that includes at least one matrix phased array probe; a fixture adapted to be mounted on a robot or other mechanical actuator, wherein the fixture is further adapted to retain the at least one matrix phased array probe; and an enclosure that includes at least one input for connecting to the at least one matrix phased array probe, ultrasonic phased array transmitting and receiving circuitry in electrical communication with the at least one input, at least one data processor running software that includes at least one algorithm for processing data received from the probe and generating discrete specifications of evaluated welds, wherein the discrete specifications further include pass indications or fail indications regarding weld acceptability; and at least one output for outputting the discrete specifications of evaluated welds.

Abstract: A system for characterizing a spot weld including an acoustic probe that further includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a curved array, wherein the transducer elements are operative to generate ultrasonic signals and to receive reflections thereof; and a combination of materials for allowing the probe to conform to a contoured surface of the spot weld while enabling sound energy to be transferred directly into the spot weld under test conditions; a phased array excitation unit coupled to the array of transducer elements for ultrasonically exciting transducer elements; and a controller coupled to the phased array excitation unit for controlling the operation of the phased array unit, gathering and processing information from the ultrasonic transducers, and generating a two-dimensional, color coded image that characterizes the integrity of the spot weld.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol or animal foodstuff by treating lignocellulosic material by subjecting the material to microwave radiation at the resonant frequency of the lignin to dissociate the lignin.

Abstract: A system for characterizing a spot weld including an acoustic probe that further includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a curved array, wherein the transducer elements are operative to generate ultrasonic signals and to receive reflections thereof; and a combination of materials for allowing the probe to conform to a contoured surface of the spot weld while enabling sound energy to be transferred directly into the spot weld under test conditions; a phased array excitation unit coupled to the array of transducer elements for ultrasonically exciting transducer elements; and a controller coupled to the phased array excitation unit for controlling the operation of the phased array unit, gathering and processing information from the ultrasonic transducers, and generating a two-dimensional, color coded image that characterizes the integrity of the spot weld.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method to identify a stuck joint between two workpieces utilizing an ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic (US) beams into the joint area and capture the associated US reflections. The method transmits two separate US beams fired in very close proximity to one another. The probe then captures a plurality of US reflections. The method looks for subtle variations in a high gain A-scan presentation of a high gain reflected beam, while using a low gain US beam to identify the particular region on the high gain A-scan presentation in which to look for signs of a stuck joint. Subtle variations within a particular region of the high gain A-scan presentation identify stuck joints. The method is applicable to metals and nonmetals and is not limited to fusion welding, but may also be used with solid state welds, brazed and soldered joints, and adhesively joined workpieces.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition having a total base number of more than 15 mg KOH/g including oil of lubricating viscosity; detergent; and at least one compound of the formula (I) and/or formula (II): wherein Ar and Ar? represent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic moieties; L and L? are linking moieties; each Y is independently —ORI?or H(O(CR12)n)yX—, wherein X is (CR1?2)z, O or S; R1 and R1? are H, alkyl or aryl; R1? is alkyl or aryl; each Y? is independently Z(O(CR22)n?)y?X?—, wherein X? is (CR2?2)z?, O or S; R2 and R2? are H, alkyl or aryl; Z is H, acyl, alkyl or aryl; z and z? are 1 to 10; n is 0 to 10 when X is (CR1?2)z and 2 to 10 when X is O or S; n? is 0 to 10 when X? is (CR2?2)z?, and 2 to 10 when X? is O or S; y and y? are 1 to 30; a and a? are 0 to 3; and m and m? are 1 to 100, with the proviso that in compounds of formula (I), at least one Ar moiety bears at least one group Y and that in compounds of formula (II), at least one Ar? moiety bears at least one group Y? in wherein Z is not H.

Abstract: Methods and systems for three-dimensionally imaging an apical dome located at the cotyledon end of a plant embryo are provided. Three-dimensional information of an apical dome can be obtained by scanning the apical dome at varying focal planes along an axis of the embryo, or by using multiple cameras arranged in a confocal manner to image the apical dome. It can also be obtained by irradiating the apical dome with polychromatic light, wherein light beams of multiple wavelengths are focused at multiple focal planes along the axis of the embryo so that the dome's height information can be obtained based on the wavelength of the light precisely focused and reflected at each surface point of the dome. The three-dimensional information is used to ascertain various morphological features (e.g., size, shape, texture, etc.) of the apical dome, which are in turn used to assess the embryo's germinant vigor.

Abstract: The residual chlorine content of a polyolefin-substituted carboxylic acylating agent formed by a halogen-assisted reaction of a polyalkene and at least one olefinic, monounsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester, is reduced when the reaction is conducted in the presence of a controlled amount of a metal compound.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method to identify a stuck joint between two workpieces utilizing an ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic (US) beams into the joint area and capture the associated US reflections. The method transmits two separate US beams fired in very close proximity to one another. The probe then captures a plurality of US reflections. The method looks for subtle variations in a high gain A-scan presentation of a high gain reflected beam, while using a low gain US beam to identify the particular region on the high gain A-scan presentation in which to look for signs of a stuck joint. Subtle variations within a particular region of the high gain A-scan presentation identify stuck joints. The method is applicable to metals and nonmetals and is not limited to fusion welding, but may also be used with solid state welds, brazed and soldered joints, and adhesively joined workpieces.

Abstract: A trunk piston or cross-head diesel engine having a centrifuge system including a sealing medium is lubricated with a lubricant which, for the cross-head engine, is a system lubricant and which contains 0.04 to 5 mass %, expressed as active ingredient, of a combination of one or more linked aromatic compounds and one or more nitrogen containing ashless disperants, in a mass:mass ratio in the range of 1:3 to 9:1.

Abstract: The residual chlorine content of a polyolefin-substituted carboxylic acylating agent formed by a halogen-assisted reaction of a polyalkene and at least one olefinic, monounsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester, is reduced when the reaction is conducted in the presence of a controlled amount of a metal compound.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition having a total base number of more than 15 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM D2896, and including at least 40 mass % of an oil of lubricating viscosity; at least one detergent; and at least one compound of the formula (I) and/or formula (II): In formula (I), each Ar independently represents an aromatic moiety having 0 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxy, aryloxyalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, halo and combinations thereof; each L is independently a linking moiety comprising a carbon-carbon single bond or a linking group; each Y is independently —OR1? or a moiety of the formula H(O(CR12)n)yX—, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of (CR1?2)z, O and S; R1 and R1? are each independently selected from H, C1 to C6 alkyl and aryl; R1? is selected from C1 to C100 alkyl and aryl; z is 1 to 10; n is 0 to 10 when X is (CR1?2)z, and 2 to 10 when X is O or S; and y is 1 to 30; each a is independently 0 to 3, with the proviso

Abstract: A process for forming an ene reaction product wherein an enophile, such as maleic anhydride, is reacted with reactive polyalkene having a terminal vinylidene content of at least 30 mol. %, at high temperature in the presence of a free radical inhibitor. The polyalkenyl acylating agents are useful per se as additives in lubricating oils, functional fluids, and fuels and also serve as intermediates in the preparation of other products (e.g., succinimides) useful as additives in lubricating oils, functional fluids, and fuels. The presence of the free radical inhibitor during the high temperature reaction results in a reaction product that is low, or substantially free from sediment.

Abstract: A single roll crusher for comminuting high purity materials includes a roll with teeth spaced around the circumference of the roll. The roll is rotatably mounted inside a housing. The housing has a top with an entrance port, sides, and bottom with an exit port. The roll, teeth, and at least the inside surfaces of the top, sides, and bottom are fabricated from a material of construction that minimizes contamination of silicon. The material of construction may be tungsten carbide with a cobalt binder. The single roll crusher is used for processing polycrystalline silicon.

Abstract: A process for producing polyalkenyl acylating agent, wherein, upon completion of the thermal reaction of a polyalkene and an unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or anhydride compound, the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to below the reaction temperature, an additional amount of unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or anhydride compound is added to the cooled reaction mixture, which is then maintained in the reactor for a time period, optionally with agitation. Reducing the temperature of the reaction mixture prior to the introduction of additional unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or anhydride compound minimizes further reaction between the additional unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or anhydride compound and any remaining unreacted polyalkene, as well as self-polymerization of the unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or anhydride compound.