Abstract: Systems and methods for improving plasma propellant ablation/sublimation based systems are provided. One set of embodiments provides systems and methods for reducing carbon charring during plasma system (e.g., a plasma coating application system) propellant (e.g., a carbon-fluorine polymer) ablation and increasing heat transfer, ablation, and plasma thrust from plasma systems. In particular, one embodiment can include using a nano or micro-sized magnetic or electromagnetic field responsive material as particulates or microcapsules that are intermixed with polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) nano-fibers, and using resulting fiber composites as the propellant material. Embodiments can include improved plasma system, e.g., pulsed plasma thrusters, plasma torches, plasma coating systems, etc, as well as nozzle improvements such as embodiments with magnetic structures disposed in relation to the nozzle. Alternative embodiments also include recovery and reuse systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving plasma propellant ablation/sublimation based systems are provided. One set of embodiments provides systems and methods for reducing carbon charring during plasma system (e.g., a plasma coating application system) propellant (e.g., a carbon-fluorine polymer) ablation and increasing heat transfer, ablation, and plasma thrust from plasma systems. In particular, one embodiment can include using a nano or micro-sized magnetic or electromagnetic field responsive material as particulates or microcapsules that are intermixed with polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) nano-fibers, and using resulting fiber composites as the propellant material. Embodiments can include improved plasma system, e.g., pulsed plasma thrusters, plasma torches, plasma coating systems, etc, as well as nozzle improvements such as embodiments with magnetic structures disposed in relation to the nozzle. Alternative embodiments also include recovery and reuse systems.

Abstract: A method, structure, and/or material composition associated with overetching a structure or allow of interest to deplete magnesium content at and in a vicinity of grain boundaries which mitigates or prevents corrosion including, for example, intergranular corrosion (IGC) and/or intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Another aspect of the invention can include a process and material composition associated with providing a particular coating having a number of material properties. Additional steps, material composition(s), and/or exemplary structure(s) can also be provided which provides a nano coating over the depletion zone having a first coating in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A method, structure, and/or material composition associated with overetching a structure or allow of interest to deplete magnesium content at and in a vicinity of grain boundaries which mitigates or prevents corrosion including, for example, intergranular corrosion (IGC) and/or intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Another aspect of the invention can include a process and material composition associated with providing a particular coating having a number of material properties. Additional steps, material composition(s), and/or exemplary structure(s) can also be provided which provides a nano coating over the depletion zone having a first coating in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A linear flow equalizer for distributing thermoplastic material to a spin pack of a meltspinning apparatus that provides for uniform apportionment of a flow of a flowable thermoplastic material at least vertically and in a cross-machine direction of the spin pack. The linear flow equalizer includes an inlet plate with multiple liquid passageways equidistantly spaced in the cross-machine direction that each provide flowable thermoplastic material to a set of equalizer plates. Elongated slots extending through alternating equalizer plates are registered with throughholes extending through adjacent plates in the equalizer plate set. Each throughhole in an upstream equalizer plate is registered with the center of a corresponding slot and each throughole in a downstream equalizer plate is registered with one of opposed closed ends of a corresponding slot.

Abstract: A method of preparing an amine-free emulsion of alkaline earth metal sulfonates is disclosed. A solution of water and a nonionic, associative thickener of the type normally used for viscosity and thixotropy modification of latex compounds is combined with an overbased or neutral earth metal sulfonate or sulfonate complex to produce the emulsion. Mixtures of these emulsified products with other ingredients such as neutral diluent oils, linear alcohol/hydrocarbon mixtures, tall oil fatty acids, non-ionic surfactants, oxidized polyethylene waxes, small levels of microcrystalline wax, petrolatums, and/or calcium salts of oxidized petrolatums is also disclosed. The resulting emulsions find application in the modification of asphalt emulsions, the formulation of temporary coatings for the protection of painted automotive surfaces (transit coatings for automobiles) and in the prevention of corrosion of metal surfaces.

Abstract: A method for operating an incinerator wherein fuel is provided into the incinerator separate from combustible waste and upon an increase in oxygen demand, initially refraining from proportionately increasing the oxygen provided into the incinerator and responding by decreasing the flow of fuel so as to control the generation of PICs without substantially raising the incinerator temperature. The oxygen flow is increased when the fuel flowrate has been reduced to a predetermined minimum should this occur.

Abstract: A high-speed graphics memory providing line mode and area mode data transfer at high speeds comprises a frame buffer structure, with unique address alignment and corresponding data manipulation to provide line mode and area mode pixel data transfer of comparable time intervals. The frame buffer comprises independently addressable 16 byte-wide video memories. The 16 memories provide a 128-bit contiguous horizontal pixel sequence in the line mode, and provide a two-dimensionally contiguous array of pixels comprising 8 bits by 2 bytes when in the area mode, from which an 8.times.8 bit area is selected at any address location in the entire image bit map. The pixels included in a particular line mode or area mode data transfer are directly addressable by external equipment, such as graphics processors, to provide a high-speed graphic display system.

Abstract: A pendent assembly is disclosed for suspending from a hospital room ceiling to provide various services used in a hospital operating room. The pendent has a distribution head with outlets for such services, including, for example, electrical, gas and vacuum outlets and which is moveable upwardly and downwardly through a motive means operated by personnel using the pendant. An automatic stop mechanism is included and which comprises one or more sets of electrical contacts interposed between upper and lower housings in the distribution head. The lower housing is suspended from the upper housing at a predetermined distance therefrom and is moveable over that predetermined distance with respect to the upper housing. When the distribution head is lowered such that it encounters an obstruction, the lower head is forced upwardly and the contacts between the housings contact each other to complete an electrical circuit.

Abstract: A fiberglass sucker rod construction is disclosed comprising a cylindrical fiberglass rod having a steel connector member adhesively bonded to each end thereof. The steel connector members are basically identical in their manner of being affixed to each end of the fiberglass rod, each connector member having an internal receptacle defining a series of tapered annular spaces for receiving an epoxy adhesive material which bonds the fiberglass rod in the metal connector member, thereby forming a unitary sucker rod having a male thread connector at one end and a mating female connector at the other end thereof. The epoxy adhesive cures, forming a sleeve having a series of annular tapering surfaces defining annular wedges that are oriented such that tension applied to the rod causes the wedges to be compressed between the rod and connector member, resulting in a radially inwardly directed force to retain the rod in position against such tension.

Abstract: A device for determining a thermal runaway condition in a nickel-cadmium tery. A current sensor develops a DC voltage proportional to battery current and a converter converts the voltage to a pulse train whose frequency is directly proportional to battery current. The pulse train frequency is monitored for fixed periods of time and changes of frequencies are used to determine the slope of the charge current. A maximum allowable slope is specified and fed into a binary up/down counter which also counts the pulse train frequency. When the difference between two pulse train frequency readings is greater than the maximum allowable, a possible thermal runaway condition is indicated and after a predetermined number of consecutive indications, an indicator is energized to provide a warning.