Abstract: A ball joint extractor comprising a C-shaped clamp having an elongated vertical component at its central extent and having two horizontal parallel legs, an upper leg and a lower leg, extending from the opposite ends thereof; a fixed jaw in a U-shaped configuration having parallel legs in a horizontal orientation and a curved coupling section therebetween, the coupling section secured at its interior end to the outboard end of the upper leg, the U-shaped jaw having a horizontal lower surface and an upper surface angling downwardly from its curved coupling section with the interior surface of the U-shaped jaw being chamfered whereby the upper surface of the U-shaped jaw has a smaller surface area on its upper surface than its lower surface with the coupling section being a curve having an axis parallel with the axis of the long leg of the U-shaped member; and a cylindrical member with a threaded central aperture and an exterior surface secured at one edge to the exterior surface of the lower leg of the C-shaped

Abstract: Homogeneous polymer blends are prepared from otherwise thermodynamically immiscible polymers, especially including block copolymers. Thus, polymers such as polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymer or polystyrene/poly(1,2-butadiene) block copolymer are dissolved under pressure in supercritical fluid solvents such as chlorodifluoromethane and n-butane, respectively, and expanded through a fine nozzle. As the SCF solvent evaporates, the polymer deposits as a substantially homogeneous material.

Abstract: Device for rapidly and automatically deploying and retracting a combiner attached to a visored helmet. A combination of opposing springs, one made from conventional materials and the other from shape memory alloy (SMA), effects a detent mechanism and the retracting and deploying mechanism. The conventional spring normally exerts a greater force than the SMA spring, but the latter exerts the greater force upon being heated, preferably by means of an electric current passing through the spring. Alternative deployment and retraction means include a solenoid-conventional spring combination or an electrical motor which used in conjunction with a locking and unlocking means incorporating a SMA spring.

Abstract: A siloxane modified copolymer with the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein: x=1 to 1000; m=2 to 100; n=0 to 1000; z=0 to 2; y=1 to 3; (z+y)=3; and p=1 to 200; wherein R and R.sub.1 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbons, phenyl, benzyl or alkylphenyl having from 6 to 12 carbons; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or alkylphenyl having from 6 to 12 carbons; R.sub.3 is methyl, ethyl or propyl; and Z is O, S, NH or NR' wherein R' is phenyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkylphenyl. A process for obtaining siloxane modified copolymer comprising:reactively extruding organosiloxanes having reactive terminal groups with polyolefins having reactive groups, the molar ratio of the functional groups being from about 1:1 to about 1:100,000 in a substantially solvent-free environment at a temperature from about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: Homogeneous polymer blends are prepared from otherwise thermodynamically immiscible polymers, especially including block copolymers. Thus, polymers such as polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymer or polystyrene/poly(1,2-butadiene) block copolymer are dissolved under pressure in supercritical fluid solvents such as chlorodifluoromethane and n-butane, respectively, and expanded through a fine nozzle. As the SCF solvent evaporates, the polymer deposits as a substantially homogeneous material.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle having a plurality of seats, each having a respective support structure fixedly disposed forward of each of the seats; a plurality of inflatable airbags; hook-and-pile or snap fasteners disposed between each airbag and a respective support structure; at least one impact sensor in the vehicle, and a plug-and-jack for connecting at least a selected one of the inflatable airbags with the impact sensor upon an impact to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the transport of a selected ion having a predetermined charge-to-mass ratio through a biomolecular membrane located in a space subjected to a local magnetic field. The space defines at least one reference path passing through the membrane in opposite first and second directions. The method includes the steps of creating a magnetic field which, when combined with the local magnetic field, produces a magnetic field having a flux density with at least one component representable by a component vector having a direction extending in the first direction along the path. This component of the magnetic field has a magnitude that fluctuates at a predetermined rate to produce a nonzero average value. A predetermined relationship between the ratio of the selected rate to the nonzero average value and the charge-to-mass ratio of the predetermined ion is thereby created. The predetermined relationship, is a function of the cyclotron resonance frequency of the ion.

Abstract: An improved tape cartridge with length dimension significantly greater than prior art cartridges of similar application, tape packs and drive belt being disposed to permit tape packs of greatly increased tape capacity and thereby a multifold increase in total cartridge capacity, and the front face being compatible for interfacing with most commercially available cartridge tape drives.