Abstract:
A rotary engine includes a housing (10) having a cylindrical internal surface on which seals are supported to prevent the flow of gases from spaces between two rotating pistons on separate but concentrically-arranged shafts. Three sets of gearing control (27, 28, 29) relative rotation of the pistons which move toward and away from each other to compress gases between the pistons. A drive shaft (33) is connected by the first gear set (27) to a first of the concentrically-arranged shafts (18). The drive shaft is also connected by a second gear set (28) to the other of the concentrically-arranged shafts (16). The third gear set (29), comprised of non-circular gears, connects the drive shaft to an output shaft (38).
Abstract:
In conjunction with a hot metal pump in a reactive metal bath, a novel isolator assembly (3, 35) is provided which reduces the tendency of the pump to impart turbulence to the melt thereby reducing reaction between the melt and the atmosphere and the production of dross. The isolator assembly comprises a housing (3, 35) positioned around the drive shaft (4, 32) of the pump.
Abstract:
Apparatus (10) and method for measuring the concentration of large particles in a gas which may also contain small particles. The apparatus comprises a triboelectric charging means which effects triboelectric charging of the large particles in the gas, and charge measuring means for measuring charges on the particles in the gas after it has passed the triboelectric charging means. The triboelectric charging means can be a curved section of an air intake duct (22) or the compressor of a turbocharger (70). The apparatus enables the operation of an engine or other air consuming device to be interrupted when the concentration of large particles in the incoming air is sufficient to damage the engine, but avoids unnecessary shutdowns due to the presence of small particles, e.g. smoke particles, which are too small to damage the engine or other device.
Abstract:
Porphyridium cruentum is cultured in an enriched seawater medium using a high initial cell concentration until the productivity of polysaccharide production by the alga is maximized. The whole culture is then extracted by making the culture strongly alkaline, and heat treating it. The culture is cooled, acidified and the polysaccharide precipitated by addition of a water-miscible organic solvent such as ethanol. Very high yields of polysaccharide are obtained, in excess of 4.5 grams per liter of culture.
Abstract:
Apparatus for providing X-rays (11) to an object (12) in air. A lens (13) directs energy (14) from a laser (27) onto a target (15) to produce X-rays (11) of a selected spectrum and intensity. A substantially fluid-tight first enclosure (16) around the target (15) has a pressure therein substantially below atmospheric pressure. An adjacent substantially fluid-tight second enclosure (18) contains helium (24) at about atmospheric pressure. A wall (19) has an opening (20) large enough to permit X-rays to pass through and yet small enough that gas (21) can be evacuated from the first enclosure (16) at least as fast as it enters through the opening (20) at the desired pressure. Intermediate enclosures (34, 34') at logarithmically increasing air pressures have similar openings (20', 20'') in line with the opening (20) and a transparent portion (36) in the near wall (35) of the second enclosure (18). The target (15) is located close to the opening (20) and emits a substantial portion of the X-rays (11) through the opening (20) and (via 20', 20'', 36) on toward the far wall (22) of the second enclosure (18) having a portion (25) that is highly transparent to them, so that the object (12) to which the X-rays (11) are to be provided may be located outside the second enclosure (18) and adjacent thereto and thus receive the X-rays (11) substantially unimpeded by air or other undesired intervening matter.
Abstract:
The outer membrane (10) encapsulates a liquid (12) having one or more smaller microcapsules (mini-microcapsules) suspended therein. The mini-microcapsules contain a complex or a reaction product of a drug which diffuses into the liquid (12) in which mini-microcapsules are suspended. The suspending liquid (12) contains an enzyme which reacts with drug complex or reaction product to regenerate or release the drug. The drug diffuses through the outer membrane (10) into a host.
Abstract:
Metal strip (9) cast directly from the melt onto a cylindrical casting drum (20) is made more uniform in thickness and in structure by making the temperature of the casting surface and, therefore, heat transfer more uniform, thus reducing distortion of the casting surface. This is accomplished by a novel arrangement of helical coolant channels (25) extending below the casting surface (10) and in heat transfer relationship with the casting surface and being at an angle of between about 15° and 75° (and preferably between about 45° and 75°) to the drum axis. At least one coolant inlet (21) and one coolant outlet (22) supply and withdraw coolant to each channel. In one embodiment, inlets (21a, 21b) are alternated on the same side of the shell with outlets (22a and 22b) of adjacent channels so that the cooler regions around inlets are alternated with higher temperature outlet regions to balance the temperature around the surface.
Abstract:
A method of determining the mechanical behavior of solid materials by using stress field modified miniature specimens (225). The method is an improvement in the method of determining mechanical behavior information from specimens only so large as to have at least a volume or smallest dimension sufficient to satisfy continuum behavior in all directions. Mechanical behavior of the material is determined from the measurements taken during the loading of the specimen resulting in the formation of cracks (235) and/or the further propagation of cracks in the miniature specimen (225). The specimens include means (237, 239, 241) for applying additional stress field modifying loads upon the specimens during the test. These additional loads result in a desired stress state in the specimen which could not be achieved otherwise. A particular example is the introduction of a transverse tensile load during a bend test to increase the transverse stress field to achieve plane strain conditions in a thin specimen. The methods are useful in determining plane strain fracture toughness, dynamic plane-strain crack initiation and arrest fracture toughness, the J-Integral for the material, and the fracture mode transition behavior when the specimen thickness and volume is smaller than previously thought necessary.
Abstract:
A recirculating fiber filter (1) and method for removing particulates from moving fluid streams. High aspect ratio fibers (2) are used which readily nest with each other to form the high voidage fiber filter bed. In the method, fibers are continuously removed from the bottom of the bed, regenerated to remove particulates and recycled back to the top of the bed and distributed thereon. Dirty fluid is passed from the top to the bottom of the filter. Dendrites of the particulate impurity appear to buildup in a thin section (A) at the top of the filter and provide the primary mechanism for further particulate entrapment. Recirculation of fibers offers a continuously fresh volume of fibers at the top for capture of particulates.
Abstract:
A well pump includes a piston and an inlet and/or outlet valve assembly of special structure. Each is formed of a body of organic polymer, preferably PTFE. Each includes a cavity in its upper portion and at least one passage leading from the cavity to the bottom of the block. A screen covers each cavity and a valve disk covers each screen. Flexible sealing flanges extend upwardly and downwardly from the periphery of the piston block. The outlet valve block has a sliding and sealing fit with the piston rod.