An electrodeless fluorescent light source that includes a non-conducting light transmissive hermetically sealed envelope containing an ionizable gas which is electromagnetically coupled to an ionizing radio frequency (r.f.) energy source is described. The r.f. energy source is an induction coil wound in the form of a toroidal helix to minimize microwave radiation leakage, and is placed within the envelope and in direct contact with the gas in order to maximize energy coupling to the gas.

This is a high quality zirconium or hafnium sponge, a fuel element cladding liner having material of the quality of this sponge and a process utilizing this quality sponge to fabricate liner material for lined fuel element cladding. The sponge contains 250-about 350 ppm of oxygen impurity, 50-300 ppm of iron impurity, and a total of 500-1,000 ppm of impurity. This material is much purer than conventional sponge and approaches the quality of crystal bar.

This is a process for producing high quality zirconium or hafnium sponge. It is especially useful for producing the very high purity zirconium which may be used to line the inner surface zirconium of Zircaloy tubing for nuclear fuel rods. The process uses a combination reduction-distillation vessel which is directly fed with zirconium or hafnium tetrachloride from a molten salt sublimer. A precharge of magnesium chloride is used to prevent reduction of metal outside the inner liner, and thereby ...

The invention relates to a device for automatically retracting and winding up a seat belt for use in a vehicle to protect the occupant and in particular the device controls the force for retracting or winding up the seat belt. The device includes a frame with a winding reel rotatably supported by the frame with spring means connecting the frame and winding reel. The winding reel is adapted to wind thereon a seat belt with a spring force of at least one main and auxiliary springs with a spur gear...

A ZrO.sub.2 powder of very fine particle size adapted especially for the making of high density ceramics is produced by chlorinating a zirconium source material, such as zircon sand, to produce crude ZrCl.sub.4 solids; the solids are dissolved to form a ZrOCl.sub.2 solution from which ZrOCl.sub.2 crystals are precipitated; the crystals are dried and milled to a desired particle size; and the crystal particles are subjected to direct oxidation under controlled conditions to produce a very fine Zr...

A technique for packaging an integrated-circuit die in a conventional molded-plastic package exposes the lead frame to which the integrated-circuit die is attached so that heat-conducting columns can be directly attached to the leadframe through vias formed in the molded plastic package. The vias expose selected areas of the lead-frame to which are attached the thermally conductive columns, which extend to an exterior surface of the molded plastic package so that the lead-frame and the conductiv...

This is a method for reduction of chlorides of zirconium, hafnium or titanium, and provides a practical method of removing the product metal from the reduction vessel. A seal metal layer is used at the bottom of the vessel. The upper portion of the seal metal layer is liquid and the lower portion is solid. Product metal settles into the liquid portion. Product metal in a matrix of solid seal metal is withdrawn from the bottom of the vessel. Seal metal is predominantly either zinc or tin. Either ...

This is a method for reducing the chlorides of zirconium, hafnium, or titanium. It utilizes a solidified magnesium (or sodium) chloride matrix in which chunks of the product metal are contained as a seal on the bottom of the reduction vessel. A withdrawal mechanism is used in conjunction with a cooling means (e.g. water jacket) to slowly withdraw the product metal chunks in the salt matrix. This invention makes possible the operation of the reduction process as a continuous process.

A combination reduction, distillation, reducing metal recovery furnace and process of using the same comprising a pair of vertically displaced vessels in fluid communication wherein the upper vessel contains a perforated inner liner and means to at least periodically charge the top of the vessel with the metal salt to be reduced and a reducing metal, and wherein the lower vessel has a means to periodically withdraw the molten reducing metal salt produced by the redox reaction occurring within th...

A corrector ring maintains the coplanarity of the tips of the leads of a quad flat pack QFP package during shipping and handling. A first snap-fit or adhesively-fixed ring member has an inner peripheral surface which engages the lower walls of the QFP package. The ring member also has an outer peripheral surface which engages the inner surfaces of the resilient leads of the QFP package. A second snap-fit adhesively-fixed ring member is held in place over the outer surfaces of the leads.