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Halogen leak detectors find new use
Apr., r96o.J
(TURRENT "I'oP~('S
.35,3
tion chamber designs, a large portion more than a 3'ear ago in ()lin Mathicof the gas expansion occurs externallv. son's laboratories in Niagara Falls, These gases would be confined only and the product has been undergoing by the plug surface, the outer jet rigid tests ever since. surface remaining a free boundary. lie said it was developed in anticiSupersonic gases would expand as pation of wider use of aluminunl in they flow along the conical plug sur- automobile engines. Many 196{) cars face until their pressure matched have the metal in various engine paris, existing ambient conditions and would including cylinder blocks, cylinder therefore be automatically adjusted heads, radiator cores, water jackets, to altitude, increasing the rocket's water outlet housings and water ptun I) efficiency. This higher efficiency parts. would be most pronounced at low Dr. Chester M. White, who heads altitudes, Michelson explained, Olin Mathieson's anti-freeze testing making the engine particularly suit- laboratories, said one of the problems able for the initial stage of a multi- in developing the new formula instage vehicle. volved the development of a better The multiple-cell configuration will corrosion inhibitor system. This in permit in-flight trajectory correction turn involved a correctly balanced by the control of combustion pressure formula. The correct balance of the in the vltrious cells. T h r u s t can new formula, Dr. White explained, retherefore be varied aerodynamically sults in an improved ethylene glycol without moving the entire engine, antifreeze harmless to non-metallic allowing rigid mounting between pro- parts and non-corrosive to all metals. pulsion system and vehicle frame. The resuhing elimination of the usual H a l o g e n Leak Detectors Find N e w gimbaling mechanisms and structures U s e . - - H a l o g e n leak d e t e c t o r s - - h a n d y for stress redistribution makes pos- troubleshooters for the air conditionsible additional significant savings in ing and refrigeration serviceman weight, space and costs. Michelson have found an eutirely new applicaexplained that the idea was conceived tion. They. are helping keep laboraby Dr. K u r t Berman with others in tory animals germ-free. At Notre his group at the Malta Test Station. Dame University, where Lobun(t Inl)r. Berman is Manager of Engineer- stitute researchers are studying tim ing for the Rocket Engine Section. effect of micro-organisms and medications on animals, transparent vinyl Non-Corrosive Anti-Freeze.--A chambers called "isolators" are use(1 new anti-freeze t h a t will not corrode to establish a completely sterile enaluminum or other metal engine parts vironment. has been developed by Olin Mathieson Because the vinyl is thin and susChemical Corporation. The new anti- ceptible to breaks, a method was freeze is non-evaporating and suitable needed to assure each isolator "nilfor any tYi)e engine that uses a liquid crobe-proof" before starting an expericoolant. ment. As a result, three General F. W. Fitchen, national brands Electric H-6 leak detectors are now manager of the corporation's Auto- in daily use. motive Products Department, said T o check an isolator, a research that development work on the new assistant fills it with Freon gas, and formula anti-freeze was completed moves the detector probe carefully
354
CURRENT TOPICS
over the entire surface. Microscopic holes in the plastic skin, identified by a flashing light in the probe, are marked immediately for patching. Lobund researchers said that prior to purchasing the General Electric instruments, they also explored other methods of leak detectionIsoap films and halide torches. They said the H-6 leak detector was selected as having the best balance of economy and convenience, while actually offering more than enough sensitivity for their needs. The effectiveness of the institute's germ-free research depends entirely upon its leak detection program, they said, since any contamination will cancel out efforts to maintain a sterile environment. Lobund's use of Halogen leak detectors, General Electric engineers said, exemplifies a continually broadening range of applications for the low-cost device originally designed to find leaks in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
Tiny New Electron Tube.--Space vehicles, television sets, radios, TV cameras, and computors will soon use a unique, new thimble-size electron tube, according to Douglas Y. Smith, Vice President and General Manager, RCA Electron Tube Division. The revolutionary RCA development in electron tube design, called the Nuvistor, is now rapidly progressing from advanced development to production status, Mr. Smith reported. Engineers, he added, are now building experimental TV receivers, TV cameras, and computing devices employing the tiny new tube. "The Nuvistor," Mr. Smith ex-
IJ. F. I.
plained. "is an extremely rugged, metal-shell electron tube about threefourths of an inch in length which promises an extremely high level of performance and a degree of reliability never before anticipated from tubes produced in large quantities. The 'new look' tube offers miniaturization capabilities that can significantly increase payload capacities of military vehicles and commercial aircraft. For home entertainment instruments, the Nuvistor will make possible high-performance, lightweight, compact AM and FM radios, phonographs, hi-fi and TV sets. "In laboratory torture tests, these remarkable tubes have continued to operate efficiently at both frigid and sizzling temperatures (from 320 degrees below zero to 660 degrees Fahrenheit). They can also withstand severe shock and vibration thereby making them extremely advantageous for ground or airborne military vehicles." Mr. Smith pointed out that the Nuvistors have extremely low power requirements. The new design concept, he said, opens the door to even smaller tubes consuming as little as one twentieth the power required by conventional tubes. Engineers anticipate that tubes of the same design can have useful lifetimes of tens or even hundreds of thousands of hours. "More than 250 manufacturers of electronic equipment are currently evaluating prototypes of the Nuvistors for use in TV sets, communications receivers and a wide range of applications for entertainment, defense and industry. Initial commercial production of Nuvistors is scheduled for this year."
(TURRENT "I'oP~('S
.35,3
tion chamber designs, a large portion more than a 3'ear ago in ()lin Mathicof the gas expansion occurs externallv. son's laboratories in Niagara Falls, These gases would be confined only and the product has been undergoing by the plug surface, the outer jet rigid tests ever since. surface remaining a free boundary. lie said it was developed in anticiSupersonic gases would expand as pation of wider use of aluminunl in they flow along the conical plug sur- automobile engines. Many 196{) cars face until their pressure matched have the metal in various engine paris, existing ambient conditions and would including cylinder blocks, cylinder therefore be automatically adjusted heads, radiator cores, water jackets, to altitude, increasing the rocket's water outlet housings and water ptun I) efficiency. This higher efficiency parts. would be most pronounced at low Dr. Chester M. White, who heads altitudes, Michelson explained, Olin Mathieson's anti-freeze testing making the engine particularly suit- laboratories, said one of the problems able for the initial stage of a multi- in developing the new formula instage vehicle. volved the development of a better The multiple-cell configuration will corrosion inhibitor system. This in permit in-flight trajectory correction turn involved a correctly balanced by the control of combustion pressure formula. The correct balance of the in the vltrious cells. T h r u s t can new formula, Dr. White explained, retherefore be varied aerodynamically sults in an improved ethylene glycol without moving the entire engine, antifreeze harmless to non-metallic allowing rigid mounting between pro- parts and non-corrosive to all metals. pulsion system and vehicle frame. The resuhing elimination of the usual H a l o g e n Leak Detectors Find N e w gimbaling mechanisms and structures U s e . - - H a l o g e n leak d e t e c t o r s - - h a n d y for stress redistribution makes pos- troubleshooters for the air conditionsible additional significant savings in ing and refrigeration serviceman weight, space and costs. Michelson have found an eutirely new applicaexplained that the idea was conceived tion. They. are helping keep laboraby Dr. K u r t Berman with others in tory animals germ-free. At Notre his group at the Malta Test Station. Dame University, where Lobun(t Inl)r. Berman is Manager of Engineer- stitute researchers are studying tim ing for the Rocket Engine Section. effect of micro-organisms and medications on animals, transparent vinyl Non-Corrosive Anti-Freeze.--A chambers called "isolators" are use(1 new anti-freeze t h a t will not corrode to establish a completely sterile enaluminum or other metal engine parts vironment. has been developed by Olin Mathieson Because the vinyl is thin and susChemical Corporation. The new anti- ceptible to breaks, a method was freeze is non-evaporating and suitable needed to assure each isolator "nilfor any tYi)e engine that uses a liquid crobe-proof" before starting an expericoolant. ment. As a result, three General F. W. Fitchen, national brands Electric H-6 leak detectors are now manager of the corporation's Auto- in daily use. motive Products Department, said T o check an isolator, a research that development work on the new assistant fills it with Freon gas, and formula anti-freeze was completed moves the detector probe carefully
354
CURRENT TOPICS
over the entire surface. Microscopic holes in the plastic skin, identified by a flashing light in the probe, are marked immediately for patching. Lobund researchers said that prior to purchasing the General Electric instruments, they also explored other methods of leak detectionIsoap films and halide torches. They said the H-6 leak detector was selected as having the best balance of economy and convenience, while actually offering more than enough sensitivity for their needs. The effectiveness of the institute's germ-free research depends entirely upon its leak detection program, they said, since any contamination will cancel out efforts to maintain a sterile environment. Lobund's use of Halogen leak detectors, General Electric engineers said, exemplifies a continually broadening range of applications for the low-cost device originally designed to find leaks in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
Tiny New Electron Tube.--Space vehicles, television sets, radios, TV cameras, and computors will soon use a unique, new thimble-size electron tube, according to Douglas Y. Smith, Vice President and General Manager, RCA Electron Tube Division. The revolutionary RCA development in electron tube design, called the Nuvistor, is now rapidly progressing from advanced development to production status, Mr. Smith reported. Engineers, he added, are now building experimental TV receivers, TV cameras, and computing devices employing the tiny new tube. "The Nuvistor," Mr. Smith ex-
IJ. F. I.
plained. "is an extremely rugged, metal-shell electron tube about threefourths of an inch in length which promises an extremely high level of performance and a degree of reliability never before anticipated from tubes produced in large quantities. The 'new look' tube offers miniaturization capabilities that can significantly increase payload capacities of military vehicles and commercial aircraft. For home entertainment instruments, the Nuvistor will make possible high-performance, lightweight, compact AM and FM radios, phonographs, hi-fi and TV sets. "In laboratory torture tests, these remarkable tubes have continued to operate efficiently at both frigid and sizzling temperatures (from 320 degrees below zero to 660 degrees Fahrenheit). They can also withstand severe shock and vibration thereby making them extremely advantageous for ground or airborne military vehicles." Mr. Smith pointed out that the Nuvistors have extremely low power requirements. The new design concept, he said, opens the door to even smaller tubes consuming as little as one twentieth the power required by conventional tubes. Engineers anticipate that tubes of the same design can have useful lifetimes of tens or even hundreds of thousands of hours. "More than 250 manufacturers of electronic equipment are currently evaluating prototypes of the Nuvistors for use in TV sets, communications receivers and a wide range of applications for entertainment, defense and industry. Initial commercial production of Nuvistors is scheduled for this year."