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Predicting absorption spectra for composite solutions
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CURRENT TOPICS
Ion Rocket Engine.-A rocket engine to create ions and harness them for propulsion will work this way : It will employ a chemical propellant whose molecules offer the highest possible weight. Among “ideal” propellants are uranium tetrachloride, thorium, mercury and the alkali metals, cesium and rubidium. Vaporized, the propellant will be fed into an electrically charged chamber. There an electric arc or a metallic plate generating 100 times the heat of a large electric stove will knock loose an electron from each molecule of vaporized propellant. In losing an electron, each molecule will assume a positive charge and its remaining bulk thus becomes an ion. The newly created ions will be pulled out of the ionizing chamber by the attraction of an electrostatic field and then jolted by 12,000 volts to effective velocities of 300 to 400 thousand miles an hour. The current of speeding ions-a million times greater in number and 350,000 times heavier than the stream of electrons in a TV picture tubewill be harnessed for propulsion by being directed through a cylindrical thrust chamber approximately two feet long and nine inches in diameter. Propulsive force will come from the vehicle’s reaction to the escape of ions from the chamber. Of little use to the system, electrons left over from the ionization process also will be directed through a thrust chamber to add a tiny increment of additional thrust.
[J. F. I.
Wall-Mounted Tensile Tester.Because bench space is frequently at a premium in test locations, Steel City Testing Machines, Inc., Detroit, Mich., now makes available a wallmounted tensile tester. The hydraulic cylinder and jaw units, and the 8+-in. gage can be mounted on the wall. The only bench space required is for the 3 X 8 in. pump and integral reservoir base, and the manual pumping handle, which extends forward Sq in. Tests can be made on flat or round specimens with sufficient accuracy for laboratory use and simply enough for production use. Test specimensweld samples, cast coupons, etc.-are gripped by hardened and ground jaws that are wedge type to insure positive grip. Initial gripping force is applied by manually tightening adjusting screws. As pressure for the test builds up, the wedge shape of the jaws increases the holding force. The stationary jaw holder can be adjusted for specimens from 5 to 13 inches long. The jaw holder is held in place by half rings and grooves, and is located by a non-load-carrying lock screw. This tester can be checked easily with a compression-type proving ring. The top jaw-adjusting screw is simply removed and the proving ring is placed between the moving jaw and the cylinder body. Breaking or yield point is indicated by a maximum-pointer hand that is carried along by the pressure hand on the gage. Models are available with capacities up to 40,000 pounds.
CURRENT TOPICS
Ion Rocket Engine.-A rocket engine to create ions and harness them for propulsion will work this way : It will employ a chemical propellant whose molecules offer the highest possible weight. Among “ideal” propellants are uranium tetrachloride, thorium, mercury and the alkali metals, cesium and rubidium. Vaporized, the propellant will be fed into an electrically charged chamber. There an electric arc or a metallic plate generating 100 times the heat of a large electric stove will knock loose an electron from each molecule of vaporized propellant. In losing an electron, each molecule will assume a positive charge and its remaining bulk thus becomes an ion. The newly created ions will be pulled out of the ionizing chamber by the attraction of an electrostatic field and then jolted by 12,000 volts to effective velocities of 300 to 400 thousand miles an hour. The current of speeding ions-a million times greater in number and 350,000 times heavier than the stream of electrons in a TV picture tubewill be harnessed for propulsion by being directed through a cylindrical thrust chamber approximately two feet long and nine inches in diameter. Propulsive force will come from the vehicle’s reaction to the escape of ions from the chamber. Of little use to the system, electrons left over from the ionization process also will be directed through a thrust chamber to add a tiny increment of additional thrust.
[J. F. I.
Wall-Mounted Tensile Tester.Because bench space is frequently at a premium in test locations, Steel City Testing Machines, Inc., Detroit, Mich., now makes available a wallmounted tensile tester. The hydraulic cylinder and jaw units, and the 8+-in. gage can be mounted on the wall. The only bench space required is for the 3 X 8 in. pump and integral reservoir base, and the manual pumping handle, which extends forward Sq in. Tests can be made on flat or round specimens with sufficient accuracy for laboratory use and simply enough for production use. Test specimensweld samples, cast coupons, etc.-are gripped by hardened and ground jaws that are wedge type to insure positive grip. Initial gripping force is applied by manually tightening adjusting screws. As pressure for the test builds up, the wedge shape of the jaws increases the holding force. The stationary jaw holder can be adjusted for specimens from 5 to 13 inches long. The jaw holder is held in place by half rings and grooves, and is located by a non-load-carrying lock screw. This tester can be checked easily with a compression-type proving ring. The top jaw-adjusting screw is simply removed and the proving ring is placed between the moving jaw and the cylinder body. Breaking or yield point is indicated by a maximum-pointer hand that is carried along by the pressure hand on the gage. Models are available with capacities up to 40,000 pounds.