Ordway, Fred D. Jr., No. 3,164,782, January 5, 1965. Gas-Filled Envelope for Solid Laser Tube Having Internal Electrodes. (Licensed to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce.) Engen, Glenn F., No. 3,166,725, January 19, 1965. Broadband Tuning Transformer Permitting Independent Matching at Adjacent Frequencies. (Commerce) Berlinsky, Anthony A., and Brennan, Martin J., No. 3,167,244, January 26, 1965. Automatic or Manual Multiple Programmer. (Commerce) Doherty, Robert H. and Davis, Thomas L., No. 3,167,770, January 26, 1965. Time-Multiplex System for the Distribution of Serial Pulse Time Codes with Microsecond Synchronization. (AIR FORCE) Hoekstra, Harold D., No. 3,174,710, March 23, 1965. Take-Off Safety Indicator. (Licensed to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce.) Guildner, Leslie A. and Stimson, Harold F., No. 3,177,017, April 6, 1965. Ball and Socket Pipe Joint. (Commerce) Montgomery, George Franklin, No. 3,177,421, April 6, 1965. Rectified Alternating-Current Converter. (Commerce) Bowen, Rafael L., No. 3,179,623, April 20, 1965. Method of Preparing a Monomer Having Phenoxy and Methacrylate Groups Linked by Hydroxy Glyceryl Groups. (Commerce) Castle, Alfred B., No. 3,183,512, May 11, 1965. Mechanical Graphic Recording Omni-Directional Accelerometer. (NAVY) Thompson, Moody C. Jr., No. 3,188,634, June 8, 1965. Distance Measuring System with Automatic Index Compensation. (Commerce) Metzger, William H., No. 3,189,990, June 22, 1965. Method of Preparing Small Diameter Tubes And the Like. (Commerce) Wall, Leo A. and Pummer, Walter J., No. 3,192,190, June 29, 1965. Octafluorovinylphenyl Ether and Its Polymers. (NAVY) Allred, Charles M., No. 3,192,372, June 29, 1965. Signal-Level Comparing System. (Commerce) Bender, Peter L. and Beaty, Earl C., No. 3,192,472, June 29, 1965. Alkali Vapor Frequency Standard Utilizing Optical Pumping. (Commerce) THE GENERAL CONFERENCE ON The Twelfth General Conference on Weights and Measures, held at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Paris, France, from October 6 to 13, 1964, was attended by representatives of 37 nations. These gatherings have been historic occasions since their beginning in 1875 under the Treaty of the Meter. The Conference focuses attempts to enhance the universality of science by fostering the growth of a common language among nations of diverse outlooks and backgrounds. Actions taken by the Conference include: -provisionally redefining the second, the international unit of time. Contrasted to the previous astronomical definition, the second is now also measured in terms of an invariant transition of the cesium atom. The accuracy obtainable is 1 part in 10o, an increase of 200 times. -approving twelve secondary wavelengths for the international standards of length. A. Wavelengths of Krypton 86 6,458.0720 10-10 meter 6,422.8006 10-10 meter 5,651.1286 10-10 meter 4,503.6162 10-10 meter B. Wavelengths of mercury 198 5,792.2683 10-10 meter 5,771.1983 10-10 meter 5,462.2705 10-10 meter 4,359.5624 10-10 meter C. Wavelengths of cadmium 114 6,440.2480 10-10 meter 5,087.2379 10-10 meter 4,801.2521 10-10 meter 4,679.4581 10-10 meter -accepting a new definition for volumetric measurements. The liter, defined as the volume occupied by one kilogram of water, was also to be equal in volume to a cubic decimeter. Yet, an error of 28 millionths exists when compared to the cubic decimeter. The Conference therefore abrogated the old definition and made the liter merely a special name for the cubic decimeter. The resolution, though, pointed out that the word "liter" should not be used to express the results of high precision volume measurements. -agreeing to recognize formally the curie as the unit of activity of a radioactive substance. The curie, already used in a great many countries, is measured by units of the second to the minus one power (s-1). Therefore the distintegration value of one curie (3.7 1010 s-1) was retained and the symbol "Ci" was formally established. -attempting to provide an increase in the annual operating budget. A few delegations (notably the Soviet block) had received instructions not to approve such a proposal. Because the terms of the Treaty of the Meter require unanimity on budget increases the objective was not immediately met. -appropriating $300,000 to complete the equipment needs of a new laboratory which will promote the international standardizaiton of measurements of ionizing radiations. The new radiation measurements laboratory was dedicated the week before the Conference officially opened. |