Abstract: A lens of an optical system in space is to be moved, and thereby be focused, resulting in the focusing of the system. The lens is mounted, in a diaphragm of resilient material, with a ring-like component made of magnetic material. An electromagnet is positioned on either side of the lens and of the ring-like component. Application of d.c. current, by remote control, through the electromagnets, causes the translational movement, and the necessary focusing, of the lens and, therefore, of the optical system.

Abstract: A recoverable remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) having: a deflectable canard/elevator placed very close to the nose tip; a constant (cross) section fuselage; wings mounted low and well aft on the fuselage; elevons; a centrally positioned weapons/payload bay, with doors, located internal of the upper portion of the fuselage; and, inflatable landing skids. The weapon/payload is dropped from the RVP, while the RVP is in flight in an inverted position.

Abstract: The assembly, through a plurality of shunts, allows blood circulation from the lower part of a patient's body and from the intestines to flow unimpeded to the heart, while isolating hepatic venous blood containing toxic agents from the general circulation and returning it to a heart-lung machine. As a result, the assembly can be used to perfuse the liver, of a patient which has become involved with cancer, with extremely high does of cancericidal chemotherapy agents, while at the same time avoiding the toxic effects of these agents on the patient's body as a whole.

Abstract: A metal-hydrogen cell (e.g., silver-hydrogen or nickel-hydrogen) of heat pipe design wherein a central heat pipe serves as a thermal path, a positive plate conductor and terminal, and a mechanical support for the stack. The positive plates are electrically, mechanically and thermally connected to the heat pipe in the stack center. The negative plate terminals are at the outside edge of the stack. The pressure vessel may be of spherical configuration to provide a light weight design which has a two to one stress advantage in hoop stress over a cylinder with the same wall thickness and internal pressure.

Abstract: A structurally compact air-to-air heat exchanger, for a gas turbine engine of the fan bypass type, that permits a lower percentage of cooling air, than is presently needed in the art, to cool effectively the hot turbine, and its parts, of the engine. This goal is achieved, in part, by using a portion of the cool flow of fan air as a heat sink, without disturbing the flow of the fan air stream. The heat exchanger is disposed internal of the engine, and, it includes a plurality of flow tubes through which flows the hot cooling air, with the flow tubes positioned in a crossflow relationship with and to a portion of the cool flow of fan air. Three (3) variations of the preferred embodiment of the heat exchanger also are taught.

Abstract: A latch for use on an aircraft ejection seat and the like to permit the optional selection, prior to ejection, as to retention of a survival kit. The latch includes a housing for receiving a bolt which is retained in position by a detent spring, and a two-position toggle having a lever extending therefrom and maintained in position by a toggle detent. In one position, the toggle retains the bolt fixed in the housing and a lanyard passing through a hole in the bolt has one end attached to the survival kit and the other end to the ejection seat through a cord cutter. In this position the cutter is activated and the survival kit separates from the seat structure. With the toggle in the other position, the bolt slips out of the detent spring upon ejection and the lanyard with the bolt attached secures the survival kit to the ejection seat.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for preventing compressor fan air loss through the relatively wide gaps between adjacent blade platforms required in order to allow for rotation of the blades around their minor root axes in response to bird impact and the like. A thin flexible ribbon-like seal is bonded to one of the two adjacent blade platforms in the fan structure. At the gap, the seal includes a thickened wedge shaped portion with at least one invagination on the inner side facing the rotor axis. At the operating speed of the compressor fan, centrifugal force causes the thickened portion to be forced into the gap between adjacent platforms producing the required seal.

Abstract: An arm restraint system for use with an aircraft ejection seat to prevent limb flailing on ejection. Long straps, which are normally loose to allow unimpeded arm and body movement of the seated crewman, are retained high on the side of the shoulder area by a flap with a Velcro fastener and by ring members on the seat buckle and on the seat frame. During the ejection sequence, the Velcro fasteners are pulled apart by the action of the straps which move downward and pin the crewman's arms against his side and lower abdomen thereby preventing flail upon entry of the crewman into the airstream.

Abstract: A cylindrical linear actuator suitable for installation in a confined area and capable of infinite stroke adjustment over its scheduled travel and lockable at any position of its designated stroke includes overlapping and combining rod end stroke adjustments to minimize actuator length. Electrical feedback is precalibrated to give a known signal proportional to the actuator stroke and to the position of the load clevis thereby always giving the correct position of the load.

Abstract: A rotary magazine which permits the storage and the consecutive, rapid, exposure of a plurality (i.e., preferably twenty-four) of glass photographic plates. Holders for the photographic plates are pivotally connected to the periphery of a wheel in equal spaced-apart relationship, and are spring loaded so that they can be rotated in only one direction. The plates are rapidly exposed, one at a time. Unlike the prior art, and especially with regard to holograms, the magazine eliminates the undesired lapse of time that is inherent in manually changing the photographic plates. Therefore, less correlation is necessary for temporal changes which occur while "photographing" (i.e., recording) the same, but rapidly time-changing, subject scene (e.g., icing of water droplets). The magazine is particularly well suited to obtain a large number of holograms in rapid sequence.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped printed wiring assembly is inserted into a chassis having guide rails for coarse positioning of the unit the final alignment being accomplished with male and female pins on the connector. Slotted air openings at the entrance and exit of the printed wiring assembly are matched to corresponding openings through the seal. The seal surfaces are tapered a nominal 1.5 degrees top to bottom to facilitate insertion of the printed wiring assembly into the chassis which causes the taper surfaces to come together and force the seal to deflect uniformly and provide a tight interface across the entire surface. The seal material is preferably polyether urethane or a like material.

Abstract: An assembly for retracting missile launch lugs out of the airstream, to reduce aerodynamic drag, after the missile has been launched from an aircraft. The assembly, which is integrated with the missile, includes: an aerodynamically configurated housing; a lug fitting that is positioned within the housing and is movable through an opening in the housing; and a spring, within the housing and attached to the lug fitting and to the housing, for biasing the lug fitting to remain within, or to return into, the housing. Unlike the prior art, the assembly: permits the automatic retraction of the exposed launch lugs after missile launch; does not result in the ejection of any element or component during or after launch, and therefore precludes potential damage to the missile or to the aircraft; and, is adaptable for use in combination with a left-hand or a right-hand missile.

Abstract: Stowable and inflatable apparatus for enshrouding a vehicle. The apparatus, in its most generic and most basic embodiment, includes an inflatable framework external of which is attached a multilayer superinsulating blanket shroud. The inflatable tubular framework includes a plurality of inflatable tubular-shaped longitudinal members in spaced-apart relationship, and a plurality of inflatable toroidal-shaped members also in spaced-apart relationship. Each of the toroidal-shaped members is positioned essentially perpendicular to, and in contact with, each of the tubular-shaped longitudinal members. The inventive apparatus solves the problems which are inherent in enclosing a large, relatively hot space vehicle to retain the heat therefrom, and in folding (and stowing) and in unfolding an apparatus in a space environment.

Abstract: A stowable and inflatable vehicle, adapted for use as a decoy space vehicle and as a replica of a relatively hot parent space vehicle. In addition to other components, the inventive decoy and replica vehicle includes: a telescoping central tubular member that provides a rigid support and means for telescoping which aids in stowing the replica inventive vehicle; an inflatable structure which forms an external shape; and, a heater blanket in the outer layers of the structure to simulate the surface temperature of the parent vehicle. As a matter of preference, and in this adaptation, the inventive replica space vehicle is of a conical external configuration.

Abstract: A structural improvement to, and a method of improving, an air-dropped spin-actuated bomb of the anti-personnel type. The structural improvement comprises a split flexible polyethylene obturating disc which replaces the prior art rigid metal obturating disc used on these bombs. The improved disc is releasably connected to the bomb, whereas the prior art disc is fixedly attached to the bomb. The method comprises the step of disposing and releasably connecting the split flexible polyethylene obturating disc to the bomb at a location between the forward body section of the bomb and the aft fin section thereof. The result of the use of the structural improvement, and of the improvement method, is that the arming of the bomb is delayed, so that the bomb, which could only be safely air-dropped from a low speed aircraft, now can also be air-dropped from a high speed, or a very high speed, aircraft.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasably holding and pre-heating a model, prior to launch of the model by and from a gun. The model is initially held in a collar of the mechanism in the breech of the gun, and is pre-heated by an induction coil and an r-f current. The coil is then removed, and the model and the collar are propelled forward through the breech by pressurized hydrogen gas, with the breech being closed and with the heated model being inserted into the launch tube (i.e., the "barrel") the gun. The gun is then fired, and the heated model is launched, without any significant cooling of the model. Some advantages of this mechanism are a quick "heat-and-fire" cycle, and the simplicity in structure and in operation of the mechanism.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting, supporting, and releasably holding an angularly adjustable aerial photography camera that is to be used to take aerial reconnaissance photographs, while the assembly is detachably connected to the internal surface of a helicopter that is in stable flight and has an opening in each side. The assembly includes: a rectangular frame which carries the camera; another rectangular frame which carries ballast (i.e., a counterweight); and, a main frame to which the rectangular frames are releasably connected, and in which the frames are slidably movable in opposite directions simultaneously. In flight, the rectangular frames are simultaneously extended on each side of the center of gravity, and of the longitudinal centerline, of the helicopter, and through the opposite openings in the helicopter, with the camera extending out of one of the openings, and with the counterweight extending out of the other opening.

Abstract: An aircraft wing box construction including canted sheet metal spar webs continuously tied to the upper and lower skins. Sheet metal intercostal stiffeners of substantially triangular configuration are spaced spanwise along the web to provide shear stiffening for the web and intermittent stabilization for the upper skin. Both the shear web and intercostal stiffeners are fastened to spanwise continuous spar caps which are attached to the upper and lower skins. These caps, supported by the intercostals and webs, provide sufficient stabilization to prevent upper skin buckling up to ultimate design stress with a minimum of shear webs thereby providing significant weight savings.

Abstract: The assembly releasably holds a hollow cylinder, or the like, from an overhead support in a stable condition, even during and after the hanging cylinder has expanded lengthwise. The preferred embodiment of the assembly includes: a first half-ring shaped member of sheet metal attached to the overhead support; a second half-ring shaped member of sheet metal disposed along, and in abutting contact with, the upper external surface of, the cylinder; a band clamp encircling and clamping the second half-ring member to the cylinder; and, a wire rope cable that is connected alternately, and recurringly, to the first and second half-ring members. The assembly is simple in structure, light in weight, and inexpensive to fabricate and to install.

Abstract: A compact, easily fabricated mechanism which provides a latching and unlatching function in a small volume and through a restricted access. The mechanism offers a positive detent for the latch position, and a forced movement to the unlatched position. It is operable by access through a single hole by use of a simple hexagonal stock tool. For remote actuation the mechanism provides a reliable one-time-only unlatching motion.