Abstract: A replaceable tip for an aircraft leading edge and which has a metallic abrasion shield glove removably mounted to the leading edge of the aircraft, fasteners for securing the abrasion shield glove to the leading edge of the aircraft, and a non-metallic resilient cushion insert fixedly attached to the abrasion shield glove so that the resilient cushion insert forms a dampening arrangement which reduces the amount of damage to the aircraft leading edge when the replaceable leading edge tip is hit.

Abstract: A charge coupled device has a meandering charge path formed by a channel stop of unique shape. The channel stop is of interdigitated pattern, and the gate electrodes form a straight strip. The channel stop pattern and an asymmetric depletion layer formed within the channel cause the transfer of the charge through the channel via the meandering charge path. A transversal filter and imaging device are readily provided by extracting the signal from one or both sides of the channel.

Abstract: A space-based solar operated power module is configured for storage aboard a shuttle and then automatic deployment in the assigned orbit. It includes an articulated base support which is coupled to the ship's frame during deployment, and a chassis module, which also serves as a housing for electrical components of the power supply, and which is connected to the base support. A pair of oppositely extended foldable arms are movably mounted on the chassis sides and each carries an assembly of collapsible solar panels for converting incident radiant energy to electrical energy. The chassis also supports radiator panels which extend from the top of the chassis in the craft's vertical plane. At the start of deployment the shuttle's remote controlled cargo arm is used for lifting the chassis and its appendages from the hold of the ship.

Abstract: To reduce the length of a tube thickened by swaging and to provide acceptable efficiency in use of material and vessel length for a high performance pressure vessel, the tube is locally corrugated, then conventionally swaged and subsequently pressurized to remove the corrugations.

Abstract: A transmitter for producing video and audio signals and transmitting the signals includes an encoder for encoding stereo audio signals with the video signals. The audio signals encoded by the encoder constitute a broadband audio signal of approximately 15 kHz. A receiver for converting signals received from the transmitter to a picture and stereo sound includes a decoder for deriving the stereo audio signals from the received signals.

Abstract: A method for passively determining the range of a target vehicle relative to a non-cooperating moving test platform is disclosed. The method includes the steps of moving the test platform along a single linear path at a constant speed, while simultaneously performing a succession of bearing and frequency measurements on a radiant signal emitted by the moving target vehicle. Similarly, the test platform may remain stationary so that its velocity is zero. The measured parameters, along with knowledge of the test platform's own position and velocity, permit the range to the emitter, its velocity and its transmitted frequency to be determined.

Abstract: First and second tabs are affixed to the surface of a body in close proximity with each other and in partially side by side relation. First and second optical fibers are affixed to the first and second tabs, respectively, and are movable therewith. The optical fibers are positioned transverse to the tabs and in alignment about a mechanical quiescent point in the absence of strain in the body. A source of light produces and directs light through the first and second optical fibers. A light detector detects light transmitted through the first and second optical fibers and determines the intensity thereof, which is proportional to the magnitude of compression and tension strains in the body.

Abstract: A portable, adjustable structure for supporting an equipment unit at a distance above a support surface has a lower tower structural member placed on the support surface. Pivot support structural members are affixed to the lower tower structural member in a manner whereby the pivot support structural members are upright relative to the support surface. A plurality of struts are utilized to stabilize the lower tower structural member and the pivot support structural members on the support surface. A tower member is pivotally mounted on the pivot support structural members. The tower member has spaced opposite first and second ends. The equipment unit is affixed to the tower member at the first end thereof. The tower member is pivotally movable to a position substantially perpendicular to the support surface with the first end thereof spaced farther from the support surface than the second end thereof. Ballast is affixed to the tower member at the second end thereof.

Abstract: In a thermally driven multi-effect distillation process and apparatus liquid is introduced into a plurality of evaporating and condensing stages or chambers while heat energy is passed through the stages or chambers in a direction countercurrent to the direction of flow of the liquid which undergoes evaporation to form condensate and distilland in each stage or chamber while transferring the heat of condensation to the next downstream stage or chamber and maintaining a minimum temperature differential between stages or chambers, and separately removing condensate and distilland from each stage or chamber while rotating the stages or chambers about an axis passing through the points of introduction thereto of the liquid and heat energy. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjacent evaporation and condensation chambers and devices for introducing liquid and heat energy thereto in countercurrent directions. The walls of the chambers, formed of spaced heat conductive sheets, act to transfer heat.

Abstract: A valving system and modified anti-G flight suit are disclosed which operate in either of two modes. In an anti-blackout mode, pneumatic bladders in the flight suit are simultaneously inflated. In an anti-fatigue mode, the bladders are sequentially inflated in a repeated cycle so as to prevent pooling of blood and other body fluids in the leg and lower seat area.

Abstract: A test system for an electromagnetic brake system for a trailer, which includes a battery disposed in the towing vehicle for powering a plurality of brake electromagnets disposed in the trailer, an automatic controller for regulating current flow, resistors for both proportioning and balancing current flow among the plurality of brake electromagnets and between the towing vehicle and the trailer, respectively, the proportioning resistor is dropped from the system by a solenoid when the towing vehicle is put into reverse for testing, a gauge having both green and red zones is inserted into the system by a relay switch when the towing vehicle is put into reverse for testing, and a pushbutton for actuating the gauge is provided.

Abstract: Canards are pivotally mounted on the fuselage of a variable sweep wing jet aircraft and project laterally with respect to the fuselage forwardly of the wings. The canards are positioned and configured to produce pitch control moments about the center of gravity. Thrust-vectoring devices extend from the jet engines of the aircraft for varying the thrust direction of such engines. A control system is mounted in the fuselage and extends to the wings, the canards and the thrust-vectoring devices for controlling the wings in angular positions relative to the fuselage, controlling the canards in rotary position relative to the fuselage and controlling the thrust-vectoring devices to control the thrust direction. The positions are controlled in coordination to overcome pitch departure, deep stall and spin, which might otherwise occur due to lack of nose-down pitch power, while also optimizing supersonic cruise and transonic maneuver performance of the aircraft.

Abstract: Distortions inherent in the formation of a range/doppler image by an airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) of a ship under the influence of roll, pitch, and yaw motions characteristic of sea state conditions are removed in conjunction with a least squares linear regression solution to doppler processed interferometric azimuth angle data derived from ship radar reflections, resulting in a scaled high resolution range/doppler image representative of the true range/cross range (azimuth) distribution of the ship, so that continuous automatic tracking of a cursor imbedded in a single designated resolution cell of the ship's displayed image, essential to carrying out precision standoff command weapon guidance to that selected ship target cell, can be accomplished.

Abstract: A torque joint for transmission of force in both longitudinal and circumferential direction about thin-wall tubular torque tubes is provided by overlapping an inner one of said tubes and an outer one of said tubes, inserting a mandrel having longitudinal and circumferential slots therein, applying a deformation force for pressing the tubular members into the slots of the mandrels, and extracting at least a portion of the mandrel to provide the torque joint. In the case wherein two open-ended tubular members are employed, two mandrel elements of the same form are utilized, the two mandrel elements being withdrawn from the opposite ends of the joint upon completion of assembly of the joint. In the event that one of the tubular elements is closed ended, a retaining ring is utilized as one of the mandrel elements, in which case only one mandrel element is withdrawn while the ring remains captured between a circumferential groove of the joint and the closed end of the tube.

Abstract: A single compact multi-function video processing unit of a color video system has a sync generator for driving a video source and a video processor for providing video functions. A bus system interconnects the sync generator and video processor.

Abstract: A method for the passive measurement of the range, velocity and course of a target aircraft relative to a test aircraft includes the steps of moving the test aircraft along a straight path, varying the speed of the test aircraft, and sequentially measuring the bearing angle from the test aircraft of pulsed or continuous radiation emitted from the target aircraft. A plot of the rays of radiation at each of the times of bearing measurement produces a geometry which can be solved arithmetically to provide the lengths of the rays. These lengths correspond to the distance of the target from the test aircraft. The invention may be used with equal effectiveness against multiple targets, simultaneously.

Abstract: In an airborne radar system, moving ground targets are identified on a cathode ray tube (CRT) display and their motion tracked to allow precise delivery of air-to-ground weapons. Target location errors, due to the effect of target motion upon the doppler frequency of the received signals, and consequent angle measurement ambiguities introduced by the presence of clutter are significantly reduced. The target's radial velocity with respect to the electrical boresight of the system antenna is determined and a corresponding frequency adjustment is made to the processed signal in order to accurately locate the target on the display to lie in precise correspondence to its displayed stationary surroundings.

Abstract: A sealed heat pipe of uniform cross sectional profile from evaporator to condenser which includes a plurality of capillary channels communicating with a central channel by means of narrow re-entrant groove openings having convergent entrances. A two step method of fabrication includes extruding the re-entrant grooves, then drawing a mandrel through the virgin extrusion.

Abstract: Capability is provided for producing 3 scaled high resolution orthogonal image projections on a CRT of a ship under the influence of translational as well as rotational motions arising from sea state conditions, for the purpose of ship target identification and classification, and the subsequent carrying out of stand-off command weapon guidance to a designated resolution cell of the ship from an airborne platform. Doppler processed interferometric azimuth and elevation angle measurements of the ship scatterers derived from a coherent synthetic aperture radar are combined in a weighted multivariate regression fit using digital signal processing techniques to provide measures of ship translational and rotational motions essential to providing focussed high resolution imagery and precision standoff weapon delivery to the designated ship target resolution cell. The invention also provides a capability for scaling the cross-range (doppler) dimension of Inverse SAR Profile Imagery.

Abstract: Distortions inherent in the formation of a range/doppler image by an airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) of a ship under the influence of roll, pitch, and yaw motions characteristic of a sea state conditions, are removed by the formation of a scaled range/azimuth image generated with the use of an interferometer antenna in conjunction wth the SAR. A least squares linear regression solution to doppler processed interferometric azimuth angle data derived from ship radar reflections permits the determination of aircraft to ship relative rotational motion essential to the development of such an improved high resolution radar image, so that continuous automatic tracking of a cursor imbedded in a single designate resolution cell of the ship's displayed image essential to carrying out precision standoff command weapon guidance to that selected ship target cell, can be accomplished.