Abstract: A leak detection system for detecting a fuel leak from a storage tank comsing a vertically positioned reference tube that spans the full useful length of the fuel tank which is generally located underground. The reference tube is filled and drained with the tank. The system also has a normally open pneumatic by-pass valve which when closed isolates the reference tube from the tank. A differential pressure gauge between the tank and reference tube reads zero pressure immediately after closure of the by-pass valve. A differential pressure reading between the tank and reference tube indicates the presence of fuel leakage from the tank. The inside of the reference tube is tapered at the top portion and bottom portion of the tube to match the cross sectional area of the tank upper dome and lower tank dome ends, while the outside diameter of the tube remains constant through out the length of the tube.

Abstract: An image compression system for implementing a zerotree wavelet compression algorithm. The compression system uses a wavelet based coding system wh takes advantage of the correlation between insignificant coefficients at different scales. The compression system uses parallel arrays of processing elements which include single instruction multiple data processors in its encoder and decoder to increase throughput and scalability. A single instruction decoder forces each processing element of the array to perform exactly the same operation on its data as the other processor elements of the array are performing on their data. If an operation must be performed only by some of the processing elements of the array, then those processing elements not performing the operation are turned off for one instruction cycle. The algorithm of the compression system is partitioned into two major components which are the wavelet transform and zerotree computations.

Abstract: Prills of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) are prepared by melting this salt with a stabilizer and, by dry nitrogen pressure, injecting the molten salt i an inert, perfluorinated carrier liquid of greater specific gravity which, initially, is above the solidification temperature of the salt. The molten salt and carrier liquid pass together in turbulent flow through a heated conduit in which stationary vanes disperse the salt into droplets. The liquid and salt then pass in turbulent flow through a cooled conduit for solidification of the salt into prills without agglomeration. The prills are then separated from the liquid by flotation and any liquid carried with the prills recycled. The main flow of carrier liquid is pumped through a preheater and then back to the molten salt injector. The cooled conduit is provided with compression refrigeration, the refrigerant passing in parallel flow along the conduit and the compressed refrigerant passing to the preheater before condensation.

Abstract: A passive anchor latching mechanism which allows its user to attach a moog line to an anchor without using a secondary mechanism such as a remotely operated vehicle to attach the cable or anchor wire to the anchor. The passive anchor latching mechanism comprises three elements: (1) a latch ring which may have a tether line removably coupled thereto; (2) an anchor post extending vertically upward from the top of the anchor; and (3) a crown line attached to the anchor and buoyed at the water's surface. The latch ring consist of a tail which attaches to the mooring line and a ring which slides downward along the crown line. The anchor post has an anchor collar coupled thereto which forms an annulus groove with the anchor post. The annulus grove latches the ring of the latch ring to the anchor post while the tail of the latch ring prevents the ring from detaching from the anchor post and riding backward up the anchor post once the latch ring is latched.

Abstract: A capture and alignment mechanism which locks a deployable body to a sheave assembly. The sheave assembly is connected to a carriage which rides on a boom positioned above the deck of a ship and extends over the ship's st. The mechanism includes a capture body having a conical shaped inner surface and a pair of capture pins positioned 180 degrees apart near the bottom of the capture body. A cable is terminated by a cable termination assembly which couples the deployable body to one end of the cable, while the other end of the cable is wrapped around a winch. The termination assembly includes a termination cone having an outer surface which aligns with the conical shaped inner surface of the capture body when the deployable body is hoisted upward to the capture and alignment mechanism. The capture pins are moved to an open position by a pneumatic cylinder allowing the termination cone to align with the inner surface of the capture body.

Abstract: An apparatus for the disposal of solid rocket motors which produce exhaust ases containing flammable and/or explosive products. The solid rocket motor to be burned is first detachably connected to and inserted in one end of an elongated mixing chamber which has, at an opposite end, a multi-step expansion nozzle. The rocket motor is then ignited and the exhaust gas is passed into the mixing chamber, which is sufficiently large to reduce the velocity of exhaust gases from supersonic to subsonic. Air is injected into the mixing chamber to react with flammable and/or explosive products in the exhaust gases and the resultant mixture is then discharged from the mixing chamber through a multi-step expansion nozzle to expand the gaseous mixture and, at the same time, produce substantial turbulence within the gas mixture which is about six times higher than the turbulence levels produced by a constant area circular nozzle.

Abstract: A secured network system comprising a readykey controller which has a first card reader and a power relay switch connected thereto. The user of the stem inserts a microchip embedded card into the first card reader which then transmits an authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller then activates a power relay switch affixed to the computer which connects the computer's power supply to an external power source activating the computer. The secured network system also has a data relay switch which includes a manual A/B secured network switch. The manual A/B switch allows the user to receive and process classified data, by setting the switch to a predetermined position which connects a secured network server to the computer. The user inserts his proximity card into a second card reader which transmits a second authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller, responsive to the second authorization signal, activates the data relay switch.

Abstract: A magnetotrictive peristaltic pump transfers a fluid from a supply chamber o a receiving chamber. The pump has a housing and a core section mounted within the housing. The core section is fabricated from a magnetostrictive material such as Terfenol-D, which can be made to expand directionally in the presence of a magnetic field. There is a fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the core section. Wrapped around the outer surface of the housing are a plurality of electrical coils. The positive terminal and the negative terminal of each coil are connected to a signal generator which generates direct current electrical signals to sequentially energize each coil. Energizing any one of the coils creates a magnetic field in the general area of the coil. In the presence of this magnetic field, the core section expands longitudinally resulting in lateral/radial shrinkage of the core section which creates a cavity in the general area of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A system for tracking a target comprises an acquisition sight used by a pt of an aircraft to acquire and begin tracking the target. Once the pilot acquires the target an operator can use a track handle to track the target. The operator monitors the target utilizing narrow and wide field of view monitors. A computer receives azimuth and elevation data from the tracking device which may be the acquisition sight, track handle, a video tracking system or a tracking radar coupled to an infrared display system. The computer then processes the azimuth and elevation data and provides azimuth and elevation angle signals to a gimbal mirror interface which steers the gimballed mirror to the target. The gimballed mirror receives image forming light from the target and then directs the image forming light to a wide field of view camera and a zoom telescope. The wide field of view camera is connected to the wide field of view monitor to display the target on the wide field of view monitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric valve capable of producing podic mass-flow modulation of a gaseous, liquid, or mixed-phase medium over wide ranges of frequencies, pressure, and flow rates. Such mass-flow modulation can be used to periodically shed large-scale vortices at the outlet and to manipulate their dynamics allowing the user to actively control fluid mixing and transport further downstream. The device has a piezoelectric wafer that in a relaxed state abuts the upstream end of the outlet tube separating the pressurized fluid in the plenum with the outlet. The device has an apparatus for applying electric field to the wafer, which distorts the wafer and ruptures the seal forming a throat area that controls the fluid mass flux. Due to the fast response of the piezoelectric material to an electric field, the throat area can be modulated rapidly in time making the device operable even at high frequencies.

Abstract: A new compound tertiarybutylbis-(dimethylamino)phosphine and a process for preparing the compound, which has the formula ((CH.sub.3).sub.3 C) ((CH.sub.3).sub.2 N).sub.2 P. The process has the steps of: (1) reacting phosphorus trihalide, PX.sub.3, with tertiarybutyl Grignard reagent, ((CH.sub.3).sub.3 C)MgX, where X is a halide; (2) treating the resulting product with lithium dimethylamide, LiN(CH.sub.3).sub.2 to form a reaction mixture; and (3) recovering ((CH.sub.3).sub.3 C) ((CH.sub.3).sub.2 N).sub.2 P from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: In an active radar augmentation system a microwave switch is connected been the receiving antenna and the amplifier. When there is an RF input signal to the receiving antenna of the augmentation system, a square wave timing signal provided to the microwave switch is adjusted to have the microwave switch in an open state during a time period when the coupling or feedback signal from the transmitting antenna of the augmentation system is received by the receiving antenna. The "on-off" timing of the square wave signal is set equal to the external time delay of the feedback signal plus the internal time delay of the RF signal as the RF signal passes through the augmentation system. Under this condition, the feedback signal coupled by antenna leakage arrives at the output of the receiving antenna while the microwave switch is in the open state.

Abstract: A causeway mooring apparatus adapted for use with a causeway having a pluity of spaced apart pontoons. The causeway mooring apparatus fits within a gap between adjacent pontoons of the causeway and includes a cleat which is used to secure tow or mooring lines to the causeway. The causeway mooring apparatus is secured to the adjacent pontoons and a pair of L-shaped stringers by a plurality of threaded bolts which also allow for the removal of the causeway mooring apparatus from the causeway. The foundation for the causeway mooring apparatus is an L-shaped tubular support structure. A pair of side stiffener plates are attached to the L-shaped tubular support structure. The side stiffener plates have a cleat mounting plate affixed to their top edge with the cleat mounting plate supporting the cleat. The side stiffener plates transfer applied loads from the cleat through the L-shaped tubular support structure of the mooring apparatus to the pair of L-shaped stringers.

Abstract: A one half wavelength microstrip antenna which has its structural feed po positioned in a location which is different from the location of its electrical feed point. The microstrip antenna comprises a disc-shaped dielectric which has a radiating patch mounted on its upper surface and a ground plane affixed to its lower surface. Attached to the bottom surface of the ground plane is a threaded coaxial cable connecter for receiving a coaxial cable which supplies a microwave signal to the microstrip antenna. Extending vertically upward from the connector is a center contact pin which electrically couples the antenna element to the coaxial cable. The antenna element includes a V-shaped element of etched copper which has its rounded bottom portion positioned adjacent the center contact pin.

Abstract: A secured network system comprising a readykey controller which has a first card reader and a power relay switch connected thereto. The user of the stem inserts a microchip embedded card into the first card reader which then transmits an authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller then activates a power relay switch affixed to the computer which connects the computer's power supply to an external power source activating the computer. The secured network system also has a data relay switch which includes a manual A/B secured network switch. The manual A/B switch allows the user to receive and process classified data, by setting the switch to a predetermined position which connects a secured network server to the computer. The user inserts his proximity card into a second card reader which transmits a second authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller, responsive to the second authorization signal, activates the data relay switch.

Abstract: A personal computer card which includes four tone generators connected to a radio frequency synthesizer which, in turn, is connected to a 400 MHz hcal rubber coated antenna. Each of the four tone generators may be programmed to generate any one of twenty Interrange Instrumentation Group standard decoder tones which are used for testing the flight termination receivers and decoder in certain weapons systems such as a missile. The standard decoder tones generated by each of the four tone generators are supplied to the radio frequency synthesizer. The radio frequency synthesizer frequency modulates the IRIG tones onto a carrier signal in the flight termination band which is in a range from 400 MHz to 440 MHz. The modulated radio frequency signal is then supplied to the antenna for transmission to the weapons system being tested.

Abstract: A solenoid driver circuit adapted for use with a digital magnetic latching olenoid which has first and second solenoid coils. The solenoid driver circuit includes a bridge circuit which receives a logic signal and first and second pulse signals. The solenoid driver circuit also includes a voltage source which provides a direct current and first and second resistors respectively connected to the first and second solenoid coils. The bridge circuit, responsive to the logic signal and the first pulse signal, provides a first current path from the voltage source through the first solenoid coil and the first resistor to ground and a second current path from the direct current voltage source through the second solenoid coil to ground.

Abstract: A crossed-dipole antenna having four antenna elements, the polarization of hich is easily changed from vertical linear polarization to horizontal linear polarization. A switching network coupled to the crossed-dipole antenna includes pin diodes operating as radio frequency switching elements which provide a means for electronically switching the polarization of the crossed-dipole antenna. A positive biased voltage applied to the switching network results in the crossed-dipole antenna being polarized linearly in a horizontal direction. A negative biased voltage applied to the switching network results in the crossed-dipole antenna being polarized linearly in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An aerosol dispensing apparatus comprises a housing which includes a top l having a sharp edged orifice and a speaker assembly mounted on a bottom portion of the housing. A sawtooth waveform generator generates and then provides a sawtooth waveform signal which includes a jitter component to the speaker assembly which drives a flexible diaphragm resulting in a reciprocating motion of the flexible diaphragm. The ramp portion of the sawtooth waveform signal retracts the flexible diaphragm in a rearward direction, while the approximately vertical portion of the signal causes an abrupt forward movement of the flexible diaphragm. The inner portion of the housing forms a chamber which contains a medication. The jitter component of the sawtooth waveform signal fluidizes the medication suspending the medication in air within the chamber to form a vaporized medication.

Abstract: An electronics circuit for accurately digitizing an analog audio, video or ike data signal into a fourteen bit digital equivalent signal/words having thirteen data bits and a sign bit and then introducing a dither component into the digital equivalent signal. The circuit includes a first Electrical Erasable Programmed Read Only Memory which generates a dither component to be added to a selected, five, six, seven or eight bits of each fourteen bit digital equivalent sample. The circuit also includes an automatic gain control circuit and a data selector circuit which, in combination, select the five, six, seven or eight data bits of the thirteen data bits of each digital equivalent sample to supply to a binary adder. The binary adder then adds the dither component to the selected data bits of each digital equivalent sample. The five, six, seven or eight selected bits of each fourteen bit sample provide optimum video, audio or like information for the sample.