Abstract: In space exploration, an attitude control engine or a thruster may have an extended period, such as years, of inactivity prior to being required to complete a desired mission. The fuel for this mission is contained in a fuel tank for the same extended period of time and tends to corrode elastomeric components. To isolate the fuel from elastomeric components during the storage period, the fuel tank has a metallic shear seal. When actuated, a piston ruptures the shear seal and delivers the fuel to a power plant. A shear seal that is unitary with the inner walls of the fuel tank eliminates the need for an interfacial weld that may constitute a shear seal failure site.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a copper base substrate coated with a tin base coating layer. To inhibit the diffusion of copper from the substrate into the coating layer and the consequential formation of a brittle tin/copper intermetallic, a barrier layer is interposed between the substrate and the coating layer. This barrier layer contains from 20% to 40%, by weight, of nickel and is preferably predominantly comprised of copper. In one embodiment, an intermetallic layer selected from the group (Cu--Ni).sub.3 Sn, (Cu--Ni).sub.6 Sn.sub.5, Cu.sub.3 Sn, Cu.sub.6 Sn.sub.5 is disposed between the barrier layer and the tin base coating layer.

Abstract: A method to sort plastic articles, such as bottles, for recycling utilizes a first sensing area where the bottle is irradiated with circularly polarized light. The circularly polarized light changes polarization on passing through the bottle. The changed circularly polarized light is then detected by personnel wearing glasses having filters oriented to block circularly polarized light of a first handedness and produce light characteristic of the composition of the bottle. The bottle is then sorted for recycling by the personnel based upon the composition of the bottle. The method of the invention may be used as described above or in conjunction with a UV light source to identify bottles made from polyethelene napthalene.

Abstract: There is provided a phosphor bronze alloy having a grain structure that is refined by the addition of a controlled amount of iron. Direct chill cast alloys containing from 1.5% to 2.5%, by weight tin, from 1.65% to 2.65% iron, from 0.03% to 0.35% phosphorous and the remainder copper and inevitable impurities have an as-cast average crystalline grain size of less than 100 microns and are readily hot worked. When the iron content is too low, the average crystalline grain size increases and the alloy cracks during hot working. When the iron content is too high, iron stringers form, detrimentally impacting both the appearance and properties of a wrought strip.

Abstract: A semiconductor package is provided that has a rigid metal substrate and a dielectric layer covering a first portion of the rigid metal substrate, with a second portion of the rigid metal substrate being substantially free of the dielectric layer. A semiconductor device is electrically bonded to the second portion of the rigid metal substrate and metal circuit traces defining electrical paths are formed on the dielectric layer, at least one of which contacts the rigid metal substrate through at least one via in the dielectric layer. Additionally, a method is provided for grounding a semiconductor device and at least one circuit trace on a rigid metal substrate substantially covered by a dielectric layer, which includes creating at least one via in the dielectric layer using a laser and creating circuit traces on the dielectric layer, at least one of which contacts the rigid metal substrate through at least one of the vias.

Abstract: A copper alloy having improved resistance to stress relaxation contains controlled additions of iron, phosphorous and magnesium. Free magnesium, in solid solution with the copper, increases the alloy's resistance to stress relaxation. Copper alloys of the invention retain at least 70% of the initial stress following exposure to a temperature of 105.degree. C. for 3000 hours, making the alloys particularly useful for electrical connector components.

Abstract: There is provided a tin brass alloy having a grain structure that is refined by the addition of controlled amounts of both zinc and iron. Direct chill cast alloys containing from 1% to 4%, by weight of tin, from 0.8% to 4% of iron, from an amount effective to enhance iron initiated grain refinement to 20% of zinc and the remainder copper and inevitable impurities are readily hot worked. The zinc addition further increases the strength of the alloy and improves the bend formability in the "good way", perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a rolled strip.

Abstract: An angle measurement device capable of providing both linear and non-linear control transfer functions directly using a shaped, generally convex, magnet and linear magnetic sensors, such as Hall sensors. The shape of the magnet is also used to control and optimize the magnitude of the angle measured. This technique of using a special shaped magnet is also used with digital sensors, such as digital Hall switches and arrays.This angle measurement device can be used in many applications requiring an accurate, robust, reliable (including redundant) but inexpensive method to translate angle displacement into a signal voltage or current. Industrial or military hand controllers, such as joysticks, are but one implementation.

Abstract: There is provided a powder actuated tool effective to drive a metallic fastener into a workpiece, for example, a nail gun. The pressure to drive the fastener is generated by combustion of an flammable propellant mix that is ignited by a primer flash. The primer flash having been generated by ignition of a combustible gas by discharge of an electric arc in the tool barrel. The combustible gas is lead-free such that the operator and the environment are not exposed to dangerous lead residue during use. The use of a solid propellant generates higher pressure and more effective driving of the metallic fastener than is achieved with powder actuated tools driven solely by combustible gases.

Abstract: The invention is related to a plasma technology field, in particular, to plasma accelerators, used in a space technology, in scientific researches and in industry. A technical result is that the accelerator has an increased lifetime which is achieved by reducing in wear of discharge chamber walls. An accelerator with closed electron drift includes a ring anode 1 with an anode cavity 2, a magnetic circuit 3, field coils 4 and pole tips 5 with a ring interpole gap, external 6 and internal 7 ring cathodes, a cathode-compensator 8, a power supply 9, a means forming positive gradient of magnetic field 10 which can be formed by walls of the anode 1 made of ferromagnetic material. Outlet edges of the anode 1 are provided with nozzles 11 made of nonmagnetic material; a nozzle shape coincides with shape of the magnetic field line of force which is tangential to outlet edges of the anode. The anode 1 is connected with a system supplying with gaseous active substance by means of the hole 12.

Abstract: A pellet orienting member has a groove extending along a diameters of a disc for receiving a plurality of shot pellets of a first layer. The pellet orienting member may include at least one support surface adjacent to the first groove adapted to contact at least one shot pellet from a second layer. The pellet orienting member may have an additional, or second, groove on a second side extending along a second diameter. Either or both grooves may contain a separator in the groove. The groove may be of differing sizes and shapes, or may even be two depressions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transportable device for non-destructively impeding the motion of a land vehicle travelling along a pathway. First and second telescoping devices located on either side of the pathway support a barrier. When the telescoping supports are compressed, the vehicles pass over the barrier unimpeded. When the telescoping supports are extended, the barrier impedes the motion of a land vehicle. At least one deceleration cable mechanically couples the barrier to a braking system. The braking system applies a continuous deceleration force to the vehicle of typically less than 2 g, bringing the vehicle to a stop without damaging either the vehicle or vehicle occupants.

Abstract: There is provided a velocity measuring system contained on-board a projectile. The velocity is determined by a microprocessor on-board said projectile that bases the computation on a measurement of the time required for the projectile to pass two fixed points along the gun barrel. The fixed points may be passive signal sources that do not require an external power supply. A high degree of velocity accuracy is achieved because the microprocessor calculation need not be completed during the projectile's traversal of the gun barrel.

Abstract: A projectile for an industrial ballistic tool is formed from zinc or a zinc based alloy. The projectile has symmetry about a longitudinal axis and a rear portion of the projectile engages rifling, either within the barrel of the industrial ballistic tool or in a rifled extension, imparting ballistic stability. The projectile is particularly suited for high temperature industrial applications, such as removal of "clinkers" from cement kilns or lime kilns or removal of a plug when tapping an electric arc furnace, as used in the manufacture of metallic alloys such as ferrosilicon. The vaporization temperature of the projectile is sufficiently low that after effecting removal of the clinker or plug, the projectile vaporizes and does not contaminate the kiln, furnace or end product such as lime, cement or metallic alloy.

Abstract: A composite lead-free bullet is disclosed comprising a heavy constituents selected from the group of tungsten, tungsten carbide, carballoy, and ferro-tungsten and a second binder constituent consisting of either a metal alloy or a plastic blend.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic composition that emits essentially only infrared radiation upon combustion contains at least one peroxide component, an oxidizer that is more energetic than the peroxide component, a coolant, a binder and silicon. In one embodiment, the peroxide component is a mixture of strontium peroxide and barium peroxide, the oxidizer more energetic than the peroxide component is barium nitrate, the coolant is magnesium carbonate, the binder is calcium resonate and the silicon has a minimum purity of 99.9%. The pyrotechnic composition is useful as the combustible component of an infrared tracer.

Abstract: A surface mount package to encapsulate one or more semiconductor devices has a standoff that maintains the thickness of solder columns bonding the package to an external circuit. The standoff either extends over or circumscribes a central portion of the package base. To enhance the thermal performance of the standoff, a solderable layer enhances soldering of the standoff to the external circuit.In alternative embodiments, the standoff contains a flange having a plurality of apertures useful for either mechanically locking an adhesive or for enabling irradiation of an adhesive by a light source. The standoff may contain protrusions for alignment, strength or circuit routing.

Abstract: A multi-flechette weapon packing for a flechette holding canister has one set of fin back flechettes, each having a tip end and a fin end with a plurality of integral fins at the fin end and a plurality of fin forward flechettes, each having a tip end and an opposite end and a plurality of integral fins offset from the opposite end toward the tip end. The fin back flechettes and fin forward flechettes are located in the canister and adjacent to each other in an alternating fashion with the tip ends aligned in the same direction to increase packing density.