Abstract: A cold water pipe (11) for an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system comprises a tubular membrane (12) made of a fabric such as a canvas, which is substantially impervious to flowing water. A proximal end of the pipe (11) is secured to a surface structure such as a ship (10), and a distal end of the pipe (11) is extendible from the surface structure to a selected ocean depth. The pipe (11) functions as a conduit through which cold water from the selected ocean depth can be drawn to the surface structure for use in a thermodynamic process of the OTEC system. The distal end of the pipe (11) can be quickly retracted to the surface structure when it becomes desirable to move the surface structure.

Abstract: As illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, a manifolded evaporator (60) comprises a closed evaporation chamber (61) and a delivery structure (62) through which liquid-phase working fluid is delivered into the evaporation chamber (61). One wall (63) of the evaporation chamber (61) is positioned to intercept a flux of heat from a heat source. A wick structure (64), such as a fine-mesh metallic screen, is secured adjacent the wall (63). The delivery structure (62) comprises an elongate supply phenum (65), an elongate recovery plenum (66), and a plurality of delivery conduits (67) connecting the supply plenum (65) to the recovery plenum (66). Each of the delivery conduits (67) is of generally U-shaped configuration with a transverse portion running inside the evaporation chamber (61) immediately adjacent the wick structure (64). A slot (68) along the transverse portion of each delivery conduit (67) allows liquid-phase working fluid to flow out of the delivery conduit (67 ) into the wick structure (64).

Abstract: A temperature threshold detector (10) comprises a first electrical conductor (11) and a second electrical conductor (12), which are separated by a spacing structure (13). The first and second electrical conductors (11 and 12) are made of metals that are dissimilar from each other in terms of oxidation potentials or thermally generated electromotive force. The spacing structure (13) is made of a material whose electrical resistivity is temperature dependent so that, when exposed to a temperature below a predetermined threshold value, the spacing structure (13) provides electrical isolation between the first and second electrical conductors (11 and 12). However, when exposed to a temperature above the predetermined threshold value, the spacing structure (13) enables an electromotive force to develop across the first and second conductors (11 and 12). This electromotive force is indicative of temperature rise above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A lateral transfer system for an optical beam comprises bipentaprisms (10) and (11) secured to opposite ends of an elongate transfer structure (12). The bipentaprism (10) comprises optical elements (20) and (21) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty pentaprism, and optical elements (22) and (23) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty roof-pentaprism. Similarly, the bipentaprism (11) comprises optical elements (30) and (31) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty pentaprism, and optical elements (32) and (33) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty roof-pentaprism. The optical elements (22) and (32) are beam splitters, while the other optical elements are reflectors. The bipentaprisms (10) and (11) are positioned with respect to each other so that an input beam impinging upon reflecting element (20) of the bipentaprism (10) is reflected to the beam splitter (22), where the input beam is split into a transmitted component and a reflected component.

Abstract: A closed-loop heat transfer system comprises a heat pipe (10) and an external liquid-phase pump (11). The heat pipe (10) includes an evaporator (12) and a condenser (13) connected by a conduit (14). The evaporator (12) is a hollow structure having an interior surface defining an evaporation region in which a working field in liquid phase absorbs heat from a heat source by evaporation. A capillary pumping structure, e.g., capillary channels (30) or a fine-mesh screen (41), is provided on or adjacent the interior wall of the evaporator (12). Evaporated working fluid laden with heat is thermodynamically driven substantially adiabatically via the conduit (14) from the evaporator (12) to the condenser (13), wherein the working fluid rejects heat to a heat sink by condensation. Condensed working fluid is thereupon returned from the condenser (13) to the evaporator (12) via external conduits (22, 15) by means of the liquid-phase pump (11).

Abstract: In an automated real-time radiographic inspection system for detecting flaws, defects or inhomogeneities in manufactured objects, the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to be tested are moved on a conveyor (20) in succession past an X-ray source (30). Penetrating X-ray radiation is transmitted through the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to cause an image to be formed for each object in succession by an electronic imaging system (40). The imaging system (40) generates digital signals representative of the image for each object, and transmits the digital signals to a data processor/comparator (50). One of the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) may be considered as a reference object against which the other objects are compared for structural homogeneity. Thus, the electronic images of the objects (11, 12, . . . ) could be compared with the electronic image of, for example, the object (10).

Abstract: Wavefronts defined by square subapertures (13, 14, 15) are focussed into spots of light on a grating (17) having two intersecting sets of lines, which diffract each wavefront into two coinciding zeroth order components and four spaced-apart first order components. For each wavefront, the various orders of diffraction components are collimated to form corresponding images of the subaperture defining the wavefront. Quadrant detectors (23, 24, 25) are located so that zeroth order image (301) of subaperture (13) fills all quadrants of detector (23), zeroth order image (401) of subaperture (14) fills all quadrants of detector (24), and zeroth order image (501) of subaperture (15) fills all quadrants of detector (25). The four first order images of each subaperture are spaced apart from each other, but overlap and interfere with four different portions of the zeroth order image: i.e.

Abstract: A filter element for a narrow-passband optical filter comprises a birefringent crystal (10) having a rectangular parallelopiped configuration with an entrance face (11), an exit face (12) and side walls (21, 22, 23, 24). The optic axis (25) of the crystal (10) is parallel to the entrance and exit faces (11 and 12). The side walls (21, 22, 23, 24) are polished to provide total internal reflection of optical energy incident thereon at greater than a critical angle as measured from the normal. By covering the side walls (21, 22, 23, 24) with a coating whose index of refraction is given by the algorithm n=(N.sup.2 =sin.sup.2 .theta.).sup.1/2, where n is the index of refraction of the coating, N is the lower index of refraction of the crystal (10), and .theta. is a half-angle defining the maximum field of view in air for the filter element, the critical angle for total internal reflection is made substantially equal to the half-angle defining the maximum field of view.

Abstract: A double rack and pinion device (17) is used to maintain substantially constant upward tension on a marine riser (16) that extends from stationary equipment (11) on the ocean floor to a floating structure (10) on the ocean surface. A preferred embodiment of the double rack and pinion device (17) comprises a sleeve (21) fitted over an upper segment of the riser (16), with a generally cylindrical weighted structure (40) surrounding the sleeve (21). Racks (33, 34, 35) are secured to or formed integrally on the exterior surface of the sleeve (21), and corresponding racks (53, 54, 55) are secured to the interior surface of the weighted structure (40). Pinions (63, 64, 65) are supported by the floating structure (10), and extend into the spacing between corresponding pairs of racks on the sleeve (21) and on the weighted structure (40).

Abstract: An agile payload orientation system for a space satellite comprises a three-axis gimbal (30) for coupling an appended body (20) containing the payload (24, 25, 26, 27) to a main body (10) of the satellite. The appended body (20) also contains moment control gyroscopes (29), which are responsive to external command for changing the orientation of the appended body (20) relative to an inertial reference. The gimbal (30) comprises three separate torquer-resolver units (31, 32, 33), which are connected to each other in series so that their axes are mutually orthogonal to each other and coincide at a single point (34) located at the center of mass of the appended body (20). Since the center of mass of the appended body (20) does not move when the appended body (20) is rotated about the axis of any of the torquer-resolver units (31, 32, 33), a change in orientation of the appended body (20) can be made without disturbing the orientation of the main body (10).

Abstract: A humidity controller (12) for an outdoor storage container (10) is installed with a clearance fit in an apertured portion of a vertical wall (11) of the container (10). The humidity controller (12) comprises a frame assembly (13) to which a bed of solid desiccant material (14) and a transparent cover (15) are secured. Solar energy incident upon the transparent cover (15) is transmitted into a passageway between the bed of desiccant material (14) and the transparent cover (15), thereby heating air in the passageway and also heating a surface of the bed of desiccant material (14) exposed to the air in the passageway. Moisture adsorbed on bed of desiccant material (14) is vaporized by the solar energy, thereby establishing a concentration gradient for moisture in the bed of desiccant material (14) such that moisture is drawn toward the passageway for vaporization.

Abstract: Apparatus for attenuating waves on the surface of a fluid and for providing a protective calm area is provided comprising means (20) for causing the waves to break, means (30) for directing the broken waves to induce a downward flow of surface fluid, means (34) for discharging the downward flow of surface fluid a preselected distance below the surface of the fluid, and means (48,50,60,62,64) for orienting the wave breaking means to provide a preselected orientation of the wave breaking means relative to the resultant flux vector of the energy of the waves. In a particular embodiment, one or more submerged refractive structures (20) each in the form of a dome-shaped shell, are provided to cause the waves to break. Guide vanes (36) direct the broken surface waves into a centrally disposed vertical standpipe (34) where the fluid flows downward and is then discharged at the bottom of the shell.

Abstract: 1. A binary digital communication system comprising a transmitter and receiver: said transmitter comprising means for alternately radiating in response to the digits of a binary message two signals of non-periodic energy which have been delayed by a predetermined amount with respect to one another, and means for phase shifting one of said signals by 180.degree. prior to radiation thereof in response to one of the "0" and "1" digits of the binary message; said receiver comprising means for receiving the signals alternately radiated by said transmitter, means for delaying the alternately received signals with respect to one another so they are brought back into correlation, and correlation-sensitive means to which the correlated received signals are fed, the output of said correlation-sensitive means being representative of said binary message.

Abstract: A dome-shaped atoll structure (12) having a central aperture at its apex is secured to a station-keeping structure (11, or 40, or 52) positioned on the ocean bottom. The atoll structure (12) is moveable through a range of vertical positions relative to the ocean bottom. Sea waves impinging on the atoll structure (12) are refracted as they crest and break, thereby producing spiralling pulses of water that converge toward the central aperture. The central aperture provides entry into a vertical standpipe (14) for the pulses of water, which impart angular momentum to water already present in the standpipe (14). A turbine (31) attached to a shaft (28) in the standpipe (14) converts the rotational energy of the water in the standpipe (14) to rotational energy of the shaft (28), which is coupled to an electrical generator (27).

Abstract: 5. An intelligence communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver; said transmitter comprising means for obtaining a relatively wide band random energy carrier signal, means for modulating said random carrier signal with an intelligence signal thereby forming a message signal, means responsive to said wide band energy obtaining means for deriving a reference signal which differs in frequency with said message signal by a definite fixed amount and means for radiating to the receiverr both the message and reference random signals; said receiver comprising an antenna for picking up both the message and reference random signal simultaneously, means for operating on at least one of said message and reference random signals to obtain message and reference random signals which are recombined and mixer means for multiplying the recombined message and reference random signals to obtain a resultant signal from which the intelligence signal can be derived.

Abstract: A solar power supply for a spacecraft comprises an array of semiconductor devices for photovoltaic conversion of sunlight into electrical energy. Each semiconductor device is secured by a substantially stress-free electrically conductive joint to a flexible dielectric substrate that can be folded into a compact stowage configuration or opened into an elongate operational configuration. The stress-free joint is formed by securing an electrical terminal of the semiconductor device to a stress-relieving electrical conductor that is affixed to the substrate. Preferably, the stress-relieving conductor is a metallic wire mesh, a peripheral portion of which is adhesively bonded to the substrate circumjacent an aperture in the substrate. A pattern of metallic traces formed on the substrate provides a circuit for connecting the wire mesh to connectors for coupling electrical power generated by the array of semiconductor devices to an electrical load on the spacecraft.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting material floating on the surface of a fluid having waves thereon is provided comprising means (20) for causing the waves to break, means (36) for directing the broken waves to induce a downward flow of surface fluid and the material thereon, means (34) for discharging the downward flow of fluid and said material a preselected distance below the surface of the fluid, and means (20, 22) for containing the discharged material. In a particular embodiment, a submerged refractive structure in the form of a dome-shaped shell (20) is provided to cause the waves to break. Guide vanes (36) direct the broken surface waves into a centrally disposed vertical standpipe (34) where the fluid and the entrained floating material flows downward and is then discharged at the bottom of the shell. The material accumulates at the upper interior portion (22) within the shell. An access opening (50) is provided through the wall of the shell to facilitate removal of the material accumulated within the shell.

Abstract: A three phase process for determining total organic halides in water. The first phase is a sorptive process including passing a liquid through a packed bed of sorptive material thereby removing quantitatively, purgeable and non-purgeable, organic halides and thereafter passing an inorganic halide displacement wash solution through the bed to displace inorganic halides. The second and third phases are a combination combustion and titration whereby organic bromides and other organic halides entering the combustion phase are quantitatively titrated coulometrically.

Abstract: A pulse damper for use in high-pressure liquid pumping applications, such as liquid chromatography, comprises a stainless steel cylindrical housing structure having threaded end caps to which inlet and outlet fittings are attached for coupling to a high-pressure liquid flow line. A spool made of a plastic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene or a perfluoroelastomer is fitted tightly within the housing structure, so that flow line liquid passes through the damper via the axial bore of the spool. The outer portion of the spool is configured to provide a cavity between the spool and the surrounding housing structure, and a compressible liquid fills this cavity. In operation, when a pressure pulse occurs in the flow line liquid, the relatively thin cylindrical wall of the spool expands radially outward in response, thereby causing a compression of the liquid in the surrounding cavity.

Abstract: A sector body for use in a rotary disc dewatering apparatus is provided with a radially extending groove on each of its opposing faces. Any slackness in a filter medium fabric covering the sector body is gathered into the radial grooves. A caulking compound is applied over the filter medium in the radial grooves to maintain tautness of the filter medium.