Abstract: A life support back pack 14 for use during extravehicular activity in space incorporates a cooling apparatus 20 comprised of five panels 22 each of which include in layered fashion a LCG coolant heat exchange coil 32, a heat distribution plate 42, and a heat dissipation module 50A or 50B having an outer radiator surface 52. Each module 50A houses a first phase change material 55A, for example hexadecane paraffin, and each module 50B houses a second phase change material 55B, for example tetradecane paraffin, which has a phase change temperature which is less than the phase change temperature of the first phase change material 55A. The cooling apparatus 20 is equipped with a coolant heat exchange circuit provided with mode selection valves 84 and 86 which are operated by a controller 88 to selectively direct the LCG coolant to be cooled through the cooling apparatus in one of three operating modes.

Abstract: A fan blade (24) comprising an airfoil shell (30) made of a fiber reinforced relatively low wear resistance composite material has a tip portion (34) having a plurality of elongated filaments (50) of a highly wear resistant material, most advantageously rod-like boron filaments, embedded therein so as to extend inwardly from the outboard facing surface (36) of the blade (24) and substantially perpendicularly thereto. The filaments (50) comprise cutting elements which serve to rapidly cut away the sacrificial layer (40) of the surrounding fan duct (16) whenever the blade tip (34) comes into contact with the layer (40) thereby protecting the blade tip (34) from excessive wear.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing heat energy of a cooling medium passing from a space suit liquid cooling garment includes a heat sink assembly for absorbing and rejecting the heat energy and a heat transfer means for transferring the heat energy of the cooling medium to the heat sink assembly. The heat transfer means, which is comprised of an array of thermoelectric modules, regulates the quantity of heat energy transferred from the cooling medium to the heat sink assembly. The heat sink assembly includes a material which isothermally changes phase while absorbing heat energy.

Abstract: In an air cycle environmental control system, a condenser (46) removes water vapor from compressed, ambient, supply air (9) before it is expanded in a first turbine (24). The chilled outlet air (49) from the first turbine (24) is then used as coolant in the condenser (46), absorbing there the heat of vaporization of the condensed water vapor. After passing through the condenser (46), the warmed coolant is then expanded in a second turbine (26). Should the pressure of the supply air fall below predetermined levels, portions of the cycle that degrade performance or become unnecessary are bypassed.

Abstract: The alignment of an optical fiber (2) with a light port (18) of an I/O chip (10) is facilitated by a fiber carrier (20) having a surface (22) in which a plurality of closely spaced, axially extending fiber carrying grooves (30) are formed. The end (4) of an optical fiber (2) is supported in a first narrower and shallower V-shaped groove segment (32) with the tip (6) of the fiber (2) extending in a cantilevered fashion over a second wider and deeper V-shaped groove segment (34) with the tip end face (8) in facing relationship with the I/O chip (10). A ground electrode (40) is disposed on a wall of the first groove segment (32) in contact with the received end 4 of the fiber (2) for electrically grounding the fiber. A pair of independently energizible actuator electrodes (42, 44) are disposed on opposed side walls of the second groove segment (34).

Abstract: An improved temperature control system is disclosed that provides an aircraft working or supply fluid within a desired temperature range for anti-icing, air conditioning and other aircraft subsystems. The supply fluid is bled from compressor stages of a gas turbine engine and passes through a precooler in a heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid, bled from a fan stage of the engine. A single temperature sensor includes a pair of control poppet or variable orifice ball valves that are adjustably actuated in response to temperature changes of the supply fluid downstream of the precooler. The control poppet valves pneumatically regulate flow of the supply fluid and cooling fluid upstream of the precooler, to keep the supply fluid within the desired temperature range.

Abstract: A pitch control system has a main electronic control, a mechanical back-up control and a switching system for transferring pitch control from the electronic to the mechanical control in the event of electronic control failure. The switching system utilizes a switch for comparing the output of the electronic and mechanical control systems, the switch choosing the mechanical system if a failure occurs in the electronic control system. By utilizing the switching system, a failure of the electronic control does not permit the blades to go to feather. In certain failure modes, an enable valve or an enable solenoid locks out the switch, to ensure mechanical pitch change control.

Abstract: A pitch control system has a main electronic control, a mechanical back-up control and a switching system for transferring pitch control from the electronic to the mechanical control in the event of electronic control failure. The switching system utilizes a switch for comparing the output of the electronic and mechanical control systems, the switch choosing the mechanical system if a failure occurs in the electronic control system. In certain failure modes, an enable solenoid simultaneously locks out the switch, to ensure mechanical pitch change control, and resets the mechanical back-up control to provide a lower degree of pitch control than conventional back-up controllers.

Abstract: A pitch retention member has a mounting surface which receives an elastomeric bearing disposed within a coupling attaching to the root end of the propeller blade. The mounting surface of the pitch retention member is conical. The coupling has a conically shaped bearing mounted therein which is bolted to the root end of the propeller blade. By bolding the coupling to the spar the conically shaped elastomeric bearing is precompressed against the conical mounting surface.

Abstract: A regenerative bed incinerator 10 incorporates a dwell chamber 18 disposed between a pair of spaced regenerative heat exchange the beds 14A and 14B, one of which serves as a gas preheating bed and the other of which serves as a gas cooling bed. At periodic intervals, the direction of flow through the incinerator 10 is reversed so that the functions of the beds 14A and 14B is reversed. A hot gas vent duct 80 is provided for selectively bypassing a portion 7 of the hot, incinerated process exhaust gases 5 around the gas cooling bed into the gas exhaust duct 70 for venting to the atmosphere. A bypass damper 88, which is controlled by control means 86 in responsive to exit gas temperature measurements from thermocouple 90, is positioned in the hot gas vent duct 80 to control the amount of hot, incinerated process exhaust gases bypass around the gas cooling bed.

Abstract: A starch based adhesive for use in manufacturing corrugated paper and board is prepared in a single preparation tank 20 by admixing, under high shear vortex mixing, a first portion of aqueous medium, a first starch portion, an aqueous sodium hydroxide, a borating additive, a second portion of aqueous medium and a second starch portion to produce a finished starch adhesive. At least one of the first and second portions of aqueous medium comprises a mixture of fresh water and recycled wash water selected from the group consisting essentially of untreated flexographic printing press wash water, untreated corrugator wash water, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An element basket assembly (30) for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (2) is comprised of a plurality of heat transfer element plates (32) stacked in an array within a supporting basket frame formed of upper and lower plank-like shell members (34,44) each formed into a trough-like member having a base end (342,442) and a pair of spaced outwardly extending legs (344,444). The shell members (34,44) are interconnected at their base ends by corner angle bars (35) and at the outward ends of their legs by closure member (36) to form a four-sided frame housing. Retaining grates (42a,42b) are mounted within the trough-like shell members (34,44) so as to extend across the upper and lower end surfaces of the stacked element plates (32) for retaining the element plates within the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 is provided for supplying a high-velocity flow of temperature regulated air 5 to the calender roll 90 of a paper making machine. Ambient air 1 is received into the plenum chamber 20 and distributed therefrom through a longitudinally elongated conduit means 30 which has an inlet 32 opening directly into the plenum chamber 20 and an outlet opening 36 along the other end thereof and defining therebetween a flow passageway 34. The outlet opening 36 is adapted to direct the air flow passing through the flow passageway 34 along the calender roll 90 in counter direction to the rotation of the calender roll 90. A series of spiral wound heating element coils 40 are disposed within the conduit means 30 at longitudinally spaced intervals along the length thereof to heat the air to a desired temperature by selectively powering the heating element coils 40.

Abstract: A refiner element (10) for the refining of fibrous material is provided with a comminuting surface of which at least a portion comprises an abrasive surface. The method of forming the refiner element (10) comprises casting a metal substrate (20) having a frontal surface (22), melting a relatively thin layer of the metal substrate on the frontal surface thereof to form a molten pool in the comminuting surface over the region thereof on which an abrasive surface is desired, depositing an abrasive material (38) into the molten pool formed in the metal comminuting surface (22) of the refiner element (10), and allowing the molten metal pool into which the abrasive material (38) has been deposited to solidify whereby the particles of abrasive material (38) are strongly bonded into the metal surface of the refining element to form the abrasive comminuting surface thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides an energy conserving process for calcining a clay and apparatus for carrying out the process. A dry pulverized clay powder (1) is fed to a calciner (20) to be calcined therein. The calcined clay product (3) is removed from the calciner (20) and preferably passed in heat exchange relationship with a cooling medium (71) whereby the calcined clay product (3) is cooled and the cooling medium is heated. The hot off-gas (7) discharged from the calciner (20) is passed through an electrostatic precipitator (30) to remove at least a substantial portion of calcined clay product dust (11) entrained in the exhaust gas from the calciner. The clean gas (13) leaving the electrostatic precipitator (30) is passed in heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid (51) to further cool the gas, and preferably to evaporate at least a portion of the cooling portion to produce a heating vapor (53).

Abstract: A high bulking kaolin pigment is provided which exhibits improved opacifying efficiency as a paper filler. The kaolin pigment comprises an uncalcined clay composition consisting essentially of kaolin particles which have not only been treated with an amine, but also upon which aluminum hydroxide has been precipitated, and, of which less than about 20% by weight have a particle size less than 0.3 microns in equivalent spherical dimeter. Further, a method is provided for producing the pigment from a hydrated kaolin clay having a brightness of at least about 89. The selected starting clay is dispersed in water and subjected as a slurry to delamination, defining, surface treatment with an amine and aluminum sulfate, and leaching. The treated kaolin slurry is subsequently rinsed and filtered to a produce a filter cake which is redispersed to yield a commercial paper filler.

Abstract: A heat transfer element assembly (30) is comprised of a plurality of first and second profiled heat transfer plates (32,34) which incorporate a series of first and second single-lobed outwardly protruding notches (40,50) which extend obliquely relative to the general direction of fluid flow through the assembled plates. The first and second profiled heat transfer plates (32,34) are assembled alternately in juxtaposed relationship in a stacked array with the obliquely extending spacing notches (40,50) of neighboring plates crossing each other. The first and second profiled head transfer plates are provided with a plurality of first single-lobed notches (40) protruding outwardly from one side of the plate and a plurality of second single-lobed notches (50) protruding outwardly from the other side of the plate. The first and second single-lobed notches are arranged in staggered relationship with one or more second single-lobed notches (50) disposed between each pair of first single-lobed notches (40).

Abstract: A high solids kaolin clay slurry having unexpectedly improved high shear viscosity is prepared by blending a chemically dispersed fine particle size Tertiary kaolin with a coarser particle size Cretaceous kaolin to provide a resultant blend having a controlled particle size range and particle size distribution.

Abstract: A heat pipe (10) comprises an elongated sealed tubular enclosure (20) defining a closed working cavity (50) and having water disposed within the working cavity as the working fluid. The enclosure (20) being formed of a material which reacts with water to generate hydrogen gas. Oxidizer means (30) is disposed within the working cavity (50) in the condenser portion (25) of the heat pipe (10). The oxidizer means (20) comprises a substance which will react with the hydrogen gas generated during operation of the heat pipe to oxidize said hydrogen gas into water. Suitable substances include metal oxides, such as CuO, PhO.sub.2, MnO.sub.2 and HgO, having an electrode potential (or reduction potential) which is higher than that of hydrogen, i.e., the electrode potential (or reduction potential) of such a suitable metal oxide should be a positive potential relative to the zero electrode potential of hydrogen.

Abstract: A collecting electrode panel assembly (20) comprises a plurality of collecting electrode plates (22) disposed in successively aligned relationship beneath and suspended from an electrode support member (14) supported by the housing (12) of an electrostatic precipitator (10), such that the collecting electrode plates (22) making up the collecting electrode panel assembly (20) extend downwardly in a substantially vertical plane into the precipitation chamber (6) defined within the housing (12). Each of the plates (22) has a pair of spaced end members (24) and a central web portion (26) which extends between and interconnects the spaced end members (24). Coupling means (50) are disposed between the facing opposed end members (24) of successive plates (22) at least one location along the vertical interface of successive plates (22) to restrain bowing or warping of the assembled collecting electrode panel (20) and to keep the collecting electrode plates (22) in a common plane.