Abstract: A wireless instrumentation system enables a plurality of low power wireless transceivers to transmit measurement data from a plurality of remote station sensors to a central data station accurately and reliably. The system employs a relay based communications scheme where remote stations that cannot communicate directly with the central station due to interference, poor signal strength, etc., are instructed to communicate with other of the remote stations that act as relays to the central station. A unique power management scheme is also employed to minimize power usage at each remote station and thereby maximize battery life. Each of the remote stations preferably employs a modular design to facilitate easy reconfiguration of the stations as required.

Abstract: The present invention is a dissipating protection energy system designed to receive and safely dissipate the kinetic energy from high energy fragments. The energy dissipation system dissipates energy transferred to it by the incremental and progressive rupturing at an approximately constant force of strategically placed sacrificial stitching applied to a number of high strength straps, such as an aromatic polymide fiber of extremely high tensile strength. Thus, the energy dissipation system provides a lightweight device for controlling and dissipating the dangerous and destructive energy stored in high strength fragments released by catastrophic failures of machinery minimizing damage to other critical components.

Abstract: About ten weight percent nickel is added to a Fe-base alloy which has a ferrite microstructure to improve the high temperature castability and crack resistance while about 0.2 weight percent zirconium is added for improved high temperature cyclic oxidation and corrosion resistance. The basic material is a high temperature FeCrAl heater alloy, and the addition provides a material suitable for burner rig nozzles.

Abstract: A clock pulse generator for decoding pulse position modulation in an optical communication receiver is synchronized by a delay tacking loop which multiplies impulses of a data pulse by the square-wave clock pulses from the generator to produce positive impulses when the clock pulse is of one level, and negative impulses when the clock pulse is of another level. A delay tracking loop integrates the impulses and produces an error signal that adjusts the delay so the clock pulses will be synchronized with data pulses. A dead-time .tau..sub.d provided between data pulses of an interval .tau..sub.p in the data pulse period .tau.. When synchronized, the average number of positive impulses integrated will equal the average number of negative impulses over the continuous stream of data pulses.

Abstract: A rubber-toughened addition-type polyimide composition having excellent high temperature bonding characteristics in the fully cured state and improved peel strength and adhesive fracture resistance physical property characteristics is disclosed. The process for making the improved adhesive involves preparing the rubber-containing amic acid prepolymer by chemically reacting an amine-terminated elastomer and an aromatic diamine with an aromatic dianhydride with which a reactive chain stopper anhydride has been mixed, and utilizing solvent or mixture of solvents for the reaction.

Abstract: A method for cold welding metal joints. In order to remove the contamination layer on the surface of the metal, an ion beam generator is used in a vacuum environment. A gas, such as xenon or argon, is ionized and accelerated toward the metal surface. The beam of gas effectively sputters away the surface oxides and contamination layer so that clean underlying metal is exposed in the area to be welded. The use of this method allows cold welding with minimal deformation. Both similar and dissimilar metals can be cold welded with this method.

Abstract: A potential induced on the surface of an orbiting spacecraft is neutralized to the potential of a plasma through which the spacecraft is traveling by directing charged particles into the plasma from the spacecraft surface. The induced potential occurs in response to bombardment of the spacecraft surface by ambient charged particles which may be negative or positive. The charged particles directed into the plasma from the surface have the same polarity as the induced potential to provide the neutralization. The invention can be utilized to maintain different, electrically isolated segments of a spacecraft surface at the same potential to prevent electric discharges between the different parts and thereby protect electric circuits within the spacecraft. The invention can also be utilized to enable charged particle detectors on the surface of a spacecraft to operate more accurately so that the particles are not perturbed by a potential difference between the spacecraft surface and the plasma.