Abstract: An apparatus for processing a composite structure includes a mandrel that includes a tooling surface and vacuum bagging that includes an elastomeric membrane and a bagging surface. The apparatus also includes a surface interface formed between the mandrel and the elastomeric membrane. The surface interface includes a suction channel formed in at least one of the tooling surface of the mandrel and the bagging surface of the elastomeric membrane. The elastomeric membrane is configured to be sealed to the mandrel along the suction channel in response to a vacuum applied to the suction channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing wave flow across a surface wherein at least two pressure levels are sensed and combined to provide a representation of waves within the flow. In the preferred embodiment holes bored through the aircraft surface at an interval of one-half the wavelength of the flow being measured introduce pressure perturbations into a cavity so they may acoustically interfere. The interfering waveform is sensed by at least one microphone disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: Hollow shells of high uniformity are formed by emitting liquid through an outer nozzle and gas through an inner nozzle, to form a hollow extrusion, by flowing the gas at a velocity between about 1.3 and 10 times the liquid velocity. The natural breakup rate of the extrusion can be increased to decrease shell size by applying periodic perturbations to one of the materials prior to exiting the nozzles, to a nozzle, or to the extrusion.

Abstract: The improved, heterogeneous catalysts are in the form of gas-impervious, hollow, thin-walled spheres (10) suitably formed of a shell (12) of metal such as aluminum having a cavity (14) containing a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The wall material may be, itself, catalytic or the catalyst can be coated onto the sphere as a layer (16), suitably platinum or iron, which may be further coated with a layer (18) of activator or promoter. The density of the spheres (30) can be uniformly controlled to a preselected value within .+-.10 percent of the density of the fluid reactant such that the spheres either remain suspended or slowly fall or rise through the liquid reactant.

Abstract: Improved, heterogeneous, refractory catalysts are in the form of gas-impervious, hollow, thin-walled spheres (10) suitable formed of a shell (12) of refractory such as alumina having a cavity (14) containing a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The wall material may be itself catalytic or a catalytically active material coated onto the sphere as a layer (16), suitably platinum or iron, which may be further coated with a layer (18) of activator or promoter. The density of the spheres (30) can be uniformly controlled to a preselected value within .+-.10 percent of the density of the fluid reactant such that the spheres either remain suspended or slowly fall or rise through the liquid reactant.

Abstract: Improved, heterogeneous, refractory catalysts are in the form of gas-impervious, hollow, thin-walled spheres (10) suitable formed of a shell (12) of refractory such as alumina having a cavity (14) containing a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The wall material may be itself catalytic or a catalytically active material coated onto the sphere as a layer (16), suitably platinum or iron, which may be further coated with a layer (18) of activator or promoter. The density of the spheres (30) can be uniformly controlled to a preselected value within .+-.10 percent of the density of the fluid reactant such that the spheres either remain suspended or slowly fall or rise through the liquid reactant.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming gas-filled spheres of metal, glass or other material, which produces spheres (12) of uniform size and wall thickness in a relatively simple system. The system includes concentric nozzles, including an inner nozzle (18) through which gas flows and and an outer nozzle (20), which jointly define an annular passageway (50) through which a liquid flows. The flow rates are adjusted so that the gas flows at greater velocity than does the liquid, out of their respective nozzles, e.g. three times as great, in order to produce an extrusion (30) which undergoes axisymmetric oscillations resulting in the pinch off into hollow spheres with very uniform spacing. The system is useful not only where gas-filled spheres are required, but also is useful to accurately control the dispensing of solid, liquid, or gaseous materials.

Abstract: Master units and slave units are preferably housed in identical housings. Each master unit comprises a Central Intelligence Unit (CIU) which in turn comprises a drum processor and a communications processor, and an Input/Output Unit (IOU) having input terminals and relays for connection to external devices. Each slave unit comprises an IOU. Each IOU is connected to its CIU through a Local bus (L-bus). Up to sixteen IOU's may be controlled by a single CIU.Up to 16 master units may be connected together by means of console bus (C-bus) and a data exchange bus (X-bus), in which case each master unit is given control of specified "X" variables for update. Each "X" variable has a specific time slot on the X-bus and all "X" variables are stored on an X-drum at each master unit.The C-bus may be connected to a computer terminal at each master for programming of all CIU's, or to computer devices, or to long distance communication lines.

Abstract: The improved, heterogeneous catalysts are in the form of gas-impervious, hollow, thin-walled spheres (10) suitably formed of a shell (12) of metal such as aluminum having a cavity (14) containing a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The wall material may be, itself, catalytic or the catalyst can be coated onto the sphere as a layer (16), suitably platinum or iron, which may be further coated with a layer (18) of activator or promoter. The density of the spheres (30) can be uniformly controlled to a preselected value within .+-.10 percent of the density of the fluid reactant such that the spheres either remain suspended or slowly fall or rise through the liquid reactant.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for producing a lightweight structural material (12), by forming gas-filled shells (38) of molten material from a matrix of nozzles (22) that form shells of very uniform size at very uniform rates. The matrix of molten shells coalesce into a multi-cell material of controlled cellular structure. The shells can be of two different sizes (38, 44) that are interspersed, to form a multicell material that has a regular cell pattern but which avoids planes of weakness and localized voids. The gas (50) in the shells can be under a high pressure, and can be a fire extinguishing gas.

Abstract: In combination with a reactor for a coal utilization system, a pressure letdown device for accepting from a reactor, a polyphase fluid at an entrance pressure and an entrance velocity, and discharging the fluid from the device at a discharge pressure substantially lower than the entrance pressure and at a discharge temperature and a discharge velocity substantially equal to the entrance temperature and entrance velocity. The device 10 is characterized by a series of pressure letdown stages 28a through 28x including a plurality of symmetrical baffles, designated 30, disposed in coaxially nested alignment, each baffle having defined therein a plurality of ports or apertures 32 of uniform dimensions.

Abstract: A method of forming hollow glass spheres S shaped by the effects of surface tension acting on bubbles of glass in its molten state; the method is characterized by the steps of establishing a downwardly flowing stream of air accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration through a drop tower 10, introducing into the stream of air free-falling bubbles B of molten glass, and freezing the bubbles in the stream as they are accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration.

Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing the resolution of a sound detector of the type which includes an acoustic mirror for focusing sound from an object onto a microphone to enable the determination of the location from which the sound arises. The enhancement apparatus includes an enclosure surrounding the space between the mirror and microphone, and containing a gas heavier than air, such as Freon, through which sound moves slower and therefore with a shorter wavelength than in air, so that a mirror of given size has greater resolving power. An acoustically transparent front wall of the enclosure which lies forward of the mirror, can include a pair of thin sheets with slightly pressured air between them, to form an end of the region of heavy gas into a concave shape.