Abstract: A fiber optic microphone is provided for measuring fluctuating pressures. An optical fiber probe having at least one transmitting fiber for transmitting light to a pressure-sensing membrane and at least one receiving fiber for receiving light reflected from a stretched membrane is provided. The pressure-sensing membrane may be stretched for high frequency response. Further, a reflecting surface of the pressure-sensing membrane may have dimensions which substantially correspond to dimensions of a cross section of the optical fiber probe. Further, the fiber optic microphone can be made of materials for use in high temperature environments, for example greater than 1000.degree. F. A fiber optic probe is also provided with a backplate for damping membrane motion. The backplate further provides a means for on-line calibration of the microphone.

Abstract: An anchor nut insert is provided having external threads for engaging an internally threaded receptacle of a fixture to be installed. The fixture also has two wings flanking the receptacle and having fastener holes. An insert driver is provided having a projecting blade which engages a slot in the anchor nut insert for driving the insert. A guide member such as a wire passes through symmetry axes of the anchor nut insert and insert driver such that the anchor nut insert is located between the insert driver and a first terminal end of the guide wire. A swaged portion is provided on this terminal end to prevent the anchor nut insert and insert driver from sliding off the end. The fixture with the installed anchor nut insert is fed through a central hole in a structure wall having a blind side. The fixture is rotated until the wing holes are aligned with side holes in the wall and then the fixture is pulled flush against the blind side via the guide wire.

Abstract: The invention is method of forming a multi-color luminescent display including the steps of depositing on an insulator substrate a smooth single layer of host material which itself may be a phosphor with the properties to host varying quantities of different impurities and introducing one or more of said different impurities into selected areas of the single layer of host material via an appropriately positioned mask as by thermal diffusion or ion-implantation to form a pattern of phosphors of different colors in the single layer of host material such that the top surface of the host layer remains smooth. Red phosphors are formed by adding impurities selected from the group consisting of Sm, SmF.sub.3, Eu, EuF.sub.3, and ZnS:MnTbF.sub.3 to a ZnS host; green phosphors by adding impurities selected from the group consisting of Tb and TbF.sub.3 to a ZnS host; and blue phosphors by adding impurities selected from the group consisting of Tm, Al, Ag and Mg to a ZnS host.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for acoustophoresis, i.e., the separation of species via acoustic waves. An ultrasonic transducer applies an acoustic wave to one end of a sample container containing at least two species having different acoustic absorptions. The wave has a frequency tuned to or harmonized with the point of resonance of the species to be separated. This wave causes the species to be driven to an opposite end of the sample container for removal. A second ultrasonic transducer may be provided to apply a second, oppositely directed acoustic wave to prevent undesired streaming. In addition, a radio frequency tuned to the mechanical resonance and coupled with a magnetic field can serve to identify a species in a medium comprising species with similar absorption coefficients, whereby an acoustic wave having a frequency corresponding to this gyrational rate can then be applied to sweep the identified species to one end of the container for removal.

Abstract: An electrical socket (10) for electrically connecting a leaded chip carrier (24) to a substrate is disclosed. The socket (10) includes a frame-shape base (12) with contacts (14) around the periphery of a central opening. Each contact (14) has a pair of outwardly extending, spaced apart arms (64,72) with one arm (72) having a recess (82) on an inside surface (80). The socket (10) also includes a cover (16) with locking members (18) around the periphery of a central opening. The locking members (18) include cantilever beams (90,92) which enter the space (74) between the contact arms (64,72) to press a lead (28) from the carrier (24) against one arm (64).

Abstract: A device for arc welding is provided in which a continuously-fed electrode wire is in electrical contact with a contact tube. The contact tube is improved by using a substantially oxygen-free conductive alloy in order to reduce the amount of electrical erosion.

Abstract: An improved shuttle with variable internal volume is provided by the present invention. Space shuttle orbiter 10 includes a telescoping main propulsion unit 20. This main propulsion unit 20 contains the main rocket engines 22 and fuel tanks 21 and telescopes into the shuttle. A variable cavity 30 is located between this unit 20 and the crew compartment 25. Accordingly, the positioning of the telescoping main propulsion unit 20 determines the volume of the variable cavity 30. Thus, the volume of the variable length of the entire shuttle 10 may be increased or decreased to achieve desired configurations for optimal storage. In one embodiment of the present invention, paylod 35 also telescopes within variable cavity 30.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for integral fill yarn insertion and beatup is provided. A modified rapier contains a channel for holding fill yarn. The channel is covered with a flexible and inflatable boot, and an inflating apparatus for this boot is also attached. Fill yarn is inserted into the channel, and the rapier is extended into a shed formed by warp yarn. Next, the rapier is pushed into the fell of the fabric, and the flexible and inflatable cover inflated, which both pushes the yarn into the fell of the fabric and performs beatup. The rapier is withdrawn and the shed closed to complete one step of the weaving process.

Abstract: A thermal device (10) for maintaining the temperature of the contents of a bottle has been disclosed. The device (10) includes a wrapper (12) having a pouch (18) for receiving an insulative member (14) and a strap (30) attached to spaced-apart locations along a bottom edge (20) to form a stop across one end of cylindrical shape of the wrapper (12) when rolled up. The wrapper (12) further includes mating gripping material (24,26) on both surfaces to hold the wrapper (12) in a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: An electrical header assembly (10) for use in automobiles is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a housing (12) with terminal-receiving cavities (26) recessed in from a front face (62), terminals (18), a separate one piece latch (14) received in the housing (12) to retain the terminals (18) in the cavities (26) and a separate terminal position assurance member (16).

Abstract: A housing block is provided having an upper surface conforming to the test surface of a model or aircraft. An oil film is supplied upstream of a transparent wedge window located in this upper surface by an oil pump system located external to the housing block. A light source located within the housing block supplies a light beam which passes through this transparent window and is reflected back through the transparent window by the upper surface of the oil film to a photo-sensitive position sensor located within the housing. This position sensor allows the slope history of the oil film caused by an aerodynamic flow to be determined. The skin friction is determined from this slope history. Internally located mirrors augment and sensitize the reflected beam as necessary before reaching the position sensor. In addition, a filter may be provided before this sensor to filter the beam.

Abstract: An area array connector (32,42,50) for electrically interconnecting two electronic devices is disclosed. The connector (32,42,50) includes a plurality of contact elements (10) having parallel cantilevered contact fingers (18) extending obliquely outwardly from a plate (20) for one embodiment, a laminate (32) is formed by securing the contact elements (10) to a dielectric (26) having windows (28) through which the fingers (18) extend. The laminate (32) can then be fixed to a device such as a circuit board (40) to form another form of a connector (42) and further, the dielectric (26) can be removed to form yet another form of connector (50).

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for characterizing residual uniaxial stress in a ferromagnetic test member by distinguishing between residual stresses resulting from positive (tension) forces and negative (compression) forces by using the distinct and known magnetoacoustic (MAC) and a novel magnetoacoustic emission (MAE) measurement circuit means. A switch permits the selective operation of the respective circuit means.

Abstract: The invention is a method of forming a multiple layer dielectric for use in a hot-film laminar separation sensor 21. The multiple layer dielectric substrate is formed by depositing a first layer 22 of a thermoplastic polymer such as on an electrically conductive substrate such as the metal surface 23 of a model 24 to be tested under cryogenic conditions and high Reynolds numbers. Next, a second dielectric layer 26 of fused silica is formed on the first dielectric layer 22 of thermoplastic polymer. A resistive metal film is deposited on selected areas of the multiple layer dielectric substrate to form one or more hot-film sensor elements 27 to which aluminum electrical circuits 28 deposited upon the multiple layered dielectric substrate are connected.

Abstract: An electrical socket (10) for interconnecting circuits on an integrated circuit chip to circuits on a substrate is disclosed. The socket (10) includes a base section (12), an upper section (16) and a metallized plastic membrane (14) having circuit traces (72) thereon. Contact pins (52) in the upper section (16) electrically connect circuits on the chip to inner ends (82) of the traces (72) and outer ends (84) of the traces (72) engage circuits on a substrate.

Abstract: Arrays of actuators are affixed to structural elements to impede the transmission of vibrational energy. A single pair is used to provide control of bending and extensional waves and two pairs are used to control torsional motion in addition to these two types of wave motion. The arrays are applied to a wide variety of structural elements such as a beam structure that is part of larger framework that may or may not support a rigid or non-rigid skin. Electrical excitation is applied to the actuators that generate forces on the structure. These electrical inputs may be adjusted in their amplitude and phase by a controller in communication with appropriate vibrational wave sensors to impede the flow of vibrational power in all of the above mentioned wave forms beyond the actuator location. Additional sensor elements can be used to monitor the performance and adjust the electrical inputs to maximize the attenuation of vibrational energy.

Abstract: A velocimeter measures flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction. Tracer particles are entrained in the flow and a source of radiant energy produces an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream. Each of the vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core, and a flow visualization system tracks the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle, and temperature of the flow around the tracer.

Abstract: A connector (10) for electrically connecting a circuit between electronic devices has been disclosed. The connector (10) includes a platform (14, 64, 94, 114) with cantilevered spring arms (22, 62, 92, 112) extending obliquely outwardly therefrom. The spring arms (22, 62, 92, 112) include raised contact surfaces (26, 72, 102, 122) and in one embodiment, the geometry of the arms (22) provide compound wipe during deflection.

Abstract: A linear mass actuator includes an upper housing and a lower housing connectable to each other and having a central passageway passing axially therethrough a mass linearly movable in the central passageway, rollers mounted in the upper and lower housings and being in frictional engagement with the mass, for translating the mass linearly in the central passageway and drive motors operatively coupled to the roller means, for rotating the rollers and thus driving the mass axially in the central passageway.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of recertifying a loaded bearing member using ultrasound testing to compensate for different equipment configurations and temperature conditions. The standard frequency F1 of a reference block is determined via an ultrasound tone burst generated by a first pulsed phase locked loop (P2L2) equipment configuration. Once a lock point number s is determined for F1, the reference frequency F1a of the reference block is determined at this lock point number via a second P2L2 equipment configuration to permit an equipment offset compensation factor Fo1=((F1-F1a)/F1)(1000000) to be determined. Next, a reference frequency F2 of the unloaded bearing member is determined using the second P2L2 equipment configuration and is then compensated for equipment offset errors via the relationship F2c=F2+F2(Fo1)/1000000. A lock point number b is also determined for F2.