Abstract: A combustor structure is described which comprises a cavity defined in the combustor for trapping a vortex of fuel, air and hot combustion products to stabilize the flame, the cavity being formed in any suitable way such as being defined between two or more bluff bodies in tandem, or in a wall of the combustor, or in the combustor liner, and wherein fuel and air are injected directly into the fuel/air recirculation zone defined by the trapped vortex.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for the engine compartment of a vehicle is described which includes a remotely controllable throttle valve disposed within the exhaust duct of the engine for selectively diverting exhaust gases through a bypass duct for mixing with the ventilation airflow for the purpose of reducing the oxygen content in the airflow over the engine below a level which will effectively support combustion.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dental restoration is described which comprises the steps of obtaining a dental impression of a patient using dental impression material, filling the cavity defining the impression with a filler material distinguishable from the dental material defining the impression and allowing the materials to harden to a solid block, successively removing from the block thin layers and imaging each then remaining surface of the block after each successive layer is removed to define a contour of the filler material for each layer removed, each contour corresponding to a contour of the teeth, gums and palate of the patient at a corresponding known depth of the block, generating a three dimensional computer model of the teeth, gums and palate of the patient using the contours, and converting the model to a stereolithography file for producing a castable pattern of the model or machining a restoration corresponding to the model.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite structure and method for fabricating the composite, are described wherein four sets of mechanically flexible fibers are interwoven in a three-dimensional woven structure wherein each fiber is woven through the structure generally along one of the four directions defined generally parallel to a body diagonal of a cube, and wherein the woven structure is impregnated with polymeric, metallic or ceramic matrix material to form a composite material which is braced against deformation by shear applied in any orientation.

Abstract: A cell culture device is described comprising a gas permeable vessel which contains one or more self contained carbon dioxide generators and which is attached to a closure closing a gas permeable cell culture flask. Located in the closure is a gas permeable insert which defines a gas permeable opening through which the gases from the atmosphere of the vessel produced by the carbon dioxide generators can communicate with the gases in the atmosphere of the flask. This invention allows the rapid and uniform equilibration of the atmosphere of the flask with the controlled atmosphere of the vessel while still providing a closed system which prevents the entry of microbial organisms into the flask. This invention provides a controlled atmosphere for up to 24 hours that maintains the pH of the culture medium for optimal growth of cells growing in the culture medium in the flask.

Abstract: A new apparatus and method for irrigating wounds and for performing gastric lavage utilizes a novel cap that has a threaded end sized to screw onto available plastic bottles of sterile irrigation fluid or saline and a nozzle end having the shape of a syringe tip. The threaded end of the cap is screwed onto the plastic bottle of irrigation fluid and an intravenous (IV) catheter attached to the nozzle end. The plastic bottle of irrigation fluid is held and squeezed to direct a stream of irrigation fluid through the IV catheter and into the wound. For gastric irrigation, a nasogastric tube is attached to the nozzle end and the bottle of irrigation fluid held and squeezed to force irrigation fluid into the stomach.

Abstract: A system for the forced air de-icing of aircraft is described which includes a source of pressurized air and an axisymmetric, high momentum focused air jet nozzle having an inlet of diameter D and an outlet of diameter d with an axisymmetric contour therebetween defined by a converging portion of first radius near the inlet and a reflex portion of second radius near the outlet, the converging and reflex portions being connected by a convergent conical portion tangent to both the converging and reflex portions and having an angle of convergence equal to or less than 30.degree., wherein D is equal to or greater than 2d, the first radius is equal to or greater than D, the second radius is equal to or greater than d, and the length of the nozzle is equal to or greater than 1.5 D, and an insulated conduit for conducting pressurized air from the source to the nozzle.

Abstract: High temperature melting niobium-titanium-chromium-aluminum-silicon alloys having a wide range of desirable microstructures, excellent microstructural and morphological properties, superior oxidation resistance at temperatures from 1000.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C., and good low temperature toughness and good high temperature strength and creep resistance are described which comprise generally two- or three-or four-phase alloys systems having compositions (31-41)Nb-(26-34)Ti-(8-10)Cr-(6-12)Al-(9-18)Si. Two-phase beta+Nb.sub.5 Si.sub.3 -base alloys can be obtained by increasing the Nb/Ti ratio, while three-phase beta+Nb.sub.5 Si.sub.3 -base+Ti.sub.5 Si.sub.3 -base alloys or four-phase beta+Nb.sub.5 Si.sub.3 -base+Ti.sub.5 Si.sub.3 -base +Ti.sub.3 Si-base alloys can be obtained by decreasing the Nb/Ti ratio.

Abstract: An engine casing structure for a gas turbine engine or the like is described which comprises two substantially tubular shaped axially adjacent abutting casing portions and a rotatable clamping ring on one casing portion having a plurality of lugs which engage a corresponding plurality of lugs on the axially adjacent casing portion providing a positive clamping force between the two casing portions, the clamping ring being held in place by a small plurality (eight or fewer) of bolts.

Abstract: An interfering imaging spectrometer is described wherein a single interference filter disposed in preselected angular relationship with one or more mirrors separates an incoming optical signal or field of view into multiple contiguous images separated spatially and spectrally, each image having a unique spectral content.

Abstract: System and method for temperature resolved molecular emission spectroscopy of solid, liquid or gaseous materials are described wherein a sample is vaporized and decomposed, and the vaporous sample is transported into a combustion flame; a spectrum of intensity of the optical emission from the flame at a selected wavelength versus temperature of the sample define molecular peaks which are characteristic of the sample material and allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sample.

Abstract: System and method for high temperature testing of thermocouples are described wherein a fuel burning combustion chamber generates a hot gaseous flow through a transparent chamber at a selected test temperature in the range of about 1400.degree. F. to 2150.degree. F., a test thermocouple being disposed within the transparent chamber, the output of the test thermocouple being measured against a reference thermocouple and an optical pyrometer.

Abstract: An aircraft cavity acoustic resonance suppression system is described which comprises a small diameter, substantially cylindrically shaped member disposed substantially parallel to and spaced up to a distance corresponding to about three airflow boundary layer thicknesses from the surface of the aircraft near the leading edge of the cavity and substantially transverse of airflow thereacross, and an actuator operatively connected to the member providing selective adjustment of the spacing between the member and the aircraft surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precise implant-retained dental restoration from a casting or solid metal body by fabricating multiple electrodes, which are negatives of the surfaces of the desired restoration, and machining the casting or solid metal body against the electrodes by electrical discharge machining.

Abstract: High temperature melting molybdenum-chromium-silicon alloys having good high temperature strength and specific stiffness are described which comprise Mo--Cr--Si alloys in the Mo-rich (Mo, Cr)--(Mo, Cr).sub.3 Si two-phase field.

Abstract: A heat treatment and hot working method for producing a thin sheet of nickel base superalloy single crystals is described, wherein a single crystal preform of an alloy is first heat treated in vacuum at temperatures below the .gamma.' solvus temperature of the alloy in order to obtain an overaged .gamma.' microstructure in the preform, sized and surface ground in order to remove surface defects, and then preferably surrounded by plates and interlayers of refractory metal or alloy and parting agent coatings; the plates are then welded to form an enclosure and evacuated, preheated and soaked at 1093.degree. to 1150.degree. C. and rolled at roll speeds of about 0.12 to 0.25 rods in successive passes, at about 5 to 15% reduction per pass with reheating at the soaking temperature between successive passes, to a reduction in thickness of 50 to 75%; the plates are then removed and the preform is conditioned, repacked and successively rolled to preselected thickness.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system for analyzing fluid systems is described which comprises a sampling probe which transmits tunable ultraviolet light to a sampling location, the probe including an optical fiber terminating in a sampling structure at the distal end of the probe which is inserted into the liquid to be analyzed, a light source for transmitting a selected excitation light beam to the sample location through the fiber, the resulting fluorescence characteristic of the liquid being transmitted back through the fiber structure to an optical detector. The sampling region at the end of the probe is configured to absorb or reflect away all excess excitation light so that only the resulting characteristic fluorescence is transmitted back to the detector, and may have a microporous base to exclude solid particles from the sampling region.

Abstract: System and method for in situ measurement of haze in a transparency, such as an aircraft windscreen, canopies, windows or the like are described which comprise an annular light source for illuminating a selected test area of the transparency along a selected optical axis, a photodetector, and a lens for projecting an image of the illuminated test area along the axis onto the photodetector.

Abstract: A heat treatment method for producing moderate .alpha. grain size (50-250 .mu.m) fully lamellar, microstructures in thin cross section near-.gamma. titanium aluminide alloy products is described, wherein a wrought, fine y grain starting microstructure is heated at a temperature high in the two-phase .alpha.+.gamma. phase field and 30-60.degree. C. below the .alpha. transus temperature to produce a structure of small equiaxed .alpha. grains (about 25 .mu.m dim) and fine .gamma. phase grains, which is then briefly heated to a temperature in the single-phase .alpha. field in order to complete dissolution of remnant .gamma. grains and to minimize growth of .alpha. grains. The material is then cooled to transform the microstructure to fully lamellar .alpha..sub.2 +.gamma..

Abstract: A method for producing a pattern for making a cast part is described which comprises the steps of defining the structure of the part in terms of computer aided design system data, selecting a parting surface for the part to be cast; defining core requirements for the part by sweeping each positive feature of the part to the parting surface, subtracting the part from the projection, adding any remaining volume to the core, sweeping negative features away from the parting surface to the top or bottom of the mold and subtracting the negative features from the projection and intersecting the remainder of the part and adding any remaining volume to the core; repetitively generating alternative parting surfaces for the part and defining the corresponding core requirements whereby an optimum parting surface is defined for which the quantity and complexity of the corresponding core requirements are minimized, constructing core prints for each core requirement; constructing a pattern by adding the core prints to the p