Abstract: A crew protection system designed to isolate an aircraft crew and provide a means for safely evacuating an aircraft, particularly hypersonic vehicles, in emergency situations. The crew compartment is designed within the forebody of the main vehicle. The forebody is designed so as to separate cleanly from the main vehicle as by generation of a circumferential structural break, in the event of a catastrophic failure or explosion of the main vehicle fuel tank. In the event of such an uncommanded failure of the main tank and propellant combustion, resulting in the above noted structural failure, the resultant pressure impulse thrusts the forebody containing the crew compartment clear from the remainder of the vehicle. The provision of a system of baffles in the forebody between the crew compartment and the fuel tank, and the shape of the forebody and the materials used in its construction mitigate the effects of the blast pressure impulse on the crew.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for maintaining a constant temperature across an electrically conductive specimen required to be mechanically tested. The invention includes resistance heating the specimen to a desired level during mechanical testing. The specimen is also simultaneously induction heated to a desired level. The resistance heating and inductive heating cooperate so as to heat the specimen to a desired substantially constant temperature during mechanical testing.

Abstract: Process for producing a cap flange structure, particularly a sinewave I-beam structure comprises joining together a pair of metal sheets in a predetermined area spaced from the opposite outer edge portions of the sheets, and leaving the area between the adjacent sheets along the two opposite edge portions unattached. The joined together portion of the resulting assembly is formed into a sinewave configuration which forms the web of the I-beam structure. The unattached edge portions of the assembly of adjacent sheets is introduced into a die cavity and the die cavity is heated and a gas under pressure is inserted into the area between the sheets of the unattached edge portions, and expanding the sheets of the unattached edge portions into the shape of the die cavity against the wall of the cavity by an accordion expansion without any substantial stretching or thinning of the sheets, while simultaneously moving such sheets in the die cavity.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger system wherein a primary conditioning fluid is reactive with a fluid to be conditioned, a leak safe arrangement of concentric tubes disposed across the conditioned fluid flow path having the reactive primary fluid in a central duct surrounded by inert fluid in an outer duct so that single failure leak of primary conditioning fluid or inert fluid presents no risk of harmful reaction with conditioned fluid. The heat exchanger system is used in an air collection and enrichment system in a hypersmic vehicle propulsion system.

Abstract: A manual keyhole plasma arc welding system including a power source; a manual arc welding torch assembly which includes, a) a hollow shield cup, b) a orifice subassembly concentrically disposed within the shield cup, and c) an electrode concentrically disposed within the orifice subassembly; a shield gas source; and a plasma gas source. A shield gas discharge annulus is formed between a terminal edge of the shield cup and the terminal end of the orifice subassembly. The terminal edge of the shield cup is extended beyond the terminal end of the orifice subassembly to produce a laminar shield gas discharge flow through the discharge annulus, providing cooling of the orifice subassembly. A plasma gas discharge annulus is formed between the terminal end of the orifice subassembly and a terminus of the electrode. A first terminal of the power source is connected to the electrode and a second terminal of the power source is connected to the workpiece. The power source provides a sinewave alternating current.

Abstract: An electrically conductive article comprising a dielectric substrate, such as a fabric, e.g., fiberglass fabric, and an electrically conductive inorganic nickel sulfide layer which is adherent to the substrate and has good electrical conductivity and stable electrical characteristics at high temperature. Such article is produced by contacting a porous dielectric substrate, such as fiberglass fabric, with an aqueous solution containing a soluble nickel salt, such as nickel sulfate, and a sulfur donor, such as sodium thiosulfate, drying the resulting wet substrate at ambient temperature, and heating the resulting substrate at elevated temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. to form an electrically conductive layer of nickel sulfide on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of determining oxidation on a titanium aluminide material. An aqueous saturated solution of oxalic acid is prepared. The saturated solution of oxalic acid is combined with a minor portion of hydrofluoric acid solution. The resultant oxalic acid/hydrofluoric acid solution is mixed. The titanium aluminide material is immersed in the mixed solution for a sufficiently long period to allow exposure of the oxidized surface followed by inspection thereof for a white layer indicating the presence of oxidation on its surface.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for efficient mounting of wire bundles, hydraulic tubing and other extended service conduits is comprised of a unitary support plate having a triad of support clamp elements formed of strong, resilient metal or plastic with appropriately sized securable openings and means for attaching it to structure in confined or space critical areas or volumes.

Abstract: A hatch opener mechanism mounted flush with a skin panel having a rotatable disk with subjacent spindles and actuator rods, activated by rotating the disk with tool insertable into a socket with a spring biased cover at the center of the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting the head of a crew member sitting in a forward posture in a vehicle during high "G" accelerations is disclosed. The invention comprises an upper torso assembly secured to the crew member's upper torso and a head support member. The head support member is hingedly connected to the upper torso assembly for preventing the crew member's head from rotating forward when sitting in a forward lean posture during high G accelerations. The apparatus thereby maintains the proper head position for viewing aircraft displays and viewing the vehicle's external environment. The head support member further allows for free head mobility when the crew member is in the normal upright sitting position.

Abstract: A reciprocating rotary tool driver is driven by a motive source which provides power to its tool through a splined shaft while the rotating tool is oscillated in a vertical mode by means of spur gear, worm gear, and crank means.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the physical properties of superplastically formed and solution heat treated Aluminum-Lithium workpieces entails stretching near-net parts by from 2 to 10 percent at a specified temperature, followed by controlled aging.

Abstract: An array of plane mirrors allows forward view of space volumes normally obscured by craft structure without the use of forward facing transparencies. In submerged cockpit aerospace craft, such a system may utilize a deployable upper mirror to reflect such space volumes onto a control mirror for the pilot's use in takeoff and landing operations, allowing the pilot the same visual cues as would be available through a forward facing transparency in front of an apaprent eye position external to the cockpit.

Abstract: An electrically conductive article comprising a dielectric substrate, such as a fabric, e.g., fiberglass fabric, and an electrically conductive inorganic nickel sulfide layer which is adherent to the substrate and has good electrical conductivity and stable electrical characteristics at high temperature. Such article is produced by contacting a porous dielectric substrate, such as fiberglass fiber, with an aqueous solution containing a soluble nickel salt, such as nickel sulfate, and a sulfur donor, such as sodium thiosulfate, drying the resulting wet substrate at ambient temperature, and heating the resulting substrate at elevated temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. to form an electrically conductive layer of nickel sulfide on the substrate.

Abstract: A high speed aircraft fitted with a unitary, rotatable wing coupled to the craft's fuselage at a hollow turret or solid pivot pin, enabling it to operate with the wing in either of two ninety degree opposed positions.

Abstract: A primary load bearing structure particularly adapted for hypersonic aerospace vehicles utilizing a cryogenic liquid fuel, and comprised of a plurality of rigid load bearing, fluid passageways or tubes connected together in the form of a panel structure. Such panel structure and the passageways or the tubes thereof form the outside surface of the aerospace vehicle and are also positioned adjacent to or integral with a wall of the cryogenic liquid fuel tank. During flight, cryogenic liquid fuel is passed through the tubes to provide cooling for the external surface of the vehicle. When the aerospace vehicle is on the ground, the load bearing tubes can be evacuated to provide insulation for the cryogenic liquid fuel tank to thus prevent formation of frost and liquid air on the outside surface of the tank, as well as on the external surface of the aerospace vehicle and prevent heat transfer to the tank.

Abstract: A multipass heat exchanger comprising an arrangement of a plurality of heat exchanger modules, each module having a plurality of passes for passage of a first heat exchange fluid and a plurality of tubes across such passes for passage of a second heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger modules are disposed in side-by-side relation, with each successive module adjoining the previous module in a stepped relation, the second exchanger module being positioned relative to the first module so that the first heat exchanger fluid leaving the first pass of the first heat exchanger module enters directly the second pass of the second module, and so on, in a straight through fashion, for as many passes as desired. The result is a highly efficient multipass heat exchanger of minimum weight and pressure loss in the flow path on the shell side of the exchanger, comprised of multiple heat exchanger units, with no reversal of flow in each pass in each exchanger unit.

Abstract: A flight management console for an air vehicle. The console includes an elongated pedestal connected at a first end to a rigid support structure located forward and below the front instrument panel of the vehicle. The elongated pedestal is capable of translating up and aft or down and forward relative to the front instrument panel and is positioned forward of an associated seat along a plane which bisects that associated seat and is parallel to the pitch plane of the vehicle. Primary flight controls are mounted on a second end of the pedestal. The console includes adjustment means for positioning the pedestal at the desired location along the plane which is parallel to the pitch plane. Therefore, the console allows easy ingress, egress and control of the primary flight controls according to the individual crewmember's anthropometry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting and controlling the output of a pressure compensated pump during operation is disclosed. The invention comprises a pressure compensated pump having a control inlet for the introduction of a digitally selected reference pressure. Means are provided for producing such a digitally selected reference pressure. Preferably, the means for producing this reference pressure includes a flow regulator for receiving fluid under pressure and establishing a constant pilot fluid flow; a plurality of conduits coupled in parallel to the output of the flow regulator between the flow regulator and a reservoir return flow; and, means individual to at least two of the conduits for controlling fluid flow in proportion to successive digital commands. The control inlet is also connected to the output of the flow regulator, the resulting reference pressure in the control inlet being generated by selected conduit flow areas characterized by the digital commands.