Abstract: Prills are prepared by melting a salt and introducing the molten salt into carrier liquid. Oxidizing salts of ammonia, ammonium nitrate (AN) and ammonium dinitramide (ADN) are melted with a stabilizer and introduced by dry nitrogen pressure into an inert, perfluorinated carrier liquid of greater specific gravity than the molten salts. In a first embodiment, the carrier liquid is quiescent and below the salt solidification temperature so that prills solidify from drops of the salt rising through a column which substantially retains the liquid. In a second and continuous embodiment, the carrier liquid is initially above the solidification temperature, and the salt is injected into the moving liquid which passes with the molten salt in turbulent flow through a heated conduit, in which stationary vanes disperse the salt into droplets, and then through a cooled conduit for solidification of the salt into prills without agglomeration.

Abstract: A machine provides in situ cutting of a specimen of elastomeric propellant rom a rocket motor wherein an undetached plug is formed by an annular opening cut through the motor casing and into the propellant. The machine has a length of resilient wire secured at its ends to a rod for forming a loop mounted on the rod. The rod is inserted into the opening at one side of the plug with the loop around the plug. The rod is then rotated to wind the wire onto the rod so as to contract the loop and sever the plug. A tray is pivotally mounted on the rod between the rod and the plug with the wire passing through slots in the tray. The tray is inserted into the opening beside the specimen so as to prevent engagement of the rod with the specimen during cutting and to receive the detached specimen for removal from the motor. The rod and tray extend from an assembly having an air motor rotating the rod through reduction gearing and through an overrunning clutch which drives in the loop contracting direction.

Abstract: A driver circuit having logic circuitry which controls the coil and assoced contacts of a four pole double throw relay. The four pole double throw relay is toggled such that a large latching current flows through a first of a pair of solenoid coils of the magnetic-latching solenoid, while a relatively small current flows in the second solenoid coil of the magnetic latching solenoid in an opposite direction. Toggling the relay's coil causes the latching current to now flow through the second solenoid coil of the valve, while the relatively small current flows in the first solenoid coil of the magnetic latching solenoid again in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A circuit for disconnecting a battery from a battery powered load whenever he battery's output voltage drops below a specified battery cell voltage. The circuit includes a relay having a coil and a normally open contact which connects the battery to its load when the coil is energized. When the battery's output voltage drops below the specified battery cell voltage, which is about 1.8 volts per cell, the relay coil will de-energize disconnecting the battery from the load. A battery charger continuously charges the battery to maintain its output voltage. The relay coil is energized closing the relay contact when the battery charges to a predetermined charging voltage which is approximately 2.2 VDC per cell. Closing the relay contact again connects the battery to its load.

Abstract: A process for producing monoclinic celsian comprising the steps of forming a mixture of an alkoxide of silica, an alkoxide of aluminum, and a salt of barium; adding a catalyst of a fluorine containing compound to the mixture; calcining the catalyzed mixture; and, heat treating the calcined mixture. This process uses a sol-gel process to progressively increase the amount of monoclinic phase in relation to the hexagonal celsian. Additionally, a process for producing monoclinic strontium aluminosilicate is disclosed.

Abstract: A machine performs in situ excision of a specimen of tough and highly elac solid propellant from a fin of the propellant disposed within a cavity extending from the nozzle opening of a rocket motor. The machine is mounted at the opening and has a rod extended into and moved generally axially of the cavity by an actuator assembly. A knife is mounted at one side of the rod end within the chamber. A mounting assembly supports the actuator assembly on the rocket motor and provides selective positioning of the actuator assembly axially of the cavity, of the angle of rod movement to the cavity axis, and of the knife position rotationally within the cavity. The actuator assembly has a guide received in the mounting assembly. The rod extends through the guide which prevents rotation of the rod while guiding it axially. From the guide, the rod extends successively to and through an air cylinder and a hydraulic dampening cylinder to a rod end bearing an adjustable stop for selecting the axial movement of the rod.

Abstract: A secured network system which will allow only authorized users of the seed network system to access classified data provided by a secured network server. The secured network system includes a readykey controller which has connected thereto a plurality of card readers. A user of the secured network system inserts a microchip embedded card into one of the card readers which then provides an authorization signal to the readykey controller indicating that the user is authorized to use one of a plurality of computers within the secured network system to receive and process classified data. The readykey controller sends an enable signal to a data relay switch enabling a data line associated with the card reader and the computer selected by the user allowing classified data to be transmitted from the secured network server through the data relay switch to the selected computer.

Abstract: Introduction of sample stream air into argon inductively coupled plasma permits continuous monitoring of hazardous air pollutant metals in combustion flue gases. In addition to entrained particulates, various molecular components of flue gas are in the plasma. These species, and reaction products thereof, such as CN species, also undergo excitation resulting in complex emission spectra of appreciable intensity. Serious spectral interference arises for several metal elements, from molecular emission bands associated with the stable CN radical, and other poly-atomic species, such as NO. Failure to account for these interferences can significantly degrade accuracy of monitoring particularly at low metal concentrations in the flue gas.

Abstract: A computer software program for replacing drop-out pixels and erroneous re values in the range channel of a laser detection and ranging system with a median pixel value in a moving square window centered about a pixel being processed whenever a co-registered intensity pixel value in the intensity channel falls below an intensity threshold. During the processing of each range pixel of the target, the computer software program will not alter the range value of the pixel if its corresponding intensity pixel has an intensity value above the intensity threshold. When the intensity value of the corresponding intensity pixel is below the threshold, the intensity guided filter replaces the range value with the median value of all the "good" pixels within a moving window the size of a kernel having X and Y dimensions. This results in the intensity guided filter smoothing out noisy pixels in the range channel of while retaining edge pixel values for the image.

Abstract: A directional hearing aid comprising a slave microphone for the right ear d a master microphone for the left ear, each of which receive audio information from an external source. The output signal from the master and slave microphones are each provided to fifty hertz bandwidth filters each of which has a center frequency selected from the middle range frequency of the human voice. The output signal from the slave microphone is provided to a modulator which then provides a sixty kilo-hertz frequency modulated carrier signal. The carrier signal is transmitted through the head of the user to a receiver, demodulated and then supplied to a phase comparator. The phase comparator compares the phase of the signals from the master and slave microphones and then provides phase comparison data to a computer. The computer processes the data generating command signals which are supplied to a pair of broad band audio amplifiers.

Abstract: A video system, comprising a pair of digital video cameras and a data prosing system, which is used to determine the location of a golf ball during flight and the location of the golf ball when its flight is completed. The video cameras are fixedly mounted on a golf cart and boresighted to insure that the field of view for one camera overlaps the field of view for the other camera allowing the golf ball to be tracked after the golf ball is struck by the golfer. Each of the video cameras has an image array comprising a plurality of image sensing elements. As the golf ball travels along its flight path a light image of the golf ball is detected by at least one of the image sensing elements of the image array for each camera during a scan of the camera's image array. Each camera generates a data bit stream indicating the location of the image sensing elements on the image array which sense the golf ball's light image for each scan of the image array.

Abstract: The non-toxic bipropellent of the present invention contains a non-toxic ergolic miscible fuel (NHMF) and a rocket grade hydrogen peroxide. This non-toxic hypergolic miscible fuel (NHMF) has rapid ignition capability. The non-toxic hypergolic miscible fuel (NHMF) contains 3 species. Namely, a polar organic species miscible with hydrogen peroxide, a propagator, which may be substituted or unsubstituted amines, amides or diamines, and an inorganic metal salt, which reacts to form a catalyst in solution or as a colloid. The inorganic metal salt is miscible with the polar organic species and the propagator in solution. The catalyst has a faster rate of reaction with said rocket grade hydrogen peroxide than the propagator, the propagator has a faster rate of reaction with the rocket grade hydrogen peroxide than the polar organic species, and the polar organic species, propagator and catalyst are mutually soluble.

Abstract: A plasma torch for reliable analysis of airborne particulate matter permits real-time monitoring of airborne metal pollutants in flue gases from furnaces and incinerators. The torch injects sample air into argon plasma and has an outer tube to confine plasma gas for generating a plasma fireball. An intermediate tube has an outwardly flared portion concentrically disposed within the outer tube to form an outer annulus for feeding plasma gas to the fireball. The intermediate tube also has an injector sheath tube joined at its base to the base of the flared portion and concentrically disposed within the flared portion. The injector sheath tube is parallel to the outer tube. An inner capillary injector tube injects sample air into the plasma fireball.

Abstract: Until recently, conducting polymers have been used as protective coatings. lthough these types of polymers appear to be effective in most cases, problems have resulted when attempting to bind these polymers to an aluminum surface. The polymers of this invention adhere extremely well to aluminum and aluminum alloys and thus, provide a very effective form of corrosion protection.

Abstract: A secured network system comprising a readykey controller connected to a st card reader and a power relay switch. The user inserts a microchip embedded card into the first card reader which transmits a first electrical authorization signal to the readykey controller indicating that the user is authorized to use a computer for receiving and processing classified data. The readykey controller then supplies a first enable signal to a power relay switch activating the power relay switch which couples the computer's power supply to an external power source. The secured network system also allows the user to receive and process classified data, by setting a manual A/B switch to a predetermined position which allows a secured network server to be connected to the computer. The user next inserts his proximity card into a second card reader which then transmits a second electrical authorization signal to the readykey controller indicating that the user is authorized to receive and process classified data.

Abstract: Synthesis of a vinyl terminated polymer by reacting a cationically polymeable monomer in the form of a cyclic ether with an acid chloride in a suitable solvent and in the presence of a Lewis acid. The vinyl-terminated polymers can be polymerized with other appropriate monomers resulting in thermoplastic elastomers having suitable properties for use as binders for explosives and propellants.

Abstract: Fine aluminum powders are prepared by decomposing alane-adducts in organic solvents under an inert atmosphere to provide highly uniform particles selectably sized from about 65 nm to about 500 nm and believed particularly effective as fuels and additives, in pyrotechnics, and in energetic materials including composites, super thermite, and other explosives. Effective adduct species are trialkyl amines and tetramethylethylenediamine, ethers and other aromatic amines being believed effective. Effective production is obtained at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures as low as 50.degree. C. with xylene solvent. Increased production rate is achieved at higher temperatures. Toluene, dioxane, and tetramethylethylenediamine were also effective solvents. Aliphatic solvents and other aromatic and polar solvents are believed effective.

Abstract: A memory card drive which is compatible with MS-DOS computer systems as w as other computers which do not use MS-DOS as the operating system. The memory card drive comprises an embedded server which is a bridge between a client computer and a pair of memory cards allowing for communication and data transfer between the client computer and the memory cards. The server includes an ethernet interface which connects the server to ethernet bus which is connected to the client computer. The server has a memory card interface module which allows the client computer to communicate with the memory cards and thereby transfer data to the memory cards and retrieve data from the memory cards. The server also includes an embedded computer which enables and controls the functions and operation of the memory card interface and ethernet interface using a computer software program. The embedded computer has a two megabyte hard drive which has the computer software program stored therein.

Abstract: A test system for use in testing Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting and Structl Pumper vehicles equipped with fire fighting foam distribution systems. The dye piping arrangement for the test system uses a dye concentrate and water mixture which are delivered into the dye water foam free test system through a three way ball valve, a proportioner and eductor. Fluid flow through the eductor generates a vacuum or negative pressure within the eductor. The dye concentrate from a dye storage bottle is then suctioned into the foam distribution system by the negative pressure within the eductor. A needle valve, check valve and a dye solenoid valve are included in the system. The needle valve meters the amount of dye suctioned into the dye water foam distribution system. The check valve prevents any fluids from back flowing into the dye concentrate tank. The normally closed dye solenoid valve is remotely operated by an ON-POWER OFF-OFF three position switch.

Abstract: This invention is comprised of new nonlinear optic polymers and a new Lanir-Blodgett (LB) film deposition scheme for which these polymers were designed. The invention is unique because it produces an electro-optic film which has never undergone electric-field poling nor high temperature treatment. It eliminates the dilution effect of the long hydrophobic alkyl groups, and creates stronger ionic bonds between the polymer chains. Finally, the invention reduces the time to make a film of a given thickness by at least half by virtue of depositing two polymer layers per stroke. The new polymers are comprised of asymmetric chromophores linked head-to-head by alternating two different kinds of bridging groups. One of the bridging groups contains one or more ionic groups, and the other bridging group contains one or more non-ionic, hydrophilic groups.