Abstract: An improvement in an aircraft refueling boom wherein the boom support attachment provides two axes of motion. The first axis, attached to the fuselage, provides for lateral motion of the boom about a longitudinal or roll axis of rotation essentially parallel to the air stream. The second axis of motion, the pitch axis, is located below and perpendicular to the roll axis so that the pitch axis rolls with any roll motion of the boom and provides for vertical displacement of the boom. The resultant boom nozzle motion is such that vertical displacement occurs in a conventional fashion while lateral displacement takes place in an arc or rolling motion rather than a yawing motion.

Abstract: This solar concentrator system is configured such that the base pedestal attachment point is located on the beam connecting the curved solar reflector and the heat energy receiver power conversion unit, herein envisioned as a Stirling engine. This attachment point is located near the balance point CG (Center of Gravity) of the power conversion unit-supporting beam-curved reflector subsystem such that the loads on the base pedestal and the attached solar tracking drive systems are minimized.

Abstract: An Nd:YAG laser pumped by an array of diode laser bars. The diode laser bars are driven by high frequency pulsed DC and switched so that the bars may be driven in any desirable combination, but not all bars are driven at the same time. Switching between sequential bars must provide an overlap to accommodate the lag between the optical output of the main laser cavity and the input pulse to the diode bar. Althrough the diode bars operate uncooled at a low duty cycle, the YAG output is a continuous wave.

Abstract: This display system comprises, front to rear, an electro-luminescent information bearing display element which is substantially transparent when not energized, a background element which is dark (opaque) when it is energized and substantially transparent when not energized, and a backup display means which is visible when the two front elements are not energized.

Abstract: Ultra low-power GaAs complementary junction field effect transistors are implemented in the design of complementary integrated circuits using a planar technology in conjunction with multiple and selective ion implantation. Both junction FETs, namely the p and n channel devices, are enhancement mode devices and biased in the forward direction thus leading to the advantageous DCFL (directly coupled field effect transistor logic) with one power supply, low power dissipation and high packing densities, all prerequisites for VLSI (very large scale integration).

Abstract: A method of automatically aligning heliostats by comparing the actual sunbeam centroid position on a target to a command reference position to determine the error in the sunbeam centroid location.The sunbeam centroid position error is then analyzed to correlate the error to errors in the heliostats' track alignment system. New coefficients are established for the heliostats' track alignment system to automatically correct for errors in the system, this eliminates the need for resurveying and field work normally associated with aligning heliostats.

Abstract: A display system is constructed such that upon failure of the primary display which comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that becomes transparent upon failure, a backup display located directly beneath the primary display becomes visible to the display user.

Abstract: This transducer multiplexer enables a multiplicity of individual bridge type transducers to be calibrated simultaneously under computer control. The various transducers are connected to a common loading means capable of providing a variety of known loads to the transducers also under computer control. The transducer multiplexer communicates with an external control computer over a standard interface bus.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a part turnover attachment for use with an automated machine tool comprised of a chuck for supporting the tool in the rotatable spindle of the machine tool and a rotatable pickup mechanism that attaches to a workpiece. The rotatable pickup mechanism is rotated by the controlled rotation of rotatable spindle whereby the workpiece can be inverted.

Abstract: A release/restraint mechanism for air-dropped cargo interposed between fixed aircraft structure and the restraining webbing. A fixed arm is oriented opposite a pivoted arm which is fixed in one position and free to rotate in the release position. A restraint arm is pivoted at one end of the fixed arm and engages a cam on the pivoted arm. The pivoted arm is angled about the pivot point so as to provide a side load on the end pivoted arm so as to open the restraint arm when in the release position, freeing the cargo for a gravity air drop.

Abstract: A system for providing a Head-Up Display (HUD) on board an aircraft to assist a pilot in guiding the aircraft. The display is positioned in the pilot's normal line of sight. In one mode it utilizes a radio beam landing system such as an ILS (Instrument Landing System) to generate symbols that correspond to visual ground cues which, together with an aircraft symbol display, provide the pilot with cues for aligning the aircraft on the appropriate path for approach and landing. The system moves the aircraft symbol in accordance with motion changes of the aircraft. During a landing approach the pilot "flies" the aircraft symbol relative to the simulated and/or real ground cues. By making the HUD correspond with ground cues, the abrupt transition from instrumented to visual flight is eliminated. At altitudes below which available ILS is not acceptable, the system provides a smooth transition to a mode independent of ILS and then to a flare mode.

Abstract: A radiation dispersing cavity has its interior surface covered by a plurality of deformations, each of which acts as a dispersing element which is small with respect to the effective diameter of the cavity and yet large with respect to the wavelengths processed by the integrating cavity. The interior surface of the cavity is coated with a material which provides the proper reflectivity for the wavelengths of interest.

Abstract: A valve (10) is provided for the control of fluid flow. The valve (10) includes a housing (20) having a fluid inlet aperture (40) and a fluid outlet aperture (48). A piezoelectric device (12) is disposed within the housing (20) adjacent the fluid inlet aperture (40) and the fluid outlet aperture (48). Structure (52, 54) is provided for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric device (12) for causing motion of the piezoelectric device (12) to thereby establish a path (62) within the housing (20) between the fluid inlet aperture (40) and the fluid outlet aperture (48) to enable fluid to flow through the housing (20).

Abstract: A mechanism for supporting and translating a wing trailing edge flap system. The flap is pivotally supported by a carriage and track at one point and the free ternary link of a four-bar linkage at a second point, to combine and form an overall six-bar linkage system of the Stephenson III type.

Abstract: The address of an operand in computer main memory is computed by a system which utilizes a base memory frame address in combination with a displacement value, indicative of the position in the frame of the operand relative to the base memory frame address, and information relating to the length of the operand to supply system hardware with the necessary information to enable a fetch of the operand from main memory. This system has the capability to compute addresses for multi-byte word operands within a single firmware clock cycle.

Abstract: A vibration sensor is constructed by providing two preferably matched coils of fiber-optic material. When the sensor experiences vibration, a differential pressure is exerted on the two fiber coils. The differential pressure results in a variation in the relative optical path lengths between the two fibers so that light beams transmitted through the two fibers are differently delayed, the phase difference therebetween being a detectable indication of the vibration applied to the sensor.

Abstract: Flat pattern equivalents for curved surfaces may be generated by developing a regular network of quadrilateral grid elements resembling a fish net which is mathematically smoothed onto the curved surface. Surface features such as boundaries and cutouts are mapped onto the network. The network is then transformed onto a flat mapping plane to form a grid in a manner analagous to smoothing a fish net mesh onto a flat surface. The surface features are then transformed to the flat surface grid.Individual plies or parts are then cut based upon the flat patterns. The plies or parts will conform to the curved surface exactly.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic stop for use with drilling and countersinking tools. The stop limits the penetration of the tool into the workpiece by dwelling at a pre-set depth while the machine spindle continues to travel (feed) through a hydraulic override system.A safety relief valve, pre-set to a safe load, will permit the device to collapse or override if the hydraulic or mechanical override system should fail.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is a temperature tracking narrow band optical range finder which includes a prior art GaAs laser diode for emitting a laser energy pulse to a target and an improved GaAs avalanche detector for receiving a reflected pulse from the target. This range finder can be arranged in a single optical axis with the laser diode electrically shielded from the detector and the reflected pulse defocused so as to impinge on the detector area surrounding the laser diode, or it can be arranged by combining the emitted and reflected pulse in an interspersed fiber optical plane.

Abstract: The inventive method is used to make 3-Dimensional reinforced and flanged parts from filaments which are braided or wound flat (parallel to the surface of a mandrel).The method comprises the steps of:depositing a first layer of impregnated reinforcements on a mandrel parallel to the surface of the mandrel;placing separators on a portion of said first layer;depositing a second layer of impregnated reinforcements over the separators and said first layer;cutting said layers at the separators;removing said layers from the mandrel;parting the layers along said separators;removing said separators from said reinforcements;placing said cut and partially separated layers in a mold;conforming the layers to the shape of the mold;curing said impregnated reinforcements into a composite part; andremoving said composite part from said mold.