Abstract: A combination flashlight and high intensity light source has a case containing a flashlight bulb, a high intensity flash lamp such as a Xenon flashlamp, and circuit means for selectively energizing the bulb and lamp to continuously illuminate the bulb and/or flash the lamp. The preferred embodiment is a hand-held self-contained battery powered flashlight having an elongate tubular case with a rear battery compartment for containing dry cells in end-to-end series relation and a front enlarged head portion containing a common reflector for the light bulb and flash lamp and a circuit board mounting the flash lamp flash circuit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical mirror consisting essentially of an electrodeposited nickel-iron face sheet having a relatively low temperature coefficient of expansion on a lightweight graphite backup substrate having approximately the same temperature coefficient of expansion as the electrodeposited nickel-iron face sheet.

Abstract: Solar cells are glassed mechanically to form solar cell stacks, each having a protective coverslide adhesively bonded to the active face of a solar cell, by relative movement of assembly fixtures past a solar cell dispenser which places a solar cell on each fixture, a following adhesive dispenser which applies adhesive to the active face of each cell, and a final coverslide dispenser which applies a coverslide to each cell to form an adhesively bonded cell stack. The preferred adhesive is a liquid adhesive which is applied to a central region only of each active cell face, then spreads over the entire cell face by capillary flow following application of the cell coverslide, and is finally cured by relative movement of the cell stack through an oven or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method for detecting failures of control elements, such as skewed-axis reaction wheels with closed-loop speed control, used in satellite attitude control systems, and for compensating for such failures and thereby maintaining continuity of operation. The apparatus includes a wheel loop model for simulating operation of each of the reaction wheels and speed control loops in the satellite, and for deriving an estimated wheel speed from a command speed for each wheel. By comparing the estimated speed of each wheel with the corresponding actual or observed speed, the apparatus determines whether a failure was occurred in the wheel, or in its control loop.

Abstract: A solar electric power generating panel (solar panel) includes one or more universal electrical junction elements of approximately the same size and shape as conventional solar cells mounted along with the cells on a solar array substrate at any selected cell position or positions of the cell array. Each junction element has terminals which may be electrically connected to interconnects of the solar cells and electrical conductors such as lead wires of the cell array in such a way as to condition the element to serve as a series string termination with or without blocking diodes, an electrical voltage tap with or without blocking diodes, or a mounting for cell shunting diodes. Automatic assembly tooling may be utilized to assemble and electrically connect the solar cells, conductors, and junction elements into a completed solar array.

Abstract: An adjustable turning ratio ratary positioning mechanism has rotary drive and driven members coupled by a flexible drive band, such as a sprocket chain, with oppositely movable runs between the members which are laterally displaceable during rotation of the drive member in such a way as to selectively provide the positioning mechanisms with different predetermined turning ratios, i.e., the turning angle(s) of the driven member(s) per unit turning angle of the drive member. A camera dolly steering mechanism embodying a rotary positioning mechanism according to the invention actuated by a single cam on the dolly steering shaft for selectively steering the dolly in round, crab, and conventional steering modes.

Abstract: An electronic waveguide switch of a latching type particularly suitable for the microwave and millimeter range. The switch comprises a standard three port housing connected to three waveguides. A switchable junction ferrite is disposed in the center of the housing, the ferrite being of the latching type. A driver ferrite is disposed outside of the housing. All ferrite elements have a substantially cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Substantially ash-free carbonaceous reductant for use in reduction processes is made by recovering carbon from unused carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide contacts a catalyst which promotes formation of carbon on the catalyst. Since the off-gases from many metal ore reduction processes employing coke include a significant quantity of carbon monoxide, this carbon monoxide may be recovered and used to form the reductant which is fed to the reduction process to replace a part of the coke consumed. Provided most of the carbon monoxide in the off-gases is utilized, very favorable cost savings are achieved when the ash-free reductant is used in place of the coke. Moreover, in some instances, the ore being reduced may be used as the catalyst. Since this ore-catalyst is at least partially reduced during manufacture of the reductant, a benefit is obtained.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave filter device having an input transducer and an output transducer, in which triple transit effects are minimized by the addition of a second output transducer spaced from the input transducer, preferably by a distance three times the spacing between the normal input and output transducers, to duplicate the triple transit path length. A triple transit signal is thereby simulated at the second output transducer, is adjusted in amplitude and phase, and is applied to a summing circuit in which the simulated triple transit signal is subtracted from a signal derived from the original output transducer, to effectively cancel the triple transit component.

Abstract: The reactants in a chemical laser are mixed to effect a lasing action by expanding one reactant through a relatively large primary nozzle in such a way as to form an expanding reactant flow field whose free expansion is essentially two dimensional in character and occurs predominantly in directions parallel to a given plane (expansion plane) parallel to the flow path of the flow field, and injecting the other reactant into this expanding flow field in such a way that mixing of the reactants occurs by predominantly molecular diffusion of the second reactant into the first reactant flow field in directions transverse to the flow field expansion plane.

Abstract: A prepolymer is comprised of the reaction product of at least one aliphatic bismaleimide, at least one aromatic amine and at least one aromatic bismaleimide in combination with an aliphatic epoxy resin providing at least two functional epoxy groups to provide a low temperature curable composition. The cured products are flexible and strongly adherent to a variety of substrates.

Abstract: A non-arcing modular dielectric array having an electrically conductive substrate mounting a multiplicity of spaced dielectric elements, such as second surface mirrors or solar cells, with outer dielctric surfaces spaced and electrically isolated from the substrate which tend to accumulate electrical charges in a plasma environment creating between the substrate and element surfaces large potential differences which induce arc discharges between the surfaces and substrate. The gaps between adjacent dielectric elements are filled with a resilient filler which provides about the individual elements conductive frames grounded to the substrate for bleeding charges from the element surfaces to the substrate to suppress arc discharges therebetween.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of electrodepositing, on a substrate, a substantially homogeneous admixture (alloy) of nickel and iron containing substantially no iron oxides and having a low temperature expansion coefficient. The method includes the steps of forming an aqueous electrolyte solution of nickel chloride and ferrous sulfate containing ferrous ions and nickel ions present in predetermined concentrations which will yield a nickel iron alloy with predetermined proportions of nickel and iron and having a low temperature expansion coefficient, and electrodepositing the nickel and iron from the solution onto a substrate using a nickel iron anode whose proportions of nickel and iron equal or substantially equal those of the alloy to be deposited, whereby the anode is electrochemically corroded by the solution at substantially 100% efficiency to continuously and uniformly maintain the proper nickel and iron proportions in the solution during the entire electrodeposition process.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring fluid pressure in a subsea petroleum installation or other similarly inaccessible system while isolating the well fluid from the production control system. In one particular form of the invention, a body of secondary fluid is pressure-responsively coupled to but isolated from the oil or other primary fluid of interest by a piston, which subjects the secondary fluid to the pressure existing on the primary fluid. In addition, a measuring device is connected to the secondary fluid to derive an electrical signal representation of the pressure on the secondary fluid as a correlative indication of the wellhead or other pressure actually sought to be measured.

Abstract: Vinyl polybutadiene maleimide prepolymers which are peroxide curable are provided. The prepolymers are formed from the reaction product of a vinyl polybutadiene providing pendant vinyl groups and a maleimide and, more particularly, a mixture of aliphatic maleimides with cycloaliphatic or aromatic maleimides in combination with a peroxide-free radical initiator. The prepolymer is a vinyl polybutadiene backbone structure having grafted maleimide polymers forming cross-linking between polybutadiene backbone segments. The resultant prepolymer can be subsequently cured to a hard resin by heating in the presence of a peroxide-free radical initiator to form cross-linking between vinyl polybutadiene structures through the pendant vinyl groups. The resultant hard resin provides strength retention at elevated temperatures and exhibits a flexibility and strength without being brittle.

Abstract: A plurality of pulsed chemical lasers such as HF or DF lasers are disposed symmetrically about a central axis. Each laser is energized sequentially so that the resulting output laser pulses have substantially consecutive time duration. Hence, the duration of the laser pulses equals the duration of each laser times the number of lasers. Reflectors are provided for combining the output pulses of each laser to generate a segmented output beam.

Abstract: The relative horizontal positions of a floating marine platform and the lower end of a flexible connecting line, such as a cable, drill string, or well bore riser, suspended from the platform are determined by generating angle signals representing the instantaneous vertical slope angles of the connecting line at or near its upper and lower ends, filtering these signals to remove higher order frequencies resulting from variable forcing functions, such as surface wave induced motion of the platform, which produce no net change in the platform position, whereby the filtered angle signals represent the mean terminal slope angles of the envelope of the undulating connecting line, and combining these filtered angle signals in accordance with a predetermined position equation which compensates for phase lag between the sensor measured and true positions of the platform due to the transit time of platform motion induced stress waves or undulations along the connecting line to the lower angle sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel aromatic dianhydride and more particularly to the use of said dianhydride for the preparation of thermally stable high-molecular weight polymers including, for example, polybenzimidazoles, polypyrrones, polyimides, and the like. This dianhydride is obtained by reacting a stoichiometric amount of a disodium salt of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane with 4-chloro-N-phenylphthalimide to obtain an intermediate, 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-phenylphthalimidephenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane, which is oxidized to the corresponding bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]perfluoroisopropylidene dianhydride.

Abstract: A liquid is dispensed to a receiving surface by feeding the liquid under pressure to a dispensing orifice surrounded circumferentially by a convex toroidal boundary surface which is non-wettable by the liquid to form a liquid droplet perimetrically contacting the toroidal boundary surface in a manner which resists lateral displacement of the droplet relative to the orifice, and effecting relative movement of the receiving surface past and in wiping contact with the droplet to transfer liquid from the droplet to the receiving surface while regulating the delivery rate of liquid to the orifice to maintain the droplet. The invention is described in the context of roller bearing lubrication.

Abstract: A rotary mount for an object, such as an instrument or workpiece, has a base supporting a rotor which turns on a fixed axis relative to the base and rotatably supports, in turn, on a second rotation axis inclined to the fixed axis, a platform for supporting the object with a reference axis of the object inclined to the platform rotation axis. The rotor and platform are selectively rotatable individually and in unison in such a way as to angularly and rotatably displace the reference axis through a range of skew angles and directions relative to the fixed axis.Operatively coupled between the base, rotor, and platform are drive means for selectively driving the rotor and platform individually and in unison and angle sensing means for generating signals representing the relative angular positions of the base, rotor and platform in such a way as to permit angular positioning or pointing of the object on the platform with high resolution and driving of the object in a conical, spiral, or the other coning motion.