Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing remote profiling beams pointing altetely to the north, east, west or south by ordered distribution of phase shifts to elements of a square antenna array. Elements within a given group of four array elements share a related group of four phase shift means. Elements in a group trade phase shift means intragroup but there is no intergroup trading. The arrangement permits four-beam capability without unduly increasing the cost or complexity of the radar assembly over prior art assemblies. Also disclosed is a system for "tipping" the array either virtually or physically to obtain a vertical beam.

Abstract: An improved process for shale oil dearsenation comprises coking a retorted hale oil stream following by contacting the liquid coker product with water. Water washing is preferably carried out under ambient conditions to achieve a reduction to less than 3 ppm w soluble arsenic.

Abstract: A process for producing any desired Ba/Ti mixture to be formulated as an amorphous solid which crystallizes at very low temperatures to yield a desired phase or phases is disclosed. The process yields products free of undesirable impurities and allows macroscopic production of certain phases in the baria-titania system, having exceptional high frequency dielectric properties, that were previously unattainable through solid-state high temperature production techniques.

Abstract: Refractory borides or carbides are prepared by contacting an alkali-metal ducible metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride with boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride in an inert solvent in the presence of an alkali metal, the metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride and the boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride being present in an amount about stoichiometrically equivalent to the boride or carbide to be prepared and the alkali metal being present in an amount about stoichiometrically equivalent to the amount of chloride in the metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride and the boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride, until all chloride present has reacted with the alkali metal to form alkali metal chloride, separating the inert solvent to leave a solid residue containing a metal boride, silicon carbide or metal carbide precursor together with the alkali metal chloride, and calcining the residue while separating the alkali metal chloride until the precursor is converted to the refractory boride or carbide

Abstract: An iconic-to-iconic low-level image processor is provided which comprises a lurality of identical sequential intermediate stages located between an input stage adapted to be connected to image sources such as analog or digital television cameras, ranging devices and conformal mapping arrays and an output stage adapted to be connected, e.g. to monitors, robot vision systems, iconic symbolic mapping devices and image processing computers. The intermediate stages are provided with forward pathway connections which afford sequential image processing as well as retrograde (feedback) pathway connections between adjacent stages in reverse sequence and within stage, recursive pathway connections for each stage. The stages each include neighborhood operators and image buffers and a number of operations are supported including neighborhood operations on images within each stage and between-stage operations on each pixel such as threshold, boolean and arithmetic operations, function mappings and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for precisely stabilizing a laser to a sub-Doppler resonance of an absorbing gas contained in a cell located external to the laser resonator. Stabilization is based on the detection of modulation transferred onto a previously unmodulated probe beam by the non-linear interactions of the absorbing gas located in a cell which is subject to a counter-running, frequency-modulated saturation beam. Alternatively, the further modulation of the saturation beam can be detected.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device suitable for high temperature measurements in the range of 500.degree.-2400.degree. C. utilizing a blackbody cavity to emit radiation in the wavelength band of 0.3 .mu.m-1.0 .mu.m. The emitted light is transmitted to a photodetector via a high temperature ceramic fiber which is transparent to the wavelength band radiated. The radiance of the cavity is utilized as a measure of its temperature.

Abstract: An improved flexure hinge permits both angular pivoting and longitudinal expansion and contraction and is made of a body member of solid material which is normally not flexible or expandable. A first recess is defined part-way through the body member at one longitudinally extending edge opposite second and third recesses defined through the opposite longitudinally-extending edge of the body member. The first recess is separated from each of the second and third recesses by web-like portions which are sufficiently thin to permit flexure of the body member about respective first and second axes extending through the first and second web portions, respectively. A stage, moveable along a single axis, employs four such body members, each body member having two double web hinge devices, one double web device being located at each end of the body member. The four body members are disposed symmetrically about the axis along which the stage is moved, and symmetrically about a transverse axis.

Abstract: A heat pipe oven molecular beam source wherein a hollow porous metal, metalloid or ceramic body with at least one opening is nearly saturated with the working material and heated to just above the melting point of the working material, generating a thin liquid layer of the working material on the internal surface of the body. Material passing the length of the bore of the body without striking a wall will escape and form the beam. Material striking the liquid layer covering the inside of the body will condense and be conveyed by capillary action back to the closed end of the body.

Abstract: A twin-etalon scanning spectrometer is disclosed that provides high luminosity and high resolution. The etalons are positioned in spaced relationship with respect to one another in series in the path of an emission light source. With identical etalons so positioned, a line emission transmitted by the rearwardly positioned etalon is at the same angles as that of the forwardly positioned etalon and the light transmission through the etalons is therefore at a maximum. When the relative spacing of the light transmission elements of one etalon is changed, however, the angles of transmission of the etalons are mismatched and the transmission of the light through the etalons is decreased until a minimum is reached when a .lambda./4 change in light transmission element spacing of one etalon relative to the other etalon has been effected.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit for determining the phase difference between an input signal and a reference signal where both signals are of the same frequency. Furthermore, the circuit provides an amplitude output indicative of the input signal even when that signal is obscured by noise. A chopper is supplied with the obscured signal input and a reference signal input and provides an output to an integrator which provides a control voltage for a voltage controlled phase shifter which supplies an out of phase input to the chopper. The input to the voltage controlled phase shifter is of the same frequency as the signal obscured by noise. A further output of the voltage controlled phase shifter is 90.degree. out of phase with respect to the reference supplied to the chopper and thus is in phase with the signal obscured by noise and provides the desired marker output. This marker output is also supplied as a reference to a second chopper which is also supplied with the obscured signal as an input.

Abstract: The thawing time of frozen block food is shortened by subjecting the frozen food to low power sound energy having a frequency in the relaxation frequency spectrum of the ice crystals in the frozen food and having a sound pressure level in the range of about 150-300 dB.

Abstract: Traversing energy flux transmitted into a fiber/matrix composite structure is propagated through the structure in directions which vary depending upon the elastic stiffness condition of the composite. Degradation in elastic stiffness of the composite, from any cause, will result in variations in the direction of travel of the flux through the composite. By determining the direction of flux propagation in the composite, or the portion of the composite structure from which the flux is detected as it exits the structure, the condition of the composite structure, independent of the source of degradation, can be determined.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for remote measurment of temperature (and velocity) profiles in a fluid medium (i.e., the atmosphere and/or oceans). Each device, herein called an echometer, and method are capable of providing remote measurements of temperature through the use of propagated waves (i.e., acoustic or electromagnetic waves) and interferometric principles. By use of Doppler processing, simultaneous measurement can be made of three-dimensional velocities at the same points in space to enable remote measurement of heat fluxes in the atmosphere or ocean.

Abstract: The method disclosed herein relates to the removal of unwanted gases and associated fluids in underground mining operations by utilizing mine boreholes. After the mine borehole has been drilled its desired distance from the mine face, an inflatable packer assembly is inserted therein and placed to the end remote from the mine face. This assembly is made up of at least two spaced inflatable packers wherein the spacer between the packers in conjunction with the borehole defines an isolation zone. Fluid conduit members, suitably supported at the mine face, extend into the borehole and act as supply lines from the two separate fluid sources for the packer assembly and isolation zone. A fracturing fluid under high pressure is supplied to the isolation zone and an inflatable fluid is supplied to the at least two packers to rigidly mount them in the borehole. After a fracture is induced in the zone, an additional amount of fracturing fluid is injected thereinto to extend the fracture.

Abstract: A system is provided for predicting when the failure of a rotating machine ool or part is imminent or when a tool is worn. The system includes a transducer for producing an output related to the workpiece vibrations caused by the machine tool and an analog comparator which compares this output with a threshold signal related to the normal operation of the tool and established by a microcomputer which determines whether further signals which exceed the threshold are produced during each of a predetermined number of subsequent time intervals related to the rotational speed of the tool. If so, a "failure" signal is produced which may be used, for example, to cause retraction of the tool.

Abstract: The thawing time of frozen block fish is shortened by immersing the frozen block fish in a water bath at a maximum temperature of about 10.degree. C. and subjecting the frozen fish to a maximum of about 6 watts of acoustic power having a frequency equal to the relaxation frequency of the polycrystalline ice in the frozen fish and less than 10 kHz, thereby quickly thawing the ice without heating the thawed fish flesh.

Abstract: A process for the electrodeposition of a nickel chromium alloy on a catho substrate comprises:contacting the substrate with an aqueous electrolyte containing: about 50-125 g/l of CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2 O; about 10-125 g/l of NiCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O; about 10-115 g/l of formic acid; about 25-50 g/l of boric acid; and about 50-100 g/l of sodium citrate dihydrate;adjusting the pH of the bath to about 1-5 and the temperature to about 20.degree.-60.degree. C.; andpassing a sufficient current through the solution and to the substrate to effect deposition thereon of a nickel-chromium alloy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the spectral width of a nearly monochromatic source of radiant energy, when the general shape of the spectral line is known. Portions of the signal beam from the source of energy are introduced into two parallel interferometers. In each interferometer, each beam is further divided into parts, one part being delayed with respect to the other part, and the parts then being recombined. The delays or optical path difference are chosen such that each output is a relative extremum. The optical path differences are also chosen such that the two inteferometers have different path differences. The ratio of transmissions of the signal by the two interferometers using the proper optical delays is an indication of the spectral width of the source if the spectral distribution is assumed or approximated.

Abstract: A nonintrusive instrument for measuring the volume flowrate of, and the speed of sound in, an arbitrary fluid in a pipe, tube or duct. The sound speed measured is that of a stationary fluid even though the measurement is made while the fluid may be flowing. These measurements are absolute in that they require no flow calibration, and they are independent of the composition of the fluid and its temperature. For a flowing, approximately perfect gas or gas mixture, given the average molecular weight and ratio of specific heats, the instrument measures the temperature. Also, given an independent measurement of the pressure, it measures the gas density and mass flowrate. The measurement can be made in a high noise level environment even when the temperature varies rapidly over a large range. The instrument uses sound whose wavelength is much longer than the diameter of the pipe, tube or duct.