Abstract: A bi-directional, conical carbon-carbon clutch bearing engagement mechanism for the inner race of a conventional rolling element bearing comprising a plurality of wave springs for axially urging the clutch into a non-engaged position, and a guide consisting of contiguous pairs of non-parallel ball raceways and a ball positioned in both pairs of the ball raceways whereby relative rotation of the ball raceway pairs in opposite directions results in axial movement of the clutch ring housings in opposing axial directions to an engaged position. The mechanism includes a pair of conical carbon-carbon rings mounted in the movable clutch ring housings conformed to engage opposing conical shaft runners.

Abstract: An evaporative refrigerator or cooler comprising a bundle of spaced, porous walled tubes closed at one of their ends and vented to a vacuum at the other end is disclosed. The tube bundle is surrounded by a water jacket having a hot water inlet distribution manifold and a cooled water outlet through a plenum chamber. In operation, hot water is pumped into the jacket to circulate around the tubes, and when this water meets the vacuum existing inside the tubes, it evaporates thereby cooling the water in the jacket. If cooling proceeds to the point where water penetrating or surrounding all or part of the tubes freezes, operation continues with local sublimation of the ice on the tubes while the circulating water attempts to melt the ice. Under some conditions, both sublimation and evaporation may take place simultaneously in different regions of the device.

Abstract: A spring assembly consisting of an elongate piece of flat spring material formed into a spiral configuraton and a free running spool in circumscribing relation to which this spring is disposed. The spring has a distal end that is externally accessible so that when the distal end is drawn along a path, the spring unwinds against a restoring force present in the portion of the spring that resides in a transition region between a relatively straight condition on the path and a fully wound condition on the spool. When the distal end is released, the distal end is accelerated toward the spool by the force existing at the transition region which force is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the spring.An accelerator having a carriage for a test load and a pair of the above mentioned spring assemblies installed to bias the carriage toward the center of a linear path on which the carriage is constrained to move.

Abstract: An axisymmetric air intake system for a jet aircraft engine comprising a fixed cowl extending outwardly from the face of the engine, a centerbody coaxially disposed within the cowl, and an actuator for axially displacing the centerbody within the cowl. The cowl and centerbody define a main airflow passageway therebetween, the configuration of which is changed by displacement of the centerbody. The centerbody includes a forwardly-located closeable air inlet which communicates with a centerbody auxiliary airflow passageway to provide auxiliary airflow to the engine. In one embodiment, a system for opening and closing the centerbody air inlet is provided by a dual-member centerbody, the forward member of which may be displaced axially with respect to the aft member. The air inlet is open when the forward centerbody member is in a first, rearward position with respect to the aft member.

Abstract: A cathode ray oscilloscope deflection system selectively displays an integral number of cycles of a periodic or quasi-periodic input signal, regardless of the frequency of the signal. A wide band phase locked loop, synchronized to the input signal, generates pulses at a pulse repetition rate that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the input signal. A ripple counter converts the pulses into a staircase, x-axis deflection signal having a period equal to the duration of the number of cycles of the input signal selected for display and a predetermined maximum amplitude so that the x-axis of the scope is always swept the same distance regardless of the frequency of the input signal. The number of cycles displayed is determined by the repetition rate of the phase locked loop pulses relative to the frequency of the input signal.

Abstract: A single magnetic, radial bearing having a disc with an axis coincident with the bearing or shaft axis, the bearing passively supporting an annulus which forms a radial gap between its inner circumferential edge and the circumferential edge of the disc. The disc has a relatively large diameter compared to its length along the axis.

Abstract: Improved stability is provided in a hingeless helicopter rotor by inclining the principal elastic flexural axes and coupling pitching of the rotor blade with the lead-lag bending of the blade. The primary elastic flex axes can be inclined by constructing the blade of materials that display non-uniform stiffness and the specification describes various cross section distributions and the inclined flex axes resulting therefrom. Also described are arrangements for varying the pitch of the rotor blade in a predetermined relationship with lead-lag bending of the blade, i.e., bending of the blade in a plane parallel to its plane of rotation.

Abstract: A phase modulated wave that may have no carrier power is demodulated by a phase locked loop including a phase detector for deriving an A.C. data output signal having a magnitude and a phase indicative of the phase of the modulated wave. A feedback loop responsive to the data output signal restores power to the carrier frequency component to the loop. In one embodiment, the feedback loop includes a phase modulator responsive to the phase modulated wave and the data output signal. In a second embodiment, carrier frequency power is restored by differentiating the data output signal and supplying the differentiated signal to an input of a voltage controlled oscillator included in the phase locked loop. Preferably, the phase modulator is linear and includes a series inductance-capacitance network, wherein the capacitor is a voltage controlled varactor. To compensate for nonlinearities in the varactor reactance vs. voltage characteristic, the series circuit is shunted by a properly selected inductance.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for limiting turn-on current inrush and current rate of rise in DC-to-DC power converters. A transistor control circuit is disposed between the input DC power source and the transistor oscillator circuit of the converter to provide a ramp of current thereto. The transistor control circuit functions as a time-variable current limiter initially while in the active region and as a saturated switch in the steady-state region. A feedback arrangement allows the saturation drive current to be provided from the converter at a lower voltage level than that which may be required from the DC power source to reduce dissipation and increase efficiency.

Abstract: A percutaneous connector device for facilitating the passage of electrical signals from an external source through the skin of a patient to internal portions of the body such as muscles and nerves. The connector device includes a bio-compatible shell having an enlarged disk shaped portion for being implanted below the skin of the patient. The shell has a first and second electrically conductive post carried therein upon which a plug can be readily connected and disconnected therefrom. A modified form of the invention utilizes a unipolar connector that is adapted to be plugged into a shell implanted below the skin of a patient. Both of the connector devices are designed so as to be separated when a predetermined force is applied thereto in order to prevent excessive force from being applied to the implanted bio-compatible shell.

Abstract: A fixture is removably affixed to a workpiece thereby providing a temporary reference edge positioned parallel to a reference line and a known distance from a reference point on the workpiece. The temporary reference edge in cooperation with a guide and a cutting blade of a cutting table enables the workpiece to be accurately cut with respect to the reference line and reference point without first having to cut a reference edge on the workpiece.

Abstract: A rotary piston internal-combustion engine adapted to operate on a hydrogen fuel gas mixture injected into the intake chamber of the engine through a plurality of spaced intake ports in the engine housing designed to distribute the flow of the fuel gas mixture evenly along the width of the intake chamber. The exhaust gas outlet of the engine includes a plurality of spaced small exhaust ports so as to decrease the dwell of the apex seal of the rotary piston as it passes over the exhaust gas outlet. The fuel supply system to the engine includes a plurality of mixing chambers to ensure thorough and uniform mixing of the fuel gas mixture, an intake header for distributing the fuel gas mixture to the intake ports, and means for preventing back-fire of the fuel gas mixture in the system. Lubricant may be supplied to the interior of the engine through the fuel intake ports in the form of a lubricating vapor in admixture with the fuel gas mixture.

Abstract: An actuator device is provided for moving an artificial leg of a person having a prosthesis replacing an entire leg and hip joint. The device includes a first articulated hip joint assembly carried by the natural leg and a second articulated hip joint assembly carried by the prosthesis whereby energy from the movement of the natural leg is transferred by a compressible fluid from the first hip joint assembly to the second hip joint assembly for moving the artificial leg.

Abstract: A device for enhancing the detection of malignant tissue in the breasts of a woman comprises a brassiere-like garment which is fitted with a pair of liquid-perfused cooling panels which completely and compliantly cover the breasts and upper torso. The garment is connected by plastic tubing to a liquid cooling system comprising a fluid pump, a solenoid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to either the cooling unit or the heating unit, a fluid reservoir, a temperature sensor in the reservoir, and a restrictor valve to control the pressure in the garment inlet cooling line.

Abstract: A smoke generator is disclosed which is particularly suitable for mounting on the wing tips of an aircraft and for conducting airflow studies. The device includes a network of thermally insulated tubes for carrying a fluid which is used to produce smoke. The fluid, which need not be combustible, is heated above its vaporization temperature by electric current which is passed through the fluid conduit tubes, so that the tubes serve both as fluid conduits and resistance heating elements. Fluid supply and monitoring systems and electrical control systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for launching a remotely piloted aircraft is disclosed wherein the aircraft, is revolved about a fixed pivot point until a pretermined speed is reached whereupon the vehicle is released from the launching apparatus. The vehicle is attached to one end of a rotatable arm, the imbalance on the arm being counteracted by a counter weight attached to the opposite end. The counter weight is released from the arm at the same time as the aircraft so as to avoid structural damage to the apparatus caused by rotation in the unbalanced condition. The arm is oriented such that it rotates in a plane inclined obliquely to the local gravitational field of the launch site. The supporting structure for the arm may be made stationary, or may be attached to a mobile vehicle for ground transportation.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for regulating the flow of solution from a fluid reservoir to the vein of a patient. All of the embodiments of the present invention include a first fluid chamber having an inlet and a discharge port and means disposed within a first fluid chamber for maintaining the level of solution therein between upper and lower levels. In all of the embodiments of the present invention, an upper and lower valve seat is provided within the first chamber which interacts with a float or floats contained therein to from two valve mechanisms which maintain a constant rate of flow of solution independent of the initial height or variations in height of solution contained within the reservoir during its depletion. In two of the embodiments of the present invention, a second fluid chamber is coupled to the first fluid chamber by means of a drip chamber which permits the visual counting of the rate of flow of solution from the first chamber to the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: High speed data monitoring apparatus for displaying the bit pattern of a selected portion of a block of transmitted data comprising a shift register for receiving the transmitted data and for temporarily containing the consecutive data bits therein, a programmable sync detector for monitoring the contents of the shift register and for generating a sync signal when the shift register contains a predetermined sync code, a counter for counting the data bits input to the shift register after the sync signal is generated and for generating a count complete signal when a selected number of data bits have been input to the register, a data storage device for storing the contents of the shift register at the time the count complete signal is generated, and a display for displaying the segment of data stored in the storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for converting thermal energy such as solar energy into mechanical motion for driving fluid pumps and the like. The thermal motor comprises an inner concentric cylinder carried by a stationary core member having a cylindrical disc plate fixed adjacent a lower portion thereof and extending radially therefrom, and an outer concentric cylinder rotatably carried on the disc plate defining a space between the inner and outer concentric cylinders. A spiral tubular member encircle the inner concentric cylinder and is contained within the space between said inner and outer cylinders having a first portion connected to the inner concentric cylinder and a second portion connected to the outer concentric cylinder. A heated fluid is conveyed through the tubular member and is periodically cooled causing the tubular member to expand and contract, thus causing the outer concentric cylinder to reciprocally rotate on the base plate accordingly.

Abstract: 1. The method of casting a solid propellant in the casing of a rocket engine of spherical form having a continuous wall with a single opening therein which comprises, forming leaves of a material which melts at a temperature below the ignition temperature of the propellant and with curved edges concentric to the curvature of the spherical casing, inserting the leaves into the spherical casing through the opening therein, assembling the leaves to form a core having a greater width than the width of the single opening and with curved peripheral edges, casting the propellant around the core, curing the cast propellant to form a solid mass, and then supplying a heating medium in heat exchange relation with the core at the interior of the casting to melt the leaves and provide a central opening with flutes projecting radially therefrom.