Abstract: A Sagnac/Michelson distributed sensor is described that is capable of locating the position and amplitude of a time varying environmental signal as well as measuring locally and regionally slowly varying environmental signals. The sensor consists of a Sagnac interferometric loop into which spectrally reflective elements that may be fiber gratings have been placed. A Sagnac interferometric signal derived from counterpropagating beams in the Sagnac loop is used in combination with signals derived from reflected light beams off the spectrally reflective elements in the Sagnac loop which are combined in Michelson interferometer readouts to allow the measurement of environmental signals. Applications of the Sagnac/Michelson sensor include the measurement strains and acoustic sources in buildings, bridges, dams and aerospace platforms. Other applications include the localization of insect infestations in grain storage areas and termites in wooden structures.

Abstract: An engagement interface between a removable cartridge containing a rigid disk for storage of data and a disk drive. The cartridge includes an opening for a hub of the disk for spinning and the disk drive has a magnetic spindle with connecting mechanism for extending the spindle into contact with the hub and retracting it out of contact. The cartridge also includes a disk immobilizer to hold the disk with its hub centered in the opening when the cartridge is outside the disk drive, and a detachable mechanical interconnection between the hub and the housing to retain the hub generally centered in the opening when the disk immobilizer is deactivated as the cartridge is inserted in the disk drive but before the spindle has engaged the hub for instances when the cartridge is inserted in the disk drive with other than a vertical orientation.

Abstract: A fine mesh filter screen is used in the fry pot of a deep fat fryer to remove all but the finest loose food particles after every cooking cycle, which otherwise burn and shorten the life of the cooking oil.

Abstract: Spectrally separated fiber gratings are written in substantially the same location of a birefringent optical fiber to form a multiparameter environmental sensor. This sensor is particularly useful for the measurement of three axes of strain and temperature at a single location in composite material. This is possible due to the splitting of each of the dual overwritten fiber gratings via the birefringence of the optical fiber resulting in four spectral outputs and four equations that may be solved to determine the two transverse strains, the longitudinal strain and the temperature. This invention also describes systems that may be used to demodulate the multiparameter fiber gratings.

Abstract: A non-destructive test system that displays time domain amplitude returns from multi-frequency, multi-phase, constant magnitude RF signals, that are reflected by differences in characteristic impedance of a wire over ground plane transmission line. The reflections are used to detect RF discontinuities or faults in conductive areas that form the ground plane which preferably are resolved using a generalized pencil-of-points algorithm. The nondestructive testing system so constructed is especially useful in testing field repairs of radar absorbing material (RAM) and other features of a conductive object or vehicle whose radar return is to be minimized.

Abstract: Resonant, end fire antennae that operate over broad frequency bands with a boosted gain at a preferred frequency, that can be incorporated into arrays, and that have low RF cross-sections are constructed from a transmission line, usually a piece of coaxial cable that if it is not self supporting, is mounted on or in a lightweight structural material with an outer end with a sheath or stripline the shape of half of a notch. The other half of the notch is formed from a conductor electrically connected to the center conductor of the coaxial cable. The cable and conductor are variably spaced to transition the characteristic impedance of the cable to that of free space. The transmission line and the conductor each have a quarter wavelength tuning stub connected thereto to boost the gain of the antenna at a predetermined frequency. The conductor and the sheath are terminated either with ground connections or by inductive loads.

Abstract: Non-resonant, end fire antennae that operate over broad frequency bands, can be incorporated into arrays and have low RF cross-sections are constructed from a transmission line, usually a piece of coaxial cable that if it is not self supporting, is mounted on or in a lightweight structural material with an outer end with a sheath or stripline the shape of half of a notch. The other half of the notch is formed from a conductor electrically connected to the center conductor of the coaxial cable. The cable and conductor are variably spaced to transition the characteristic impedance of the cable to that of free space. The conductor and the sheath are terminated either with ground connections or by inductive loads.

Abstract: Sagnac interferometer based secure communications systems are integrated into high speed data transfer rate networks using a smaller number of separate fiber optic cables than would be required if networks were constructed from pluralities of point-to-point systems. Redundancy can be provided in the networks to enable the network to operate even if multiple failures occur in the network.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition having high resistance to laser radiation and to thermal radiation, which consists essentially of a phenylpolysiloxane and an additive selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, boron nitride, and mixtures thereof, particularly titanium dioxide, in a proportion of about 10 to about 30 pats of the additive per 100 parts of the polysiloxane. When such elastomer composition is coated on an aerospace vehicle such as a missle, the composition then cured and subjected to high intensity laser radiation or thermal radiation, the composition forms a substantially white char which is effectively reflective to such radiation, thereby protecting such vehicle from the adverse effects of such radiation.

Abstract: A generally V-shaped device (40) that is installed on a surface (48) over which there is a flowing medium (50) whose viscosity causes a boundary layer to form between free-stream medium and the surface. The point (46) of the V-shape generator (40) is oriented facing the down stream direction. Usually a plurality of generators (40) are positioned in a line crosswise to the flow spaced so that the vortices created thereby do not interfere. Flow between the arms (42 and 44) of each generator (40) generates a pair of counterrotating vortices (64 and 68) with diameters (66) much larger than the height of the generator to provide stronger flow control with less parasitic drag than prior art vortex generators. The height of the generator (40) is usually less than the height of the local boundary layer (73), but may extend above the boundary layer (73) especially when the generator (40) is use to control spanwise flow or to reduce tip vortices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying sealant to a countersunk fastener hole. The apparatus includes a sleeve, an adapter tube within the sleeve, a nozzle housing attached to the adapter tube, and a tip within the nozzle housing. A guide pin is attached to the adapter tube and follows an oblique slot in the sleeve. To operate, the sealant applicator is inserted into a countersunk fastener hole, engaging the tip with the countersink of the hole. The tip depresses into the nozzle housing, ejecting sealant onto the countersink. The adapter tube is pushed into the sleeve, moving the guide pin along the oblique slot in the sleeve. This guide pin movement rotates the adapter tube, nozzle housing and tip, causing the tip to uniformly spread the sealant around the countersink.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the flight of a helicopter, in which the pilot commands vehicle state changes, embodies several significant advances to the helicopter control art. Among these are control decoupling to reduce undesired helicopter responses in other axes to pilot inputs in one axis, task oriented control modes which are selected automatically, and automatic control of engine torque and rotor speed constraints. Novel task oriented control modes include independent control of heading and ground track at low speed and turn rate and flight path angle control at higher speeds. Control decoupling is achieved through a combination of force/moment decoupling and open loop prediction methods. Vertical control, traditionally accomplished with collective only, is accomplished in this system with a combination of longitudinal cyclic and collective control, increasing vertical response performance and minimizing engine power change demands.

Abstract: A rolled belt heat exchanger utilizes the increased heat transfer due to a large, extended surface belt. Heat is transferred from a heated roller to the belt, and then allowed to radiate to space as the belt follows a generally flattened oval path away from the heated roller.

Abstract: A method and the resulting structure for attaching a doubler to the damaged skin of an airplane, using the original fastener holes, where the fastener countersinks are filled with interference fitted washers and the new fasteners have an interference fit with the airplane skin, doubler and washers.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel nose assembly for an installation tool for crimping or swaging nuts onto threaded bolts to form a lock-bolt combination. The nose assembly is configured such that its spindle has a bight section or slot to receive a projected head of a pull piston. This provides quick engagement and disengagement of the nose assembly from the installation tool that allows easier and faster change without the use of special tooling.

Abstract: A gantry, having a high powered laser, up to 2,000 watts or larger, mounted on a numerically controlled carriage. The gantry is constructed to support and rapidly move the laser, and a laser delivery system, about a work cell, such that the laser is constantly in close proximity to the working area of a workpiece.

Abstract: An optical projection system is provided wherein a light valve supplies an aperture consisting of spatially separate colors for projection by a plurality of projection lenses to a projection plane. A color correction lens is placed at a selective pupil of the projection system wherein microscopic amounts of selective power are applied to at least one of the spatially seperated colors of the image at the selected pupil to cause a shift of the wavelength to bring all the wavelengths of the spatially separate colors to a common focus.

Abstract: The apparatus and method herein provides for the calculation of shape factors and transfer factors of any object, particularly useful in radiative heat transfer analysis. The object sought to be characterized can be a model of full sized. A radiometer measures the light flux from various surfaces of an object, and a computer is used to assign each flux to a finitely preselected area. After all of the surfaces of the object have been measured and accounted for, the computer is than enabled to compute the shape factor of the object utilizing the relationships stated in the disclosure. Techniques of measurement include illumination/draping, electroluminescent panels, and projective illumination.