Abstract: A propellant module assembly is adapted for containing a liquid propellant which is used to inflate a vehicular air bag. The module assembly includes an igniter; a liquid propellant; a propellant and igniter capsule; and a rupturable closure member. The capsule and rupturable member are compatible with, and will not deteriorate as a result of contact with the liquid propellant. The liquid propellant, when ignited, will not produce toxic gases, and will not subject vehicle occupants to the possibility of chemical burns, as can occur with solid propellants.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a copper base substrate coated with a tin base coating layer. To inhibit the diffusion of copper from the substrate into the coating layer and the consequential formation of a brittle tin/copper intermetallic, a barrier layer is interposed between the substrate and the coating layer. This barrier layer contains from 10% to 70%, by weight, of nickel and is preferably predominantly comprised of copper. In one embodiment, an intermetallic layer selected from the group (Cu--Ni).sub.3 Sn, (Cu--Ni).sub.6 Sn.sub.5, Cu.sub.3 Sn, Cu.sub.6 Sn.sub.5 is disposed between the barrier layer and the tin base coating layer.

Abstract: There is provided a component for an electronic package and a method for the manufacture of that component. The component has a metallic substrate with a surface coated by a dielectric. A centrally disposed cavity extends through the dielectric into the metallic substrate to a depth, D.sub.1. Circumscribing and abutting this cavity is an annular channel having a depth D.sub.2 that is less than D.sub.1. A semiconductor device bonded to the base of the cavity is electrically interconnected to both circuit traces formed on the dielectric coating and to the annular channel.A method of forming the annular channel is to mechanically mill a precursor annular channel having an outer wall a desired distance from the sidewalls of the metallic substrate and a width substantially greater than the desired width of the annular channel. A cavity is then formed in the region circumscribed by the outer wall of the precursor annular channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ozone generator having enhanced ozone generating capabilities. A cryogenic stream of oxygen is irradiated with a high voltage electron beam that converts a portion of the oxygen into ozone. When the oxygen stream is liquid, conversion rates of up to 33% are achieved. Separation of ozone from oxygen is achieved by exploiting physical properties. In one embodiment, a gaseous mixture is at a temperature between 90 K and 161 K. A condenser coil condenses the ozone to a liquid. The ozone may be directed to a reaction chamber containing a surface increasing medium, such as porous inert beads, to remediate air borne biological and organic contaminants.

Abstract: There is disclosed a metallic bladder that is inflated by a gaseous stream generated by a gas generator. The inflatable metallic bladder is useful as a side impact air bag for motorized vehicles. The heat dissipating capability of the metallic bladder permits the use of energetic chemical compositions that generate a high temperature gas and very rapidly inflate the metallic bladder. The heat conducted by the gas is dissipated by the metallic bladder avoiding harm to occupants.

Abstract: There is provided a system for the delivery of a gaseous product to a reaction chamber. The system includes a fuel tank containing a hypergolic liquid displaced from the fuel tank by a pressurized gas whose flow is controlled by a thruster control valve and directed to a gas generator. Pressurant gas entrained in the hypergolic liquid is not decomposed in the gas generator and causes pressure oscillations. The pressure oscillations are minimized by reducing the diameter of the gas bubbles or by disposing a gas fluid resistor between the gas generator and the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Various types of articles having various deposition coatings applied using a gas vapor deposition process are provided. A system evacuates gases from the article or a deposition chamber prior to depositing a coating. The coating may be applied throughout the inside of an article or may be selectively applied to a portion of the article. The article may be moved relative to the gas jet or the gas may be moved jet relative to the article. Stencils may be used to pattern the coating on the surface of the article. The articles are coated in a pressure of approximately 5 millitorr. Articles may be cylindrically shaped, leadframes on a reel, substrates, or printed circuit boards.

Abstract: There is provided a position control drive system having first and second drive units linked together and travelling on parallel running rails. A passive unit riding on a third parallel running rail is pivotally linked to one of the drive units. The pivoting link allows movement of the drive units longitudinally along the rails, but prevents movement in other directions. The pivot compensates for positional differences between the electronic positional control of the drive units and the mechanical linkage preventing the inefficiency in the electronic system, stresses in the mechanical system and, in severe cases, binding of the drive units to the rails.

Abstract: There is provided a position control drive system having first and second drive units linked together and travelling on parallel running rails. A passive unit riding on a third parallel running rail is pivotally linked to one of the drive units. The pivoting link allows movement of the drive units longitudinally along the rails, but prevents movement in other directions. The pivot compensates for positional differences between the electronic positional control of the drive units and the mechanical linkage preventing the inefficiency in the electronic system, stresses in the mechanical system and, in severe cases, binding of the drive units to the rails.

Abstract: An externally and internally enhanced welded tube formed from a strip having a thickness b. The tube includes an inner wall enhanced with a first desired pattern having a thickness of a. An outer wail is enhanced with a second desired pattern, the second desired pattern having a thickness c. The weld fusing a portion of adjacent longitudinal edges of the strip wherein a weld bead associated with said weld is recessed within said desired patterns, does not extend beyond said desired patterns, and the length of said portion of said adjacent longitudinal edges that is fused together is from about (b+0.05a+0.05c) to about (b+0.2a+0.2c).

Abstract: An armor penetrator projectile is disclosed that has an elongated rod penetrator core. The core has a central bore therein extending from a rear portion to a front end portion of the core. The front end portion is preferably conically shaped for impact with an armor plate. A self igniting pyrotechnic material such as thermite is packed within the rear portion and in the bore. The thermite is ignited by the frictional heat and pressure generated during projectile impact with a target armor plate. The ignited thermite ejects a molten jet of material through the bore and forwardly out through the impacting front end thus further melting the armor plate about the point of impact and enhancing the behind armor destructive effects of the projectile.

Abstract: There is provided an anodizable aluminum substrate having an increased breakdown voltage. The increase in breakdown voltage is achieved by selecting an appropriate aluminum alloy and appropriate processing parameters. Sealing the anodic film increases the breakdown voltage by decreasing corrosion. A preferred sealant is an epoxy cresol novolac having a low room temperature viscosity that cures to a highly cross-linked polymer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a propellent having a deterred burn rate. The propellent is a particulate containing an energetic binder base and a thermoplastic burn deterrent. The energetic binder has in impetus (energy) in excess of 200,000 foot pounds per pound (mass) and the thermoplastic burn deterrent is both a solid at room temperature and soluble in an organic solvent. The burn deterrent is gradationally dispersed within the particulate with the greatest concentration of burn deterrent at the particulate periphery.

Abstract: A flexible circuit to interconnect two components of an electrical device is formed with a flexible polymeric substrate. A copper alloy is laminated to the flexible substrate. This copper alloy is processed to have relatively high strength, an ultimate tensile strength in excess of about 80 ksi, by either alloying additions, by processing or by a combination of the two. When such an alloy is laminated to the polymeric substrate, the resultant flexible circuit has improved (more cycles to failure) dynamic fatigue performance when compared to both pure copper and dilute copper alloys.

Abstract: An electronic package having improved thermal performance. In the case of a plastic package, the inner ends of the leads of the lead frame are attached to a heat slug by a high thermal conductivity material such as solder or a polymeric material. In the case of a metal package, the inner ends of the leads of the leadframe are attached to the metal base component by a high thermal conductivity material.