Patents Represented by Attorney Guy M. Miller
  • Patent number: 5325661
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to providing an improved jet mixer noise suppressor for high speed jets that rapidly mixes high speed air flow with a lower speed air flow, and more particularly, relates to an improved jet mixer noise suppressor that uses feedback of acoustic waves produced by the interaction of sheer flow instability waves with an obstacle downstream of the jet nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Edward J. Rice
  • Patent number: 5327219
    Abstract: A device for eliminating unwanted reflections from refractive optical elements in an optical system is provided. The device operates to prevent desired multiple fringe patterns from being obscured by reflections from refractive elements positioned in proximity to a focal plane of the system. The device exploits the 180-degree offset, or rotational shear, of the undesired reflected light by providing an optical stop for blocking one-half of the cross-section of the test beam. By blocking one-half of the test beam, the undesired offset beam is blocked, while the returning transmitted beam passes into the optical system unaffected. An image is thereby produced from only the desired transmitted beam. In one configuration, the blocking device includes a semicircular aperture which is caused to rotate about the axis of the test beam. By rotating, all portions of the test beam are cyclically projected into the optical system to thereby produce a complete test image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Steimle, David L. Thiessen
  • Patent number: 5322924
    Abstract: Addition polyimide resins having improved thermo-oxidative stability and enhanced processability are prepared by the reaction of a mixture of monomers comprising a non-planar polyphenyl diamine (a), a diester of tetracarboxylic acid or the corresponding dianhydride (b) and an end-capping agent (c), or a diamine (d), a non-planar polyphenyl diester or dianhydride of a tetracarboxylic acid (e) and an end-capping agent (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chun-Hua K. Chuang, Raymond D. Vannucci
  • Patent number: 5322573
    Abstract: The invention features a thin light transmissive layer of the ternary semiconductor indium aluminum arsenide (InAlAs) as a front surface passivation or "window" layer for p-on-n InP solar cells. The window layers of the invention effectively reduce front surface recombination of the object semiconductors thereby increasing the efficiency of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Raj K. Jain, Geoffrey A. Landis
  • Patent number: 5320044
    Abstract: A novel warhead employing a unique shaped charge liner design is disclosed. particular construction of the liner is described whereby the fabrication process uses three radii of curvature to generate an arcuate design which is convex when viewed from the open end. This liner design is capable of producing two distinct jets; a front or precursor jet consisting of small diameter particles traveling faster than a secondary or main jet and consists of larger diameter particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: William P. Walters
  • Patent number: 5320136
    Abstract: A magnetically operated check valve is disclosed having, in one aspect, a valve body and a movable poppet disposed therein, a magnet attracting the poppet to hold the valve shut until the force of fluid flow through the valve overcomes the magnetic attraction and moves the poppet to an unseated, open position; the poppet and magnet configured and disposed to trap magnetically attracted particulate and prevent it from flowing to a valve seating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Brian G. Morris, Richard J. Bozeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5316385
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to produce correction-free pyrometry is described. The method determines the optimum position for a pyrometer that "views" a specular, spherical or near-spherical target in a furnace through pyrometer optics and a window in a wall of the furnace. The positioning method uses nonparaxial optical analysis to determine the position of an image of the window in the target. The window image is free of any image of the furnace walls, that is, it is free from wall radiance, and pure target radiance can be obtained in that region. The optical analysis is then used to back project the pyrometer detector through the pyrometer optics and onto the surface of the target. If the detector projection falls completely within the image of the window, the detector will read only pure target radiance and no correction will be necessary to obtain the temperature of the target through pyrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Andrew S. W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5316080
    Abstract: Gas derived graphite fibers generated by the decomposition of an organic gas are joined with a suitable binder. This produces a high thermal conductivity composite material which passively conducts heat from a source, such as a semiconductor, to a heat sink.The fibers may be intercalated. The intercalate can be halogen or halide salt, alkaline metal, or any other species which contributes to the electrical conductivity improvement of the graphite fiber.The fibers are bundled and joined with a suitable binder to form a high thermal conductivity composite material device. The heat transfer device may also be made of intercalated highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and machined, rather than made of fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventors: Bruce A. Banks, James R. Gaier
  • Patent number: 5314247
    Abstract: A plug-type heat flux gauge can simultaneously measure heat flux on two opposite surfaces of thick or very thin convection or impingement cooled metal walls. The gauge is capable of continuously measuring transient and steady heat flux under transient and steady state gauge temperature operating conditions. The length of the gauge extends through the entire thickness of the material. A non-linear temperature gradient through the gauge can be measured by attaching 3-5 thermocouples along the length of the gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventors: Curt H. Liebert, John Koch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5314857
    Abstract: A microporous structure with layered interstitial surface treatments, and method and apparatus for preparation thereof. The structure is prepared by sequentially subjecting a uniformly surface-treated structure (10a) to atomic oxygen treatment to remove an outer layer (16) of surface treatment to a generally uniform depth, and then surface treating the so exposed layer with another surface treating agent. The atomic oxygen/surface treatment steps may optionally be repeated, each successive time to a lesser depth, to produce a microporous structure having multilayered surface treatments. The apparatus (200) employs at least one side arm (228) from a main atomic oxygen-containing chamber (202). The side arm (228) has characteristic relaxation times such that a uniform atomic oxygen dose rate is delivered to a specimen (239) positioned transversely in the side arm (228) spaced from the main gas chamber (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Steven L. Koontz
  • Patent number: 5314853
    Abstract: A sorbent capable of removing trace amounts of oxygen (ppt) from a gas stream at a high temperature above 200.degree. C. comprising a porous alumina silicate support such as zeolite containing from 1 to 10 percent by weight of ion exchanged transition metal such as copper or cobalt ions and 0.05 to 1.0 percent by weight of an activator selected from a platinum group metal such as platinum. The activation temperature, oxygen sorption and reducibility are all improved by the presence of the platinum activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Pramod K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 5314500
    Abstract: An artificial manually positionable elbow joint for use in an upper extremity, above-elbow, prosthetic which provides a locking feature that is easily controlled by the wearer. The instant elbow joint is very strong and durable to withstand the repeated heavy loadings encountered by a wearer who works in an industrial, construction, farming or similar environment. The elbow joint of the present invention comprises a turntable, a frame, a forearm and a locking assembly. The frame generally includes a housing for the locking assembly and two protruding ears. The forearm includes an elongated beam having a cup-shaped cylindrical member at one end and a locking wheel having a plurality of holes along a circular arc on its other end with a central bore for pivotal attachment to the protruding ears of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Bruce C. Weddendorf
  • Patent number: 5312685
    Abstract: Structures composed at least partially of an organic substrate may be protected from oxidation by applying a catalyst onto said substrate for promoting the combination of atomic oxygen to molecular oxygen. The structure may also be protected by applying both a catalyst and an atomic oxygen shielding layer onto the substrate. The structures to be protected include spacecraft surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Bruce A. Banks, Sharon K. Rutledge
  • Patent number: 5311422
    Abstract: A training system for use in a wide variety of training tasks and environments comprising a user interface simulating the same information available to a trainee in the task environment which allows the trainee to assert actions to the system; a domain expert which can use the same information available to the trainee and carry out the same task; a training session manager for evaluating such trainee assertions and providing guidance to the trainee appropriate to his acquired skill level; a trainee model which contains a history and summary of the trainee actions; an intelligent training scenario generator for designing increasingly complex training exercises based on the current skill level and any weaknesses or deficiencies that the trainee has exhibited in previous interactions; and a blackboard that provides a common fact base for communication between the other components of the system. The domain expert contains a list of "mal-rules" which typifies errors usually made by novice trainees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: R. Bowen Loftin, Lui Wang, Paul T. Baffes, Grace C. Hua
  • Patent number: 5311198
    Abstract: An antenna, which may be a search coil, is connected to an operational amplifier circuit which provides negative impedances, each of which is in the order of magnitude of the positive impedances which characterize the antenna. The antenna is connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, a resistor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier, a capacitor-resistor network, in parallel, is connected between the output and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier, and a resistor is connected from the noninverting input and the circuit common. While this circuit provides a negative resistance and a negative inductance, in series, which appear, looking into the noninverting input of the operational amplifier, in parallel with the antenna, these negative impedances appear in a series loop with the antenna positive impedances, so as to algebraically add.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: John F. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5308764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multicellular, three-dimensional, living mammalian tissue. The tissue is produced by a co-culture process wherein two distinct types of mammalian cells are co-cultured in a rotating bioreactor which is completely filled with culture media and cell attachment substrates. As the size of the tissue assemblies formed on the attachment substrates changes, the rotation of the bioreactor is adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Thomas J. Goodwin, David A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 5309149
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods and apparatus for detecting vibrations from machines which indicate an impending malfunction for the purpose of preventing additional damage and allowing for an orderly shutdown or a change in mode of operation. The method and apparatus are especially suited for reliable operation in providing thruster control data concerning unstable vibration in an electrical environment which is typically noisy and in which unrecognized ground loops may exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Richard J. Bozeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5304538
    Abstract: Epitaxial heterojunctions formed between high temperature superconductors and metallic or semiconducting oxide barrier layers are provided. Metallic perovskites such as LaTiO.sub.3, CaVO.sub.3, and SrVO.sub.3 are grown on electron-type high temperature superconductors such as Nd.sub.1.85 Ce.sub.0.15 CuO.sub.4-x. Alternatively, transition metal bronzes of the form A.sub.x MO.sub.3 are epitaxially grown on electron-type high temperature superconductors. Also, semiconducting oxides of perovskite-related crystal structures such as WO.sub.3 are grown on either hole-type or electron-type high temperature superconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as repeated by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Richard P. Vasquez, Brian D. Hunt, Marc C. Foote
  • Patent number: 5302804
    Abstract: A welding torch for plasma arc welding apparatus has an inert gas applied circumferentially about the arc column externally of the constricting nozzle so as to apply a constricting force on the arc after it has exited the nozzle orifice and downstream of the auxiliary shielding gas. The constricting inert gas is supplied to a plenum chamber about the body of the torch and exits through a series of circumferentially disposed orifices in an annular wall forming a closure at the forward end of the constricting gas plenum chamber. The constricting force of the circumferential gas flow about the arc concentrates and focuses the arc column into a more narrow and dense column of energy after exiting the nozzle orifice so that the arc better retains its energy density prior to contacting the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William F. McGee, Daniel J. Rybicki
  • Patent number: 5302805
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device which is used to monitor the position of a filler wire relative to a base material being welded as the filler wire is added to a welding pool. The device is applicable to automated welding systems wherein nonconsumable electrode arc welding processes are utilized in conjunction with a filler wire which is added to a weld pool created by the electrode arc. The invention senses pressure deviations from a predetermined pressure between the filler wire and the base material, and provides electrical signals responsive to the deviations for actuating control mechanisms in an automatic welding apparatus so as to minimize the pressure deviation and to prevent disengagement of the contact between the filler wire and the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Timothy B. Morris, Peter F. Milly, Sr., J. Kevin White