Abstract: Circulation of temperature controlled fluid through cavities in structure stiffening members of hypersonic aerospace vehicles precludes destructive temperature gradients in such members and preserves stress residuals for functional requirements.

Abstract: Coupling between a control surface and a flexible wing, or other lifting member, is provided by a novel piston-cylinder hinge mechanism which allows the control surface to move, out-of-plane, while following deflections of its associated lifting surface, reducing required actuator energy and enabling more effective use of control forces.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for efficient mounting of wire bundles, hydraulic tubing and other extended service conduits is comprised of a unitary support plate having a triad of support clamp elements formed of strong, resilient metal or plastic with appropriately sized securable openings and means for attaching it to structure in confined or space critical areas or volumes.

Abstract: A hatch opener mechanism mounted flush with a skin panel having a rotatable disk with subjacent spindles and actuator rods, activated by rotating the disk with tool insertable into a socket with a spring biased cover at the center of the disk.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the physical properties of superplastically formed and solution heat treated Aluminum-Lithium workpieces entails stretching near-net parts by from 2 to 10 percent at a specified temperature, followed by controlled aging.

Abstract: An array of plane mirrors allows forward view of space volumes normally obscured by craft structure without the use of forward facing transparencies. In submerged cockpit aerospace craft, such a system may utilize a deployable upper mirror to reflect such space volumes onto a control mirror for the pilot's use in takeoff and landing operations, allowing the pilot the same visual cues as would be available through a forward facing transparency in front of an apaprent eye position external to the cockpit.

Abstract: A high speed aircraft fitted with a unitary, rotatable wing coupled to the craft's fuselage at a hollow turret or solid pivot pin, enabling it to operate with the wing in either of two ninety degree opposed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for superplastric forming of metallic workpieces and, more particularly, aluminum workpieces is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mechanism for ejecting the workpiece from the die upon completion of the superplastic forming process. A steel liner covers the surface of the die cavity, and the workpiece is formed against the liner (which acts as a die surface). The steel liner has high temperature resistance at superplastic forming temperatures providing it with sufficient rigidity to enable it to be removed from the cavity at or near superplastic forming temperatures while still retaining its shape and that of the formed worpiece which it supports. In one embodiment, a cam operated ejection mechanism pushes the liner from the die cavity surface as desired at the end of the superplastic forming process. In another embodiment, the die is provided with apertures through which pressurized gas is directed toward the liner pushing the liner away from the die cavity surface.

Abstract: A tool used for applying specified torque to the backshells of electrical connectors has a cylindrical body of diameter compatible with that of the backshell on which it is used with a cutout on said cylindrical body to allow wires from the connector to be routed away from the tool. A high friction material such as silicone rubber or similar type substance is bonded to the inner lower lip of the tool, below the cutout section, and a clamping means with separable closure and adjustable friction producing strap is bonded to the outer lower lip of the tool across its rear surface and over the front of said cutout. A fitting at the top of the tool is located on the tool's axis and is designed to accept conventional socket torque wrenches.

Abstract: A waveguide/conduit clamp has a load bearing frame with slotted mounting provisions and two mated center rings, an inner circular member with a center cutout to accommodate a waveguide or other conduit member and an outer circular member with a circular cutout displaced from its centerline by a specified offset. Rotation of the outer member, while maintaining orientation of the central one, results in vertical and horizontal displacement of the cutout in the central unit. When proper vertical distance of the cutout is achieved, the clamp is moved in its slotted mounting base to provide final adjusted position of the central member's waveguide/conduit workpiece. Both circular members have slits allowing their placement around the workpiece and within the clamp's load bearing frame.

Abstract: In a high frequency resistance welding system useable with massive or spatially extensive workpieces, the welding head is transported over weld areas by gantry means to provide high speed, high quality welds at appreciably less cost and with quality comparable to that of welds from conventional stationary head systems.

Abstract: To effectively recover and stow hardware items from air launched missiles, a housing containing a rotor is mounted on the launching aircraft. The housing has a suitable opening and recess so that a lanyard can connect such hardware items as the missile air inlet cover to the rotor. The rotor has a spring therein under high tension sufficient to retract the missile cover into the housing recess in a short period of time. The spring powered rotor is activated by movement of the missile away from the aircraft but can be manually reloaded and the attachment point of the cover to the rotor manually reset, as desired.

Abstract: A wind tunnel model support mechanism has a double gimbal arrangement coupled to the tunnel's solid string, allowing the model freedom to move in all three major axes; pitch, roll and yaw with limited movement in horizontal and vertical displacement. Such a support enables evaluation of flutter characteristics not possible during conventional fixed sting operations.

Abstract: A control surface deployment mechanism allows reliable, controlled launch of guided missiles from internal bays of high performance aircraft.

Abstract: Aircraft thermal management is optimized by integration of normally separate airframe and engine fuel transfer/heat sink systems into a composite heat sink and secondary power source. Fuel temperature is controlled to limits set by coking and varnishing within the engine fuel nozzles. Fuel in excess of engine demand is returned to the aircraft's main fuel tank after being cooled by either aerodynamic surfaces or by a "fuel to ram-air" heat exchanger. Airframe and engine systems are cooled through use of fuel as coolant passing through heat exchangers mounted in the feed line from the "cool" main tank to the engines. The Engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is cooled by the airframe Environmental Control System (ECS) increasing its operational reliability. Controlling engine burn fuel to nozzle temperature limits results in lower main tank fuel temperature, less fuel boiloff, smaller sized ECS, greater heat sink capacity and less dependence on supplemental ram air.

Abstract: A photo-electric sensor comprised of a wafer of semiconductor material with a first plurality of photodetectors integral with its rear surface, its front surface being an electrode comprised of a transparent layer of electrically conductive material, has those detectors so spaced apart from each other that the total array can be sampled by a second plurality of charge coupled device multiplexers, each of which multiplexers has its input terminals spaced closer together than are the photodetectors. Each multiplexer input terminal is mechanically and electrically coupled to a photodetector through metallic leads and columns, such leads and columns being so configured as to preclude obtrusion of multiplexer structure into space outside the wafer's lateral extremities, which results in no "dead" space in a focal plane consisting of either one sensor or a plurality thereof abutting each other.

Abstract: An orbital mission planning indicator device provides a visual indication of the relationship between the plane of orbit of an artificial earth satellite and the angle of incidence of solar energy thereon, for all seasons of the year and for arbitrary times and places of launch of such satellite. It also provides indications of the relationship of deep space points of interest to the same orbital plane for adaptability of pointable sensors such as telescopes, antennas and solar arrays to orbital missions calling for use of such equipments.

Abstract: A multi-element imager device (MEID) utilizes a plurality of radiation sensitive imager chips fixed to a stratum of transparent material, said stratum supporting buses and other conductors as well as associated electronics are arranged so that dead space in the image plane is minimal, the device being highly reliable and readily producible.

Abstract: A novel gimbal mechanism utilizes one or more support arms so rotatably coupled to support structure and to an article whose position is to be controlled as to permit such article to be reoriented along any axis within a cone defined by axes of rotation of the gimbal's support arms.

Abstract: A temperature indicator device, used for continuously monitoring the condition of lubricating oil of motorcycles and recreation vehicles, comprises a temperature sensor stem having a calibrated readout gauge, which gauge is orientable about the stem axis in a cover element of the lubricating oil reservoir.