Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator for producing greater than 50-weight percent pure nitrogen gas comprising a stoichiometric blend of sodium azide, NaN.sub.3, and sodium sulfate, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and ballistic modifiers.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: A torquemeter 10 comprising a magnetostrictive element 12 which is formed in the shape of a ribbon upon the surface of the subject rotating member 14 and is capable of producing internal, avalanche Barkhausen reversals, permanent magnets 16 and 18 positioned adjacent to the subject rotating member 14 for successively triggering the avalanche Barkhausen reversals in the magnetostrictive element and for resetting the magnetostrictive element after each reversal, a pickup coil 20 for generating signals responsive to the avalanche Barkhausen reversals and a readout circuit 22 in communication with pickup coil 20 for correlating the responsive signals to an indication of the level of torque and/or power in the subject rotating member 14.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a sulfur-containing fuel which substantially reduces the amount of gaseous sulfur compounds which would otherwise be emitted.A source of oxygen, a sulfur-containing fuel, and an inorganic alkaline absorbent are reacted under controlled conditions of temperature, stoichiometry, and residence time whereby the inorganic alkaline absorbent reacts with the fuel sulfur to form a mixture of combustion products and desired solid sulfur compounds, the latter being readily removed utilizing conventional filtration equipment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture of fuel and combustion products is passed into a nitrogenous compound destruction zone wherein, under controlled conditions, the concentration of nitrogenous compounds present are reduced to a desired level.

Abstract: A family of compounds using as energetic plasticizers having the general structural formula R--N(NO.sub.2)--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.2 X wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and wherein X is a --ONO.sub.2 or --N.sub.3 radical, and their method of preparation.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a valve body (24) with an inlet (28) and an outlet (30), and an inlet-closing poppet (32) moveably disposed within a chamber (26) in the valve body, the poppet incorporating a piston head (34) whose face (36) opposes the inlet and from which projects a plug (62) for closing-off the inlet (28) from the remainder of the piston face (36) when the poppet is at its inlet-closing position. A spring (54) urges the poppet towards its inlet-closing position with sufficient force to keep the inlet closed until the fluid reaches a preselected cracking pressure, whereupon the spring allows the poppet to be displaced slightly, exposing the remainder of the piston face to the fluid. The action of the fluid on the piston face is then sufficient to drive the poppet fully back to an annular stop (60) provided within the valve body whose engagement also serves as a partial seal about the periphery (70) of the piston.

Abstract: A ceramic blade assembly including a corrugated-metal partition situated in the space between the ceramic blade element and the post member, which corrugated-metal partition forms a compliant layer for the relief of mechanical stresses in the ceramic blade element during aerodynamic and thermal loading of the blade and which partition also serves as a means for defining contiguous sets of juxtaposed passages situated between the ceramic blade element and the post member, one set being open-ended and adjacent to exterior surfaces of the post member for directing cooling fluid thereover and the second set being adjacent to the interior surfaces of the ceramic blade element and being closed-off for creating stagnant columns of fluid to thereby insulate the ceramic blade element from the cooling air.

Abstract: A spray dryer apparatus for contacting a hot gas stream containing gaseous impurities with an aqueous medium containing an absorbent for the impurities to produce a gas stream of reduced impurity content and dried powder products. The apparatus includes a chamber formed symmetrically about a vertical axis and an atomizer means located in an upper portion of the chamber for introducing a finely dispersed spray of the aqueous medium, a conduit for delivering the hot gas stream to the chamber and a gas injection means for receiving a major portion of the hot gas stream from the conduit and introducing it circumferentially about the atomizer means. The gas injection means imparts both axial and angular velocity components to the major portion of the hot gas stream whereby the hot gas stream swirls downwardly through the chamber.The apparatus provides a bypass means for withdrawing a minor portion (about 5 to 25 vol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a sulfur-containing fuel which substantially reduces the amount of gaseous sulfur compounds which would otherwise be emitted.A source of oxygen, a sulfur-containing fuel, and an inorganic alkaline absorbent are reacted under controlled conditions of temperature, stoichiometry, and residence time whereby the inorganic alkaline absorbent reacts with the fuel sulfur to form a mixture of combustion products and desired solid sulfur compounds, the latter being readily removed utilizing conventional filtration equipment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture of fuel and combustion products is passed into a nitrogenous compound destruction zone wherein, under controlled conditions, the concentration of nitrogenous compounds present are reduced to a desired level.

Abstract: An improvement of a common-pass, decentered, annular ring resonator (CPDARR) in which the waxicon mirror-reflector component 18 is formed with five reflecting surfaces, two on the central axicon 40, 42 and three on the outer ring axicon 44,46,48. The orientation and curvature of the reflecting surfaces is designed to provide three reflections of an input laser beam impinging on the inner reflector 40 of the central axicon and two reflections of an input wave impinging on the outer reflector surface 48 of the ring axicon (or vice versa). The number of reflections in the waxicon 18 combined with the two reflections in the rear ring mirror 20 of the CPDARR allows all reflecting surfaces to be coated with conventional high-reflectance coating and still provide a uniform-polarity output laser beam from the CPDARR.

Abstract: An integrated auxiliary power unit and environmental control unit for an airplane 2, said integrated unit 2 comprising a prime mover 4, a variable geometry compressor 22 operable selectably by bleed air from the propulsion engine of said airplane or connectable via an overrunning clutch 18 to said prime mover, a controlled emission turbine 24 which is shaft-coupled to said compressor 22 and cooperating with said compressor to form an environmental control unit, and means for diverting a portion of the output of said compressor for use as an auxiliary power unit.

Abstract: An optical resonator having an annular cylindrical gain region for use in a chemical laser or the like in which two ring-shaped mirrors having substantially conical reflecting surfaces are spaced apart along a common axis of revolution of the respective conical surfaces. A central conical mirror reflects incident light directed along said axis radially outwardly to the reflecting surface of a first one of the ring-shaped mirrors. The radial light rays are reflected by the first ring mirror to the second ring mirror within an annular cylindrical volume concentric with said common axis and forming a gain region. Light rays impinging on the second ring mirror are reflected to diametrically opposite points on the same conical mirror surfaces and back to the first ring mirror through the same annular cylindrical volume. The return rays are then reflected by the conical mirror surface of the first ring mirror back to the central conical mirror.

Abstract: A dual purpose tennis net tie down and height setting device 14 comprises a top hook 16 for attaching to the upper edge 18 of tennis net 12. Depending from the top hook 16 is tie down chain 20 which connects in parallel with bottom hook 26 and a height refinement turnbuckle 32. By joining bottom hook 26 and chain 20 in parallel, the bottom hook 26 may be adjusted to correct for deviations in the depth of tie down fitting 24 without altering the distance between top hook interior 22 and the bottom of the last chain link 30.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: An environmental control system for a jet aircraft has a single compressor coupled to a cooling turbine and an auxiliary power turbine. The compressor provides air to both turbines. Air to the power turbine is mixed with fuel to form combustion gases to drive the turbine. Air to the cooling turbine is cooled by expansion and used for air conditioning the aircraft cabin. The auxiliary power turbine can be decoupled and the compressor driven by the cooling turbine, which is powered by bleed air from the main engine of the aircraft.

Abstract: A new compound tris(2-azidoethyl)amine, N-(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 N.sub.3).sub.3, and its method of preparation is disclosed. The subject azido derivative of a tertiary amine has the empirical formula C.sub.6 H.sub.12 N.sub.10.

Abstract: Wastes, in the form of liquids, solids and slurries, are converted to a mixture of a gas and an inorganic ash by introducing the waste as a finely atomized spray into a zone heated by means of a hot gas. Contact of the spray particles with the hot gas results in drying the waste and calcining and combusting the dried waste. The process is particularly useful with wastes containing hazardous materials such as radioactive substances.

Abstract: An interferometer which provides for the precise figure measure of optical surfaces through the interference of two pencil beams, reflected off the optical surface, comprises a laser for generating a laser beam which is split into two parallel beams by a beam splitter and a mirror, the two pencil beams are reflected off a second beam splitter, through an alignment invariant optical device and onto the optical surface to be measured. The two pencil beams are reflected and back-trace through the alignment invariant optical device, propagate through the second beam splitter and enter an optical lens which is capable of focusing two beams in its back focal plane where the interference of the two pencil beams takes place. This information is then relayed through optical spatial filter and optional micro objective into the readout section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an indirect downhole steam generator system comprising a downhole combustor, a well casing which provides a flue for the exhaust gases of the downhole combustor, and one or more aerosol nozzles situated within the exhaust flue of the well casing for injecting an aerosol limestone dust into the exhaust gases of the combustor as the exhaust gases travel up the flue.

Abstract: Means for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of fluid flow measurements when the fluid contains substantial quantities of entrained particulates, the measurements being taken with a pitot tube and a pressure-sensing means wherein the pitot tube is disposed in a duct through which the fluid flows and has at least one velocity pressure-sensing orifice facing the upstream direction of flow. The means includes a remotely controllable rotation means for interposing a barrier between the orifice and the upstream direction of flow when velocity pressure measurements are not being taken. In accordance with one embodiment the rotation means comprises a remotely actuated cover and in another embodiment the rotation means comprises means for rotating the tube whereby the orifice faces in a downstream direction when velocity pressure measurements are not being taken. There also is provided means for purging the orifice.