Abstract: A combined solar concentrator and radiator assembly (10) is provided in a relatively lightweight and compact geometry adapted particularly for use in electrical power generation systems in space. The solar concentrator - radiator assembly comprises a solar reflector of the Cassegrain type having primary and secondary reflelctor surfaces (14) and (26) for concentrating incident solar ration upon a thermal powered generator unit (16). The primary reflector surface (14) is formed on one side of an array of interleaved panels (30) adapted for movement between a compact stowed profile to fit within the cargo bay of a transport vehicle, and an extended deployed configuration. The reverse sides of these panels define a space radiator of extended surface area connected to the generator unit (16) by heat transfer members such as heat pipes (34) for purposes of dissipating excess heat to the surrounding space environment.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacture is provided for producing a channeled wall thrust nozzle (10) of the type used to define a thrust chamber (12) in a jet or rocket engine. The method utilizes a precision formed mandrel (20) having an external geometry conforming generally to the converging-diverging shape of the desired thrust chamber (12), and further including longitudinally extending slots (24) for receiving channel separation ribs (26) which may be formed by die cutting from sheet stock. The channel spaces (16) between the separator ribs (26) are filled with a removable casting material (30) such as wax, and an outer housing shell (32) for the thrust nozzle is mounted about and secured to the separator ribs. The mandrel (20), which is transversely split at the throat of the thrust chamber (12), is then removed to expose the radially inboard margins of the separator ribs (26) for precision machining, followed by mounting of an inner housing shell (34) to the separator ribs.

Abstract: An unstable ring resonator employing grazing incidence telescopic mirrors to expand a high power laser beam after it emerges from the wiggler. The grazing incidence mirror is used to increase the footprint of the laser beam on the mirrors surface to decrease the laser's intensity on the surface of the mirror, and thus increase the power of the laser which can be handled in a ring resonator. The ring resonator consists of a scraper mirror 12, a turning mirror 13, a grazing incident beam reduction telescope 101 comprising mirror components 1 and 2, a wiggler 4, a grazing incident beam expansion telescope 102 comprising mirror components 6 and 7 and a second turning mirror 14. The grazing incident telescopes can have mirror components which are of the cone/cone, hyperbola/parabola, cylinder/cylinder or hyperboloid/paraboloid type. The telescopes may also have three or more optical elements.

Abstract: Glycidyl azide polymer esters for use in insensitive gun and rocket propellants having pendant terminated azide ester groups and a method for producing same.

Abstract: A method of producing a hydroxy-terminated aliphatic polyether utilizing a specific catalytic interaction to enhance the solubility and resulting reactivity of an azide moiety.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device or actuator (30) includes dimorph stack (32) attached to a support (34). Affixed to the apex of stack (32) is friction surface (36) which is held in contact with the external friction surface of a positionable object (38).

Abstract: This invention relates to increasing the power output of a broadband Raman amplifier by angle-tuned phase matching of either multiple individual pump lines or a continuous spectra in a pump beam 1 relative to their corresponding Stokes lines or Stokes spectra in the Stokes seed beam 2 so that energy can transfer from the pump lines to the Stokes lines more efficiently. The invention can work in any solid or fluid Raman medium. The Raman cell could be in a length of optical fiber using the internal reflections in the optical fibers as mirrors 8. By using angle tuning, enhancement of the Raman gain is produced which allows the Raman amplifier to achieve high power output with much larger pump bandwidths than were previously possible. The input pump beam 1 is fanned by diffraction grating 3 so that the pump lines are at the proper angle to be phase matched with the Stokes seed beam 2 which may also be fanned.

Abstract: A dynamic mount and actuator for a laser mirror 20 comprising three layers of electroded piezoelectric wafers 46, adjacent layers being bonded. The one-axis movements of each shear motor 40 are amplified by and transmitted to an axially extending flex-joint assembly 36 which is formed with two universal-type flex joints 102,104 therein. A support member 34 coupled to the flex-joint assembly 36 extends from the front end thereof through the suspension ring holder 29, flexure assembly 28, suspension ring 26 and mirror-backing plate 24 and is fastened to the mirror 20 by an interface pin 30 which does not distort the mirror 20.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of storing solar radiation energy in a spacecraft and using it with high efficiency for space propulsion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting a secondary supersonic stream into a primary supersonic stream. A secondary flow nozzle is designed to contain non-uniformities so as to produce stream-wise vortices. The primary supersonic flow is allowed to flow over a ramp surrounding the secondary nozzle. At the aft end of the ramp, stream-wise vortices appear in the primary flow rotating in the same direction as the vortices in the secondary stream. As a consequence, the vortex strength is increased, leading to enhanced entrainment in mixing of the two streams.

Abstract: A rotary pump with an inlet flow duct having a convergent section upstream the tips of the rotor blades. The convergent section decreases the cross-sectional flow area of the inlet flow duct prior to the flow being introduced into the rotor, thereby creating a substantially uniform velocity profile in the flow just upstream the rotor blades.

Abstract: An internal plate assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plate and a pair of substantially identical inserts. The plate is formed with a manifold area at opposite ends. A pair of wall members and a plurality of fins extending therebetween. Each manifold area of the plate is provided with two ports. A flat identical insert is provided for each manifold area. The insert has one port for mating with one of the ports in the manifold area of the plate and is formed to avoid covering the other port in that same manifold area. Thus, it is possible to construct a multi-plate stacked heat exchanger utilizing parts having only two distinct configurations.

Abstract: A two-stage, high-pressure centrifugal pump comprises a pump housing and at least one pair of external inlets and outlets for charging and discharging each stage of the pump. The inlets and outlets are located through the periphery of the pump for allowing on-line maintenance. Prerotator vanes are located along the interior wall of the pump housing and convey a fluid from the external inlet to the impeller while reducing the inlet relative velocity at the impeller inlet and primarily at the impeller inlet tip. A pair of face-to-face impellers located along the pump shaft are designed to increase the fluid velocity while transferring fluid to a vaneless radial diffuser. The diffuser then decreases fluid velocity and increases fluid pressure due to increasing diffuser volume. From the diffuser the fluid is conveyed into a fold-over volute which is likewise designed to increase fluid pressure while additionally eliminating flow patterns which would increase losses within the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of improving polygraph testing comprises parallel processing of output response signals of a human being by a polygraph machine and a spectral analyzer and then comparing and contrasting the output results for more qualified interpretations.

Abstract: A space-saving discharge collector 40 for the rotary pump 28 of a pool-type nuclear reactor 10. An annular collector 50 is located radially outboard for an impeller 44. The annular collector 50 as a closed outer periphery 52 for collecting the fluid from the impeller 44 and producing a uniform circumferential flow of the fluid. Turning means comprising a plurality of individual passageways 54 are located in an axial position relative to the annular collector 50 for receiving the fluid from the annular collector 50 and turning it into a substantially axial direction.

Abstract: A method of obtaining magnesium fluoride substantially free from radioactive uranium from a slag containing the same and having a radioactivity level of at least about 7000 pCi/gm. The slag is ground to a particle size of about 200 microns or less. The ground slag is contacted with an acid under certain prescribed conditions to produce a liquid product and a particulate solid product. The particulate solid product is separated from the liquid and treated at least two more times with acid to produce a solid residue consisting essentially of magnesium fluoride substantially free of uranium and having a residual radioactivity level of less than about 1000 pCi/gm. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a catalyst and an oxidizing agent are used during the acid treatment and preferably the acid is sulfuric acid having a strength of about 1.0 Normal.

Abstract: A turbopump assembly 10 including a pump section 12 and a turbine section 14 is provided with forward and aft shaft centerline containment assemblies 20,84 in combination with radial hydrostatic bearings 28,72, and seals 26 to support transient loads and center the shaft 22 within the housing at startup and shutdown.

Abstract: A liquid accumulator (28) for use in a substantially zero gravity environment which utilizes the surface tension of a liquid to form a meniscus which acts as a gas-liquid interface providing a barrier to the passage or entrainment of a gas into the liquid. The apparatus includes a plurality of tubes (36) for capillary containment of a liquid, a grid member (34) provided with a plurality of holes (one of each tube) for receiving therein in sealing engagement an end of the tube. An opposite end of each of the tubes contains a gas. The apparatus further includes a housing (30) extending circumferentially about the grid member and defining a liquid zone (38) on the side of said grid member opposite said tubes located within the liquid zone and extending partially into each of the tubes is a body of liquid which forms a meniscus (42) in each of the tubes. Fluid communication is provided between the liquid zone of the apparatus and a source of liquid subject to thermal expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A method for efficiently producing a multicolored laser beam. The second harmonic of a 1.06 micron wavelength laser beam is produced from a YAG laser. The second harmonic has a wavelength equal to 0.53 micron. The second and third harmonics of a 1.32 micron wavelength laser beam are simultaneously produced from a second YAG laser. The second harmoic has a wavelength equal to 0.66 micron and the third harmonic has a wavelength equal to 0.44 micron. The produced harmonics from the previous steps are combined to form a multicolored laser beam.

Abstract: An improvement in a pump including a shrouded inducer, the improvement comprising first and second sealing means 32,36 which cooperate with a first vortex cell 38 and a series of secondary vortex cells 40 to remove any tangential velocity components from the recirculation flow.