Abstract: A dual-configuration airfoil having a thin profile which is adapted to foster high-speed flight, and having a pivotable portion on the upper surface which is movable upwardly for selectively increasing the thickness of the airfoil. In one embodiment, the pivotable portion pivots about an axis which coincides generally with the leading edge of the airfoil. The thickness of the airfoil when the pivotable portion is fully raised is about twice the thickness of the airfoil when the pivotable portion is fully retracted. A rigid connecting section forms part of the airfoil's upper surface immediately behind the pivotable portion. The connecting section is also movable, such that a substantially continuous and rigid surface is presented to the air moving over the airfoil's upper surface during such times as the pivotable portion is being pivoted upward and downward--as well as when the pivotable portion is fixedly held.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for fabrication and assembly of airframes and airframe components utilizing the principles of diffusion bonding and superplastic forming. A preform blank or blank sheet of material capable of being superplastically formed and diffusion bonded is attached to an airframe body or casing by diffusion bonding and superplastically deformed to form a structural airframe component. The superplastically formed structural component may be diffusion bonded to other airframe components and the superplastic forming and diffusion bonding steps may be performed simultaneously or successively to progressively fabricate and assembly an airframe having unique structural geometries and characteristics without conventional machining or welding of component parts.

Abstract: A sound-suppressing panel for use on the surface of a structure adjacent which a fluid is to flow. The panel includes a top sheet (which may be conveniently referred to as a cover) and a bottom sheet, and plurality of walls which are generally perpendicular to the two boundary sheets; the walls have various orientations and intersect one another at various locations so as to form cells which are similar to well-known "honeycomb" cells. Unlike true honeycomb formed by bees, the cells of an optimum construction according to this invention are not uniform. Ideally, there are at least three different cell sizes, and the cells are intermixed (side by side) so that the fluid passing adjacent the cover will sequentially encounter cells of differing sizes. Throughout the cover are provided a plurality of linear passages which permit the fluid which is flowing above the cover to communicate with the plurality of cells below the cover.

Abstract: An actuator (10) for effecting relative pivotal movement between two structures (12, 14) includes a bent beam member (18) having a first portion (20) rotatably secured to one structure and a second portion (22) supported for rotation and eccentric revolution by a housing (42) grounded to the other structure. Index gears (64, 66) assure eccentric revolution of the beam member (18) in an opposite direction in response to rotation of the bent beam member to produce relative pivotal movement between the beam members (20, 22). In the first two embodiments, the actuators (10, 120) incorporate internal hydraulic or electric drive arrangements. In other embodiments, the actuators (150, 172, 250, 270) employ various planetary type gear arrangements to achieve even greater mechanical advantage. In the last embodiment, both portions (304, 306) of the bent beam member (302) of the actuator (300) are driven and supported for eccentric revolution.

Abstract: A door hinge and hold-open apparatus incorporates a torsion bar structure, having detent and torsional portions, carried by a first hinge member. A striker is carried by a second hinge member in alignment with the detent portion of the torsion bar structure for engaging the detent portion upon movement of the second hinge member, relative to the first hinge member, through a predetermined positional range. A torsional section of the torsion bar structure extends along an elongated body of one of the hinge members, and load carrying portions of the torsion bar structure which bear against the elongated hinge body are spaced from a mid-section of the hinge body at which the body is attached to a door or support structure. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in a hinge having body portions of nonmetallic, composite construction having reinforcing fibers extending longitudinally of the hinge body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical translation linkage and lamp support apparatus for maintaining the projection light source inside a gimballed transparency displaced from the geometric center of the transparency and in a fixed spatial relation with the center of the transparency as the transparency rotates about any of its three mutually perpendicular axes. The translation apparatus employs only a mechanical linkage to ground and reacts to rotation of the support gimbal about either the X or Y axis to maintain the projection light source at the required position regardless of the attitude of the gimbal.

Abstract: An apparatus for "fast erase" of thermochromic information displays is provided. A piezoelectric substrate (10) has a thin film (18) of vanadium dioxide deposited on the surface thereof. The film undergoes marked increases in reflectance at any region thereof experiencing thermal heating in excess of its predetermined transition temperature. An ultrasonic surface acoustic wave transducer (11) is provided which includes a pair of electrodes (12, 14) spaced apart in substantially parallel relation on the surface of the substrate (10) such that application of an RF signal across the electrodes (12, 14) causes deformation of the substrate to generate surface acoustic waves on the surface thereof and in the film to counteract built-in strains in the film to erase images written into the film.A solid state information display using pressure sensitive material is also disclosed. A thin film of samarium sulphide (30) is deposited on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate (10) such as lithium niobate.

Abstract: An explosive structure of the fragmentation type has a plurality of elongated fragments which are effective against armored targets. The explosive structure has a wall portion extending alongside an explosive charge, the wall portion comprising a plurality of the elongated fragments. The fragments have first and second elongated members or legs which are connected at one end by means permitting rotation of the members from a diverged configuration to an aligned configuration. When in the aligned configuration, the articulated fragment structures are adapted to attain stable, axial flight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means and method for evaluating a bond between first and second structures bonded together by an intermediate layer of adhesive. Means are provided for transmitting a pulse of ultrasonic wave energy into the bonded structures whereby a first reflected pulse may be reflected from a first surface of the first structure, a second reflected pulse reflected from the layer of adhesive, and a third pulse possibly reflected from the surface of the second structure adjacent the adhesive layer. Circuit means are provided for sensing the first, second, and third reflected pulses and for providing an indication of the quality of the bond by comparing the amplitudes of the reflected pulses and determining if the ratios lie within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: Apparatus for serially feeding and crimping a plurality of electrical contacts of the type having an open-ended, ferrule head portion adapted to receive an uninsulated end of an electrical wire and to be crimped into electrically conductive contact therewith. The contacts are serially discharged from an annular hopper and caused to attain an upright position. First and second tracks, mutually aligned and vertically spaced one from the other, are provided for transporting the electrical contacts, while in the upright position, from the hopper to a mechanism for feeding the contacts into a crimping chamber. The tracks have a downward inclination from the hopper which is insufficient to permit sliding movement of the contacts absent vibratory movement of the tracks, which movement is derived from a vibratory device connected to the hopper.

Abstract: A gyroscope rotor uncaging apparatus is disclosed having a housing, a bearing structure supporting the rotor and permitting rotation of the rotor about its spin axis and about at least one other axis, and a constraining mechanism mounted on the housing at a location spaced from the first bearing structure, which initially cages the rotor for preventing rotation of the rotor about the at least one other axis. The solid propellant structure is ignited upon the rotor being accelerated and, upon the rotor being brought up to a desired rotational velocity, the solid propellant structure is consumed, whereupon the rotor is free to rotate about its at least one other rotational axis. The method of uncaging a gyroscope rotor with such an apparatus is disclosed. Also disclosed is a means for accelerating the rotor in conjunction with the uncaging apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reducing acoustic noise generated by high pressure ratio throttling of compressible fluids. High pressure gas is passed through a plurality of chokes, each adapted to cause an incremental pressure reduction and produce a normal shock at a Mach number between about 1.3 and 2.3, thereby reducing total pressure across the system without causing a high Mach number shock.

Abstract: The method of preparing very dense tungsten carbide bodies. A substantially stoichiometric mixture is prepared from tungsten particles and a carbon precursor, the precursor being a vinylidene chloride based polymeric material such as SARAN. A green body is pressed from the mixture, and said body is initially heated at a controlled rate to decompose on the order of 20% of the polymeric material, providing HCl gas which reacts with oxide contaminants on the metal particles to provide a clean, reactive metal surface for later reaction with the carbon. An intermediate baking step is provided to controllably evolve the gaseous products that result from continued decomposition of the polymeric material. After subsequent heating to 800.degree.-1300.degree. C, the body may be cooled to room temperature and machined to provide threads, apertures or the like. When the body is subsequently heated to about 2000.degree. C, it shrinks to provide a very hard, dense body with a typical density between 14 and 15 g/cc.

Abstract: A wave powered pumping system of a type adapted for installation in a body of water subject to surface wave motion. A support structure is adapted to be mounted within the body of water, and a float is connected to a reciprocal structure which is movably connected to the support structure for permitting the float to rise and fall upon the water surface in response to wave motion. A load is driven by the reciprocal structure, and apparatus is provided which opposes free movement of the reciprocal structure toward two positional extremes for minimizing the likelihood of damage to the pumping system which would otherwise occur during severe weather conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for evaluating a bond between first and second structures bonded together by an intermediate layer of adhesive. Apparatus is provided for transmitting a pulse of ultrasonic wave energy that has a duration at least as short as 1.5 wave cycles into the bonded structures whereby a first reflected pulse may be reflected from a first surface of the first structure, a second reflected pulse reflected from the layer of adhesive, and a third pulse possibly reflected from the surface of the second structure adjacent the adhesive layer. Circuits are provided for sensing the first, second, and third reflected pulses and for providing an indication of the quality of the bond by comparing the amplitudes of the reflected pulses and determining if the ratios lie within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic valving system for shutting off liquid flow into a container when the level of liquid within the container is above a predetermined level, and for permitting liquid flow when the liquid is below the predetermined level. A liquid is positioned within the container at the predetermined level, and a pressure responsive shutoff valve is fluidly connected in series between a source of liquid under pressure and the interior of the container. The shutoff valve has communication with the fluid sensor and is operative to shut off liquid flow into the container in response to a pressure variation received from the sensor upon the level of liquid within the container rising above the predetermined level.

Abstract: A fluid-powered control system of a type employing redundant control channels and multiple fluid signal amplifiers. Each fluid amplifier has two fluid outlets having communication with respective portions of a movable, force summing structure but having no communication with the other amplifiers. A respective, differential pressure monitoring device is connected between a source of fluid under pressure and each fluid amplifier and is operative to shut off fluid flow to the respective, associated, fluid amplifier upon the occurrence, across the outlets of the fluid amplifier, of a differential pressure exceeding a predetermined level.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for protecting a three-phase power transmission line, having three power conductors, from intermembral electrical faults. First, second, and third sensing and rectifying means are inductively associated with respective ones of the three power conductors of the power transmission line for generating respective DC signals corresponding to the current flow through the respective, associated power conductors. A first switching means is provided for disconnecting the power transmission line from a power source upon the occurrence of a voltage imbalance between the sensing and rectifying means. Another switching means is provided for temporarily interconnecting the outputs of the sensing and rectifying means before operation of the first switching means, for preventing spurious tripping of the first switching means during sharp increases in power which do not occur as a result of a fault.

Abstract: An apparatus for causing relative movement of first and second structures about a pivot axis is disclosed wherein a rotatable, elongated member has first and second portions which respectively extend from the pivot axis toward the first and second structures. The second portion of the member extends rotatably within a housing which is also rotatable with respect to the second structure. The axis of rotation of the member second portion within the housing is skewed from the axis or rotation of its first portion relative to the first structure by an angle .theta. and is also skewed by an equal angle from the axis of rotation of the housing relative to the second structure. Simultaneous rotation of the housing and member in opposite rotational directions produces arcuate movement of the member first portion and the first structure, about the pivot axis, relative to the second structure.

Abstract: A self steering vehicle for a transportation system including a roadway having a pair of elongated parallel tracks whose shape in cross-section is domed or convex and preferably having a pair of guide flanges positioned outwardly of the tracks, the vehicle having wheels provided with resilient track-engaging means, such as pneumatic tires, and driving means for propelling the vehicle over the roadway. The wheels of the vehicle tend to follow the tracks because of the deformation of the tires if they tend to move laterally off the center portions of the tracks, and the guide flanges engage the tires, upon the wheels having moved off the tracks because of the imposition of excessive side loads on the vehicle, to turn the wheels back onto the tracks.