Abstract: A torpedo tail mounted dispenser (TMD) for deploying an elongated, flexible article generally along a deployment axis, which includes a receptacle for storing the article in a multiple-turn, multiple-layer configuration about the deployment axis in a storage volume. There is also a torpedo connector mechanism having a terminal forward face and a lateral peripheral surface extending away from the receptacle along the deployment axis. An elastomeric cushioning feature is mounted on the lateral peripheral surface of the connector mechanism. An annular elastomeric bumper is mounted on a forward peripheral face of the cushioning feature, the annular opening of the bumper surrounding the connector mechanism to allow connection of the TMD to a torpedo. The bumper provides protection to the TMD and torpedo under certain shock and vibration levels.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the strength of composite sandwich beam in which an enclosure and insertable bladder is provided. The apparatus comprises positioning a bladder within the enclosure. The beam to be tested is slid through a cutout or aperture of the enclosure with support feet holding the beam in place within the enclosure. The enclosure supports the bladder sides with one face of the bladder pressuring the composite sandwich beam. For testing, water is pumped under pressure through a fitting into the bladder. The tolerances between the beam, enclosure and an extrusion seal do not allow the bladder to squeeze outward with the result being measurable testing pressure on the face of the composite beam.

Abstract: The present invention uses titanate compounds to replace chromates in metal primer paints used for corrosion protection on metal substrates.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a recoverable tethered optical fiber buoy and winch assembly that is mounted to the back of the sail or the back of an aft non-moving surface of an underwater vehicle and housed in a configuration to provide very little additional drag to the underwater vehicle when the assembly is not deployed. The invention provides a capability to connect ocean surface visual or radio frequency sensors to an underwater mobile platform with a very high data rate link that is retrievable.

Abstract: An apparatus as a fixture for fluidly pressure testing a flange penetrator seal with the apparatus having a flange cover including a recess and a flange extension including a recess with the extension matable to the cover such that the recesses create a volume around the seal. The extension is secured to the flange of a device for which the flange penetrator seal supports. The cover has a pressure fitting for application of fluid pressure to the recess of the cover for pressure testing the seal within the volume and the extension having a fitting for draining the volume after testing is complete. The test fixture includes a clamping fixture attachable to the cover, the clamping fixture encompassing the flange cover and the extension such that the apparatus can be further secured to the flange of the device which the flange penetrator seal supports.

Abstract: A device and system to remotely detect vocalizations of speech. The skin located on the throat region of a speaking person or a reflective layer on the skin on the throat region vibrates in response to vocalizations of speech by the person. The vibrating skin or reflective layer is reflective of impinging radiation. A laser Doppler vibrometer transmits radiation onto the vibrating skin or the covering reflective layer and receives reflected radiation from the vibrating skin or reflective layer. The laser Doppler vibrometer generates voltage output signals that are representative of the speech causing the vibrations. A target tracker directs the impinging radiation and detects the reflected radiation to pass between the throat region and the laser Doppler vibrometer and includes a processor that removes non-speech signal artifacts from the voltage output signals. An interconnected audio speaker reproduces the speech from the voltage output signals.

Abstract: An electrochemical potentiometric titration method that entails titration of a known volume of a catholyte containing an unknown amount of hydrogen peroxide in a titration cell having two electrodes, a platinum working electrode and a silver/silver chloride reference electrode. A known concentration of a titrant is added to the catholyte in the titration cell. Simultaneously, as the titrant is added the potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode is monitored. The point at which all of the hydrogen peroxide has been consumed is signaled when the cell potential changes abruptly. Since the concentration of the titrant is already known, the amount of titrant added (concentration multiplied by volume) is directly related to the amount of hydrogen peroxide consumed. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide is calculated from the volume of catholyte and the moles of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A data transmission system includes a serial A/D converter and a transmission processor. Transmission processor provides control signals to the A/D converter and first and second transmitters. The first transmitter is joined to the A/D converter to transmit a sync signal at a first frequency. The second transmitter is joined to transmit serial digitized data at a second frequency. First and second receivers are used to receive these frequencies. A reception processor is joined to the first receiver to activate a D/A converter on receipt of the sync signal. The D/A converter then converts digitized data received by the second receiver back to analog format. A method is also provided for transmitting and decoding the digital data.

Abstract: A dampening material is presented with a carboxy-terminated butadiene nitrile (CTBN) as a dampening element. The glass transition temperature of the CTBN is generally at room temperature. The material is a two-component system with micro-scale phase segregation. The CTBN is reacted into an epoxy resin at a high temperature and cooled to allow the epoxy to react with a curing agent. A phase segregation occurs between the epoxy and the CTBN as the epoxy gels/cures. The extent of phase separation in the reaction is controlled by cross-linking and gelling. The rubbery component of CTBN phase segregates and forms discrete, spherical domains. Because the glass transition temperature of the rubbery domains is in the operational temperature range of interest, the composite is capable of absorbing acoustic energy. A high modulus allows a larger amount of acoustic energy to enter the composite where it is absorbed by the rubbery CTBN component.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for prevention of inadvertent weapons launches in which a hydraulic firing valve provides hydraulic pressure to a backup select valve rather than the backup select valve receiving hydraulic pressure directly from a ship supply header. This hydraulic pressure shifts the backup select valve to allow hydraulic pressure to pass to a mode select control valve that actuates a controllable air-firing valve, until a hydraulic firing valve for the weapon is opened. The backup select valve actuation can only occur with the initiation of the hydraulic firing valve. Only after the hydraulic firing valve is open, does the backup select valve initiate hydraulic pressure to the mode select control valve thereby preventing hydraulic actuation of the backup select valve.

Abstract: A microstrip patch antenna utilizes a microstrip patch antenna substrate formed of photonic bandgap material. One or more periodic patterns may be used therewith to produce multiple bandgaps into the photonic bandgap material. The periodic patterns may be produced by introducing periodic defects into the dielectric material substrate with drilled holes, slots, shorted vias, blind vias, buried vias, and/or plated or unplated patterns, such as plated patterns on the groundplane or on internally positioned surfaces, or on the surface adjacent the radiating elements. One or more radiating elements are used on an upper surface of said microstrip patch antenna substrate, and a groundplane is formed on a lower surface of said microstrip patch antenna substrate.

Abstract: Using a ¼ inch end mill a grid pattern of one inch squares or lands separated by concave troughs or grooves 0.025 inches deep is milled on to the surface of a one quarter inch thick magnesium plate. A conductive barrier such as a titanium foil is then laid over the magnesium plate, and is then pressed into the pattern with a one inch thick 80 durometer rubber sheet. Pressure of 250 pounds per square inch is then applied to the rubber to create indentations in the foil creating the same pattern as the one on the magnesium plate. The foil is then removed. An electrically conductive adhesive is then screen printed on the magnesium lands only, avoiding the grooves. The titanium foil is oriented to the pattern on the magnesium plate and mated to the magnesium plate by applying 200 pounds per square inch of pressure.

Abstract: A combination sabot and launch seal is taught that is made from a single piece of molded flexible material mounted to the interior of a launch capsule. The sabot portion of the invention is defined by multiple flexible appendages that are joined together at one end in a domed shape and positioned over the nose of a missile in a launch capsule. During a launch, the appendages separate and fold back over the lip of the forward aperture of the launch capsule.

Abstract: A method for coupling power across a non-conducting membrane. A generator converts a DC source on a first side of a non-conducting membrane to a square-wave at a determined frequency. The generator output connects to a transformer and onto a first set of capacitor plates on the first side of the membrane. A second set of plates on the second side of the membrane form a set of coupling capacitors wherein the non-conducting dielectric membrane becomes part of the coupling-capacitor dielectric material. The second set of plates connects to a transformer and onto a non-linear circuit that converts the square-wave to DC voltage and current that can power a load such that the power delivered is approximately equal to the power available from the DC source on the first side of the membrane. The coupling capacitors may be replaced by coupled coils with nearly the same power delivery effect.

Abstract: The present application provides a linear mechanism for optical-to-acoustic energy conversion for optoacoustic communication from an in-air platform to an undersea vehicle. Signals used in underwater acoustic telemetry applications are capable of being generated through the linear optoacoustic regime conversion process. A number of issues concerning linear optoacoustic communication is addressed that lead to a formulation of a linear regime optoacoustic communication scheme. The use of oblique laser bean incidence at an air-water interface to obtain considerable in-air range from the laser source to the vehicle is also addressed. The effect of oblique incidence on in-water range is addressed as well. Optimum and sub-optimum linear optoacoustic sound-generation techniques for selecting the optical wavelength and signal frequency for optimizing in-water range are identified.

Abstract: An assembly which includes a rod having an outer peripheral surface. There is also a nut having an axial aperture with an inner peripheral surface moveably engageable with the peripheral surface on the outer peripheral surface of the rod and having a peripheral gear surface. There is also a circular drive gear, which engages the peripheral gear surface of the nut. The circular drive gear is rotatable about its central axis so that the nut is moved along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable for use with a system for determining a velocity profile of sound in a medium. The optical fiber cable comprises an inner layer of strength members, an outer layer of strength members, and at least one tube containing at least one optical fiber incorporated into the outer layer. The at least one optical fiber has a plurality of Bragg grating sensors spaced along its length.

Abstract: A device for measuring electrical properties, including permittivity, of a material is disclosed. The device includes a first conduit and second conduit terminating at open ends and respectively connected to a first and second connector port. Annuli are formed by the open ends to encompass portions of a flange of the device. The flange as well the portions make firm contact with the material under test, permitting simultaneous measurements of the complex scattering parameters of the material when an electromagnetic field is transmitted through the first connector port. Electrical characteristics of the material can be computed using the measurements received at the first connector port and the second connector port. Shorting screws are used for calibration by selectively opening or shorting the conduits.

Abstract: A method for determining the direction of an incoming signal is provided in which each of a plurality of receivers arranged in a linear array is sampled in sequence to simulate a single receiver moving along an aperture defined by the linear array at a simulated speed. This generates a simulated time series data from which a simulated Doppler shift in the incident angle is measured. The simulated Doppler shift is used to determine the incident angle between the incident signal and the linear array of receivers. By adjusting the simulated speed to eliminate artifacts in the power spectral density of the data obtained from the receivers, the incident angle can be obtain from the expression of the simulated Doppler shift.

Abstract: A fairing assembly is provided for a towed body having multiple sections that are flexibly joined together. For each pair of sections, a fairing is joined to the first section and positioned over the space between the pairs of sections. The fairing has discrete tabs that extend from the first section across the space between the sections. The tabs are separated to allow angular displacement of the first section with respect to the second section. Two layers of overlapping tabs are provided for reducing hydrodynamic forces in between the sections.