Abstract: A cradle for supporting a space vehicle such as an upper stage in a reusable launch vehicle (such as a space shuttle orbiter) cargo bay. The cradle includes means for supporting the space vehicle and any satellite attached thereto against launch loads and against abort landing loads. The cradle consists of two radial sections of a tube which, when closed, surrounds the space vehicle. One section is secured within the cargo bay. The second section is latched to the first edge of the second section and is hinged along the second edge. When the cargo bay doors are opened, the space vehicle is deployed by unlatching said latch and activating a first actuation means to rotate the second section about the hinge to move the second section outwardly of the cargo bay. A deployment probe connects the space vehicle to the second section.

Abstract: A composite game racket having improved stiffness and uniformity and method of making same. Rackets are light bats consisting of a netting stretched in an open frame attached to a handle and which are used for striking the ball in tennis and similar games. The racket comprises a shell with a high strength fiber reinforced plastic facing laminated to each face of the shell. A preferred fiber orientation in the novel facing is disclosed. The facing is made by a method including steps of arranging a resin impregnated fiber tow in a mold, placing resin impregnated fiber cloth sheets over the tow in a specific selected arrangement and curing the resin under pressure in the mold. The shell may be internally recessed in a truss-like pattern to provide lightness with strength. The handle of the racket includes a pair of plastic pallets secured to the handle portion of the shell and covered with a covering material, such as a thin leather strip winding.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for supporting an ultrasonic transducer within a machine tool. An ultrasonic tube assembly mounted coaxially within a machine spindle and tool supports an ultrasonic sensor adjacent to the surface being machined during machining. The tube mount includes means for isolating the tube assembly from vibration of the spindle and tool. Real-time thickness measurement of the surface being machined can be obtained by using thickness as measured by the ultrasonic sensor in a conventional feedback loop, controlling tool position.

Abstract: A method for sealing and protecting the surface of advanced composite materials against moisture and other contaminants. Advanced composite materials, which comprise high strength fibers such as graphite or boron fibers in a resin matrix such as epoxy or polyimide resins, suffer a performance loss when subjected to moisture. In high vacuum environments, such as in many outer space applications, resin binder outgassing may cause contamination of the overall device. Significant dimensional changes occur when these composite structures are used in environments with widely varying humidity levels. The disclosed method of preventing such degradation basically comprises the steps of undercoating the surface with a metal coating, fluxing the undercoat, forming a layer of molten metal on the undercoat then solidifying the metal topcoating. A seal coating substantially impervious to water and highly resistant to dimensional changes and corrosion results.

Abstract: A welding system in which a welder automatically tracks the seam to be welded. This is an automatic servo-driven tracking system employing a raster-scan television camera as an optical sensor. The camera is aimed at the seam area in advance of a cross-slide mounted welding head with the line scan substantially perpendicular to the seam. The camera produces a voltage pulse which exactly coincides with the point in time at which the line scan intercepts the seam. The time incidence pulse is referenced to the standard synchronization pulse (the initiation of the line scan) of the camera. The video signal line which contains these pulses is fed to a novel video anomaly detector. The detector processes this information and produces an output voltage which is analogous to the position of the seam. This output is directed to a master/slave position servo drive system which maintains the welding torch over the seam as the seam moves past the welding station.

Abstract: A mechanism for deploying and retracting an isogrid structure particularly suited for use in supporting low weight reflective or absorbtive surfaces, characterized by a plurality of hinged isogrid panels stowed in an accordian folded stack arranged for automatic deployment into a long continuous strip or array. Two deployment arms in contact with the stack of panels are rotated to a position perpendicular to the stack, carrying with them the first panels. Thereafter the panels are extended by powered sprockets which engage the panel edges. A shutter bar sequentially releases pairs of panels during deployment. For retraction, the sprockets drive the panels back toward the stack where a creaser bar hinges pairs of panels which are thereafter folded into a stack by means of the shutter bar capturing and stowing each folded pair of panels.

Abstract: An isogrid structure having inset strips of composite materials at the top and bottom of the grid webs. A preferably flanged isogrid basically consists of I-beam members arranged in an integral repeating pattern of substantially equilateral triangles. One flange may be integral with a skin sheet covering the structure. At least some of these flanges are provided with grooves running parallel to the beam webs, filled with advanced composite materials comprising high-strength fibers in a supporting matrix. Preferably, the fibers run parallel to the beam webs. Preferred arrangements of the fibers are described.

Abstract: A fitting for connecting a structure to an advanced composite tube, where the tube consists of high strength fibers embedded in a supporting matrix material. The fitting comprises a narrow sleeve bonded to a composite tube, split rings engaging the ends of the sleeve and overlying threaded rings fastened to the structure to be connected to the tubes, said rings when threaded together fixedly engaging said split rings. This assembly provides a secure, removable fitting while avoiding penetrations in the composite tube.

Abstract: A protective window for use with high-energy infrared radiation sources, such as lasers, is described, together with a method for manufacturing the window. For visual applications, the window basically includes a sheet of light transmitting material such as glass or quartz, which has a partially-reflecting surface coating, such as gold, which primarily reflects infrared radiation while transmitting visible light. The reflectivity of the coating may be improved by an infrared laser scanning technique. Finally, one or both surfaces of the window are coated with a visible-light transmitting synthetic resin which, if rapidly heated to a suitable temperature, vaporizes without leaving any residue. This vaporization carries away any contamination, such as dirt or dust, on the resin coating, leaving a very clean reflection surface.

Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus enclosing the rivet hoppers of an automatic riveting machine. A refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen is conducted into the refrigerant coils of an insulated enclosure to maintain the temperature of the rivets in the hoppers at sub-zero temperature in order to retard the age hardening process. Frost formation on the rivets is effectively prevented by purging the enclosure with gaseous nitrogen. Upon passing through the coolant coils, the nitrogen absorbs sufficient heat to convert it from the liquid state to a gaseous state. The gas then discharges from the open end of the coils into the enclosure and through a vent in the side wall of the enclosure to atmosphere. To augment frost prevention, dry nitrogen gas is utilized to propel the rivets from the hoppers into the fingers of the riveting machine. Down time for servicing, changing rivets, etc. is reduced to a minimum by a temperature controlled space heater mounted inside the enclosure.

Abstract: An accessory for riveting machines, replacing the conventional lower anvil, which permits both the top and bottom exposed surfaces of a laminated assembly to be countersunk and flush riveted. It includes a selectively and sequentially engageable sheet clamping means, countersinking means, rivet anvil, and rivet squeezing means.

Abstract: An aircraft having a composite configuration comprising a conventional fuselage forebody portion which symmetrically and variformly blends into a relatively wide, substantially flat beaver-tail-like afterbody, with the afterbody having an integral pitch trimming camber and a composite pitch control device and air brake, hinged transversely thereacross and forming at least a part of its trailing edge. The beaver-tail afterbody is geometrically blended into and joined with the after portion of the conventional forebody through the medium of an intervening medial body defined by a geometric transition piece. The composite aircraft is further capable of fixedly accommodating any type of conventional wing configuration without the necessity for any adaptative, structural change or modification and also carries conventional propulsion units and control surface components.

Abstract: A high strength frusto-conical or conical structure utilizing an integral flanged reinforcing grid is disclosed. The structure comprises a skin plate having a generally conical shape, with a plurality of upstanding integral ribs. At least some of the ribs are configured in evenly spaced right and left spirals. Other ribs may extend along conic generatrix intersecting the spiral ribs at points where right and left spiral ribs intersect. Each rib includes a narrow flange at the inner edge, lying substantially parallel to the skin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the porosity or density of a porous structure surface is disclosed. A controlled quantity of volatile liquid is applied to a porous surface and is allowed to evaporate. The temperature at the surface reaches equilibrium at the point necessary to supply the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid. This equilibrium temperature depends on the evaporation rate, which has been found to be a function of surface porosity. The porosimeter substantially eliminates other factors influencing evaporation rate, and measures and records the temperature at the surface. Once calibrated with samples of known porosity, this system is capable of making rapid, accurate surface porosity measurements.