Abstract: A working electrode is swept through a voltammetric cycle, including a metal plating range and a metal stripping range, for at least two baths of known plating quality and a bath whose quality is to be evaluated. The current utilized during the metal stripping range is correlated to the quality of the baths of known quality. The current utilized to strip the metal in the bath of unknown quality is compared to the correlation and its quality evaluated. In a preferred embodiment, an inert working electrode is swept by a function generator through the voltammetric cycle. A counter electrode immersed in the plating bath is coupled in series with the function generator and a coulometer to measure the charge during the metal stripping portion of the cycle.

Abstract: In an airborne armament fire control prediction computer, apparatus for computing smoothed inertial velocity and acceleration components of an observed target in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. A target tracking sensor mechanization is provided which generates target position, velocity, and acceleration data components in an inertially-stabilized Cartesian coordinate system, whereby improved closed-loop pilot-aircraft weapon control system dynamic stability and accuracy result. Target sensor dynamic tracking accuracy improvement and noise reduction are also obtained by virtue of such inertially stabilized tracking mechanization.

Abstract: A magnet is used to create a static magnetic field adjacent to the surface of a conductive material. At least one conductor runs through the magnetic field. When a pulse of current flows through the conductor, an elastic wave is generated in the material. In a preferred embodiment, a row of individual permanent magnets is used to create a periodic magnetic field. One side of a coil is placed in the periodic magnetic field so that a sheet of current moves transverse to the magnetic field when a pulse of current flows through the coil. When the coil is oriented parallel to the row of magnets, a horizontal shear wave is generated in the material. When the coil is oriented transverse to the row of magnets, a Lamb wave is generated in the material.

Abstract: A thermal storage unit comprising a bed of particulate solid material, a liquid situated in heat-exchanging relation with said bed and cooperating with said bed to define a liquid-solid system containing a thermocline, and means for introducing liquid into and extracting liquid from said liquid-solid system.

Abstract: A sealing material for use in contact with animal tissue such as for sealing a stoma opening. The material is a thermoplastic elastomer made by mixing: (1) at least one part of a high molecular weight, nonvolatile oil with (2) a block copolymer having non-elastomeric thermoplastic end blocks and an elastomeric intermediate block which form separate phases. In one embodiment, the end blocks are polystyrene, the intermediate block is either butadiene or isoprene polymer, and the oil is a hydrocarbon oil. In another embodiment, the end blocks are polyalphamethylstyrene, the intermediate block is polydimethylsiloxane, and the oil is a silicone oil.

Abstract: A method of producing trinitromethane comprising reacting isopropyl alcohol with nitric acid, wherein the reaction is maintained within a temperature range of from about 25.degree. to about 85.degree. C to produce said trinitromethane and recovering the trinitromethane so produced. It is a particular advantage of the present method that no catalyst is required.

Abstract: In high velocity pumps such as waterjet pumps, flow leaving the rotor is guided to a smaller discharge diameter by a stator-nozzle combination. To achieve maximum thrust efficiency, the whirl component of velocity must be eliminated at the nozzle exit. Two or more low profile, substantially straight guide vanes are added to the pintle body to destroy any potential whirl component of velocity leaving the stator before being discharged in the exiting stream of water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for laser welding which utilizes the power reflected by the surface being welded to control the power input to the weld. A beam of laser light is projected on the surface to be welded and the power of the light reflected by the surface is measured by a wattmeter placed in the path of the reflected beam. The output from the wattmeter is used to control the laser power per unit area projected on the weld. In one embodiment the wattmeter output is used to control the speed of the skate motor which moves the surface being welded. In another embodiment, the wattmeter output is used to control the output of the laser.

Abstract: A solid laser oxidizer source suitable for use in a HF or DF chemical laser.

Abstract: An electrochemical device for sensing fluid components, particularly gases, comprises a composition with which the component reacts to liberate elemental chlorine, bromine, fluorine or iodine. The chlorine, bromine, fluorine or iodine passes through a particulate layer of vitreous carbon and activates the positive electrode of a solid ionic electrolyte battery of the type: halogen/solid ionic electrolyte/metal electrode, whereby a voltage is generated across a measuring device, the voltage being a known measure of the concentration of the fluid component.

Abstract: The system to be aligned includes a concave spherical reflector confocal with a convex mirror which is mounted together with a scraper mirror on a common support. The concave mirror is pivotally mounted for tilting about axes extending transversely to the optical axis of the cavity and it includes a spherical extension. The scraper mirror and the convex mirror are mounted for common tilting about axes extending transversely to the direction into which the laser beam is directed by the scraper mirror. Two autocollimation systems include a collimating flat on the support as well as a diverging-recollimating system thereon, the latter being optically aligned with the spherical mirror extension; both systems monitor misalignment of the axes of the mirrors, and cause corrective tilting, whereby specifically translational and rotational misalignment of the concave mirror is corrected by tilting.

Abstract: A method for forming an improved lithium electrode structure which comprises an alloy of lithium, silicon, and boron in specified proportions and a supporting current-collecting matrix in intimate contact with said alloy. The lithium formed by the method of the present invention is utilized as the negative electrode in a rechargeable electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An energetic salt of tetranitroethane and triaminoguanidine which can be used as a high energy solid propellant oxidizer.

Abstract: In a ring laser type gyro, laser optics adjustment means comprising a duo-mode bimorph device for separately controlling each of the optical length and alignment of the gyro laser optics.

Abstract: The flywheel configuration results in optimum balance of wheel mass in the form of a proportioned disk whose cross-section necks down towards its outer extremity forming a highly stressed region, then expands to form a thin cylindrical breakaway rim portion having a large flat outer peripheral surface, the rim providing optimum inertia for the flywheel. The energy system further consists of a barrier ring to prevent overspeed of the flywheel and contains rim fragments in the event of catastrophic separation of the rim from the disk.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter wherein an incremental pulse width modulator controls first and second modes of operation of a bridge network of switches such that the bridge network of switches passes a precision current from a current source into a summing input of an integrator during the first mode of operation and away from the summing point of the integrator during the second mode of operation. The bipolar precision current from the bridge network of switches is summed with an analog current at the summing input of the integrator to cause the integrator to develop a voltage signal proportional to the integral of the sum of these currents. In response to the voltage signal and to clock pulses, the incremental pulse width modulator precisely controls the first and second modes of operation of the bridge network of switches and enables an output circuit to generate a digital representation of the amplitude of the analog current.

Abstract: A high-speed, light emitting device which utilizes a solid state source for generating light for use in fiber optical communications. The source is an active, narrow band gap layer of semiconductive material between heterojunctions formed with a p.sup.+ -type material on one side of an n.sup.+ -type material on the other side. A mirror on the back of the source reflects light toward an optical fiber abutting the substrate on the front of the source. A side mirror traverses the edge of the active layer at an angle of about 45.degree. and reflects light traveling parallel to the active layer toward the optical fiber. Contacts are coupled to the semiconductor material for applying an electrical signal across the active layer to generate light. In a preferred embodiment, the active layer is GaAsSb joined to GaAlAsSb and the substrate is GaAs.

Abstract: The combination of the strongly oxidizing NF.sub.4.sup.+ cation with the strongly oxidizing NiF.sub.6.sup.-- anion in the form of the stable salt (NF.sub.4).sub.2 NiF.sub.6 produces a powerful oxidizer, useful for solid propellant formulations and NF.sub.3 -F.sub.2 gas generators. A process for its production is described.

Abstract: SbF.sub.5 is heated in the presence of an excess of NF.sub.3 and F.sub.2 to 250.degree. C until conversion of the SbF.sub.5 to NF.sub.4 SbF.sub.6 is complete. The NF.sub.4 SbF.sub.6 may be used itself or may be combined, in 0-15 mol % excess, with CsBF.sub.4 in anhydrous HF to produce NF.sub.4 BF.sub.4.

Abstract: The production of hydrogen by reacting an ash containing material with water and at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine to form reaction products including carbon dioxide and a corresponding hydrogen halide. The hydrogen halide is decomposed to separately release the hydrogen and the halogen. The halogen is recovered for reaction with additional carbonaceous materials and water, and the hydrogen is recovered as a salable product. In a preferred embodiment the carbonaceous material, water and halogen are reacted at an elevated temperature. In accordance with another embodiment, a continuous method for the production of hydrogen is provided wherein the carbonaceous material, water and at least one selected halogen are reacted in one zone, and the hydrogen halide produced from the reaction is decomposed in a second zone, preferably by electrolytic decomposition, to release the hydrogen for recovery and the halogen for recycle to the first zone.