Abstract: To accomplish the removal of warm fog about an area such as an airport runway (11) shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of nozzles (17) along a line (15) adjacent the area propelled water jets (19) through the fog to heights of approximately twenty-five meters. Each water jet (19) breaks up forming a water drop size distribution that falls through the fog overtaking, colliding, and coalescing with individual fog droplets and thereby removes the fog. A water retrieval system (15) is used to collect the water and return it to reservoirs (21) for pumping it to the nozzles (17) once again.

Abstract: A passive heat transporting and fluid management apparatus including a housing in the form of an extruded body member having flat upper and lower surfaces is disclosed. A main liquid channel and at least two vapor channels extend longitudinally through the housing from a heat input end to a heat output end. The vapor channels have sintered powdered metal fused about the peripheries to form a porous capillary wick structure. A substantial number of liquid arteries extend transversely through the wicks adjacent the respective upper and lower surfaces of the housing, the arteries extending through walls of the housing between the vapor channels and the main liquid channel and open into the main liquid channel. Liquid from the main channel enters the artery at the heat input end, wets the wick and is vaporized. When the vapor is cooled at the heat output end, the condensed vapor refills the wick and the liquid reenters the main liquid channel.

Abstract: A moving wall, continuous flow electrophoresis apparatus (10) having a frame (18) with an electrophoresis chamber (12) mounted between a pair of synchronously driven belt walls (14, 16). The frame (18), and thus the chamber (12), is supported between the belt walls (14, 16) and is angularly positionable with respect to the direction of belt travel. The belts are stored on supply reels (98, 156) at one end of the device and are taken up on driven reels (94, 132) at the other end, thus constantly exposing new belt material within the chamber.

Abstract: A gas cup extension assembly (10) is mounted on a standard electric welding torch gas cup (11) to enable welding in areas with limited access. The gas cup assembly (10) has a tubular insert (14) that fits within the gas cup (11) but extends a lower externally threaded portion (17) downward through the gas cup exit opening. A tubular extension (18) is screwed onto the threaded portion (17) so as to be placed tight against the lower edge of the gas cup (11). The upper portion (20) of the extension has a rim (21) to define the outer perimeter of the seat edge about the entrance opening so a gasket (24) may be placed to effect an air tight seal between the tubular insert (14) and tubular extension (18). The tubular extension (18) will have its lower portion (19) shaped as desired for the particular welding activity and may easily be replaced with another extension having a different shaped lower portion.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber (12) within which an instrument (22) to be calibrated or tested is placed, is fitted with an ion gun (14) having an ion source (48). The source (48) has an electron emitting filament (60) positioned adjacent one end of an ionization chamber (71), with a negatively biased grid (72) located behind the filament (60). Gas is injected into the source (48) by a gas flow regulator (54) in one end (52) of the source (48). The chamber (71) is surrounded by a plurality of independently energizable coils (82, 84, 86, 88, 90), with the last coil (90) being operated at the highest current level, thus producing the highest magnetic flux. This presents a region (160) of magnetic repulsion to the electrons produced by the filament (60) and causes them to be confined between the grid (72) and the region (160), greatly increasing the chances that an ionization collision will occur between the electrons and atoms of injected gas.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for growing crystals using float zone techniques. A rod (34) of crystalline materials is disposed in a cylindrical container (36), with a space being left between the rod and container walls. The space is filled with an encapsulant (72), selected to have a slightly lower melting point than the crystalline material. The rod is secured to a container end cap (38) at one end and to a shaft (60) at its other end. A piston (64) slides over the rod and provides pressure to prevent loss of volatile components upon melting of the rod. Prior to melting the rod the container is first heated to melt the encapsulant, with any off-gas from this step being vented to a cavity behind the piston. The piston moves slightly forward owing to volume change upon melting of the encapsulant, and the vent passageway (74) is closed. The container is then moved longitudinally through a heated zone (32) to progressively melt sections of the rod as in conventional float zone processes.

Abstract: A reconfigurable workstation (10) is illustrated having video, keyboard, and hand operated motion controller capabilities. The workstation includes main side panels (12, 14) between which a primary work panel (A) is pivotally carried in a manner in which primary work panel (A) may be adjusted and set in a negatively declined or positively inclined position for proper forearm support while operating hand controllers (34, 36). A keyboard table (B) supports a keyboard (32) in such a manner that the keyboard (32) is set in a positively inclined position with respect to the negatively declined work panel (A). Declined forearm support surfaces (26, 28) are provided on either side of an alcove (24) accommodating a seated operator with forearms of the operator supported in a declined position for proper support and operation of the hand controllers (34, 36). A visual display unit (C) is inclined with respect to primary work panel (A) so that the operator seated at alcove (24) is properly positioned.

Abstract: A wake shield space processing facility (10) for maintaining ultra-high levels of vacuum is described. The wake shield (12) is a truncated hemispherical section having a convex side (14) and a concave side (24). Material samples (68) to be processed are located on the convex side of the shield, which faces in the wake direction in operation in orbit. Necessary processing fixtures (20) and (22) are also located on the convex side. Support equipment including power supplies (40, 42), CMG package (46) and electronic control package (44) are located on the convex side (24) of the shield facing the ram direction. Prior to operation in orbit the wake shield is oriented in reverse with the convex side facing the ram direction to provide cleaning by exposure to ambient atomic oxygen. The shield is then baked-out by being pointed directed at the sun to obtain heating for a suitable period.

Abstract: An apparatus (23) is constructed having a pair of side gripping members (32, 34) which are pivotally coupled by hinges to an intermediate gripping member (36). These gripping members (32, 34, 36) have a l/d (length-to-diameter) ratio of approximately 5:1 to distribute compressive forces over a relatively large area. Inner gripping regions (46, 48, 50) of the members (32, 34, 36) are configured having frictional surfaces (46, 48, 50) which frictionally grip a tubular structure, such as a bi-stem (12). A latch (51) having catches (56) is positioned on one of side gripping members (34), and a catch (62) is positioned on the opposite side member (32) for engaging the catches (56), latching the apparatus (23) closed around the bi-stem (12). Handles (68, 70) are centrally affixed to an exterior region of side members (32, 34) and allow the apparatus (23) to be readily closed around the bi-stem (12) and also allow manipulation of the bi-stem (12).

Abstract: An end effector device (A) for grasping and holding an article such as a handle (18) of a space telescope is disclosed. The device includes a V-shaped capture window (74) defined as inclined surfaces (76, 78) in parallel face plates (22, 24) which converge toward a retainer recess (54) in which the handle is retained. A pivotal finger (30) meshes with a pair of pivoted fingers (26, 28) which rotate in counterrotation. The fingers rotate to pull a handle within the capture window into recess (54) where latches (50) lock handle (18) in the recess. To align the capture window, plates (22, 24) may be cocked plus or minus five degrees on base (64).

Abstract: A method of observing crystal formation in a transparent specimen (58 of FIG. 5) comprising the steps of melting a portion of the specimen in a heating zone (22 of FIG. 2) freezing the melted portion of the specimen 58 by a cooling zone (20 of FIG. 2) spaced from the heating zone by a gap (42) which is observable by a suitable observing means (30), controlling the temperatures of the heating and cooling zones (22 and 20) to various temperatures to create a variable temperature gradient across the gap (42) so that the freezing isotherm of the specimen (58) always remains in a substantially constant position within the gap (42) where it is observable by the observing means (30), and moving the specimen (58) longitudinally while the temperature gradient is varying.

Abstract: An alignment and assembly tool 10 is disclosed for aligning the ends of two very large cylinders 36 and 38 so that the ends may be welded together, with a cylindrical strengthening section (tee ring) 18 inserted between the cylinders and aligned and welded into the joint. The tool 10 has a U-shaped main body 11 with a horizontal top section 13 and two legs 15, which are attached to the ends of top section 13 and extend outward and downward. Horizontal bottom sections 12 extend outward from the bottoms 14 of legs 15. Tool 10 has one inner jackscrew 20 and one outer jackscrew 22 on each side of its center, extending downward from top section 13. Each of the two bottom sections 12 has an attached side clamp 24 for clamping the alignment tool 10 to two opposing skin stringers 26 of cylinders 36 and 38.

Abstract: A welding monitoring system is constructed having an arc welder (16) mounted in an enclosure (12) containing a pair of periscopically positioned mirrors (56, 60). A welding electrode (64) extends from the welder (16) through an opening (58) in the mirror (56) and through an opening (62) in the enclosure (12). The mirror (56) is inclined to reflect an image of a welding operation to the mirror (60), which in turn is inclined to reflect the image through an opening (72) in the enclosure (12) to a third mirror (98). This mirror (98) is mounted in an adjoining region (100) between support members (84, 86) which are coupled perpendicularly to each other, with one member (86) coupled to the enclosure (12) by a rotatable coupling (92). The coupling (92) allows the enclosure (12) and the welder (16) to be rotated about an axis (71) and locked in a selected position by set screws (88).

Abstract: An electric welding torch (10) with an internal viewing system is provided an annular arc light reflector (34) to reflect light from the arc (30) back onto the workpiece. The reflector (34) has a vertical split or gap (40) in its surrounding wall to permit adjacent wall ends forming the split (40) to be sprung open slightly to permit the reflector to be removed or slipped onto the torch housing or gas cup (24). The upper opening (25) of the reflector (34) is slightly smaller than the torch housing or gas cup (24) and therefore, when placed on the torch housing or gas cup (40) has that springiness to cause it to clamp tightly on the housing or gas cup (24). The split or gap (40) also serves to permit the feed of weld wire therethrough to the weld area.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the state of a crystal (C) which is suspended in a solution is disclosed which includes providing a light source (10) for emitting a beam (12) of light along an optical axis (X). A collimating lens is arranged along the optical axis for collimating the emitted beam to provide a first collimated light beam (16) consisting of parallel light rays. The solution and crystal are contained in a transparent container (18). By passing the first collimated light beam through the container, a number of the parallel light rays are deflected off of the surfaces of said crystal being monitored according to the refractive index gradient to provide a deflected beam (19) of deflected light rays. A focusing lens (22) is arranged along the optical axis for focusing the deflected rays (32, 34, 48, 50) towards a desired focal point (24a). A knife edge (24) is arranged in a predetermined orientation at the focal point; and a screen (26) is provided.

Abstract: A method for boring well-defined holes in a composite material such as graphite/epoxy. A slurry of silicon carbide powder and water is projected onto a work area of the composite material in which a hole is to be bored with a conventional drill bit. The silicon carbide powder and water slurry allow the drill bit, while experiencing only normal wear, to bore smooth, cylindrical holes in the composite material.

Abstract: The electron bombardment furnace (B) consists of two confinement grid sections (26,28) which may be moved and separated from each other. Inside the bombardment furnace, a tungsten element (14) is enclosed. The material specimen (18) is located within the tungsten element and grounded by means of grounded support wires (20,22) connected to the respective sections of the furnace. The material specimen (18) is supported on the ground wires and heated by electron bombardment until melt occurs. The furnace sections are separated in opposite directions causing the ground wires to pull from the surfaces of the specimen, leaving the specimen freely suspended in the process chamber without the action of external forces. The specimen remains in its melt condition in the processing chamber where it can be undercooled without external forces acting on the specimen, which would cause dynamic nucleation.

Abstract: A fatigue testing apparatus (10) for simultaneously subjecting a plurality of material test specimens (24) to cyclical tension loading to determine the fatigue strength of the material. The fatigue testing apparatus includes a pulling head (12) having cylinders (26) defined therein which carry reciprocating pistons (32). The reciprocation of the pistons is determined by cyclical supplies of pressurized fluid to the cylinders. Piston rods (18) extend from the pistons through the pulling head and are attachable to one end of test specimens, the other end of the test specimens being attachable to a fixed base (38), causing test specimens attached between the piston rods and the base to be subjected to cyclical tension loading. Because all of the cylinders share a common pressurized fluid supply, the breaking of a test specimen does not substantially affect the pressure of the fluid supplied to the other cylinders nor the tension applied to the other test specimens.

Abstract: A remotely controllable mixing system (210) in which a plurality of mixing assemblies (10a-10e) are arranged in an annular configuration, and wherein each assembly (10) employs a central chamber (16) and two outer, upper and lower, chambers (12, 14). Valves (18, 20) are positioned between chambers, and these valves (18, 20) for a given mixing assembly (10) are operated by upper and lower control rotors (29), which in turn are driven by upper and lower drive rotors (270, 270b). Additionally, a hoop (278) is compressed around upper control rotors (29) and a hoop (278b) is compressed around lower control rotors (29) to thus insure constant frictional engagement between all control rotors (29) and drive rotors (270, 270b). The drive rollers (270, 270b) are driven by a motor (213).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting human eye defects, particularly detection of refractive error. The invention operates by recording on color film the eye reflex which occurs when eyes are exposed to a flash of light. The photographs are compared with predetermined standards, to detect eye defects. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base structure of the ocular screening system (10) is folding interconnect structure (12), comprising hinged sections (14), (16), and (18). Attached to one end of structure (12) is head positioning station (24) which comprises vertical support (26), a head positioning bracket (28) having one end attached to the top of support (26), and two head positioning lamps (33) to verify precise head positioning. At the opposite end of interconnect structure (12) is a camera station (34) with camera (38), electronic flash unit (44), and blinking fixation lamp (46), for photographing the eyes of persons being evaluated.