Abstract: A remotely controlled spray gun in which a nozzle 42 and orifice plate 40 are held in precise axial alignment by alignment member 54, in turn held in alignment with the general outlet 33 of the spray gun by insert 36. By this arrangement, precise repeatability of spray patterns is insured.

Abstract: A dual motion valve (A) includes two dual motion valve assemblies (10, 12) having a rotary input which allows the benefits of applying both rotary and axial motion to a rotary sealing element (24) having a plurality of ports (43). The motion of the rotary sealing element during actuation provides axial engagement of the rotary sealing element with a stationary valve plate (22) which also has ports (38). Fluid passages are created through the valve when the ports of the rotary sealing element are aligned with the ports of the stationary valve plate. Alignment is achieved through rotation of the rotary sealing element with respect to the stationary valve plate. The fluid passages provide direct paths which minimize fluid turbulence created in the fluid as it passes through the valve (A).

Abstract: Apparatus (11) for applying planar oscillations to a container (13). Pressurized air (99) is supplied to a moveable slide plate (27) which employs arms (19) having an air bearing vent structure (29, 31) which allows the slide plate to float and to translate. The container (13) to be oscillated is secured to the upper surface of the slide plate (27). A motor (39) driven rotating eccentric shaft (59) loosely extends into a center hole bearing (37) of the slide plate (27) to cause the oscillations.

Abstract: A first annular ring (44) has a keyed opening (64) sized to fit around the nut region (40) of a male coupling (14), and a second annular ring (42) has a keyed opening (52) sized to fit around the nut (26) of a female coupling (12). Each ring (42, 44) has mating ratchet teeth (56, 62), and these rings (42, 44) are biased together, thereby engaging these teeth (56, 62) and preventing rotation of these rings. This in turn prevents the rotation of the male nut region (40) with respect to the female nut (26). For tube-to-bulkhead locking, one facet (70) of one ring (44) is notched, and a pin (88) is pressed into an opening (84, 86) in the bulkhead (80). This pin (88) is sized to fit within one of the notches (74) in the ring (44), thereby preventing rotation of this ring (44) with respect to the bulkhead (80 ).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming ultrapure glass rods (13) or fibers (28) from a polycrystalline rod (11) in which the method comprises the steps of heating a selected short section of the rod in the first furnace (21) to form a molten zone of the rod, heating a second selected short section of the rod in a second furnace (19) which initially is separated from the first furnace by a very short gap to form a second molten zone of the rod which initially is contiguous with and part of the first molten zone of the rod to form a single molten zone 14, and then gradually moving the first and second furnaces apart to first form a rod (13) and then, ultimately, a fiber (28), of ultrapure glass in the increasingly widening gap forming therebetween.

Abstract: An energy storage system for a spacecraft is provided which employs a solar powered flywheel arrangement including a motor-generator which, in different operating modes, drives the flywheel and is driven thereby. A control circuit, including a threshold comparator, senses the output of a solar energy converter, and when a threshold voltage is exceeded thereby indicating the availability of solar power for the spacecraft loads, activates a speed control loop including the motor-generator so as to accelerate the flywheel to a constant speed and thereby store mechanical energy, while also supplying energy from the solar converter to the loads. Under circumstances where solar energy is not available and thus the threshold voltage is not exceeded, the control circuit deactivates the speed control loop and activates a voltage control loop that provides for operation of the motor as a generator so that mechanical energy from the flywheel is converted into electrical energy for supply to the spacecraft loads.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for a brushless three-phase d.c. motor which affords four quadrant control from a single command. The control circuit provides acceleration of the motor in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and braking and generation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. In addition to turning on individual transistors of the transistor pairs connected to the phase windings of the motor for 120.degree. periods while the other transistor of that pair is off, the control circuit also provides, in a further mode of operation, turning the two transistors of each pair on and off alternately at a phase modulation frequency during such a 120.degree. period. A feedback signal is derived which is proportional to the motor current and which has a polarity consistent with the command signal, such that negative feedback results.

Abstract: A conical shaped mirror (34) fits on the end of a welding torch (10) to reflect light from the arc (30) back onto the workpiece. The torch (10) has an internal coaxial viewing system consisting of a lens (12) which focuses the field of view of the weld scene of the workpiece onto the end (16) of a fiberoptic bundle (18). The transmitted image of the fiberoptic bundle (18) is provided to a camera lens (20) which focuses it onto a TV sensor array (23) for transmission. The reflected arc (30) light illuminates the dark areas of the weld area and thereby provides a more detailed image for the viewing system.

Abstract: A low pressure loss injector element A is disclosed for the main combustion chamber of a rocket engine which includes a lox post (40) terminating in a cylindrical barrel (50). Received within the barrel (50) is a lox plug (46) which is threaded in the lox post and includes an interchangeable lox metering sieve (60) which meters the lox into an annular lox passage (56). A second annular gas passage (62) is coaxial with the annular lox passage (56). A cylindrical sleeve (64) surrounds the annular gas passage (62) and includes an interchangeable gas metering sieve (77) having metering orifices through which a hot gas passes into the annular passage (62). The jets which emerge from the annular lox passage and annular gas passage intersect at 80 which is recessed away from the combustion area. Thus, mixing and combustion stability are enhanced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring vibrational forces emitted by a reaction wheel assembly during rotation of its rotor includes a low mass carriage (12) supported on a large mass base (10). The carriage (12) is in the form of an octagonal frame having an opening which is adapted for receiving the reaction wheel assembly (W) supported thereon by means of a mounting ring (22). The carriage (12) is supported on the base (10) by means of air bearings (A) which support the carriage in a generally frictionless manner when supplied with compressed air from a source (50). A plurality of carriage brackets (34) and a plurality of base blocks (30) provide for physical coupling of the base (10) and carriage (12). The sensing axes of the load cells (B) are arranged generally parallel to the base (10) and connected between the base and carriage such that all of the vibrational forces emitted by the reaction wheel assembly (W) are effectively transmitted through the sensing axes of the load cells.

Abstract: A viewing chamber which permits observation of a sample retained therein includes a pair of double window assemblies mounted in opposed openings in the walls thereof so that a light beam can directly enter and exit from the chamber. A flexible mounting arrangement for the outer windows of the window assemblies enables the windows to be brought into proper alignment. An electrical heating arrangement prevents fogging of the outer windows whereas desiccated air in the volume between the outer and inner windows prevents fogging of the latter.

Abstract: The invention is an optical cell for containment of chemicals under conditions of high temperature and high pressure and a method of making the optical cell. As shown in FIG. 1, the cell (10) is formed of a vitreous silica tube (14), two optical windows (16) comprising vitreous silica rod inserted into the ends of tube (14) and fused into position in the tube ends. Windows (16) are spaced apart to form a cavity (18) enclosed by the tube (14) and the windows (16). A hole (20) is drilled radially through the tube (14) and into the cavity (18). Another vitreous silica tube is fused to silica tube (14) around the hole (20) to form stem (22), which is perpendicular to the long axis of tube (14). The open end of stem (22) is used to load chemicals (12) into cavity (18). Then stem (22) may be sealed and, if desired, it may be shortened in order to reduce the volume of cavity (18), which extends into stem (22).

Abstract: A method of repairing a tubular assembly in which access to a defect in the tube is limited includes the steps of cutting an opening in the tube on the side opposite the defect so as to expose the defect from the inside of the tube. A tubular insert is inserted into the tube to cover the defect and is secured in place by means of brazing or welding. The remaining space between the opening and insert is closed by means of close-out patches which are welded or brazed to both the insert and the tube. The result is a permanent repair having great structural integrity.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump (A) is disclosed which includes a roller assembly (D) having a plurality of pump rollers (12) carried thereon. As the roller assembly is rotated by a drive gear (66) the pump rollers (12) are driven in reverse rotation by means of a stationary ring gear (70) and pump roller gears (72). An upper pressure shoe plate (B) and a lower pressure shoe plate (C) are positioned above sets of flexible tubing (E) which interlace with each other at a back side (25) of a frame. The tubing (14, 16) is sandwiched between the pressure shoe plates and the pump rollers (12). A highly compact pump is provided having twice as many fluid channel lines as is conventional. The peristaltic pump device may be remotely operated by means of a rotary actuator (100) which rotates a driving hub (86, 88) to move the shoe plates (B and C) by means of eccentrically mounted links (89, 90).

Abstract: A system for measurement of shaft angles wherein a synchro resolver (10) is sequentially pulsed, and alternately, a sine (32) and then a cosine (36) representative voltage output of it are sampled. Two like type, sine or cosine, succeeding outputs (V.sub.S1, V.sub.S2) are averaged and algebraically related to the opposite type output pulse (V.sub.c) occurring between the averaged pulses to provide a precise indication of the angle of a shaft (18) coupled to the resolver (10) at the instant of the occurrence of the intermediately occurring pulse (V.sub.c).

Abstract: A propulsion system and method is disclosed for controlling the attitude and drag of a space vehicle (10). A helium dewar (12) contains liquid helium (11) which cools an experiment package (22). The helium is heated or vented to keep the temperature between 1.5 and 1.7 degrees K to maintain helium boil-off gas adequate as a propellant without adversely affecting the experiment package which is contained in the helium dewar for protection from solar heating. The apparatus includes auxiliary heater (32) and temperature sensor (30) for controlling the temperature of the helium. The boil-off gas propellant is delivered to thruster modules (A) to control vehicle attitude and compensate for drag.

Abstract: A self-latching jaw assembly is illustrated which includes a pair of latching jaws (A) and (B) for latching a fitting of an associated structure such as the keel fitting (50) of a space telescope. The jaw assembly automatically locates the fitting received on a positioning pedestal (52) and latches it in its original location on the pedestal without need of precision alignment. The first jaw (A) is actuated and moved to the right whereupon a reciprocating plunger (62) will have been extended from the nose (64) of the jaw and will sense the hub (50b) of the spool (50a). A jaw position responsive switch (72) is then actuated to terminate the drive motor (E) of the jaw (A). The astronaut will then actuate the drive motor (F) of the jaw (B) and the jaw will move to the left whereupon standoff (82) will engage the face (64a) of the jaw (A) in a latching position. In the latching position, the noses (64) and (83) of the jaws (A) and (B) will be under the flanges of the spool (50a).

Abstract: A spinning earth satellite (19) is shown in which it is desired to reduce the rotation or spin to a level that the satellite (19) may be secured or handled remotely from a spacecraft. This is accomplished by the spacecraft (11) having a mast (13) carrying an electrical current carrying coil (17) which encircles the satellite (19). The magnetic field of the coil (17) is normal to the spin axis of the satellite (19) which causes circular eddy-current flow in the housing of the satellite which generates magnetic force opposing the rotation. In another embodiment the magnetic field is generated by the use of an electromagnet (49) on a remote manipulation arm (45).

Abstract: A tube fluid flow rate meter comprising reservoir (10) divided by flexible diaphragm (24) into two separate, isolated compartments (12 and 14) except for orifice (25) in diaphragm (24). Incoming tube (42) opens into compartment (14) and outgoing tube (44) opens into compartment (12). Orifice (25) is sized to allow maximum tube fluid flow. Opposing compression springs (34 and 36) secured within the two compartments (12 and 14) bias diaphragm (24) on opposite sides of orifice (25) to maintain orifice (25) in a given position when the tube fluid pressure is zero. A tapered element (49) is centered in, and extends through orifice (25) into compartment (12) leaving an annular opening between element (49) and the perimeter of orifice (25) whose size varies as diaphragm (24) flexes with changes in tube fluid pressure to change the fluid flow through the opening. Light source (60) directs light upon element ( 49) which scatters the light through the opening into compartment (14).

Abstract: A device for automatically controlling the movement of a welding torch (10) while welding an elongated joint (18). A charge injection television camera (30) is carried on a movable support (20) and includes a matrix of individual light sensing video elements (pixels, 32) which generate voltages responsive to light reflected off of the joint (18) and surrounding areas of the workpiece (12). The voltages produced by the pixels (32) are converted to digital words which are fed to a microprocessor (54) for generating an error signal. This error signal is fed to a digital motor (26) which is used to drive a movable support (20) upon which the television camera (30) is carried.