Abstract: A mechanical sequencer having a rotatable drive shaft. The drive shaft has a spline formed thereon. A freely rotatable shaft contains a plurality of rollers positioned thereon, the axis of the freely rotatable shaft having an axis parallel to and offset from the axis of the drive shaft. A drive fitting has an opening therein, the drive fitting being positioned on the drive shaft spline for rotating the fitting with the shaft. A finger is formed integral with the drive fitting for enabling the fitting to move the rollers and the freely rotatable shaft. A crank structure is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft and the freely rotatable shaft. The crank structure has a drive shaft opening through which the drive shaft passes. The crank structure further contains a slot into which the freely rotatable shaft and one of the rollers extends for driving the crank structure during movement of the freely rotatable shaft. A sequencer housing has a track formed therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for obtaining electronic chroma signals with a single scanning-type image device by optically producing a color multiplexed light signal using an arrangement of dichroic filter stripes. In the particular embodiment described a two-layer filter system is used to color-modulate external light which is then detected by an image pickup tube. The resulting time division multiplexed electronic signal from the pickup tube is converted by a decoder into a green color signal, and a single red-blue multiplexed signal, which is demultiplexed to produce red and blue color signals. The three primary color signals are capable of being encoded as standard NTSC color signals.

Abstract: System and method for reproducibly analyzing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, trace amounts of a large number of organic volatiles existing in a gas sample. Applications include (1) analyzing the headspace gas of body fluids and comparing a profile of the oganic volatiles with standard profiles for the detection and monitoring of disease, (2) analyzing the headspace gas of foods and beverages and comparing a profile of the organic volatiles with standard profiles so that flavor and aroma can be monitored and controlled, and (3) similar analysis for determining the organic pollutants in samples of water and air.The system includes a novel means (sample trap) for capturing and enriching the organic volatiles, a novel injector port for directly injecting the entrapped organic volatiles to a cryogenic percolumn to provide a sharply defined plug, and a novel capillary separating column. Various detectors may be utilized to identify the separated volatiles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for radiologically determining the bone mineral content of living human bone tissue independently of the concurrent presence of adipose and other soft tissues. A target section of the body of the subject is irradiated with a beam of penetrative radiations of preselected energy to determine the attenuation of such beam with respect to the intensity of each of two radiations of different predetermined energy levels. The resulting measurements are then employed to determine bone mineral content according to the following relationship:I = (I.sub.o) exp [(.mu.BM.sup.M BM) - (.mu.ST.sup.M ST)]wherein I.sub.o is the unattentuated intensity of the radiations in the beam, .mu. is the mass attenuation coefficient, M is mass in g/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining the mass of a fluid comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet for receiving and dumping the fluid, a rotary impeller within the housing for imparting centrifugal motion to the fluid and a pressure sensitive transducer attached to the housing to sense the rotating fluid pressure. In the method the fluid may be drawn into the housing by entrainment within a gas stream. The resulting mixture is then separated into two phases: gas and liquid. The gas is removed from the housing and the pressure of the liquid, under centrifugal motion, is sensed and correlated with the mass of the fluid.

Abstract: A new and improved differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) encoding and decoding method and apparatus which is capable of transmission with minimum bandwidth, is not affected by data transition density, requires no direct current (DC) response of the transmission link, and suffers from minimal ambiguity in resolution of the digital data.

Abstract: A method of planar mapping defects in a window having an edge surface and a planar surface. The method comprises of steps of mounting the window on a support surface. Then a light sensitive paper is placed adjacent to window surface. A light source is positioned adjacent the window edge. The window is then illuminated with the source of light for a predetermined interval of time. Defects on the surface of the glass, as well as in the interior of the glass are detected by analyzing the developed light sensitive paper. The light source must be in the form of optical fibers or a light tube whose light transmitting ends are placed near the edge surface of the window.

Abstract: A method of producing single-class and multi-class composite classification maps from multispectral data is provided. The multispectral data is transformed into a binary matrix format which is then encoded on an optical medium such as photographic film. The encoded data is holographically correlated with coded patterns representing selected spectral signatures to produce signal-class classification maps. Several single-class maps are optically superimposed to produce multi-class composite classification maps.

Abstract: Sets of flanges are attached to sets of beam ends projecting from a major modular assembly jig structure made of three intersecting sets of unmachined box beams welded together. From each surface of the welded structure a number of beam ends project outwardly, and such members, owing to the weld method of construction, are approximately parallel, are spaced from each other approximately to conform to a predetermined pattern, and terminate approximately in a common plane.Flanges are attached to such beam ends in such manner that the outer surfaces of the flanges are accurately coplanar and are accurately spaced from one another according to the predetermined pattern. Each flange consists of a pad, a collar surrounding the beam end and partially receiving its terminal portion to leave a gap between beam end and pad, and various connecting members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for suppression of optical noise in an optical spatial filtering system using highly coherent light. In the disclosed embodiment, input photographic film to be processed in the system, and output photographic film to be exposed, are each mounted on lateral translation devices. During application of the coherent light for exposure of the output film, the two translation devices are moved in synchronism by a motor-driven gear and linkage assembly. The ratio of the resulting output film translation to the input film translation is equal to the magnification of the optical data processing system. The noise pattern associated with the lenses and other elements in the optical processing system remains stationary while the image-producing light moves laterally through the pattern with the output film, thus averaging out the noise effect at the output film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circular computer and system for determining the sun angle relative to the horizon from any given place and at any time. The computer includes transparent, rotatably mounted discs on both sides of the circular disc member. Printed on one side of the circular disc member are outer and inner circular sets of indicia respectively representative of site longitude and Greenwich Mean Time. Printed on an associated one of the rotatable discs is a set of indicia representative of Solar Time. Printed on the other side of the circular disc member are parallel lines representative of latitude between diametral representations of North and South poles. Elliptical lines extending between the North and South poles are proportionally disposed on the surface to scale Solar Time in hours. Printed on the other associated one of the rotatable discs are parallel lines representative of sun angle and a perpendicularly arranged sun elevation line.

Abstract: A thin membrane covering the open side of a meteoroid capture cell causes an impacting meteoroid to disintegrate as it penetrates the membrane. The capture cell then contains and holds the meteoroid particles for later analysis.

Abstract: A system of measuring, counting, and recording numerical information using binary notation with a minimized number of digits or bits, a system that may frequently be used to better advantage than the well known binary pulse code modulation system or the delta modulation system. In the binary concatenated coding system (hereinafter BCC), a three-bit data word is used to count all whole numbers from zero through 99, whereas for the same count capability and resolution the binary system requires the use of seven bits. In any one of the 10 decades this is accomplished by starting with a one, progressing stepwise from one to seven and then to zero in a binary fashion, thus providing eight positions corresponding to the first eight numbers of our everyday Arabic system. The ninth and tenth positions are oocupied by two of these same eight numbers so selected and arranged that they uniquely describe the decade completed by them relative to the other nine decades of the total count capability of 100.

Abstract: A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus with automatic redundant fluid pressure controls and a facemask mounted low pressure warning device. The apparatus utilizes two stages of pressure regulation wherein the final stage is the demand regulator that delivers the breathing gas to the wearer. The first state includes a pair of pressure regulators connected in parallel with different outlet pressures, both of which reduce the pressure of the stored supply gas to pressures compatible with the second stage breathing demand regulator. A primary regulator in the first stage delivers a low output pressure to the second stage demand regulator. In the event of a "failure closed" condition of the primary regulator an automatic transfer valve switches on the backup regulator and communicates its slightly higher outlet pressure to the demand regulator.

Abstract: Flame retardant elastomeric compositions comprised of either spandex type polyurethane having incorporated into the polymer chain halogen containing polyols, conventional spandex type polyurethanes in physical admixture with flame retardant additives or fluoroelastomeric resins in physical admixture with flame retardant additives, methods of preparing fibers of the flame retardant elastomeric materials and articles of manufacture comprised of the flame retardant elastomeric materials and non-elastic materials such as polybenzimidazoles, fiberglass, nylons, etc.

Abstract: Low density, fibrous, rigid, silica insulations are rendered impervious to moisture by application of a ceramic glaze coating comprising a silica barrier layer, an emissivity layer comprising a high silica glass component and an emmissivity agent and an overglaze layer comprising a high silica glass component and a borosilicate glass component. The resulting three-layered ceramic glaze laminate adhered to the fibrous silica insulation provides a moisture-impervious insulating material which exhibits a high emmissivity and is resistant to delamination and spalling at repeated cycles of thermal shock.

Abstract: Low density, fibrous, rigid, silica insulations are rendered impervious to moisture by application of a ceramic glaze coating comprising a silica barrier layer and an emissivity glaze layer comprising a high silica glass component, an emissivity agent and a borosilicate glass component. The resulting ceramic glaze laminate adhered to the fibrous silica insulation provides a moisture-impervious insulating material which exhibits a high emissivity and is resistant to delamination and spalling at repeated cycles of thermal shock.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for an orbital antenna means which is operated at a synchronous altitude to scan an area of a celestial body. The antenna means comprises modules which are operated by a steering signal in a repetitive function for providing a scanning beam over the area. The scanning covers the entire area in a pattern and the azimuth of the scanning beam is transmitted to a control station on the celestial body simultaneous with signals from an activated ground beacon on the celestial body. The azimuth of the control station relative to the antenna means is known and the location of the ground beacon is readily determined from the azimuth determinations.

Abstract: A method of diffusion bonding and fluxless brazing of aluminum containing components, including a method of preparing aluminum containing surfaces for such welding techniques wherein the aluminum surfaces are freed of any aluminum oxide coating and are coated with a polymeric sealer which can be thermally removed leaving essentially no residue, the polymeric sealer being removed in a substantially oxygen-free environment and the aluminum components then being brazed or diffusion bonded without the use of a flux to remove oxide coating.

Abstract: An auger device is used to attach rigidized surface insulation to a spacecraft. The auger is preferably screwed into an insulation tile which has been predrilled. The augertile combination is then fastened to the spacecraft using an attachment screw which penetrates the spacecraft skin and which is secured by a blind end fastener. In an alternate method, the auger is incorporated in the insulation tile when the latter is fabricated.