Abstract: A liquid reactant injector assembly especially suited for the injection of liquid reactant into a high temperature metal reductant vapor and carrier gas stream for the production of metal is disclosed. The assembly is especially adapted for the continuous production of high purity silicon by the reduction of SiCl.sub.4 with sodium. The assembly includes a refractory-lined, hollow, metal shell having a plurality, suitably ten, equally-spaced, concentric, radially directed ports provided in the shell and wall. A hydraulic, atomizing type, spray nozzle is sealingly mounted in each of the ports recessed from the inner wall surface.

Abstract: A system in which the characteristics of a microwave power transmission beam are controlled in accordance with power distribution profiles altered due to the detected presence or entrance of an object into the beam which causes changes that are perceived in various received, reflected and scattered power distribution profiles resulting over various receiving elements of the system. An analysis of these changes is made, the results of which are used to reshape, dim or douse the power beam in accordance with predetermined criteria. Additionally, a "FAIL SAFE" condition is obtained by employing a beam penetration tester, whose function is to repeatedly test the correct performance of the beam intrusion detecting scheme by presenting a minimal threshold scattering or absorbing cross section while crossing the power beam. If the beam penetration tester is undetected by the beam safety system, then the beam control is preconditioned to turn off the power beam.

Abstract: A coaxial switch capable of operating in a vacuum with high RF power in the 1.2 GHz range without "multipactor" breakdown, and without relying on pressurization with an inert gas, which requires a hermetic seal, is achieved by completely surrounding the RF carrying conductors of the switch with a high grade solid dielectric, thus eliminating any gaps in which electrons can accelerate.

Abstract: A full duplex, high-speed data link comprising identical modules at each site for communication over coaxial cables, each module having a DFM transmitter with an FIFO data buffer for data from a digital system to be transmitted over a cable and a receiver with an FIFO data buffer for data received for a digital system at the other end of the cable. Data words are preceded by a sync word which enables the receiver. Every word transmitted, including the sync word is stored in the FIFO data buffer. This arrangement using FIFO buffers allows for asynchronous transmission of data with receipt of the data beginning with the very first bit of the sync word.

Abstract: A rheometer which is especially useful for measuring the viscosity of a heated coal-type material which undergoes phase changes at elevated temperatures, and which is of the type that includes a cylinder with a narrow exit and a piston for applying pressure to a sample in the cylinder to force the sample out through the exit. The piston includes a seal formed of a sheet of compressed carbon material which extends between the body of the piston and the walls of the cylinder, to form a substantially gas-tight fit that keeps in gases produced at elevated temperatures of a coal sample. The end walls of the cylinder and piston are tapered into a conical shape, and the sample is formed with conical surfaces to mate therewith, to provide a smooth outflow of material and high heat transfer to the sample from the cylinder and piston walls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of a receiving facility for coherent frequency reception by arraying receiving systems using separate antennas for each, or one antenna for all systems. One system is operated with a carrier tracking loop to provide a first local oscillator frequency for the first and all other systems arrayed, with individual tracking loops in all other systems operated at IF for tracking out any phase differences due to separate group delays using an adjustable phase shifter for a second reference (REF. 2) to compensate for different group delays in the antenna and low-noise amplifier of each of the other systems. The second IF output of all systems are summed into the first system.

Abstract: A method characterized by the steps of positioning a plurality of uniformly dimensioned photovoltaic cells in registered relation with a plurality of openings formed in a planar tool for affording access to the P contact surface of each of the cells, connecting the N contact surface of alternate cells to the P contact surface of the cells interposed therebetween, removing therefrom residue of solder flux, applying to the N contact surfaces of the cells a transparent adhesive, placing a common transparent cover plate in engaged relation with the adhesive, placing a film over the circular openings for hermetically sealing the openings, and establishing a vacuum between the film and the cover plate for thus simultaneously forcing the cells into vacuum bonded relation with the cover plate.

Abstract: A bipolar voltage ramp generator applies a linear voltage through a resistor to a solar cell for plotting its current versus voltage (I-V) characteristic between short circuit and open circuit conditions, with automatic stops at the end points. The resistor serves the multiple purpose of providing a current sensing resistor, setting the full-scale current value, and providing a load line with a slope approximately equal to one, such that it will pass through the origin and the approximate center of the I-V curve with about equal distance from that center to each of the end points.

Abstract: An air speed and attitude probe characterized by a pivot shaft normally projected from a data boom and supported thereby for rotation about an axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a tubular body supported for angular displacement about the axis of rotation, a fin mounted on the body for maintaining one end of the body in facing relation with relative wind, a pair of transducers mounted in the body for providing intelligence indicative of total pressure and static pressure for use in determining air speed, a stack of potentiometers coupled with the shaft for providing intelligence indicative of aircraft attitude, and circuitry connecting the transducers and potentiometers to suitable telemetry circuits.

Abstract: An over-under double-pass interferometer in which the beamsplitter area and thickness can be reduced to conform only with optical flatness considerations is achieved by offsetting the optical center line of one cat's-eye retroreflector relative to the optical center line of the other in order that one split beam be folded into a plane distinct from the other folded split beam. The beamsplitter is made transparent in one area for a first folded beam to be passed to a mirror for doubling back and is made totally reflective in another area for the second folded beam to be reflected to a mirror for doubling back. The two beams thus doubled back are combined in the central, beam-splitting area of the beamsplitter and passed to a detector. This makes the beamsplitter insensitive to minimum-thickness requirements and selection of material.

Abstract: An endoscope is disclosed having a propulsion mechanism and at least one transmitter at the distal end transmitting bursts of energy waves (radio frequency or ultrasonic) for tracking the position of the distal end through the use of two or more transducers on the anterior or lateral surfaces of a patient. The propulsion mechanism may consist of two radially expandable bladders separated by an axially expandable bellows with only the forward bladder attached to the distal end so that by expanding and contracting them in proper sequence, propulsion of the endoscope is achieved. Alternate mechanisms comprise compliant paddles on the distal end directly on an articulated section, or compliant paddles on a rotatable sleeve on the distal end. The endoscope has a sheath which includes material having a sharp melting point slightly above body temperature so that the sheath may be made flexible at selected sections by applying current to separate heating wires in the sections of the sheath.

Abstract: A method for forming a solar array strip including the steps of depositing solder pads on printed circuitry deposited on flexible substrate storing the resulting substrate on a drum, withdrawing the substrate from the drum and incrementally advancing it along a linear path, serially transporting solderless solar cells into engagement with the pads and thereafter heating the pads for thus attaching the cells to the printed circuitry, cleaning excess flux from the solar cells, encapsulating the cells in a protective coating and thereafter spirally winding the resulting array on a drum.

Abstract: Continuous ozone injection into water circulating between a cooling tower and heat exchanger with heavy scale deposits inhibits formation of further deposits, promotes flaking of existing deposits, inhibits chemical corrosion and controls algae and bacteria.

Abstract: A method wherein a quartz tube is charged with chunks of metallurgical grade silicon and/or a mixture of such chunks and high purity quartz sand, and impurities from a class including aluminum, boron, and the like, as well as certain transition metals including nickel, iron, manganese and the like. The tube is then evacuated and heated to a temperature within a range of 800.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C., whereupon a stream of gas comprising a reactant, such as silicon tetrafluoride, continuously is delivered at low pressures through the charge for causing a metathetical reaction of impurities of the silicon and the reactant to occur for forming a volatile halide and leaving a residue of silicon of an improved purity. Additionally, the reactant may include carbon monoxide gas, whereby impurites such as iron and nickel react therewith to form volatile carbonyls.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the radiation sensitivity of an integrated circuit to determine the components, particularly tansistors, of greatest radiation sensitivity, including the application of a narrow radiation beam to portions of the circuit, as by applying the beam of a scanning electron microscope, so the radiation is applied to only one transistor at a time. The circuit is operated under normal bias conditions during the application of radiation in a dosage that is likely to cause malfunction of at least some transistors, while the circuit is monitored for failure of the irradiated transistor. If the irradiated transistor does not fail, then the other transistors are irradiated one at a time. When a radiation sensitive transistor is found, then the radiation beam is further narrowed and, using a fresh integrated circuit, a very narrow beam is applied to different parts of the transistor such as its junctions to locate the points of greatest sensitivity.

Abstract: A system for use in detecting earth crustal deformation using an RF interferometer technique for such purposes as earthquake predictive research and eventual operational predictions. A lunar based RF transmission or transmissions from earth orbiting satellites are received at two locations on Earth, and a precise time dependent phase measurement is made of the RF signal as received at the two locations to determine two or three spatial parameters of the antenna relative positions. The received data are precisely time tagged and land-line routed to a central station for real-time phase comparison and analysis. By monitoring the antenna relative positions over an extended period of months or years, crustal deformation of the earth can be detected.

Abstract: A sodium storage and injection system for delivering atomized liquid sodium to a chemical reactor employed in the production of solar grade silicon. The system is adapted to accommodate start-up, shut-down, normal and emergency operations and is characterized by a jacketed injection nozzle adapted to atomize liquefied sodium and a supply circuit connected to the nozzle for delivering thereto liquefied sodium comprising a plurality of replaceable sodium containment vessels, a pump interposed between the vessels and the nozzle, and a pressurizing circuit including a source of inert gas connected with the vessels for maintaining the sodium under pressure.

Abstract: Bursts of signals at different frequencies are induced into substructure, adjacent a borehole. The return signals from each burst of signals are normalized to compensate for the attenuation, experienced by more distant return signals. The peak amplitudes of return signals, above a selected level, are cut off, and an average signal is produced from the normalized amplitude-limited return signals of each burst. The averaged signals of the return signals of all the signal bursts at the different frequencies are processed, to provide a combined signal, whose amplitude is related to the microfracture density of the substructure adjacent the borehole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing geological assessments of a formation located along a borehole, which includes a boring tool that bores a pair of holes into the walls of the borehole and into the surrounding strata, and a pair of probes installed in the holes. One of the probes applies an input such as a current or pressured fluid, and the other probe senses a corresponding input which it receives from the strata. The boring tool can include a series of rigid bore segments that can be easily installed in a housing that lies in the borehole, and apparatus for connecting the bore segments in series while also advancing them into the strata surrounding the borehole, so that a straight hole can be bored in the strata.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting multiple channels of data across a rotating interface, such as between an antenna that rotates with respect to a platform, including a plurality of light-emitter elements and light detector elements located on the two bodies that rotate relative to each other, a lens for focusing light from each emitter element onto a corresponding detector element, and an image rotating means which is turned as one of the objects rotates, to derotate the images of the emitter elements that are to be focused on the detector elements.