Abstract: A self-aligning, vibration reducing marine thrust bearing assembly for use ith a propulsion shaft having spaced bearing flanges. The assembly includes a journal bearing sleeve enclosing the shaft and a stationary housing radially spaced from the journal bearing with pivoting means extending therebetween for accommodating any misalignment of the shaft and journal bearing within the housing. An annular fluid containing cavity is formed in the housing adjacent each flange with an annular bearing piston pivotally disposed therein, wherein sealing elements are positioned between the cavity walls and the piston to maintain a fluid seal therebetween. Tapered roller bearings are disposed between each annular bearing piston and each shaft flange raceway.

Abstract: A high temperature method for the preparation of single and multiple epitaxial layers of single-phase lead sulfide-selenide, [Pb].sub.a [S.sub.x Se.sub.1-x ].sub.1-a wherein x varies between one and zero, inclusive, and a=0.500.+-.0.003, deposited upon substrates of barium fluoride, BaF.sub.2, maintained in near thermodynamic equilibrium with concurrently sublimated lead alloy and chalcogenide sources. During preparation, the substrate is exposed to the vapor emanating from the single chimney of a two-zone, dual-chamber furnace, thereby providing an epilayer of uniform, and predetermined electrical and optical properties.

Abstract: A multistage EHD generator with parallel outputs to produce a usable output urrent. A single injector injects particles or droplets into a fluid flow which traverses a plurality of EHD generator stages in series. At each generator stage there is a means for charging the particles and a means for neutralizing the particles. The outputs between the charging and neutralizing means are connected in parallel to provide a substantial electrical power output.

Abstract: A mechanical and electrical connection for a piezoelectric member of polyic material such as polyvinylidene fluoride, and method for forming such a connection. To form the connection, the piezoelectric member is first masked to prevent a preselected portion of its surface from being coated during subsequent coating operations. An electrically conductive member such as a lead wire or a solderable terminal is then attached to the nonmasked area of the piezoelectric member with adhesive such as epoxy. The masked piezoelectric member, the electrically conductive member, and (incidentally) the mask are then coated with a conductive coating such as sputtered gold to electrically connect the conductive member to the piezoelectric member. The mask can now be removed from the piezoelectric member if desired, although it can be left in place as a convenient vise.

Abstract: Prostaglandin analogs and process for the preparation thereof as precursors or the synthesis of oligomeric mixtures exhibiting biological activity for protection of oxidative phosphorylation of degraded mitochondria. The analogs have the general formula: ##STR1## synthesized by O-alkylating a 2-alkylcyclopentane-1,3-dione to form an enol ether, reacting the ether with CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHMgBr to form a vinyl, oxidizing the vinyl with OsO.sub.4 and NaIO.sub.4 to form an aldehyde, and reacting the aldehyde with a sodium salt of dimethyl (2-oxoalkyl)phosphonate.

Abstract: An oscillator generates a fixed frequency ultrasonic output signal. After wer amplification this signal drives a transmitting transducer which projects an ultrasonic beam into water. Reflected signals are received by a receiving transducer and AGC preamplified. A chopper multiplies the received signal with the transmitted signal and generates an output signal if a target exists. To determine whether the target is a swimmer, this output signal is band pass filtered and amplified and then fed both to an automatic alarm and to a set of headphones. A human operator listening to the headphone output classifies the target and determines exact bearing.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing articles containing carbon fibers when the fibers are temporarily plasticized to render them more flexible thereby permitting tortuous mechanical manipulation of the fibers to be carried out with little or no mechanical damage. The improvement comprises exposing the carbon fibers to agents capable of intercalating single crystals of graphite, such as bromine or iodine monochloride which have the effect of plasticizing the fibers by lowering their tensile modulus. While the fiber yarns are appreciably more flexible in the plasticized state, and have a higher elongation-at-break, on removal of the plasticizer they tend to return to their original state but retain a measurable degree of the shape imparted to them.

Abstract: In a satellite navigation system for an ocean vessel, a major source of error is unknown ocean currents when the navigation is done by dead-reckoning with respect to the waters. The present method for determining and correcting for ocean navigation error which is caused by unknown ocean currents provides a highly accurate position of the vessel with respect to the earth. The position error reflects not only the difference between a dead-reckoned position and a satellite fix position which up-dates the dead-reckoned position but also accounts for the motion of the vessel due to the ocean currents during the time between the satellite lock-on and the actual error computation and correction.

Abstract: A universal cargo restraint system for an intermodal shipping container. h of four restraint cables are connected at the one end thereof to one of the corners of the container front panel and extend rearwardly to a movable rear bulkhead. The other end of each cable includes a threaded rod extending through a selected one of a plurality of holes at the sides of the bulkhead. Nuts adjustable along the length of the rod urge the bulkhead against the cargo within the container. Dunnage and shims positioned about the cargo provide to bracing against to-and-fro and sway motion. A singular cable configuration enables easy installation in and removal from various container and cargo configurations.

Abstract: A warhead initiation system in which a helical magnetic fluxtrapper explo a copper mesh initiator at a single point, several points, along a line and/or over a surface.

Abstract: A process is described for the polymerization of cyclic olefins by ring-opening employing a coinitiator such as acetylene or substituted acetylenes. The polymers obtained by this method are highly stereoselective.

Abstract: A two stage parachute recovery system for use in recovering fuzes or other ensitive equipment from a projectile that has been launched from a gun barrel wherein explosive means are successively detonated by a timing mechanism and by centrifugal force imparted to the projectile respectively so as to deploy each of the said parachutes and to thereby recover the fuze before impact.

Abstract: Unsymmetrical carbonates of the formula ##STR1## are prepared by the following reaction sequence ##STR2## where R and R' can each be --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.3, CH.sub.2 CF(NO..2).sub.2, --CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 (NO.sub.2), --CH.sub.2 CCl(NO.sub.2).sub.2, --CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 CCl.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.3, or --CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 H, provided that R.noteq.R' and wherein R" is a lower alkyl group of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.Also included are symmetrical 1,3-bis(halo- and nitroalkyl carbonyldioxy)-2,2-dinitropropanes of the formula ##STR3## which are synthesis by the following reaction sequence ##STR4## wherein R and R" are as defined above. The carbonates of this invention are useful as energetic additives to propellants and explosive.

Abstract: A solid rocket propellant comprising (1) ammonium perchlorate, (2) alumin (3) poly(1,2-butylene) glycol, (4) the reaction product of propylene oxide and either trimethylolpropane, hexanetriol or mixtures thereof, (5) 2,3-dihydroxypropyl bis(2-cyanoethyl) amine, (6) hexamethylene diisocyanate, (7) copper chromite, (8) a carboxylic acid ester of either a diol and a monocarboxylic acid or a dicarboxylic acid and a monofunctional alcohol, and (9) sulfur and optionally containing (10) a metal acetylacetonate, (11) 2,4-pentanedione and (12) liquid silicon oil.

Abstract: A flexure mounted gimbal support assembly for limited angular rotation hag a flexure assembly of an open web construction mounted between a platform and a gimbal assembly via a ball bearing assembly. The flexure assembly has a plurality of flexure elements having a high flexibility so that the flexure assembly provides less resistance to rotational motion than the static ball-bearing friction over the limited angular rotation. A slip-ring assembly is mounted inboard of the flexure assembly to provide direct connection to angle measuring resolvers and direct-drive dc torque motors, which eliminates slip-ring brush-on-ring effects and torque motor brush friction effects.

Abstract: A stabilizer or drogue, packageable in a minimal volume, which can be auttically deployed to dampen horizontal, vertical and rotational motion of a device, such as a hydrophone, operating in a relatively viscous fluid. The stabilizer is disposed on a line or cable connected between the device and a surface float, and includes a horizontally oriented fabric fin extended and supported by a plurality of rigid arms, and a plurality of vertically oriented perpendicular fabric fins connected to, extended and supported by the arms and by a rigid vertical tube slidably disposed on the line. The arms are adjacently pivotably connected to a rigid body loaded by the device. Before deployment, the fabric is wrapped around the tube, and the arms are in a raised position substantially adjacent and parallel to the line and the tube, all stowed within a cylindrical container having an open end. The closed end of the container is fixedly connected to the line.

Abstract: A controlled environment process for making diode arrays by depositing the sublimate of a semiconductor material through an aperture of a mask placed nearby a substrate and then subjecting part of the sublimate to ion implantation. The aperture causes diffraction of the sublimate vapor stream while the proximity of the edges of the aperture to the substrate causes the central plateau of the deposited thin-film to have a rounded rim leading to sides that taper smoothly in thickness to the substrate. Ion implantation to a controlled depth creates an isolated planar junction. Surface layers of a gold electrode running onto the substrate from different surface areas of the thin-film provide for off-mesa bonding of electrical leads.

Abstract: A non-contact laser/ultrasonic welding technique for strengthening the con laser weld by the addition of ultrasonic cavitation and cleaning. A high powered laser applies heat to a weld joint to produce a melt. The output of the laser, or a second laser, is amplitude modulated to generate acoustic waves in the melt. The improved interdiffusion of the melt and the homogeneity of the weld joint result in an improved quality laser weld.

Abstract: PZT/polymer composites and a simplified method of their fabrication are dribed. Commercially available PZT Pb(Zr, Ti)O.sub.3 powder is thoroughly mixed with a binder such as polyvinylalcohol and polymethyl methacrylate (PMM) spheres and pressed into pellets. The binder and PMM spheres are burnt out by heating pellets slowly and the porous pellets so obtained are sintered by heating them in closed high-purity alumina crucibles and lead zirconate as a source of lead is added thereto. The highly porous pellets thus obtained are impregnated with a suitable polymer such as silicone rubber elastomer or vinylcyclohexene dioxide epoxy.

Abstract: Invention is an aerial vehicle that uses a centrally located aft burning id-propellant motor to supply a fuel-rich exhaust to four cylindrical engines which are mounted in equally spaced relation about the exterior of the vehicle body. The fuel-rich exhaust is mixed with air in the engines and burned to provide ramjet action to propel the vehicle. A tandem booster rocket initially propels the vehicle to supersonic speed. Tail fins are interdigitated with respect to the engines and include sections which are movable upon command for steering the vehicle. Among the advantages for the vehicle are its maneuverability and its adaptability to existing missile systems.