Abstract: A torque joint for transmission of force in both longitudinal and circumferential direction about thin-wall tubular torque tubes is provided by overlapping an inner one of said tubes and an outer one of said tubes, inserting a mandrel having longitudinal and circumferential slots therein, applying a deformation force for pressing the tubular members into the slots of the mandrels, and extracting at least a portion of the mandrel to provide the torque joint. In the case wherein two open-ended tubular members are employed, two mandrel elements of the same form are utilized, the two mandrel elements being withdrawn from the opposite ends of the joint upon completion of assembly of the joint. In the event that one of the tubular elements is closed ended, a retaining ring is utilized as one of the mandrel elements, in which case only one mandrel element is withdrawn while the ring remains captured between a circumferential groove of the joint and the closed end of the tube.

Abstract: A single compact multi-function video processing unit of a color video system has a sync generator for driving a video source and a video processor for providing video functions. A bus system interconnects the sync generator and video processor.

Abstract: A method for the passive measurement of the range, velocity and course of a target aircraft relative to a test aircraft includes the steps of moving the test aircraft along a straight path, varying the speed of the test aircraft, and sequentially measuring the bearing angle from the test aircraft of pulsed or continuous radiation emitted from the target aircraft. A plot of the rays of radiation at each of the times of bearing measurement produces a geometry which can be solved arithmetically to provide the lengths of the rays. These lengths correspond to the distance of the target from the test aircraft. The invention may be used with equal effectiveness against multiple targets, simultaneously.

Abstract: In an airborne radar system, moving ground targets are identified on a cathode ray tube (CRT) display and their motion tracked to allow precise delivery of air-to-ground weapons. Target location errors, due to the effect of target motion upon the doppler frequency of the received signals, and consequent angle measurement ambiguities introduced by the presence of clutter are significantly reduced. The target's radial velocity with respect to the electrical boresight of the system antenna is determined and a corresponding frequency adjustment is made to the processed signal in order to accurately locate the target on the display to lie in precise correspondence to its displayed stationary surroundings.

Abstract: A sealed heat pipe of uniform cross sectional profile from evaporator to condenser which includes a plurality of capillary channels communicating with a central channel by means of narrow re-entrant groove openings having convergent entrances. A two step method of fabrication includes extruding the re-entrant grooves, then drawing a mandrel through the virgin extrusion.

Abstract: Distortions inherent in the formation of a range/doppler image by an airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) of a ship under the influence of roll, pitch, and yaw motions characteristic of a sea state conditions, are removed by the formation of a scaled range/azimuth image generated with the use of an interferometer antenna in conjunction wth the SAR. A least squares linear regression solution to doppler processed interferometric azimuth angle data derived from ship radar reflections permits the determination of aircraft to ship relative rotational motion essential to the development of such an improved high resolution radar image, so that continuous automatic tracking of a cursor imbedded in a single designate resolution cell of the ship's displayed image essential to carrying out precision standoff command weapon guidance to that selected ship target cell, can be accomplished.

Abstract: Capability is provided for producing 3 scaled high resolution orthogonal image projections on a CRT of a ship under the influence of translational as well as rotational motions arising from sea state conditions, for the purpose of ship target identification and classification, and the subsequent carrying out of stand-off command weapon guidance to a designated resolution cell of the ship from an airborne platform. Doppler processed interferometric azimuth and elevation angle measurements of the ship scatterers derived from a coherent synthetic aperture radar are combined in a weighted multivariate regression fit using digital signal processing techniques to provide measures of ship translational and rotational motions essential to providing focussed high resolution imagery and precision standoff weapon delivery to the designated ship target resolution cell. The invention also provides a capability for scaling the cross-range (doppler) dimension of Inverse SAR Profile Imagery.

Abstract: A construction technique is disclosed for facilitating the rapid assembly of large structures at remote sites, both terrestrial and extra terrestrial, comprising joining modular sub-assemblies embodied as triangular trusses in a limited number of standardized interconnecting modes to form final structures, the construction technique utilizing modular interconnecting members for facilitating the rapid joinder of the sub-assemblies in one or more of these modes.

Abstract: A variable area recording geometry is formed over the surface of a photosensitive material by scanning and exposing with an optical writing beam. The width of this area is determined by input signals to be processed. The exposed photorefractive medium results in a phase modulation of an optical beam traversing the medium in a direction parallel to the surface as in an integrated optical waveguide.

Abstract: An electronics interconnection system with a plug cartridge assembly having a planar body on which electronic equipment is plugged into terminations which are connected to a flat, flexible multiconductor cable terminus array on the bottom surface of a plug portion of the plug cartridge assembly. The plug portion is inserted into the top portion of a receptacle module assembly in an electronics unit, such as an automatic test equipment unit, which receptacle module contains in the bottom portion thereof a platen on which is mounted a connector having on its upper surface a flat, flexible multiconductor cable terminus array in circuit with electronic components in the electronic unit. The interconnection is made by activating an actuator which raises the platen to bring projecting electrical contacts on the conductors of the terminus array of the connector into electrical contact with the terminus array on the plug.

Abstract: A wire coil production system is disclosed for winding, tieing and distributing coils fabricated from pre-cut wire segments. Four controllably driven mandrels or reels are mounted in relative quadrature on a rotatable turret which cycles each mandrel through stations for (1) receiving the wire and initiating the winding operation, (2) completing the winding operation, (3) tieing the formed coil and (4) discharging the coil to a conveyor/distributor system. Each mandrel includes a wire sensor, and automatic wire clamping and coil load/unload mechanisms. A control system coordinates all operations so they are synchronized with the wire feed system and with each other.

Abstract: A telescoping energy-dissipating oleo landing gear shock strut set which can provide both the main landing gear and forward landing gear function, and which is affixed to an airplane, is restrained in an unenergized, shortened condition. A high pressure gas charge is then provided between the extendible element of the strut and the element affixed to the airplane. Early in the takeoff run, the charge gas in the forward strut is released so as to jump the nose and rotate the airplane to a high angle of attack appropriate for takeoff. Subsequent to this rotation, but before the conventional takeoff speed is reached, the charge gas in each of the main struts is released to impart a vertical velocity to the entire airplane, thus jumping it into the air. Both the forward strut and main struts incorporate a hydraulic flow bypass function, so that the landing shock dissipation function does not compromise the aforesaid energy release.

Abstract: An optical notching or filtering system in which a beam of optical radiation is passed through the optical filtering means a multiplicity of times. The optical filtering means has an optical Fourier transform means, a spatial filter, optical inverse Fourier transform means, and a reflector array. After an input optical signal beam undergoes a filtering pass by being directed through the transform means, the filter, and the inverse transform means, the reflector array re-introduces the beam for a multiplicity of subsequent filtering passes. Four embodiments of the system of the invention having various configurations of the reflector arrays for use with one- and two-dimensional spatial filters are disclosed. The various embodiments are set forth as being used in a heterodyning optical notching filter system.

Abstract: A keyboard terminal for entering test programs written in an English-format computer programming language into computerized automatic test systems is disclosed. In response to the activation of selected user-activated keys associated with a programmable keyboard, a preprogrammed microprocessor control system generates word character strings corresponding to the words of a predetermined test programming language, thereby allowing single keystroke entry of test program words into a control computer associated with the automatic test system.

Abstract: A terrain-following transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point has a structure for carrying the load from the starting point to the end point. A vehicle support extends from the structure and abuts the surface and thereby supports the vehicle at a predetermined distance above the surface. An acquisition sensor mounted on the structure initiates surface operations. A sensor is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the acquisition sensor to sense and track a target at the end point upon initiation of surface operations. A power source is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the sensor to energize upon tracking of the target and to move the vehicle along the surface to impact with the target at the end point. A position control mounted on the vehicle produces a negative pitching moment to maintain the structure in terrain-following contact with the surface.

Abstract: A transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point has a structure for carrying the load from the starting point to the end point. A vehicle support extends from the structure. A buoyancy control device mounted in the structure is coupled to the vehicle support for selectively making the support buoyant and non-buoyant whereby when the support is buoyant it abuts the surface of a body of water thereby supporting the vehicle at a predetermined distance above the surface of the body of water. An acquisition sensor mounted on the structure initiates water surface operations. A sensor is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the acquisition sensor to energize upon tracking of the target and to move the vehicle along the water surface to impact with the target at the end point. A position control mounted on the vehicle produces a negative pitching moment to maintain the structure in surface-following contact with the body of water.

Abstract: In a two-stage vacuum pumping system having a single drive motor powering both stages, a by-pass line connected between the container being evacuated and the interstage line between the two stages for relieving excess pressure in the interstage line during the initial pressure pull-down of the container. This reduces the load on the second stage pump and thereby lowers the power requirements of the drive motor. A pressure switch actuated solenoid valve in the by-pass line, which is in the open position during the pull-down procedure, is closed when the container is evacuated to a set-point pressure. When the by-pass line is closed off the two stages work together to pump down the container to a desired pressure below the pressure switch set point.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic variable control for fire pumper engine and pump discharge.

Abstract: An automatic processing circuit is associated with an optical matched filter system which supplies correlation imagery representing the products of diffraction patterns of known objects with that of an input scene in which the known objects are to be detected. The disclosed circuitry distinguishes between auto and cross-correlations in the supplied imagery using a number of criteria including peak amplitude, rising slope, peak width, and normalized amplitude.

Abstract: A unitary targeting device is used to align a machined plane of a workpiece, for instance an industrial assembly fixture, with the optical axis of a reference instrument. The disclosed device and method are designed to fully utilize the depth of field of the reference instrument to sense misalignment in a single sighting.