Abstract: A fluorescent radiation converter (10) having a substantially undoped optically transparent substrate (12) and a waveshifter coating (14) deposited on at least one portion of substrate (12) for absorption of radiation (16) and conversion thereof to fluorescent radiation (18). Coating (14) is formed of substantially 1000 g/liter of a solvent, 70 to 200 g/liter of an organic polymer, and 0.2 to 25 g/liter of at least one organic fluorescent dye. The incoming incident radiation (16) impinges on coating (14) and enters therein. Radiation (16) is absorbed by the fluorescent dye and is re-emitted as a longer wavelength radiation (18). Radiation (18) is trapped within substrate (12) and is totally internally reflected by boundary surfaces (22) and (24) towards ends (20). Emitted radiation (18) leaves ends (20) to be detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a small computer, or other portable appliance, against theft comprises a case having an open back through which the computer is installed or removed. Guide members in the form of slots are formed in a rear portion of opposite walls of the case for receiving a back plate to cover the opening and thereby secure the computer within the case. An opening formed in the top wall of the case exposes the keyboard and display of the computer. The back plate is locked in the closed position by a key-operated plug type lock. The lock is attached to one end of a hold down cable, the opposite end thereof being secured to a desk top or other stationary object. Thus, the lock simultaneously secures the back plate to the case and retains the case to the stationary object.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for orthopedic braces includes upper and lower brace members pivotably jointed together, notched or recessed plates being fixedly secured to the lower brace member while a U-shaped locking bar is pivotably secured to the upper brace member for lockingly cooperating with the notched or recessed plates, a spring-biased actuating lever being operatively associated with the U-shaped locking bar. The upper and lower brace members are also provided with drilled holes or bores which are angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axes of the upper and lower brace members, the bores being aligned with each other when the longitudinal axes of the brace members are likewise aligned.

Abstract: A safety shield for protecting observers from flying debris resulting from a failure of a vacuum or pressure chamber viewing port following an implosion or explosion includes an optically clear shatter-resistant safety shield member spaced apart from the viewing port on the outer surface of the chamber.

Abstract: A device is disclosed, carried by a first vehicle such as an orbiting space shuttle, having a plurality of contact members for engaging and holding an annular ring on a second vehicle such as an orbiting payload. The contact members are connected to manipulator arms which are mounted at a fulcrum point and which are moved by an iris-type mechanism. Movement of the manipulator arms causes the contact members to grasp or release the annular ring. Bumper devices are provided to axially align the annular ring and draw the contact members into engagement therewith.

Abstract: A belt for transmitting power from a cogged driving member to a cogged driven member such as a pair of wheel sprockets. The belt has inflexible teeth spaced along the direction of its travel. Each of the teeth have a longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of belt travel. The belt also includes substantially inextensible fasts spaced transversely to the direction of belt travel. The fasts extend in the direction of belt travel adjacent to the teeth and are looped around preselected numbers of the teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying conditioned air at a substantially constant temperature and humidity. The apparatus includes a supply duct coupled to a source of supply air for carrying the supply air therethrough. A return duct is coupled to the supply duct for carrying return conditioned air therethrough. A temperature reducing device is coupled to the supply duct for decreasing the temperature of the supply and return conditioned air. A by-pass duct is coupled to the supply duct for selectively directing portions of the supply and return conditioned air around the temperature reducing device. Another by-pass duct is coupled to the return duct for selectively directing portions of the return conditioned air around the supply duct and the temperature reducing device.

Abstract: A method of forming a sharp edge on an optical device. The method involves the steps of placing the optical device in a holding mechanism; grinding one surface of the optical device so the one surface and a surface of the holding mechanism are co-planer; and polishing the one surface of the optical device and the surface of the holding mechanism with felt until an edge on the one surface of the optical device adjacent the surface of the holding mechanism obtains a desired sharpness.

Abstract: A method of holding two separate metal pieces together for welding including the steps of overlapping a portion of one of the metal pieces on a portion of the other metal piece; encasing the overlapping metal piece in a compressible device; drawing the compressible device into an enclosure; and compressing a portion of the compressible device around the overlapping portions of the metal pieces for holding the metal pieces under constant and equal pressure during welding thereof. The preferred apparatus for performing the method utilizes a support mechanism to support the two separate metal pieces in an overlapping configuration; a compressible device surrounding the support mechanism and at least one of the metal pieces; and a compressing device surrounding the compressible device for compressing the compressible device around the overlapping portions of the metal pieces, thus providing constant and equal pressure at all points on the overlapping portions of the metal pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling nutation motion in a spinning body, comprising an angular accelerometer having its input axis perpendicular to the spin axis of the body, a flywheel having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the accelerometer and to the spin axis of the body, and a motor for driving the flywheel to attenuate or build nutation. The motor is controlled by circuitry that monitors the output of the angular accelerometer and drives the motor clockwise or counterclockwise during predetermined nutation angles synchronized to the zero crossover points of the accelerometer signal and centered about the nutation peaks. In one embodiment, the motor drive is phased to damp nutation motion to zero for stabilization.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an aspheric grating which is operable to image local or distant point sources sharply in a designated wavelength, i.e. produce a perfectly stigmatic image in the given wavelength at grazing angles of incidence. The grating surface comprises a surface of revolution defined by a curve which does not have a constant radius of curvature but is defined by a non-linear differential equation specified in terms of the diffraction condition expressed as (m.lambda./.sigma.).sup.2 =A>O where m is the diffraction order, .lambda. is the wavelength and .sigma. is the grating surface ruling interval.

Abstract: A voltage feed-through apparatus having reduced partial discharge having an electrical conductor and an electrical terminal connected thereto. A semi-conductor sleeve surrounds the conductor for reducing the electric field concentration at the metallic conductor surface and consequently reducing the partial discharge occurrences. An insulator sleeve encircles the semi-conductor sleeve. A metallic sleeve surrounds a portion of the terminal. Another insulator is connected to the metallic sleeve and surrounds a portion of the insulator sleeve forming a space therebetween. Another metallic sleeve spaced from the first metallic sleeve surrounds a portion of the other insulator.

Abstract: A crystal is sliced in a plane parallel to flat, opposed parallel end faces of the crystal. The end faces of the crystal are gripped by a pair of opposed, perforated platens of a pair of vacuum chambers, one of which is translatable relative to the other. A blade cuts the crystal through the desired plane. A spring biases one of the vacuum chambers away from the other vacuum chamber while both of the faces are gripped by the vacuum chambers and the blade is cleaving the crystal. Thereby, a sliced portion of the crystal gripped by one of the vacuum chambers is pulled away from the remainder of the crystal gripped by the second vacuum chamber when the crystal has been cleaved by the blade through the plane.

Abstract: A mechanical system is disclosed to deploy an antenna on a support which may, for example, be a spacecraft. A series of telescoping tubes are nested one within the other when the antenna is in a retracted stowed position. The outermost tube is rigidly attached to the support and the inner tubes are latched in the stowed position by a caging mechanism. The antenna is driven toward a deployed position by a dual motor driven cable which is terminated in a driving tube at the lower end of the innermost tube, from whence the cable is trained about pulleys at the tops and bottoms of successively large tubes of the antenna. The cable is wound on a drum at the lower end of the antenna and coaxial therewith. During deployment of the antenna, the drum rotates, thereby reeling in the deployment cable. The initial movement of the cable causes cam releasing of the latches in the caging device. Thereafter, the antenna tubes are extended until the final deployed position of the antenna is reached.

Abstract: A mechanical system is disclosed to capture and/or deploy a device or vehicle having relative motion with respect to another vehicle. The mechanism includes an on-board controlled collapsible iris assembly located at the end of a controlled manipulator system carried by one moving vehicle. The iris assembly by means of the manipulator system encircles a probe located on the other moving vehicle whereupon the iris assembly is activated and one or more iris elements close around the probe, thus capturing and axially aligning the other vehicle with the iris assembly. Additionally, a rotator assembly is included for spinning the iris assembly in a manner adapted to engage the probe of a spinning vehicle. Deployment of the other vehicle is accomplished by reversing the capture procedure.

Abstract: A laser apparatus having a pump laser device for producing pump laser energy upon being excited. The pump laser device having a resonating cavity for oscillating and amplifying the pump laser energy. A source laser device is used for producing source laser energy upon being excited by the pump laser energy, the source laser device having a resonating cavity for oscillating and amplifying the source laser energy. The source laser's resonating cavity is coupled within a portion of the pump laser's resonating cavity.

Abstract: A heat dissipating instrument package of a spacecraft, located in a canister having walls in heat transfer relationship with the package, is maintained at a substantially constant temperature. Fixed conductance heat pipes on the canister walls are connected to variable conductance heat pipes, mounted on a radiator structure separated from the canister walls by a thermal blanket. The effective radiating area of the radiator structure is controlled by the variable conductance heat pipes in response to a comparison of a sensed temperature of the instrument package or the canister wall with a seat point value. The comparison controls a heater in a gas reservoir containing a non-condensable gas of the variable conductance heat pipe. To enable the set point to be varied over a relatively wide range, such a 0.degree.-30.degree. C.

Abstract: A diode laser mounted within a helium refrigerator is mounted using a braided copper ground strap which provides good impact shock isolation from the refrigerator cold-tip while also providing a good thermal link to the cold-tip. The diode mount also contains a rigid stand-off assembly consisting of alternate sections of nylon and copper which serve as cold stations to improve thermal isolation from the vacuum housing mounting structure. Included in the mount is a Pb-In alloy wafer inserted between the cold-tip and the diode to damp temperature fluctuations occurring at the cold-tip.

Abstract: A toggle mechanism pinches a metal tube and maintains the tube in a pinched condition, without fracturing. The toggle mechanism includes a plunger translatable along a longitudinal axis, as well as a pair of links pivoted about a common axis extending through an end of the plunger. One of the links also pivots about a fixed axis. A free end of the other link carries a push link which the other link translates at right angles to the plunger longitudinal axis. First and second sides of the tube bear against a first stop block and are engaged by the push link when a compresson spring, attached to the plunger, is suddenly released to irreversibly drive the plunger along its longitudinal axis so the pivot point of the two links is driven to an over travel position. At over travel, the free end of the push link and the stop block abut against opposite sides of the tube to pinch them together.

Abstract: An interleaving device for processing energy signals between various logic devices having a first plurality of spaced energy carrying layer materials. Each of the first layer materials has a plurality of juxtaposed conduits for passing energy signals therethrough. Each of the conduits has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the first layers. A second plurality of energy carrying materials is arranged between adjacent ones of the spaced first layer materials. Each of the second layer materials has a plurality of juxtaposed conduits for passing the energy signals therethrough. Each of the conduits in the second layer has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the second layer materials and substantially perpendicular to the axes of the conduits of the first layer materials.