Abstract: An apparatus for testing candidate rocket nozzle materials includes an elated member having a combustion chamber extending therethrough, with an inlet at the forward end of the combustion chamber for admitting and igniting a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and a nozzle secured to the combustion chamber at the aft end thereof. The nozzle is made of wafers or petals of materials to be tested, with the wafers being secured together at the edges thereof and having a configuration such that the wafers in transverse cross section form a polygon which has an area which increases with distance from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A simulator and method of testing a sensor wherein an electron gun mounted n a vacuum chamber directs a stream of electronic onto a target plate made up of a heat sink backing sheet and a heat insulating coating sheet adhered to the backing layer to form small hot spots on the coating sheet. The target plate may be a sheet of copper to which is adhered a coating layer of glass or a sheet of aluminum to which is adhered a coating layer of aluminum oxide. Infrared radiation from the hot spots is collimated and passed through an optical system which forms an image of the hot spots on the sensor to be tested.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid turbulence inside and just outside of a cay adjacent to an opening in a wall, the wall having a forward lip which defines the leading edge of the opening and an aft lip having a leading edge which defines the trailing edge of the opening, the forward lip terminating in a sharp edge lying generally in the plane of the outer surface of the wall. The aft lip has a length of 10 to 50% of the length of the opening and extends into the opening at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees to terminate in an arcuate portion having a radius of 2 to 6% of the length of the opening.

Abstract: A method of obtaining the spectra of a product wherein the product is pas through a gas chromatograph in a stream of helium to separate the product into components, with the components then being passed through a spectrometer to obtain the spectra of the components. The components are chilled to a temperature below about minus 10 degrees Celsius and preferably below about minus 20 degrees Celsius to render the components stable and non-volatile.

Abstract: A rocket system wherein a frustoconical or cylindrical casing contains fi and second rocket stages in series, with each stage having a nozzle extending in an aft direction. Each stage contains a solid rocket fuel, with the forward end of the fuel in the first stage filling and surrounding the nozzle of the second stage so that when the casing is severed along a plane aft of the second stage portion of the case the pressurized combustion products in the first stage forces the stages to separate.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for controlling the angle at which a filament is wo from a feed onto a bobbin wherein the position of the filament relative to a particular photo diode in an array is sensed and either the bobbin or the feed is traversed to maintain the filament at a particular location on the array of photo diodes.

Abstract: A process for separating large percentages of aggressive gases such as carbon dioxide from low temperature gas mixtures wherein the gas mixture is passed through a plurality of treatment zones in series. In each treatment zone the gas mixture is first compressed to a pressure such that the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide is not greater than the critical carbon dioxide partial pressure and the compressed gas mixture is then brought into contact with a membrane more permeable to carbon dioxide than other gases of the mixture such that carbon dioxide permeates the membrane to the other side thereof. The gas mixture is maintained in contact with the membrane a sufficient time to lower the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide in the non-permeated gas mixture to less than about 40 percent of said critical carbon dioxide partial pressure. The process is especially useful for separating carbon dioxide from methane and other gases.

Abstract: Permeator systems containing selectively permeable membranes suitable for pressure-influenced fluid separations and processes for operating permeator systems for the separation of fluids are disclosed which can provide high turn down ratios of permeate while maintaining substantially constant concentrations of at least one permeating moiety in the permeate. In accordance with the invention, the permeator system comprises a plurality of permeator stages, each of which permeator stages receive a feed stream, and the flow of permeate from at least one permeator stage is initiated and terminated at predetermined rates of permeate fluid flow from the permeator system.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating one gas from a mixture of gases wherein a cylindrical shell having openings for admitting and discharging a mixture of gases surrounds a bundle of hollow fiber membranes which extend through a tube sheet mounted in one end of the cylindrical shell. A resilient sheet in the form of a slit tube surrounds the bundle of fibers and is attached at one end thereof to the tube sheet. The remainder of the slit tube is free of restraint such that it is expanded into contact with the inner surface of the shell. In a preferred embodiment, the slit tube is secured to a tubular distribution element having one end thereof positioned inside the slit tube and the other end thereof secured to the tube sheet, the distribution element being provided with ports for allowing the gas mixture to enter the bundle of fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating one gas from a mixture of gases wherein a cylindrical shell having an enlarged end portion houses a bundle of hollow fiber membranes, the hollow fiber membranes extending through a polymeric tube sheet positioned in and secured to the enlarged end portion of the shell. A tubular distribution element secured to the tube sheet and extending into the cylindrical shell cooperates with the tube sheet and the enlarged end portion of the shell to form an annular chamber surrounding the distribution element. The distribution element is provided with a port positioned between the tube sheet and a gas inlet in the enlarged end portion of the shell, the port being positioned such that0.4.ltoreq./D.ltoreq.1.30.2.ltoreq.d/D.ltoreq.0.6where d is the distance from the tube sheet to the port; l is the distance from the tube sheet to the inlet opening and D is the diameter of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: Efficient utilization of hydrogen in a hydrocracking system is obtained by recovering in a first gas-liquid separation zone hydrogen by gas-liquid separation of hydrocrackate at a pressure of at least about 75 percent of the pressure in the hydrocracking zone, and recovering in a second gas-liquid separation zone hydrogen from the separated liquid phase from the first gas-liquid separation zone, said second gas-liquid separation zone being at a pressure less than 75 percent of the pressure in the first gas-liquid separation zone and at conditions sufficient to provide a separated vapor phase containing at least about 50 volume percent of hydrogen and having a hydrogen partial pressure of at least about 20 atmospheres. At least a portion of the separated vapor phase from the second gas-liquid separation zone is contacted with the feed side of a polymeric membrane exhibiting a high selectivity to the permeation of hydrogen as compared to the permeation of methane. The opposite side, i.e.

Abstract: Anisotropic hollow fiber membranes comprising polymer of acrylonitrile and styrene are prepared by extruding a solution of a hollow fiber-forming polymer comprising polymer of acrylonitrile and styrene in a liquid carrier through an annular spinnerette to form a hollow fiber precursor, and the hollow fiber precursor is coagulated in a liquid coagulant comprising water to form a hollow fiber membrane. The liquid carrier used in the method comprises N,N-dimethylformamide and preferably contains non-solvent for the polymer of acrylonitrile and styrene. The hollow fiber membranes have a homogeneously-formed thin selective skin on an open cellular support and exhibit high resistance to collapse. The membranes are especially useful for the separation of gases.

Abstract: A hydrocrackate from a hydrocracking zone operating under hydrocracking conditions is separated into at least one liquid phase and a separated vapor phase wherein the separated vapor phase has a greater concentration of hydrogen than the minimum concentration of hydrogen in the vapor phase in the hydrocracking zone. At least a portion of the separated vapor phase is contacted with the feed side of a polymeric membrane selective to the permeation of hydrogen as compared to the permeation of methane, and the opposite side of the polymeric membrane is maintained at a pressure sufficiently below the pressure at the feed side of the polymeric membrane to permeate hydrogen to the opposite side of the polymeric membrane and to provide a hydrogen permeate having a concentration of hydrogen greater than the concentration of hydrogen in the separated vapor phase and greater than the concentration of hydrogen in the hydrogen feed gas. The hydrogen permeate is compressed and recycled to the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for determining the electrical characteristics of a material whin a probe is inserted into the material and an electrical pulse is transmitted to generate a reflected wave which will have a shape which will depend on the electrical characteristics of the material. The probe used has coaxial inner and outer conductors, with an exposed one of the inner conductor extending beyond the outer conductor to establish an electric field between the exposed end of the inner conductor and the outer surface of the outer conductor when an electrical pulse reaches the end of the probe.

Abstract: A Cassegrain telescope having a primary mirror having an aperture centered n the axis thereof and a secondary mirror spaced from the primary mirror and centered on the axis of the primary mirror for receiving reflected light from the primary mirror and reflecting it through the aperture in the primary mirror and a support member extending from the primary mirror support structure to the secondary mirror. The support member is in the form of a conical honeycomb having cells extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the primary mirror. The support member is made from a carbonized polymeric material.