Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accurately positioning an object, such as a mirror 3 used to precisely aim a laser. The invention uses kinematic principles to hold the object. Here a 2-2-2 kinematic bipod system is employed. The invention uses three actuators 5 to position the object. Each actuator acts as a bipod restricting the object in two of its six degrees of freedom. Each actuator has three degrees of freedom it can transmit to the object. The actuator can rotate on its single-axis flexure 7 so that the actuator cna rotate on one axis relative to support 4. Each actuator has a two-axis coincident flexure 8 on one end for allowing the object to be moved in two rotational degrees of freedom and the roller sleeve 50 allows a third rotational degree of freedom. Each actuator is positioned circumferencially about the central coordinate axis of the object to be moved, 120 degrees apart.

Abstract: An improved leak detection system (10) of the differential absorption type is provided for identifying gas leaks in a test object (12), wherein the improved system (10) provides enhanced resolution and accuracy by compensating for the effects of background gases and the like along the image path. The system utilizes a video camera (18) to generate images of the test object (12) which has been pressurized with a selected gas (14) having strong absorption properties with respect to an illuminating light source (16) of a selected wavelength. Since the absorption bandwidth of the test gas (14) varies with temperature, the gas is preconditioned as by heating such that the temperature of gas leaking to the exterior of the test object (12) will vary with proximity to the test object.

Abstract: A thrust engine is disclosed in the form of a hybrid staged combustion-expander topping cycle engine. The engine comprises a mixed cycle, one cycle being an expander cycle (14) operating at low temperatures and the other being a staged combustion cycle (12) operating at a higher temperature. A portion of liquid hydrogen from a fuel pump (16) is passed in heat exchange relation with the engine nozzle (22) for cooling same and heating the hydrogen, and the heated hydrogen is passed to an oxidizer turbine (28) for driving a liquid oxygen pump (81). Another portion of the liquid hydrogen from the fuel pump is passed in heat exchange relation with the engine thrust chamber (21) and combustor (20), and a portion of the resulting heated hydrogen is introduced, together with a portion of the pressurized liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen pump, into a preburner (20) for combustion therein, and passage of the combustion gasses to a fuel turbine (26) for driving the fuel pump.

Abstract: An improved face seal assembly (10) is provided to prevent fluid leakage between assembled structural components (12), (14) or the like, such as housing components of a fluid control valve or the like. The face seal assembly (10) comprises a metal seal ring (16) defined by a rigid seal base (22) having generally parallel axial side faces (24), in combination with a pair of deflectable seal legs (26) extending generally radially from the seal base as axially diverging continuation of said side faces. The seal ring (16) is sandwiched coaxially between a pair of film gaskets (18) of a selected seal material, preferably such as a Teflon coated polyimide film. The resultant seal ring and gasket stack forms the face seal assembly (10) and is interposed between assembled housing components or the like to deflect the seal legs (26) toward each other into substantially coplanar relation with the axial side faces (24) of the seal base (22).

Abstract: An annular ring resonator which employs relay imaging to reduce crosstalk caused by diffusion which occurs between biconic mirrors 30 and 31 in the resonator.

Abstract: A warning device (10) is provided for use by electrical technicians or the like to indicate the presence of an electrical shock hazard. The warning device is adapted to be worn on the wrists or the like and includes a filtered detection circuit (32,34) for sensing a target signal such as an ac noise signal emitted from an electrical source. When the target signal magnitude exceeds a selected threshold (40), such as when the wearer moves into close proximity with the signal source, the warning device (10) activates an alarm (42,44) to indicate the presence of a shock hazard.

Abstract: A device to provide high current, low emittance electron beams with a long life cathode. The device consists of an undulator 7 which provides a source of ultraviolet light 15 for an ultraviolet photocathode 8. The undulator 7 needs a supply of electrons to produce the ultraviolet light which it can get by diverting a portion of a beam from a linear accelerator 3 before E.sub.3 or after E.sub.4 the electron beam traverses a free electron laser 5. The device is self-maintaining once a source of electrons is developed but needs a start-up source of electrons. The start up source can be provided by a pulsed cathode electron gun 1 which has to be on for a short period of time until the ultraviolet photocathode 8 is operated.

Abstract: An article securing device consisting of two parts, a block with a hole in it and an article holding portion having two arms which can be inserted into and locked onto the block. The arms have notches on their ends for engaging the block and locking the article holding portion thereon. The article holding portion has an oblong shaped looped portion. When one said of the oblong loop portion is squeezed one arm rides up on and is depressed into a depression on the other arm, unlocking the arms from the block and allowing th earticle holding portion to be withdrawn from the block for inserting articles on the article holding portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fine focusing lens for charged particle beams. Since the field lines of the poles are additive, and the lens 50 can be made to be very small, the lens can be used inside of a coarse focusing lens 51. The lens 50 employs a plurality of poles 1-32, evenly spaced, circumferentially around the lens. The poles may be wires 38 for electromagnetic poles or plates 35 for electrostatic poles. Each pole can be tagged to induce a frequency, pulse, or phase signal on the charged particle beam 49, so that the effects of each pole on the beam can be separately detected. The beam can therefore be focused by seeing the effects of and adjusting each pole separately. As the number of poles increases, the ability to finely focus a charged particle beam increases. The lens 50 as shown in the figures has 32 poles, which is enough to very finely focus a charged particle beam.

Abstract: A combined solar concentrator and radiator assembly (10) is provided in a relatively lightweight and compact geometry adapted particularly for use in electrical power generation systems in space. The solar concentrator - radiator assembly comprises a solar reflector of the Cassegrain type having primary and secondary reflelctor surfaces (14) and (26) for concentrating incident solar ration upon a thermal powered generator unit (16). The primary reflector surface (14) is formed on one side of an array of interleaved panels (30) adapted for movement between a compact stowed profile to fit within the cargo bay of a transport vehicle, and an extended deployed configuration. The reverse sides of these panels define a space radiator of extended surface area connected to the generator unit (16) by heat transfer members such as heat pipes (34) for purposes of dissipating excess heat to the surrounding space environment.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacture is provided for producing a channeled wall thrust nozzle (10) of the type used to define a thrust chamber (12) in a jet or rocket engine. The method utilizes a precision formed mandrel (20) having an external geometry conforming generally to the converging-diverging shape of the desired thrust chamber (12), and further including longitudinally extending slots (24) for receiving channel separation ribs (26) which may be formed by die cutting from sheet stock. The channel spaces (16) between the separator ribs (26) are filled with a removable casting material (30) such as wax, and an outer housing shell (32) for the thrust nozzle is mounted about and secured to the separator ribs. The mandrel (20), which is transversely split at the throat of the thrust chamber (12), is then removed to expose the radially inboard margins of the separator ribs (26) for precision machining, followed by mounting of an inner housing shell (34) to the separator ribs.

Abstract: An unstable ring resonator employing grazing incidence telescopic mirrors to expand a high power laser beam after it emerges from the wiggler. The grazing incidence mirror is used to increase the footprint of the laser beam on the mirrors surface to decrease the laser's intensity on the surface of the mirror, and thus increase the power of the laser which can be handled in a ring resonator. The ring resonator consists of a scraper mirror 12, a turning mirror 13, a grazing incident beam reduction telescope 101 comprising mirror components 1 and 2, a wiggler 4, a grazing incident beam expansion telescope 102 comprising mirror components 6 and 7 and a second turning mirror 14. The grazing incident telescopes can have mirror components which are of the cone/cone, hyperbola/parabola, cylinder/cylinder or hyperboloid/paraboloid type. The telescopes may also have three or more optical elements.

Abstract: A device which is easily attached to the side of a scaffold for lifting objects up the side of the scaffold. The device consists of a carriage which has a rectangular frame having guide members with wheels attached at each corner for engaging the pipes of the scaffold frame. The wheels are attached such that the carriage can ride up and down on the scaffold without interference with the scaffold frame supports and cross members. The carriage has a motor attached to it which is connected to a chain drive. There is a chain which runs through the chain drive and attaches to the top of the scaffold frame. The motor and chain drive act on the chain to drive the carriage up and down the scaffold. The chain drive preferably has a brake for use when the carriage is stopped. The carriage frame has a means of attaching a pair of forks. The width of the forks are adjustable on the carriage frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to increasing the power output of a broadband Raman amplifier by angle-tuned phase matching of either multiple individual pump lines or a continuous spectra in a pump beam 1 relative to their corresponding Stokes lines or Stokes spectra in the Stokes seed beam 2 so that energy can transfer from the pump lines to the Stokes lines more efficiently. The invention can work in any solid or fluid Raman medium. The Raman cell could be in a length of optical fiber using the internal reflections in the optical fibers as mirrors 8. By using angle tuning, enhancement of the Raman gain is produced which allows the Raman amplifier to achieve high power output with much larger pump bandwidths than were previously possible. The input pump beam 1 is fanned by diffraction grating 3 so that the pump lines are at the proper angle to be phase matched with the Stokes seed beam 2 which may also be fanned.

Abstract: A low emissivity, low shading coefficient, low reflectance window consisting of two panes of glass. The first pane having a low wave infrared reflecting and a visible light and short wave infrared absorbing section of coatings on its inside surface. A second pane spaced about one half inch from the inside surface of the first pane to protect the coatings on the first pane and to insulate the room form the heat generated on the light and heat absorbing coating of the first pane. The infrared reflecting section consisting of four layers of metals and metal oxides. The first layer of metal oxides selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, zinc oxide and a combination of zinc and tin oxide. The second layer is silver. The third layer consisting of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, zinc and tin. The fourth layer selected from the same group as the first layer. The visible light and short wave infrared absorbing section consists of a coating of titanium nitride.

Abstract: An internal plate assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plate and a pair of substantially identical inserts. The plate is formed with a manifold area at opposite ends. A pair of wall members and a plurality of fins extending therebetween. Each manifold area of the plate is provided with two ports. A flat identical insert is provided for each manifold area. The insert has one port for mating with one of the ports in the manifold area of the plate and is formed to avoid covering the other port in that same manifold area. Thus, it is possible to construct a multi-plate stacked heat exchanger utilizing parts having only two distinct configurations.