Abstract: A corrosion-resistant polyurethane coating for application directly to a face as a self-priming topcoat comprising major amount of a polyurethane binder and minor amount of a combination of pigments consisting essentially of an aluminum phosphate, zinc salts of benzoic acids, and an alkaline earth metal phosphate such as zinc-barium phosphate. In addition, the coating contains up to about 30 parts by weight of a titanium dioxide pigment, up to about 2.0 parts by weight of an oil soluble surface active agent and up to about 50 parts by weight of at least one organic solvent.

Abstract: A jack mechanism having a crank handle that drives a linear motion control all nut and threaded screw. Two rods are included to provide a positive stop in each direction of the jack's limit so as to prevent overrun of the mechanism.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic surveillance system for obtaining data related to nd sources of interest in a large geographic area over long periods. A number of acoustic sensors are dropped from an aircraft for placement on the bottom of the sea at known locations. Each sensor automatically deploys a parachute to retard the descent in the air. A parachute riser weak link releases the parachute upon immersion in the water, and a latch operable at a preselected depth allows cylindrical staves to spread apart and form a stable platform on the bottom from which a hydrophone suspends and an acoustic projector tethers. A web-like flow shield unfolds between adjacent staves of the platform to provide additional retardation during the descent in the water and to reduce hydrophone noise due to water currents at the bottom.

Abstract: An underwater probe for determining true acoustic intensity by the direct asurement of true acoustic velocity and true acoustic pressure in a neutrally buoyant package, utilizes a moving-coil geophone embedded in a casting of syntactic foam and a pair of hydrophones on the exterior of the casting.

Abstract: A Josephson break junction device suitable for highly sensitive electronic detecting systems. A superconductor film such as YBa.sub.2 Al.sub.3 O.sub.7 is deposited on a substrate such as a single-crystal MgO. The film is fractured across a narrow strip by at least one indentation in the substrate juxtaposed from the strip to form a break junction. A transducer is affixed to the substrate for applying a bending movement to the substrate to regulate the distance across the gap formed at the fracture to produce a Josephson turned junction effect. Alternatively, or in addition to the transducer, a bridge of a nobel metal is applied across the gap to produce a weak-link junction.

Abstract: Corrosion resistant seal-coatings are formed on anodized aluminum by immeon in aqueous solutions containing trivalent chromic compounds with an alkali added near or slightly beyond the precipitation of insoluble basic compounds. Trivalent chromium seals formed on the anodized aluminum when tested in 5% NaCl salt spray chamber showed improved corrosion resistance. After a post-treatment in a peroxide or permanganate solution, the corrosion resistance for the anodized aluminum showed even greater improvement in the salt chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides instantaneous passive range measurement oard an aircraft for determining the range between the aircraft and a target. The target may either be stationary or a slower moving vehicle. Calculation of the desired range is achieved using the formula: Range=(S/S')V(Cos a)(Cos b) where "S"=apparent target size; "S'"=rate of change of apparent size; "V"=ground velocity; "a"=azimuth angle from aircraft heading to target; and "b"=elevation angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The apparatus consists of an automatic video tracker, a video camera, and a servo controlled aiming platform. The video tracker provides target size data. Resolvers on the aiming platform are utilized to determine the azimuth and elevation angles from the aircraft axis to the target. The azimuth angle is added to the aircraft drift angle to determine the total azimuth angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The drift angle and ground velocity are obtained from the aircraft inertial system.

Abstract: An improvement to a vibration-damping structural component of the type hag viscoelastic material sandwiched between two outer structural layers of stiffness material is disclosed. An inner layer of stiffness material having two predominant surfaces is positioned between the two outer structural layers of stiffness material and is fixed along an edge of one of the two predominant surfaces to one of the two outer structural layers of stiffness material along a line thereon corresponding to a nodal line of vibration. The remainder of the two predominant surfaces is fixed to the viscoelastic material. During flexural vibrations, the inner layer displaces in-plane with respect to the inner surfaces of the outer layers, causing greater shearing in the viscoelastic material, and therefore causing greater vibration damping in the structural component.

Abstract: A method of measuring the position of a liquid surface within a vessel is scribed. An optical fiber is provided which has first and second ends and has an energy-absorbing element of a predetermined length disposed upon a portion of the cladding thereof such that there is a thermal interface between the energy-absorbing element and the cladding. The optical fiber is then positioned in the vessel so that the energy-absorbing element disposed thereon extends a known distance into the vessel along a known depth gradient of the vessel and so that the energy-absorbing element will intersect the liquid surface over the anticipated range of positions thereof. Single-frequency, coherent light is then transmitted through the core of the optical fiber by launching it into the first end of the optical fiber. A pulse of energy is applied across the entire length of the energy-absorbing element to heat it, and then the transmitted light is received from the second end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides instantaneous passive range measurement oard an aircraft for determining the range between the aircraft and a target. The target may either be stationary and on the earth's surface, or a slower moving vehicle. Calculation of the desired range is achieved using the formula: Range=[Sin a/Sin b] V; where "a"=angle from aircraft heading to target, "b"=turning rate; and "V"=ground velocity. The apparatus consists of an automatic video tracker, a video camera, and a servo controlled aiming platform. A resolver on the aiming platform is utilized to determine the angle from the aircraft axis to the target. This angle is added to the aircraft drift angle to determine the total angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The video tracker is utilized to determine the turning rate of the aiming platform.

Abstract: An improved, multi-store dispenser is described which uses a solenoid and ring combination to eject individual stores after an electrical pulse is sent from the transporting aircraft. As each store is loaded into the dispenser, the loading action forces a spring into a compressed mode and a latch is closed to prevent expulsion. An electric pulse trips a solenoid, which in turn causes the latch to release, thereby allowing the store to be ejected.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a gas or metal vapor discharge device is disclosed. A pair of electrode assemblies each comprising thoriated tungsten with an alloy composition of tungsten (W) and from about 2% to about 3% of thorium dioxide ThO2 are located at opposite ends of the discharge chamber of the discharge device. The tip of the electrode preferably has four slots equally spaced around its circumference and a groove at its outermost edge. The tip of the electrode provides mechanical flexibility that inhibits the cracking of the thoriated tungsten electrode when it is mounted in the discharge device. Each electrode assembly further comprises a copper spacer, preferably I-shaped in cross-section, brazed against the base of the electrode and against a vacuum flange. The pair of electrode assemblies confines the discharge of the discharge device between the tips of the electrodes and inhibits the arc condition from finding its way to delicate vacuum seals.

Abstract: An elastic device that provides solderless, pressure contact, electrical connections between leads or leads and terminals at an interface. The elastic device comprises elastomeric material, such as silicone rubber, and has electrical conductive, compressible wires formed of a metal, such as monel, embedded in the silicone. The elastic device is particularly suited to provide electrical connections between an interface that is brought together by a connector and which is separable in response to an impulse that may be created by an explosion produced by a pyrotechnic device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to detect electromagnetic radiation, in which a radion-absorbing element is disposed on a short section of an optical waveguide to provide a thermal interface therebetween. Radiation is absorbed by the element, which thereby heats the waveguide, causing it to change its optical pathlength in proportion to the radiation absorbed. Interferometer apparatus is connected to measure this change in optical pathlength as a change in the interference condition. This device is highly sensitive and can be operated at room temperature.

Abstract: A method for making an offset corrugated core sandwich construction is diosed. Mandrels of preestablished form and size are arranged into a pattern in a confined area. After covering the mandrels with a release film, strips of pliable, uncured composite material are arranged in a "peak-to-valley" pattern with adjacent strips being out of phase by 180 degrees. Selected mandrels are replaced by a granular mixture and top and bottom face sheets are fitted to the arrangement. After curing, all mandrels are removed from the construction.

Abstract: A lightweight corrosivity sensor is provided which is thin enough to be edded between the layers of a composite structure or placed on a surface beneath a coating. It comprises a thin non-conductive base and two electrically isolated conductive elements fixed to the surface thereof. Each conductive element comprises a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending from the bus bar and interdigitated with the strips of the other conductive element. The corrosivity sensor is connectable to a current measuring means for measuring the current across the two conductive elements as an indicator of the presence of a corrosive environment. A masking method of manufacturing such a sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A laminated structural component with superior resistance to flexural vibions is provided comprising two load-bearing layers and a viscoelastic damping layer sandwiched therebetween. Each of the load-bearing layers comprises an outer stiffness sublayer and an inner compliant sublayer, the compliant sublayer being positioned between the outer stiffness sublayer and the viscoelastic damping layer. The compliant sublayers have an extensional elastic modulus which is less than that of the stiffness sublayers, and greater than that of the viscoelastic damping layer. The laminated structural component experiences greater relative in-plane displacements between the load-bearing layers, and preserves transverse static stiffness.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for performing optical filteg. Light energy in one frequency band is received in this system. The received light energy is filtered in one frequency band in order to provide filtered light which is applied to a nonlinear optical device. The nonlinear optical device provides frequency conversion preferably by forming a sum frequency or difference frequency. The frequency converted light energy is in a second frequency band. The energy in this second frequency band is applied to a further filter in a different frequency band wherein the two filter frequency bands are selected to prevent light energy from passing through both filters. The received light energy may contain information which is recoverable from the light energy which passes through the second filter. The nonlinear device is a crystal in which the index of refraction may be changed in order to tune the filter.

Abstract: A wavefront simulator that emulates plane wave propagation from multiple nsmitting antennas is used to evaluate, in both a static and a dynamic manner, an array processor used in RF communications to determine the location of transmitting antennas and possibly to perform beamforming for cancelling the energy of an interfering transmitter. The wavefront simulator generates time delay signals, giving the appearance of being emitted from different transmitters or sources, and simulates those signals as being received by an antenna array associated with the array processor. The array processor utilizes the time delay signals to calculate, e.g., the angle of arrival of the signals from the emitting antennas.