Abstract: A composite electromagnetic absorber provides increased EMR absorption while being thinner and/or lighter than prior art EMR absorbers. To accomplish this, synthetic dielectric materials are combined with either synthetic magnetic materials or magnetically lossy materials in such a way that the permittivity and permeability of the composite material are substantially matched over the desired range of frequency. The match in the permittivity and permeability allows the majority of the electromagnetic fields to enter the material where the electric and magnetic loss components absorb the electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A novel process for producing novel curable, liquid, hydroxyl-terminated epoxy polyether polymers by the direct polymerization of vinyl epoxy ether monomers in the presence of a strong alkali, to form a hydroxyl-terminated vinyl polyether polymer, followed by the epoxidation of the vinyl groups to form a novel curable, liquid hydroxyl-terminated epoxy polyether polymer which is stable against unintended polymerization in view of the epoxidation of the vinyl groups and is rapidly curable with the addition of conventional multifunctional curing agents.

Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus for capturing airborne pollutants present in a relatively confined environment. The apparatus includes a portable airborne-pollutant capturing device movable to a site of pollutant origin and having at least one airborne-pollutant collector member which can be non-limitedly exemplified as a collection hood positionable at the site of pollution for pollutant collection or a painting tray upon which items can be placed and painted and beneath which resultant pollutant can be collected. A vacuum system is present within the capturing device and is in communication with the one or more collector members to draw airborne pollutants into the capturing device through the pollutant collector member. Actual capture of pollutants is accomplished by a filter system within the capturing device. The filter system can include one filter or more than one identical or different filters chosen for enhanced filtration capabilities in relation to pollutants present.

Abstract: A patch antenna having enhanced frequency response has a generally planar element formed of a substantially conductive material, and antenna feed conductor electrically connected to the antenna element, and a generally planar parasitic element formed of a substantially conductive material positioned substantially coaxially with respect to the antenna element and spaced apart therefrom. The distance by which the parasitic element is spaced apart from the antenna element in order to provide such enhanced frequency response of the patch antenna is determined empirically. An optimally configured array of such patch antennas is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for using a voice operated switch in a changing high noise environment involves determining a relative energy of the background noise, calculating VOX, voice, and delta thresholds, and comparing the VOX threshold to an amplitude of an incoming data sample. When the amplitude of the incoming data sample is greater than the VOX threshold, then the delta threshold is compared to the short-term average delta. When the amplitude of the short-term average delta is greater than delta threshold, then the voice threshold is compared to the short-term average. When the short term average is greater than the voice threshold, then the incoming data sample is determined to be voice and the voice operated switch is actuated.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aircraft engine air intake cover for use with an air intake which is characterized by an air velocity profile therewithin. The air intake cover is provided with an air induction plate which disposed across at least a portion of the air intake. The air intake cover is further provided with a multitude of air induction ducts. The induction ducts are disposed about and extend through the air induction plate. Each induction duct has a duct inlet, a duct outlet and a duct body interposed between the duct inlet and the duct outlet. The duct inlets each respectively define an effective inlet diameter. The duct bodies each respectively define a duct body length which is greater than the associated effective duct inlet diameter. The duct outlets each respectively define an effective outlet diameter greater than the effective inlet diameter for increasing the cohesiveness of the air velocity profile within the air intake.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pair of opposing wings for providing aircraft directional stability of a delta-shaped aircraft having a longitudinal axis. Each wing is provided with a substantially straight swept-back leading edge. Each wing is further provided with a lower surface which extends aft from the leading edge. A lower airflow channeling portion is formed into the lower surface. The lower airflow channeling portion is generally elongate and concave and is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft for channeling airflow substantially parallel thereto.

Abstract: A method and a circuit for detecting transmission of a radio frequency (RF) signal and generating control signals to regulate the operation of a RF converter remotely located from a corresponding transmitter are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: (a) sensing the direction of a RF signal flowing in an RF transmission line, at a location proximate of the RF converter; (b) generating a low-power RF signal in response to the sensed direction; and (c) transforming the low-power RF signal into a control signal to regulate the operation of the RF converter.

Abstract: An integrated, layered armor structure having multiple layers which alternate in their exhibited characteristics between extremely hard and ductile. The extremely hard layers of the armor structure are designed to shatter an impacting projectile, or pieces thereof, and to fracture in such a way as to dissipate at least a portion of the kinetic energy associated with the projectile pieces and to disperse the projectile pieces and hard layer fragments over a wide area. The ductile layers of the armor structure are designed to yield under the force of impinging projectile pieces and hard layer fragments from an adjacent hard layer. This yielding dissipates at least a portion of the remaining kinetic energy of these pieces and fragments. Pieces and fragments not possessing sufficient kinetic energy to tear through the ductile layer are trapped therein and so stopped.

Abstract: An extended reaction acoustic liner for use in jet engine noise mitigation has a substantially non-porous outer layer, a honeycomb core disposed in laminar juxtaposition to the outer layer, and a porous inner layer in laminar juxtaposition to the honeycomb core such that the honeycomb core is sandwiched between the outer layer and the inner layer. The honeycomb core comprises a plurality of cell walls defining a plurality of cells. Some of the cells are in fluid communication with one another via the openings formed in the cell walls. The openings in the cell walls cause viscous acoustic losses, resulting in acoustic energy dissipation and enhanced noise attenuation.

Abstract: A heat-resistant, thermally insulative, ductile port liner for a head of an internal combustion (IC) engine having a tube-shaped structure formed from at least one layer of fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material. The FRCMC material includes a polymer-derived ceramic resin in its ceramic form and fibers. In a first embodiment of the port liner, the tube-shaped structure has one FRCMC layer forming the sole, solid wall of the structure. Whereas, in a second embodiment, the tube-shaped structure has two FRCMC layers forming inner and outer walls of the structure, respectively, with an intervening space separating the inner and outer walls. The intervening space is sealed at both ends It can be filled with a thermally insulating material, evacuated and held at substantially a vacuum pressure, or filled with a gas. Once the port liner has been formed, it is preferably cast-in-place when the metal head of the IC engine is formed.

Abstract: A system is provided for filling a gap between adjoining coplanar first and second sheet members mounted on an outer surface of a common substrate and having juxtaposed first and second edge surfaces. A permanent gap filler member of predetermined shape and size intended for eventual permanent reception in the gap is employed for partially filling the gap. A temporary gap filler tool which includes a substitute gap filler element having substantially the same predetermined size and shape of the permanent gap filler member, has an abutting surface for contiguous engagement with the first edge surface of the first sheet member when advanced to an attached position before the permanent gap filler member is mounted in the gap, a minor gap surface facing opposite said abutting surface, and means for releasably attaching the temporary gap filler tool to the first sheet member. A minor gap is thereby defined between the temporary gap filler element and the second edge surface of the second sheet member.

Abstract: A technique is provided for passively detecting the presence and location of an underground object. A plurality of individual antennas positioned in a linear array are directed to receive fields of view which are mutually parallel in azimuth. The linear array is then focused at a plurality of different angles in azimuth for passively acquiring low level random noise signals in the RF spectrum which are emitted by the underground object and by the intervening media.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure includes applying an electron beam curable polymer material to a generally planer material, placing two sheets of the planer material in laminar juxtaposition with one another, and forming and curing nodelines between adjacent sheets of the planar material with an electron beam.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a variable camber delta-shaped aircraft. The aircraft is provided with an integrated fuselage/wing generally defining the aircraft and having longitudinal and lateral axes. The fuselage/wing has a forward section which is rotably attached to an aft section about the lateral axis. The aircraft is further provided with an aerodynamic lifting surface which is disposed about the fuselage/wing and defined by a camber. The forward section has a downwardly deflected position when rotated relative to the aft section. The forward and aft sections are cooperatively formed to increase the camber of the lifting surface when the forward section is in the deflected position.

Abstract: A series of arc lamps is ignited sequentially while maintaining a specified voltage on one side of each lamp with dielectric insulation on the high voltage side.

Abstract: A method of rendering a surface of a metal substrate substantially acid impervious. The method includes first placing the surface in a field of treatment, then depositing a mixture of a high-temperature resistant polymer particulate such as polyamide particulate and a curable powder adhesive on the surface, and finally subjecting the surface-coated metal substrate to a curing treatment sufficient to cure the powder adhesive and thereby adhere the polymer particulate as a film on the surface. A steel substrate coated in accord with the present methodology is particularly useful as a curing fixture upon which resin-impregnated fiber of polymer composite material is placed to thereby give molded parts made therefrom a desired shape. Production of a part is accomplished by vacuum bagging the composite material to the steel fixture and curing the so-produced part in place on the fixture in an autoclave at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of dynamic memory reclamation for reclaiming memory leaks is disclosed, in which inaccessible heap segments are reclaimed without recompilation or relinkage of an application. The method comprises intercepting a call from an application to allocate or deallocate a heap segment, forwarding the call to the memory manager, passing the memory allocation and deallocation information from the memory manager to a file, performing a conservative garbage collection process using the memory allocation and deallocation information in the file to detect inaccessible heap segments, and calling to the memory manager from the file to deallocate the inaccessible heap segments. These steps are repeated periodically.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an apparatus and method for generating fatigue spectra on a chosen aircraft for which a Finite element model is available and for which a library of external load summations at key interfaces and key fundamental parameters are available from an aeroelastic analysis. The fatigue spectra generation system of the present invention represents a profile of stresses endured by the aircraft due to numerous events, such as ground and maneuver events, occurring during the life of the aircraft. The system calculates a total stress based on load and unit conditions associated with outside events by factoring up the unit conditions to derive individual stresses for each event and by summing all unit conditions.

Abstract: Plasma spraying of particulate thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers onto the surfaces of composite and metallic structures. The present plasma spray process employs a conventional direct current electric arc plasma spray gun in which an inert plasma gas is introduced, caused to swirl, and discharges as a rotating plasma flame having an exceptionally high temperature, above about 14000.degree. K, into which the particulate liquid crystal polymer is discharged for melting and propulsion onto the target surface. The target surface preferably is preheated, and the molten particles deposit and cool to form a build up of the desired thickness. Cooling is regulated by post-heating the deposit to a temperature between about 200.degree. F. and 500.degree. F.