Abstract: To dissipate heat generated internally in integrated circuit units, both an active refrigeration system and a passive refrigeration system are coupled to a heat sink that engages the integrated circuit unit. A cold probe insertable into the heat sink has an interior heat exchanger and receives high pressure but ambient temperature refrigerant which is subcooled and expanded to provide cold liquid refrigerant about the interior heat exchanger. As thermal energy from the circuit unit evaporates refrigerant, the refrigerant passes back to a power refrigeration unit for recirculation. A passive backup unit functions if the cold probe operation fails for some reason by boiling off a second refrigerant in a chamber at the heat sink and condensing the gases within a spaced apart air heat exchanger. Refrigerant that recondenses within the air heat exchanger flows by gravity back into the boil off chamber.

Abstract: Self-contained hybrid propulsion systems have long been recognized as a class of propulsion systems that combine a liquid propellant and a solid propellant into a single system. The propellants are stored separately and the liquid propellant is delivered to the motor casing that holds the solid propellant. The present invention contemplates gasifying the liquid propellant prior to introduction into the motor casing in order to enhance system performance. The solid propellant grain is ignited and partially burned generating heat to evaporate the remaining solid propellant grain at a controlled rate. The resulting mixture is then passed to a secondary combustion region where it is mixed with additional gasified liquid propellant to complete the combustion. An integrated turbopump assembly including a pump portion, a preburner portion and a turbine portion is provided to pressurize and gasify the liquid propellant.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the sulfur content of exhaust gases from a combustion installation comprising the steps of calcining the dry sorbent particles in a controlled temperature environment outside of the combustion installation, forming an aqueous dispersion of the calcined sorbent and injecting the aqueous dispersion into the combustion installation.

Abstract: Various methods of fixedly connecting together carbon-carbon composite structures are disclosed herein along with the ultimately connected structural assemblies. These assemblies for the most part consist only of the carbon-carbon composite structures and a char forming material such as pitch which has been charred and do not require fastening means made of any other type of material such as metal bolts or the like. As a result, each of these assemblies, in its entirety, is especially suitable for use in high temperature environments including specifically hyperthermal environments.

Abstract: A bi-propellant self-contained propulsion system is provided for powering rockets. A plurality of turbopump assemblies are provided to take liquid propellants from low pressure storage tanks to a substantially higher pressure thrust chamber. Substantially all of the liquid propellants are pressurized and gasified within the plurality of turbopumps. Substantially all of the gasified propellants are then used to drive the turbopumps that pressurize the liquid propellants. Gasification preferably occurs within a preburner internal to the turbopump assembly that combines a small portion of one of the propellants with a substantial portion of the other. The proportions are selected so that gasification of all of the propellants is ensured yet relatively low preburner temperatures are maintained. A multi-stage pintle assembly may be provided to vary the exit-to-throat area ratio of the nozzle. The total thrust and the mixture ratio may be controlled by shutting down some of the turbopumps.

Abstract: A system for chaff deployment which includes a compartmentalized platelet with the bottom of the compartments formed by preformed releasable tang springs and the top of the compartment by a releasable door. The door is released to open the chamber and the tang springs are thereafter released to eject and deploy the chaff contained in the chamber.

Abstract: A solar energy collecting system of the tracking type is disclosed herein and includes at least one but preferably a plurality of solar panels mounted for movement along respective predetermined tracking paths such that each maintains a predetermined orientation with respect to the sun as the latter moves across the sky. The disclosed system also includes a single, common device which serves both as a direct insolation monitor for detecting the presence or absence of direct sunlight and as a means of detecting the position of the sun if direct sunlight is found to be present. Each panel includes a second device mounted for movement therewith for sensing the position of the panel at any given time and, at the same time, for detecting whether or not the panel is at the desired orientation with the sun. These latter devices cooperate with the first-mentioned common device for maintaining their associated solar panels in precise, controlled orientation with the sun so long as direct sunlight is present.

Abstract: An apparatus of the type in which relatively small and fragile articles such as shelled peanuts move along a given path is disclosed herein along with an assembly for decelerating movement of the articles along a particular section of the path. The section selected is one into which the articles initially enter while in flight but at a downward angle towards an article support surface. A first arrangement of elongated, flexible flaps is provided for intercepting at least some of the articles as the latter first enter this path section in order to slow them down before they reach the support surface. A second flap arrangement is located behind the first arrangement and serves to intercept all of the articles including those which have and have not been intercepted by the first arrangement, again to slow the articles down before they reach the support surface. A third flap arrangement is provided behind the second arrangement for slowing the articles once the latter have reached the article support surface.

Abstract: A gas-fired, forced air furnace system employing a fiber matrix burner element and a condensing-type heat exchanger to achieve both high system thermal efficiency and low emission of NO.sub.X and other gaseous pollutants. The value of excess air in the fuel-air reactants supplied to the ceramic fiber matrix burner is selected to be equal to or greater than ten percent to provide NO.sub.X emissions below fifteen ppm on an air-free basis, with CO and HC emissions substantially comparable to those from existing furnaces, and the surface area of the condensing portion of the heat exchanger system is designed to produce sufficient condensation of moisture in the combustion gasses to produce an overall system thermal efficiency of at least about ninety percent.

Abstract: A solar energy collector assembly of the tracking type is disclosed herein and includes a solar panel mounted for movement along a predetermined tracking path in order to maintain a predetermined orientation with respect to the sun as the latter moves across the sky. The disclosed assembly also includes a specific solar tracking sensor for maintaining the panel member in its predetermined orientation and a Direct Insolation Monitor (D.I.M.) provided to monitor the presence and absence of direct sunlight in order to prevent the sensor from mistaking a relatively bright cloud or other diffused light for the sun.

Abstract: A system and process for forming a catalytic bed in which the active catalytic material is formed with an enhanced surface area and secure adhesion onto a support structure. The system is formed by a process in which a liquid solution of a salt which is decomposable into a refractory oxide is applied to a support structure. The solution is dried to remove the solvent and, following decomposition of said salt, an active catalytic material is impregnated by applying onto the surface a soluble compound comprised of a noble metal or a catalytic oxide-forming metal. The structure is calcined to activate the catalytic material.

Abstract: A solar concentrator is disclosed herein and includes a modularized point focusing solar concentrating panel which is movably mounted to track the sun. This panel has an overall parabolic reflecting surface and a triangular or approximately triangular configuration which improves structural integrity, minimizes wind resistance and permits rapid and easy stowing.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a dc or analog signal from, for example, a resistance type temperature detector, includes an analog to digital converter which has zero temperature drift. This is achieved by the use of two identical successive approximation digital to analog converters with an external comparator connected to both converters at the same time. By switching, one converter is used to provide zero compensation the other converter being inactive except for utilizing it as the path for the amplifier drift current; then with the switch in its other phase the other converter is activated to convert the analog signal to digital format taking into account the previously computed drift signal.

Abstract: A process and system of apparatus for stoichiometrically combusting fuel and air reactants. A stream of the reactants is directed through an upstream zone for combustion about cylinders comprised of a catalytic material. A plurality of heat sink conduits are spaced about the cylinders for absorbing radiant energy from the cylinders, and a coolant medium is directed through the conduits for extracting thermal energy at a controlled rate. Products from the upstream zone are directed through a combustor in a downstream zone for adiabatic combustion, and products from the combustor are directed in heat exchange relationship with a coolant medium which extracts residual energy from the stream.

Abstract: A photovoltaic concentrator utilizes as an airtight enclosure a fused glass structure similar to an automotive sealed-beam headlamp. One of the halves is aluminized to provide a reflector for the impinging sunlight and for focusing it on a photocell carried within the enclosure. The foregoing structure because of developed mass production techniques is low cost and in addition the airtight rugged enclosure protects the fragile reflective surface and photocell.

Abstract: Combustion process and apparatus which includes a monolith bed through which a mixture of fuel and oxidizer reactants is directed. The initial segment of the bed is formed with cells of an optimum size for causing the reactants to undergo heterogeneous combustion without blowout. One or more downstream segments of the bed are formed with cells of a size smaller than the upstream cells to achieve substantially complete combustion in a bed of relatively compact dimensions. High mass flow rates are obtained under stable combustion conditions with high combustion efficiency and low emissions.

Abstract: A polybenzimidazole having a polymer chain with the following repeating unit: ##STR1## R.sub.2 is a divalent carbon ring with the linkage to an adjacent repeating unit through adjacent carbon atoms of the ring. Such polybenzimidazoles are formed by the condensation of (a) a substitute carbon ring compound, having at least one dicarboxylic anhydride or its equivalent substituted at adjacent carbon atoms and (b) an organic tetraamine of the following formula: ##STR2## Polybenzimidazoles of the foregoing type may be formed by the use of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the condensation reaction. These cross-linked polymers are characterized by minimal softening or burning at high temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the rotational speed of a variable speed drive shaft for a ship or the like with high accuracy over a wide range of speeds. Means associated with the shaft sense the time interval for each turn of the shaft, or fraction thereof. Such time interval is accurately measured and then converted to an r.p.m. value. Steps in the method include counting the number of cycles of an oscillating signal in binary form to measure the time interval for each turn, selecting a most significant portion of bits within the number counted, determining the positional weight of the most significant bit to obtain a scaling factor, and producing a voltage inversely proportional to the value of the selected portion of bits, which voltage is then scaled by the scaling factor.

Abstract: Solar heat exchange panel manufactured by a high speed rotogravure or heat sealing process wherein two elongated sheets of flexible plastic film are laminated together along lines defining inlet and outlet manifolds and a plurality of flow passages. The manifolds extend substantially the entire length of the sheets, and the flow passageways are arranged in groups to form individual heat exchanger sections which are served by the manifold. Mounting loops are provided along the lateral edges of the panel and adapted for receiving elongated rods by which the panel can be tethered or secured to another such panel.