Abstract: An automatic dross removal apparatus (10) is disclosed for removing dross from the surface of a solder bath (22) in an automated electric component handling system. A rotatable wiper blade (14) is positioned adjacent the solder bath (22) which skims the dross off of the surface prior to the dipping of a robot conveyed component into the bath. An electronic control circuit (34) causes a motor (32) to rotate the wiper arm (14) one full rotational cycle each time a pulse is received from a robot controller (44) as a component approaches the solder bath (22).

Abstract: A shared system for robot control including integration of the human and autonomous input modalities for an improved control.Autonomously planned motion trajectories are modified by a teleoperator to track unmodelled target motions, while nominal teleoperator motions are modified through compliance to accommodate geometric errors autonomously in the latter. A hierarchical shared system intelligently shares control over a remote robot between the autonomous and teleoperative portions of an overall control system. Architecture is hierarchical, and consists of two levels. The top level represents the task level, while the bottom, the execution level.In space applications, the performance of pure teleoperation systems depend significantly on the communication time delays between the local and the remote sites. Selection/mixing matrices are provided with entries which relfect how each input's signals modality is weighted.

Abstract: A method of making a plug-type heat flux gauge in a material specimen in which a thermoplug is integrally formed. The thermoplug and concentric annulus are formed in the material specimen by electrical discharge machining and trepanning procedures. The thermoplug is surrounded by a concentric annulus through which thermocouple wires are routed. The end of each thermocouple wire is welded to the thermoplug, with each thermocouple wire welded at a different location along the length of the thermoplug.

Abstract: A sample in a wind tunnel is radiated from a thermal energy source exteriorly of the wind tunnel. A thermal imager system, also located exteriorly of the wind tunnel, reads surface radiations from the sample as a function of time. The produced thermal images are characteristic of the heat transferred from the sample to the flow across the sample. In turn, the measured rates of heat loss of the sample are characteristic of the flow and the sample.

Abstract: A two-dimension vernier scale utilizing a cartesian grid on one plate member with a polar grid on an overlying transparent plate member. The polar grid has multiple concentric circles at a fractional spacing of the spacing of the cartesian grid lines. By locating the center of the polar grid on a location on the cartesian grid, interpolation can be made of both the X and Y fractional relationship to the cartesian grid by noting which circles coincide with a cartesian grid line for the X and Y direction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating structures formed from composite materials by positioning the structure about a high coefficient of thermal expansion material, wrapping a graphite fiber overwrap about the structure, and thereafter heating the assembly to expand the high coefficient of thermal expansion material to forcibly compress the composite structure against the restraint provided by the graphite overwrap. The high coefficient of thermal expansion material is disposed about a mandrel with a release system therebetween, and with a release system between the material having the high coefficient of thermal expansion and the composite material, and between the graphite fibers and the composite structure. The heating may occur by inducing heat into the assembly by a magnetic field created by coils disposed about the assembly through which alternating current flows. The method permits structures to be formed without the use of an autoclave.

Abstract: A linear (i.e., non-cyclic) analog of biologically active amphibian bombesin, mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), or mammalian growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), having an active site and a binding site responsible for the binding of the peptide to a receptor on a target cell. Cleavage of a peptide bond in the active site of naturally occurring bombesin, GRP, or GRF is unnecessary for in vivo biological activity. The analog has one of the following modifications: (a) a deletion of an amino acid residue within the active site and a modification of an amino acid residue outside of the active site, (b) a replacement of two amino acid residues within the active site with a synthetic amino acid, a .beta.-amino acid, or a .gamma.-amino acid residue, or (c) a non-peptide bond instead of a peptide bond between an amino acid residue of the active site and an adjacent amino acid residue.

Abstract: The invention is a linear actuator that operates under the principle that like charges repel and opposite charges attract. The linear actuator consists of first and second pairs of spaced opposed conductors where one member of each pair of conductors is attached to a fixed member, and where the other member of each pair of conductors is attached to a movable member such as an elongated rod. The two pairs of spaced conductors may be provided in the form of two spacedly interwound helical vanes where the conductors are located on the opposite sides of the two helical vanes. One helical vane extends inwardly from a housing and the other helical vane extends outwardly from an elongated rod. The elongated rod may be caused to move linearly with respect to the housing by applying appropriate charges of like or opposite polarity to the electrical conductors on the helical vanes.

Abstract: A seal is mounted in a rectangular groove in a moveable structural panel. The seal comprises a fiber-preform constructed of multiple layers of fiber having a uniaxial core. Helical fibers are wound over the core. The fibers are of materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and are both left-hand and right-hand wound. An outer layer wrapped over said helical fibers prevents abrasion damage.

Abstract: A composite thermal barrier coating for a substrate has a first layer including a first ceramic material and a second layer including a second ceramic material impregnated with a glass, the glass being a ternary eutectic. The glass may consist of about 14.6 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 23.3 weight percent CaO, and about 62.1 weight percent SiO.sub.2. The first and second ceramic materials may include yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: A self-adjusting orifice for fluids nozzle includes a membrane constructed of a single piece of flexible or elastic material. This flexible material is shaped to fit into the outlet of a nozzle. The body of the membrane has at least two flow channels, from one face to the other, which directs two streams of water to cross at the opening of the nozzle or at some point beyond. The elasticity and thickness of the membrane is selected to match the range of expected pressures and fluid velocities. The orifice may have more than two flow channels, as long as they are aligned adjacent to one another and directed towards each other at the exit face. In a three orifice embodiment, one is directed upward, one is directed downward, and the one in the middle is directed forward. In this embodiment all three fluid streams intersect at some point past the nozzle opening.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the configuration of a surface (e.g., a segmented parabolic surface) using orthogonally placed retroreflectors at sets of points A, B and C dispersed throughout the surface with a stationary halfwave plate HWP in the front of the one retroreflector at a corner point C and a rotating halfwave plate RHWP over a source of linearly polarized coherent light, thereby causing the direction of linear polarization to continuously rotate through 360.degree. and causing light returned by the retroreflector at point C to be continuously phase shifted through 360.degree. relative to light returned by retroreflectors at points A and B. The returned light from each set of points A. B and C is focused onto a bed-of-nails (BON) phase grating diagonally oriented with respect to the orthogonal orientation of the incident beams from retroreflectors A, B and C, thereby causing overlap in the light from points A and C and from points B and C to produce interferometric signals AC and BC.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining an alloy having an ordered microstructure which comprises the steps of heating the central portion of the alloy under uniform temperature so that it enters a liquid phase while the outer portions remain solid, applying a constant electric current through the alloy during the heating step, and solidifying the liquid central portion of the alloy by subjecting it to a temperature-gradient zone so that cooling occurs in a directional manner and at a given rate of speed while maintaining the application of the constant electric current through the alloy. The method is particularly suitable for use with nickel-based superalloys. The method of the present invention produces an alloy having superior characteristics such as reduced segregation. After subsequent precipitation by heat-treatment, the alloys produced by the present invention will have excellent strength and high-temperature resistance.

Abstract: A tough, high performance polyimide is provided by reacting a triple bond conjugated with an aromatic ring in a bisethynyl compound with the active double bond in a compound containing a double bond activated toward the formation of a Diels-Adler type adduct, especially a bismaleimide, a biscitraconimide, or a benzoquinone, or mixtures thereof. Addition curing of this product produces a highly linear polymeric structure and heat treating the highly linear polymeric structure produces a thermally-stable aromatic addition-type thermoplastic polyimide, which finds utility in the preparation of molding compounds, adhesive compositions, and polymer matrix composites.

Abstract: This invention relates to a small particle selective emitter for converting thermal energy into narrow band radiation with high efficiency. The small particle selective emitter is used in combination with a photovoltaic array to provide a thermal to electrical energy conversion device. An energy conversion apparatus of this type is called a thermo-photovoltaic device.In the first embodiment, small diameter particles of a rare earth oxide are suspended in an inert gas enclosed between concentric cylinders as shown in FIG. 1. The rare earth oxides are used because they have the desired property of large emittance in a narrow wavelength band and small emittance outside the band. However, it should be emphasized that it is the smallness of the particles that enhances the radiation property. As shown in FIG. 1, the small particle selective emitter is surrounded by a photovoltaic array.In an alternate embodiment, the small particle gas mixture is circulated through a thermal energy source as shown in FIG. 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a crystal growth apparatus (10) generally used for growing protein crystals wherein a vapor diffusion method is used for growing the crystals. In this apparatus, a precipitating solution and a solution containing dissolved crystalline material are stored in separate vials (12, 14), each having a resilient diaphragm (28) across one end and an opening (24) with a puncturable septum (26) thereacross at an opposite end. The vials are placed in receptacles (30) having a manifold (41) with a manifold diaphragm (42) in contact with the vial diaphragm at one end of the receptacle and a hollow needle (36) for puncturing the septum at the other end of the manifold.

Abstract: A porous body of fibrous, low density silica-based insulation material is at least in part impregnated with a reactive boron oxide containing borosilicate glass frit, a silicon tetraboride fluxing agent and a molybdenum silicide emittance agent. The glass frit, fluxing agent and emittance agent are separately milled to reduce their particle size, then mixed together to produce a slurry in ethanol. The slurry is then applied to the insulation material and sintered to produce the porous body.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive drive motor having a rotary drive shaft in the form of a drum which is encircled by a plurality of substantially equally spaced roller members in the form of two sets of cones which are in contact with respective cam surfaces on the inside surface of an outer drive ring. The drive ring is attached to sets of opposing pairs of magnetostrictive rods. Each rod in a pair are mutually positioned end to end within respective energizing coils. When one of the coils in an opposing pair is energized, the energized rod expands while the other rod is caused to contract, causing the drive ring to rock, i.e. rotate slightly in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending upon which rod in a pair is energized. As the drive ring is activated in repetitive cycles in either direction, one set of drive cones attempt to roll up their respective cam surface but are pinned between the drive shaft drum and the drive ring.

Abstract: An improved static pressure probe containing a water cooling mechanism. This probe has a hollow interior containing a central coolant tube and multiple individual pressure measurement tubes connected to holes placed on the exterior. Coolant from the central tube symmetrically immerses the interior of the probe, allowing it to sustain high temperature, in the region of 2500.degree. F., supersonic jet flow indefinitely, while still recording accurate pressure data. The coolant exits the probe body by way of a reservoir attached to the aft of the probe. The pressure measurement tubes are joined to a single, larger manifold in the reservoir. This manifold is attached to a pressure transducer that records the average static pressure.

Abstract: A high temperature, flexible brush seal comprises a bundle of fibers or bristles held tightly together and secured at one end with a backing plate. The assembly includes a secondary spring-clip having one end anchored to the brush seal backing plate.An alternate embodiment of the seal utilizes a metal bellows containing coolant holes. Another embodiment of the seal uses non-circular cross-sectional fibers which may be square, rectangular or hexagonal in cross section.