Abstract: A diaphragm (10) suitable for extreme temperature usage, such as encountered in critical aerospace applications, is fabricated by a unique method, and of a unique combination of materials, which include multi-layered lay-ups of diaphragm materials (20a, 22, 20b) sandwiched between layers of bleeder fabric (29, 36), which, after being formed in the desired shape on a mold (26), are vacuum sealed (38) and then cured under pressure, in a heated autoclave, to produce a bond capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.

Abstract: A bio-reactor system wherein a tubular housing contains an internal circularly disposed set of blade members and a central tubular filter all mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis and each having independent rotational support and rotational drive mechanisms. The housing, blade members and filter preferably are driven at a constant slow speed for placing a fluid culture medium with discrete microbeads and cell cultures in a discrete spatial suspension in the housing. Replacement fluid medium is symmetrically input and fluid medium is symmetrically output from the housing where the input and the output are apart of a loop providing a constant or intermittent flow of fluid medium in a closed loop.

Abstract: A fully articulated four-point-bend loading fixture for MOR and fracture toughness specimens utilizes an upper loading plate in combination with a lower loading plate. The lower plate has a pair of spring loaded ball bearings which seat in V-shaped grooves located in the upper plate. The ball bearings are carried in the arms of the lower plate. A load is applied to the specimen through steel rollers, one large roller and one smaller roller each located on both the upper and lower plates. The large rollers have needle roller bearings which enable a single loading roller to rotate relative to the plate to which it is attached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an organoborosilicon preceramic polymer of the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or phenyl, and x is selected from 0, 1, 2 or 3;which is pyrolyzable to produce a refractory material comprising inorganic compounds of Si, C and B, which process comprises:contacting a silicon containing compound of the structure:(R.sup.1).sub.x --Si (CH.dbd.CH.sub.2).sub.4-x or (R.sup.1).sub.x Si(C.dbd.CH).sub.4-xwith a boron containing compound selected from H.sub.3 B:BH.sub.3, H.sub.3 B:NH.sub.3, BH.sub.3 :N(R.sup.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.2 is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl or phenyl in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of between about 90.degree. and 170.degree. C. for between about 0.1 and 20 hr and recovering the prepolymer. The prepolymer is pyrolyzed to produce a ceramic article useful in high temperature (e.g., aerospace) or extreme environmental applications.

Abstract: The invention is an enhanced single-layer, multi-color luminescent display 10' comprising an insulator substrate 11' and a single layer of host material 13' having a smooth, flat top surface deposited thereon that hosts one or more different activators, therein forming a pattern of selected and distinctly colored phosphor areas 14', 16' and 17' which may be green, red and blue respectively in the single layer of host material 13'. Transparent electrical conductor means 12' may be provided for subjecting selected areas of the pattern of colored phosphor areas to an electric field thereby forming a multi-color, single layer electroluminescent display. A coactivator such as phosphorus (P) may be selectively introduced into one or more of the phosphor areas 16' and 17' to enhance the brilliance of the color or colors of the one or more selected phosphor areas without changing the electric field.

Abstract: Apparatus for gauging the amount of liquid in a container of liquid and gas under flow or zero gravity net conditions includes an accumulator and appropriate connector apparatus for communicating gas between the accumulator and the container. In one form of the invention, gas is removed from the container and compressed into the accumulator. The pressure and temperature of the fluid in the container is measured before and after removal of the gas; the pressure and temperature of gas in the accumulator is measured before and after compression of the gas into the accumulator from the container. These pressure and temperature measurements are used in determining the volume of gas in the container, whereby the volume of liquid in the container can be determined from the difference between the known volume of the container and the volume of gas in the container.

Abstract: A sample filter holder for use with a microscope for holding the filter in a planar condition on the stage of the microscope so that automatic focusing of the microscope can be performed on particle samples dispersed on the filter. The holder includes a base having a well communicating with an inlet port which is connected to a suction pump. A screen assembly is positioned within the well. The screen assembly includes a disk having a screen positioned on its top surface and secured to the disk at the peripheral edge of the screen. Small bores communicate the outer surface of the screen with the well. The filter is placed on the screen and is held in a flat disposition by the suction forces.

Abstract: A single step is relied on in the canning process for hot isostatic pressing metallurgy composites. The composites are made from arc-sprayed and plasma sprayed monotape. The HIP can is of compatible refractory metal and is sealed at high vacuum and temperature. This eliminates out-gassing during hot isostatic pressing.

Abstract: An MMIC test fixture includes a bias module having spring-loaded contacts which electrically engage pads on a chip carrier disposed in a recess of a base member. RF energy is applied to and passed from the chip carrier by chamfered edges of ridges in the waveguide passages of housings which are removably attached to the base member. "Thru", "Delay" and "Short" calibration standards having dimensions identical to those of the chip carrier assure accuracy and reliability of the test. The MMIC chip fits in an opening in the chip carrier with the boundaries of the MMIC lying on movable reference planes thereby establishing accuracy and flexibility.

Abstract: A robotic end effector and operation protocol provide for a reliable grasp of a target object irrespective of the target's contours. A robotic hand 30 includes a plurality of jointed fingers 31-34, one of which, like a thumb 31, is in opposed relation to the other. Each finger comprises at least two jointed sections, and is provided with reflective proximity sensors, one on the inner surface of each finger section. Each proximity sensor comprises a transmitter of a beam of radiant energy and a receiver for receiving reflections of the transmitted energy when reflected by a target object. On the fingers opposed to the thumb, the proximity sensors 41 on the outermost finger sections are aligned in an outer sensor array and the sensors 42 on the intermediate finger sections and sensors 43 on the innermost finger sections are similarly arranged to form an intermediate sensor array and an inner sensor array, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to monitoring circuitry for the real time detection of vibrations of a predetermined frequency and which are greater than a predetermined magnitude. The circuitry produces an instability signal in response to such detection. The circuitry is particularly adapted for detecting instabilities in rocket thrusters, but may find application with other machines such as expensive rotating machinery, turbines, etc. The monitoring circuitry identifies when vibration signals are present having a predetermined frequency of a multi-frequency vibration signal which has an RMS energy level greater than a predetermined magnitude. It generates an instability signal only if such a vibration signal is identified. The circuitry includes a delay circuit which responds with an alarm signal only if the instability signal continues for a predetermined time period. When used with a rocket thruster, the alarm signal may be used to cut off the thruster if such thruster is being used in flight.

Abstract: A technique based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry is used to measure very small (1 cm or less) surface deformations with good resolution (10 m) over large areas (50 km). It can be used for accurate measurements of many geophysical phenomena, including swelling and buckling in fault zones, residual, vertical and lateral displacements from seismic events and prevolcanic swelling. Two SAR images are made of a scene by two spaced antennas and a difference interferogram of the scene is made. After unwrapping phases of pixels of the difference interferogram, surface motion or deformation changes of the surface are observed. A second interferogram of the same scene is made from a different pair of images, at least one of which is made after some elapsed time. The second interferogram is then compared with the first interferogram to detect changes in line of sight position of pixels.

Abstract: A toroidal core is mounted on an alignment disc having uniformly distributed circumferential notches or holes therein. Wire is then wound about the toroidal core in a uniform pattern defined by the notches or holes. Prior to winding, the wire may be placed within shrink tubing. The shrink tubing is then wound about the alignment disc and core and then heat-shrunk to positively retain the wire in the uniform position on the toroidal core.

Abstract: A circularly polarized microstrip array antenna utilizing a honeycomb substrate made of dielectric material to support on one side the microstrip patch elements in an array, and on the other side a stripline circuit for feeding the patch elements in subarray groups of four with angular orientation and phase for producing circularly polarized radiation, preferably at a 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. relationship. The probe used for coupling each feed point in the stripline circuit to a microstrip patch element is teardrop shaped in order to introduce capacitance between the coupling probe and the metal sheet of the stripline circuit that serves as an antenna ground plane. The capacitance thus introduced tunes out inductance of the probe. The shape of the teardrop probe is not critical. The probe capacitance required is controlled by the maximum diameter for the teardrop shaped probe, which can be empirically determined for the operating frequency.

Abstract: A protective device for one battery or serially arranged battery cells is adapted to fit between one battery and its terminal connector or between adjacent battery cells. The device incorporates a disk of positive temperature coefficient material having a pair of circular end faces for contact. The disk is supported by a ring adhesively joined thereto, the ring having a central axial opening to enable the button terminal of a battery cell to contact against the disk as the disk and battery cell are arranged in a single battery application or in serial contact with similar battery cells.

Abstract: A Ho:YLF crystal including Tm as sensitizers for the activator Ho, is optically pumped with a semiconductor diode laser array to generate 2.1 .mu.m radiation with a pump power to output power of efficiency as high as 68%. The prior-art dual sensitizer system of Er and Tm requires cooling, such as by LN.sub.2, but by using Tm alone and decreasing the concentrations of Tm and Ho, and decreasing the length of the laser rod to about 1 cm, it has been demonstrated that laser operation can be obtained from a temperature of 77.degree. K. with an efficiency as high as 68% up to ambient room temperature with an efficiency at that temperature as high as 9%.

Abstract: An electron/ion coincidence technique is employed to characterize the absolute mass dependent transmission efficiency of mass spectrometers. The technique is not dependent upon the partial pressure of the sample beam or the ionization cross sections of calibrant gases.

Abstract: A digitized synchronous demodulator is constructed entirely of digital components including timing logic, an accumulator, and means to digitally filter the digital output signal. Indirectly, it accepts, at its input, periodic analog signals which are converted to digital signals by traditional analog-to-digital conversion techniques. Broadly, the input digital signals are summed to one of two registers within an accumulator, based on the phase of the input signal and mediated by timing logic. At the end of a predetermined number of cycles of the inputted periodic signals, the contents of the register that accumulated samples from the negative half cycle is subtracted from the accumulated samples from the positive half cycle. The resulting difference is an accurate measurement of the narrow band amplitude of the periodic input signal during the measurement period.

Abstract: An adaptive data acquisition multiplexing system having a monitor terminal and one or more remote terminals with a communication link between them. The remote terminals each include signal conditioning for a plurality of sensors. Upon commands from the monitor terminal, signals providing the remote terminals' current configuration and status, and instructions for changing the remote terminal configuration, are transmitted from each remote terminal to the monitor terminal. Menu driven prompts at the monitor terminal permit commands to be transmitted from the monitor terminal to the remote terminals, selectively altering the configuration of any remote terminal to enable it to acquire and transmit data, as well as its configuration and status information, in the desired format. Alterations in any remote terminal's configuration can then be verified at the monitor terminal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat tube device through which a working fluid can be circulated to transfer heat to air in a conventional air conditioning system. The heat tube device is disposable about a conventional cooling coil of the air conditioning system and includes a plurality of substantially U-shaped tubes connected to a support structure. The support structure includes members for allowing the heat tube device to be readily positioned about the cooling coil. An actuatable adjustment device is connected to the U-shaped tubes for allowing, upon actuation thereof, for the heat tubes to be simultaneously rotated relative to the cooling coil for allowing the heat transfer from the heat tube device to air in the air conditioning system to be selectively varied.