Abstract: A coupling device has a transversely arranged, open-end groove (30) in a flange attached to a pipe end. The groove in the flange receives a circumferentially arranged locking flange element (76) on the other coupling member and permits alignment of the bores of the coupling members when the locking flange element is in the open end groove. Upon alignment of the bores of the coupling members, a trigger member (60) is activiated to automatically release a spring biased tubular member (33) in one of the coupling members. The tubular member has a conical end (48) which is displaced into the other coupling member to lock the coupling members to one another. A tensioning nut (72) is threadedly movable on a coupling member so as to be moved into tightening engagement with the other coupling member.

Abstract: A hand hold device (A) includes a housing (10) having a hand hold (14) and clamping brackets (32,34) for grasping and handling an object. A drive includes drive lever (23), spur gear (22), and rack gears (24,26) carried on rods (24a, 26a) for moving the clamping brackets. A lock includes ratchet gear (40) and pawl (42) biased between lock and unlock positions by a cantilever spring (46,48) and moved by handle (54). Compliant grip pads (32b, 34b) provide compliance to lock, unlock, and hold an object between the clamp brackets.

Abstract: A liquid catholyte for a battery based on liquid metal such as sodium anode and a solid, ceramic separator such as beta alumina (BASE) comprises a mixture of a Group I-III metal salt such as sodium tetrachloroaluminate and a minor amount of an organic carbonitrile depolarizer having at least one adjacent ethylenic bond such as 1 to 40 percent by weight of tetracyanoethylene. The tetracyanoethylene forms an adduct with the molten metal salt.

Abstract: Apparatus for engraving a code strip with coded markings is disclosed. The code strip is attached for rotation to a cylindrical rotor which is mounted within the cavity of a stator. The stator carries electrodes on its top and side walls to which high potentials are applied to electrostatically suspend the rotor. Circuit means sense the position of the rotor with respect to the stator electrodes and adjust the potential to maintain the rotor at its desired location. A drive motor is connectable to the rotor through a drive shaft to initially lift the rotor into the desired location within the stator and to rotate it at the desired speed. Thereafter, the drive shaft is disconnected from the rotor, and the rotor continues to spin at a highly stable angular velocity, supported only by the electrostatic fields.

Abstract: This invention relates to the directional solidification of superalloys, in particular nickel-based superalloys, by imposition of a predetermined temperature profile in the solidification front and, depending on the desired results, a predetermined rate of advance of said solidification front, whereas castings of markedly superior fatigue resistance are produced.

Abstract: A method for determining the configuration and location of an object with respect to an X, Y, X coordinate frame. The exterior surface of the sobject is equipped with a plurality of retroreflector surfaces capable of reflecting range measuring laser beams back to their sources. Three lasers, "A", "B", and "C", are located orthogonally to one another to define the reference coordinate frame. The lasers are used to determine the range distance to each of the retroreflector surface within the coordinate frame. The space defined by the coordinate frame is divided into four quadrants and the location of the retroreflector within a particular quadrant determines the value of variables qx and qy to be used in association therewith. Then, for each retroreflector.sub.n, the measured ranges from the laser to the retroreflector are designated as RA.sub.n, from laser A, RB.sub.n from laser B and RC.sub.n from laser C.

Abstract: A space particle collector for recording the time specific particles are captured, and its direction at the time of capture, utilizes an array of targets, each comprised of an MOS capacitor on a chip charged from an external source and discharged upon impact by a particle through a tab on the chip that serves as a fuse. Any impacting particle creates a crater, but only the first will cause a discharge of the capacitor. A substantial part of the metal film around the first crater is burned off by the discharge current. The time of the impulse which burns the tab, and the identification of the target, is recorded together with data from flight instruments. The metal film is partitioned into pie sections to provide a plurality of targets on each of an array of silicon wafers, thus increasing the total number of identified particles that can be collected. It is thus certain which particles have been captured at what specific times.

Abstract: A method for use with an acoustic positioner, which enables a determination of the equilibrium position and orientation which an object assumes in a zero gravity environment, as well as restoring forces and torques on the object, of an object of arbitrary shape in a chamber of arbitrary configuration. An acoustic standing wave field is established in the chamber, and the object is held at several different positions near the expected equilibrium position. While the object is held at each position, the center resonant frequency of the chamber is determined, by noting which frequency results in the greatest pressure of the acoustic field. The object position which results in the lowest center resonant frequency, is the equilibrium position. The orientation of a nonspherical object is similarly determined, by holding the object in a plurality of different orientations at its equilibrium position, and noting the center resonant frequency for each orientation.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence design and qualitative modelling tool is disclosed for creating computer models and simulating therein continuous activities, functions and/or behavior using developed discrete event techniquers. Conveniently, the tool is organized in four modules: library design module, model construction module, simulation module, and experimentation and analysis. The library design module supports the building of library knowledge including component classes and elements pertinent to a particular domain of continuous activities, functions and behavior being modelled. The continuous behavior is defined discretely with respect to invocation statements, effect statements and time delays. The functionality of the components is defined in terms of variable cluster instances, independent processes and modes, further defined in terms of mode transition processes and mode dependent processes. Model construction utilizes the hierarchy of libraries and connects them with appropriate relations.

Abstract: A mechanical end joint system for connecting structural column elements and eliminating the possibility of free movement between joint halves during loading or vibration has a node joint body having a cylindrical engaging end, and a column end body having a cylindrical engaging end. Each of the cylindrical engaging ends has an integral semicircular tongue and an integral semicircular groove. The node joint body has a conical aperture at the center of its cylindrical engaging end. The column end joint body has an internal latch mechanism housed therein, with the internal latch mechanism having a latch bolt element slidably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the column end joint body at the cylindrical engaging end. The internal latch mechanism also has a spring mechanism disposed along the longitudinal axis of the column end joint body, as well as a compressible preload mechanism and plunger means housed therein.

Abstract: A horn is described for transmitting sound from a transducer to a heated chamber containing an object which is levitated by acoustic energy while it is heated to a molten state, which minimizes heat transfer to thereby minimize heating of the transducer, minimize temperature variation in the chamber, and minimize loss of heat from the chamber. The forward portion of the horn, which is the portion closest to the chamber, has holes that reduce its cross-sectional area to minimize the conduction of heat along the length of the horn, with the entire front portion of the horn being rigid and having an even front face to efficiently transfer high frequency acoustic energy to fluid in the chamber. In one arrangement, the horn has numerous rows of holes extending perpendicular to the length of horn, with alternate rows extending perpendicular to one another to form a sinuous path for the conduction of heat along the length of the horn.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus for gas-aerosol sampling comprises an elutriator column and an impactor member. The elutriator column comprises an inlet and an impact accelerator jet outlet, and the inner surface of the column is provided with a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer. The impactor member includes a housing which surrounds the impact accelerator jet outlet and an impactor surface arranged within the housing and opposite the impact accelerator jet outlet. The inner surface of the housing is also provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene-containing polymer coating.

Abstract: A bioaquatic air pollution control system for controlling both water and atmospheric pollution. The pollution control system includes an exhaust for directing polluted gases out of a furnace and a fluid circulating system which circulates fluid, such as wastewater, from a source, past the furnace where the fluid flow entrains the pollutants from the furnace. The combined fluid and pollutants are then directed through a rock/plant/microbial filtering system. A suction pump pumps the treated wastewater from the filter system past the exhaust to again entrain more pollutants from the furnace where they are combined with the fluid (wastewater) and directed to the filter system.

Abstract: The invention is a method and circuit for shaping laser pulses 17' in which a laser medium 12' in a laser resonator 10' that includes a Q-switch 14' and polarizer 13' which act in combination to control the loss of the resonator 10' and provide the laser output 17' representative of such loss. An optical diode 22' senses the level of the output pulse 17' and provides an output signal 23' that when amplified is used with a control voltage from a supply 29' provide a control signal 19' which is applied to Q-switch 14' to control the shape of the output pulse 17' by adjusting its length.

Abstract: In a system for deriving position, velocity, and acceleration information from a received signal emitted from an object to be tracked wherein the signal comprises a carrier signal phase modulated by unknown binary data and experiencing very high Doppler and Doppler rate, this invention provides combined estimation/detection apparatus for simultaneously detecting data bits and obtaining estimates of signal parameters such as carrier phase and frequency related to receiver dynamics in a sequential manner. There is first stage for obtaining estimates of the signal parameters related to phase and frequency in the vicinity of possible data transitions on the basis of measurements obtained within a current data bit. A second stage uses the estimates from the first stage to decide whether or not a data transition has actually occurred.

Abstract: A method of degrading chloroethylene compounds is disclosed comprising incubating microorganisms capable of degrading chloroethylene compounds by an aromatic degradative pathway together with the chloroethylene compounds under conditions such that the aromatic degradative pathway is active.

Abstract: A reticle (10) permits the alignment of three orthogonal axes (X, Y and Z) that intersect at a common target point (30). Thin, straight filaments (12, 14 and 16) are supported on a frame (20). The filaments are each contained in a different orthogonal plane (S.sub.xy, S.sub.xz, and S.sub.yz) and each filament intersects two of the three orthogonal axes. The filaments, as viewed, along the frame axis (22), give the appearance of a triange (24) with a V (17) extending from each triangle vertex (25, 26, and 27). When axial alignment is achieved, the filament portions adjacent to a triangle vertex are seen (along the axis of interest) as a right-angle cross, whereas these filament portions are seen to intersect at an oblique angle when axial misalignment occurs. The reticle is open in the region near the target point leaving ample space for alignment aids such as a pentaprism 54 or a cube mirror 41.

Abstract: Improved graphite fluoride fibers are produced by contact reaction between highly graphitized fibers and fluorine gas. It is preferable to intercalate the fibers with bromine or fluorine and metal fluoride prior to fluorination.These graphite fluoride fibers are bound by an epoxy. The resulting composites have high thermal conductivity, high electric resistivity, and high emissivity.

Abstract: A low-noise, variable discharge area, valve (10) is constructed having opposed recesses (46, 48) within which a pair of gates (42, 44) are slidably disposed. Each of the gates (42, 44) is provided with upstream edges (50) having a radius thereon, the radius enabling smooth, accelerated, low-noise flow therebetween. The gates (42, 44) are further provided with tracks (62, 64) along each side, which in turn slide along splines (66) set in side walls (54, 55) of the valve (10). A threaded rod (80) which rotates in a threaded insert (82) in a rear wall of each of the gates (42, 44) serves to move the gates within their respective recesses.

Abstract: A method of predicting aging of polymers operates by heating a polymer in the outdoors to an elevated temperature until a change of property is induced. The test is conducted at a plurality of temperatures to establish a linear Arrhenius plot which is extrapolated to predict the induction period for failure of the polymer at ambient temperature. An Outdoor Photo Thermal Aging Reactor (OPTAR) is also described including a heatable platen for receiving a sheet of polymer, means to heat the platen and switching means such as a photoelectric switch for turning off the heater during dark periods.