Abstract: A threaded average temperature thermocouple 11 is provided to measure the average temperature of a test situs of a test material 30. A ceramic insulator rod 15 with two parallel holes 17 and 18 through the length thereof is securely fitted in a cylinder 16, which is bored along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of threaded bolt 12. Threaded bolt 12 is composed of material having thermal properties similar to those of test material 30. Leads of a thermocouple wire 20 leading from a remotely situated temperature sensing device 35 are each fed through one of the holes 17 or 18, secured at head end 13 of ceramic insulator rod 15, and exit at tip end 14. Each lead of thermocouple wire 20 is bent into and secured in an opposite radial groove 25 in tip end 14 of threaded bolt 12. Resulting threaded average temperature thermocouple 11 is ready to be inserted into cylindrical receptacle 32. The tip end 14 of the threaded average temperature thermocouple 11 is in intimate contact with receptacle 32.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for improving the microstructure of electrically conducting materials is disclosed by the present invention. A revolving heat source applies heat to the surface of the material evenly and quickly. One or more heat sinks quickly cool the material. In the preferred embodiment, the cooling may be done in such a way as to promote as high a degree of directional grain growth as desired or completely nondirectional grain growth.

Abstract: A method of effecting modifications at the surfaces of materials using low energy ion beams of known quantum state, purity, flux and energy. The ion beam is obtained by bombarding ion-generating molecules with electrons which are also at low energy. The electrons used to bombard the ion generating molecules are separated from the ions thus obtained and the ion beam is directed at the material surface to be modified. Depending on the type of ion generating molecules used, different ions can be obtained for different types of surface modifications such as oxidation and diamond film formation.

Abstract: A fluorinated poly(phenylene ether ketone) having one of the following structural formulas ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of aryl, SO.sub.2, O, CO, --C(CH.sub.3).sub.2, and S, is prepared by reacting a bisphenol with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2-bis[4-(4-halobenzoyl)phenyl]propane (wherein halo is fluoro or chloro), which is a novel monomer formed as the reaction product of halobenzene (wherein halo is fluoro or chloro) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2-bis(p-chloroformylphenyl)propane.

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 nozzle assembly in a multi-element spherical shell generation system includes first and second side-by-side spaced apart nozzles and a web portion extending between and connecting the nozzles. The first nozzle has an inner orifice adapted to discharge a first filler material and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about the inner orifice and adapted to discharge a first shell material. The second nozzle has an inner orifice adapted to discharge a second filler material and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about the inner orifice and adapted to discharge a second shell material.

Abstract: Fluoroepoxy compounds are made by reacting a fluoroepoxy resin with an effective curing agent, such as an adduct amine, and, while the compound is sufficiently liquid to wet a fluoroplastic surface, it may be applied to a fluoroplastic adherend, such as a Teflon, to be employed as an adhesive, to form various fluoroplastic products, without requiring any surface treatment of the adherend. The compounds are intentionally formulated with high fluorine contents, normally above 46% by weight, preferably for bonding fluoroplastics with a high F-content, above 55% by weight.

Abstract: A mechanism for the docking of a space vehicle to a space station where a connection for transfer of personnel and equipment is desired. The invention comprises an active docking structure on a space vehicle 10 and a passive docking structure on a station 11. The passive structure includes a docking ring 50 mounted on a tunnel structure 35 fixed to the space station. The active structure including a docking ring 18 carried by actuator-attenuator devices 20, each attached at one end to the ring 18 and at its other end in the vehicle's payload bay 12. The devices 20 respond to command signals for moving the docking ring 18 between a stowed position in the space vehicle to a deployed position suitable for engagement with the docking ring 50.The devices 20 comprise means responsive to signals of sensed loadings to absorb impact energy and retraction means for drawing the coupled space vehicle and station into final docked configuration and moving the tunnel structure to a berthed position in the space vehicle 10.

Abstract: Spatial light modulation (22) in a III-V single crystal (12), e.g., gallium arsenide, is achieved using the photorefractive effect. Polarization rotation created by beam coupling is utilized in one embodiment. In particular, information (16)on a control beam (14) incident on the crystal is transferred to an input beam (10), also incident on the crystal. An output beam (18) modulated in intensity is obtained by passing the polarization-modulated input beam through a polarizer (20).

Abstract: The invention is a method of radiographic inspection of a wooden specimen 11 for internal defects which includes the steps of introducing a radiopaque penetrant into any internal defects in said specimen 11 through surface openings therein; passing a beam of radiation through a portion of the specimen to be inspected; and making a radiographic film image of the radiation passing through said specimen, the radiopaque penetrant in said specimen absorbing a portion of said radiation passing therethrough, thereby enhancing the resulting image of said internal defects in said specimen 11.

Abstract: A flight deflection measurement system including a hybrid microchip of a receiver/decoder. The hybrid microchip decoder is mounted piggyback on the miniaturized receiver and forms an integral unit therewith. The flight deflection measurement system employing the miniaturized receiver/decoder can be used in a wind tunnel. In particular, the miniaturized receiver/decoder can be employed in a spin measurement system due to its small size and can retain already established control surface actuation functions.

Abstract: This invention features a method for the solid phase synthesis of non-peptide bonds (CH.sub.2 --NH) in polypeptide chains. These polypeptides are synthesized by standard procedures and the non-peptide bond synthesized by reacting an amino aldehyde and an amino acid in the presence of NaCNBH.sub.3.This invention also features somatostatin analogs with non-peptide bonds.This invention further features a solid phase method of chemically modifying a peptide. The method involves synthesizing .alpha.-N-R and side group N-R analogs of peptides, where R is a an alkyl or aryl group, by reacting a carbonyl-containing compound and an amino acid in the presence of NaCNBH.sub.3.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining a sample material in a molten state and away from the walls of a container in a microgravity environment, as in a space vehicle. A plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation, such as an infrared wavelength, are spaced about the object, with the total net electromagnetic radiation applied to the object being sufficient to maintain it in a molten state, and with the vector sum of the applied radiation being in a direction to maintain the sample close to a predetermined location away from the walls of a container surrounding the sample. For a processing system in a space vehicle that orbits the Earth, the net radiation vector is opposite the velocity of the orbiting vehicle.

Abstract: A thermal compensating mount 10 is provided for an alignment sensitive component 12. Thermal compensating 10 mount comprises a cylindrical extension 14 which is formed integral to and has the same coefficient of thermal expansion as alignment sensitive component 12. A cylindrical receptacle 20 is formed into mounting surface 18. Cylindrical extension 14 secured within cylindrical receptacle 20 that surrounds the cylindrical extension. The difference between the diameter of cylindrical extension 14 and cylindrical receptacle 20 is such that the differential thermal expansion across cylindrical extension 14 and the edges of cylindrical receptacle 20 is exactly compensated for by the thermal expansion of the surrounding adhesive 16.

Abstract: A dynamic logic circuit (AND or OR) utilizes one depletion-mode metal-semiconductor FET for precharging an internal node A, and a plurality of the same type of FETs in series, or a FET in parallel with one or more of the series connected FETs for implementing the logic function. A pair of FETs are connected to provide an output inverter with two series diodes for level shift. A coupling capacitor may be employed with a further FET to provide level shifting required between the inverter and the logic circuit output terminal. These circuits may be cascaded to form a domino chain.

Abstract: Linear aromatic polyimides with low dielectric constants are produced by adding a diamic acid additive to the polyamic acid resin formed by the condensation of an aromatic dianhydride with an aromatic diamine. The resulting modified polyimide is a better electrical insulator than state-of-the-art commercially available polyimides.

Abstract: A polyimide composition consisting essentially of recurring units having the following structural formula: ##STR1## is produced by the copolymerization of a bismaleimide and bis[4-(3,4-dimethylenepyrrolidyl)phenyl] methane.

Abstract: A technique for producing thrust by generating a hybrid plume plasma exhaust is disclosed. A plasma flow is generated and introduced into a nozzle which features one or more inlets positioned to direct a flow of neutral gas about the interior of the nozzle. When such a neutral gas flow is combined with the plasma flow within the nozzle, a hybrid plume is constructed including a flow of hot plasma along the center of the nozzle surrounded by a generally annular flow of neutral gas, with an annular transition region between the pure plasma and the neutral gas. The temperature of the outer gas layer is below that of the pure plasma and generally separates the pure plasma from the interior surfaces of the nozzle. The neutral gas flow both insulates the nozzle walls from the high temperatures of the plasma flow and adds to the mass flow rate of the hybrid exhaust. The rate of flow of neutral gas into the interior of the nozzle may be selectively adjusted to control the thrust and specific impulse of the device.

Abstract: A windmill includes an airframe having an upwind end and a downwind end, a first rotor rotatably connected to the airframe, and a generator supported by the airframe and driven by the rotor. The airframe is supported vertically in an elevated disposition by poles which extend vertically upwardly from the ground and support cables which extend between the vertical poles. Suspension cables suspend the airframe from the support cable.

Abstract: An active vibration damper system, for bending in two orthogonal directions and torsion, in each of three mutually perpendicular axes is located at the extremities of the flexible appendages of a space platform. The system components for each axis includes: an accelerometer, filtering and signal processing apparatus, and a DC motor-inertia wheel torquer. The motor torquer, when driven by a voltage proportional to the relative vibration tip velocity, produces a reaction torque for opposing and therefore damping a specific modal velocity of vibration. The relative tip velocity is obtained by integrating the difference between the signal output from the accelerometer located at the end of the appendage with the output of a usually carried accelerometer located on a relatively rigid body portion of the space platform. A selector switch, with sequential stepping logic or highest modal vibration energy logic, steps to another modal tip velocity channel and receives a signal voltage to damp another vibration mode.