Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.

Abstract: Stiffener tool positioning apparatus and methods are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a base, a first flipper member and second flipper member. The first flipper member is slide-ably attached to the base. The first flipper member is also configured to selectively attach a first mandrel thereon and to rotate the first mandrel. The second flipper member is also slide-ably attached to the base. The first and second flipper members are slide-ably positioned select distances from each other on the base in embodiments. The second mandrel is further configured to attach a second mandrel thereon and to rotate the second mandrel.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop includes a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line in fluid communication with the vapor inlet of the condenser, a liquid line in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the condenser, and primary evaporators fluidly coupled in series with the liquid line and in parallel with the vapor line. The second loop includes a reservoir, a secondary evaporator having a vapor outlet coupled to the vapor line and a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, and a sweepage line in fluid communication with the reservoir and the primary evaporators.

Abstract: A deployable structural assembly is provided along with associated deployment mechanisms and associated methods of forming and deploying the structural assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the structural assembly includes a plurality of structural side elements formed from furlable truss structures. The truss structures may include spaced apart longitudinal members, members extending substantially transversely between the longitudinal members, and diagonal members extending between the longitudinal members at an acute angle relative thereto. A plurality of interlocking elements are located along the edges of the longitudinal members and are configured to engage interlocking elements of an adjacent structural side element. In one embodiment the truss structures may be formed to include at least one material layer having the longitudinal members, the cross-members and the diagonals formed as an integral structure.

Abstract: A method and system for a fiber compaction device with interdependent segment travel is described. A compaction device structure supports a series of individual interdependent segments including a compaction surface. Each segment also includes an opening in which a presser member can be located. The presser members consist of either an elastomeric bladder filled with an incompressible fluid or individual pistons that are manifolded together with a fixed volume of incompressible fluid. The presser members create an interdependence in segment positions such that if one or more segments are displaced the others move to balance the segment positions. Having a fixed volume of incompressible fluid allows the segments to work interdependently, thus guaranteeing that the average section position will be the nominal position and eliminating the need for a fixed center section.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one polyoxymethylene structural support member. The polyoxymethylene structural support member includes a polyoxymethylene component that is a propellant that provides thrust to the vehicle upon pyrolysis or combustion of the polyoxymethylene component of the product of pyrolysis of the polyoxymethylene component. The vehicle can be a satellite or other type of spacecraft.

Abstract: Methods of producing TATB are disclosed. The method comprises providing acid wet TNPG and distilling water from the acid wet TNPG. The TNPG is reacted with an alkoxylating agent to form a solution of 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution, which is reacted with an aminating agent. An alternate method comprises nitrating phloroglucinol in a first vessel to produce TNPG, which is reacted with an alkoxylating agent in a second vessel to form a solution comprising 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene and at least one of at least one volatile byproduct and at least one nonvolatile byproduct. The at least one of at least one volatile byproduct and at least one nonvolatile byproduct is removed in situ. The 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene is reacted with an aminating agent.

Abstract: A quaternary salt is added at low concentrations to a solid propellant, thereby increasing the conductivity of the polymeric binder to provide for safe discharge of static electricity at relatively low potentials.

Abstract: An ionic liquid is disclosed A precursor composition that comprises at least one ionic liquid and at least one energetic material is also disclosed, as is a method of synthesizing an ionic liquid and a method of desensitizing an explosive composition.

Abstract: A deployable truss is formed from a plurality of column members connected at their ends where at least some of the column members are formed from column assemblies, each including a plurality of strut members that are at least connected to each other at a first and second end of the column assembly. For added rigidity, strut members of a column assembly may be connected to each other between the first and second ends using, for example, a rigidizable resin, a fixed spacer, or a deployable spacer. Connecting strut members between the ends of the column assembly provides mutual bracing to the strut members and decreases the free buckling length of the individual strut members. Spacers are preferably configured to radially space the strut members away from the longitudinal centerline of the column assembly to increase its moment of inertia, and hence its buckling strength.

Abstract: Electronic time delay apparatuses and methods of use are disclosed. An explosive or propellant system, which may be configured as a well perforating system includes an electronic time delay assembly comprising an input subassembly, an electronic time delay circuit, and an output subassembly. The input subassembly is activated by an external stimulus, wherein an element is displaced to activate an electronic time delay circuit. The electronic time delay circuit comprises a time delay device coupled with a voltage firing circuit. The electronic time delay circuit counts a time delay, and, upon completion, raises a voltage until a threshold firing voltage is exceeded. Upon exceeding the threshold firing voltage, a voltage trigger switch will break down to transfer energy to an electric initiator to initiate an explosive booster within the output subassembly.

Abstract: A non-contacting deviation measurement system projects a first line and a second line upon a surface of an object. The projections of the first line and second line are arranged to overlap at an intersection line oriented at a nominal location such that when the surface is oriented at the nominal location, the intersection line appears on the surface. As the location of the surface deviates from the nominal location, the first line and second line as projected upon the surface move away from one another. The distance between the lines may be used to calculate the deviation from the nominal location. The deviation calculated may be compared to a predetermined maximum allowable deviation.

Abstract: A reactive material that includes at least one binder and at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, or combinations thereof; at least one metal and at least one fuel; or at least two fuels. The reactive material is used in a reactive material shot shell in which at least a portion of a slug, shot, or combinations thereof are formed from the reactive material.

Abstract: An insulation composition that comprises at least one nitrile butadiene rubber, basalt fibers, and nanoclay is disclosed. Further disclosed is an insulation composition that comprises polybenzimidazole fibers, basalt fibers, and nanoclay. The basalt fibers may be present in the insulation compositions in a range of from approximately 1% by weight to approximately 6% by weight of the total weight of the insulation composition. The nanoclay may be present in the insulation compositions in a range of from approximately 5% by weight to approximately 10% by weight of the total weight of the insulation composition. Rocket motors including the insulation compositions and methods of insulating a rocket motor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooling system for a high-speed vehicle may comprise a combustor wall at least partially enclosing a combustor and which is cooled using a coolant circulating in a Brayton cycle. The heated coolant may be expanded in a turbine, transfer heat to a fuel within a heat exchanger, and be compressed by a compressor before returning to the combustor wall. The combustor wall may be capable of withstanding high temperatures, higher than the temperature at which fuel coking may take place. Heat transfer takes place between the coolant and the combustor wall, and between the coolant and the fuel. A method of cooling an engine for a high-speed vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple-stage solid rocket motor is operated in a manner designed to control its mass discharge profile. This is accomplished by providing means for igniting one stage and then igniting a subsequent stage while the first continues to burn.

Abstract: A pourable opaque centerport for solid propellant rocket motors and method for applying the same are disclosed. The pourable centerport inhibitor for solid propellant rocket motors has a curing system that includes a prepolymer and a curing agent. The prepolymer and the curing agent are combined to form a pourable polymeric binder that cures into an amorphous solid. The pourable centerport inhibitor also includes an opaque agent. The pourable centerport inhibitor may also include a plasticizer. The plasticizer, the prepolymer, and the curing agent are preferably the same type that is in the solid propellant with which it will be used in conjunction.

Abstract: Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury or bTBI needs objective and subjective testing that can be made quickly in the field. Subjective tests using shapes, textures, tastes and odors as disposable, edible candies on a stick may be carried in a field kit. An objective test that employs a similar candy on a stick bearing antibodies bound to bioluminescent marker reads whether molecules believed to be released into the mouth from an injured brain are present if they bind to the specific antibody which may then be read.

Abstract: An evaporator includes an outer fluid enclosure, a liquid inlet port extending through the outer fluid enclosure, a liquid-distribution structure, a wick, and a vapor removal channel. The liquid-distribution structure is joined to the outer fluid enclosure to form a fluidly sealed hermetic chamber. The liquid-distribution structure includes a vapor barrier wall having an outer heat-receiving surface and the liquid-distribution structure is configured to distribute liquid over an inner surface of the vapor barrier wall. The wick is positioned inside the fluidly sealed hermetic chamber and is coupled to a liquid inlet port. The vapor removal channel is defined by and is in fluid communication with the wick and the liquid-distribution structure, and is near the outer heat-receiving surface of the vapor barrier wall. A thermal conductance of the liquid-distribution structure is higher than a thermal conductance of the wick.

Abstract: Microcontroller apparatuses and methods of use are disclosed. An explosive projectile system contains a faze and a remote fuze setter. The fuze includes a microcontroller comprising an RC-based clock generator and is configured to sample an accurate timing event sent from a crystal-based or similarly accurate timing device. The microcontroller is then calibrated with the received timing event and results are employed in a manner appropriate for desired implementation. Implementations of the microcontroller may include sampling a detonation delay value, in the form of a time pulse, and calibrating the microcontroller to issue a fire command at delay time after an impact event. Additionally, in a setter calibration application, a microcontroller may receive a carrier signal, calibrate the faze to an accurate time base and then set frequency boundary limits for subsequent data bit transfers.