Abstract: An automatic fluid flow regulator particularly adapted to maintain equilibrium within a cryogenic fluid system. The regulator includes a housing that has an input port and first and second output ports. A housing of the regulator contains a spool body having longitudinally extending expanding fluid channels provided on its outer periphery. The spool body cooperates with spaced flow restriction shoulders on which it is slidably disposed to bias the spool body by means of pressure differences exerted on the ends of the spool body by disturbances in the branches of the system to a position in which more fluid is supplied to one branch while less fluid is supplied to the other branch and the fluid system is brought into equilibrium.

Abstract: A tool for removal of round internally threaded collars from high efficiency aerospace fasteners. The tool includes a central cylindrical pin having a head at one end held against rotation, a non-round extension at the second end and a transverse bore intermediate the ends, containing a ball which is spring biased to project slightly beyond the pin wall. A mandrel assembly surrounds the pin and is rotatable relative thereto. A gripping collet is positioned between the mandrel and pin with collet fingers at one end extending beyond the mandrel and a threaded second end threaded into said mandrel. An axial slot in said collet is adapted to receive said ball when aligned therewith to form a releasable latch mechanism. In operation, the open collet fingers are placed over a threaded collar with said extension in engagement with a corresponding recess in the end of the bolt within the collar. The socket and mandrel are rotated in the collar unthreading direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an orbital space transfer vehicle comprises essentially a composite hollow cylindrical body structure enclosing a spherical oxygen tank suspended and spaced from the inner wall of the cylindrical body structure, a hollow toroidal hydrogen tank suspended from and spaced from said cylindrical body structure, a main thrust rocket engine, and an aerobrake located at the aft end of the vehicle. This arrangement provides a vehicle with a very short length, lowers the required aerobrake size and maximizes vehicle controllability that may otherwise occur due to non-uniform distribution of the propellants during operation of the vehicle. Thus disclosed is a vehicle which can fully benefit from space basing, easily maintained while stationed in orbit, and transportable in a fully assembled state from earth to low earth orbit. Also disclosed is a space station with which the orbital transfer vehicle may cooperate while in space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single control thruster having the expanded capability of operating at various thrust levels and more than one propellant fluid so that the number of control thrusters for a maneuvering vehicle can be reduced to one third from that now required for appropriate maneuverability in space, resulting in large cost savings and improved reliability. Also disclosed is a "plug in" package with control thruster which can be removed from the vehicle and replaced to make the vehicle easily maintainable.

Abstract: A cover for openings in a partially assembled missile or aircraft structure to prevent entry of chips, oil or other debris during further machining or other manufacturing operations. The cover has a central elastically compressible plug section adapted to fit snugly in an opening and an outwardly extending flange around one end of the plug. When the plug portion is inserted into the opening, the flange covers a ring of bolt holes surrounding the opening. The plug is formed from an elastic closed cell foam material and preferably has a cross-section slightly larger than the opening so as to be compressed slightly when inserted in the opening. The cover is coated with an elastomeric polyurethane coating to prevent flaking of the foam plug when inserted and removed from the opening and to prevent adhesion of contaminates to the cover. Because of the compressibility of the plug, each cover can be used with similarly configured openings of slightly varying sizes.

Abstract: A self contained failure tolerant linear drive mechanism that is especially adapted for celestial space applications. First and second motors are concentrically connected to a shaft for axial movement through rotation of either or both of the motors. A locking mechanism having failure tolerant releasing means cooperates with each motor to provide for selective actuation of either motor and predetermined axial movement of the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming a cold weld joint between parts comprising a sleeve (or coupling) to receive the ends of conductors (or pipes). The sleeve is provided with weld pads which when the sleeve cools will engage one of the conductors and be cold welded thereto by the forces of shrink fit. Serrations are provided for axial strength of the joint and to limit the plastic flow of the material of the pads. A second conductor is loosely telescoped in the sleeve by bellows for compensating for any misalignment when the parts are initially brought together. Later the bellows is provided with a backing material to rigidly connect the second conductor to the sleeve.

Abstract: A deployable truss structure particularly adapted to space applications which has high structural efficiency, packages in a volume efficient manner and can be remotely deployed in a controlled, sequential manner. The truss in its deployed configuration exhibits a "diamond" cross section. Each of the four sides of the structure is essentially a "Warren" truss. Diagonals on the opposite sides of each diamond incorporate a mid-span hinge and the other two diagonals are rigid tubes. When packaged, all elements of the truss are folded so that they are parallel to one another and contained between two guide rails. The guide rails are located on either side of the diamond truss. The horizontal strut connection points or nodes are fitted with rollers that are locked in the guide rails for movement therealong. At the start of deployment the upright truss members are lifted to the vertical position, forming the basic diamond shape of the truss.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle having a high degree of survivability against a nearby nuclear blast. The vehicle includes a chasis on which wheels or the like are mounted for movement along the earth's surface and a protective shell covering the vehicle. A skirt extends downwardly from the shell to a substantially uniform distance above the earth's surface during normal conditions. In the event of a nearby nuclear detonation, sensors on the top of the shell detect the initial flash and initiate braking, retraction of the wheels, and closure of any vents. The vehicle comes to rest on the skirts, which may include seals in contact with the earth. Blast overpressure and winds cannot leak underneath the vehicle. Overpressure on top then forces the vehicle tightly against the earth, preventing it from being overturned or blown away by the blast winds. Thereafter, the vehicle can return to its normal function, e.g. erect and launch a missile contained therein, extend the wheels and resume movement, etc.

Abstract: An indexing and locating component to be used with a fixture for precision machining of parts. The component includes a receiver bushing press fitted into a fixture and a locating pin which is adjustable rotationally as well as vertically. A lock nut locks the pin in a predetermined position and permits removal and replacement of the pin with another pin having another configuration. Locating pins of various configurations are shown.

Abstract: A nosepiece for a drill motor. The nosepiece is adjustable to allow the nosepiece length to be changed rapidly to compensate for different drill lengths. The nosepiece is threaded to mate with threads on the drill motor housing and can be adjusted longitudinally along the motor center line axis. When the nosepiece is threaded along the housing to a desired location it is locked in place by a locking ring keyed to the nosepiece and fixed in position on the drill motor housing by a hand adjustable set screw.

Abstract: A feed rate attachment for a drilling tool or the like. The drilling tool is equipped with a piston attached thereto operating within a cylinder positioned against the work-piece. A hydraulic damper is utilized to linearly resist the movement of the drilling tool attached piston relative to the cylinder.

Abstract: A deployment system for a deployable truss structure particularly adapted to space applications which has high structural efficiency and can be remotely operated in a controlled, sequential manner. The truss in its deployed configuration exhibits a "diamond" cross section. Each of the four sides of the structure is essentially a "Warren" truss. Diagonals on the opposite sides of each diamond incorporate a mid-span hinge and the other two diagonals are rigid tubes. When packaged, all elements of the truss are folded so that they are parallel to one another and contained between two guide rails. The guide rails are located on either side of the diamond truss. The horizontal strut connection points or nodes are fitted with rollers that are locked in the guide rails for movement therealong. The deployment initially lifts upright truss members to the vertical position, forming the basic diamond shape of the truss.

Abstract: A time shared transceiver laser system which may be rapidly switched between two subsystems while using the full power of the laser beam and which also generates a local oscillator beam required for coherent detection. A method of time sharing and for generating the local oscillator is disclosed.

Abstract: A removable and replaceable locating pin adapted to locate a workpiece on a tooling fixture for machining thereof. The locating pin includes a locator pin having various illustrated configurations is adapted to cooperate with a workpiece for positioning the workpiece in various directions of restraint. The locating pin is provided with manually actuatable locking means that permits easy adjustment or removal of the specific locator pin as a particular machining operation may require. Flexibility of the set up of the tooling for machining of a workpiece is enhanced.

Abstract: A superconducting coil having an elongated longitudinally extending first hollow metallic housing and adapted to provide a cooling passage of liquid helium therein. At least one superconducting metallic conductor is disposed within the housing which is surrounded with an electrical and thermal insulating material. An elongated second metallic housing surrounds the inner insulated structure and is adapted to be mechanically connected to similar structure when arranged into a coil structure having a predetermined configuration. A method of manufacture is also disclosed as well as how the novel integrated coil and case structure is advantageously employed in an improved fusion reactor structure and Magneto Hydrodynamic Magnet Structure.

Abstract: A solid fuel rocket in which the rocket casing acts as a warhead. Solid propellant rocket motors require relatively heavy cases to contain the 1000-2000 psi combustion pressure needed for efficient performance. This casing can be used as a fragmentation warhead by forming longitudinal grooves in the elongated rocket casing, causing the casing to fracture along the grooves and allowing the pressure within the casing to disperse the fragments. The resulting strip-like fragments are particularly useful against "soft" equipment targets, such as anti-vehicle and anti-radar applications. Several different methods for rupturing the case along spaced, parallel longitudinal lines are disclosed. This system eliminates the need for a separate warhead including case and explosive at the cost of a slight increase in propellant case thickness and weight.

Abstract: A lightweight single layer microstrip membrane antenna for space radar applications which, in an exemplary application, is adapted to be furled on a spool and carried into space by a space shuttle orbiter where it is easily unfurled to form an antenna. The membrane antenna includes gore sections which are connected by metal mesh members that are folded in the furling process to avoid folding of the gore sections. The metal mesh members may also act as primary power busses for suitable transmit/receive antenna modules that are connected to series strings. Current regulators and zener diodes are connected in the strings of antenna modules to provide for continued operation of the antenna in the event of failure of antenna modules.

Abstract: A non-scanning heterodyne optical imaging sensor which utilizes a multi-frequency coherent light source to provide a plurality of points of different frequencies on a single detector on which the image of an object is also projected. Each point acts as a local oscillator which is sensed/filtered to construct the image of the object without mechanical scanning.

Abstract: A non-contact measurement system for determining the contour of an electrically conductive surface relative to a fixed reference point comprising a support arm journaled at one end to a bearing providing a fixed reference point and adapted to extend toward a conductive surface having a contour to be determined and a non-contact probe coupled to the support arm by a precision lead screw driven by a stepper motor which moves the probe either toward or away from the surface and which generates an electrical signal indicative of its axial position from an initial reference position. Control circuitry coupled to the stepper motor is operable to direct the stepper motor to extend the probe toward the surface until it reaches a predetermined distance from the surface.