Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for electroplating surfaces. The apparatus reduces the anode effect on current density, and is therefore particularly suitable for copper or nickel plating of fine-line metal circuitry. Current density regulation is achieved by separating the anode and cathode into separate cells and achieving electrolyte communication between the cells by providing a relatively high-impedance ion path. The preferred embodiment includes a siphon tube as an ion path and a pump and filter in a separate path to maintain electrolyte circulation between the cells.

Abstract: A fastener for connecting structures having significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) which substantially eliminates thermal stress with varying ambient temperatures, while allowing said structures to be either abutting or spaced from each other. A frusto-conical bore through a wall of a first structure receives a frusto-conical surface of an elongated fastener which is coincident with said bore. The fastener has a base secured to a second structure. A shoulder is formed on the first structure around the narrow end of the bore, the shoulder having a frusto-conical outer edge. A flange member is secured to the vertex end of said fastener, the flange member having a surface configured to engage the outer edge in a coincident relationship. The fastener is tightened to bring both pairs of coincident conical surfaces into pressure contact. Both parts of conic surface preferably have a common vertex which lies outside the fastener.

Abstract: An energy dissipating receptacle is shown which includes a body having an internal cavity and an aperture for receiving a high velocity stream of fluid. A stream dissipator is located within the internal cavity in alignment with the high velocity stream to dissipate the energy associated with this stream at an area of contact. A motor is provided for rotating the stream dissipator contact surface to increase the area of contact with the high velocity stream and increase the useful life of the stream dissipator.

Abstract: An interconnection assembly for connecting a unit under test to a testing unit including a plurality of spaced parallel circuit cards, the interconnection row assembly comprising of connector terminals adjacent the outer edges of each circuit card, an interface test adapter unit containing signal relaying circuitry for relaying the appropriate signals back and forth between the test unit and the unit under test, the interface unit having connectors for connection to the unit under test, and an outer face carrying connector terminals for connection to respective connector terminals on the circuit cards. A coupling mechanism releasably couples the units together with the outer face of the adapter unit facing the outer edges of the circuit cards.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a model support system for wind tunnel testing. The two embodiments of the model support use a conventual 2-shell strain gauge balance in conjunction with aerodynamically shaped support vanes with one attached to each end of the inner rod (non-metric) of balance with one half below and the other half above the balance.

Abstract: A miniaturized vacuum generator is powered by pressurized air, such as is commonly available in shop air lines. The generator includes a transducer coupled to the pressurized air line and utilizing the venturi principle to develope a vacuum at a vacuum port to which a vacuum hose may be coupled. This may be used in cleaning circuit boards and small electronic assemblies to pick off bits of solder, filings and other debris and contaiminants which more conventional vacuum cleaners do not effectively remove. The apparatus includes an in-line filter for collecting such debris and contaiminants and preventing them from being blown about by the exhaust. The apparatus may also be used as a pickup device for microchips and other miniature complements on an electronic assembly at a production line. Other uses of the device may be in the jewelry repair field where the debris to be picked up often contains dust and filings of precious metal and, occasionally, lost gemstones.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting deflection of the spin axis of a gimbal supported spinning mass relative to the gimbal axis comprises four equally spaced linear arrays of detector elements mounted around the gimbal axis and extending parallel to that axis. Four light sources are provided, each one in alignment with a respective one of the arrays, and a reflective surface is provided on the spinning mass for reflecting light onto the respective detector arrays. Deflection of the spin axis will be registered by displacement of a reflected light spot in one or more of the arrays.

Abstract: Composite ceramic armor (10) and a method for making the armor are disclosed as incorporating a plurality of plate-shaped ceramic tiles (12) and cloth (18) wrapped around each tile over each surface (14) and side (16) thereof with a synthetic resin matrix (20) permeating the cloth to encapsulate the tiles such that the resin matrix defines oppositely facing surfaces (22) and a plurality of sides (24) from which the ceramic tiles are spaced by the cloth. The tiles (12) are preferably rectangular and the cloth (18) preferably includes a pair of strips (26,28) wrapped around each tile in perpendicular directions to each other. Woven cloth is preferably utilized and is most preferably made from glass fibers or polyamide plastic fibers such as Kevlar.

Abstract: A fiber optic power coupling device such as a power summer, power divider or star coupler comprises a segment of multimode optical fiber having an input mirror at one end and an output mirror at the opposite end. One or more inputs at the input end of the fiber segment direct an equivalent number of input, intensity modulated light signals into the fiber and one or more outputs at the output end direct a corresponding number of output signals out of the fiber. Where there is one input and a plurality of outputs, the device acts as a power divider. Where there are a plurality of inputs and one output, the device acts as a power summer. Where there are a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, the device acts as a star coupler.

Abstract: A condensing apparatus is provided which can be used in gas chromatography measurements to determine N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) content in polyimide prepreg. The condenser comprises a straight vertical section of thin-walled copper tubing followed by an ascending helical coil surrounding the straight section. The condenser is equipped with valves at the inlet and outlet which are capable of withstanding the combination of high and low temperatures as well as being resistant to damage by aggressive solvents. Liquid condensate accumulates at the bottom of the coil, making decanting easy. The condenser apparatus of the present invention yields very high collection efficiencies for volatile mixtures with a very wide range of boiling points. The condenser is very compact and lightweight and does not require any packing insulation to achieve the high collection efficiencies. Maintenance and cleaning are greatly simplified by the absence of packing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for winding a tape smoothly onto an irregularly shaped mandrel or the like, including ends, characterized by tape storage and unreeling of packaged reels of tape to be wound smoothly onto the mandrel, mandrel rotational motor and gearing supporting and rotating the mandrel; delivery head roller for winding the tape onto the mandrel, a creel carrying the tape reel assembly, a creel rotating means adapted to rotate the creel to desired positions, an in-feed means carrying the creel and adapted to traverse normal to the mandrel, a traversing carriage carrying the in-feed means and adapted to traverse longitudinally of the mandrel; a controller for effecting movement of all the machines elements. The roller is freely rotatable and is pivotally mounted such that when moved longitudinally of the mandrel in both directions with the tape passing over it, the tape is wound smoothly onto the mandrel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for creating a strong point for the attachment of carbon composites to metallic bodies that is suitable at high temperatures (1600.degree. F.) as well as ambient temperatures. A pocket of suitable dimensions and depth is molded into the carbon composite structure on both sides at an edge, with the edge relieved and rounded. A hole for a fastening member is molded or drilled in the approximate center of the pocket. After preparation of the surface the pocket, through hole, and relieved edge are nickel-plated to produce a rigid strong point. A doubler can be brazed to the nickel plate to strengthen the bond. The disclosed method can be used for attaching any type of electrically conductive composite material to a metallic structure.

Abstract: An inference machine is described which comprises an adaptive polynomial network with the capability of implicitly inferring missing input information contained in time-dependent signals. The proposed network has wide applicability and is characterized by its ability to produce outputs within specified degrees of accuracy when, for example, only four out of ten input signals are available to the network. Specific applications include terminal guidance of a tactical missile when critical signals may be denied. A generic implementation is schematically illustrated.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser for emitting light transverse to the direction of current injection. The laser is fabricated from a substrate having planar top and bottom surfaces and an aperture formed therebetween. An optical cavity, formed upon the substrate top surface and aligned with the aperture, has co-planar top and bottom surfaces with dielectric mirrors formed thereupon. Contacts are formed adjacent the optical cavity for conducting current through the optical cavity in a direction substantially parallel to the optical cavity top and bottom surfaces. Current confinement layers are disposed in intimate contact with the optical cavity for confining current flowing in the optical cavity along a predetermined path extending between the contacts.

Abstract: A multiple pole optical bandpass filter comprises at least two input filter elements each having an input at one end and an output at the opposite end, and an output filter element having at least two inputs at one end coupled to the respective outputs of the input filter elements, and an output at the opposite end. Each of the filter elements comprises a segment of multimode optical fiber of predetermined length having mirrors at its opposite input and output ends. An intensity modulated light signal is provided at one of the input filter element inputs, while the same signal shifted by 180 degrees is provided at the other input filter element input.

Abstract: A method for making a metalized dichroic parabolic lens reflector for multi-frequency antenna system applications. The reflector is prepared by depositing an etchable conductive metallic layer upon a parabolic work surface of a male mandrel. The metallic layer is adhered to a parabolic support surface of a substrate formed of a low dielectric constant material. The mandrel is separated from the metallic with the metallic layer remaining bonded to the support surface. Photoresist imaging and chemical etching techniques are used to form a dipole grid pattern in the metallic layer.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a high-gain antenna while allowing for the inclusion of devices within the antenna array. In one embodiment of the invention an array of receiver/transmitter elements is positioned in a pan-like reflector base. The elements are positioned one-quarter of a wavelength from the surface of the base. The wavelength is the wavelength of the chosen frequency of transmission or reception of the antenna. A partially reflective plate is positioned one-half wavelength from the base and thus one quarter wavelength from the elements. Reflective disks are also positioned one-half wavelength above the base and are positioned directly above the elements. The disks create a resonant cavity around the elements for waves of the chosen frequency arriving from near normal to the plane of the base or being emanated from the elements at a normal or near-normal angle. The partially reflective plate extends this resonant area spatially from the element.

Abstract: An aerobrake for an orbital transfer vehicle that permits recovery of the vehicle for refurbishment and reuse after a payload has been deployed in a desired geo-synchronous earth orbit by slowing the vehicle for reentry of the vehicle to a low earth orbit for return to earth by a shuttle vehicle on the like for recovery and reuse. The aerobrake includes a flexible thermal blanket that is folded inwardly against the vehicle in a predetermined stored manner and which, after the payload is deployed, is driven to an extended position by power hinges that drive a plurality of supporting panel members that cooperate with drag links to provide a lightweight strong supporting structure for the thermal blanket.

Abstract: A control system for an anti-G suit for aircraft pilots anticipates G-forces before they are incurred. The system has an available load circuit which receives the actual airspeed signal and computes an available load factor. The system is connected to the command stick of the pilot. The signal from the command stick is multiplied by the available load factor to provide an anticipated G-force. A selector monitors the actual acceleration with the anticipated signal and passes the higher of the two to a valve. The valve controls air pressure leading to the anti-G suit.

Abstract: A carbon composite tensile test specimen for high temperature testing and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. A plurality of holes are drilled in first and second end sections of the specimen and then the end sections are electroplated with nickel. The nickel plating of the end sections prevents breakage of the ends in the jaws of a tensile testing apparatus. For high-temperature testing, a standard-sized specimen may be used with the jaws in the hot zone.