Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a beam of radiation, such as a collimated laser beam, and determining the angle-of-arrival of that beam with a high angular resolution, the apparatus comprising a linear array of radiation detectors arranged in a plane and a digital Gray code shadow mask, located at a predetermined height above and parallel to the plane. The Gray code shadow mask is provided with parallel rows containing slot(s) with each of those rows being centrally positioned directly above one of the radiation detectors and arranged so that the rows are perpendicular to the linear array. The slot(s) in each row are located at predetermined distances from the center of a row with those distances differing for each row. A well collimated radiation beam, such as from a laser, directed towards the shadow mask will project images of the slots onto the plane with the positions of the images being dependent on both the positions of the slots and the angle-of-arrival of the beam.

Abstract: Enzymes and certain other bioactive substances are immobilized on solid substrates which have sufficient functional groups such as hydroxyl or carboxyl. The bioactive substances are linked to the substrates through spacer compounds having a long open alkyl chain with 7-18 carbon atoms and also through phospholipid intermediates. The spacer compound is chemically linked to the substrate. The phospholipid is covalently linked to the spacer compound. Immobilized bioactive substances of the invention exhibit a marked increase in activity and stability. In a preferred embodiment, immobilized enzymes having a high degree of resistance to thermal inactivation are prepared.

Abstract: A method for reducing cavitation around underwater acoustic projectors is described. The projector is cleaned with a surfactant and then encapsulated with an aqueous gel containing a polysaccharide polymer such as a chitosan derivative, a hydrophilic stabilizer and a biocide.

Abstract: The present specification describes a process by which a blood substitute (hereinafter referred to as "HemoSafe") is derived from uniformly stabilized monomers and polymers of deoxyhemoglobin in its tight (T) conformation, with oxygen affinity similar to that of human blood. Two classes of HemoSafe are derived respectively from anima-hemoglobin and human-hemoglobin. HemoSafe (animal) differs from HemoSafe (human) in that it is free of polymers in order to reduce potential immunogenicity if used in man. Both types of HemoSafe may be derived in the following manner. The stabilized deoxyhemoglobins are converted to their carbonmonoxy derivatives (CO-HemoSafe) which are then stable under pasteurization conditions to render them viral disease transmission-free. CO-HemoSafes are stable for 2 months at 56.degree. C. in either the solution or the freeze-dried state. For transfusion CO-HemoSafes are easily oxygenated under sterile conditions by photoconversion yielding oxy-HemoSafe.

Abstract: A relatively low drag, completely free-flying, tubular vehicle comprises a body that defines a leading edge and a trailing edge and includes an external surface and an internal surface each extending from the leading to the trailing edge. The internal surface has an axially converging upstream section extending from the leading edge to a discontinuity that constitutes a throat in the vehicle. The internal surface also has an axially diverging downstream section extending from the throat to the trailing edge. The internal surface is configured to enable introduction and mixing of fuel into an airstream flowing therethrough, and to generate a shock wave when in flight. The shock wave is of such magnitude and direction as to create a hot spot that subsequently causes ignition and combustion of the fuel-air mixture. The combustion causes formation of a detonation bubble and migration of the associated wave front upstream to stabilize slightly downstream of the throat.

Abstract: A device to detect the presence of particles, principally metallic particles, in fluid lines. The fluid to be sampled flows through a sensor coil which is flanked upstream and downstream by two field coils. The field coils are driven by a high frequency signal derived from a crystal oscillator and the upstream and downstream sections are wound in opposite directions such that the magnetic field from each section is cancelled out in the plane of the sense coil. When a ferromagnetic or conductive particle passes through the winding structure, the coupling in the sense coil is disturbed as the particle first interacts with the field in the upstream section of the field coil and later with the field in the downstream section of the field coil as it passes through the Sensor Coil Assembly (SCA). A characteristic signature is generated in the sense coil which results from the vector summation of these transient imbalance signals with the steady-state signal from the opposed field coils.

Abstract: Imaging devices often obtain images of a scene in which portions of the scene are obscured by particles that are interposed between the scene and the camera such as those images obtained when looking through falling snow or through particles stirred up by water currents in an underwater domain. An improved system for reducing the effects of those particles on reconstructed images of a scene consists of obtaining a number of images of a scene and replacing missing elements of the scene, which elements are ones obscured by the particles, with corresponding elements of the scene obtained from previous or following images in which those particular elements of the scene are visible. In this manner, a reconstructed image of the scene can be obtained in which the effects of the particles on the image is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A Circular Polarization Selective Surface (CPSS) for circular polarized electromagnetic waves is formed from a number of resonating elements arranged in a plane. This type of surface may be used in a wide range of reflector antennas. Each resonating element is formed from a number of electrically conductive segments connected end-to-end one to the other with each segment having a predetermined length and having a total approximate length of 1.lambda.. A central segment having a length about 1/4.lambda. determines the resonant frequency for the element. This central segment extends parallel to the z-axis of a right-hand set of three mutually perpendicular axes x, y and z wherein the circular polarized electromagnetic wave is directed along the z-axis. A second segment is connected to one end of the central segment and extends parallel to the x-axis with a third segment being connected to the other end of the central segment extending parallel to the y-axis.

Abstract: Glycidyl azide polymers, which are used as binders in composite explosive and propellant compositions, include hydroxyl groups which react with the isocyanate curing agent normally used in such compositions. Since the functionality of available linear glycidyl azide polymers is less than two, triols and/or triisocyanates are needed to crosslink the chains to form a matrix. A glycidyl azide polymer with increased functionality (higher than two) and reactivity obviates the need for triols and triisocyanates in the compositions. Moreover, a glycidyl azide polymer with primary hydroxyl groups would give faster curing reactions at lower temperatures without gassing problems, eliminating the need for a catalyst. Examples of glycidyl azide polymer having increased functionality have one of the formulae: ##STR1## wherein R is ##STR2## wherein m and n are different from zero, and m+n is 4 to 60.

Abstract: Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films and co-polymers thereof possess the highest values of piezoelectric and pyroelectric constants of any known polymer. These films, up to present, have been first subjected to stretching and then to a high electric field (or corona charge) at an elevated temperature to provide a maximum piezoelectric constants (d.sub.31) of about 30-35 pC/N and a maximum pyroelectric constants (p) of about 3.5 nC/cm.sup.2 K. It has now been found that the piezoelectric constant d.sub.31 and pyroelectric constant p of these films can be increased up to about 60 pC/N and 6 nC/cm.sup.2 K respectively when they are subjected to simultaneously stretching and corona poling with a poling field E.sub.p =0.55MV/cm, a stretching ratio S.R.=4.5X and a poling temperature T.sub.p =80.degree. C.

Abstract: A load-following vaporizer converts an inlet liquid reactant stream to an outlet vapor reactant stream. The vaporizer comprises a containment shell, a nozzle and a fin block. The fin block has a base in thermal contact a heat source, preferably a thermal fluid stream. The base has a plurality of evaporative heat transfer structures that are spaced from and generally radiate from the nozzle outlet. Each of the evaporative heat transfer structures has two principal surfaces oriented such that the extension of each of the surfaces intersects the nozzle outlet. Upon contacting the evaporative heat transfer structures, the atomized liquid reactant dispersion is vaporized to produce a vaporized reactant stream. The vaporizer rapidly responds to changes in the inlet liquid reactant flow rate to produce a corresponding change in the output vapor flow rate by minimizes the liquid inventory within the heated environment.

Abstract: A control circuit for a cable tester having a computer interface and a cable adaptor. The latter comprises a current source having inputs from the computer interface and outputs to a first group of solid state switches having inputs from the current source and the computer interface and having outputs to an input of the cable adapter; a second group of solid state switches having inputs from the first group of solid state switches and the computer interface and having outputs to a first amplifier; and a third group of solid state switches having inputs from a fourth group of solid state switches and the computer interface and having outputs to the first amplifier. The fourth group of switches has inputs from an output of the cable adapter and the computer interface and has an output to ground, and the first amplifier has an output to the computer interface.

Abstract: Novel energetic azido thermoplastic elastomers (ATPE's) are described. Such materials are useful as binders in energetic formulations to replace conventional inert thermosetting prepolymers. The ATPE's are easily formulated either by blending or chemically bonding an energetic azido elastomeric component and a thermoplastic component. The elastomeric component is a branched chain hydroxy-terminated azido polymer or copolymer. The thermoplastic component is a commercial polyether or polyethylene oxide.

Abstract: A protective fabric suitable for use in hazardous environments such as those in which nuclear, chemical and biological warfare agents or similar hazardous elements exist. In general, the protective fabric comprises a plurality of layers of air- and water-vapor-permeable, thin, stretchable fabric materials, each being treated to provide separate or combined protective functions. The protective fabric may be fashioned into articles of protective apparel suitable for applications where close-fitting and conforming garments are required and where heat-stress and bulk of material is of concern.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to novel branched chain hydroxy-terminated aliphatic polyether copolymers containing glycidyl azide and an additional substituent selected from the group consisting of alkylene oxide, styrene azide oxide and glycidyl units, and a single step method for the manufacture thereof which involves reacting a solid rubbery material selected from epichlorohydrin/alkylene oxide copolymer (PEEC) and polyepichlorohydrin homopolymer (PECH) with various epoxide monomers. The novel polyether copolymers are useful as energetic binders in explosive and solid rocket propellant compositions.

Abstract: A compact modular isothermal reactor for converting a feedstock such as methanol into a fuel usable in power generation systems, such as electrochemical fuel cells, is provided. The reactor includes a sealing plate, a baffle plate having heat transfer surfaces extending toward the sealing plate, and a housing having an interior substantially circumscribing the heat transfer surfaces The cooperating surfaces of the sealing plate, baffle plate, heat transfer surfaces and housing interior define a labyrinthine channel for containing a suitable quantity of solid catalyst and through which feedstock flows. The cooperating surfaces of a fluid flow plate and the baffle plate define a flow passage for carrying a thermal fluid. Heat is transferred from the thermal fluid to the feedstock by the heat transfer surfaces. In two alternative designs, thermally conductive pins extending from the baffle plate or a pair of spaced folded thermally conductive plates transfer heat to the interior of a catalyst containment vessel.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to novel branched chain hydroxy-terminated aliphatic azido polymers and copolymers with variable molecular weight (MW) and a single step method for the preparation thereof which involves respectively reacting a high (MW) 0.5-5.0.times.10.sup.6) solid rubbery polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) homopolymer and epichlorohydrin/alkylene oxide copolymer (PEEC), with an alkali metal azide in a suitable organic solvent, in the presence of an initiator at elevated temperature. The MW of the azido product may be controlled by including in the reaction mixture a basic degradation catalyst (such as LiOCH.sub.3 or NaOH) and varying the amount of catalyst. When the reaction is catalyzed, the MW of the product varies within the range 1,000-40,000 and the hydroxyl functionality is 2-10. Uncatalyzed reactions yield products with MW between 40,000 and 200,000 and a functionality of about 10.

Abstract: The present specification describes a process by which a blood substitute (hereinafter referred to as "HemoSafe") is derived from uniformly stabilized monomers and polymers of deoxyhemoglobin in its tight (T) conformation, with oxygen affinity similar to that of human blood. Two classes of HemoSafe are derived respectively from animal-hemoglobin and human-hemoglobin. HemoSafe (animal) differs from HemoSafe (human) in that it is free of polymers in order to reduce potential immunogenicity if used in man. Both types of HemoSafe may be derived in the following manner. The stabilized deoxyhemoglobins are converted to their carbonmonoxy derivatives (CO-HemoSafe) which are then stable under pasteurization conditions to render them viral disease transmission-free. CO-HemoSafes are stable for 2 months at 56.degree. C. in either the solution or the freeze-dried state. For transfusion CO-HemoSafes are easily oxygenated under sterile conditions by photoconversion yielding oxy-HemoSafe.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image generator for superimposing a stereographic pointer video signal onto a composite standard video signal, the genrator comprises a computer for generating the stereographic pointer video signal in response to an input signal representive of the three dimensional coordinates of a point in a three dimensional video image, a video synchronizing circuit for receiving the composite standard video signal and delivering a synchronization signal to the computer, and a video keying circuit for receiving the composite standard video signal and the stereographic pointer video signal and superimposing the stereographic pointer video signal onto the composite standard video signal to produce a single combined video signal, the single combined video signal allowing the stereographic pointer video signal and the composite standard video signal to be viewed together simultaneously on the same video screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to the chemical initiation of detonation of a fuel-in-air (FAE) cloud such as might be used in a minefield breaching system. A component of the system is adapted to carry fuel to the breaching site and is also adapted to carry a compatible chemical, either gaseous or liquid. Upon detonation of a suitable explosive within the component the fuel is dispersed outwardly to form the cloud and the chemical is jetted outwardly into the cloud in a turbulent manner. A chemical reaction between the chemical initiator and the fuel-air mixture leads almost instantaneously to an explosive shock wave that propagates through the cloud causing detonation thereof. Such detonation neutralizes the minefield along a desired path. With the invention it is not necessary to utilize secondary charges and hence a more efficient and reliable breaching system is achieved.