Abstract: An inflation-controlled parachute comprises an extended flexible structure (10) for providing an aerodynamic drag-producing surface, and an inflation-control line (20) for controlling the rate at which the flexible structure (10) unfolds from a stowed configuration to an inflated configuration. One end of the inflation-control line (20) is secured to the flexible structure (10), and the remainder of the inflation-control line (20) is threaded through positioning rings (22) attached to the flexible structure (10) so that one segment of the inflation-control line (20) overlies another segment thereof in frictional engagement therewith. Frictional engagement of the two segments of the inflation-control line (20) occurs as the flexible structure (10) inflates, thereby controlling the rate of inflation of the flexible structure (10).

Abstract: A lateral transfer system for an optical beam comprises bipentaprisms (10) and (11) secured to opposite ends of an elongate transfer structure (12). The bipentaprism (10) comprises optical elements (20) and (21) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty pentaprism, and optical elements (22) and (23) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty roof-pentaprism. Similarly, the bipentaprism (11) comprises optical elements (30) and (31) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty pentaprism, and optical elements (32) and (33) positioned with respect to each other to form an empty roof-pentaprism. The optical elements (22) and (32) are beam splitters, while the other optical elements are reflectors. The bipentaprisms (10) and (11) are positioned with respect to each other so that an input beam impinging upon reflecting element (20) of the bipentaprism (10) is reflected to the beam splitter (22), where the input beam is split into a transmitted component and a reflected component.

Abstract: Apparatus is shown for substantially increasing the feed rate of pulverized material into a pressurized container. The apparatus includes a rotor that is mounted internal to the pressurized container. The pulverized material is fed into an annular chamber defined by the center of the rotor. A plurality of impellers are mounted within the annular chamber for imparting torque to the pulverized material.

Abstract: Apparatus is shown for feeding a slurry to a pressurized housing. An impeller that includes radial passages is mounted in the loose fitting housing. The impeller hub is connected to a drive means and a slurry supply means which extends through the housing. Pressured gas is fed into the housing for substantially enveloping the impeller in a bubble of gas.

Abstract: A device for pressurizing pulverized coal and circulating a carrier gas is disclosed. This device has utility in a coal gasification process and eliminates the need for a separate collection hopper and eliminates the separate compressor.

Abstract: In an automated real-time radiographic inspection system for detecting flaws, defects or inhomogeneities in manufactured objects, the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to be tested are moved on a conveyor (20) in succession past an X-ray source (30). Penetrating X-ray radiation is transmitted through the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to cause an image to be formed for each object in succession by an electronic imaging system (40). The imaging system (40) generates digital signals representative of the image for each object, and transmits the digital signals to a data processor/comparator (50). One of the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) may be considered as a reference object against which the other objects are compared for structural homogeneity. Thus, the electronic images of the objects (11, 12, . . . ) could be compared with the electronic image of, for example, the object (10).

Abstract: Wavefronts defined by square subapertures (13, 14, 15) are focussed into spots of light on a grating (17) having two intersecting sets of lines, which diffract each wavefront into two coinciding zeroth order components and four spaced-apart first order components. For each wavefront, the various orders of diffraction components are collimated to form corresponding images of the subaperture defining the wavefront. Quadrant detectors (23, 24, 25) are located so that zeroth order image (301) of subaperture (13) fills all quadrants of detector (23), zeroth order image (401) of subaperture (14) fills all quadrants of detector (24), and zeroth order image (501) of subaperture (15) fills all quadrants of detector (25). The four first order images of each subaperture are spaced apart from each other, but overlap and interfere with four different portions of the zeroth order image: i.e.

Abstract: A filter element for a narrow-passband optical filter comprises a birefringent crystal (10) having a rectangular parallelopiped configuration with an entrance face (11), an exit face (12) and side walls (21, 22, 23, 24). The optic axis (25) of the crystal (10) is parallel to the entrance and exit faces (11 and 12). The side walls (21, 22, 23, 24) are polished to provide total internal reflection of optical energy incident thereon at greater than a critical angle as measured from the normal. By covering the side walls (21, 22, 23, 24) with a coating whose index of refraction is given by the algorithm n=(N.sup.2 =sin.sup.2 .theta.).sup.1/2, where n is the index of refraction of the coating, N is the lower index of refraction of the crystal (10), and .theta. is a half-angle defining the maximum field of view in air for the filter element, the critical angle for total internal reflection is made substantially equal to the half-angle defining the maximum field of view.

Abstract: A sensor formed on the surface of a body of piezoelectric material. Two input transducers disposed on the surface in parallel spaced apart relation produce surface acoustic waves in the body in response to the application of signals to the input transducers. A row of output transducers is disposed on the surface between the input transducers. Individual output transducers are offset from one another by amounts related to the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave so that at or near only one of the output transducers will the two surface acoustic waves from the input transducers cancel each other. An analog circuit and a digital circuit for ascertaining which output transducer experiences maximum cancellation to afford a determination of the delay difference between the two signals applied to the input transducers.

Abstract: An ocean mining system for mining manganese nodules comprises a surface subsystem and an ocean bottom subsystem.The ocean bottom subsystem includes a mobile, maneuverable, self-propelled, miner vehicle which picks up, handles, washes and crushes nodules while retaining nodule fines.The underwater subsystem also includes a buffer which functions to provide temporary storage for nodule material picked up and crushed by the miner vehicle. The buffer further serves to isolate the miner vehicle from the dynamics of a pipe string extending down from a surface ship. All equipment not needed for operation of the miner vehicle is located on the buffer to distribute the weight between the buffer and the miner vehicle in a way that provides maximum mobility of the miner vehicle.The underwater subsystem also includes a flexible linkage extending between the miner vehicle and the buffer. A flotation block holds the flexible linkage up and out of the way of the miner vehicle during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely and economically converting sodium sludge and other dangerous wastes containing metallic sodium, lithium and potassium into products of economic value. The process reacts solid or molten wastes with an aqueous solution to yield products of the metal hydroxides, hydrogen gas and waste heat while consuming only water. Both scrap sodium and sodium sludge are acceptable feedstocks for this unique float/spray process.