Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes a frame defining a volumetric body with substantially flat upper and lower sides, heat exchange elements disposed within an interior of the body, sorbent material disposed among the heat exchange elements within the interior of the body, retainer screens disposed at upper and lower sides of the heat exchange elements and sorbent material and structural foam layers supportively disposed between the retainer screens and the substantially flat upper and lower sides to absorb loading applied to the retainer screens.

Abstract: A dual-spectroscopy detection apparatus includes a mass spectrometer, a sample collection system connected to the mass spectrometer and a Raman spectrometer that is operatively coupled with the sample collection system.

Abstract: A passive phase separator separates and traps gases that may be present in a liquid flowing through a system. The phase separator includes an inlet in fluid communication with a first separator chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with a second separator chamber that is disposed annularly about the first separator chamber. Gas introduced into the first separator chamber is pushed downstream through the first separator chamber to a gas storage chamber. Once gas is trapped within the gas storage chamber it remains there for the entire operational life of the phase separator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes a frame defining a volumetric body with substantially flat upper and lower sides that each has inwardly extending ribs defining airflow pathways, heat exchange elements disposed within an interior of the body and partition walls disposed to run perpendicularly with respect to the ribs and to transmit loading between the upper and the lower sides from the ribs and through the interior of the body.

Abstract: An antimicrobial coating slurry includes about 15.5 wt % of a wetting agent, about 6.0 wt % of an insolubilizer, about 1.1 wt % of a biocide agent, and about 7.8 wt % of an inorganic material that includes lithium oxide and the balance water. The slurry is applied to a heat exchanger surface, cured, and washed to form a hydrophilic coating that includes lithium silicate. The hydrophilic coating provides improved moisture wicking and a reduced dissolution rate of biocide, which is held within a lithium silicate matrix.

Abstract: A method for controlling microbial growth in potable water stored in a vessel having a metallic surface includes heating the metallic surface to a temperature between about 480° C. (900° F.) and about 870° C. (1600° F.), exposing the metallic surface to oxygen during heating to oxidize potential reduction sites on the metallic surface and charging potable water containing silver ions to the vessel. A vessel having a metallic surface is prepared for long-term storage of potable water containing silver ions by heating the metallic surface to a temperature between about 480° C. (900° F.) and about 870° C. (1600° F.) and exposing the metallic surface to oxygen during heating to oxidize electropositive metals on the metallic surface or by treating the metallic surface with an aqueous solution containing on oxidizing agent to oxidize potential reduction sites on the metallic surface.

Abstract: A directionally-controlled roll-out elastically deployable solar array structure is disclosed. The structure includes one or more longitudinal elastic roll out booms that may be closed section or open section to allow for efficient rolled packaging onto a lateral mandrel. A flexible photovoltaic blanket is attached to a tip structure and to a lateral base support structure, but remains uncoupled from the longitudinal booms. The solar array system may be stowed simultaneously into a rolled package comprised of the roll out booms and the flexible planar blanket together, or onto independent rolls. Alternatively, the system may be stowed by rolling the booms, and accordion Z-folding the hinged flexible photovoltaic blanket into a flat stack. Structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of the roll out booms, and several methods of deployment direction control are provided to ensure a known, controlled, and unidirectional deployment path of the elastically unrolling booms.

Abstract: A broadband satellite having a payload subsystem configured to provide dual frequency conversion and bandwidth aggregation is communicatively coupled (i) to at least one gateway by a feeder link operating at a first frequency band; and (ii) to a plurality of user terminals by user links operating at a second frequency band. The payload subsystem has a first and a second frequency converter a satellite feeder link antenna feed, and a satellite user link antenna feed. The first frequency converter down converts, to a third frequency band, as an aggregated block, signals received at the satellite feeder link antenna feed from the gateway via the feeder link. The third frequency band is substantially lower than both the first and second frequency band. The down converted signals are routed to the second frequency converter for up converting to the second frequency band for transmission over the user link to the user terminals.

Abstract: A method of assembling a metallic-graphite structure includes forming a wetted graphite subassembly by arranging one or more layers of graphite fiber material including a plurality of graphite fibers and applying a layer of metallization material to ends of the plurality of graphite fibers. At least one metallic substrate is secured to the wetted graphite subassembly via the layer of metallization material.

Abstract: A system for sensing voltage in an isolated converter includes an input circuit isolated from an output circuit using a first transformer, the first transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the output circuit includes an output inductor and an output capacitor, and wherein the input circuit includes a power source that provides power to the output circuit through the first transformer; a feedback winding coupled to the output inductor to form a second transformer; and a monitor circuit that calculates a voltage across the output capacitor using a voltage across the feedback winding, a voltage across the primary coil of the first transformer, a turns ratio of the first transformer, and a turns ratio of the second transformer in order to provide feedback to control the input circuit.

Abstract: A rollable and accordion foldable refractive lens concentrator flexible solar array blanket structure assembly for a spacecraft/satellite application consisting of at least one or more rows of electrically interconnected solar cells and at least one or more rows of deployable elongated refractive lenses elevated and aligned from the top surface of the solar cells. The entire blanket assembly, inclusive of lenses and solar cell substrates, kinematically deploys by unrolling or unfolding the assembly for its stowed package configuration, and the final tensioning of the blanket assembly produces an aligned assembly where the solar cell substrate subassembly and the lens subassembly are coplanar. Deployment of the integrated blanket assembly (with refractive lenses) is directly coupled through the unrolling or the accordion unfolding deployment kinematics of the concentrator blanket assembly.

Abstract: A release device having a multi-segment split spool with a central bore adapted to axially restrain a tensioned member. A tensioned tape is overlappingly wound around the spool segments thereby preventing radial movement of the spool segments. The overlapping winding allows for a low profile housing for the-release device. The multiple segments require less radial motion for release of the tensioned member.

Abstract: A suit includes a hard upper torso providing shoulder apertures. A repositionable scye bearing is arranged at a shoulder aperture. An adjustable shoulder device interconnects the scye bearing and the hard upper torso. The adjustable shoulder device is configured to move the scye bearing between first and second shoulder width positions relative to the hard upper torso. A method of donning a suit includes the steps of adjusting a scye bearing relative to a hard upper torso to a desired shoulder width position. The scye bearing can be subsequently repositioned for desired crewmember fit and use while the desired shoulder width position is maintained.

Abstract: A method for restoring a silver oxide-containing hydrophilic coating includes heating the coating to a temperature between about 260° C. and about 540° C. and maintaining the coating at a temperature between about 260° C. and about 540° C. in an environment containing oxygen and ozone for less than 24 hours.

Abstract: A cooling system for a sealed permanent magnet electric machine includes a fan element configured to urge an airflow across a plurality of permanent magnets of a rotor of the electric machine to remove thermal energy therefrom. A plurality of cooling channels are located in a housing of the electric machine and are configured to transfer thermal energy from a stator of the electric machine to a flow of liquid coolant through the plurality of cooling channels. A heat exchanger is located in thermal communication with the plurality of cooling channels to transfer thermal energy from the airflow to the liquid coolant. One or more coolant supply conduits are configured to divert a portion of the airflow from the heat exchanger to an ancillary component of the electric machine to allow for transfer of thermal energy from the ancillary component to the airflow.

Abstract: An inlet manifold for use with a heat exchange device such as a cold plate in which the manifold includes a main passage for transferring liquid. The main passage includes a seat sized to hold an orifice plate for restricting the transfer of liquid to a flow suitable to produce a pressure drop. An orifice plate retaining element contacts the orifice plate to maintain the orifice plate on the seat, and has a locking element to prevent unlocking during use.

Abstract: A motor for use in a volatile environment includes a rotor exposed to the volatile environment, electronics for rotating the rotor, an impervious ceramic barrier separating the electronics and the rotor, and a flexible seal for preventing the volatile environment from contacting the electronics and for minimizing vibratory and twisting loads upon the barrier to minimize damage to the barrier.

Abstract: A fast steering mirror has n plate springs (40a to 40d) and m drive means (50a to 50d). The plate springs (40a to 40d) are arranged such that a cross-sectional plane passing through the center of the thickness of each of the plate springs is on the same plane as the reflection surface of a mirror (20), and are arranged rotationally symmetric to each other about the center (O20). The plate springs each have a section extending along the circumference of the mirror holder, the section being obtained by dividing the perimeter of the mirror holder substantially into n sections. The drive means (50a to 50d) are arranged such that a cross-sectional plane passing through the center of torque generated by each of the drive means is on the same plane as the reflection surface of the mirror (20) and are rotationally symmetric to each other about the center (O20).

Abstract: The sublimation capability of a porous metal plate used in a sublimator is maintained by heating the porous metal plate at an elevated temperature in a flowing stream of oxygen for an extended period of time to form an oxidized surface. A short chain molecule, such as citric acid, is attached to the oxidized surface having multiple functional carboxylate groups and no hydrophobic tail.

Abstract: Broadcast signal c is transmitted from a broadcast transmitter 5 to an artificial satellite 1 for predetermined signal conversion, whereby broadcast signals al to an are transmitted to all of Japan. On-earth stations 6-1 to 6-n are installed for weather forecast data. These on-earth stations receive the broadcast signals al to an, respectively, transmitted from the artificial satellite 1, and transmit receiving state data b1 to bn, respectively, based on receiving level data to the artificial satellite 1. The receiving state signals are changed with variations of their radio wave attenuation according to whether it is cloudy, rainy, snowy, the cloud density, etc. The receiving state data are collectively sent back to a weather forecast center 9. Weather forecast data e obtained by analysis in the weather forecast center 9 is transmitted to the artificial satellite 1, which in turn sends weather forecast data f back to all of Japan.