Abstract: A strain sensing valve is provided with sensors on a depression on its stem, permitting calibration and electronic adjustment prior to assembly of the stem into the valve.

Abstract: An acoustic delay line device for microwave equipment includes a cylindrical acoustic substrate. A transducer array including four transducers located at the corners of a square is formed on each end of the cylinder. The four transducers are electrically connected in series top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom so that adjacent transducers are of opposite polarity and dipoles are formed diagonally. The first and last transducer in the series are connected electrically to the outside source of receiver of RF signals by bonding pads which are offset from the transducers, and by connection wires bonded to the bonding pads. A ground plane area is provided on both ends of the acoustic substrate surrounding each transducer array.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor having a high surface area gas diffusing electrode defined for diffusing gases to be sensed to reach the catalyst surfaces of the electrode to provide the cathodic reduction of oxygen in a gas mixture undergoing sensing thereat. The sensor is adapted to sense trace levels of reactive gases in parts per billion. The sensor provides for ready purging of reactive gases from the electrolyte solution for the cell. The cell is essentially insensitive to the rate of flow of gas delivered to the cathode electrode and the minor mechanical stirring of the electrolyte solutions leading to output signals of improved signal-to-noise ratios more accurately signalling the concentrations of reactive gases, such as oxygen in gas mixtures.

Abstract: A reeling control system and an air driven tow reel machine incorporating such a control system are disclosed. In the disclosed control system and reeling machine of the present invention, towline velocity is monitored and reel-in and reel-out operations are regulated according to a programmed towline velocity profile. A position sensor senses the position of the turbine vent doors and a velocity sensor device provides the instantaneous towline velocity. A velocity comparator compares the instantaneous towline velocity with a desired velocity value from a desired velocity profile. Based upon the difference between actual and desired towline velocities, a door control device generates a driving signal for controlling the vent door position accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating space debris having special applicability for use with anti-satellite weapons testing. To mitigate debris in a controlled and predictable fashion a first body is tethered to a lower altitude body. A suitable length of tether is chosen to correlate with the orbital characteristics of the higher altitude body such that the lower altitude body has a relatively low velocity for its orbital altitude. Upon release of the target from the tether or upon debris production by the lower altitude target, the reduced velocity of the body or debris produced for its altitude results in rapid deorbiting of the target or debris. To offset any momentum increase created when the debris is the result of an impact of an object with the lower altitude body, the orbital characteristics are controlled to ensure the proper deorbiting velocity is achieved. A counter rotation of the tether system can also be used to negate an increase in velocity due to impact.

Abstract: A process relating to the hydrolysis of metal halides and their production of corresponding metal oxides by the hydrolysis of their chlorides and the calcining of the hydrolysis product is disclosed. Novel aspect including obviating the neutralizing step for the hydrochloric acid by using ammonia and disposing of the resulting ammonium chloride and the two step addition initially of metal halides to water until there is no observable positive heat of reaction and then adding the metal halide in amounts up to the stoichiometric quantity for the hydrolysis product obtained.

Abstract: An aerial gunnery target which is towed behind a towing aircraft. The gunnery target includes an extension device that separates a forebody assembly from a visual augmenter. The target also includes a vented inflator positioned at the forward end of the visual augmenter. The vented inflator maintains the front end of the visual augmenter open during towing. The visual augmenter is generally cylindrical in shape with an open aft end and an adjustment device for varying the size of the aft opening. In addition, the visual body is comprised of a mesh netting which preferably includes a plurality of interconnected strands joined together to form a plurality of diamond shaped openings. The inter-connected strands are each formed of a plurality of knitted threads and the strands are preferably joined together by knitting some or all of threads of one strand with some or all of the threads of an interconnecting strand.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and process for removing lube and other contaminants from the inside of a tube, the apparatus comprising a flexible hose having a nozzle at one end thereof which is conveyed by a pair of pinch rollers through the length of the tube to be cleaned. A high pressure cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle and the pressurized fluid removes the lube and other contaminants from the inside of the tube. The apparatus seals both ends of the tube to be cleaned and provides drainage of the cleaning fluid from the interior of the tube. The apparatus can be used for automatic cleaning of tubes manufactured from a pilger reduction mill or other similar manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the control of grain structure in unalloyed zirconium metal and, more particularly, to the control of grain structure in zirconium metals containing less than 300 parts per million Fe.

Abstract: A variable weight optical interconnector is disclosed to include a projecting device and an interconnection weighting device remote from the projecting device. The projecting device projects a distribution of interconnecting light beams when illuminated by a spatially-modulated light pattern. The weighting device includes a photosensitive screen provided in optical alignment with the projecting device to independently control the intensity of each projected interconnecting beam to thereby assign an interconnection weight to each such beam. Further in accordance with the present invention, a highly-interconnected optical neural network having learning capability is disclosed as including a spatial light modulator, a detecting device, an interconnector according to the present invention, and a device responsive to detection signals generated by the detecting device to modify the interconnection weights assigned by the photosensitive screen of the interconnector.

Abstract: A press assembly is operable between open and closed conditions to deform a workpiece. During operation of the press assembly, the workpiece is held by upper and lower draw rings which apply pressure to opposite sides of the workpiece. A cushion assembly is operable to provide a yieldable force opposing movement of the draw rings. An auxiliary apparatus is operable to perform an operation on the workpiece while the workpiece is in the press assembly. A control valve is operable to a closed condition to block fluid flow from the cushion assembly to maintain the cushion assembly in a retracted condition during at least an initial portion of the operation of the press assembly from the closed condition to the open condition. During operation of the press assembly from the open condition toward the closed condition, the piston in a control cylinder is movable under the influence of force transmitted from the upper draw ring to pump fluid to both the cushion assembly and the auxiliary apparatus.

Abstract: An improved press assembly has upper and lower draw rings which grip a workpiece. During closing of the press assembly, an improved control assembly accelerates the lower draw ring to a first speed and then to a second speed before the upper and lower draw rings move together. Similarly, during opening of the press assembly, the control assembly decelerates the lower draw ring to a first speed and then decelerates the lower draw ring to a second speed prior to stopping of the lower draw ring. The control assembly includes a two stage piston and cylinder assembly. The piston and cylinder assembly includes an inner piston and a hollow outer piston which encloses the inner piston. The inner piston is engagable with a flange on the outer piston to move the outer piston with the inner piston.

Abstract: An improved cooling system for an internal combustion aircraft engine having horizontally opposed cylinders. The cooling system comprises a coolant design which delivers and removes coolant in a parallel circuit. The coolant flows from a common main coolant inlet line which branches into two secondary inlet lines. Each secondary inlet line has fitted thereto a number of cylinder inlet lines which branch off from the secondary inlet line to each deliver coolant to their respective cylinder. The heated coolant is removed via cylinder coolant outlet lines fitted to each cylinder. The cylinder outlet lines fluidly interconnect one of two secondary outlet lines. The secondary outlet lines combine into one main outlet line for delivery to a ram air cooled heat exchanger to begin the process again. To further assist in cooling, coolant enters the head portion of the cylinder and exits from the intermediate portion, thereby directing the coolest fluid first to the hottest portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A variable speed pump control system and method which senses operational parameters during the first one half of the down stroke to control pump speed to maximize production. The method and equipment maintains ths fluid level of a well as low as possible while avoiding the pump-off condition. A variable speed motor drives a pump jack and a control means varies the pump speed. Means are provided for simultaneously sensing the pump speed, load on the rod, and the position of the rod in the pump stroke. These measurements are utilized to calculate the power transferred between the rod string and the beam during a portion of the downstroke. Before the pump is continuously operated, a series of measurements are made in the full barrel pumping condition to determine the power transferred between the rod and beam at various speeds. These are utilized to establish a relationship between pump speed and power during a portion of the downstroke.

Abstract: Rolls of paper are converted by unwinding, cutting and stacking into a relatively high stack of paper sheets of a predetermined uniform size. At least one of the vertical corners of the stack is removed by running an electrically driven manual planer down the corner so as to leave each sheet with one or more corners having a notch for use in orienting the sheet such as in feeding it into a copy machine. The planer is equipped with guide means so that the corner notches all have the same predetermined size and shape. The planer is preferably equipped with a vacuum hose which removes the debris as it is formed and conveys it to a vacuumized collection chamber. Preferably, the stacks of paper sheets are accumulated onto the deck of a pallet having on the underside a support integrally formed from a sheet of material so as to have parallel channel formations adjacent to and inset from opposite sides of the deck. It is also desired to provide a center-post or pedestal.

Abstract: A device in which tension or compression axially of a threaded portion can be measured without thread deformation has threads with a material adhering to and filling an area of the threads, and strain gages adhered to the filling material.

Abstract: A fuel pump within the main shaft of a turbine engine comprises a fuel tube extending axially through the shaft, a first shaft wall and the second shaft wall spaced apart from each other at one end of the tube to define a flow passage therebetween, a plurality of substantially radially aligned vanes extending across the passageway, an annular cavity in fluid communication with the outlet of the vaned passageway and a plurality of circumferentially spaced injector nozzles in fluid communication with the annular cavity and opening into the combustion chamber of turbine engine. The pump vanes impart sufficient energy to the fuel to overcome friction losses in the injector nozzles and to overcome the pressure within the combustor chamber. In addition, the energy imparted to the fuel forms a fuel barrier which separates the combustor chamber pressure from pressure within the fuel tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for soldering, leveling and cooling printed circuit panels including a preheater, a fluxer, and soldering, leveling and cooling stations. The cooperation of the soldering, leveling and cooling stations provides for efficient processing of printed circuit panels. The soldering station, which includes a solder immersion chamber through which the panels are conveyed, provides an oil coating on the solder to minimize formation of dross. Automatic replenishment of oil through use of suitable flux on the panels to be soldered provide continuous cleaning of the soldering system to permit extended operation. A cooling table transports the soldered panels on a cushion of air to prevent marring.

Abstract: A structure and a method of manufacturing a reflective notch coupler for an optical fiber are disclosed. The coupler is formed in an optical fiber by a pair of angled surfaces extending from the cladding of the optical fiber and meeting in the fiber's core to form an indentation in the fiber. One surface is reflectively coated and couples light into and out of the core of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for modulo 2 addition based encryption by block substitution techniques which allows use of the substitution scheme with relatively simple hardware. The block substitution, a one to one mapping of n bit binary numbers onto themselves, is based on the fact that certain permutations of the n bit binary numbers define a block substitution by modulo 2 addition of one permuted set of numbers to another, and that a subset of these define equations having an additive relationship when viewed as vectors. This allows the simple changing of the transformation on a frequent basis. Various properties of the transformations and methods of using the same are disclosed.