Abstract: An inflatable shield for suppressing the characteristic radiation signature of a satellite is described. The shield is conical-shaped and made from a thin synthetic polymer film material coated with a radiation reflecting material, such as gold or aluminum. At least one subliming agent is contained within the shield to inflate the shield when exposed to heat. An ultraviolet curable slurry coats the inner walls of the shield and permanently hardens the shield upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation from a self-contained source. The shield optionally may include absorbing and desiccant agents to absorb unwanted gas and water and prevent interference with the primary mission of the satellite. Additional means may be included for moving and positioning the shield with respect to the satellite.

Abstract: A battery-powered toothbrush has an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by the human hand. The housing encloses a battery-energized motor which drives a brush shaft that has a stub projecting through a nose of the housing and upon which in use a brush is mounted. A generally tubular housing shell confines the battery, motor and shaft. An upper half shell is of a U-shaped exterior cross section over a substantial portion of its length, while a lower half shell is mated to the upper half shell in definition of the housing and is of semi-cylindrical exterior cross-section over a like substantial portion of its length. The distance along those substantial portions approximates the width of the adult human hand. The shaft is offset downwardly from the longitudinal geometric axis. All shell portions of different diameter merge smoothly into other portions of the shell.

Abstract: The present invention is for a method and cam for folding a tab for removing a seal that has been affixed to a collapsible tube in accordance with the method shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,818. A laminate removal tab is cut integral with the seal when the seal is cut, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,795 and then, in accordance with the present invention, bent back over the neck after the seal is welded to the tube mouth, by means of a cam. The tab is easily lifted and grasped by the fingers to pull the seal off the mouth.

Abstract: A master alloy comprising vanadium, nickel and chromium having equal weight percentages of vanadium and nickel and from about 4% by weight to about 17% by weight of the total weight, of chromium is used to prepare alloys having those metals and other metals selected from the group consisting of zirconium, titanium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Method of forming a high-performance, low-cost filter is provided. The filter comprises a housing and a cover. The housing defines a cavity in which one or more rods are disposed, one end of each rod being integrally formed with the housing. The rods function as coaxial resonators. A cover, disposed over the cavity, is securable to the housing. Input and output signal leads are coupled in conventional configurations to the rods. In one embodiment, the housing and cover are formed from a moldable dielectric material, such as plastic, which is then plated with a conductive film. In another embodiment, the housing is formed from a moldable dielectric material which is then plated with a conductive film while the cover is formed from a conductive material. The present invention provides optimal performance by using air as a dielectric separating the rods which function as coaxial resonators.

Abstract: Ferroniobium, ferrotantalum and ferrovanadium alloys are hydrogenated to facilitate crushing then nitrided, and then acid-leached to produce a soluble iron nitride leachate and a niobium, tantalum or vanadium nitride residue which residue can be denitrided to yield the metal which can be recovered by melting.

Abstract: An improved perfluorinated, ion-exchange polymer, either in the form of a membrane or a thin film useful as the electrolyte in chemical sensors. The polymer is treated with an acid, such as boric acid or a mixture of boric acid and phosphoric acid, to maintain the ionic conductivity of the polymer to approximately 180 degrees Centigrade. The improved polymer electrolyte is utilized to sense moisture by a two electrode structure with the electrodes arranged in interdigital fashion and the electrolyte film cast over the electrodes. The electrolyte is included in a 3 electrode sensor for sensing various types of gases.

Abstract: A fluid valve has a valve housing defining a corner and having a valve housing cover opposite that corner. That valve housing and cover enclose a valve chamber therein. A fluid inlet or outlet is in the valve housing cover. First and second valve seats for further fluid inlets or outlets are in first and second sides, respectively, of the corner in the valve chamber. A flapper is in that chamber for selectively closing the first valve seat and alternatively the second valve seat. A flapper actuator is in the corner of the valve housing. There may be an expansible valve closing member for each valve seat. Such expansible valve closing member may have an aperture paralleling that valve seat. A pilot valve may be at the expansible valve closing member for closing its aperture. Opening of the valve is initiated by moving the pilot valve away from the aperture in the expansible valve closing member, and such opening of the valve is completed by pulling the expansible valve closing member away from its valve seat.

Abstract: A precision, low cost, capacitor sensor comprised of two parallel plates, with an air dielectric, with preferably both substrates comprised of vitreous materials and electrically conductive coating, but with at least one of the substrates and coating being transparent. The coatings are preferably of identical material, thickness and pattern to offset stress distortion of the sensor plates from thermal expansion and contraction. Uniform spacing between the plates is provided by means of glass fibers of uniform diameter, dispersed in a matrix of adhesive and bonded under pressure, deposited between the plates as two thin semicircular seal rings surrounding the dielectric and separated by a diametrical gap, allowing entrance or escape of air dielectric. A novel feature, provided by at least one plate and coating being transparent, is use of optical measuring techniques during fabrication to verify acceptability of the manufacturing process and uniformity of the sensor product.

Abstract: A showerhead is either wall mounted or provided with a handle connected through a flexible hose to an incoming water outlet. The showerhead has a turbine which may cause the delivery of pulses of circumferentially distributed groups of pulses of water so as to provide either fast or slow massage action. Also included is a pause mode in which flow is reduced without complete shutoff and a center spray mode which provides a concentrated spray pattern. Other modes possible are a needle spray, a combination pulse and needle spray, a combination needle spray with a body spray, just a body spray, and an oval shape spray pattern. Various water paths are defined from a flow selector through the unit to different ones of front-facing orifices as defined for the different modes. Selection is achieved by a combination of a flow director and a control plate. User access for mode selection is by way of an external circumferential control ring operatively coupled to the control plate through a control arm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-linearizing modulo 2 addition based encryption by block substitution techniques which allows use of the substitution scheme with relatively simple hardware and yet makes cryptanalysis more difficult. The basic 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 linear orthomorphisms, which enable block substitution by modulo 2 addition of one permuted set of numbers to another. These equations representing the linear orthomorphism have an additive relationship when viewed as vectors, and in fact, form an additive group in the algebraic sense. The permutations of the n-bit binary numbers which define these linear orthomorphisms have the further property that any power of these permutations, that is, applying the permutations successively to the previously permuted numbers, generates a new linear orthomorphism.

Abstract: An attenuator relay including encapsulation apparatus having an interior for enclosing an electro-mechanical relay and circuitry; an electro-mechanical relay having a number of contacts, the relay providing apparatus for closing a first circuit to allow current flow therethrough in a first condition, and apparatus for closing a second circuit to allow current flow therethrough in a second condition; and an attenuator circuit connected in the first circuit and enclosed within the encapsulating apparatus.

Abstract: Improved non-electrostatic spray coating process and apparatus are provided. The process and apparatus of the present invention permit significant reduction in over-spray conditions as well as, the disadvantages and drawbacks associated therewith, without causing corresponding reduction in coating efficiency.

Abstract: Niobium dioxide is produced by heating particulate niobium nitride in an oxygen atmosphere at a temperature above the melting point of niobium dioxide. The product obtained predominantly contains niobium dioxide.

Abstract: An armored tracked vehicle is provided with traction-increasing grousers and a remotely controllable system for extending and retracting the grousers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grousers are extended by a hydraulic system formed of a plurality of radially arrayed pistons and cylinders. Conduits for the hydraulic system are located in protected positions within the vehicle's wheel axles. Preferably, the grousers are retracted in the absence of hydraulic pressure by springs located in each cylinder. Further, the grousers are arranged to align the track with respect to the wheels. This way, the track does not have to have a heavy center alignment guide.

Abstract: A shock compression jet gun with associated explosive charge assembly. The shock compression jet gun features a breech for storage of the explosive charge assembly, a projectile tube, and an expansion nozzle disposed between the breech and projectile tube. The expansion nozzle includes converging and diverging passageways. The explosive charge assembly includes a shock absorbing outer casing, a detonator, a shaped charged positioned within the casing and a compressible medium retained within a recess formed in the shaped charge. The compressible medium is maintained within the recess by way of a membrane sealing one end of the casing. In a preferred embodiment the compressible medium is a liquid such as ammonia, water or a mixture of liquid ammonia and water which dissociate(s) into a mixture of light gases upon detonation of the shaped charge.

Abstract: Duel sensor detector tube systems are installed along the path length of a pipeline, storage tanks, or other fuel system to be monitored for leaks. One sensor detector tube system is constantly evacuated and passed through a sensor detector to test for presence of vapors or gaseous indications of large leaks. Concurrently, the other sensor detector tube system is permitted to lie dormant for a predetermined period to absorb and receive diffusion of vapors or gases from medium to small leaks that are too small to be detected by the continuous air flow system of the first tube. Periodically the flow of the two sensor detector tube systems is interchanged to evacuate the dormant tube, and it then becomes the continually aspirated system. Signal output from the sensor detectors provide data to the control alarm system which compares concentration profiles of current on-going tests with recorded profiles of prior tests, and any significant deviation is recognized as a problem, sounding an alarm.

Abstract: A support assembly for an open coil heating element including a planar mounting plate having longitudinally spaced and offset cutouts therethrough with a separate insulator positioned within each cutout by sequentially introducing the insulator through the cutout and longitudinally shifting the insulator within the cutout to overlie the upper and lower surfaces of the mounting plate. The two insulators are locked within their mounted positions within the cutouts by a locking frame affixed to the mounting plate and abutting against the insulators to preclude movement of the insulators from their mounted positions.

Abstract: A rotary face valve for beverage filling machines provides a housing assembly defining a closed chamber. The stationary valving surface is provided open to the chamber, and a valve rotor is journaled in the chamber in engagement with the stationary valve surface. The chamber is pressurized to a pressure closely approaching the pressure of the beverage being valved so that a low differential pressure exists between the chamber and the port through which the beverage flows. This minimizes the tendency to encounter leakage. The rotor is supported by a shaft which is journaled in spaced bearings so that eccentric force applied to the operating shaft is absorbed by the bearings and is not transmitted to the rotor. Further, the rotor is connected to the operating shaft with sufficient freedom to ensure that the rotor properly engages the valve surface in a uniform manner.