Abstract: An apparatus for metering fluids at high pressures of about 20,000 to 60,000 psi is disclosed. The apparatus includes first and second plates which are positioned adjacent each other to form a valve chamber. The plates are made of materials which have substantially equal elastic properties. One plate has a planar surface area, and the other a recessed surface area defined by periphery and central lips. When the two plates are positioned in adjacent contacting relationship, a valve chamber is formed between the planar surface area and the recessed surface area. Fluid is introduced into the chamber and exits therefrom when a deformation occurs at positions where they no longer form a valve seat. This permits the metering of fluids at high pressures and at slow variable rates. Fluid then exits from the chamber until an applied external force becomes large enough to bring the valve seats back into contact.

Abstract: A laser using heat and thermionic electrical output from a nuclear reactor in which heat generated by the reactor is utilized to vaporize metal lasants. Voltage output from a thermionic converter is used to create an electric discharge in the metal vapors. In one embodiment the laser vapors are excited by a discharge only. The second embodiment utilizes fission coatings on the inside of heat pipes, in which fission fragment excitation and ionization is employed in addition to a discharge. Both embodiments provide efficient laser systems that are capable of many years of operation without servicing. Metal excimers are the most efficient electronic transition lasers known with output in the visible wavelengths. Use of metal excimers, in addition to their efficiency and wavelengths, allows utilization of reactor waste heat which plagues many nuclear pumped laser concepts.

Abstract: A recoil transducer fixture for determining force responses at high frequies. An impact transducer is mounted in a rigid assembly and is preloaded for operating under compressive loads. The fixture includes a pair of spaced plates having the transducer mounted therebetween and loading bolts cooperating with the plates for preloading the transducer to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fin-line waveguide device for modulating signals passing therethrough. The device comprises a fin-line waveguide including two channel members longitudinally extending in the direction of signal propagation through the device. The channel members are physically and electrically separated by a ferrite dielectric slab which is oriented in a longitudinally extending plane parallel to the electric field lines of the signal passing through the device. A magnetic field is applied to the ferrite slab to magnetically bias the slab to ferromagnetic resonance. A voltage is applied across the ferrite slab to alter the ferromagnetic resonance characteristics of the slab. The phase and amplitude of the signal passing through the waveguide are modulated in response to the applied voltage.

Abstract: Electromagnetic linear induction pump for liquid metal which includes a unitary pump duct. The duct comprises two substantially flat parallel spaced-apart wall members, one being located above the other and two parallel opposing side members interconnecting the wall members. Located within the duct are a plurality of web members interconnecting the wall members and extending parallel to the side members whereby the wall members, side members and web members define a plurality of fluid passageways, each of the fluid passageways having substantially the same cross-sectional flow area. Attached to an outer surface of each side member is an electrically conductive end bar for the passage of an induced current therethrough. A multi-phase, electrical stator is located adjacent each of the wall members. The duct, stators, and end bars are enclosed in a housing which is provided with an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with opposite ends of the fluid passageways in the pump duct.

Abstract: Method for laser beam amplification by means of free electron laser techniques. With wiggler magnetic field strength B.sub.w and wavelength .lambda..sub.w =2.pi./k.sub.w regarded as variable parameters, the method(s) impose conditions such as substantial constancy of B.sub.w /k.sub.w or k.sub.w or B.sub.w and k.sub.w (alternating), coupled with a choice of either constant resonant phase angle or programmed phase space "bucket" area.

Abstract: This invention is directed to transferring heat from an extremely high temperature source to an electrically isolated lower temperature receiver. The invention is particularly concerned with supplying thermal power to a thermionic converter from a nuclear reactor with electric isolation.Heat from a high temperature heat pipe (10) is transferred through a vacuum or a gap filled with electrically nonconducting gas (26) to a cooler heat pipe (18). The heat pipe (10) is used to cool the nuclear reactor while the heat pipe (18) is connected thermally and electrically to a thermionic converter (22).If the receiver requires greater thermal power density, geometries are used with larger heat pipe areas for transmitting and receiving energy than the area for conducting the heat to the thermionic converter. In this way the heat pipe capability for increasing thermal power densities compensates for the comparatively low thermal power densities through the electrically non-conducting gap between the two heat pipes.

Abstract: A linkage between a host computer and a plurality of external devices, such s a simulator system, utilizes a distributed processing network of individual data processors to process, control, and position data for transmission to and from said host computer on a data rate of change basis. A master processor interfaces with the host computer and is connected via a serial data link to a plurality of slave processors located at the external devices. Each processor determines the necessity for a transfer of data from its associated computer or device and controls data transmission therefrom accordingly.

Abstract: A battery separator for an alkaline battery. The separator comprises a cross-linked copolymer of vinyl alcohol units and unsaturated carboxylic acid units. The cross-linked copolymer is insoluble in water, has excellent zincate diffusion and oxygen gas barrier properties and a low electrical resistivity. Cross-linking with a polyaldehyde cross-linking agent is preferred.

Abstract: A magazine for storing and delivering ammunition has a housing and a plurty of pairs of rotating members. The housing has curved inboard and outboard walls. Each pair of the members includes an inboard and outboard one, rotatably mounted at the inboard and outboard wall, respectively, at diametrically opposed, interior positions. Also included is inboard and outboard endless carriers disposed on the inboard and outboard ones of the members, respectively, to circulate thereon. The magazine also includes a hand-off sprocket and a plurality of engage rods, the latter being mounted across the carriers and spaced to allow the ammunition to fit therebetween. The hand-off sprocket is mounted alongside the carriers, for removing passing ones of the ammunition.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for selective measurement of tritium oxide in an environment which may include other radioactive components and gamma radiation, the measurement including the selective separation of tritium oxide from a sample gas through a membrane into a counting gas, the generation of electrical pulses individually representative by rise times of tritium oxide and other radioactivity in the counting gas, separation of the pulses by rise times, and counting of those pulses representative of tritium oxide. The invention further includes the separate measurement of any tritium in the sample gas by oxidizing the tritium to tritium oxide and carrying out a second separation and analysis procedure as described above.

Abstract: Prefabricated dental crowns which do not require precision fitting are prnted. In one embodiment, the crown is secured to a preparatory foundation disposed upon a tooth. In a second embodiment, a ring-like crown body is secured to the tooth by a filler material and a crown overlay having an occlusal portion is matingly fitted and secured to the crown body.

Abstract: A tunable source (11) of coherent infrared energy includes a heat pipe (12) having an intermediate region (24) at which cesium (22) is heated to vaporizing temperature and end regions (27, 28) at which the vapor is condensed and returned to the intermediate region (24) for reheating and recirculation. Optical pumping light (43) is directed along the axis of the heat pipe (12) through a first end window (17) to stimulate emission of coherent infrared energy which is transmitted out through an opposite end window (18). A porous walled tubulation (44) extends along the axis of the heat pipe (12) and defines a region (46) in which cesium vapor is further heated to a temperature sufficient to dissociate cesium dimers which would decrease efficiency by absorbing pump light (43). Efficient generation of any desired infrared wavelength is realized by varying the wavelength of the pump light (43).

Abstract: An improved diffuser for a gas turbine engine is mounted between a compressor section and a burner section. The diffuser eliminates struts by using the exit guide vanes of the compressor for support. The vanes are fixedly mounted to an inner case wall and to a double outer wall. A cantilevered case wall being one of the double outer walls can flex both radially and axially to relieve thermal stress in the vanes. Additionally, probes can be mounted in access ports formed in the double outer wall. Compressor leakage gas is prevented from entering voids in the double outer wall by a seal seated between the cantilevered case wall and the outer case wall.

Abstract: Slab-shaped high efficiency catalytic reformer configurations particularly useful for generation of fuels to be used in fuel cell based generation systems. A plurality of structures forming a generally rectangular peripheral envelope are spaced about one another to form annular regions, an interior annular region containing a catalytic bed and being regeneratively heated on one side by a hot combustion gas and on the other side by the gaseous products of the reformation. An integrally mounted combustor is cooled by impingement of incoming oxidant.

Abstract: A water excluding vent valve for insulated gloves or other portions of a er's dry suit utilizes a vent control element including a microporous membrane disposed in obturating relation to an opening in the shell of the glove or other article. The membrane is laminated between protective layers of woven synthetic fabric, and a retaining means permitting replacement of the control element is described.

Abstract: An air jet spoiler arrangement is provided for a Darrieus-type vertical axis wind-powered turbine. Air is drawn into hollow turbine blades through air inlets at the ends thereof and is ejected in the form of air jets through small holes or openings provided along the lengths of the blades. The air jets create flow separation at the surfaces of the turbine blades, thereby inducing stall conditions and reducing the output power. A feedback control unit senses the power output of the turbine and controls the amount of air drawn into the air inlets accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the deposition of group III-V ternary epitaxial films onto the surfaces of suitable semiconductor substrates. The deposition is accomplished by a vapor phase epitaxy-hydride technique using a group III binary alloy as a group III metal source and phosphine, arsine or stibine as a group V hydride source.

Abstract: A plurality of control jets is provided in the nozzle-centerbody of an air riven resonator to deflect portions of the incoming air flow away from the resonator. The control jets operate so as to deflect major portions of the air flow during high velocity flight, while not substantially deflecting the air inflow during low velocity flight.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus produces constant tension in superconducting electrical cable, or some other strand, under conditions of intermittent demand, as the cable is unreeled from a reel or reeled thereon.