Abstract: A radiographic image is formed of a workpiece irradiated by neutron or X-ray energy. A radiophosphorescent screen is positioned adjacent the workpiece to form a scintillation pattern. The radiation may consist of thermal neutrons radiation from which gamma radiation has been substantially removed. The image is stored upon the semi-conductor target of a television camera.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a composition of matter is provided for forming a coating for protecting carbonaceous substrates from degradation at elevated temperatures. The composition is a mixture of particulate silicon, silicon carbide and boron. The mixture contains between about 25% and 40% silicon by weight of the total composition, between about 50% and 70% by weight silicon carbide by weight of the total composition, between about 1% and 15% boron by weight of the total composition and a minor amount of magnesium oxide. The method is provided for forming a primary protective coating on carbonaceous substrates utilizing the aforesaid mixture. An enhancement coating is provided for sealing the primary coating in applications where the substrate will be subjected to elevated temperatures and temperature cycling.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed wherein information corresponding to a selected geographical region or geometric system is stored and selectively retrieved and processed to reproduce images corresponding to selected portions of the geographical or geometric system. In a preferred embodiment, the information is initially recorded photographically and subsequently stored in a digital recording system. Processing, memory, and control systems are employed for producing video signals to be provided to video display units, for producing simulated real time images corresponding to the selected portion of the geographical or geometric system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sealing arrangement comprising two rings which preferably are complementary right trapezoids in cross-section. One ring is an elastomeric sealing ring. The other ring is a semi-rigid non-elastomeric back-up ring which is more rigid than the sealing ring. The rings are carried in a groove in one mating face of two members with mating faces which are movable with respect to each other. The sealing ring is arranged with the face represented by the shorter base of the trapezoid adjacent the member movable with respect to the member carrying the sealing ring and the back-up ring is arranged with the face thereof represented by the longer base of the trapezoid coplanar with the shorter base of the sealing ring. The elastomeric sealing ring is oriented so that it is nearer the area of higher fluid pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat pump device comprising a pair of chambers and a plurality of elements extending within both chambers. A working fluid is disposed in both of the chambers and a displacer means is positioned in each of the chambers such that they are movable within their respective chambers. Both of the displacer means have a wall that divides their respective chambers into two zones, a regenerator material that is housed therein, a plurality of elements extending outwardly from and in proximity to the elements extending within the respective chamber, and at least one passageway communicating through each displacer means and through the respective regenerator material for the working fluid to flow therethrough between the zones. There is a drive means for reciprocably moving both of the displacer means in their respective chamber between the respective zones of the chamber.

Abstract: A dark field infrared telescope. Energy from an infrared scene is focused by a lens (10) onto a thermoptic modulator (12) comprising an optical structure (16) containing a thin film of vanadium dioxide disposed to form the faceplate of a conventional cathode ray tube. The modulator, normally nonreflecting of infrared energy, may have reflecting spots written at selected coordinates thereon by an electron beam from the cathode ray tube. A reflecting spot written on the modulator optically couples a selected element of the scene imaged on the modulator to an infrared detector (52) maintained at low temperature. A retroreflecting mirror (30), cold spectral filter (46), field lens (47), cold field stop (48) and cold pupil stop (50) are provided ahead of the detector to produce a low background flux cavity with the detector at one end and the retroreflecting mirror at the other. In its unswitched state, the modulator is nonreflecting and the scene image is not coupled to the detector.

Abstract: A solar power satellite (30) includes a truss structure (32) having a plurality of independently controlled solar power modules (34) mounted to one face of the truss structure. The solar power satellite is constructed in orbit by first forming and then assemblying component beam members (50, 52) to the truss structure. The solar power modules (34) are constructed on a fabrication and assembly station (36) movably attached to the truss structure and are then attached to the truss structure. The solar power modules (34) include a primary reflector (200) having a substantially parabolic curvature in cross section. A collector-radiator (202) is mounted on the primary axis of the primary reflector. The cross-sectional configuration of the collector-radiator (202) approximates a flattened inverted S-shape whereon the radius of curvature decreases as the curve approaches both its center and its end furthermost from the primary reflector (200).

Abstract: A metal laminate possessing high strength characteristics as well as good ductility and malleability, comprising one or more layers of a superplastic material metallurgically bonded to one or more layers of a non-super plastic material; and the method of preparing the laminate to induce plastic or super plastic characteristics to the nonsuper plastic material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sealing arrangement comprising two rings which are complementary right trapezoids in cross-section. One ring is an elastomeric sealing ring. The other ring is a semi-rigid non-elastomeric back-up ring which is more rigid than the sealing ring. The rings are carried in a groove in one mating face of two members with mating faces which are movable with respect to each other. The sealing ring is arranged with the face represented by the shorter base of the trapezoid adjacent the member movable with respect to the member carrying the sealing ring and the back-up ring is arranged with the face thereof represented by the longer base of the trapezoid coplanar with the shorter base of the sealing ring. The elastomeric sealing ring is oriented so that it is nearer the area of higher fluid pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for forming and directionally positioning a neutron beam. The apparatus includes an enclosed housing rotatable about a first axis with a neutron source axially positionable on the axis of rotation of the enclosed housing but rotationally fixed with respect to the housing. The rotatable housing is carried by a vertically positionable arm carried on a mobile transport. A collimator is supported by the rotatable housing and projects into the housing to orientationally position its inlet window at an adjustably fixed axial and radial spacing from the neutron source so that rotation of the enclosed housing causes the inlet window to rotate about a circle which is a fixed axial distance from the neutron source and has the axis of rotation of the housing as its center.

Abstract: A dual-configuration airfoil having a thin profile which is adapted to foster high-speed flight, and having a pivotable portion on the upper surface which is movable upwardly for selectively increasing the thickness of the airfoil. In one embodiment, the pivotable portion pivots about an axis which coincides generally with the leading edge of the airfoil. The thickness of the airfoil when the pivotable portion is fully raised is about twice the thickness of the airfoil when the pivotable portion is fully retracted. A rigid connecting section forms part of the airfoil's upper surface immediately behind the pivotable portion. The connecting section is also movable, such that a substantially continuous and rigid surface is presented to the air moving over the airfoil's upper surface during such times as the pivotable portion is being pivoted upward and downward--as well as when the pivotable portion is fixedly held.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for fabrication and assembly of airframes and airframe components utilizing the principles of diffusion bonding and superplastic forming. A preform blank or blank sheet of material capable of being superplastically formed and diffusion bonded is attached to an airframe body or casing by diffusion bonding and superplastically deformed to form a structural airframe component. The superplastically formed structural component may be diffusion bonded to other airframe components and the superplastic forming and diffusion bonding steps may be performed simultaneously or successively to progressively fabricate and assembly an airframe having unique structural geometries and characteristics without conventional machining or welding of component parts.

Abstract: A sound-suppressing panel for use on the surface of a structure adjacent which a fluid is to flow. The panel includes a top sheet (which may be conveniently referred to as a cover) and a bottom sheet, and plurality of walls which are generally perpendicular to the two boundary sheets; the walls have various orientations and intersect one another at various locations so as to form cells which are similar to well-known "honeycomb" cells. Unlike true honeycomb formed by bees, the cells of an optimum construction according to this invention are not uniform. Ideally, there are at least three different cell sizes, and the cells are intermixed (side by side) so that the fluid passing adjacent the cover will sequentially encounter cells of differing sizes. Throughout the cover are provided a plurality of linear passages which permit the fluid which is flowing above the cover to communicate with the plurality of cells below the cover.

Abstract: An actuator (10) for effecting relative pivotal movement between two structures (12, 14) includes a bent beam member (18) having a first portion (20) rotatably secured to one structure and a second portion (22) supported for rotation and eccentric revolution by a housing (42) grounded to the other structure. Index gears (64, 66) assure eccentric revolution of the beam member (18) in an opposite direction in response to rotation of the bent beam member to produce relative pivotal movement between the beam members (20, 22). In the first two embodiments, the actuators (10, 120) incorporate internal hydraulic or electric drive arrangements. In other embodiments, the actuators (150, 172, 250, 270) employ various planetary type gear arrangements to achieve even greater mechanical advantage. In the last embodiment, both portions (304, 306) of the bent beam member (302) of the actuator (300) are driven and supported for eccentric revolution.

Abstract: A door hinge and hold-open apparatus incorporates a torsion bar structure, having detent and torsional portions, carried by a first hinge member. A striker is carried by a second hinge member in alignment with the detent portion of the torsion bar structure for engaging the detent portion upon movement of the second hinge member, relative to the first hinge member, through a predetermined positional range. A torsional section of the torsion bar structure extends along an elongated body of one of the hinge members, and load carrying portions of the torsion bar structure which bear against the elongated hinge body are spaced from a mid-section of the hinge body at which the body is attached to a door or support structure. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in a hinge having body portions of nonmetallic, composite construction having reinforcing fibers extending longitudinally of the hinge body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical translation linkage and lamp support apparatus for maintaining the projection light source inside a gimballed transparency displaced from the geometric center of the transparency and in a fixed spatial relation with the center of the transparency as the transparency rotates about any of its three mutually perpendicular axes. The translation apparatus employs only a mechanical linkage to ground and reacts to rotation of the support gimbal about either the X or Y axis to maintain the projection light source at the required position regardless of the attitude of the gimbal.

Abstract: An apparatus for "fast erase" of thermochromic information displays is provided. A piezoelectric substrate (10) has a thin film (18) of vanadium dioxide deposited on the surface thereof. The film undergoes marked increases in reflectance at any region thereof experiencing thermal heating in excess of its predetermined transition temperature. An ultrasonic surface acoustic wave transducer (11) is provided which includes a pair of electrodes (12, 14) spaced apart in substantially parallel relation on the surface of the substrate (10) such that application of an RF signal across the electrodes (12, 14) causes deformation of the substrate to generate surface acoustic waves on the surface thereof and in the film to counteract built-in strains in the film to erase images written into the film.A solid state information display using pressure sensitive material is also disclosed. A thin film of samarium sulphide (30) is deposited on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate (10) such as lithium niobate.

Abstract: An explosive structure of the fragmentation type has a plurality of elongated fragments which are effective against armored targets. The explosive structure has a wall portion extending alongside an explosive charge, the wall portion comprising a plurality of the elongated fragments. The fragments have first and second elongated members or legs which are connected at one end by means permitting rotation of the members from a diverged configuration to an aligned configuration. When in the aligned configuration, the articulated fragment structures are adapted to attain stable, axial flight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means and method for evaluating a bond between first and second structures bonded together by an intermediate layer of adhesive. Means are provided for transmitting a pulse of ultrasonic wave energy into the bonded structures whereby a first reflected pulse may be reflected from a first surface of the first structure, a second reflected pulse reflected from the layer of adhesive, and a third pulse possibly reflected from the surface of the second structure adjacent the adhesive layer. Circuit means are provided for sensing the first, second, and third reflected pulses and for providing an indication of the quality of the bond by comparing the amplitudes of the reflected pulses and determining if the ratios lie within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: Apparatus for serially feeding and crimping a plurality of electrical contacts of the type having an open-ended, ferrule head portion adapted to receive an uninsulated end of an electrical wire and to be crimped into electrically conductive contact therewith. The contacts are serially discharged from an annular hopper and caused to attain an upright position. First and second tracks, mutually aligned and vertically spaced one from the other, are provided for transporting the electrical contacts, while in the upright position, from the hopper to a mechanism for feeding the contacts into a crimping chamber. The tracks have a downward inclination from the hopper which is insufficient to permit sliding movement of the contacts absent vibratory movement of the tracks, which movement is derived from a vibratory device connected to the hopper.