Abstract: A power bridge assembly for providing electric current to stator windings of an electric motor used in an electric propulsion system for an electric vehicle. The power bridge is assembled on a laminated bus bar. An upper plate of the bus bar connects to one side of a high voltage battery, a lower plate of the bus bar connects to the other side of the high voltage battery, and an insulation layer is sandwiched between the upper and lower plates. Electrical switches and capacitors sandwich the laminated bus bar. With this structure, two fasteners, one for positive voltage and one for negative voltage, can connect the bus bar, capacitors, and switches both electrically and mechanically. The sandwich structure eliminates parasitic inductance from the electrical connections.

Abstract: The invention comprises of an electrically conducting doped or admixed cerium oxide composition with niobium oxide and/or tantalum oxide for electrochemical devices, characterized by the general formula:Nb.sub.x Ta.sub.y Ce.sub.1-x-y O.sub.2where x is about 0.0 to 0.05, y is about 0.0 to 0.05, and x+y is about 0.02 to 0.05, and where x is preferably about 0.02 to 0.05 and y is 0, and a method of making the same.

Abstract: A numerically controlled oscillator that outputs a complex exponential value (sine and cosine). The numerically controlled oscillator inputs a scalar phase increment and uses the scalar phase increment to approximate a complex exponential phasor increment. A complex multiplier multiplies the exponential increment by an exponential value previously output from the oscillator to yield a multiplication result. A recursive amplitude normalizer, connected to the complex multiplier, normalizes the multiplication result to yield the complex exponential value.

Abstract: In a method of decontaminating a primary loop of a pressurized water reactor, including a steam generator, reactor coolant pump and hot and cold legs in the loop, the primary loop is isolated from a nuclear reactor vessel by closing hot leg and cold leg loop stop valves. Decontamination process water is circulated from one side of the steam generator channel head to the other side of the channel head via a bypass pipe extending between the cold leg and the hot leg without bypassing the water through steam generator tubes extending between the sides of the channel head. The level of the decontamination water in the steam generator is maintained at two to three feet in the tubes.

Abstract: A jet pump assembly for recirculating coolant through a recirculation loop of a boiling water reactor vessel, the jet pump assembly comprises a jet pump in operative association with the recirculation loop for forcing the coolant through the recirculation loop. A beam is positioned adjacent and in operative association with the jet pump for assisting in maintaining the positional relationship of the jet pump. A bolt is inserted in the beam for resisting the hydraulic forces generated in the jet pump, and an insert is disposed in said beam for receiving and surrounding the bolt which, in turn, reduces stress on the beam.

Abstract: A multibeam side-look sonar system includes a projecting transducer that projects a beam of acoustic energy to insonify a target area and a receiving transducer having a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a linear array. Each of the transducer elements generates a beam signal in response to acoustic energy reflected from the target area. A beamforming circuit, coupled to the receiving transducer, processes the beam signals generated by the transducer elements to form a beam pattern. The beam pattern for an end beam on the receiving transducer has a main lobe and grating side lobes. One of the grating side lobes may be insonified by the projected beam of acoustic energy. A shading circuit, coupled between the receiving transducer and the beamforming circuit, amplifies the beam signals with respective gains, and adjusts each of the respective gains to reduce an amplitude level of the grating side lobe insonified by the projected beam of acoustic energy.

Abstract: On-line inspection of opaque, translucent and transparent elastomer sealed flexible and semi-rigid package seals is provided. In the case of highly reflective opaque seals of various elastomers and colors, low incident angle structured side lighting is used to locate and define the seal and highlight defects within the sealed area. For transparent i.e. highly light transmissive seals, not only is the low incident structured side lighting utilized to define the seal area, but back lighting of the package and seal is provided in order to then locate and classify defects within the seal boundaries. Multiple video images of portions of the area containing the seal and portions of the remaining lidstock are generated by CCD type cameras in response to one or more sensors which detect the presence and proper positioning of the package moving along a conveyor for image acquisition.

Abstract: A shipping container is provided for a hexagonal nuclear fuel assembly including a top nozzle having a top end, an outer barrel, an external shoulder, and an inner barrel; a plurality of grids which support fuel rods; and a bottom nozzle having an internal shoulder within a recess, a spherical taper, and a bottom end. The container may include a housing, a support for the fuel assembly, a top nozzle holder secured to the support, plural grid supports secured to the support, plural clamping frames for clamping the grids, plural guide plates for guiding the fuel assembly between adjacent grid supports, and a bottom nozzle holder secured to the support. The top nozzle holder may include a shoulder holder for holding the external shoulder, an end holder for enclosing and holding the top end, and a shoulder clamp for clamping the shoulder holder to the support.

Abstract: In a turbine system of the type wherein a first large cylinder having a first flange is connected to a second large cylinder having a second flange by a multiplicity of bolts securing the first flange to the second flange, a method of precisely aligning the first and second cylinders includes steps of (a) loosening the bolts that secure the first flange to the second flange so as to permit the first and second cylinders to be slightly shifted with respect to each other; (b) removing at least one of the bolts from its respective boltholes in the first and second flanges; (c) replacing the removed bolt in the respective boltholes with an apparatus for laterally shifting the first flange with respect to the second flange by a controlled amount; (d) shifting the flanges by using the apparatus; (e) tightening the bolts; (f) removing the apparatus; and (g) replacing and tightening the removed bolt. A unique apparatus for performing the lateral shifting is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sensing images using a detector array and correcting errors in the image signals caused by gain and offset variations from detector to detector in the array is disclosed. To correct gain and offset errors, the detector array is dithered by moving the detector line of sight between consecutive frames according to a predetermined pattern. This dithering causes different detectors to image the same location in the scene during different frames, and causes two adjacent detectors to scan between the same two points in the scene during a cycle of the dither pattern. Image data generated from the dithering is used to remove gain and offset errors from the sensed images, and to generate gain and offset correction values to be stored in a table and applied to the sensed images. The system is also adapted to compensate for scene changes when the detector array is installed on a moving platform.

Abstract: A dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation comprises an aerogel base and ceramic skin overlaying the aerogel base. The aerogel base comprises a low density ceramic material. A method of fabricating a dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation comprises the steps of preparing a colloidal dispersion of a ceramic material in a medium, increasing a concentration of the colloidal dispersion by evaporation to create a suspension, and placing the suspension in a mold. The suspension is solidified to form an aerogel and the aerogel is joined to a ceramic skin.

Abstract: A gas turbine vane airfoil has an aft cavity in which an insert is placed so as to form a cooling air passage between the insert and the walls that form the cavity. The insert serves to distribute cooling air around the passage. Cooling air from the passage exits the vane airfoil via film cooling holes in the pressure surface of the airfoil and via a passage formed in the trailing edge of the airfoil. A W-shaped flexible regulator seal is attached to the trailing edge of the insert and has legs that are pressed against ridges in the airfoil walls. Holes in the regulating seal regulate the amount of cooling air flowing from the passage surrounding the insert to the trailing edge passage, thereby preventing too low a pressure differential between the cooling air in the passage surrounding the insert and the hot compressed gas flowing over the airfoil, which would inhibit adequate film cooling.

Abstract: Life support apparatus composed of: a garment (2): for completely enclosing a wearer and constructed for preventing passage of gas from the environment surrounding the garment (2); a portable receptacle (6) holding a quantity of an oxygen-containing fluid in liquid state, the fluid being in a breathable gaseous; state when at standard temperature and pressure; a fluid flow member (16) secured within the garment (2) and coupled to the receptacle (6) for conducting the fluid in liquid state from the receptacle (6) to the interior of the garment (2); and a fluid flow control device (14) connected for causing fluid to flow from the receptacle (6) to the fluid flow member (16) at a rate determined by the breathable air requirement of the wearer, wherein fluid in liquid state is conducted into the interior of the garment (2) at a rate to be vaporized and heated to a breathable temperature by body heat produced by the wearer.

Abstract: An improved case is provided for a lithium/metal sulfide battery. The improved case is arranged such that the largest surface, corresponding to the side of a traditional cell case, is left open. The remaining five sides of the case can be formed in a drawn form from a single sheet of metal. The electrode plates can be provided within this drawn case and a cover can then be welded to the case to form the cell assembly. Utilizing the side of the cell case rather than the top of the cell case provides easier handling and installation of the electrode plates within the cell case.

Abstract: A non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cell that utilizes a simple, single-transistor DRAM cell configuration. The present NVRAM employs an enhancement mode nMOS transistor made as an accumulation mode transistor. The transistor has an n-type silicon carbide channel layer on a p-type silicon carbide buffer layer, with the channel and buffer layers being on a highly resistive silicon carbide substrate. The transistor also has n+ source and drain contact regions on the channel layer. A polysilicon/oxide/metal capacitor is preferably used which has a very low leakage current. Furthermore, this type of capacitor can be stacked on top of the transistor to save area and achieve high cell density. It is preferred to use a non-reentrant (edgeless) gate transistor structure to further reduce edge effects.

Abstract: Crystals formed of a solid-solution of Tl.sub.3 AsSe.sub.3 and Tl.sub.1 AsS.sub.3 provide very good materials for the nonlinear optical conversion efficiency. The crystals are useful in nonlinear optical devices such as harmonic generators and optical parametric oscillators, and in linear applications such as acousto-optical devices. The method of preparing such crystals is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, the power bridge including a switching circuit having first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states. The method comprises the steps of selectively switching the first and second switching elements between the "on" and "off" states, monitoring the first and second switching elements to determine whether the first and second switching elements operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched, and indicating a failure o#the switching circuit when at least one of the first and second switching elements does not operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched.

Abstract: A pellet stack length recording switch, for use in a measurement system having a movable measuring head and a measuring device for measuring a length of a nuclear fuel pellet stack segment, includes a probe for contacting and applying a compression force to an end of the pellet stack segment, a compression spring having a predetermined compression force and cooperating with the measuring head and the probe, a pin mechanism attached to the probe, and a sensor for sensing a position of the pin mechanism and outputting a position signal for triggering a measurement by the measuring device of the length of the pellet stack segment when the compression force applied by the probe is at least equal to the predetermined compression force. The probe may include a slider block, for compressing the spring, and a probe member attached to the slider block. The pin mechanism may include a trip screw for tripping the sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle power controller for a vehicle including a motor that drives the vehicle, a plurality of sensors and a motor controller, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an accelerator sensor for sensing a position of an accelerator pedal and a brake sensor for sensing a position of a brake pedal, and wherein the motor controller controls torque output of the motor. The vehicle power controller includes three components. The first receives signals from the accelerator sensor and the brake sensor. The second converts the signals for the accelerator sensor and the brake sensor into a torque value, and the third outputs the torque value to the motor controller for controlling the torque output of the motor.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator (PWM) circuit for generating pulses to enable a driver control unit to drive a pair of switching circuits for an electric motor including an input section for receiving an N bit digitized input signal to be modulated and a PWM counter for continuously counting up from zero to a predetermined number and back down to zero, the PWM counter generating a digitized triangular waveform having N bits of resolution corresponding to the predetermined number. A compare unit receives and compares the digitized input signal and the digitized triangular waveform to produce an output pulse and a dead-time generator unit produces a first pulse and a second pulse from the output pulse produced from the compare unit. The first and second pulses each drives a corresponding one of the switching circuits and the first and second pulses have different transition times relative to each other.