Abstract: A solar energy collector focuses solar energy onto a solar oven which is attached to a mixer which in turn is attached to the channel of a MHD generator. Gas enters the oven and a liquid metal enters the mixer. The gas/liquid metal mixture is heated by the collected solar energy and moves through the MHD generator thereby generating electrical power. The mixture is then separated and recycled.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus for determining changes in the volume of limbs or other body extremities by determining the cross-sectional area of such limbs may comprise a transmitter (10) including first and second transducers (11, 12) for positioning on the surface of the limb at a predetermined distance therebetween, and a receiver (20) including a receiver crystal (21) for positioning on the surface of the limb. The distance between the receiver crystal and the first and second transducers are represented by respective first and second chords (d.sub.1, d.sub.2) of the cross-section of the limb (C) and the predetermined distance between the first and second transducers is represented by a third chord (d.sub.3) of the limb cross-section (C).The measuring apparatus may also include a Pinger (10) and associated electrical circuitry for generating acoustic pulses at the first and second transducers (11, 12) for propagation along the first and second chords (d.sub.1, d.sub.

Abstract: An improved system is described for cooling high power waveguides by the use of cooling ducts extending along the waveguide, which minimizes hot spots at the flanges where waveguide sections are connected together. The cooling duct (24) extends along substantially the full length of the waveguide section, and each flange (18, 20) at the end of the section has a through hole (36) with an inner end connected to the duct and an opposite end that can be aligned with a flange hole in another waveguide section. Each flange (20) is formed with a drainage groove (60) in its face, between the through hole (36) and the waveguide conduit (16) to prevent leakage of cooling fluid into the waveguide. The ducts have narrowed sections (32, 34) immediately adjacent to the flanges to provide room for the installation of fasteners closely around the waveguide channel.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for moving a probe (12) that engages moving living tissue such as a heart or an artery that is penetrated by the probe, which moves the probe in synchronism with the tissue to maintain the probe at a constant location with respect to the tissue. The apparatus includes a servo positioner (18) which moves a servo member (20) to maintain a constant distance from a sensed object (30) while applying very little force to the sensed object, and a follower (26) having a stirrup (28) at one end resting on a surface of the living tissue and another end carrying a sensed object (30) adjacent to the servo member. A probe holder (34) has one end mounted on the servo member (20) and another end which holds the probe (12). The probe is held adjacent to the stirrup (28) of the follower assembly, so that movements of the tissue and therefore of the follower assembly (26) result in corresponding movement of the probe (12) to follow the surface of the tissue.

Abstract: A mobile sampler 10 for use in acquiring samples of terrestial atmospheric gasses from a free body of such gasses.

Abstract: Apparatus for compressive testing of a test specimen may comprise vertically spaced upper and lower platen members (1 and 2) between which a test specimen (T) may be placed. The platen members are supported by a fixed support assembly (3, 5, and 6). A load indicator (14) is interposed between the upper platen member (1) and the support assembly (6) for supporting the total weight of the upper platen member (1) and any additional weight which may be placed thereon. Operating elements (8 and 17) are provided for moving the lower platen member (2) upwardly toward the upper platen member (1) whereby an increasing portion of the total weight is transferred from the load indicator (14) to the test specimen (T).The testing apparatus may include limit devices (20 and 22) for limiting the movement of the lower platen member (2) toward the upper platen member (1) to prevent permanent deformation in the test specimen (T).

Abstract: A symmetrical adsorption pump/compressor system having a pair of mirror image legs and a Joule Thomson expander 40, or valve, interposed between the legs thereof for providing a new, efficient refrigeration cycle. The system further includes a plurality of gas operational heat switches 48a, 48b, 48c, and 48d adapted selectively to transfer thereto heat from a thermal load 44 and to transfer or discharge heat therefrom through a heat projector 46, such as a radiator or the like. The heat switches comprise gas pressurizable chambers adapted for alternate pressurization in response to adsorption and desorption of a pressurizing gas confined therein.

Abstract: Stimulation the in vitro propagation of Guayule from a nutrient medium containing Guayule tissue by adding a substituted trialkyl amine bioinducing agent to the nutrient medium. Selective or differentiated propagation of shoots or callus is obtained by varing the amounts of substituted trialkyl amine present in the nutrient medium. The luxuriant growth provided may be processed for its poly isoprene content or may be transferred to a rooting medium for production of whole plants as identical clones of the original tissue. Provides method for producing large numbers of Guayule plants having identical desirable properties such as high polyisoprene levels.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an optical system for rotating the plane defined by a pair of parallel light beams.In one embodiment (see FIG. 4) a single pair of rhomboid prisms 36 and 37 have their respective input faces 15 disposed to receive the respective input beams 21 and 22. Each prism is rotated about an axis of revolution coaxial with each of the respective input beams 21 and 22 by means of a suitable motor 29 and gear arrangement 41 to cause the plane of the parallel output beams 21' and 22' to be rotated relative to the plane of the input beams.In a second embodiment, two pairs (FIG. 2) of rhomboid prisms 23, 24 and 31, 32 are provided. In a first angular orientation of the output beams, prisms 23 and 24 serve to merely decrease the lateral displacement of the output beams for keeping the beams in the same plane as the input beams. In a second angular orientation of the prisms (FIG.

Abstract: Control signals for phase-delay rectifiers, which require a variable firing angle that ranges from 0.degree. to 180.degree., are derived from line-to-line 3-phase signals (.phi.A, .phi.B, .phi.C) and both positive and negative firing angle control signals (+.alpha. and -.alpha.) which are generated by comparing (at 20) current command and actual current (sensed at 16). Line-to-line phases are transformed (32) into line-to-neutral phases and integrated (at 34) to produce 90.degree. phase delayed signals (A.phi., B.phi., and C.phi.) that are inverted (at 26a, b, c) to produce three cosine signals (C, A and B RAMP) such that for each its maximum occurs at the intersection of positive half cycles of the other two phases which are inputs to other inverters. At the same time, both positive and negative (inverted) phase sync signals are generated for each phase by comparing (at 27a, b, c) each with the next and producing a squarewave when it is greater.

Abstract: An improved method for markedly increasing the bond strength between a rigid, porous refractory material and a non-rigid substrate by densifying the face of the rigid material opposing the substrate. Densification is accomplished by wetting the refractory material and then impregnating it with a composite slurry having a particle size to fill voids of the porous material.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte cell including a body of solid ionized gas-conductive electrolyte 20 having mutually spaced surfaces 30 and 32 on which is deposited a multiplicity of mutually spaced electrodes 34 and 36, having strips 30 and 32 of bare substances interposed between electrodes, so that currents of ionic gas may be established between the electrodes via the bare strips 30 and 32, whereby electrical resistance for the cells is lowered and the gas conductivity thereof is enhanced.

Abstract: A control system for a solid state crossbar switch (10) which allows a plurality of switch control and interrogation functions to be implemented by time sharing related circuitry. The crossbar switch (10) includes a plurality of X ports (X.sub.1 -X.sub.N) and Y ports (Y.sub.1 -Y.sub.M), each X-Y port intersection designating a specific X-Y intersection latch which controls a plurality of associated switches for interconnecting one set of data lines associated with the X port to another set of data lines associated with the Y port. The control system disclosed continuously and sequentially addresses each of the X-Y intersection latches at a 10 megahertz rate.

Abstract: A process for the purification of molten materials during crystal growth by electromigration of impurities to localized dirty zones. The process has particular applications for silicon crystal growth according to Czochralski techniques and edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) conditions. In the Czochralski crystal growing process, the impurities are electromigrated away from the crystallization interface by applying a direct electrical current to the molten silicon for electromigrating the charged impurities away from the crystal growth interface.In the EFG crystal growth process, a direct electrical current is applied between the two faces which are used in forming the molten silicon into a ribbon. The impurities are thereby migrated to one side only of the crystal ribbon. The impurities may be removed or left in place. If left in place, they will not adversely affect the ribbon when used in solar collectors.

Abstract: A method of forming hollow glass spheres S shaped by the effects of surface tension acting on bubbles of glass in its molten state; the method is characterized by the steps of establishing a downwardly flowing stream of air accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration through a drop tower 10, introducing into the stream of air free-falling bubbles B of molten glass, and freezing the bubbles in the stream as they are accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration.

Abstract: A high-speed multiplexing system of keyboard data inputs in which keyboard entered data is sequentially and automatically sampled by the multiplexing system for input to a computer. More specifically, a system is disclosed whereby a plurality of data inputs from a plurality of keyboards are applied to a multiplexer having a single output connected to a computer. A sequencer is provided which sequentially and automatically controls the multiplexer to sample each keyboard input in accordance with a predetermined sampling sequence. Whenever keyboard entered data appears on input lines to the multiplexer, the system inputs the keyboard data to the computer during a brief time interval in which the multiplexer remains at the particular keyboard address or port. Thus, a high-speed sampling circuit is provided whereby the only operator action required is data entry through a keyboard.

Abstract: A transducer is described for simultaneously measuring several parameters of a small region of a muscle tissue or other object, with minimal traumatizing or damage of the object. A trifunctional transducer which can measure the force applied by a muscle fiber, the displacement of the fiber, and the change in thickness of the fiber, includes a device having three legs with inner ends joined together and outer ends formed to pierce the tissue and lie therein. Two of the legs are relatively stiff, to measure force applied by the tissue, and a third leg is relatively flexible to measure displacement of the tissue relative to one or both stiff legs, and with the three legs lying in a common plane so that the force and displacement measurements all relate to the same direction of muscle movement.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells having improved performance are fabricated from polycrystalline silicon containing copper segregated at the grain boundaries.

Abstract: Monodisperse latexes having a particle size in the range of 2 to 40 microns are prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization in microgravity. A reaction mixture containing smaller monodisperse latex seed particles, predetermined amounts of monomer, emulsifier, initiator, inhibitor and water is placed in a microgravity environment, and polymerization is initiated by heating. The reaction is allowed to continue until the seed particles grow to a predetermined size, and the resulting enlarged particles are then recovered. A plurality of particle-growing steps can be used to reach larger sizes within the stated range, with enlarged particles from the previous steps being used as seed particles for the succeeding steps. Microgravity enables preparation of particles in the stated size range by avoiding gravity-related problems of creaming and settling, and flocculation induced by mechanical shear that have precluded their preparation in a normal gravity environment.

Abstract: The frequency and phase of an output signal from an oscillator circuit are controlled with accuracy by a digital input word. Positive and negative alterations in output frequency are both provided for by translating all values of input words so that they are positive. The oscillator reference frequency is corrected only in one direction, by adding phase to the output frequency of the oscillator.The input control word is translated to a single algebraic sign and the digital 1 is added thereto. The translated input control word is then accumulated. A reference clock signal having a frequency at an integer multiple of the desired frequency of the output signal is generated. The accumulated control word is then compared with a threshold level. The output signal is adjusted in a single direction by dividing the frequency of the reference clock signal by a first integer or by an integer different from the first integer.