Abstract: The sensing coil of a fiber optic gyroscope is wholly or partially surrounded by a gel. The components attached to the coil, such as the directional coupler(s) and polarizer, may also be wholly or partially submerged in the gel. The gel is contained by a rigid housing, in which the inner walls of the housing form a cavity for the coil and the gel. The cavity is filled with the gel, and the gel may be bonded to the inner walls of the housing. The gel remains stiff enough to maintain the coil in a fixed position relative to the housing, and soft enough to avoid any significant effect on the h of the coil over the operating temperature range. Furthermore, the gel can be loaded with particles to adjust the specific gravity of the gel, to modify the thermal properties of the gel and to increase the viscosity of the gel for improved vibration damping. In a modified form, the optical-fiber sensing coil is positioned on a mounting surface and otherwise surrounded by the gel.

Abstract: The sensing coil of a fiber optic gyroscope is mounted by submerging the coil in a gel which surrounds and supports the coil. The components attached to the coil, such as the directional coupler(s) and polarizer, may also be submerged in the gel. The gel is contained by a rigid housing, in which the walls of the housing are spaced away from the coil. The intervening space between the coil and the innermost walls of the housing are filled with the gel, and the gel may be bonded to those innermost walls. The gel remains stiff enough to maintain the coil in a fixed position relative to the housing, and soft enough to avoid any significant effect on the h of the coil over the operating temperature range. In a modified form, the optical-fiber sensing coil is wound around a bobbin that has a layer of gel on the coil-supporting surface. A coating of adhesive is applied to the outside surfaces of the coil to hold the coil windings together in a stable configuration around the layer of gel.

Abstract: A flexible coaxial cable assembly that can be efficiently packaged and shipped in segments and installed and assembled in the field. The cable includes strain insulators spaced along the length of the region between the inner and outer conductors to transmit stresses such as differential thermal expansion and contraction between the conductors. The inner conductors of successive cable segments may be rigidly joined to each other to prevent relative movement between the inner conductors of adjacent cable segments. The inner and outer conductors can be corrugated.

Abstract: A horn-reflector microwave antenna comprises the combination of a paraboloidal reflector for transmitting and receiving microwave signals; a tapered feed horn extending downwardly from the reflector for guiding microwave signals to and from the reflector; a waveguide connected to the lower end of the feed horn; and a dielectric membrane extending across the interior of the feed horn for collecting any debris that falls down into the feed horn. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer periphery of the dielectric membrane is secured to the interior walls of the feed horn, and the central portion of the membrane is elevated above the periphery thereof so that debris collected on the membrane slides to the walls of the feed horn.