Abstract: A continuously operating pre-concentrator for trace gas analysis includes a flow channel, a pumping chamber, and a separation membrane between the flow channel and the pumping chamber. The flow channel has a width that decreases from the inlet to the outlet in such a way that the trace gas and the carrier gas maintain a substantially constant flow speed through the flow channel. The separation membrane is configured to allow preferential removal of molecules of the carrier gas from the flow channel, as the gas sample flows from the inlet to the outlet, thereby increasing concentration of the trace gas in the gas sample. The separation membrane includes a substantially non-adsorbing material that allows the gas sample to flow substantially continuously through the flow channel, so that a variation in concentration of the trace gas can be detected in substantial real time.

Abstract: A continuously operating pre-concentrator for trace gas analysis includes a flow channel, a pumping chamber, and a separation membrane between the flow channel and the pumping chamber. The flow channel has a width that decreases from the inlet to the outlet in such a way that the trace gas and the carrier gas maintain a substantially constant flow speed through the flow channel. The separation membrane is configured to allow preferential removal of molecules of the carrier gas from the flow channel, as the gas sample flows from the inlet to the outlet, thereby increasing concentration of the trace gas in the gas sample. The separation membrane includes a substantially non-adsorbing material that allows the gas sample to flow substantially continuously through the flow channel, so that a variation in concentration of the trace gas can be detected in substantial real time.

Abstract: The invention provides a microthruster which includes a housing having a propellant container and a discharge section, means to heat the propellant to drive vapors toward the discharge section, a heating element to heat the vapors and one or more ports to discharge the vapors to provide thrust. Further provided is a method for powering a microthruster by flowing gas in free molecular flow therein so that a plurality of molecules of the gas contact a heating element before discharge from the microthruster.

Abstract: A microdevice in the form of an electrical switch. A microdevice for providing switching at a high repetition rate, including a cell divided into two chambers by a bistable movable membrane. A charge of gas in the cell and a source for directly heating the gas to increase the gas pressure and move the membrane, the source for heating including a pulsed source for generating transient gas pressure increases, with the cell including an arrangement for cooling the gas for reducing the gas pressure after an increase.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying an amplitude and time dependent modulated disturbance to the stream to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for amplitude and time dependent modulation disturbance of the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying a disturbance to the stream, preferably an amplitude modulated disturbance, to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for disturbing the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying an amplitude and time dependent modulated disturbance to the stream to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for amplitude and time dependent modulation disturbance of the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.

Abstract: A microdevice in the form of a microactuator or micropump. A microdevice for providing reciprocating motion at a high repetition rate, including a cell having an output wall with at least a portion movable, such as a diaphragm or inlet and outlet valves. A charge of gas in the cell and a source for cyclicly and directly heating the gas to increase the gas pressure in the cell and move the diaphragm or control the valves, the source for heating including a pulsed source for generating transient gas pressure increases in the cell at cycle times of not more than about 50 microseconds, with the cell including an arrangement for cooling the gas for reducing the gas pressure in the cell. In one embodiment, the source for heating includes a source of photons and an arrangement for directing the photons into the cell to the gas or to the cell inner surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a net form product, including directing a stream of liquid from a nozzle onto a collector of the shape of the desired product, applying a disturbance to the stream, preferably an amplitude modulated disturbance, to produce a droplet stream, and with the nozzle and collector in a chamber, controlling the chamber environment. An apparatus for manufacturing a net form product having a source of molten material under pressure, a support for positioning a product collector in a chamber with the collector defining a desired product, a droplet stream generator positioned within the chamber and including a nozzle, a conduit for conducting molten material from the material source to the generator nozzle, a mechanism, typically a modulator, for disturbing the droplet stream, and a drive mechanism for relative movement of the nozzle and support.

Abstract: A beam of negatively charged ions is neutralized by impinging jets which dislodge elctrode electrons from the ions. Gas jets are created by orifices circumferentially located around a ring. The symmetrical radial distribution of the orifices does not create a net radial thrust on the ring, which is an important consideration in low-gravity outer space. Further, maximized gas dynamics creates a neutralized beam with a uniform gas density at the exit thereof and an optimized neutralized ion fraction, as compared with the population of ions in the introduced beam.

Abstract: A novel method and system for the detection of voids or other composition anomalies in wires and particularly in composite wires is provided, which comprises a source of penetrating radiation, such as an X-ray, gamma or neutron source for irradiating the wire; a fluid bath in which the wire is immersed or through which the wire may be moved, the bath containing a material having a linear coefficient of attenuation for the radiation closely matching that of a standard or ideal composition wire; and a detector system for observing and comparing the transmission of the radiation through the bath and wire with that through the bath only, or through the bath and wire with that through the bath containing a normal or standard wire.

Abstract: A partial pressure condensation pump for increasing the partial pressure of a gas or gases in a gas-vapor mixture, without mechanical pumping, while removing a vapor or vapors from the mixture and while conserving the relative abundances of the gaseous species present. More particularly, the invention comprises a pump which includes a housing providing a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet at the downstream end thereof, a vapor condenser in the flow passage downstream from the inlet, means for suppressing back diffusion of gas toward the inlet, and outflow metering means controlling flow through the outlet for balancing the outgoing gas flow through the outlet and the incoming gas flow through the inlet.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for separating a lighter gas from a heavier gas in a gas mixture. The method involves directing generally annular jets of a jet gas into the gas mixture, and extracting the lighter gas from the gas mixture through central zones of the generally annular jets. The apparatus comprises a jet membrane separating a chamber for the gas mixture and a chamber for the gas enriched in the lighter gas, the jet membrane utilizing annular jet orifices communicating with the gas-mixture chamber and utilizing extraction tubes at the jet orifices and interconnecting the two chambers. A jet gas delivered to the jet orifices is discharged therethrough into the gas-mixture chamber, and the lighter gas of the mixture passes through the extraction tubes into the chamber for the gas enriched in the lighter gas. By cascading a number of jet membrane stages of the foregoing nature, a very high degree of purity for the lighter gas may be achieved.

Abstract: A fountain for moving liquid toner into engagement with a receptor for developing an electrostatic image into a visible image. A fountain for providing improved edge enhancement in an image, and incorporating an electrode positioned at the bottom of a liquid toner pool formed by electrical insulating end, side and bottom members.

Abstract: An electrostatic image developer of the powder cloud type incorporating an image field screen or plate adjacent the receptor sheet carrying the electrostatic image, and including means for varying the image field plate potential and spacing during the developing cycle for improved contrast in the resultant visual picture. A method of developing including varying the image field screen potential and spacing during the developing cycle.