Abstract: A modular pole system for a luminaire includes an elongated pole section formed from a continuous filament winding process with a tenon or tenon collar wound into a tip end of the pole section. A method for making a modular pole system includes placing a tenon or tenon collar over a trunion end of a mandrel and winding a pre-selected thickness of a filament along the length of the mandrel up to and including a pre-selected length of the tenon or tenon collar to produce a tenon or tenon collar wound into a pole section of the modular pole system.

Abstract: A step mounting assembly adapted for demountably securing a removable step member to a hollow utility pole. The step mounting assembly utilizes a backing plate having an obverse and a reverse face. An aperture penetrates the backing plate to receive the shank portion of a mounting bolt with the head thereof disposed in opposition to the obverse face of the mounting plate. A projection extends outwardly from the reverse face of the unique backing late at least partially to circumscribe the aperture that penetrates the backing plate. A spacer lug extends outwardly from the obverse face of the backing plate, the spacer lug being located in proximity to the aforesaid aperture. A washer is interposed between the bolt head and the spacer lug. An elongated bar nut is adapted to engage the threaded shank on the mounting bolt while the bar nut is captured within the projection disposed on the reverse side of the unique backing plate.

Abstract: A hollow, tapered, fiber-reinforced plastic utility pole, and a method for making the pole. The pole is designed by a computer-modelling technique that simulates applying resin-coated, reinforcing strands over the outer surface of a mandrel. A plurality of test stations are incrementally spaced from the tip portion to the butt portion of the pole simulated on the mandrel. The thickess-to-diameter ratio must be equal to or greater than an established constant at each station or additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands deemed to have been applied, as required. One then calculates the stress resistance at each successive station to determine if the acceptable stress is greater than the stress resistance required. Whatever additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands are necessary are then deemed to have been applied.

Abstract: The MTS radiator consists of planar arrays of micro-tube strip modules, each of which contain two or three rows of about 200 properly spaced microtubes per row. The three-dimensional tubular titanium structure with support members between microtubes maximizes stiffness and strength per mass. The working fluid--typically hydrogen at 0.1 to 1 MPa--circulates through the microtubes, and most of the radiation occurs from their walls, which are only 0.2 to 0.4 mm thick. This allows specific mass below 1 kg/m.sup.2. The operating temperature range is typically 200-650 K. The radiator's radiating surface comprises a heavily oxidized, metal alloy with a corrosion resistant, refractory alloy film deposited on it.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a closure hatch assembly for the access port of a utility pole of the type particularly suited for supporting an electrical device and housing the electrical cables required to provide power to the electrical device. The closure hatch assembly has a hatch plate made of a composite, non-conductive material and is of such dimensions as to close the access port. A lip extends outwardly from the periphery of the closure plate to engage the exterior surface of the utility pole circumjacent the access port. A groove, or channel, is provided on the hatch plate to receive a hollow bracket member. The hollow bracket member is also made of a non-conductive composite material. When received within the channel, the bracket member has sufficient length to extend beyond the hatch plate to engage the interior surface of the utility pole.

Abstract: A hot gas generator system which includes a combustor and a condenser, with the combustor connected to the condenser for condensing the product of combustion from the combustor. A hydrogen supply is connected to the condenser and then to the combustor whereby the hydrogen absorbs heat from the combustion product as it condenses and the hydrogen thereby is preheated prior to entering the combustor. An oxygen supply is connected to the combustor for mixing with the hydrogen during combustion. The combustor is part of an integrated heat exchanger/combustor whereby a minor portion of the hydrogen passing through the condenser is used in the combustor for burning purposes and a major portion of the hydrogen is passed through the combustor for superheating the hydrogen prior to delivering the hydrogen to a prime mover, such as a thruster or a turbogenerator of a space platform or the like.

Abstract: A solar power system includes a solar concentrator and a power conversion unit for converting direct solar energy from the concentrator to electrical energy to power appropriate loads. The power conversion unit operates through the medium of a working fluid, such as a turbo-generator. An integrated combustor/heat exchanger is coupled to the power conversion unit for heating the working fluid during periods of solar eclipse and giving off a water combustion product in the form of water vapor. An electrolyzer receives the water combustion product and regenerates the product to gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolyzer is coupled to the power conversion unit as to be powered thereby during the periods of excess electrical energy. The regenerated hydrogen and oxygen is used in the integrated combustor/heat exchanger during periods of solar eclipse.

Abstract: A hot gas generator system which includes a combustor and a condenser, with the combustor connected to the condenser for condensing the product of combustion from the combustor. A hydrogen supply is connected to the condenser and then to the combustor whereby the hydrogen absorbs heat from the combustion product as it condenses and the hydrogen thereby is preheated prior to entering the combustor. An oxygen supply is connected to the combustor for mixing with the hydrogen during combustion. The combustor is part of an integrated heat exchanger/combustor whereby a minor portion of the hydrogen passing through the condenser is used in the combustor for burning purposes and a major portion of the hydrogen is passed through the combustor for superheating the hydrogen prior to delivering the hydrogen to a prime mover, such as a thruster or a turbogenerator of a space platform or the like.

Abstract: An improved power take-off lever arrangement for a tractor is disclosed which prevents the inadvertent shifting of the PTO lever from a first to a second position. The lever arrangement includes a support plate secured to the tractor and has a pin extending outward therefrom which engages an oval aperture formed in a manually operated lever. The lever is connected to a control valve for hydraulically engaging a power take-off drive. The control valve is responsive to move to a second position with corresponding movement of the lever and is spring biased to move to a first position with corresponding movement of the lever when the hydraulic pressure falls below a predetermined value. The lever is also spring biased to the first position such that an attachment mechanism formed on both the lever and the pin engages.