Abstract: An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

Abstract: An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

Abstract: An integrated granular-material scoop and near-vertical lifting feeder/conveyor includes special connections and skirts between a bullnose rotating scoop and an open-helical screw that provides the rotations and material lift and evacuation. A conical working-face of the bullnose rotating scoop has symmetrically distributed graters and vents to break loose and force-in granular material from natural deposits and cargo holds. The bullnose rotating scoop and the open-helical screw its attached to move the material into a continuous layer on the inside surface of an outer stationary sheathing. A motor drive attached to the open-helical screw above at the delivery end provides the lifting force necessary.

Abstract: An integrated granular-material scoop and near-vertical lifting feeder/conveyor includes special connections and skirts between a bullnose rotating scoop and an open-helical screw that provides the rotations and material lift and evacuation. A conical working-face of the bullnose rotating scoop has symmetrically distributed graters and vents to break loose and force-in granular material from natural deposits and cargo holds. The bullnose rotating scoop and the open-helical screw its attached to move the material into a continuous layer on the inside surface of an outer stationary sheathing. A motor drive attached to the open-helical screw above at the delivery end provides the lifting force necessary.

Abstract: A conical feeder is attached to a vertically conveying screw auger. The feeder is equipped with scoops and rotated from the surface to force-feed regolith the auger. Additional scoops are possible by adding a cylindrical section above the conical funnel section. Such then allows the unit to collect material from swaths larger in diameter than the enclosing casing pipe of the screw auger. A third element includes a flexible screw auger. All three can be used in combination in microgravity and zero atmosphere environments to drill and recover a wide area of subsurface regolith and entrained volatiles through a single access point on the surface.

Abstract: A conical feeder is attached to a vertically conveying screw auger. The feeder is equipped with scoops and rotated from the surface to force-feed regolith the auger. Additional scoops are possible by adding a cylindrical section above the conical funnel section. Such then allows the unit to collect material from swaths larger in diameter than the enclosing casing pipe of the screw auger. A third element includes a flexible screw auger. All three can be used in combination in microgravity and zero atmosphere environments to drill and recover a wide area of subsurface regolith and entrained volatiles through a single access point on the surface.

Abstract: Method of bonding a chip to a Cu heat sink comprises depositing a layer of Ni upon the sink, depositing a layer of Pt over the NI, and thereafter annealing the sink in a partial vacuum containing a reducing gas. After the annealing step, a metallic wetting layer of Au and a layer of In are sequentially deposited upon the Pt, and the chip is soldered to the heat sink by means of a flux free soldering process. The pure Pt is very dense and stable, does not have microholes therein which would otherwise allow the Cu ions to penetrate the Pt. For a BeO heat sink, a Ti layer is deposited over the sink rather than Ni, and a layer of Pt is thereafter deposited over the Ti layer. The Ti, Pt and BeO interact to form a good bond of high thermal conductivity, which also blocks ion migration upwardly toward the solder and the electronic chip.

Abstract: An element is soldered to a heat sink by a flux-free technique in which flux-free solder is first deposited onto the heat sink surface, then the element is placed into position on the surface, then the heat sink is placed into and held at a constant temperature in a pressure controlled chamber to a level below the melting point of the solder while undergoing a plurality of cycles of introduction and purging of an oxygen stripping gas.