Abstract: A peripheral sliding seal for sealing the liquid propellant in a cylindrical tank 10 containing a piston 14 for positive expulsion of the liquid propellant. The seal comprises a peripheral inward flange member 16 around the piston periphery adjacent the inner wall of the tank, an annular pressure ring 18 bonded to the flange member 16 and forming several recesses therewith, one recess containing a compliant sealing ring 20 and the other containing a shear seal 32 bonded both to the flange member 16 and to the entrance head 12 of the tank. The bonds prevent internal and external leakage of the liquid fuel during storage. Pressurization of the piston 14 permits the piston 14 to move and breaks the shear seal 32. The compliant-ring seal slides with the piston 14, the compliant ring 20 being pressed against the inner wall of the tank by resilient fingers 34 of the pressure ring 18 to form a sliding seal.

Abstract: An internal plate assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plate and a pair of substantially identical inserts. The plate is formed with a manifold area at opposite ends. A pair of wall members and a plurality of fins extending therebetween. Each manifold area of the plate is provided with two ports. A flat identical insert is provided for each manifold area. The insert has one port for mating with one of the ports in the manifold area of the plate and is formed to avoid covering the other port in that same manifold area. Thus, it is possible to construct a multi-plate stacked heat exchanger utilizing parts having only two distinct configurations.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: A method of making a laser mirror substrate having a network of cooling passages in which a plurality of separate plates are injection molded from a mixture of particulate material and binder. The molded plates are combined in a stack to form a unitary body which is then processed to fuse the particulate matter and remove the binder. The individual plates are formed with a pattern of holes which are aligned with the holes in the other plates of the stack to provide passages through the unitary body.

Abstract: A hollow thermally-conditioned turbine stator nozzle 12 is set forth to distribute and guide combustion gases from a forward inlet 15 to the turbine rotor blades 18. The nozzle includes a plurality of vanes 20 arranged annularly in the turbine. Each vane 20 has a body 22 to guide the fluid, the body being supported by outer and inner ends 34,64. The outer and inner ends each have a forward lug 44,74 and a rear lug 46,76. A floating support is provided for the vanes and includes forward shoulders 110,136 to engage the forward lugs and prevent rearward movement of the vanes and rear shoulders 114,142 having notches 116,144 to receive and confine the tangential movement of the vanes. Each vane also includes a hollow core 152 to pass a portion of fluid and reduce thermal stresses on the vane. The vane is preferably made of silicon nitride ceramic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for constructing from fiber-composite material complex structures having two or more transversely disposed members. By way of example, a composite turbine blade 10 having an aerofoil 12 and an integrally formed footing 14 can be constructed using this new method, which method comprises the steps of forming from fiber-composite monotape a blank 40 in the general shape of aerofoil 12 with the fibers 18' of the monotape being oriented in a generally spanwise direction, exposing the fibers 18' at the root 42 of the aerofoil blank 40, inserting transversely between the exposed fibers 18' a plurality of foot-forming monotapes 17 to form a transversely meshed, tape and fiber structure 68, filling the voids in the transversely meshed structure with powdered matrix material and hot-pressing the filled-in structure 70 substantially according to the desired final shape of the fiber-composite turbine blade.

Abstract: A liquid expulsion apparatus 12 having a rolling diaphragm 20 conforming to the non-circular shape of the storage tank shelf 30, thereby increasing liquid storage capacity within the tank. A gas-driven piston 24, also conforming to the non-circular shape, expels the liquid in rapid fashion and provides the force for rolling the attached non-circular diaphragm 20. Stability in diaphragm 20 during actuation of piston 24 is maintained by varying the local thicknesses t of diaphragm 20 in relationship with the local, cross-sectional radii of curvature R.sub.c.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: A ceramic blade assembly including a corrugated-metal partition situated in the space between the ceramic blade element and the post member, which corrugated-metal partition forms a compliant layer for the relief of mechanical stresses in the ceramic blade element during aerodynamic and thermal loading of the blade and which partition also serves as a means for defining contiguous sets of juxtaposed passages situated between the ceramic blade element and the post member, one set being open-ended and adjacent to exterior surfaces of the post member for directing cooling fluid thereover and the second set being adjacent to the interior surfaces of the ceramic blade element and being closed-off for creating stagnant columns of fluid to thereby insulate the ceramic blade element from the cooling air.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: A metal rivet, a two-piece rivet assembly, and a joint including the assembly. The metal rivet includes a preformed head at one end of a solid shank. At the other end there is a tubular upsettable portion which is circularly cylindrical with a recess which terminates at a base opening at said other end of the solid shank. The tubular upsettable portion is so proportioned as to form a proper upset head. At least a part of a core pin fits in the tubular upsettable portion and is retained therein after the rivet is set. During setting it prevent internal buckling of the tubular upsettable portion, and after setting it reinforces the upset head to prevent rollout as a consequence of axial separative forces. As an optional feature, at the terminal part of the forming of the upset head, the core pin can be pressed against the base to swell the solid shank and create a closer, or even an interference, fit for the shank in a workpiece.

Abstract: An internally manifolded plate for a plate/fin-type heat exchanger comprises a side port contiguous with and transverse to at least one channel, and wherein the channel is contiguous with an end port. The plate may be of unibody construction and also include integral side and end external manifolds.

Abstract: A tube-in-tube shelless heat exchanger having the capability of being modularized comprises a plurality of single element tube rows 18 in combination with header means 26. The single element tube row 18 comprises a plurality of inner 12 and outer 14 concentric tube pairs for carrying a first and a second heat transfer fluid, forward and aft tube sheets 20, and flexible arcuate manifold means 16 for outer tubes 14.

Abstract: A metal rivet, a two-piece rivet assembly, and a joint including the assembly. The metal rivet includes a preformed head at one end of a solid shank. At the other end there is a tubular upsettable portion which is circularly cylindrical with a recess which terminates at a base opening at said other end of the solid shank. The tubular upsettable portion is so proportioned as to form a proper upset head. At least a part of a core pin fits in the tubular upsettable portion and is retained therein after the rivet is set. During setting it prevents internal buckling of the tubular upsettable portion, and after setting it reinforces the upset head to prevent rollout as a consequence of axial separative forces. As an optional feature, at the terminal part of the forming of the upset head, the core pin can be pressed against the base to swell the solid shank and create a closer, or even an interference, fit for the shank in a workpiece.

Abstract: A geodesic, oblate spheroidally-shaped tank is disclosed containing a reversible diaphragm disposed within the tank. Liquid propellant is stored in the diaphragm housed within the tank, the propellant being expelled through an exit orifice of the tank by applying pressurant through an inlet orifice of the tank between the inner wall of the tank and the exterior wall of the diaphragm. The oblate spheroidal shape of the diaphragm/tank combination controls the collapse mode of the diaphragm for uniform expulsion of fluid contained therein.

Abstract: A metal rivet, a two-piece rivet assembly, and a joint including the assembly. The metal rivet includes a preformed head at one end of a solid shank. At the other end there is a tubular upsettable portion which is circularly cylindrical with a recess which terminates at a base opening at said other end of the solid shank. The tubular upsettable portion is so proportioned as to form a proper upset head. At least a part of a core pin fits in the tubular upsettable portion and is retained therein after the rivet is set. During setting it prevents internal buckling of the tubular upsettable portion, and after setting it reinforces the upset head to prevent rollout as a consequence of axial separative forces. As an optional feature, at the terminal part of the forming of the upset head, the core pin can be pressed against the base to swell the solid shank and create a closer, or even an interference, fit for the shank in a workpiece.

Abstract: A metal rivet, a two-piece rivet assembly, and a joint including the assembly. The metal rivet includes a preformed head at one end of a solid shank. At the other end there is a tubular upsettable portion which is circularly cylindrical with a recess which terminates at a base opening at said other end of the solid shank. The tubular upsettable portion is so proportioned as to form a proper upset head. At least a part of a core pin fits in the tubular upsettable portion and is retained therein after the rivet is set. During setting it prevents internal buckling of the tubular upsettable portion, and after setting it reinforces the upset head to prevent rollout as a conequence of axial separative forces. As an optional feature, at the terminal part of the forming of the upset head, the core pin can be pressed against the base to swell the solid shank and create a closer, or even an interference, fit for the shank in a workpiece.