Patents by Inventor James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher

James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4372110
    Abstract: A noise suppressor for installation on the discharge or aft end of a turbo fan engine. Within the suppressor are fixed annular airfoils which are positioned to reduce the relative velocity between the high temperature fast moving jet exhaust and the low temperature slow moving air surrounding the same. Within the suppressor nacelle is an exhaust jet nozzle which constrains the shape of the jet exhaust to a substantially uniform elongate shape irrespective of the power setting of the engine. Fixed ring airfoils within the suppressor nacelle therefore have the same salutary effects irrespective of the power setting at which the engine is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Dah Y. Cheng
  • Patent number: 4329053
    Abstract: A particle size spectrometer having a fixed field of view within the forward light scattering cone at an angle .theta..sub.s between approximately 100 and 200 minutes of arc (preferably at 150 minutes), a spectral range extending approximately from 0.2 to 4.0 inverse micrometers (.mu.m.sup.-1), and a spectral resolution between about 0.1 and 0.2 .mu.m.sup.-1 (preferably toward the lower end of this range of spectral resolution), is employed to determine the distribution of particle sizes, independently of the chemical composition of the particles, from measurements of incident light, I.sub.o, at each frequency, .sigma. (=1/.lambda.), and scattered light, I(.sigma.), according to the equation: ##EQU1## where l=2.pi.sin.theta., .theta. being the fixed viewing angle .theta..sub.s at which scattered light is measured, r is particle size, .sigma. is the reciprocal of wavelength, J.sub.1 is a Bessel function of first kind and order unity, Y.sub.1 is a Bessel function of second kind and order unity. The quantity, I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Alain L. Fymat
  • Patent number: 4252111
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for orthopedic braces includes upper and lower brace members pivotably jointed together, notched or recessed plates being fixedly secured to the lower brace member while a U-shaped locking bar is pivotably secured to the upper brace member for lockingly cooperating with the notched or recessed plates, a spring-biased actuating lever being operatively associated with the U-shaped locking bar. The upper and lower brace members are also provided with drilled holes or bores which are angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axes of the upper and lower brace members, the bores being aligned with each other when the longitudinal axes of the brace members are likewise aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Jireh I. Chao, Charles H. Epps, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4212732
    Abstract: A raw sewage treatment process is disclosed in which substantially all the non-dissolved matter, which is suspended in the sewage water is first separated from the water, in which at least organic matter is dissolved. The non-dissolved material is pyrolyzed to form an activated carbon and ash material without the addition of any conditioning agents. The activated carbon and ash material is added to the water from which the non-dissolved matter was removed. The activated carbon and ash material absorbs organic matter and heavy metal ions, it is believed, are dissolved in the water and is thereafter supplied in a counter current flow direction and combined with the incoming raw sewage to facilitate the separation of the non-dissolved settleable materials from the sewage water. The used carbon and ash material together with the non-dissolved matter which was separated from the sewage water are pyrolyzed to form the activated carbon and ash material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Marshall F. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 4203723
    Abstract: A process for producing aromatic polyamides having improved nonflammability characteristics in which a polyamide substrate is contacted with a gaseous medium comprising a minor amount of a haloolefinic material and an inert diluent in the presence of light having sufficient energy to effect chemical addition of the haloolefin to said polyamide substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Madeline S. Toy, Roger S. Stringham
  • Patent number: 4200721
    Abstract: Homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers of a styrene based monomer are prepared by:(1) polymerizing at least one oxidized styrylphosphine monomer selected from the group of:(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 P(O)N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2,(C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O).sub.2 P(O)N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2,(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.3 N.sub.3 N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 and(C.sub.6 H.sub.5)C.sub.3 N.sub.3 [N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ].sub.2 ; or(2) polymerizing p-diphenylphosphinestyrene and then oxidizing said polymerized p-diphenylphosphinestyrene monomer with an organoazide selected from the group of (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 P(O)N.sub.3,(C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O).sub.2 P(O)N.sub.3,(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.3 N.sub.3 (N.sub.3) and C.sub.6 H.sub.5 C.sub.3 N.sub.3 (N.sub.3).sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Kazimiera J. L. Paciorek
  • Patent number: 4197530
    Abstract: An intrusion detection system in which crystal oscillators are used to provide a frequency which varies as a function of fluctuations of a particular environmental property of the atmosphere, e.g., humidity, in the protected volume. The system is based on the discovery that the frequency of an oscillator whose crystal is humidity sensitive, varies at a frequency or rate which is within a known frequency band, due to the entry of an intruder into the protected volume. The variable frequency is converted into a voltage which is then filtered by a filtering arrangement which permits only voltage variations at frequencies within the known frequency band to activate an alarm while inhibiting the alarm activation when the voltage frequency is below or above the known frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Eric G. Laue
  • Patent number: 4168706
    Abstract: A semiclosed-loop rebreathing system is provided for use in a hostile environment. The system is characterized by a packed bed regenerative heat exchanger providing two distinct temperature-humidity zones of breathing gas with one zone providing cool, relatively dry air and the second zone providing hot, moist air. Exhaled gas is passed through the packed bed regenerative heat exchanger to increase the temperature and humidity of the gas and is then passed through a sorbent cannister containing a lithium hydroxide bed to remove carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide-free gas is then passed through the regenerative heat exchanger in the reverse direction to cool and dehumidify the gas to normal breathing conditions. Check valves between the heat exchanger and the sorbent cannister establish gas flow in a single direction through the lithium hydroxide bed and a flexible breathing bag interposed in the flow path prevents back pressure during inhalation/exhalation sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, John S. Lovell
  • Patent number: 4168287
    Abstract: Homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers of a styrene based monomer are prepared by:(1) polymerizing at least one oxidized styrylphosphine monomer selected from the group of:(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 P(O)N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2,(c.sub.6 h.sub.5 o).sub.2 p(o)n.dbd.p(c.sub.6 h.sub.5).sub.2 c.sub.6 h.sub.4 ch.dbd.ch.sub.2,(c.sub.6 h.sub.5).sub.2 c.sub.3 n.sub.3 n.dbd.p(c.sub.6 h.sub.5).sub.2 c.sub.6 h.sub.4 ch.dbd.ch.sub.2 and(C.sub.6 H.sub.5)C.sub.3 N.sub.3 [N.dbd.P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ].sub.2 ; or(2) polymerizing p-diphenylphosphinestyrene and then oxidizing said polymerized p-diphenylphosphinestyrene monomer with an organoazide selected from the group of (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 P(O)N.sub.3, (C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O).sub.2 P(O)N.sub.3, (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 C.sub.3 N.sub.3 (N.sub.3) and C.sub.6 H.sub.5 C.sub.3 N.sub.3 (N.sub.3).sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Kazimiera J. L. Paciorek
  • Patent number: 4149521
    Abstract: A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector may be constructed by a process utilizing well-known freeway paving machinery. The solar energy absorber is preferably a fluid-transporting pipe. Efficient utilization leading to high temperatures from the reflected solar energy is obtained by cylindrical shaped secondary reflectors that direct off-angle energy to the absorber pipe. To obtain higher temperature levels, refocusing secondary reflectors, that cause a series of discrete spots of highly concentrated solar energy to fall on the fluid-transporting pipe, are utilized. A seriatim arrangement of cylindrical secondary reflector stages and spot-forming reflector stages produces a high temperature solar energy collection system of greater efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Charles G. Miller, James B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4149817
    Abstract: A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector may be constructed by a process utilizing well-known freeway paving machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Charles G. Miller, James B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4145255
    Abstract: Phenol or a phenol related compound is detected in an electrochemical cell comprising a cathodic compartment containing a cathode in an electrolyte solution containing ferrocyanide ion and an anodic compartment containing an anode formed by coating a gel containing a phenol or phenol related compound oxidizing enzyme onto the conductive substrate of said anode immersed into an electrolyte solution containing ferrocyanide ion into which pure oxygen is passed; means for maintaining a conductive relationship between anodic and cathodic compartments; and means connected to said anode and cathode for measuring the potential of the oxidation of said phenol or related compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Julian G. Schiller, Chung C. Liu
  • Patent number: 4141259
    Abstract: A planetary (epicyclic) gear set is provided with a reversible rotating input shaft and individual outputs shafts actuated, respectively, by the ring gear and planet gear carrier. Latch means is positioned to selectively and automatically stop the ring gear or carrier member while releasing the other to provide the desired sequential output operation. The output shafts are reversed in sequence and direction of rotation by reversing rotational direction of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Walter T. Appleberry
  • Patent number: 4140972
    Abstract: Frequency synthesizers at first and second stations that communicate with each other via a transmission link having a constant propagation delay time are started and synchronized by transmitting a tone from the first station to the second station via the link. The output frequencies of the two synthesizers correspond with each other and occur for the same length of time. At the second station, the tone is detected to cause the derivation of a tone burst having a predetermined frequency and duration. At the second station, a predetermined time interval after the derivation of the trailing edge of the tone burst, activation of the synthesizer at that station is initiated. The tone burst and frequencies derived from the synthesizer at the second station are transmitted in sequence from the second station to the first station via the link. At the first station, the tone burst is detected; detection of the trailing edge of the tone burst initiates operation of the synthesizer at the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Edward A. Enriquez, Ronald E. Gookin
  • Patent number: 4139839
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reformatting and de-serializing a serially-received sequence of data words, each consisting of a fixed number of binary data bits. A block of nm bits is serially fed into a shift register or serially-connected group of shift registers. In lieu of the (nm - 1)th shift, the bits are rearranged within the shift register in parallel fashion, according to a prescribed scheme. Shifting then continues, until the first bit of each data word appears in the last bit position in the shift register, at which time that data word is shifted in parallel into an output buffer stage, from which it is outputted in parallel, after a fixed delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Alexander Engel, L. Richard Springer
  • Patent number: 4137365
    Abstract: The abrasion resistance of plastic surfaces coated with polymerized organosilanes can be significantly improved by post-treatment of the polymerized silane in an oxygen plasma. For optical purposes, the advantages of this post-treatment are developed with a transparent polycarbonate resin substrate coated with plasma polymerized vinyltrimethoxysilane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Theodore J. Wydeven, Jr., John R. Hollahan
  • Patent number: 4135127
    Abstract: A direct current transformer in which the primary consists of an elongated strip of superconductive material, across the ends of which is applied a direct current potential. Parallel and closely spaced to the primary is positioned a transformer secondary consisting of a thin strip of magnetoresistive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Shyam M. Khanna, Eugene W. Urban
  • Patent number: 4134786
    Abstract: A method and means for purifying the waste water from paper and pulp mill wastes obtained from a mill using the Kraft process by first precipitating lignins and lignin derivatives from the waste stream with quaternary ammonium compounds, removing other impurities by activated carbon produced from the cellulosic components of the water, and thereafter separating water from the precipitate and solids. The activated carbon also acts as an aid to the separation of the water and solids. If recovery of lignins is also desired, then the precipitate containing the lignins and quaternary ammonium compound is dissolved in methanol. Upon acidification, the lignin is precipitated from the solution. The methanol and quaternary ammonium compound are recovered for reuse from the remainder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Marshall F. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 4132829
    Abstract: A plasma polymerization process for the deposition of a dielectric polymer coating on a substrate comprising disposing the substrate in a closed reactor between two temperature-controlled electrodes connected to a power supply, maintaining a vacuum within the closed reactor, causing a monomer gas or a gas mixture of a monomer and diluent to flow into the reactor, generating a plasma between the electrodes, and varying and controlling the dielectric constant of the polymer coating being deposited by regulating the gas total and partial pressures, the electric field strength and frequency, and the current density. A monomer, such as a polar saturated or unsaturated nitrogen-containing compound, or a monomer and diluent, such as a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon and nitrogen, can be polymerized to form a dielectric coating having a varying dielectric constant in accordance with this plasma polymerization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Martin Hudis, Theodore Wydeven
  • Patent number: 4132599
    Abstract: Method for the quick determination of the susceptibilities of various unidentified bacteria contained in an aqueous physiological fluid sample, particularly urine, to one or more antibiotics. A bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is carried out after the elimination of non-bacterial ATP to determine whether an infection exists. If an infection does exist, a portion of the sample is further processed, including subjecting parts of the portion to one or more antibiotics. Growth of the bacteria in the parts are determined, again by an ATP assay, to determine whether the unidentified bacteria in the sample are susceptible to the antibiotic or antibiotics under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Grace L. Picciolo, Emmett W. Chappelle, Jody W. Deming, Christian G. Shrock, Hillar Vellend, Michael J. Barza, Louis Weinstein