Abstract: A system and method for improved automotive safety, particularly aimed at the prevention of automobile, truck, and other vehicle accidents related to driving in a distracted manner while using a cell phone.

Abstract: In a gas turbine engine tip clearance between rotor blades and an encircling shroud liner is controlled by moving the shroud liner radially to match the thermal and centrifugal growth of the rotor assembly. The shroud liner segments are suspended between two axially displaced control rings located in a passageway carrying air ducted from the compressor. One control ring responds very quickly to changes in gas temperature corresponding to centrifugal growth and blade thermal growth. The other ring responds very much more slowly and corresponds to the thermal growth of the disc. The shroud liner segments are suspended from the control rings to adopt a position that constitutes the average between the growth positions of the two control rings.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a liquid conducting porous article having micron sized metallic particles suspended on a ceramic substrate member. The method includes coating the ceramic substrate with a particle slurry on top of which is added an additional amount of the same particles as a dry powder, and then heat treating the article in a reducing gas atmosphere. The use of less than ten micron sized Nickel particles for the porous material and sintered fusion of the particles are also included.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a main casing, turbine blades and a segmented cylindrical liner surrounding the tips of the blades is provided with apparatus for compensating for different radial expansions between the blades and the liner. The apparatus comprises a shroud structure, such as a platform of an axially adjacent nozzle guide vane, and a slipper element extending radially from the shroud structure to the liner and coupling one to the other. The slipper element expands circumferentially more slowly than does the shroud structure. Thermal circumferential growth of the shroud structure causes a radial displacement of the liner segments relative to the shroud structure.

Abstract: A shroud liner has a hooked downstream end passing between a stator vane and a casing so that in operation the gas loads on the vane cause the liner to be held between the vane and the casing. The shroud liner also has a resilient upstream end fitting between a second stator vane and the casing so that in operation gas loads on the vane cause it to move towards the casing, compressing the shroud liner. As a result the shroud liner is securely held in place at its downstream end, but can slide relative to the casing and vanes at its upstream end to allow for thermal expansion.

Abstract: A method for making an anisotropic or predominantly unidirectional wick primarily for use in heat pipes is disclosed unidirectional heat pipe wicks is made by supporting magnetically susceptible particles on a wire screen and moving the screen inside a magnetic field until the characteristic cone or point shapes assumed by the particles are aligned in a laid down orientation. The particles are then heat treated to yield a sintered wick. An example of a wick made with nickel powder demonstrates improved wicking in the direction pointed to by the laid down points. A wick is also made by the spinning pipe-slurry method for making heat pipe wicks. Magnetically susceptible powder is mixed into a viscous binder to make a slurry, then injected inside a rotating cylindrical heat pipe container. A magnetic field is created around the spinning container and varied to align the particles in a desired structure.

Abstract: A predominantly unidirectional wick primarily for use in unidirectional heat pipe wicks is disclosed. The wick is made by supporting magnetically susceptible particles on a wire screen and moving the screen inside a magnetic field until the characteristic cone or point shapes assumed by the particles are aligned in a laid down orientation. The particles are then heat treated to yield a sintered wick. An example of the disclosed wick made with nickel powder demonstrates improved wicking in the direction pointed to by the laid down points. The invention also includes a combination with the spinning pipe-slurry method for making heat pipe wicks. Magnetically susceptible powder is mixed into a viscous binder to make a slurry, then injected inside a rotating cylindrical heat pipe container. A magnetic field is created around the spinning container and varied to align the particles in a desired structure.

Abstract: A new method for making a heat pipe wick and arteries includes drilling. Radial holes around the circumference of the heat pipe container at its ends and stringing monofilament polymer lines inside the container between corresponding holes. The container is rotated at a slow rate while a slurry of nickel powder mixed into a viscous binder of water, Polyox and Methocel is injected inside the container to cover the inside surface of the container and the lines. The rotational rate of the container is then increased to force the slurry to level out to an uniform depth set by the thickness of sleeves attached at each end of the container. Forced air is blown through the inside of the rotating pipe to dry the slurry and form a green wick. After stopping rotation of the pipe, it is then heated inside a sintering oven in a reducing atmosphere to disintegrate the binder and polymer lines and to leave a sintered metal wick having hollow longitudinal arteries.

Abstract: An alkali metal plus halide electrical battery cell of, for example, the sodium and sulfuryl chloride type is disclosed. The disclosed cell provides accommodation for cell chemical reaction products that otherwise preclude achievement of secondary battery action or rechargeable nature in such cells and provides two physical accommodation changes, a reaction space and a reaction space temperature, in the cell arrangement to enable repeated charge and discharge cycling of the cell. The disclosed cell is shown to be embodied in a laboratory type structure and is described with net reaction or end result equations of a combined chemical and physical nature.

Abstract: A new method for making a sintered metal heat pipe wick is practiced by mixing nickel powder into a slurry with a viscous binder comprising water. Polyox and Methocel. The mixture is then injected inside a rotating stainless steel cylindrical heat pipe container, or pipe, to completely coat the inside surface of the pipe. The rotational rate of the pipe is then increased to force the slurry to level out to a uniform depth set by the thickness of sleeves attached at each end of the pipe. Forced air is then blown through the inside of the rotating pipe to dry the slurry and form a green wick. After stopping rotation of the pipe, it is then heated inside a sintering oven in a reducing atmosphere to disintegrate the binder and leave a sintered metal final composition of the wick. Thus produced wicks prevent "hot spots" because they have a more uniform thickness and are attached more evenly and securely than prior art heat pipe wicks to the inside walls of the heat pipe container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for static fatigue testing of ceramic material is described wherein a thin plate of ceramic material is supported at opposite ends thereof in a liquid sodium bath inside an enclosure containing a gaseous atmosphere inert to reaction with liquid sodium, the ceramic plate and sodium bath are controllably heated to preselected temperature, known loads are applied to the ceramic plate through a loading head having a pair of contact points on the ceramic plate intermediate its opposite ends within the sodium bath, and displacements of the loading head at corresponding loads are measured to generate output signals characteristic of loads on the ceramic plate.

Abstract: A low shear battery plaque and a nickel electrode fabricated therefrom, the latter consisting essentially of a centrally located layer of a conductive felt, layers of sintered nickel on each side of the felt and nickel hydroxide active material disposed throughout the pores of the sintered nickel.

Abstract: A low shear battery plaque and a nickel electrode fabricated therefrom, the latter consisting essentially of a centrally located layer of a conductive felt, layers of sintered nickel on each side of the felt and nickel hydroxide active material disposed throughout the pores of the sintered nickel.

Abstract: A novel hermetically sealed, protective atmosphere transfer vessel is described which comprises a container defining an interior cavity and opening thereof for receiving a sample to be protected during transfer, an annular lip surrounding the opening for receiving a flexible puncturable membrane stretched across the opening for hermetically sealing the container, and a wire puncture bridge attached at one to the container and having at the other end a point positioned near the membrane whereby pressure internal of the container expands the membrane against the point to puncture and tear away the membrane for exposure of the sample. An alternative embodiment includes a lid for the container including an axial exhaust hole therethrough and a ball valve for sealing the exhaust hole under the influence of external pressure on the lid.

Abstract: A method for preparing nickel electrodes is provided in which zinc hydroxide is deposited onto a metal plaque simultaneously with nickel hydroxide. A nickel electrode so prepared exhibits improved dimensional stability.

Abstract: A unique electrode plaque hardness tester, and a method of testing for the hardness of an electrode plaque specimen, are taught. The hardness tester is of the indentation type, and permits the hardness testing of an electrode plaque that is very thin (e.g., 0.75 mm) and that is made of non-homogenous, sintered material, such as a nickel electrode plaque. A fixed load, comprising a lesser first load and a larger second load, is applied in sequence to a test specimen of the electrode plaque, with two superimposed indentations resulting. The hardness of the electrode plaque, as a result of the use of this tester, is inversely related to the difference in the depths of the two indentations. Data acquired as a result of testing specimens with this hardness tester establishes that the harder the electrode plaque is, the less efficient is the performance of an active battery electrode which includes this electrode plaque.

Abstract: A battery electrode fatigue simulator having a frame which supports therein a pivotal and a stationary beam. The pivotal and stationary beams secure therebetween an electrode plaque which is to undergo the fatigue simulation. Also mounted to the frame is a rotatable cam of predetermined dimension which acts upon a cam follower forming part of the pivotal beam thereby causing cyclic movement or displacement of the pivotal beam. This cyclic displacement is transferred to the plaque as a cyclic stress in tension. Measurements are made of the displacement of the pivotal beam as well as resistance of the plaque during the application of the cyclic stress. The cyclic displacement versus resistance relationship is representative of the fatigue a battery electrode will undergo during actual battery operation.

Abstract: An improved capillary action wicking structure and method with a method for its making and with application of the wicking structure to a high temperature electrical battery cell of the sodium/sulfur type. The wicking structure includes finely-divided metal particles of nickel, for example, that are attached to the solid electrolyte structure in the electrical battery cell by an organic binder and sintering combination.

Abstract: A small particle porous material rigid wicking structure and a method of fabrication therefor are disclosed. The structure is fabricated from micron sized uniformly graded and shaped powder particles using a viscous slurry starting material and a one step or multiple step heating sequence. Details describing typical heat pipe and battery component uses of the porous material are included. Superior liquid conveying performance is achieved with the described porous material.