Abstract: A rotating aperture system includes a low-pressure vacuum pumping stage with apertures for passage of a deuterium beam. A stator assembly includes holes for passage of the beam. The rotor assembly includes a shaft connected to a deuterium gas cell or a crossflow venturi that has a single aperture on each side that together align with holes every rotation. The rotating apertures are synchronized with the firing of the deuterium beam such that the beam fires through a clear aperture and passes into the Xe gas beam stop. Portions of the rotor are lapped into the stator to improve the sealing surfaces, to prevent rapid escape of the deuterium gas from the gas cell.

Abstract: A shield for blocking radiation emanating from an antenna within a predetermined radial spectrum. The inventive device includes an arcuate shield positionable along an exterior of an antenna. A securing mechanism is coupled to the shield for securing a position thereof relative to the antenna such that radiation is excluded from a predetermined radial spectrum to protect a head of a user from the radiation.

Abstract: A support and maneuvering device includes an elongated flexible inflatable enclosure having a fixed end and a movable end. The movable end is collapsible toward the fixed end to a contracted position when the enclosure is in a noninflated condition. Upon inflation, the movable end is movable away from the fixed end to an extended position. The movable end includes means for mounting an article such as a solar reflector thereon. The device also includes a plurality of position controlling means disposed about the movable end to effect adjusting movement of portions thereof by predetermined amounts and for controlling an angle at which the article disposed at the movable end is oriented. The plurality of position controlling means limits a suitable number degrees of freedom of the movable end for transmitting a steering motion thereto and for controlling the position thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of full color, partial colored or two colored pictures, scenes, words, etc., on articles of aluminum or aluminum alloys. The process involves first forming a hard, dense, non-colored anodic coating of between about 0.4 mils and 1.0 mils on aluminum or aluminum base alloys by anodizing the aluminum in an acidic aqueous electrolyte comprising sulfuric acid, a polyhydric alcohol of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and an organic carboxylic acid containing at least one reactive group in the alpha position; and coloring the coating by intimately contacting the unsealed coating with a paper containing a dye or dyes capable of subliming and then heating the surfaces causing the dye to sublime and transfer to the unsealed anodic film.

Abstract: Coupling mechanism (11) for engaging and lifting a load (12) has a housing (19) with a guide passage (18) for receiving a knob (13) which is secured to the load (12) through a neck (15) of smaller diameter. A hollow ball (23) in the housing (19) has an opening (27) which receives the knob (13) and the ball (23) is then turned to displace the opening (27) from the housing passage (18) and to cause the neck (15) to enter a slot (29) in the ball (23) thereby securing the load (12) to the coupling mechanism (11) as elements (49) of the housing (19) block travel of the neck (15) back into the opening (27) when the ball (23) is turned to the load holding orientation. As engagement of the load (12) and locking of the coupling mechanism are accomplished simultaneously by the same ball (23) motion, operation is simplified and reliability is greatly increased. The ball (23) is preferably turned by a motor (32) through worm gearing (36) and the coupling mechanism (11) may be controlled from a remote location.