Abstract: Pointing interfaces that can be used to assemble/disassemble instruments/payloads from a spacecraft/host are disclosed. The disclosed interfaces provide structural, communications, power, and fluid connections (for thermal control). Such interfaces also provide active and passive vibration isolation capability for precision pointing.

Abstract: A BiBlade sampler may include a first blade and a second blade in a retracted position. The BiBlade sampler may also include a gripper, which is driven by an actuator. The gripper may include a plurality of fingers to force the first blade and the second blade to remain in a retracted position. When the fingers are unhooked, the first blade and the second blade penetrate a surface of an object.

Abstract: Calcium sulphate is added to desanded tailings derived from a hot water extraction process for recovering bitumen from oil sand. Enough calcium sulphate (100 to 200 ppm) is added to remove naphthenates and sulfonates from the aqueous phase. As a result, the settling rate of the fines in the tailings is accelerated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for forming metal matrix composite bodies. Particularly, an infiltration enhancer and/or an infiltration enhancer precursor and/or an infiltrating atmosphere are in communication with a filler material or a preform, at least at some point during the process, which permits molten matrix metal to spontaneously infiltrate the filler material or preform. Such spontaneous infiltration occurs without the requirement for the application of any pressure or vacuum.

Abstract: A seal for a shaft in a structural body. The seal is configured to surround the shaft within said structural body. The seal has a flange making a gasket seal with the structural body. The seal has at least one portion distorted and stretched into a tapered configuration and into a tension-related sealing association with the shaft. The seal is made of a memory-retainable material. This memory urges the distorted and stretched tapered portion towards its original configuration, thereby enhancing the sealing association with the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the following:(1) that when tar sand is conditioned and diluted in the hot water extraction process, there are two classes of anionic surfactants (originating from carboxylate and sulfonate groups) present in the process water;(2) that each of these surfactants has the potential to dominantly influence the maximizing of primary froth production by the process;(3) that it is possible for a particular extraction circuit to determine the critical free surfactant concentration in the process water at which primary froth extraction is maximized for each of the two classes of surfactant;(4) and that it is possible to determine which of the two classes of surfactant will first (that is, at lowest NaOH addition) dominate the process when a particular tar sand feed is being processed.The present invention therefore involves:determining the critical free surfactant concentrations ("C.sub.cs.sup.O " and "C.sub.ss.sup.

Abstract: A self-contained, operative, valving unit which includes a valve body having inlet and outlet ports, and a rotatable valve plug is securely though removably housed within a valve housing having inlet and outlet ports which are permanently secured to pipes through which the fluid media to be controlled is conveyed to and from the housing, and wherein the entire valving unit, per se, is received within a valving-unit-receptive bore of the valve housing with its inlet and outlet ports in cooperative, aligned, fluid tight relationship with respect to corresponding inlet and outlet ports interiorly of the valve housing whereby the flow of fluid media through the valve housing is controlled by the removable valving unit.

Abstract: A plug valve has an actuating stem which is non-integral with the valve plug. The actuating stem is axially movable with respect to the valve plug to compressingly and sealingly engage an external sealing member in response to fluid pressure. The plug wedges itself into sealing engagement in response to fluid pressure.

Abstract: A packing arrangement for sealing an area about a shaft in a structural body includes a plurality of V-shaped packing rings in stacked alignment. The packing rings are made from a memory retainable material and preformed into the V-shaped configuration with a forming die. After being preformed, the V-shaped packing rings are compressed beyond their preformed configuration and placed in a packing chamber. The memory characteristics of the packing ring material are such that the rings are urged toward their preformed V-shape to compensate for any dimensional instability of the rings during thermal cycling. The packing rings also have a very small stack height and provide an increased number of sealing surfaces within a predetermined sealing area.

Abstract: A fail-safe actuator mechanism has an actuator housing encapsulated within a tank which stores a pressurized fluid media. Ports of the actuator housing are put into selective fluid communication with both the interior and exterior of the encapsulating tank by a valve at selective pressures.

Abstract: Two or more tar sand feeds are blended in specified proportions in combination with a specified dosage of NaOH to provide a slurry, having a free surfactant content dissolved in the aqueous phase of the slurry, which yields the maximum possible primary froth production from the hot water extraction process.

Abstract: The hot water process is sensitive to the nature of the tar sand feed, which varies. An alkaline process aid, usually NaOH, is normally added to the conditioning step of the process and is needed to obtain good bitumen recovery from most tar sand feeds. The invention is based on the discovery that, for a particular extraction circuit used, there is a single value of free surfactant content in the aqueous phase of the process slurry which will yield maximum primary froth recovery regardless of the type of tar sand feed used.

Abstract: A plug valve for controlling discharge of a fluid tank has an upper surface continuously subjected to the weight and pressure of the tank's contents. Pressure applied to this upper surface is transmitted through the valve to assist sealing with a member subjacent to the valve's plug.

Abstract: A system for sampling material from a remote location which selectively collects a predetermined quantity of material in a valve disposed inside a container. This measured amount of material is transferred to a movable receiving carrier while the receiving carrier is in a sealed relationship with the valve to prevent leakage of the sample material outside the receiving carrier. The movable receiving carrier is transported via an elongated tubular structure to a location remote from the container.

Abstract: A plug valve is provided with primary, secondary and tertiary seals. The primary seal includes an apertured sleeve which envelopes a plug portion of a valving member. The secondary and tertiary seals are provided by a delta ring and a lip of a diaphragm respectfully. The diaphragm is formed with a hollow annular groove proximal to the stem portion of the valving member. The delta ring is placed in this hollow annular groove with an interference fit to form a secondary seal between itself and the valving member and to augment the tertiary seal formed between a lip of the diaphragm and the valving member.

Abstract: A fail-safe, air actuated actuator mechanism is completely housed within and sealed interiorly of an accumulator tank in which a quantity of fail-safe actuating air is stored, under pressure.

Abstract: A wafer-type swing check valve construction having a metallic housing body provided with an inlet and an outlet interconnected together by a valve seat that is adapted to be opened and closed by the effect of a pressure differential acting across a metallic valve disc pivotally mounted to the housing body by a pivot pin-like part of the disc that has opposed ends thereof rotatably received in cooperating recess means in the housing body to provide a pivot arrangement for the valve disc, the valve disc cooperating with the valve seat to define a seating area therewith.

Abstract: External and internal leakage of line media from a plug valve is prevented by the continuous application of a buffering media at all potential leak paths at pressure greater than the pressure of the line media.

Abstract: A gate valve having good seismic profile has a gate which is rapidly and efficiently shifted between fully opened and fully closed positions by pistons housed within cylinders formed integral with the valve body. The gate comprises two half-gates or discs having means interposed therebetween for disposing said half-gates in positive, sealing relationship with the seating surfaces of the valving port of the valve body when the gate is in a fully closed position. Movement of the gate is effected by the pressure media being controlled by the valve in such a manner as to eliminate leakage.

Abstract: External leakage around the actuator-stem of a plug valve is prevented by the application of forces to the lower surface of the valving member whereby to normally advance and maintain sealing surfaces on the upper end of the valving member against and in sealing relationship with a diaphragm.