Abstract:
A tubing or pipe connector assembly primarily for use at cryogenic temperatures. The connector is of the screw thimble, gland type which is provided with a sealing member having a malleable metal seal partially inset in an annular groove in its radial face or faces. The sealing force for the seal is provided by spring members which are compressed when the threaded gland is screwed into the thimble. Materials used in the connector system are selected to effectively maintain the seal as temperature and pressure are cycled. The thread system of the gland and thimble and the deflection of the spring member can be selected so that after the connector components have been assembled to a fingertight condition, approximately a single turn of the gland finishes the connection operation.
Abstract:
A grid lateral photodetector having integral gain capability making possible the amplification of generated photocurrents prior to entry of the information in the position determining portion of the detector thereby significantly improving the operating characteristics of the detector especially at low noise levels. The subject photodetector includes a wafer element having an array of phototransistors with a common collector formed by a uniformly diffused semi-conductor region, and an array of diffused semi-conductor material connected to nodal points in a grid resistor array.
Abstract:
A cassette used to analyze a carrier liquid for the presence of a specific microorganism therein has a passageway extending through it and the passageway is provided with filter and viewing wells arranged such that each viewing well is preceded by a filter well. The carrier liquid is introduced into the passageway at one end thereof. Each filter well contains a filter material capable of effecting a one log reduction in the microorganisms within the liquid as the liquid passes through the filter. Each viewing cell contains plugs having a culture medium therein which is selective to a specific microorganism in the sense that only that microorganism will grow in the culture medium and change the light-transmitting characteristics of the viewing wells. To load the filter wells a pad of filter material is placed over the ends of the filter wells and the filters are simultaneously stamped from the pad and driven into the filter wells. To load the viewing wells, a flexible sheet of culture medium is placed over the ends of the viewing wells and the plugs are stamped therefrom and simultaneously driven into the viewing wells. The flexible sheet of culture medium is formed by adding a film-forming agent to liquid culture medium, pouring the solution so formed onto a surface, and then evaporating volatile components of the solution. After the volatile components evaporate, the flexible film remains.. The film-forming agent may be gelatin and glycerin, or it may be polyvinyl alcohol.
Abstract:
Apparatus for the accurate placement of the conductive members and electrodes of acoustic surface wave devices formed on the surface of a substrate such as a piezoelectric substrate including means for mounting the substrate for movement on the movable base portion of a camera device, said substrate having a conductive input transducer formed thereon, but being without any conductive electrodes. The apparatus includes a pick-up sensor mounted externally of the movable base in position adjacent to the substrate, and means responsive to a reference signal of the same frequency as the frequency at which the acoustic surface wave device being constructed is to operate for driving and accurately locating the movable members including the movable camera base. The apparatus includes a phasemeter which is used to accurately reposition the table (camera base) to each succeeding electrode image position so that the relative phase of all electrodes of the acoustic surface wave device is assured, a condition made possible by the present apparatus inasmuch as the photomasks employed are also prepared under control of similar step and repeat control means. The apparatus may alternatively employ means to count the cycles of the RF signal as the table is moved.
Abstract:
A load lift and skid pad assembly for supporting and for use in moving replaceable modular units such as in the conversion of aircraft between freight and passenger use. Provision is made to anchor the assemblies (and thus the modular unit) to the floor for installation and to raise the modular unit for movement on the skid pads when unfastened.
Abstract:
This application discloses a chemical conversion process and composition for producing an adherent conversion coating on titanium and its alloys. The composition comprises a combination of sodium hydroxide and a hexavalent chromium compound. The process comprises the treatment of the titanium part with the usual, well-known nitric-hydrofluoric acid solution and/or an alkaline cleaner to obtain a clean surface. Then the parts are exposed to the process of this application which produces a surface resulting in increased adhesion or retention of subsequently applied coatings such as chemical milling maskants, adhesive bonding materials, lubricants, other protective coatings, and enhances the adhesion of composite materials to titanium.
Abstract:
Structural support assembly for use in arctic and subarctic (permafrost) areas or in any areas where the upper ground layer is subject to a severe annual freeze-thaw cycle, including the cooperative combination of a support structure and a heat pipe element installed in generally frozen soil. The heat pipe is of a suitably complementary configuration and/or disposition with respect to the support structure to provide appropriate stabilization of the surrounding frozen soil. In one embodiment, the heat pipe element is disposed externally of the support structure and, in another embodiment, it is disposed internally of such structure. The external embodiment further includes one version employing a linear (straight) heat pipe element and another version employing an angular (helical) element. The internal embodiment further includes one version wherein a heat pipe is integrally combined with a support structure and another version wherein a heat pipe is cooperatively installed inside a support structure.
Abstract:
A system capable of accurately and rapidly measuring irregular areas such as the aggregate plating surfaces of a printed circuit board or the minimum throat opening cross section of a fired rocket engine nozzle is disclosed. The system broadly and illustratively comprises a light source for illuminating a photographic negative (or positive) of the region under consideration, a television camera for viewing and scanning the illuminated negative, a calculator responsive to the video output signal of the camera and providing grouped digital signals representative of incremental portions of the irregular area being measured, and a counter for counting the digital signals and displaying the total count which is a direct measure of the irregular area.
Abstract:
A fluid line coupling for allowing fluid lines to be coupled with provision for some misalignment or angular relationship to be accommodated without disrupting a secure seal or imposing stresses in the components of the coupling when the fluid lines are carrying pressurized fluids. The coupling seal embodies elements having mating concave and convex surfaces and other elements having sliding contact for substantially evenly distributing the forces developed when the coupling is tightened down in service.
Abstract:
A reversible reciprocating motor pump for transferring energy from one hydraulic system to another. The motor pump includes a pair of similar hydraulic cylinders connected back to back and controlled by interconnected control valves that properly sequence and phase the in and out flows to the hydraulic cylinders so hydraulic energy can be transferred from one system to the other without transferring hydraulic fluid therebetween.