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At least 199 records · Page 11

Development of the electrochemically regenerable carbon dioxide absorber for portable life support system application

As the length of manned space missions increase, more ambitious extravehicular activities (EVAs) are required. For the projected longer mission the use of expendables in the portable life support system (PLSS) will become prohibited due to high launch weight and volume requirements. Therefore, the development of a regenerable CO2 absorber for the PLSS application is highly desirable. The paper discusses the concept, regeneration mechanism, performance, system design, and absorption/regeneration cycle testing of a most promising concept known as ERCA (Electrochemically Regenerable CO2 Absorber). This concept is based on absorbing CO2 into an alkaline absorbent similar to LiOH. The absorbent is an aqueous solution supported in a porous matrix which can be electrochemically regenerated on board the primary space vehicle. With the metabolic CO2 recovery the ERCA concept results in a totally regenerable CO2 scrubber. The ERCA test hardware has passed 200 absorption/regeneration cycles without performance degradation.

Woods, R. R.↗

A Portable Oxygen Subsystem - Description and preliminary thermal performance prediction

This paper describes the use, operation, and preliminary thermal modeling of a Portable Oxygen Subsystem (POS). The POS is a partial rebreather which is being developed for Shuttle Orbiter support. Normally used as a pre-breather for denitrogenization prior to EVA, this semi-closed, breath powered breathing system can also be used for emergencies in the event of a contaminated or oxygen-deficient cabin atmosphere, to support an emergency transfer between vehicles, or as a clean oxygen supply in the event of a contaminated ambient atmosphere in the vicinity of the Orbiter after landing.

Sribnik, F.↗

Portable appliance security apparatus

An apparatus for securing a small computer, or other portable appliance, against theft is described. It is comprised of a case having an open back through which the computer is installed or removed. Guide members in the form of slots are formed in a rear portion of opposite walls of the case for receiving a back plate to cover the opening and thereby secure the computer within the case. An opening formed in the top wall of the case exposes the keyboard and display of the computer. The back plate is locked in the closed position by a key-operated plug type lock. The lock is attached to one end of a hold down cable, the opposite end thereof being secured to a desk top or other stationary object. Thus, the lock simultaneously secures the back plate to the case and retains the case to the stationary object.

Kerley, J. J.↗

A portable He-3 cryostat for studies in astrophysics

The paper reviews the design, operation, and testing of a portable He-3 cryostat developed for astrophysical studies. The goal of the program was to develop an He-3 cryostat capable of cooling three bolometers to the 0.3-K temperature range for periods of more than six hours; a secondary goal was to evaluate the use of He-4 as the working fluid in a similar cryostat to provide cooling to infrared bolometers in the 0.8-K temperature range. It is planned to employ the He-3 cryostat for an infrared astronomy balloon flight. The cooler would be used with He-3 to achieve a 0.34-K bolometer temperature.

Sherman, A.↗

Low-power portable geophysical data acquisition system and its use in geomagnetic measurements

A low-power portable data acquisition system presently in use for geomagnetic measurements is described. The system is composed of a data-processing system containing a low-power microprocessor, a 9-track digital tape recorder, and a rechargeable battery pack. The magnetometer is a low-power three axis fluxgate design. Under program control the data processing system keeps track of time of day and date, samples three analog magnetometer outputs at intervals of either 0.4 or 2 s, digitizes the data to 15-bit resolution, and, depending upon relative magnetic activity, decides upon data compression to increase the tape storage capacity. It also monitors and records internal voltages and provides self-checking functions which may be monitored through a visual readout on the control panel. The system is mounted in a rugged, weather-tight carrying case suitable for use outdoors with minimal protection. The system, including magnetometer, uses 1.6-W power and can store 5.7 Mbytes of data.

Medford, L. V.↗

Portable medical status and treatment system

A portable medical status and treatment system is discussed. The vital signs monitor includes electrocardiogram, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, alarm, and power subsystems, which are described. A DC defibrillator module, a radio module, and their packaging are also described. These subsystems were evaluated and the results and recommendations are presented.

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The feasibility of miniaturizing the versatile portable speech prosthesis: A market survey of commercial products

The feasibility of a miniature versatile portable speech prosthesis (VPSP) was analyzed and information on its potential users and on other similar devices was collected. The VPSP is a device that incorporates speech synthesis technology. The objective is to provide sufficient information to decide whether there is valuable technology to contribute to the miniaturization of the VPSP. The needs of potential users are identified, the development status of technologies similar or related to those used in the VPSP are evaluated. The VPSP, a computer based speech synthesis system fits on a wheelchair. The purpose was to produce a device that provides communication assistance in educational, vocational, and social situations to speech impaired individuals. It is expected that the VPSP can be a valuable aid for persons who are also motor impaired, which explains the placement of the system on a wheelchair.

Walklet, T.↗

A portable, low-cost flight-data measurement and recording system

The design of and the experience with an inexpensive, hand-portable, onboard data system used to record four parameters in the final portion of the landing approach and touchdown of an airplane are described. The system utilized a high-quality audio tape recorder and amateur photographic equipment with accessory circuitry rather than specialized instrumentation to given satisfactory results.

Miller, R. J.↗

Portable Pallet-Weighing Apparatus

Portable apparatus intended for standard four-trunnion pallets readily adaptable to any large payload or other loads where shifting of cargo is to be avoided. Device lifts trunnion of pallet short distance above its resting place. Weight at trunnion applied to load cell. Similar units placed at all four trunnions.

Day, R. M.↗

Portable Data Logger for Photovoltaic Panels

Instrument measures rapidly changing knee of V-I curve with extra care. Portable data logger runs on own batteries. Includes microcomputer, which controls voltage-, current-measurement increment, and solid state memory, which stores data until transferred to EPROM module. Data logger is light, compact and easily caried to remote field locations.

Cole, S. W.↗

Portable Roller Staking Tool

Staking tool compact and portable. Tool combines clamping and staking operations in single unit. Tool clamps workpiece (a bearing or bushing), alines it, and stakes on of flat faces. Used for most roller staking operations which acess both faces of workpiece.

Bird, R. G.↗

Portable X-Y Scanner

Lightweight device uses one drive motor for surface scanning. Electromechanical X-Y Scanner indexed in both x and y by single motor. Constructed of readily available inexpensive parts. Used to move eddycurrent sensor over surface of metal plate; other applications for unique features include low power consumption, light weight, and portability.

Kurtz, G. W.↗

Portable Plating System

Plating system mounted on portable cart includes 30-gallon (23.5 liter) electrolyte tank, filler pump, heaters, replenishing anodes, plating rectifiers and tank rectifier to continously remove contaminants.

Flores, R.↗

Portable Fatigue-Testing Machine

Portable machine constructed for fatigue testing of structural materials or machinery parts subjected to fatigue loads. Piezoelectric crystal stack adds oscillatory force to constant force. Machine tests wider variety of objects than with usual rotating-beam fatigue tests.

Lewis, J.↗

Design and feasibility study for a portable oil recovery turbopump

A portable oil recovery turbopump concept, using the Firefly module as primer mover, for the offloading of distressed tank vessels is examined. The demands to be met both in terms of the type of petroleum to be offloaded, as well as the operational requirements placed on the pump, are studied with respect to the capability of different pump configurations. Two configurations, one a centrifugal type and the other a screw type pump, are developed and evaluated. While the centrifugal configuration is found to be effective in a large proportion of tank vessel offloading situations, the screw type will be required where high viscosity cargoes are involved. The feasibility of the turbopump concept, with the Firefly module as prime mover, is established.

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Preliminary testing of a prototype portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

A portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for use as an analyzer in mineral resource investigative work was built and tested. The prototype battery powered spectrometer, measuring 11 by 12 by 5 inches and weighing only about 15 pounds, was designed specifically for field use. The spectrometer has two gas proportional counters and two radioactive sources, Cd (10a) and Fe (55). Preliminary field and laboratory tests on rock specimens and rock pulps have demonstrated the capability of the spectrometer to detect 33 elements to date. Characteristics of the system present some limitations, however, and further improvements are recommended.

Patten, L. L.↗

Portable design rules for bulk CMOS

It is pointed out that for the past several years, one school of IC designers has used a simplified set of nMOS geometric design rules (GDR) which is 'portable', in that it can be used by many different nMOS manufacturers. The present investigation is concerned with a preliminary set of design rules for bulk CMOS which has been verified for simple test structures. The GDR are defined in terms of Caltech Intermediate Form (CIF), which is a geometry-description language that defines simple geometrical objects in layers. The layers are abstractions of physical mask layers. The design rules do not presume the existence of any particular design methodology. Attention is given to p-well and n-well CMOS processes, bulk CMOS and CMOS-SOS, CMOS geometric rules, and a description of the advantages of CMOS technology.

Griswold, T. W.↗

Portable dynamic pressure generator for static and dynamic calibration of in situ pressure transducers

A portable dynamic pressure generator was developed to meet the requirements of determining the dynamic sensitivities of in situ pressure transducers at low frequencies. The device is designed to operate in a frequency range of 0 to 100 Hz, although it was only tested up to 30 Hz, and to generate dynamic pressures up to 13.8 kPa (2 psi). A description of the operating characteristics and instrumentation used for pressure, frequency, and displacement measurements is given. The pressure generator was used to statically and dynamically calibrate transducers. Test results demonstrated that a difference an exist between the static and dynamic sensitivity of a transducer, confirming the need for dynamic calibrations of in situ pressure transducers.

Bolt, P. A.↗