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At least 235 records · Page 13

Split-core heat-pipe reactors for out-of-pile thermionic power systems.

Description of the concept of splitting a heat-pipe reactor for out-of-core thermionics into two identical halves and using the resulting center gap for reactivity control. Short Li-W reactor heat pipes penetrate the axial reflectors and form a heat exchanger with long heat pipes which wind through the shield to the thermionic diodes. With one reactor half anchored to the shield, the other is attached to a long arm with a pivot behind the shield and swings through a small arc for reactivity control. A safety shim prevents large reactivity inputs, and a fueled control arm drive shaft acts as a power stabilizer. Reactors fueled with U-235C and with U-233C have been studied.-

Niederauer, G.↗

Linear kinematic air bearing

Bearing provides continuous, smooth movement of the cat's-eye mirror, eliminating wear and deterioration of bearing surface and resulting oscillation effects in servo system. Design features self-aligning configuration; single-point, pivotal pad mounting, having air passage through it; and design of pads that allows for precise control of discharge path of air from pads.

Mayall, S. D.↗

Supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of a variable-geometry spacecraft designed for high hypersonic performance

An investigation was made in the high Mach number test section of the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel on a variable-geometry high hypersonic performance spacecraft concept at Mach numbers from 2.30 to 4.63. The basic lifting body is designed for hypersonic lift-drag ratio near 3.0. The variable-geometry feature is a single-pivot two-position high wing which is deployed at subsonic speeds to improve vehicle landing characteristics. For the present investigation the wing was maintained in a stowed position, and the effects of horizontal stabilizer dihedral, elevon control effectiveness, and the addition of either a conventional single vertical tail or dorsal-fin-type vertical stabilizers on the longitudinal and lateral-directional stability and control characteristics were studied.

Spencer, B., Jr.↗

Radiometer-deployment subsystem

A radiometer-deployment subsystem for the Nimbus E spacecraft was designed, developed, and qualified for space use. The dimensions of the radiometer are 0.9 meter square by 0.1 meter, and its weighs 32 kilograms. Rigidly secured to the spacecraft during launch, the radiometer is deployed when the spacecraft reaches orbit. Deployment is achieved without permitting any portion of the radiometer to intersect the field of view of the infrared horizon scanner. This accomplishment necessitated a nonlinear deployment profile, which was accomplished by using a four-bar linkage composed of arms, cams, pivots, and steel tapes.

Speight, K. M.↗

Collapsible structure for an antenna reflector

A collapsible support for an antenna reflector for use in supporting spacecraft antennas is described. The support has a regid base and a number of struts which are pivoted at the base. The deployment of the struts and their final configuration for supporting the antenna are illustrated.

Trubert, M. R.↗

Design, fabrication, and performance of foil journal bearing for the brayton rotating unit

Foil bearings were designed and manufactured to replace pivoted-shoe journal bearings in an existing Brayton Cycle turbo-alternator-compressor. The design of this unconventional rotor support was accomplished within the constraints and space limitations imposed by the present machine, and the substitution of foil bearings was effected without changes or modification other machine components. A housing and a test rig were constructed to incorporate the new foil-bearing support into a unified assemble with an air-driven rotor and the gimbal-mounted thrust bearing, seals, and shrouds of an actual Brayton Rotating Unit. The foil bearing required no external pressure source, and stable self-acting rotation was achieved at all speeds up to 43,200 rpm. Excellent wipe-wear characteristics of the foil bearing permitted well over 1000 start-stop cycles with no deterioriation of performance in the entire speed range.

Licht, L.↗

Test stand for precise measurement of impulse and thrust vector of small attitude control jets

A test stand which accurately measures the impulse bit and thrust vector of reaction jet thrusters used in the attitude control system of space vehicles has been developed. It can be used to measure, in a vacuum or ambient environment, both impulse and thrust vector of reaction jet thrusters using hydrazine or inert gas propellants. The ballistic pendulum configuration was selected because of its accuracy, simplicity, and versatility. The pendulum is mounted on flexure pivots rotating about a vertical axis at the center of its mass. The test stand has the following measurement capabilities: impulse of 0.00004 to 4.4 N-sec (0.00001 to 1.0 lb-sec) with a pulse duration of 0.5 msec to 1 sec; static thrust of 0.22 to 22 N (0.05 to 5 lb) with a 5 percent resolution; and thrust angle alinement of 0.22 to 22 N (0.05 to 5 lb) thrusters with 0.01 deg accuracy.

Woodruff, J. R.↗

V/STOL tilt rotor aircraft study mathematical model for a real time simulation of a tilt rotor aircraft (Boeing Vertol Model 222), volume 8

This report documents the development of a real time mathematical model of a tilt rotor aircraft. This mathematical model is to be used in conjunction with the NASA Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft (FSAA) at Ames Research Center for evaluation of aircraft performance and handling qualities. In addition to developing the mathematical model, a parallel programming effort was conducted utilizing Boeing-Vertol's Hybrid Simulation Laboratory for the purpose of developing and evaluating model simplification. The mathematical model is an eleven degree of freedom total force model. This model includes the basic six degree of freedom rigid body .outer loop equations written about the instantaneous center of gravity with the inertial and aerodynamic terms included. The rotor is treated as a point source of forces and moments with appropriate response time lags and actuator dynamics. The wing has one vertical bending and one wing torsion degree of freedom. These structural degrees of freedom are treated on a "quasistatic" basis; i.e., the natural frequencies of vibration of the structure are much higher than the· frequencies of the rigid body motion, and the coupling is in the aerodynamic terms. Each nacelle has an independent pitch degree of freedom about the wing pivot. The aerodynamics of the wing, tail, rotors, landing gear and fuselage are included. Wing and tail mutual interference effects and turbine engine performance and dynamic responses' are represented.

H Rosenstein↗

New design goals and a new shape for the SST.

Considerations are given to demonstrate that a wing which pivots as a whole would permit supersonic aircraft which avoid sonic boom and reduce noise around airports. Several such wing designs are discussed. Wind-tunnel tests results are given to support the soundness of this wing design.

Jones, R. T.↗

Diffusion freezeout in gas-loaded heat pipes.

Experimental diffusion freezeout rates in a gas loaded heat pipe are presented and compared with predictions of an analysis and computer program published earlier. The experimental approach was to pivot a heat pipe on knife edges and use an analytical mass balance to measure the rate of mass migration within the pipe. Diffusion freezeout rates in a water heat pipe were measured as a function of the condenser sink temperature and the condenser-to-sink thermal conductance. Measured rates varied between 19 and 270 mg/hr and yielded 64 to 99 percent agreement with predicted values. These results indicated that the analysis and computer program for predicting the behavior of gas loaded heat pipes are useful tools for designing such systems.

Marcus, B. D.↗

Kansas environmental and resource study: A Great Plains model

The land use category of subimage regions over Kansas within an MSS image can be identified with an accuracy of about 70% using the textural-spectral features of the multi-images from the four MSS bands. Ground truth measurements indicate that reflectance ratios of the 545 and 655 nm wavebands provide an index of plant development and possibly physiological stress. Agricultural consultants have expressed substantial interest in work conducted on center pivot irrigation and have inquired as to how they may use ERTS-1 imagery to aid those in the irrigation field. Results of the land use mapping experiment indicate that ERTS-1 imagery has major potential in regionalization. The ways in which land is utilized within these regions may then be studied more effectively than if no adequate regionalization is available.

Haralick, R. M.↗

Extraction of agricultural statistics from ERTS-A data of Kansas

The author has identified the following significant results. Agricultural consultants have expressed substantial interest in work being conducted on center pivot irrigation and have inquired as to how ERTS-1 imagery can be used to aid those in the irrigation field. Results of the land use mapping experiment indicate that ERTS-1 imagery has major potential in regionalization. The ways in which land is utilized within these regions may then be studied more effectively than if no adequate regionalization is available.

Morain, S. A.↗

Evaluation of ERTS-1 imagery in mapping and managing soil and range resources in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska

The author has identified the following significant results. Interpretations of imagery from the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) indicate that soil associations and attendant range sites can be identified on the basis of vegetation and topography using multitemporal imagery. Optical density measurements of imagery from the visible red band of the multispectral scanner(MSS band 5) obtained during the growing season were related to field measurements of vegetative biomass, a factor that closely parallels range condition class on specific range sites. ERTS-1 imagery also permitted inventory and assessment of center-pivot irrigation systems in the Sand Hills region in relation to soil and topographic conditions and energy requirements. Four resource maps of the Upper Loup Natural Resource District located entirely within the Sand Hills region were prepared from ERTS-1 imagery.

Drew, J. V.↗

Gas turbine exhaust nozzle

An elongated hollow string is disposed in an exhaust nozzle combustion chamber and communicates with an air source through hollow struts at one end. The other end of the string is bell-mouth shaped and extends over the front portion of a nozzle plug. The bell-mouth may be formed by pivotally mounted flaps or leaves which are used to vary the exhaust throat area and the area between the plug and the leaves. Air from the engine inlet flows into the string and also between the combustion chamber and a housing disposed around the chamber. The air cools the plug and serves as a low velocity inner core of secondary gas to provide noise reduction for the primary exhaust gas while the other air, when it exits from the nozzle, forms an outer low velocity layer to further reduce noise. The structure produces increased thrust in a turbojet or turbofan engine.

Straight, D. M.↗

Manual actuator

An actuator for an exercising machine employable by a crewman aboard a manned spacecraft is presented. The actuator is characterized by a force delivery arm projected from a rotary imput shaft of an exercising machine and having a force input handle extended orthogonally from its distal end. The handle includes a hand-grip configured to be received within the palm of the crewman's hand and a grid pivotally supported for angular displacement between a first position, wherein the grid is disposed in an overlying juxtaposition with the hand-grip, and a second position, angularly displaced from the first position, for affording access to the hand-grip, and a latching mechanism fixed to the sole of a shoe worn by the crewman for latching the shoe to the grid when the grid is in the first position.

Gause, R. L.↗

Orbital and entry tracking accessory for globes

An orbital and entry tracking accessory or attachment is described which can be mounted on a globe to provide a rapid means of determining range requirements for entry vehicles returning from any orbit to any desired landing site with reasonable accuracy. The device is constructed of clear plastic strip material, and comprises a support ring, a calibrated orbital track member rigidly carried by the support ring, and a calibrated lateral range member pivotally coupled to the support ring at points such that the lateral range member is always oriented normally to the orbital track member. The assembly is mountable on the globe relatively snugly, but freely movable. At least one of the members has a detachable coupling which permits placement of the device on the globe.

Pritchard, E. B.↗

Grinding arrangement for ball nose milling cutters

A grinding arrangement for spiral fluted ball nose end mills and like tools includes a tool holder for positioning the tool relative to a grinding wheel. The tool is mounted in a spindle within the tool holder for rotation about its centerline and the tool holder is pivotably mounted for angular movement about an axis which intersects that centerline. A follower arm of a cam follower secured to the spindle cooperates with a specially shaped cam to provide rotation of the tool during the angular movement of the tool holder during the grinding cycle, by an amount determined by the cam profile. In this way the surface of the cutting edge in contact with the grinding wheel is maintained at the same height on the grinding wheel throughout the angular movement of the tool holder during the grinding cycle.

Burch, C. F.↗

Analysis of an all-metallic resilient-pad gas-lubricated thrust bearing

A resilient-pad gas thrust bearing that does not contain any elastomers in the bearing assembly is described and analyzed. The bearing consists of sector-shaped pads mounted asymmetrically on resilient foil beams. The effects of bearing design parameters on performance are shown. Performance of a resilient-pad bearing is compared with that of a pivoted-pad bearing.

Anderson, W. J.↗