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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Monitoring and queuing for sift

The SIFT instrumentation is called the "Window." This window was designed to collect internal data from SIFT while having minimal overhead. Window consists of Sender and Relay components. Sender is to be run on processors 0..5 and Relay will run on processor 6. Sender will gather values (currently 12) during the subframe allocated to a task and broadcast these values at the start of the next subframe. This timing was selected to guarantee Relay 3.2ms to collect and transmit the data.

Wilson, L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Device for determining frost depth and density

A hand held device having a forward open window portion adapted to be pushed downwardly into the frost on a surface, and a rear container portion adapted to receive the frost removed from the window area are described. A graph on a side of the container enables an observer to determine the density of the frost from certain measurements noted. The depth of the frost is noted from calibrated lines on the sides of the open window portion.

Huneidi, F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Fabrication of glass gas cells for the HALOE and MAPS satellite experiments

The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) and the Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) experiment are satellite-borne experiments which measure trace constituents in the Earth's atmosphere. The instruments which obtain the data for these experiments are based on the gas filter correlation radiometer measurement technique. In this technique, small samples of the gases of interest are encapsulated in glass cylinders, called gas cells, which act as very selective optical filters. This report describes the techniques employed in the fabrication of the gas cells for the HALOE and MAPS instruments. Details of the method used to fuse the sapphire windows (required for IR transmission) to the glass cell bodies are presented along with detailed descriptions of the jigs and fixtures used during the assembly process. The techniques and equipment used for window inspection and for pairing the HALOE windows are discussed. Cell body materials and the steps involved in preparing the cell bodies for the glass-to-sapphire fusion process are given.

Sullivan, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Effect of sidewall suction on flow in two-dimensional wind tunnels

A closed-form analysis of flow in a two-dimensional subsonic wind tunnel which uses sidewall suction around the model to reduce sidewall boundary-layer effects is presented. The model problem which is treated involves a flat plate airfoil in a tunnel with a suction window shaped to permit an analytic solution. This solution shows that the lift coefficient depends explicitly on the porosity parameter of the suction window and implicitly on the suction pressure differential. For a given sidewall displacement thickness, the lift coefficient increases as the suction-window porosity decreases.

Barnwell, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Application of laser anemometry to cryogenic wind tunnels

The installation and tests conducted with the laser Doppler and transit anemometer in the 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel are described. Using residual particulates in the flow field, a series of free stream velocity measurements were conducted which agreed to within 1-percent of predicted values for a range of Mach numbers, 0.2 to 0.85, and temperatures, 100 to 250 K. Measurements about a shock wave provided an estimate of scattering particulate size of 4 microns or less. The particle concentration is approximately 3 x 10 to the 5th to 1.6 x 10 to the 6th/cu m. Necessary isolation of the plenum wall windows from ambient air with slightly positive pressure of dry nitrogen gas to prevent condensation on the window surface was achieved. This was accomplished through the use of large enclosures fixed to the tunnel wall. A second method used an additional sheet of thin plate glass to create the dry gas pocket next to the plenum window. The installation of a laser anemometer in the National Transonic Facility is examined. The laser transit anemometer has been tentatively selected for the initial entry because of its compact laser-optics package.

Hunter, W. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Diamondlike carbon protective coatings for IR materials

Diamondlike carbon (DLC) films have the potential to protect optical windows in applications where it is important to maintain the integrity of the specular transmittance of these films on ZnS and ZnSe infrared transmitting windows. The films must be adherent and durable such that they protect the windows from rain and particle erosion as well as chemical attack. In order to optimize the performance of these films, 0.1 micro m thick diamondlike carbon films were deposited on fused silica and silicon wafers, using three different methods of ion beam deposition. One method was sputter deposition from a carbon target using an 8 cm ion source. The merits of hydrogen addition were experimentally evaluated in conjunction with this method. The second method used a 30 cm hollow cathode ion source with hydrocarbon/Argon gases to deposit diamondlike carbon films from the primary beam at 90 to 250 eV. The third method used a dual beam system employing a hydrocarbon/Argon 30 cm ion source and an 8 cm ion source. Films were evaluated for adherence, intrinsic stress, infrared transmittance between 2.5 and 50 micro m, and protection from particle erosion. An erosion test using a sandblaster was used to give quantitative values of the protection afforded to the fused silica by the diamondlike carbon films. The fused silica surfaces protected by diamondlike carbon films were exposed to 100 micro m diameter SiO particles at 60 mi/hr (26.8/sec) in the sandblaster.

Mirtich, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Magnetic field properties of the distant magnetotail magnetopause and boundary layer

Models incorporating merging between dayside magnetosheath and magnetosphere field lines predict the location of the magnetotail boundary layer and bending of magnetotail field lines in the direction of the IMF. Previous observations supporting these models are reviewed, and a case of dense magnetotail boundary layer plasma and strongly bent field lines observed by ISEE 3 is examined. Observations of boundary layer plasma within a tangential discontinuity magnetopause are discussed. The model to explain this phenomenon requires that interconnected magnetotail and magnetosheath field lines leave the magnetotail via a narrow 'window'. Field lines in the dense boundary layer plasma veer away from the aberrated x axis more than those in the void magnetotail lobes in order to pass through the windows. Magnetosheath plasma must enter the magnetotail lobes through the windows at all downstream distances in order to supply he observed tailward flux of lobe plasma.

Sibeck, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Forward and reverse transfer function model synthesis

A process for synthesizing a mathematical model for a linear mechanical system using the forward and reverse Fourier transform functions is described. The differential equation for a system model is given. The Bode conversion of the differential equation, and the frequency and time-domain optimization matching of the model to the forward and reverse transform functions using the geometric simplex method of Nelder and Mead (1965) are examined. The effect of the window function on the linear mechanical system is analyzed. The model is applied to two examples; in one the signal damps down before the end of the time window and in the second the signal has significant energy at the end of the time window.

Houghton, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Protecting a Ball-Bearing-Deflection Monitor

Deflectometer probe monitors deflection of ball-bearing race in liquid oxygen with aid of small window or diaphragm. Diaphragm or window isolates optical deflectometer from liquid oxygen or other fluid in ball bearing. At high pressures, diaphragm integral part of housing preferable to window, since there would be no leakage.

Kuhr, George A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

High-temperature, high-pressure optical cell

The invention is an optical cell for containment of chemicals under conditions of high temperature and high pressure. The cell is formed of a vitreous silica tube, two optical windows comprising a vitreous silica rod inserted into the ends of a tube, and fused into position in the tube ends. Windows are spaced apart to form a cavity enclosed by the tube and the windows. A hole is drilled radially through the tube and into the cavity. Another vitreous silica tube is fused to the silica tube around the hole to form the stem, which is perpendicular to the long axis of the tube. The open end of the stem is used to load chemicals into the cavity. Then the stem may be sealed, and if desired, it may be shortened in order to reduce the volume of the cavity, which extends into the stem.

Harris, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Orbital maneuvering end effectors

This invention relates to an end effector device for grasping and maneuvering objects such as berthing handles of a space telescope. The device includes a V-shaped capture window defined as inclined surfaces in parallel face plates which converge toward a retainer recess in which the handle is retained. A pivotal finger (30) meshes with a pair of pivoted fingers which rotate in counterrotation. The fingers rotate to pull a handle within the capture window into recess where latches lock handle in the recess. To align the capture window, plates may be cocked plus or minus five degrees on base. Drive means is included in the form of a motor coupled with a harmonic drive speed reducer, which provides for slow movement of the fingers at a high torque so that large articles may be handled. Novelty of the invention is believed to reside in the combined intermeshing finger structure, drive means and the harmonic drive speed reducer, which features provide the required maneuverability and strength.

Myers, W. Neill↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optimum retrieval of precipitable water fields from VAS and surface data

The use of VAS radiances and conventional surface data to determine the optimum resolution and accuracy of low-level precipitable water fields retrieved from geosynchronous satellite observations is examined. VAS retrievals of precipitated water (PW) are compared with various channel selections in the regression algorithm and with the split window algorithm. The split window algorithm and the linear regression algorithm are described. Consideration is given to the sounding-field-of-view (SFOV) resolution; the data reveal that the optimum resolution for the split window algorithm is at 15-60 km resolution, and 30-60 km SFOV resolution is optimal for the regression method. Statistics and images from PW retrieval experiments conducted on July 13, 1981 are presented and utilized to determine optimum channel selection. A fast contouring method for VAS sounding images is proposed.

Chesters, Dennis↗
NASA NTRS1986

Short time Fourier analysis of the electromyogram - Fast movements and constant contraction

Short-time Fourier analysis was applied to surface electromyograms (EMG) recorded during rapid movements, and during isometric contractions at constant forces. A portion of the data to be transformed by multiplying the signal by a Hamming window was selected, and then the discrete Fourier transform was computed. Shifting the window along the data record, a new spectrum was computed each 10 ms. The transformed data were displayed in spectograms or 'voiceprints'. This short-time technique made it possible to see time-dependencies in the EMG that are normally averaged in the Fourier analysis of these signals. Spectra of EMGs during isometric contractions at constant force vary in the short (10-20 ms) term. Short-time spectra from EMGs recorded during rapid movements were much less variable. The windowing technique picked out the typical 'three-burst pattern' in EMG's from both wrist and head movements. Spectra during the bursts were more consistent than those during isometric contractions. Furthermore, there was a consistent shift in spectral statistics in the course of the three bursts. Both the center frequency and the variance of the spectral energy distribution grew from the first burst to the second burst in the same muscle. The analogy between EMGs and speech signals is extended to argue for future applicability of short-time spectral analysis of EMG.

Hannaford, Blake↗
NASA NTRS1986

An optical communication link on the Shuttle

A communication link for the transfer of data between the crew cabin and payload bay of the Shuttle is proposed. The configuration of the system, which is to transmit data optically through the Shuttle cabin window, is described. The effects of temperature cycling and cosmic radiation on optical fibers, the cable, connectors, and lenses, and of vibrations during a mission on the alignment of collimating lenses at the window are investigated. Consideration is given to determining the optimum design for the optical fiber and the optimum system operation wavelength for transmission through the aft Orbiter window and the payload environment.

Grady, Jane L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Gas particle radiator

The performance of a new space radiator concept, the gas particle radiator (GPR), is studied. The GPR uses a gas containing submicron particles as the radiating medium contained between the radiator's emitting surface and a transparent window. For a modest volume fraction of submicron particles and gas thickness, it is found that the emissivity is determined by the window transmittance. The window must have a high transmittance in the infrared and be structurally strong enough to contain the gas-particle mixture. When the GPR is compared to a proposed titanium wall, potassium heat pipe radiator, with both radiators operating at a power level of 1.01 MW at 775 K, it is found that the GPR mass is 31 percent lower than that of the heat pipe radiator.

Chubb, Donald L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Processing Welding Images For Robot Control

Image data from two distinct windows used to locate weld features. Analyzer part of vision system described in companion article, "Image Control in Automatic Welding Vision System" (MFS-26035). Horizontal video lines define windows for viewing unwelded joint and weld pool. Data from picture elements outside windows not processed. Widely-separated local features carry no significance, but closely spaced features indicate welding feature. Image processor assigns confidence level to group of local features according to spacing and pattern.

Richardson, Richard W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Quantile Vocoder

Parameters of spectral envelope obtained statistically. Algorithm for digital compression of speech signals encodes power spectral density of each short interval of speech by use of quantiles or order statistics. Purpose to reduce bit rate and bandwidth required for transmission. When fully developed, quantile vocoder - speech-encoding system based on new algorithm - expected moderately complicated compared with other speech-encoding systems and reproduce high-quality speech from code transmitted at relatively low bit rates. Speech signal treated mathematically as though amplitude spectrum stationary during short coding intervals, called "windows". Window duration of 20 or 35 ms, chosen as compromise between frequency resolution and time resolution. During each window, short-time amplitude and power spectra found by sampling at high rate (typically 10 kHz) and taking fast Fourier transforms (FFT's).

Swaminathan, Kumar↗
NASA NTRS1988

Two-dimensional graphics tools for a transputer based display board

A package of 2-D graphics routines has been developed in an effort to standardize and simplify the user interface for a transputer based graphics display board. The routines available take advantage of the graphic board's capabilities while also presenting an intuitive approach for generating drawings. The routines allow a user to perform graphics rendering in a 2-D real-coordinate space without regard to the actual screen coordinates. Multiple windows, which can be placed arbitrarily on the screen as well as the ability to use double-buffering techniques for smooth animations are also supported. The routines are designed to be run on a transputer other than the graphics display board. The window and screen parameters are maintained locally. The conversion to device coordinates is also performed locally. The only data sent to the display board are control and device coordinate display commands. The routines available include: rotation translation, and scaling commands; absolute and relative point and line commands; circle, rectangle and polygon commands; and window and viewpoint definition commands.

Ellis, Graham K.↗