N76-33469*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. VELOCITY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM Patent Application Walter Haeussermann, inventor (to NASA) Filed 6 Oct. 1976 15 P (NASA-Case-MFS-23363-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-730046) Avail: NTIS HC $3.50 CSCL 14B A velocity sensor for sensing the speed of a moving conductive body employing an E-shaped magnetic core with a pair of spaced Hall effect devices positioned on the end of the central core is described. The ends of all cores are adjacent to the path of the moving conductive body. The difference in output voltage registered by the two Hall effect devices is indicative of the speed of the conductive body. NASA N77-10492* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Pasadena Office, Calif. ION AND ELECTRON DETECTOR FOR USE IN AN ICR SPECTROMETER Patent Wesley T. Huntress, inventor (to NASA) (JPL) Issued 5 Oct. 1976 8 p Filed 27 Aug. 1974 Published under the second Trial Voluntary Protest Program as B 500, 981, 27 Jan. 1976 Sponsored by NASA (NASA-Case-NPO-13479-1; US-Patent-3,984,681; US-Patent-Appl-SN-500981; US-Patent-Class-250-291; US-Patent-Class-250-290) Avail: US Patent Office CSCL 148 A detector for detecting ions and/or electrons present in a resonance cell of an ICR spectrometer is disclosed. The detector which operates on the Q-meter principle is driven by an external rf oscillator capable of providing rf frequencies up to about 15MHz at an adjustable low rf signal level, e.g., below 20mV. The detector is connected across the resonance of the cell to detect ions by detecting their cyclotron frequency. Electrons are detectable by connecting the detector across the cell's trapping plates and thereby detect the electrons' trapping motion, the frequency of which is in the megahertz range. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office 13 74 68 +VT N76-33470*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Langley Research Center. Langley Station, Va. ZERO GRAVITY SEPARATOR Patent Application Franklin W. Booth, inventor (to NASA) Filed 8 Oct. 1976 19 p (NASA-Case-LAR-10344-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-730779) Avail: NTIS HC $3.50 CSCL 14B An electrostatic precipitator efficient in removing ultra-small (less than 2 microns in diameter) particles and liquid aerosols from a gas stream is described. Precipitates are collected by and washed through a liquid-saturated, porous portion of the precipitator wall to prevent re-entrainment of the precipitates in the gas stream. NASA N77-10493 National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. FOCUSED LASER DOPPLER VELOCIMETER Patent James W. Bilbro, Werner K. Dahm, Ronald B. Campbell, Jr. (Raytheon Co., Huntsville, Ala.), Robert M. Huffaker, Harold B. Jeffreys, Albert V. Jelalian (Raytheon Co., Huntsville, Ala.), Wayne H. Keene (Raytheon Co., Huntsville, Ala.), Michael C. Krause (LMSC Huntsville, Ala.), Thomas R. Lawrence (LMSC, Huntsville, Ala.), Charles M. Sonnenschein, inventors (to NASA) (Raytheon Co., Huntsville, Ala.) et al Issued 5 Oct. 1976 Filed 3 Dec. 1975 7 p (NASA-Case-MFS-23178-1; US-Patent-3,984,686; 148 A system for remotely measuring velocities present in discrete volumes of air is described. A CO2 laser beam is focused by a telescope at such a volume, a focal volume, and within the focusable range, near field, of the telescope. The back scatter, or reflected light, principally from the focal volume, passes back through the telescope and is frequency compared with the original frequency of the laser, and the difference frequency or frequencies represent particle velocities in that focal volume. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office SPECTRAL 156 OUTPUT N77-10497*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Langley Research Center, Langley Station, Va. DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE CONTOUR OF A SURFACE Patent Application Ernest E. Burcher and Stephen Katzberg, inventors (to NASA) Filed 8 Nov. 1976 10 p (NASA-Case-LAR-11869-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-740155) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 14B A device for measuring the contour of a surface is considered. Light from a source is imaged by a lens onto the surface which concentrates the energy from the source into a spot. A scanning means is used to scan the spot across the surface. As the surface is being scanned the surface moves relative to the point of perfect focus. When the surface moves away from perfect focus the spot increases in size, while the total energy in the spot remains virtually constant. The lens then reimages the light reflected by the surface onto two detectors through two different sized apertures. The light energy going to the two detectors is separated by a beam splitter. This second path of the light energy through the lens further defocuses the spot, but as a result of the different sizes of the apertures in each light detector path, the amount of defocus for each is different. The ratio of the outputs of the two detectors which is indicative of the contour of the surface is obtained by a divider. NASA 20 SYNCRONIZED SCANNER AND STEPPER MOTOR DRIVE RECORDER 21 N77-11363*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Pasadena Office, Calif. DIFFERENTIAL OPTOACOUSTIC ABSORPTION DETECTOR Patent Application Michael S. Shumate, inventor (to NASA) (JPL) Filed 27 Aug. 1976 18 p (Contract NAS7-100) (NASA-Case-NPO-13759-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-718266) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 148 A differential optoacoustic absorption detector employs two tapered cells in tandem or in parallel. When operating in tandem, two mirrors are used at one end remote from the source of the beam of light directed into one cell back through the other, and a lens to focus the light beam into the one cell at a principal focus half way between the reflecting mirrors. Each cell is tapered to conform to the shape of the beam so that the volume of one is the same as for the other, and the volume of each receives maximum illumination. The axes of the cells are placed as close to each other as possible in order to connect a differential pressure detector to the cells with connecting passages of minimum length. An alternative arrangement employs a beam splitter and two lenses to operate the cells in parallel. NASA N77-10498*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. ROTARY LEVELING BASE PLATFORM Patent Application Robert W. Delaplaine and Daniel L. Mossolani, inventors (to NASA) Filed 3 Nov. 1976 8 p (NASA-Case-ARC-10981-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-738218) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 14B A leveling apparatus for the precise level adjustment of a scientific instrument is analyzed. A base member is provided having a hollow cylindrical shape. A table for supporting the instrument rests on the base and has a shaft portion extending below the table. The upper portion of the shaft fits tightly into the hollow portion of the base member whereas the lower portion of the shaft is machined to fit loosely. The lower portion of the shaft is provided with a groove cut around the circumference thereof. Adjusting screws are threaded through the hollow cylindrical portion and are adapted to enter the groove. By adjusting the screws, the lower portion of the shaft is moved in a vertical plane since the shaft which is loosely fitted into the cylinder. The upper portion of the shaft which is tightly fitted into the upper end of the cylinder causes the cylinder to deform slightly providing a fulcrum point which allows the table to be N77-11364*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. ANGLE DETECTOR Patent Application Gilbert T. Parra, inventor (to NASA) Filed 10 Nov. 1976 16 p (NASA-Case-ARC-11036-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-740457) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 14B An angle detector for determining a transducer's angular disposition to a capacitive pickup element is described. The transducer comprises a pendulum mounted inductive element moving past the capacitive pickup element. The capacitive pickup element divides the inductive element into two parts L sub 1 and L sub 2 which form the arms of one side of an a-c bridge. Two networks R sub 1 and R sub 2 having a plurality of binary weighted resistors and an equal number of digitally controlled switches for removing resistors from the networks form the arms of the other side of the a-c bridge. A binary counter, controlled by a phase detector, balances the bridge by adjusting the resistance of R sub 1 and R sub 2. The binary output of the counter is representative of the angle. NASA N77-14407* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. MINIATURE BIAXIAL STRAIN TRANSDUCER Patent (NASA-Case-LAR-11648-1; US-Patent-3.995.476; US-Patent-Appl-SN-645571; US-Patent-Class-73-133R) Avail: US Patent Office CSCL 148 A reusable miniature strain transducer for use in the measurement of static or quasi-static, high level, biaxial strain on the surface of test specimens or structures was studied. Two cantilever arms, constructed by machining the material to appropriate flexibility, are self-aligning and constitute the transducing elements of the device. Used in conjunction with strain gages, the device enables testing beyond normal gage limits for high strains and number of load cycles. The device does not require conversion computations since the electrical output of the strain gages is directly proportional to the strain measured. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office N77-14406* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Pasadena Office, Calif. MASS SPECTROMETER WITH MAGNETIC POLE PIECES Leonard M. Sieradski (JPL), Charles E. Giffin (JPL), and Alfred (NASA-Case-NPO-13663-1; US-Patent-3,996,464; 148 A mass spectrometer (MS) with unique magnetic pole pieces which provide a homogenous magnetic field across the gap of the MS magnetic sector as well as the magnetic field across an ion-type vacuum pump is disclosed. The pole pieces form the top and bottom sides of a housing. The housing is positioned so that portions of the pole pieces form part of the magnetic sector with the space between them defining the gap region of the magnetic sector, through which an ion beam passes. The pole pieces extend beyond the magnetic sector with the space between them being large enough to accommodate the electrical parts of an ion-type vacuum pump. The pole pieces which provide the magnetic field for the pump, together with the housing form the vacuum pump enclosure or housing. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office N77-14408* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. ELECTRON MICROSCOPE APERTURE SYSTEM Patent Klaus Heinemann, inventor (to NASA) (NAS-NRC) Issued 7 Dec. 1976 6 p Filed 23 Jul. 1973 Continuation-in-part of abandoned US Patent Appl. SN-221670, filed 28 Jan. 1972 Sponsored by NASA (NASA-Case-ARC-10448-3; US-Patent-3,996,468: US-Patent-Appl-SN-318848; US-Patent-Class-250-396; US-Patent-Appl-SN-221670) Avail: US Patent Office 148 CSCL An electron microscope including an electron source, a condenser lens having either a circular aperture for focusing a solid cone of electrons onto a specimen or an annular aperture for focusing a hollow cone of electrons onto the specimen, and an objective lens having an annular objective aperture, for focusing electrons passing through the specimen onto an image plane are described. The invention also entails a method of making the annular objective aperture using electron imaging, electrolytic deposition and ion etching techniques. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office N77-17426* CRT 17 National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TESTING A TAPE RECORD/ PLAYBACK SYSTEM Patent Gabriel R. Wallace, William E. Salter (Sperry Rand Corp.. Huntsville, Ala.), Glenn D. Weathers (Sperry Rand Corp., Huntsville, Ala.), and Sidney S. Gussow, inventors (to NASA) (Sperry Rand Corp., Huntsville, Ala.) Issued 11 Jan. 1977 6 p Filed 25 Mar. 1975 Division of US Patent Appl. SN-419831, filed 28 Nov. 1973, US Patent-3, 875,500 (NASA-Case-MFS-22671-2; US-Patent-4,003,084; A tape record/playback system was tested by first deriving an analog test signal and a band-limited digital reference signal from a pseudo-noise sequence generator driven by a clock signal. It recorded the signals on respective tracks of the system during operation in a record mode. During the playback mode of operation of the system, a delayed analog reference signal without time base variations was reconstructed from the played back reference signal. It was compared with the played back test signal in order to obtain an error signal that was a measure of the performance of the system. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office The sensitivity of an opto-acoustic absorption detector is increased to make it possible to measure trace amounts of constituent gases. A second beam radiation path is created through the sample cell identical to a first path except as to length, aiternating the beam through the two paths and minimizing the detected pressure difference for the two paths while the beam wavelength is tuned away from the absorption lines of the sample. Then with the beam wavelength tuned to the absorption line of any constituent of interest, the pressure difference is a measure of trace amounts of the constituent. The same improved detector may also be used for measuring the absorption coefficient of N77-17430*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Langley Research Center, Langley Station, Va. MAGNETOMETER Patent Application William J. Debnam, Carl L. Fales, Jr., Roger A. Breckenridge. and Arthur V. Pohm, inventors (to NASA) (lowa State Univ. of Sci. and Technol.) Filed 19 Mar. 1976 13 p (NASA-Case-LAR-11617-2; US-Patent-Appl-SN-668771) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 14B A magnetometer is described which has a flat miniature transducer capable of being scanned automatically. The transducer has an active region of approximately 0.64 mm by 0.76 mm with good spatial resolution of magnetic fields as low as 0.02 oe. Magnetic fields as close as 0.08 mm from any relatively flat surface can be measured. Its effectiveness is demonstrated in determining the presence of magnetic remanence in the magnetic strap keepers on memory planes of experimental and production line plated-wire memories, and in measuring the N77-18417* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. SPRING OPERATED ACCELERATOR AND CONSTANT (NASA-Case-ARC-10898-1; US-Patent-4,007,623; Avail: A spring assembly consisting of an elongate piece of 'flat spring material formed into a spiral configuration and a free running spool in circumscribing relation to which this spring is disposed was developed. The spring has a distal end that is externally accessible so that when the distal end is drawn along a path, the spring unwinds against a restoring force present in the portion of the spring that resides in a transition region between a relatively straight condition on the path and a fully wound condition on the spool. When the distal end is released, the distal end is accelerated toward the spool by the force existing at the transition region which force is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the spring. Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office 74 78 23 26 N77-19388*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. OPTICALLY SELECTIVE, ACOUSTICALLY RESONANT GAS DETECTING TRANSDUCER Patent Application John Dimeff, inventor (to NASA) Filed 22 Dec. 1975 14 p (NASA-Case-ARC-10639-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-643043) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 14B A gas analyzer is disclosed which responds to the resonant absorption or emission spectrum of a specific gas by producing an acoustic resonance in a chamber containing a sample of the gas. The device measures the amount of emission or absorption by measuring the strength of the acoustic resonance, e.g., the maximum periodic pressure, velocity or density achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a light beam is modulated periodically at the acoustical resonance frequency of a closed chamber which contains an optically dense sample of the gas of interest. Periodic heating of the gas by the light beam causes a cyclic expansion, movement, and pressure within the gas. The amplitude of the excursions increases until an amplitude is reached where the increased losses involving the amplified motions, compressions and thermal cycles are just sufficient to account for the cyclic radiation energy received through the window. A differential pressure converts the pressure variations of the resonant gas into electronic readout signals. NASA N77-19385* National Aeronautics and Space Administration. G. L. Fogal, inventor (to NASA) (GE Corp., Philadelphia) Issued A sensor for measuring the mass of fluids, is described which includes a housing having an inlet and outlet for receiving and dumping the fluid, a rotary impeller within the housing for imparting N77-19390*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Pasadena Office, Calif. PASSIVE INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEM Patent Application Eric G. Laue, inventor (to NASA) (JPL) Filed 9 Feb. 1977 12 p (Contract NAS7-100) (NASA-Case-NPO-13804-1; US-Patent-Appl-SN-766999) Avail: NTIS HC A02/MF A01 CSCL 148 An intrusion detection system is disclosed in which crystal oscillators are used to provide a frequency which varies as a function of fluctuations of a particular environmental property of the atmosphere, e.g., humidity, in the protected volume. The system is based on the discovery that the frequency of an oscillator whose crystal is humidity sensitive varies within a known frequency |