United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Science Engineering Associates, Inc.

Charles D Cremer

William Edward Lowry

Eric J Cramer

Sandra Dalvit Dunn

Lynn M Miner

Donald E Voss

Robert A Koslover

William P Geren

A system for characterizing contamination or integrity information from within a pipe, including a flexible tubular membrane which is extendable within the pipe and inflatable to a diameter effective to urge the tubular membrane against the rigid wall. The tubular membrane has a first end and a second end, and is initially rolled up and connected to a reel inside of a deployment system. A tether connects the deployment system to a characterization tool retained within the tubular membrane, which is attached adjacent to the second end of the tubular membrane. When the system is engaged, pressurized fluid enters the tubular membrane causing the membrane to invert and distend into and through the pipe's interior. Simultaneously, the attached characterization tool is towed adjacent to and in parallel with the path of the tubular membrane's second end, is protected from contamination by the surrounding tubular membrane, and is capable of repetitive testing for several forms of information, such as structural integrity of the pipe's interior or radioactive contamination. As the tool traverses the pipe's interior, this information is transmitted to a data acquisition system. When the system is disengaged, the deployment system, the tether and the characterization tool are used to retrieve the system in reverse order. A vent is provided for equalizing pressure beneath the tubular membrane while retracting the membrane.

System for characterizing surfaces of pipes, ducts or similar structures

A waveguide mode converting apparatus especially of the TM.sub.01 to TE.sub.11 converting type and usable in circuit waveguide apparatus with desirable high efficiency and relatively small physical size is disclosed. The mode converter employs the combination of an asymmetrically shaped conical frustum waveguide segment together with a radially disposed fin having tapered input and output or ramp surfaces. Details of a 1.3 gigahertz embodiment of the mode converter including dimensions are included along with the results of efficiency measuring and indications of alternate arrangements of the invention.

Circular TM.sub.01 to TE.sub.11 waveguide mode converter

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Charles D Cremer