Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Exelis Inc.

Soter Technology, LLC

David Strafford

Steven M DeSmitt

William C Lebbon

Joseph R West

James M Warner

Brian M Charles

Michael L Melocchi

Timothy S Lewis

Steven Desmitt

Diana Strafford

Steven M De Smitt

An isothermalized mirror assembly is a mirror structure that uses a heat pipe to isothermalize heat loads. The isothermalized mirror assembly includes at least one mirror unit and a quantity of thermally-convective fluid. The mirror unit includes a vacuum enclosure, a capillary medium, at least one reflector, and a plurality of cross supports. The vacuum enclosure is the structural base of the isothermalized mirror assembly and is used to retain a vacuum and the thermally-convective fluid. The cross supports are mounted within the vacuum enclosure and increases the structural integrity of the vacuum enclosure. The capillary medium is mounted across the interior of the vacuum enclosure and about each cross support. The capillary medium and the thermally-convective fluid work in conjunction to form a heat pipe within the vacuum enclosure. The reflector is externally mounted to the vacuum enclosure in order to redirect EM radiation.

Isothermalized mirror assembly

An improved method for forming inexpensive, lightweight, closed-back, silicon carbide mirrors, via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or chemical vapor composites (CVC), is achieved by using a two dimensional corrugated core with sloped walls. All layers in this design are chemical vapor deposited optical grade silicon carbide. Seamless cohesion between layers is achieved by depositing the material on the sloped walls of, and through holes in, the mandrel. The resulting structure is cohered and monolithic. The mandrels are matched in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to the deposited material. Mandrels that support the layers are later removed by a separate process.

Lightweight mirror blanks by deposition

A light-weight mirror blank assembly, having at least one sheet of corrugated material; and at least one face sheet in intimate contact with a surface of the sheet of corrugated material forming the light-weight mirror blank assembly. The light-weight mirror blank assembly has an areal density less than an equivalent blank assembly having a solid support structure for supporting a mirrored surface.

Light-weight mirror blank assembly

An apparatus, system and method for grinding or polishing an optic is provided. The apparatus includes a shell adapted to a bending profile, torque actuators attached at an outer edge of the shell and coupled to each other, a tensioning system attached at the outer edge of the shell, and a control system for computing the bending profile and controlling the torque actuators and tensioning system. The torque actuators and tensioning system apply bending moments to the edge of the shell to adapt the shell according to the bending profile provided by the control system. A calibration system further corrects errors in a measured bending profile.

Lap grinding and polishing machine

A device and method for measuring a fusion seal quality within a structure comprising a source for providing a focused optical beam of a known intensity to a fusion seal within a structure, the fusion seal reflecting the optical beam according to the fusion seal quality, a receiver for receiving the reflected optical beam and a processor are presented for measuring a intensity ratio between the reflected optical beam and the focused optical beam relating to fusion seal quality. The device may scan the structure and provide an intensity ratio image map for a region within the structure related to fusion seal quality.

Confocal reflectommeter/ellipsometer to inspect low-temperature fusion seals

A method for constructing a mirror blank, including arranging hollow glass balls, on a front face sheet, and in close proximity to each other to permit fusing upon expansion; restricting the expansion of the hollow glass balls with a bounding structure during expansion of the hollow glass balls to force the hollow glass balls into a densely packed array of cells; applying heat to soften the hollow glass balls and increase the pressure within the hollow glass balls as the hollow glass balls fuse with each other during expansion, forming cells, wherein as a result of fusing, the hollow glass balls contact the front face sheet as a result of the increased pressure within the hollow glass balls; annealing and cooling the mirror blank to below annealing temperature associated with the hollow glass balls; and venting the cells.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

David Strafford