Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

The University of Alabama

Other

The Boeing Company

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.

James B Blackmon, Jr

Nelson Edwin Jones

Kenneth W Stone

Jesse C James

Robert E Drubka

Stephen Mark Kusek

Michael Leslie Hand

R Andrew Gerrick

Mark Eric Lanning

Steven R Peeples

A system for using wireless signals to detect objects of a certain type, such as concealed weapons, leverages the fact that different objects have different resonance characteristics. The system transmits wireless signals of different frequencies, and returns from such signals are measured. The return of a signal from an object at a resonant frequency of the object will be stronger than a return of a signal from the object at a non-resonant frequency. The system analyzes the returns in an effort to determine when a return is sufficiently large to indicate that it was reflected from an object of interest. When an object of interest is detected, the system adjusts a characteristic of the system, such as antenna orientation or pulse shape, based on an estimated location of the object, and then runs a test to confirm the detection of the object, thereby eliminating at least some false positives.

Systems and methods for detecting objects

The present disclosure generally pertains to devices and methods for determining propellant mass based on average measurements irrespective of the fluid orientation in a fuel tank. The device is useful in detecting fuel levels in tanks where the fuel is in motion, for instance in aircraft (i.e., undergoing varying acceleration maneuvers) or spacecraft (i.e., a microgravity environment). The devices and methods can also be used for determining the liquid in a surface tension screen liquid acquisition device (LAD), and particularly, the incipient breakdown as gas bubbles enter or are formed inside the LAD as the screen dries or heat transfer induces vaporization. The same basic electrode configuration can be used to stir the liquid to reduce thermal stratification and condense vapor bubbles.

Apparatus and method for determination of liquid mass

A high concentration central receiver system and method provides improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under a compressive stress.

Thermally controlled solar reflector facet with heat recovery

A method and high concentration central receiver system provide improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under compressive stresses.

To produce a high pressure stream of fluid, such as propellant, the fluid is transfered from a low pressure reservoir into a plurality of intermediate storage tanks, in which the fluid is pressurized. The fluid is drained from the storage tanks to an outlet in sequence. While one pressurized storage tank in a three pressurized tank system is being drained, the most recently drained one of the storage tanks is being vented, and still another of the storage tanks is being filled or replenished with fluid, as the case may be, from the low pressure reservior.

Reciprocating feed system for fluids

An apparatus and method for precisely aligning individual facets on a dish concentrator located at most any location. The basic components of the present alignment system includes a camera and light assembly, an alignment device, an operator controller, and a support member for supporting the camera and light assembly. The camera and light assembly illuminate each facet individually and identifies the reflections using the camera in conjunction with a processor to compile a register of light reflection data. The operator controller processes this light data and calculates the normal vector for each facet. Once the facet normal vector is determined, the difference between the actual angular position of the facet and the optimum alignment position is determined. The facet may then be adjusted or aligned to a desired aimpoint on the concentrator. After each facet is aligned, the process may be repeated for increased accuracy. The quantitative data obtained and used to align each facet may also be used to analyze the dish collectors performance which may also be archived to assist in determining and identifying future problems. Portability of the apparatus is enhanced by the present apparatus's light weight and small size.

Alignment system and method for dish concentrators

A light weight arcuate reflector facet, for a solar concentrator is disclosed, which comprises a thin mirrored glass sheet such as a microsheet, and a backing sheet or substrate, the glass sheet being bonded to the backing sheet, with the backing sheet providing a smooth surface to the glass sheet. A support member or support structure is attached to the backing sheet and maintains the mirrored glass sheet at a desired radius of curvature. The backing sheet is preferably a composite, and according to one embodiment of a fixed focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a resin-impregnated fiberglass sheet having a rib structure. In another embodiment of a variable focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a mechanical structure comprising a circular support structure having intersecting center support beams positioned diagonally across the circular support structure. An actuator rod is mounted at the center of the support beams and attached to the backing sheet, and is effective when actuated, to deflect the mirrored glass sheet to a desired curvature, and including corner supports for the circular support structure.

Light weight reflector facet

A valve assembly for transferring fluid from a fluid supply tank to a fluid holding tank. The valve assembly includes a housing having a first port for communication with the fluid supply tank and a second port for communication with the fluid holding tank. A drum is rotatably mounted in the housing and has a passageway therein. The passageway has an opening located at each end thereof positioned on an outer surface of the drum for alignment with one of the ports in the housing. The drum is rotatable between a flow position in which the openings are aligned with the ports to permit fluid flow from the fluid supply tank to the fluid holding tank and a shut-off position in which one of the openings is not aligned with the ports to prevent flow from the supply tank to the holding tank. The valve assembly further comprises an actuator for rotating the drum within the housing between the fluid flow and shut-off positions. The housing is sealingly engageable with the fluid supply tank around a periphery of an aperture in the tank for sealingly closing the aperture in the tank.

Valve assembly for fluid transfer system

A light weight arcuate reflector facet, for a solar concentrator comprises a thin mirrored glass sheet such as a microsheet, and a backing sheet or substrate, the glass sheet being bonded to the backing sheet, with the backing sheet providing a smooth surface to the glass sheet. A support member or support structure is attached to the backing sheet and maintains the mirrored glass sheet at a desired radius of curvature. The backing sheet is preferably a composite, and according to one embodiment of a fixed focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a resin-impregnated fiberglass sheet having a rib structure. In another embodiment of a variable focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a mechanical structure comprising a circular support structure having intersecting center support beams positioned diagonally across the circular support structure. An actuator rod is mounted at the center of the support beams and attached to the backing sheet, and is effective when actuated, to deflect the mirrored glass sheet to a desired curvature, and including corner supports for the circular support structure.

Light-weight reflector facet

The method and apparatus precisely identifies and locates an object which resonates in response to signals of at least one and, more typically, two resonant frequencies. The locating apparatus includes a transmitter for concurrently transmitting signals having a resonant frequency and signals having a non-resonant frequency toward the resonant object. The locating apparatus also includes at least two receivers for receiving reflected signals having the resonant frequency and the non-resonant frequency. The locating apparatus further includes a signal processor for locating the resonant object based upon the reflected signals detected by the receivers. The signal processor has multiple channels, one of which is associated with each receiver, for separately processing the reflected signals received over time by each of the receivers. Within each channel, the signal processor significantly reduces signal clutter based upon respective differences between the reflected signals having the resonant frequency and the reflected signals having the non-resonant frequency which were received by the respective receiver. By reducing signal clutter in the received signals, the locating apparatus identifies and locates the resonant object with more precision.

Method and apparatus for precisely locating a resonant object

One or more antenna elements are submerged beneath a faired cover over a roof supporting member of a motor vehicle or hidden behind or as part of the front grill. Usually a conductive support extends behind the antenna elements and are electrically isolated therefrom to form the ground plane of the antenna. In some cases the antennas can be the structural members electrically isolated from the remainder of the body, but physically connected thereto. RF absorbers may be positioned spaced from radiating antenna elements to prevent antenna cross talk and exposure of occupants of the vehicle to high RF power densities. The antenna elements are especially useful in providing collision avoidance radar.

Hidden vehicle antennas

A power system provides various levels of electrical power at various radio frequencies to specific input locations of a neutral particle beam accelerator system. Both the power system and the accelerator system are mounted on a space platform. The power system includes separate modules mounted on two hinged members of the platform. The modules utilize turbines, generators and fuel cells to provide the needed electrical power which is amplified to the desired levels required by the accelerator system. In addition, a fuel cell is utilized to power a pulse drive motor to drive the generators during turbine start up in order to provide high voltage output power during the start up. A regenerator produces hydrogen and oxygen from the water effluent produced by the fuel cells and the combustors which powers the turbines thereby recycling the fuel and working fluid and consequently making the power system generally non-contaminating and fuel efficient. A thermal management subsystem circulates hydrogen through both the accelerator and power systems, and the hydrogen is utilized as both a coolant and a fuel/working fluid for power production thereby enhancing the energy efficiency of the power system.

Modular, hybrid power system

The system includes a reflector assembly mounted on a first one of a pair of spacecraft. The reflector assembly includes a mirror around which are positioned a mirror and retroreflectors. A light source mounted on the second spacecraft illuminates the assembly the reflections from which are directed into a radiometer which is also mounted on the second spacecraft. The mirror has a known curvature, and the known curvature in conjunction with the retroreflectors allow calculation of the position and motion parameters of the first spacecraft relative to the second.

Digital image system for determining relative position and motion of

A computer controlled system for determining various physical surface characteristics of an object includes a light source array, positioned to illuminate a surface for evaluation, in which individual lights in the array illuminate the object on a mutually exclusive basis, a radiometer, positioned to receive light from the object, producing image data relative to positions of the light pixels and a computer apparatus that, among other functions in the system, interprets the image data and determines at least the surface waviness, radius of curvature and cant angle of the surface.

Growing community of inventors

Brownsboro, AL, United States of America

James B Blackmon, Jr