The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

The United States of America

John W Redmon, Jr

James M Beggs

James R Currie

Ralph R Kissel

Charles C Wallace

Charles P Swanson

Fred G Sanders

Allen C Porter

Earnest C Smith

Charles E Oliver

Mark D Cox

Andre E Miller

Fred Jankowski

Joseph N Portwood

Bobby E Lawson

Jerry M Saunders

Archie D Coleman

Mark Stephen Whorton

Donald H McQueen

William E Cobb

Garland D Johnston

An object in motion has a force applied thereto at a point of application. By moving the point of application such that the distance between the object's center-of-mass and the point of application is changed, the object's orientation can be changed/adjusted.

Orientation control method and system for object in motion

A thermally isolated deployable shield for spacecraft is provided utilizing a plurality of lattice panels stowable generally against the craft and deployable to some fixed distance from the craft. The lattice panels are formed from replaceable shield panels affixed to lattice structures. The lattice panels generally encircle the craft providing 360 degree coverage therearound. Actuation devices are provided for translating the shield radially outward from the craft and thermally isolating the shield from the craft. The lattice panels are relatively flexible, allowing the shield to deploy to variable diameters while retaining uniform curvature thereof. Restraining devices are provided for holding the shield relatively tight in its stowed configuration. Close-out assemblies provide light sealing and protection of the annular spaces between the deployed shield and the crafts end structure.

Thermally isolated variable diameter deployable shield for spacecraft

A hand hold device (A) includes a housing (10) having a hand hold (14) and clamping brackets (32,34) for grasping and handling an object. A drive includes drive lever (23), spur gear (22), and rack gears (24,26) carried on rods (24a, 26a) for moving the clamping brackets. A lock includes ratchet gear (40) and pawl (42) biased between lock and unlock positions by a cantilever spring (46,48) and moved by handle (54). Compliant grip pads (32b, 34b) provide compliance to lock, unlock, and hold an object between the clamp brackets.

Portable hand hold device

A tool is shown having a cross beam assembly (15) made of beams (18, 19, 20, 21) joined by a center box structure (23). The assembly (15) is adapted to be mounted by brackets (16) to the outer end of a cylindrical case (11). The center box structure (23) has a vertical shaft (25) rotatably mounted therein and extending beneath the assembly (15). Secured to the vertical shaft (25) is a radius arm (28) which is adapted to rotate with shaft (25). On the longer end of the radius arm (28) is a measuring tip (30) which contacts the cylindrical surface to be measured and which provides an electric signal representing the radius of the cylindrical surface from the center of rotation of the radius arm (28). An electric servomotor (49) rotates the vertical shaft (25) and an electronic resolver (61) provides an electric signal representing the angle of rotation of the shaft (25). The electric signals are provided to a computer station (73) which has software for its computer to calculate and print out the continuous circumference profile of the cylindrical surface, and give its true diameter and the deviations from the ideal circle.

Cylindrical surface profile and diameter measuring tool and method

A plier-like tool (11) having two plier-like members (13, 15) pivotally joined togther intermediate of their ends and having handle portions (17, 18) and swivel jaw members (29,30). An automatic locking mechanism (27) extending between the members permits an user to clamp the handle portions together so as to clamp the jaw members on an object (25) but holds the position so reached if the clamping action of the user is removed. A release device (65) is provided so that the jaw members may be opened up again. A compression spring (23) extending between the members (19, 20) assists in the opening of the jaw members. The swivel jaw members (29, 30) permit the user to rotate the plier-like members (13,15) relative to the object (25) being grasped.

Self-locking clamping tool with swivel jaws

A method and a system for testing the bonding of foam insulation (22) attached to metal. The system involves the use of an impacter (10) which has a calibrated load cell (12) mounted on a plunger (14) and a hammer head (16) mounted on the end of the plunger (14). When the impacter (10) strikes the insulation (22) at a point to be tested, the load cell (12) measures the force of the impact and the precise time interval during which the hammer head (16) is in contact with the insulation (22). This information is transmitted as an electrical signal (20) to a load cell amplifier (28) where the signal (20) is conditioned and then transmitted to a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer (34). The FFT analyzer (34) produces energy spectral density curves (power plotted against frequency in Hertz) which are displayed on a video screen (39). An operator, by observing the frequency point at which the curve terminates, may determine the quality of the bond. Specifically, the termination frequency of the energy spectral density curve may be compared with a predetermined empirical scale to determine whether a high quality bond, good bond, or debond is present at the point of impact. For future reference and use, data from the FFT analyzer (34) are recorded on a magnetic disk (41) and/or a hard copy is produced by a printer (43).

Insulation bonding test system

An electro-mechanical impacting device (10) for testing the bonding of foam insulation (22) to metal (26). The device lightly impacts foam insulation (22) attached to metal (26) to determine whether the insulation (22) is properly bonded to the metal (26) and to determine the quality of the bond. A force measuring device, preferably a load cell (12) mounted on the impacting device, measures the force of the impact and the duration of the time the hammer head (16) is actually in contact with the insulation (22). This information is transmitted as an electric signal (20) to other elements of the invention's associated system (not part of this invention) which are capable of conditioning the signal and evaluating it electronically in order to provide a visual display on a video screen. This allows an operator to make decisions relating to bonding and the quality of bonding. The impactor (10) is designed in the form of a handgun having a driving spring (32) which can propel a plunger (14) forward to cause a hammer head (16) to impact the insulation (22). A load cell (12) is mounted on the plunger (14). A conditioning spring (48) slows down the plunger (14) just after it impacts the insulation (22) and prevents bouncing or more than one impact. The device utilizes a trigger mechanism which provides precise adjustments, allowing fireproof operation. Two types of gauges (72 and 92) project from the front of the device to provide stability, uniformity, and accuracy to the operation of the device.

Impacting device for testing insulation

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

John W Redmon, Jr