Other

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

California Institute of Technology

Lien C Yang

Robert A Frosch

Warren L Dowler

Giulio Varsi

A device of monitoring propellant burning within, and erosion of, a rocket motor case by measuring the voltage-induced capacity of gages on the external surface of the case is described. A burning propellant generates a conducting gas within the burn front inside the motor. The resultant voltage is caused by an injected voltage pulse on a metal igniter ring in contact with or capacitatively coupled to the gas.

Gage for rocket motor data acquisition

A method that produces a uniformly rubblized oil shale bed of desirable porosity for underground, in-situ heat extraction of oil. Rubblization is the generation of rubble of various sized fragments. The method uses explosive loadings lying at different levels in adjacent holes and detonation of the explosives at different levels in sequence to achieve the fracturing and the subsequent expansion of the fractured oil shale into excavated rooms both above and below the hole pattern.

Method of rubblization for in-situ oil shale processing

Instrumentation for sensing moisture content of material using a transient thermal pulse is comprised of a sensing probe (12) having a sensing element (14) in the form of a ribbon excited by a constant current pulse from a source (16) to increase the temperature, and therefore the resistance, of the ribbon linearly. Moisture in web material (10) will limit the increase of temperature during the pulse in proportion to the moisture content. This increase in temperature produces a proportional increase in resistivity which is measured with a Wheatstone bridge (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, 14) as a change in voltage displayed by a measurement display unit (20). The probe (12) is glued in a shallow groove of a Lucite bar (15c) and connected to copper pins (15a, 15b) embedded in the bar. A cylindrical Lucite block (21) may be used to hold the sensing element (14) connected to axial pins (22a, 22b) in order for the probe to roll and thus reduce its wear.

Instrumentation for sensing moisture content of material using a

An apparatus and method for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas containing the particles. In the specific embodiments disclosed the apparatus is adapted to remove carbon particles from diesel engine exhaust products. The exhaust products are directed to a predetermined location where they are rapidly vaporized and combine with oxygen in the exhaust products to form carbon dioxide. Vaporization in one embodiment is effected by a discharge grid 30 located within an exhaust conduit 22, the grid 30 being chosen so that alternate conductors 32 and 34 defining the grid 30 are spaced apart a distance approximately 125 times the mean diameter of the particles to be removed. A voltage differential of approximately 690 volts is applied across adjacent conductors 32 and 34. Presence of a diesel exhaust particle between these conductors 32 and 34 is sufficient to create an electric spark discharge enveloping the particle, thereby resulting in a rapid vaporization and oxidation of the particle. In a further embodiment, a filter 145 is provided in an exhaust conduit 146. A light beam from a pulse laser 148 is directed at the filter 145 via a light directing conduit 150 or an optical fiber bundle 168. The pulse laser 148 is triggered to generate a light beam when particle build up at an inner surface of the filter 145 reaches a predetermined level. The pulse laser 148 is chosen to have an output light beam having sufficient energy to vaporize carbon particles accumulated on the filter 145 surface.

Apparatus and method for destructive removal of particles contained in

A method and device for detecting the presence of a substance having predetermined characteristics. More particularly, a device is disclosed wherein a discharge grid (20) is provided having a sufficiently high voltage potential across its grid electrodes (32 and 36) so that the substance having the predetermined characteristics will cause an electric spark discharge to occur between electrodes, the electric spark discharge altering the predetermined characteristics of the substance by oxidation and/or vaporization so that the substance is no longer detectable by an electric spark discharge. A means for counting the number of electric spark discharges is provided (96), a count providing an indication of the concentration of the substance having the predetermined characteristics. One embodiment disclosed detects longitudinally extending carbon fibers suspended in a gaseous medium (12). Another embodiment provides for the detection of carbon fibers (66) adhesively attached to a collection tape (68). The tape is positioned against the discharge grid (70) and a high voltage is periodically applied across the grid electrodes (71 and 72) until electric spark discharges no longer occur.

Method and device for detection of a substance

An on-site apparatus that produces cryogenic temperatures is used to remove, by condensation, all pollutants in the air so that an ultra clean air supply is obtained for human consumption in the interior of living enclosures, such as automobiles, homes, offices, hospitals etc. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, it can recycle the air in the enclosure, i.e. resupply the oxygen consumed by the human being and remove the carbon dioxide produced by respiration. The cryogenic temperatures are produced by a closed-cycle operated refrigeration system consisting of a compressor, a Joule-Thompson valve (JTV), multi-stage heat exchangers and expanders. Cold traps (filters) of different cryogenic temperatures are built into the system to condense pollutants of different condensation temperatures. The condensed pollutants can be disposed of by periodical defrost and purge of the system.

Air purification system using cryogenic techniques

A container is provided which can be designed to heat its outer surface as to sterilize it, or to heat its inner surface and any contents therewithin. In a container that self sterilizes its outer surface, the container includes a combustible layer of thermit-type pyrotechnic material which can be ignited to generate considerable heat, and a thin casing around the combustible layer which is of highly thermally conductive materials such as aluminum which can be heated to a high temperature by the ignited combustible layer. A buffer layer which may be of metal, lies within the combustible layer, and a layer of insulation such as Teflon lies within the buffer layer to insulate the contents of the container from the heat. The thicknesses of the thermit-type charge of the combustible layer and of the casing are chosen so that the amount of heat from the charge heats the casing to a temperature which is only moderately high to avoid melting the casing.

Portable heatable container

Apparatus for generating a substantially oscillation-free siesmic signal for use in underwater petroleum exploration, including a bag with walls that are flexible but substantially inelastic, and a pressured gas supply for rapidly expanding the bag to its fully expanded condition. The inelasticity of the bag permits the application of high pressure gas to rapidly expand it to full size, without requiring a venting mechanism to decrease the pressure as the bag approaches a predetermined size to avoid breaking of the bag.

Underwater seismic source

A system for vibrating the earth in a location where seismic mapping is to take place, including forming a relatively shallow hole in the earth such as a hole 10 feet deep, placing a solid propellant in the hole, sealing a portion of the hole above the solid propellant with a device that can rapidly open and close to allow a repeatedly interrupted escape of gas, and igniting the propellant so that high pressure gas is created which escapes in pulses to vibrate the earth.

Seismic vibration source

A highly efficient, compact pulsed laser having high energy to weight and volume ratios is provided. The laser utilizes a cavity reflector that operates as a heat sink and is essentially characterized by having a high heat conductivity, by being a good electrical insulator and by being substantially immune to the deleterious effects of ultra-violet radiation. Manual portability is accomplished by eliminating entirely any need for a conventional circulating fluid cooling system.

Growing community of inventors

La Canada, CA, United States of America

Lien C Yang