Automatically operable self-leveling load table

A self-leveling load table is described which is automatically maintained level by selectively opening and closing solenoid valves for inserting and removing air from chambers under the table. The table is floated in a fluid by nine air chambers beneath the top of the table. These chambers are open at the bottom and four oppositely located chambers are used for leveling the table by having the air increased or decreased by means of a flexible hose. Air bearing pendulums are used for selectively energizing solenoid valves which either apply pressurized air to the chamber or evacuate air from the chamber by means of a vacuum source

Two speed drive system

A two speed drive system for a wheel of a vehicle by which shifting from one speed to the other is accomplished by the inherent mechanism of the wheel is described. A description of the speed shifting operation is provided and diagrams of the mechanism are included. Possible application to lunar roving vehicles is proposed

Magnetospheric multiprobes: MMP/CHEMSAT

The magnetospheric multiprobes (MMP) are a set of ejectable, self contained, limited lifetime free flyers which are designed to make plasma diagnostic measurements at multiple locations within telemetry range of the space station's coorbiting platform and polar platform. When configured as CHEMSATs, one or more MMP's will conduct chemical releases as tracers or modifiers of the local plasma and field environment, while diagnostic measurements are made from other MMP's and from the nearby platform. The probes will be battery powered and will have lifetimes of a few days to several weeks. Up to 12 probes would be placed on the coorbiting platform and the polar platform every six months and two years respectively for use in the campaign mode of operation

Two-speed wheel-drive system without lubrication

System based on sprockets and toothed belts provides high and low speeds in forward drive and high speed in reverse. It is inexpensive to produce and maintain, light in weight, reliable, and long-lived without lubrication

Self-leveling load table

Table floats in tank of water and has air compartments underneath. Table height and level are controlled by automatic adjustment or air pressure within these compartments

Research on solar-wind and magnetospheric electric fields and plasmas

The phenomena of particle preciptation and ion convection at high latitudes and their response to variations in the interplanetary magnetic field. Data from the low energy electron experiment and the retarding potential analyzer drift meter on Atmosphere Explorers C and D were analyzed. Additional data from the spacecraft Imp-J were utilized

The triggering of polar magnetic substorms by storm sudden commencements

Possible relationships are examined between the latitude of a discontinuity in the interplanetary magnetic field for a period prior to sudden storm commencements and the probability of sudden storm commencement-triggered negative bays

Combined docking and grasping device

A combined docking and grasping device for use with a manipulator arm on a docking vehicle and the like for mechanically connecting a docking vehicle with an orbital payload having a receptacle for receiving the device is described. The device includes a pair of opposing jaw members having opposing serrated surfaces for grasping an object and a triangular cam portion on an outer surface for insertion and interlocking with an orbital payload

Phase Space Representations and Perturbation Theory for Continuous-time Histories

We consider two technical developments of the formalism of continuous-time histories. First, we provide an explicit description of histories of the simple harmonic oscillator on the classical histories phase space, comparing and contrasting the Q, P and Wigner representations; we conclude that a representation based on coherent states is the most appropriate. Second, we demonstrate a generic method for implementing a perturbative approach for interacting theories in the histories formalism, using the quartic anharmonic oscillator. We make use of the identification of the closed-time path (CTP) generating functional with the decoherence functional to develop a perturbative expansion for the latter up to second order in the coupling constant. We consider both configuration space and phase space histories.Comment: 22 pages; slightly shortened, more concise argumentation; ref. adde

Technique for improving hydrodynamic gyro bearings

Conical or spherical, spirally grooved grease bearings have an inclined surface which is machined inboard of the grooved surface. The indentation and inclined surface provide a reservoir for forced out lubricant, and when rotation begins, centrifugal force returns the lubricant to the grooved area