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At least 469 records · Page 26

Metal melting, joining, and alloying under weightlessness

During the Skylab mission experiments were conducted concerning the influence of weightlessness on molten metals and the solidification process. It was found that the absence of gravity-induced thermal convection and sedimentation modified the properties of the bulk melt. A metals melting experiment was conducted to study the behavior of metal melted by an electron beam and to evaluate the feasibility of joining metals in space. An exothermic brazing experiment investigated the spreading, mixing, and capillary flow of molten braze material. The containerless melting and solidification of small samples of several metals was studied in another experiment. A description is also given of a study of the directional solidification of solid solution alloys.

Snyder, R. S.↗

Thermal jack

Auxiliary furnace tool forces part to match length of mating part during brazing. As brazed assembly cools, jack contracts faster and disengages from fitting studs.

Armenoff, C. T.↗

Advanced fabrication techniques for cooled engine structures

An improved design for regeneratively cooled engine structures was identified. This design uses photochemically machined (PCM) coolant passages. It permits the braze joint to be placed in a relatively cool area, remote from the critical hot face sheet. The geometry of the passages at the face sheet also minimizes stress concentration and, therefore, enhances the low cycle fatigue performance. The two most promising alloys identified for this application are Inconel 617 and Nickel 201. Inconel 617 was selected because it has excellent creep rupture properties, while Nickel 201 was selected because of its predicted good performance under low cycle fatigue loading. The fabrication of the PCM coolant passages in both Inconel 617 and Nickel 201 was successfully developed. During fabrication of Inconel 617, undesirable characteristics were observed in the braze joints. A development program to resolve this condition was undertaken and led to definition of an isothermal solidification process for joining Inconel 617 panels. This process produced joints which approach parent metal strength and homogeneity.

Buchmann, O. A.↗

A precoat prevents ceramic stopoffs from spalling

Nickel-alloy precoat applied with plasmagun improves adhesion of ceramic materials applied to protect areas from unintentional brazing. Metal surface should be grit-blasted before precoating. Coating does not interfere with brazing or contaminate vacuum pumping systems.

Brennan, A.↗

Shaping Transistor Leads for Better Solder Joints

Special lead-forming tool puts step in leads of microwave power transistors without damaging braze joints that fasten leads to package. Stepped leads are soldered to circuit boards more reliably than straight leads, and stress on brazes is relieved. Lead-forming hand-tool has two parts: a forming die and an actuator. Spring-loaded saddle is adjusted so that when transistor package is placed on it, leads rest on forming rails.

Mandel, H.↗

Mechanical property characterization of Borsic/aluminum laminates at room and elevated temperatures

Six Borsic/aluminum laminate orientations exposed to a braze temperature cycle were tested in tension, compression, and shear to determine tangent modulus, maximum stress and strain, and Poisson's ratio of the laminates at room and elevated temperatures. Mechanical properties in tension were determined from flat tensile and sandwich beam tests. Room temperature flat tensile tests were performed on laminates in the as-received condition to compare with specimens exposed to a braze temperature cycle. Sandwich beam tests were also used to determine mechanical properties in compression. Shear properties were determined from biaxially loaded, picture frame shear specimens. Results are presented by using functional relations between stress and strain and tangent modulus and strain, and in tables by indicating maximum stress and strain and Poisson's ratio.

Mcwithey, R. R.↗

Lightweight Metal Mirrors

Two "eggcrate" halves brazed together. Lightweight flat mirrors fabricated by machining pockets in two plates of beryllium and brazing machined halves together. Mirror less than half weight of same mirror made by previous design.

Gossett, E.↗

Fracture temperature and flaw growth in nitronic 40 at cryogenic temperatures

The fracture resistance and fatigue response of Armco Nitronic 40 austenitic stainless steel were evaluated under cryogenic conditions. Tensile, fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth properties were measured at -275 F. The tensile yield strength was approximately 120 ksi and the fracture toughness was estimated to be 350 ksi-in /2 on the basis of fracture toughness measurements. Testing was conducted to evaluate the behavior of a simulated section of the wing of the Pathfinder 1 model subject to a load and temperature history typical of that for testing in the National Transonic Facility. The wing section model incorporated a proposed brazing technique for pressure-transducer attachment. The simulated wing section performed satisfactorily at stress levels of nearly 60 percent of the material yield strength. The brazing technique proved to be an effective method of transducer attachment under conditions of high stress levels and large temperature excursions.

Domack, M. S.↗

Design of evaporator of spacelab refrigerator/freezer

An Evaporator has been designed for NASA-Johnson Space Center Life Sciences to conduct experiments in Spacelab mission SLS-1 using different samples such as blood, urine, human tissues etc. Two units will fly - one as a Refrigerator (4 C) and the other as a Freezer (-22 C). The evaporator tube is dip brazed on a grooved flat plate. Aluminum heat sink is dip brazed on the other side of the plate. Freon R5O2 is pumped through the tube and air is circulated over the finned surface to transfer heat. As freon 5O2 is considered toxic, the whole freon tube is covered with an evaporator cover to contain any freon leakage to avoid exposure to crew members. This containment is under vacuum and this pressure is monitored along with the freon pressure to determine freon leakage so that necessary steps can be taken to stop contamination of the spacelab air. An stress analysis has been done and it is found to have adequate safety margin to meet the requirements of NASA safety and reliability standards.

Hye, A.↗

Method of repairing hidden leaks in tubes

A method of repairing a tubular assembly in which access to a defect in the tube is limited includes the steps of cutting an opening in the tube on the side opposite the defect so as to expose the defect from the inside of the tube. A tubular insert is inserted into the tube to cover the defect and is secured in place by means of brazing or welding. The remaining space between the opening and insert is closed by means of close-out patches which are welded or brazed to both the insert and the tube. The result is a permanent repair having great structural integrity.

Duesberg, J. D.↗

A millimeter-wave tunneLadder TWT

A millimeter wave traveling wave tube was developed using a dispersive, high impedance forward interaction structure based on a ladder, with non-space harmonic interaction, for a tube with high gain per unit length and high efficiency. The TunneLadder interaction structure combines ladder properties modified to accommodate Pierce gun beam optics in a radially magnetized permanent magnet focusing structure. The development involved the fabrication of chemically milled, shaped ladders diffusion brazed to diamond cubes which are in turn active-diffusion brazed to each ridge of a doubly ridged waveguide. Cold test data are presented, representing the omega-beta and impedance characteristics of the modified ladder circuit. These results were used in small and large signal computer programs to predict TWT gain and efficiency. Actual data from tested tubes verify the predicted performance while providing broader bandwidth than expected.

Jacquez, A.↗

Plating Patches On Heat-Exchanger Jackets

Permanent repairs made without welding. Technique used to repair nickel-alloy nozzle jacket of Space Shuttle main engine. Applicable to other metal heat-exchanger jackets with similar configurations. Does not require welding, brazing, soldering, or other operations involving high temperatures and consequent damage to surrounding areas. Portion of jacket around damaged area removed by grinding and polishing out to edges adjacent to tube/jacket braze bonds. Spaces between tubes filled with wax preventing contamination of spaces during subsequent plating.

Loureiro, Henry↗

Hermetic Glass-To-Metal Seal For Instrumentation Window

Proposed mounting scheme for optical element of instrumentation window in pressure vessel ensures truly hermetic seal while minimizing transmission of stress to optical element. Brazed metal seal superior to conventional gaskets of elastomer, carbon, asbestos, or other material compressed between optical element and wall of vessel. Concentric brazed joints in proposed seal bond metal ring to wall of vessel and to optical element. U-shaped cross section allows ring to flex under pressure.

Hill, Arthur J.↗

Modular Heat Exchanger With Integral Heat Pipe

Modular heat exchanger with integral heat pipe transports heat from source to Stirling engine. Alternative to heat exchangers depending on integrities of thousands of brazed joints, contains only 40 brazed tubes.

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.↗

Robotic System Would Inspect Tubes And Fillets

Proposed robotic system inspects arrays of brazed tubes being fabricated for use in heat exchangers and similar objects. Arrays contain coolant tubes mounted in nozzle of main engine of Space Shuttle. Other versions used to inspect components of terrestrial heat exchangers for powerplants, vehicles, and refrigeration equipment. Inspection system provides for automated, complete, objective, and efficient inspection of arrays of coolant tubes. Computer executing image-processing algorithms extracts profiles of tubes and braze fillets and identifies flaws.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗

AMTEC cell testing, optimization of rhodium/tungsten electrodes, and tests of other components

Electrodes, current collectors, ceramic to metal braze seals, and metallic components exposed to the high 'hot side' temperatures and sodium liquid and vapor environment have been tested and evaluated in laboratory cells running for hundreds of hours at 1100-1200 K. Rhodium/tungsten electrodes have been selected as the optimum electrodes based on performance parameters and durability. Current collectors have been evaluated under simulated and actual operating conditions. The microscopic effects of metal migration between electrode and current collector alloys as well as their thermal and electrical properties determined the suitability of current collector and lead materials. Braze seals suitable for long term application to AMTEC devices are being developed.

Williams, Roger M.↗

An Experimental Investigation of Hollow Turbine Blades for Expandable Jet Engines

An experimental investigation was made to determine the feasibility of using hollow turbine blades in engines designed for short service life. Airfoils were fabricated from sheet material and techniques of welding and brazing attachment were investigated. The airfoils were not intended to be cooled. A principal objective was the reduction of strategic material requirements primarily as a function of direct weight reduction. The materials considered were in the density range of 0.28 to 0.31 pound per cubic inch. Three materials were used for airfoils: N-155, Inconel-X and L-605. These were attached to J47 turbine blade bases and operated to destruction at maximum service conditions of turbine speed and temperature. It was found that L-605 airfoils brazed to suitable bases satisfied the requirements for expendable engines. Service life varied from 11 to 40 hours.

Morgan, W C↗

A millimeter-wave tunneladder TWT

A millimeter-wave traveling wave tube (TWT) was developed using a dispersive, high-impedance forward wave interaction structure based on a ladder, with non-space-harmonic interaction, for a tube with high gain per inch and high efficiency. The 'TunneLadder' interaction structure combines ladder properties modified to accommodate Pierce gun beam optics in a radially magnetized PM focusing structure. The development involved the fabrication of chemically milled, shaped ladders diffusion brazed to diamond cubes which are in turn active diffusion brazed to each ridge of a doubly ridged waveguide. Cold-test data, representing the (omega)(beta) and and impedance characteristics of the modified ladder circuit, were used in small and large-signal computer programs to predict TWT gain and efficiency. The structural design emphasizes ruggedness and reliability. Actual data from tested tubes verify the predicted performance while providing broader bandwidth than expected.

Wilson, D.↗