Marshall Thomas

US Patent:

54234816, Jun 13, 1995

Filed:

Sep 20, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/123944

Inventors:

Marshall K. Thomas - Philadelphia PA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B05B 102

US Classification:

239 1

Abstract:

A method and system is provided for regulating the meniscus of a water droplet in a high velocity water droplet apparatus in which a large pulse of energy are applied to the water droplet to propel the water droplet at high velocity. In this method the shape of the meniscus of the water droplet is observed and adjusted in accordance with the observation. The energy is applied to the water droplet substantially simultaneously with the observing of the shape of the meniscus. The shape of the meniscus is determined by observing a magnified image of the water droplet so that the adjustment may be made in accordance with the magnified image. The high energy is applied to the water droplet by means of a projectile and an energy transfer body which transfers energy from the projectile to the water droplet. A pressure adjustment device is provided for adjusting the pressure applied to the water droplet in order to adjust the meniscus.