Abstract:
An integrated fire and flight control (IFFC) system determines a ballistic firing solution based on the position of targets relative to a helicopter and also based on the type of weapons to be fired. An elevation command is determined based on the required change in helicopter attitude to achieve the ballistic firing solutin that, combined with the estimated time required to perform the aim and release of weapons, provides an estimate of deceleration and velocity loss that will occur. A forward acceleration and velocity profile is determined based on the desire to make a symmetrical maneuver sequence involving a nose down acceleration to achieve the acceleration and velocity profile that will be canceled by the subsequent deceleration and velocity loss during the pitch up maneuver to the ballistic firing solution. The forward acceleration and velocity profile is used to provide a pilot with a forward acceleration command that directs the pilot to fly a nose down attitude until the required forward acceleration and velocity profile is achieved. Alternatively, the acceleration profile is coupled to a flight control wherein a pre-launch maneuver feedforward command signal is summed with a side arm controller control command signal as the primary input to a rotor mixing function and a pre-launch commanded rate signal is summed with a side arm controller commanded rate signal to provide the primary input to an automatic flight control system, to thereby automatically control the aircraft to assume an attitude necessary to achieve the desired forward acceleration and velocity profile. A terminal phase maneuver is calculated to thereby return the aircraft to the previous attitude, velocity hold, hover hold or position hold condition prior to commencement of the pre-launch maneuver.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system and a process for removing contaminants such as CO2 and mobile cations and anions from aqueous solutions. The system and the process contemplate the use of thermally sterilizable aqueous polishing agents such as thermally sterilizable ion exchange resins, and as a result, the need for chemical and/or mechanical microbial control or inhibition techniques is obviated. Therefore, the present invention will be especially useful in submarine and spacecraft applications where the need exists for reduced weight and volume water processing systems.
Abstract:
A coupled multiple output fiber laser includes a plurality of laser diodes (10, 50-56) each providing pump light (12, 58-64) which is incident on respective Bragg gratings (16, 74-80) which pass the pump wavelength and reflect a lasing wavelength. The fibers (20, 90-96) are doped with a gain dopant such as Er to provide lasing at the lasing wavelength in response to the pump light. Light beams (18, 82-88) are incident on an optical coupler (22) which couples the light beams (18, 82-88) to the light beams (40-48) on the fibers (30-38) based on a predetermined power distribution, e.g., equal distribution. The light (40) travels along the fiber (30) which acts as a common-cavity fiber. The light (40) reflects off a reflector (120) which provides reflected feedback light (122) which reenters the coupler (22) and is distributed to the individual cavity fibers (20, 82-88) based on the same or a different predetermined power distribution. Output light (42-48) is provided on the fibers (32-38) which may be incident on a lens (160) to cause the beams to intersect. The length of each of the fibers (20, 90-96) is adjusted by piezoelectric tuners (200-208) to provide coupled cavity phase-locking of the output beams (42-48). Also, each of the output beams (42-48) may be phase shifted by additional tuners (240-246). An additional output beam may be obtained by a light (232) which passes through the mirror (120).
Abstract:
In a gas turbine with stator vanes, actual high speed rotor speed is compared with a value computed from engine pressure to produce an error signal. The error signal is integrated to command stator deflection.
Abstract:
A gas turbine abradable seal is prepared by plasma spraying an oxidation resistant metallic material and boron nitride. The resultant structure comprises a metallic matrix encompassing a lubricating amount of boron nitride, with porosity of less than about 15 percent and a fabricated surface roughness of less than about 600 microinches. The reduced surface roughness and substantially reduced permeability of this seal provide substantially enhanced engine efficiency, and improved durability.
Abstract:
An arrangement for cancelling unwanted noise generated by sequential blade rows in a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of acoustic sources (52) disposed on the blades (36-40) of the downstream row.
Abstract:
A fairing (122) is provided for covering a wire strike cutter (120). The fairing (122) comprises a microwave energy absorbing core (150) covered by dielectric skin (160, 161, 165, 166). The fairing (122) reduces the radar signature of the wire cutter and fractures in response to a wire strike so as to permit the cutter to capture and cut a wire/cable. At least one projection (135) is formed on the fairing (122) for catching a slack wire/cable as it slides up the fairing, the projection holds the wire/cable until tension develops to fracture the fairing, thereby permitting the wire/cable to pass through to the wire cutter where it is subsequently cut. The fairing (122) minimizes drag and improves the aircraft's aerodynamic characteristics by directing the airflow round the wire cutter and equipment adjacent to the wire cutter.
Abstract:
The position of the normal airflow shock pattern in the airflow inlet of a supersonic aircraft jet engine assembly is detected by a light beam position sensor assembly (28). A narrow band coherent source light beam is angularly transmitted across the engine assembly airflow inlet and is angularly refracted by the normal shock pattern. A bank of light beam sensor assemblies is mounted on the airflow inlet so as to detect the position of the refracted light beam relative to the leading surface of the power section of the engine. Selectively adjustable airflow control tabs (12, 41) are mounted on the engine assembly and are operably connected to an airflow inlet controller. The airflow inlet controller monitors ambient flight conditions and the location of the refracted light beam, and will selectively adjust the position of the airflow control tabs so as to maintain the position of the normal shock pattern at a calculated desired distance from the leading surface of the engine power section.
Abstract:
A hydrogen storage device (2) includes a vessel (4) and a hydrogen storage bed (6) disposed in the vessel (4). The hydrogen storage bed (6) includes a polymeric material (8) having a plurality of micropores less than 1 nm in diameter and at least one hydride forming metal (10) imbedded within the polymeric material (8). The device also includes means for optically and thermally decomposing the metal hydride to release hydrogen and means for conveying hydrogen into and out of the storage device (2). The hydrogen storage bed (6) may be made by distributing a hydride forming metal (10) within the polymeric material (8) while the polymeric material (8) is in an uncured state. A metal hydride may be formed in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure such that the hydrogen bonds to the hydride forming metal (10) to form a metal hydride within the polymeric material (8). The hydrogen pressure may be reduced such that the metal hydride dissociates and any dissolved hydrogen escapes through the polymeric material (8), thereby forming a plurality of micropores less than 1 nm in diameter. The micropores may be molded into the polymeric material (8) by cooling the polymeric material (8).