Abstract:
A helicopter flight control system (21) includes a model following control system architecture which automatically provides a coordinating yaw command signal to the helicopter tail rotor to coordinate helicopter flight during a banked turn. The control system processes information from a variety of helicopter sensors (31) in order to provide the coordinating yaw command signal on an output line (72) to the tail rotor (20) of the helicopter.
Abstract:
A deicing system for a propeller driven aircraft includes deicing apparatus such as electro-expulsive blankets disposed on the rotating propeller blades. The deicing apparatus receives electrical power from the stationary side (66) of the aircraft through an electrical power transfer interface such as a slip ring/brush block arrangement (72). The deicing apparatus receives electrical power in a timed sequence controlled by timer electronic circuitry (62) disposed on the rotating side of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A helicopter engine fuel control anticipates changes in main rotor torque in response to lateral cyclic pitch commands, to thereby minimize engine and main rotor speed droop and overspeed during left and right roll maneuvers. A fuel compensation signal (100, 101) is summed with a helicopter fuel control (52) fuel command signal (67) in response both to a lateral cyclic pitch command signal (LCP) (107) from a pilot operated cyclic pitch control exceeding a left or right threshold magnitude (201, 210) and a total lateral cyclic pitch command signal (TCP) (108) from a lateral cyclic pitch control system exceeding a left or right threshold magnitude (202, 207, 215, 220). The magnitude of the fuel compensation signal is dependent upon the direction of TCP and LCP, e.g., left or right, and helicopter roll acceleration (115). Alternatively, the magnitude and duration of the fuel compensation signal is dependent upon the rate of change in commanded lateral cyclic pitch (107, 400, 407). A limiter (120) limits the magnitude of the fuel compensation signal. The fuel compensation signal is overridden (127, 125, 103) when it is increasing fuel flow (303) during rotor overspeed (128, 301), and when it is decreasing fuel flow (311) if rotor acceleration (130, 133) is negative (310) during rotor droop (128, 301).
Abstract:
A transformer isolates a control circuit from a FET, the control circuit including a clock generator for providing, when enabled, a clock signal to the transformer primary. A PWM input selectively disables the clock generator from providing the clock signal to the transformer primary. The transformer secondary is connected in a full wave centertap configuration for providing a full wave rectified version of the clock signal, the full wave rectified version being a relatively constant DC voltage signal supplied at one level to the FET to turn on the FET when the clock generator is enabled to provide the clock signal to the primary. The centertap configuration provides a relatively constant DC voltage signal at a second level to the FET to turn off the FET when the clock generator is disabled by the PWM input from providing the clock signal to the primary.
Abstract:
A parallel processing Qualitative Reasoning System (320) uses a control processor (322) and a plurality of server processors (323-325) to evaluate a plurality of hypotheses simultaneously. The control processor (322) provides hypotheses and user observations to the server processors (323-325) and the server processors (323-325) return evaluated hypotheses to the control processor (322). The server processors (323-325) can be interrupted after a predetermined amount of time to return a partially evaluated hypothesis.
Abstract:
A method of combusting a hydrocarbon fuel (30) includes mixing the fuel (30) with a first air stream (24) to form a fuel/air mixture (32) having an equivalence ratio of greater than 1 and partially oxidizing the fuel by contacting it with an oxidation catalyst (33) to generate a heat of reaction and a partial oxidation product stream (34). The partial oxidation product stream (34) is mixed with a second air stream (26) and completely combusted in a main combustor at a condition at which appreciable quantities of thermal NOx are not formed to generate an effluent gas stream (38), thereby generating an effluent gas stream (38) containing decreased amounts of thermal and prompt NOx. A system for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel includes, in combination, means for mixing the fuel with a first air stream, a catalytic oxidation stage containing an oxidation catalyst, means for mixing the partial oxidation product stream with a second air stream, and a main combustor capable of completely combusting the partial oxidation product stream.
Abstract:
A process for producing a fine grain forged superalloy article having a high yield strength at intermediate temperatures. A preferred starting composition comprises, by weight, 15 % Cr, 13.6 % Co, 4.1 % Mo, 4.6 % Ti, 2.2 % Al, 0.01 % C, 0.007 % B, 0.07 % Zr, balance Ni. This material is forged at a temperature above the gamma prime solvus and at a true strain of at least 0.5. Alternately, the material may be forged below the gamma prime solvus temperature with intermediate super solvus anneals. The overaged material is then worked at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus. The resultant fine grain material is then heat treated or can be further isothermally forged prior to heat treatment to produce complex shapes.
Abstract:
A composite yet monolithic abrasive material-removing lap includes a sintered porous matrix of ceramic or metal material and a quantity of an impregnating material substantially completely filling the pores of the sintered porous matrix preform at least throughout an effective region of the lap that is to come in contact with a workpiece to be acted upon by the lap. The lap is made by first slip-casting a preform, then freezing and freeze-drying the same, followed by lightly sintering the dry preform into a porous matrix preform, bringing the temperature of the preform to above the temperature at which the impregnating material is flowable, and filling the pores with the impregnating material.
Abstract:
A method of aligning the optical axes of an optical fiber and a waveguide imbedded in an integrated optical chip and of attaching the fiber to the chip includes the step of coating the outer surface of the fiber with solder in the vicinity of an end of the fiber. A portion of the fiber (10) at the coated end is cut away such that a flat surface at a tangential or near tangential relation to the fiber core results. A surface (22) of the chip (24) has solder pads (26, 28) disposed thereon such that the outer edges of the cut portion of the fiber contacts the solder pads when the flat surface of the fiber is placed in contact with the surface of the chip, such placement of the fiber onto the chip providing for vertical alignment of the optical axes of the fiber core and the waveguide (30) in the chip. Finally, the solder on the outer fiber surface and on the solder pads is heated at the junction therebetween, the resulting surface tension forces bringing the optical axis of the fiber core into precise optical alignment with the optical axis of the waveguide in the chip.
Abstract:
An arrangement (10) for forming an extended length light redirecting embedded grating (20) in an elongated solid material optical waveguide (21) includes a source (14) that directs a coherent light beam of a frequency in the ultraviolet range in a primary path (13) transversely toward the waveguide (21). A section of a diffraction grating (34) extends through the primary path (13) at a spacing from the waveguide (21), and the diffraction grating (37) has a dimension normal to the primary path (13) that exceeds the corresponding dimension of the primary path (13). Relative movement is effectuated between the waveguide (21) and diffraction grating (37) in unison, and the primary path (18), so that the light beam is diffracted at the diffraction grating (37) into two mutually frequency shifted partial light beams propagating in diverging secondary paths (15, 16). The partial light beams are caused to travel toward a shared location of the waveguide (21) where they form an interference pattern (50) that moves longitudinally of the waveguide (21) but respective high intensity fringes (51) of which extend through the waveguide (21) at respective positions that are stationary relative to the waveguide (21) to effect refractive index changes at such positions along an extended length of the waveguide (21).