Abstract:
The present invention describes a pyrotechnic gas generating composition which upon reaction produces a breathable gas. The composition comprises a fuel, an oxidizer and a nitrogen source and can be useful in inflating passive restraint air bags for vehicles. Also disclosed is a method for inflating a passive restraint safety bag with a breathable gas composition of the subject invention.
Abstract:
A liquid/gas separator for separating liquid and gas from a mixture that is mostly gas, within a zero gravity or variable gravity environment. The separator includes a main housing (12) that defines a pre-swirl chamber (14) and an adjacent cylindrical separator chamber (16). A main shaft (18) is rotationally secured along an interior longitudinal axis of the main housing (12) and includes a hub portion defining exhaust slots in fluid communication with an exhaust duct (24) within the hub for passing gas out of the separator chamber. A plurality of apertured coalescing disks are secured to the hub portion for impacting liquid droplets and directing any droplet away from the shaft toward and into a rotating liquid ring (30) formed adjacent a circumference of the separator chamber (16). A level control system (40) automatically maintains optimal separation of the liquid and gas by controlling a depth of the liquid ring (30).
Abstract:
An induction motor is provided with a secondary portion (20) comprising an interlaced conductor/back-iron (or ferromagnetic) portion (60) and a purely ferromagnetic back-iron portion (62). The interlaced portion (60) comprises an electrically conductive lattice (or foam) material (61) having pores (63) filled with a ferromagnetic material which results in two interlaced lattices (61, 63) which are continuous through a shared volume. The interlaced region (60) provides both good magnetic permeability for passing magnetic flux (30) and good electrical conductivity for flowing induced electrical currents necessary for induction motors. As a result, the effective magnetic gap (G1) is minimized while also providing a low-cost induction motor. Alternatively, the lattice (61) may be a ferromagnetic material which is embedded with a conductor.
Abstract:
Electronic drive circuitry for a solenoid that utilizes a pulse width modulation scheme is disclosed. The solenoid is connected in series with a transistor and a sense resistor. The voltage across the sense resistor is compared to a reference value to determine if an over-current condition exists within the solenoid. The circuitry operates on a repetitive time window scheme in which current is allowed to flow through the solenoid at the beginning of each time window, regardless of whether an over-current condition exists. If an over-current condition was detected at any time during the time window, then the current will be shut off to the solenoid during the next time window after the initial portion of that window. Conversely, if no over-current condition was detected during a time window, current will be allowed to flow during the entire duration of the next time window. Wraparound circuitry is also provided for sensing an open-coil condition during a latter portion of one of the time windows after a plurality of such windows has elapsed.
Abstract:
The top foil (12) of the hydrodynamic fluid film journal bearing (10) carries opposing tabs (23, 25) at the side edges adjacent the free end (17) thereof and extends radially outward to fit adjacent to the side edges (19, 21) of the intermediate foil (14) and the ends of the key (18) when rolled into a cylinder and inserted into the bore of sleeve (24) to prevent skewing of the top foil. In another embodiment, skewing is prevented by incorporating opposing tabs (37, 39, 50, 52) at the free ends (31, 54) of the top foil (12a) and intermediate foil (14a) that project through predetermined sized slots (40, 42) formed in the side edges (44, 46) at the fixed end of intermediate slot (14a). The tabs overlie the side edges of the intermediate foil (14b) and bump foil (15) when rolled into a cylinder and prevent skewing and enhancing journal bearing performance.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a simplified method for coating a substrate with photocatalytic semiconductor by mixing photocatalytic semiconductor powder with water to form a mixture, reducing said pH of the mixture to below about 4, sonicating the mixture, coating the substrate therewith, and illuminating the coated substrate with ultra-violet.
Abstract:
The present invention addresses organic pollutant removal from enclosed environments such as a room or within a vehicle. A photocatalytic semiconductor coating located on the interior surface of a window or windshield is illuminated with UV light, thereby dissociating water on the surface thereof to form hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals then oxidize organic pollutants adsorbed to the coating.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for balancing the fan rotor (10) of a turbine engine having a hub (12) with blades (16) extending radially therefrom. In the preferred embodiment the method includes the steps of determining (30) a penalty associated with each possible unique blade arrangement in which a limited number of blades is relocated from their initially assigned locations on the hub to new target locations. A subset of these arrangements is selected (34), the subset members being the arrangements having the lowest penalties. For each member of the subset, the penalty determination (36) is made for each possible unique blade arrangement in which a limited number of blades is relocated from their initial locations in each subset member to new target locations. If these latter penalty determinations identify an arrangement having a penalty less than that of any arrangement in the subset, the subset selection (34) and penalty determination steps (36) are repeated until no further reduction in penalty is observed. Once a blade arrangement having the smallest penalty is identified, the imbalance associated with that arrangement is compared (42) to a predetermined imbalance limit. If the imbalance is no greater than the limit, the blades (16) are deployed (44) on the hub in accordance with that arrangement.
Abstract:
A linkage arrangement (20) joins a nacelle (12) enclosing a gas turbine engine (10) and a pylon (18) suspended from an aircraft wing. The linkage arrangement (20) counteracts the deflections of the nacelle (12) with respect to the free air stream due to the aerodynamic load. The linkage arrangement (20) inlcudes a plurality of links (22, 24, 32, 34) that substantially duplicate the motion of a fourbar linkage mechanism.
Abstract:
A dual-pack, aircraft environmental control system (100) has each pack (104, 108) dedicated to providing a temperature-controlled air supply to a corresponding compartment (144, 148), either the crew (144) or passenger (148), of the aircraft. Each refrigeration pack (104, 108) is fed hot, compressed bleed air (176, 200) from an associated turbine engine (128, 132) on the aircraft. During normal operation, the pack associated (104, 108) with a particular compartment (144, 148) on the aircraft provides the air supply with independent temperature control to that compartment. However, during failure of one of the refrigeration packs (104, 108) and the resulting operation of the other pack, environmental control system (100) is able to provide independent temperature control of the air supplied to each compartment (144, 148).