Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) igniter which is an ignition safety device (ISD) in a small, low-cost, low-power, and highly reliable design. The MEMS igniter provides both out-of-line safety and an ignition mechanism for a rocket motor. The igniter is initially held in a safe, out-of-line position with respect to a propellant. Upon receiving appropriate arm and fire commands and sensing the correct environment, MEMS mechanisms move an ignition component into alignment and the device can function.
Abstract:
An online device and method for predicting at least one fluid flow parameter in a process (which comprises a bounded flow domain having disposed therein a pre-determined matrix) includes a computer and/or process steps whereby: (i) a memory receives a database, the database comprising location information for a plurality of nodes or particle pathways in the matrix; (ii) input data is received from the process, and (iii) the at least one fluid flow parameter is calculated from the database and the input data. Preferably, structure and/or process steps are provided to adjust the database in the event that the input data does not correspond with at least one pre-determined flow state.
Abstract:
A barrier fabric laminate for use as a cover for a gel filled article is provided. The barrier fabric laminate comprises a fluid impermeable film and a polyurethane nonwoven web which has a friction value of less than 200 g and a fabric hand of less than 200 g. The polyurethane web is formed from fibers of less than about 50 .mu.m diameter on average and is preferably formed with a fluorochemical melt additive by sequentially melt blowing the polyurethane web on a heated collecting drum and laminating in the nip formed by a heated nip roller and the collecting drum.
Abstract:
A sanitary material moving pump having a ram mounted for rreciprocal movement in a pumping chamber. An elongte tubular housing is connected at one end to the ram for purposes of reciprocal movement of the ram to move material through the pumping chamber. A piston shaft is mounted in stationary relationship relative to the pumping chamber in alignment with the design pumping axis of the pumping chamber. The end of the housing opposite the ram extends outward of the pumping chamber and is installed on the working end of the piston shaft. A piston is mounted on the inside end of the piston shaft. Hydraulic fluid lines communicate with opposite sides of the piston to reciprocate the housing on the piston shaft and the ram in the pumping chamber. Apparatus is provided for correctly adjusting the alignment of the hydraulic power unit to be as coincident as possible with the design pumping axis of the machine.
Abstract:
A liquid separator to extract liquid, usually water, from a water-solid mixture. The liquid separator has a housing with an inlet and an outlet separated by a liquid extraction chamber. The housing sidewalls defining the extraction chamber are porous, and are preferably comprised as a plurality of spaced apart rails or slats. The spacing between the rails provides a porosity for extraction of water. The rails are movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing in order to vary the volume of the extraction chamber. Bias means are provided that normally bias the rails inwardly of the chamber. A water-solids mixture is pumped through the chamber and tends to expand the chamber against the force of the biasing means. The combination of effects upon the subject mixture is to cause water extraction through both the squeezing by the slats and the friction occassioned by the dewatering of the subject mixture.
Abstract:
A handling system to move material and particularly manure from a collection area to a holding or storage station. The manure handling system includes a manure pump assembly having a hopper mounted over a pump housing which defines a triangularly shaped pumping chamber. An outlet valve located at the end of the chamber is urged closed by a rubber spring internally connected in the chamber. A triangular ram or piston shaped to conform to the shape of the chamber reciprocates in the pumping chamber to push manure delivered from the hopper past the outlet valve to a discharge pipe leading to a holding station. Means are provided for heating the discharge pipe and the pumping chamber, thus to permit year-round and above-ground use of the system.
Abstract:
A new acoustic insulating sheet material comprises in laminar assembly a) a primary sound absorbing sheet, and b) a dense porous membrane that i) has an air-flow resistance of about 5000 rayls or less and ii) has an Acoustic Value Ratio as defined herein of at least 3000. Preferably, the membrane is about 200 micrometers or less in thickness, and more preferably is about 150 micrometers or less in thickness. Also, the Acoustic Value Ratio is preferably at least 7,000. The described membrane can also be used alone to acoustically insulate a space, e.g., by mounting it in planar array over an air gap and in position to attenuate noise from a noise source.
Abstract:
A viscous material (sludge) pump, a method of accurately estimating output of such a pump and a method of efficiently managing such a pump. The pump can be the single or double cylinder variety. The pump is calibrated to determine a calibrated sludge-weight output of the pump in terms of a parameter defined as a “lost travel” position of the piston in the pump chamber. This position is defined in terms of the position of the piston in the chamber when the pressure in the chamber reaches a preselected reference pressure expressed in terms of a percentage of the maximum pressure reached in the chamber during a just previous discharge stroke of the piston. The lost travel parameter is used for comparison purposes to accurately estimate actual pump output based on the calibrated pump output at the calibrated value of the lost travel parameter. The pump is managed efficiently by management of the speed of the feed auger. This assures that an approximately optimal amount of material is loaded into the pumping chamber each pumping cycle. The pump is also managed by management of the pump stroke distance and speed.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for tentering nonwoven webs during annealing. The nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers is restrained on a tentering structure at a plurality of tentering points distributed across an interior portion of the web, rather than just along its edges. The nonwoven web is annealed while restrained on the tentering structure to form a dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous web, dimensionally stable up to at least the heatsetting temperature. The annealed nonwoven fibrous web is then removed from the tentering structure. In one embodiment, the tentering structure restrains the nonwoven fibrous web in a non-planar configuration during the annealing process. The tentering structure includes a plurality of tentering points projecting distally from a tentering support. The tentering points are positioned to be engaged with an interior portion of the web, thus restraining the web during annealing.
Abstract:
A system for controlling fuel flow in an internal combustion engine receives a command specifying a desired fuel flow rate from an electronic control module. The system generates a feedforward estimate of actuator current required to produce the desired flow rate. This estimate is combined with a fueling current offset value generated using a proportional-integral feedback controller. A differential pressure between the fuel rail and cylinder gas is converted, by surface interpolation based on a lookup table, to an estimate of actual fuel flow rate. The difference between this actual fuel flow rate and the desired flow rate is provided to the feedback controller as an error signal. The feedback controller preferably uses different gain values depending on an operating mode of the engine (speed control and torque control modes).