Abstract: A backshell, the backshell including a first shell member having a first end, a second end and a first channel, a second shell member having a first end, a second end and a second channel, the second shell member being configured to interface with the first shell member so that, when interfaced, the first ends of the first and second shell members are adjacent each other and defines a backshell first end, the second ends of the first and second shell members are adjacent each other and defines a backshell second end, and the channels of the first and the second shell members form a wire bundle passage extending between the backshell first end and the backshell second end, and a coupling ring configured to engage both the first shell member and the second shell member at the backshell first end to couple the first shell member to the second shell member.

Abstract: A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.

Abstract: A wire processing system includes a tray having at least one tray surface configured to sequentially receive a first wire and a second wire from a wire feed system of a wire processing machine. The tray surface has a surface feature configured to provide a wire-to-surface coefficient of friction between the tray surface and the first wire higher than a wire-to-wire coefficient of friction between the first wire and the second wire laying on top of the first wire. The wire-to-surface coefficient of friction reduces movement of at least a portion of the first wire relative to the tray surface during movement of the second wire relative to the first wire.

Abstract: A wire processing system includes a tray having at least one tray surface configured to sequentially receive a first wire and a second wire from a wire feed system of a wire processing machine. The tray surface has a surface feature configured to provide a wire-to-surface coefficient of friction between the tray surface and the first wire higher than a wire-to-wire coefficient of friction between the first wire and the second wire laying on top of the first wire. The wire-to-surface coefficient of friction reduces movement of at least a portion of the first wire relative to the tray surface during movement of the second wire relative to the first wire.

Abstract: A method 500 of operating an automated machine 100 is provided for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations 110 of an electrical connector 112 to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method comprises inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector based upon a plug map 300 having offset values to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method may further comprise selecting from a plurality of pre-generated plug maps having offset values the closest matching pre-generated plug map for the electrical connector based upon offset values associated with each of the plurality of pre-generated plugs maps. The selected pre-generated plug map having offset values corresponds to the plug map used to insert wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein generally relate to methods and apparatus for the insertion of one or more wires into a cavity of a fixture of a structure or component. The wire insertion apparatus includes a grommet, a gripper adapted to interface with the grommet, and at least a first vibrating element. The first vibrating element is connected to and vibrates one or more of the apparatus, the grommet, the gripper, the wire, and/or a component of the apparatus. Vibration, induced in any direction, enables the cavities to shift position during insertion relative to the contact, thus increasing the tolerance of the cavity, reducing the failure rate of wire insertion, and reducing total production time. The vibration breaks the static friction of the contact in the grommet or dielectric opening, creates the positive locating required to insert the contact in the grommet and/or dielectric, and/or pivots the contact.

Abstract: A thermal energy harvester and power conversion system employs a bleed air duct containing the flow of high temperature air from an engine. A lower temperature air source is included with an energy conversion device having a hot interface operably engaged to the bleed air duct and a cold interface operably engaged to the lower temperature air source. The energy conversion device generates electrical power from a thermal gradient between the bleed air duct and the lower temperature air source and the electrical power is routed to a power feeder.

Abstract: Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.

Abstract: A wire inspection system is provided. The wire inspection system includes a mirror assembly including an odd number of sides arranged to form a pyramid structure configured to surround a wire segment, wherein a plurality of the sides include a mirror, a light source configured to illuminate the wire segment, and at least one camera configured to acquire a plurality of images of the wire segment that are reflected by the plurality of mirrors, wherein each image of the plurality of images shows a different side of the wire segment.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a part includes sectionalizing a computer-generated representation of a part into strata having an order, forming layers corresponding to the strata from sheet material, stacking at least two of the layers in the order, and joining the layers together. The method and system are suitable for producing a phase-change material container for a thermal energy harvesting device, for example.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a part includes sectionalizing a computer-generated representation of a part into strata having an order, forming layers corresponding to the strata from sheet material, stacking at least two of the layers in the order, and joining the layers together. The method is suitable for producing a phase-change material container for a thermal energy harvesting device, for example.

Abstract: A wire inspection system is provided. The wire inspection system includes a mirror assembly including an odd number of sides arranged to form a pyramid structure configured to surround a wire segment, wherein a plurality of the sides include a mirror, a light source configured to illuminate the wire segment, and at least one camera configured to acquire a plurality of images of the wire segment that are reflected by the plurality of mirrors, wherein each image of the plurality of images shows a different side of the wire segment.

Abstract: Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for the generation of 3-D RF performance maps of an environment by correlating RF performance data generated from known locations within the environment with spatial data generated of the environment. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that generates spatial data of an environment in a 3-D coordinate system. The apparatus generates RF performance data for an RF transmitter that is located within the environment. The apparatus identifies 3-D locations of the apparatus within the environment based on the spatial data, identifies RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RF performance data, and generates a 3-D RF performance map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RF performance values.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for the generation of 3-D RF performance maps of an environment by correlating RF performance data generated from known locations within the environment with spatial data generated of the environment. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that generates spatial data of an environment in a 3-D coordinate system. The apparatus generates RF performance data for an RF transmitter that is located within the environment. The apparatus identifies 3-D locations of the apparatus within the environment based on the spatial data, identifies RF performance values for the RF transmitter at the 3-D locations based on the RF performance data, and generates a 3-D RF performance map of the environment based on the 3-D locations and the RF performance values.

Abstract: A method for health monitoring of a damper associated with a landing gear is described which includes receiving sensor data from a pressure transducer and an accelerometer and optionally a thermal sensor operably mounted on or near the damper, a computer system, and applying, using the computer system, a diagnostic algorithm to the sensor data to induce and predict the health of the damper.

Abstract: A method for health monitoring of a damper associated with a landing gear is described which includes receiving sensor data from a pressure transducer and an accelerometer and optionally a thermal sensor operably mounted on or near the damper, a computer system, and applying, using the computer system, a diagnostic algorithm to the sensor data to induce and predict the health of the damper.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a system for transporting wire components during the assembly of wire bundles includes an air-operated tube network connecting a transport source station to a plurality of transport destination stations, the air-operated tube network comprising a junction coupled between the transport source station and the plurality of transport destination stations, and a system controller that includes a wire bundle assembly program, the system controller programmed to automatically transmit wire components from the source station to at least one of the transport destination stations based on the wire bundle assembly program.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a system for transporting wire components during the assembly of wire bundles includes an air-operated tube network connecting a transport source station to a plurality of transport destination stations, the air-operated tube network comprising a junction coupled between the transport source station and the plurality of transport destination stations, and a system controller that includes a wire bundle assembly program, the system controller programmed to automatically transmit wire components from the source station to at least one of the transport destination stations based on the wire bundle assembly program.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a cable including an insulating member, a shielding layer, and a conductor, the apparatus includes a frame forming a housing having an aperture configured to receive an end portion of the cable; a first gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; and a second gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; wherein the second gripping member is mounted within the housing so as to be movable relative to the first gripping member to effect fanning and cutting of a portion of the shielding layer.