Abstract: A connection assembly for sealing to an end of a tube includes a polymeric body having an opening configured to slidably receive the end of the tube. The opening further has a first open end, a second end, and an internal sealing surface spaced from the open end. A reinforcement member is spaced from and generally surrounds at least a portion of the opening and includes a body section and an end portion with the end portion being generally adjacent the internal sealing surface. A sealing member is adjacent the internal sealing surface of the opening and is configured to interact with the internal sealing surface of the opening and the end of the tube to form a seal between the connection member and the tube. A locking device is configured to secure the connection assembly to the tube.

Abstract: A connection assembly for sealing to an end of a tube includes a polymeric body having an opening including an open end and an internal sealing surface spaced from the open end. The opening is configured to slidably receive the end of the tube. A reinforcement member is spaced from and generally surrounds at least a portion of the opening and a sealing member is adjacent the internal sealing surface of the opening. The sealing member is configured to interact with the internal sealing surface of the opening and the end of the tube to form a seal between the connection assembly and the tube.

Abstract: A connection assembly for sealing to an end of a tube includes a polymeric body having an opening configured to slidably receive the end of the tube. The opening further has a first open end, a second end, and an internal sealing surface spaced from the open end. A reinforcement member is spaced from and generally surrounds at least a portion of the opening and includes a body section and an end portion with the end portion being generally adjacent the internal sealing surface. A sealing member is adjacent the internal sealing surface of the opening and is configured to interact with the internal sealing surface of the opening and the end of the tube to form a seal between the connection member and the tube. A locking device is configured to secure the connection assembly to the tube.

Abstract: A connection assembly for sealing to an end of a tube includes a polymeric body having an opening including an open end and an internal sealing surface spaced from the open end. The opening is configured to slidably receive the end of the tube. A reinforcement member is spaced from and generally surrounds at least a portion of the opening and a sealing member is adjacent the internal sealing surface of the opening. The sealing member is configured to interact with the internal sealing surface of the opening and the end of the tube to form a seal between the connection assembly and the tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, are variably spaced using a resilient member to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, is adjustable by the flexing design of the drive rollers to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, is adjustable by the flexing design of the drive rollers to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, are variably spaced using a resilient member to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polyester and an acrylic polymer, wherein the acrylic polymer has a thermal degradation temperature of less than or equal to 295° C.

Abstract: A self contained device for harvesting electrical energy from linear and rotary motion has a sensor with amplifiers for tensile stretching of a piezoelectric body with magnification of the applied force. The piezoelectric body is a monolithic plate with surface electrodes covering its top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: A high force linear displacement piezoelectric motor operates with equal force and reliability in both the push and pull mode. The new motor includes a split motor shaft having with two shaft segments that are coaxially affixed to opposite sides of an expandable and contractable displacement actuator. The displacement actuator has a piezoelectric body coincident with the axis of the shaft segments such that the expansion of the piezoelectric body increases the length of the split motor shaft. The motor has a set of clamps that receive and close on the shaft segments to hold them in place, or open to allow axial displacement of the shaft segments. Linear motion of the split shaft motor is produced by coordinating the opening and closing the clamps with the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive to provide a rotary force to a rotating element includes a pair of circumferentially spaced fingers. The fingers are selectively moved towards and away from the rotating element with piezoelectric actuators that expand and contract. An intermediate piezoelectric actuator moves the two fingers away from each other or allows them to be moved towards each other. A bias force acts in opposition to the intermediate piezoelectric actuator. By controlling the three piezoelectric actuators, the system rotates the rotating element. The system is preferably utilized for driving a vehicle component, and most preferably, a window for a vehicle. The inventive motor provides a low cost compact motor for driving vehicle components.

Abstract: A piezoelectric moving linear motor consists of three piezoelectric actuators which are controlled relative to each other. One piezoelectric actuators causes two blocks to move away from each other in opposition to a spring force. The other two piezoelectric actuators selectively clamp a block to a guide shaft. By cyclically controlling the actuation of the three piezoelectric actuators, the motor is able to move the blocks axially along the guide shaft. Preferably, a vehicle component such as a window is fixed to one block and is caused to move along the guide shaft.

Abstract: PLZT piezoelectric ceramics having the general formula (Pb.sub.1-x La.sub.x)(Zr.sub.y Ti.sub.1-y).sub.1-(x/4) O.sub.3 are fabricated in a hot forging process using PbO, TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, and La.sub.2 O.sub.3 powders as starting materials with Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 added to provide Nb as a dopant. The ZrO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 powders are mixed at a molar ratio of y/(1-y), calcined at approximately 1300.degree.-1500.degree. C., ball milled in acetone, and evaporated to a dry powder. The mixture of ZrO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 is then combined with the PbO, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 powders, and the new mixture is ball milled in acetone, evaporated to a dry powder, calcined at approximately 700.degree.-850.degree. C., and sifted to obtain a particle size of approximately 0.3-2.0 .mu.m. The final PLZT powder is formed into the desired shape by cold pressing followed by sintering at approximately 1000.degree.-1150.degree. C. in oxygen. The PLZT ceramic material is further densified to about 98.

Abstract: PLZT piezoelectric ceramics having the general formula (Pb.sub.1-x La.sub.x)(Zr.sub.y Ti.sub.1-y).sub.1-(x/4) O.sub.3 are fabricated in a hot forging process using PbO, TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, and La.sub.2 O.sub.3 powders as starting materials with Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 added to provide niobium (Nb) as a dopant. The ZrO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 powders are mixed at a molar ratio of y/(1-y), calcined at approximately 1300.degree.-1500.degree. C., ball milled in acetone, and evaporated to a dry powder. The mixture of ZrO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 is then combined with the PbO, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 powders, and the new mixture is ball milled in acetone, evaporated to a dry powder, calcined at approximately 700.degree.-850.degree. C., and sifted to obtain a particle size of approximately 0.3-2.0 .mu.m. The final PLZT powder is formed into the desired shape by cold pressing followed by sintering at approximately 1000.degree.-1150.degree. C. in oxygen. The PLZT ceramic material is further densifted to about 98.