Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a variable area nozzle having a plurality of flaps. The flaps are actuated by a plurality of actuating mechanisms driven by shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to vary fan exist nozzle area. The SMA actuator has a deformed shape in its martensitic state and a parent shape in its austenitic state. The SMA actuator is heated to transform from martensitic state to austenitic state generating a force output to actuate the flaps. The variable area nozzle also includes a plurality of return mechanisms deforming the SMA actuator when the SMA actuator is in its martensitic state.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a variable area nozzle having a plurality of flaps. The flaps are actuated by a plurality of actuating mechanisms driven by shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to vary fan exist nozzle area. The SMA actuator has a deformed shape in its martensitic state and a parent shape in its austenitic state. The SMA actuator is heated to transform from martensitic state to austenitic state generating a force output to actuate the flaps. The variable area nozzle also includes a plurality of return mechanisms deforming the SMA actuator when the SMA actuator is in its martensitic state.

Abstract: Bearing systems, such as magnetic bearings, are widely used today in a variety of applications. All bearing systems are, however, subject to failure. Therefore, backup bearing systems are often utilized in conjunction with a main bearing system in order to provide backup to the main bearings if they should fail. The backup bearing system for the re-centering of magnetic bearings includes a first conical member disposed about an axis and having at least one bearing disposed substantially therein; a second conical member spaced from the first conical member and disposed about the axis, the second conical member having at least one bearing disposed substantially therein; and an actuator assembly spaced from the second conical member and bearing in a first or operative position.

Abstract: A flywheel system having permanent magnets 20 disposed on a flywheel 10 rotating about a shaft 12 is provided with a stator 28 having an outer diameter which is oriented concentrically and shaped conically within a similarly shaped inner diameter of the flywheel 10 (and the magnets 20) and the stator 28 is slidably and rotatably mounted to a shaft 30 thereby allowing a gap g.sub.1 between the stator 28 and the rotor/flywheel 10 to be adjustable. When energy is being provided to (spin-up) or extracted from (spin-down) the flywheel 10, the stator is automatically forced to the left (FIG. 1) due to torque on the stator 28, thereby causing the gap g.sub.1 to be small to provide strong electromagnetic interaction between the stator 28 and the flywheel 10. Conversely, when the flywheel 10 is freewheeling, the stator 28 is forced to the right by a spring 40 causing the gap g.sub.1 to increase to a distance large enough to minimize electro-magnetic drag on the flywheel 10.

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: A backup bearing for supplying backup to magnetic bearings is provided, the backup bearing comprising: an outer race disposed about the axis of a stationary shaft, the outer race mounted to a flywheel assembly for rotational movement about the axis; an inner race spaced from the outer race and disposed about the axis, the inner race being substantially stationary with respect to the axis; and a plurality of rolling elements each having a central axis with each element being spaced from the inner race and disposed between the inner and outer race for rotational movement therebetween.

Abstract: The flywheel containment device (2) includes a shaft (4), defining an axis of rotation, and a flywheel (6) having an annular shaped cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The flywheel (6) is connected to the shaft (4) and has an outer diameter (5) and an inner diameter (3). The containment device (2) also comprises an annular shaped honeycomb structure (8) with an annular shaped honeycomb layer (10) having an outer diameter and an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the flywheel (6). The honeycomb layer (10) comprises a plurality of pores (11) that are open on the inner diameter of the honeycomb layer (10) to trap dust created if the flywheel (6) fails. The honeycomb layer (10) is positioned around the outer diameter of the flywheel (6) such that the honeycomb structure (8) is independent from the flywheel (6).

Abstract: A biasing apparatus is provided for biasing the laminations of a linear motor primary against one another, thereby tightly packing the laminations together. The biasing apparatus is attached to the backing plate of the primary. The present invention may also comprise an adjustment apparatus for adjusting the amount of force biasing the laminations together.

Abstract: In an elevator system driven by a linear motor a small consistent air gap must be maintained between two elements of a linear motor for proper and efficient operation of the system. The air gap within the linear motor can be maintained and adjusted by utilizing a roller cam adjuster. The roller cam adjuster is disposed on a side of a moving portion of the linear motor and is supported by a plate with a roller disposed therein. As the roller cam adjuster is adjusted, the air gap can be either increased or decreased depending upon the need.

Abstract: A secondary of an elevator linear motor includes a highly conductive layer, the layer having a plurality of periodically spaced grooves disposed horizontally therein, the grooves providing space for thermal expansion of the layer and guiding current induced on said layer thereby increasing the efficiency of the motor.