Abstract: A ceramic component retention system includes a metallic component, a ceramic component, and at least one spring element arranged between the metallic component and the ceramic component. The metallic component has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and the ceramic component has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The at least one spring element is configured to mechanically couple the ceramic component to the metallic component.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprising: a housing having a hub; a rotor disposed within the housing and rotatably supported by the hub, the rotor comprising a drive shaft which extends through the hub, the drive shaft configured to engage with an output shaft of a drive unit to form a drive connection; wherein a first misalignment pivot is formed between the rotor and the hub and a second misalignment pivot is formed between the drive shaft and the output shaft of the drive unit.

Abstract: According to a hermetic terminal based on the present invention, a hermetic terminal (10) to be hermetically fixed to an aluminum electrolytic capacitor (20) includes: a base (11) which has a through hole, is to be attached to a case (16) of the aluminum electrolytic capacitor (20), and is made of a composite material having electrical conductivity; at least one lead (12) which is inserted into the through hole of the base (11), and is made of a composite material having electrical conductivity; and an insulating glass (13) which hermetically seals a gap between the base (11) and the lead (12). Surfaces of portions of the base (11) and the lead (12) which come into contact with an electrolytic solution within the case (16) are composed of a metal material having corrosion resistance to the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a plug head assembly is provided comprising a ceramic plug head having a frustroconical geometry, wherein the ceramic plug head has a proximal terminus and a distal terminus, wherein the ceramic plug head has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a sleeve having a frustroconical geometry conforming to the ceramic plug head and a second CTE, wherein the second CTE is greater than the first CTE, a distal retainer having a frustroconical geometry conforming to the sleeve, the distal retainer having a first engagement portion for engaging the a proximal retainer, the proximal retainer having a second engagement portion for engaging the distal retainer, and a base that couples with the proximal retainer. In addition, thick banded plug heads are provided.

Abstract: For connecting a shaft to a rotating component, especially of a shaft to a turbine wheel of an exhaust gas turbocharger, an intermediate component is provided by means of which the shaft is connected indirectly to the rotating component. The connection between the rotating component and the intermediate component is a form-locking and/or force-locking connection, especially a riveted connection.

Abstract: A vitreous or glass-ceramic jointing material, which has a coefficient of thermal expansion ?(20-750) of ?7·10?6 K?1 and is free of BaO and SrO except for at the most impurities and is suitable for producing joint connections between chromium-containing alloys or chromium-containing steels.

Abstract: A simple ceramic matrix composite fastening system that is utilized for attaching components of dissimilar materials, particularly, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and metallic engine components. The system is comprised of a detachable subassembly bracket fabricated from metal. The bracket has a metallic engine component attached to one end and a CMC component attached to the other end. The bracket releasably secures the CMC and the metallic component together using rivets or pins, which are inserted into holes through the CMC to securely fasten the adjoining parts.

Abstract: A rigid adaptor ring for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched optical device components is disclosed. In one embodiment, either side of the rigid adaptor ring includes one or more mounting pads that are configured to interface between the CTE mismatched optical device components.

Abstract: Various shape memory polymer (SMP) devices are disclosed. Many of these SMP devices can be used as attachment and/or release mechanisms for any number of different applications. These SMP devices can use various characteristics of the SMP material to allow for various shape changes. These shape changes, in some embodiments, can be used to provide for release and/or attachment devices, for example, SMP bolts, SMP screws, SMP collars, SMP pillars, SMP panels, and/or SMP rivets, to name a few. An SMP device can include a first geometric state and a second geometric shape. The first geometric shape can restrict motion of two distinct objects relative to one another and the second geometrical shape can allow motion of two distinct objects relative to one another.

Abstract: An assembly including a metal piece, a piece made of ceramic material, and at least one intermediate connection element assembled to each of the pieces by brazing. The intermediate connection element includes a deformable sheet presenting at least two flat zones brazed to respective ones of the pieces, the two flat zones being interconnected by a deformable zone presenting at least two free undulations oriented in alternation towards the metal piece and towards the piece made of ceramic material.

Abstract: A thermally compensating connection bracket system allows mixed components having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion to be connected together at two locations, and yet be able to expand and contract therebetween in response to temperature changes without compromising either of the connections. A bracket carries a boss which passes through an elongated slot of one component and is affixed to the other component such that the first and second components can mutually slide while yet being tightly clamped together.

Abstract: A shield for a vehicle suspension ball joint having a receptacle configured to receive a flexible dust cover. The shield comprises a rigid shroud connected to the receptacle. The shroud generally surrounds the dust cover and is positioned proximate an arm of the vehicle suspension. The shield protects the dust cover from road-borne materials.

Abstract: A shrink-fit coupling includes a discontinuous ring between a ceramic stub shaft of a turbine rotor and an inner diameter r2 of a metallic shaft which typically supports a compressor rotor. If the materials for the ceramic stub shaft and the discontinuous ring are pre-determined and the radius of the ceramic stub shaft is also given, then the inner radius r2 of the shaft should be chosen by the equation: r2=(CTE1?CTE2)/(CTE3?CTE2) r1.

Abstract: Joint formations that, in joining together joining members employed in a variety of electrical and electronic components, yield sufficiently high joint strength in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which two joining members join, and meanwhile in the direction parallel to the joint plane. First and second joining members have respective joint phases each formed with a different number of distinct yet continuous conformational faces, defining the joint phases so that neither is the matching complement of the other. A bonding agent interposed between the joint phases joins the joining members together. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the two joining members, and between them and the bonding agent, is 5.0×10?6/° C. or less. The joining members are a metal such as tungsten or Cu—W, or a ceramic such as AlN or Si3N4; and glass or a solder material is utilized for the bonding agent.

Abstract: The clearances between an array of turbine blades and its surrounding blade track may be controlled by an expansion control material system supporting the blade tracks. The blade track support hoop is placed in tension by the expansion control material placed therein and the expansion control material is placed in compression.

Abstract: A joint for two flat structural members, in particular floor panels, wherein a groove and tongue joint joining two flat structural members is provided functionally separate from a twistlock locking the two flat structural members. The twistlock is formed on one of the structural members, is spaced apart from the groove and tongue joint, and engages with a correspondingly formed engaging element of the other structural member. The locking is preferably formed both at the longitudinal edges and at the front edges of a rectangular structural member, such as a floor panel. The locking allows for a joint of the floor panels to occur in flat position, i.e. without twisting.

Abstract: A joint assembly for coupling a ceramic member to a metal member is comprised of a ceramic shaft portion attached to the ceramic member; a slotted shrink fitter formed of a first metal and disposed around and in torque transmitting contact with the ceramic shaft portion to define a first interface surface therebetween; and a sleeve formed of a second metal disposed around and in torque transmitting contact with the shrink fitter to define a second interface surface therebetween. Either the shrink fitter or the sleeve attached to the metal member. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the second metal is relatively low compared to that of the first metal and the diameters of the first interface, (d1), and the second interface, (d2), are determined from the equation, d1/d2=(&agr;c−&agr;1)/(&agr;2−&agr;1) where &agr;c, &agr;1 and &agr;2 are the coefficients of thermal expansion of the ceramic, the first metal and the second metal respectively.

Abstract: A coupling with a tribological system that can withstand temperatures up to 600° C. The coupling includes a shaft having an outer surface with a layer of chromium and a sleeve for receiving the shaft. The sleeve has an inner surface with a layer of silver or gold. The silver or gold layer contacts the chromium layer to form the tribological system.

Abstract: A coupling with a tribological system that can withstand temperatures up to 600° C. The coupling includes a shaft having an outer surface with a layer of chromium and a sleeve for receiving the shaft. The sleeve has an inner surface with a layer of silver or gold. The silver or gold layer contacts the chromium layer to form the tribological system.

Abstract: A joint assembly for coupling a ceramic member to a metal member is comprised of a ceramic shaft portion attached to the ceramic member; a slotted shrink fitter formed of a first metal and disposed around and in torque transmitting contact with the ceramic shaft portion to define a first interface surface therebetween; and a sleeve formed of a second metal disposed around and in torque transmitting contact with the shrink fitter to define a second interface surface therebetween. Either the shrink fitter or the sleeve attached to the metal member. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the second metal is relatively low compared to that of the first metal and the diameters of the first interface, (d1), and the second interface, (d2), are determined from the equation, d1/2=(&agr;c−&agr;1)/(&agr;−&agr;1) where &agr;c, &agr;1 and &agr;2 are the coefficients of thermal expansion of the ceramic, the first metal and the second metal respectively.

Abstract: A expansion joint cover for covering the top or exposed side of an expansion joint in a structure. The expansion joint cover includes a plate having top and bottom faces, and a pair of sides. The plate also has a plurality of spaced apart fastening holes therethrough extending between the top and bottom faces of the plate. Each fastening hole comprises upper and lower portions. The outer diameter of the upper portion of each fastening hole is greater than the outer diameter of the associated lower portion of the respective fastening hole such that each fastening bore has an annular shoulder formed between the upper and lower portions of the respective hole.

Abstract: A compliant sleeve for attaching a ceramic member to a metal member is comprised of a superalloy substrate having a metal contacting side and a ceramic contacting side. The ceramic contacting side is plated with a layer of nickel followed by a layer of platinum. The substrate is then oxidized to form nickel oxide scale on the ceramic contacting side and a cobalt oxide scale on the metal contacting side. A lubricious coating of boron nitride is then applied over the metal contacting side, and a shear-stress limiting gold coating is applied over the ceramic contacting side.

Abstract: A method of joining metal parts together and the joints thereby produced having great strength and thermal conductivity by means of an adhesive filled with small, hard, thermally conductive particles. The filled adhesive is applied to the surfaces to be joined and the surfaces are pressed together with a force in the range of 35 to 105 Kg/sq cm while the adhesive is curing. A fixture is disclosed made of a metal with a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the parts being joined. When the parts are held in the fixture and heated, differential thermal expansion causes the fixture to apply the necessary pressure during curing while also providing a measure of the applied pressure. For joining a cooling fin normal to the surface of a part, a tapered plug is formed in the fin edge and it is forced into a tapered slot in the part after adhesive application. A low external perpendicular force applied to the fin yields a high pressure to the mating surfaces through the inclined plane.

Abstract: A joint between an end of a ceramic roll and a metal ferrule compensates for the differences in the thermal expansion properties of the joined materials. A plurality of thermodeformable bimetal elements are positioned in the space between the roll end and the ferrule to expand when the temperature increases to accommodate the greater thermal expansion of the ferrule relative to the roll and to provide a selected coupling strength in the joint at a given operating temperature. The roll is preferably made from a vitreous, fused silica material and is suitable for supporting glass and metal in sheet, strip or plate form at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method of bonding at least two members having different coefficients of thermal expansion is disclosed, wherein an edge of a bonding interface between the members is positioned in a tapered portion, thereby bridging one member having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion and another having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion. A bonded composite article comprising such bonded members having the different coefficients of thermal expansion is also disclosed.

Abstract: Joined structures are disclosed, which each comprise first and second members having different coefficients of thermal expansion and an intermediate member. The first and second members are joined together through the intermediate member. The intermediate member has yield stress smaller than those of the first and second members, and a tapered portion is formed at an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate member such that the tapered portion has a variable cross-sectional area orthogonal to an axis of the joined members. The area is larger at one end of the tapered portion near one of the first and second members having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the area at the other end of the tapered portion near the other one of the first and second members having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion. A method of joining such first and second members having different coefficients of thermal expansion through the intermediate member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A joined assembly of a ceramic member and a metallic member having a hollow cylindrical portion which is open at one end thereof, and closed at the other end, or bottom thereof. The ceramic member has a portion fitted in the cylindrical portion in such a way that any stress acting axially upon the surface of the ceramic member may be reduced at least in the vicinity of the open end of the cylindrical portion. The two members are joined together by shrinkage fitting with at least one brazing material filling the clearance between the two members, or by chemical bonding.

Abstract: A strengthened article formed from a ceramic having a bore through a portion thereof and with a metal rod adhered by heat-settable adhesive to the ceramic within the bore thereof. The metal rod has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the ceramic thereby placing this ceramic in compression upon heat setting and cooling of the overall article.

Abstract: A temperature compensated shaft bearing support assembly in a magnesium alloy housing wall includes a liner made of a material which has a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion for the magnesium alloy and for the steel bearing. A support spigot has two hubs, one for supporting the shaft bearing and the other for supporting the liner that in turn is supported by the housing wall.

Abstract: An assembly for relieving shear stress when indirectly mounting a glass tube to a metallic header containing a pressure to be measured. A bore within the header includes first and second shoulders and first and second radially outwardly extending surfaces. An iron-nickel interface having an axially extending position and a radially outwardly extending portion is secured to the header by welding only at the juncture of the inside radius of the axially extending portion with the first shoulder, leaving the interface free to expand nearly stress free along the radially outwardly extending surfaces within the bore.

Abstract: A ceramic-metal composite body is produced by fitting a protruding portion of a ceramic member into a concave portion of a metallic member. In this case, the protruding portion has a quantity of undulation in a plane including the axial line of the protruding portion of not more than 5 .mu.m.

Abstract: A fastener for connecting structures having significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion which substantially eliminates thermal stress with varying ambient temperatures, while allowing said structures to be offset or spaced from each other. A frusto-conical bore through a wall of a first structure receives a frusto-conical surface of an elongated fastener which is coincident with said bore. The fastener has a base secured to a second structure. A shoulder is formed on said first structure around the narrow end of said bore, the shoulder having a frusto-conical outer edge. A flange member is secured to the vertex end of said fastener, said flange member having a surface configured to engage said outer edge in a coincident relationship. The fastener is tightened to bring both pairs of coincident conical surfaces into pressure contact. Both pairs of conic surface preferably have a common vertex which lies outside the fastener.

Abstract: A retainer post for tightly engaging a printed circuit board employing surface mounted technology. The retainer post has a hollow neck portion for insertion in a hole in a printed circuit board, an adjoining shoulder section for engaging the surface of the printed circuit board and, preferably, a retaining means for retaining said post in the printed circuit board. The retaining means preferably is formed of a circumferential, radially projecting barb containing longitudinal notches so that it may be inwardly compressed as the retaining post is inserted in a hole in a printed circuit board. The neck section contains a plurality of longitudinal spaced (i) grooves on its outer surface forming opposing frangible webs or (ii) cuts through said neck section. The neck section contains a cavity in which is disposed a material that expands upon heating.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor (18) and shaft (28) are secured against radial loosening between the shaft (28) and axially spaced rotor spigots (24, 26) by annular spacer rings (42, 43) which are fabricated from a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion significantly higher or lower than the thermal coefficients of the shaft (28) or rotor (18). The ring (42, 43) is pre-assembled during production of the engine in an interference fit with either the rotor hub (22) or the shaft (28), being sized to remain tight with the pre-assembled member over a range of operating temperatures, and becoming more tightly fit with the other member due to differential thermal expansion therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible liner for bearing assemblies and the like including a flexible sleeve having first and second sides and a plurality of first and second slots formed therein. The first slots are positioned adjacent the first side of the flexible sleeve. The second slots are disposed adjacent the second side of the flexible sleeve. The first slots are offset from the second slots such that no other first slot is aligned with a second slot. The first and second slots form a plurality of first and second tabs positioned on opposing sides of the flexible sleeve. The first tabs are offset from the second tabs so that the flexible liner exerts a continuous force about the outer periphery. The flexible liner further includes first and second layers. The first layer is formed from a material having a coefficient of expansion greater than material forming the second layer.

Abstract: An apparatus to compensate for the thermal expansion of a component inserted between two elements, particularly an explosive member placed between a lining, and a cover plate in a shaped charge, comprises two rings that are in contact with one another through conical inner and outer surfaces. The ring with the conical outer surface is made of a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the ring with the conical inner surface. So that the apparatus expands upon reduction in temperature and contracts upon increase in temperature to compensate for respective contraction and expansion of the component.

Abstract: The front end of a conical forward carbon-carbon heatshield is attached to arbon-carbon nose tip by a threaded connection. The nose tip provides rigid structural support for the small end of the heatshield at all conditions of thermal expansion. The joint between the aft end of the forward heatshield and the forward end of an aft carbon-phenolic heatshield includes a tolerance gap which is tapered to accommodate the vector movement of the carbon-carbon heatshield due to axial and circumferential thermal expansion. The gap is filled with a high temperature insulating washer of frangible material which is crushed by the axial expansion of the forward heatshield and evacuated by the slip-stream. The forward heatshield is supported at the joint by a segmented ring of high density carbon wedges that will expand during flight and move with the heatshield along an expansion ramp to provide continuous support.

Abstract: A daze fastener system for connecting two or more structural elements wherein the structural elements and fastener parts have substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion physical property characteristics is employed in this invention. By providing frusto-conical abutting surfaces between the structural elements and fastener parts any differences in thermal expansion/contraction between the parts is translated to sliding motion and avoids deleterious thermal stresses in the connection. An essential feature for isotropic homogeneous material connections is that at least two sets of mating surfaces are required wherein each set of mating surfaces have line element extensions that pass through a common point.

Abstract: A strong transition joint between an aluminum plate and a steel object includes an aluminum sleeve adapted to be fusion-welded to the aluminum plate and a titanium core explosion-welded to the aluminum sleeve in the center thereof with the titanium core having an internally threaded hole adapted to receive a steel bolt so that the occurance and economic consequences of corrosion are minimized.

Abstract: Heat-recoverable articles, especially heat-shrinkable tubular articles, having an open end are formed so that the section adjacent said open end has a lower recovery ratio than a section adjacent thereto, thereby substantially reducing the risk of splitting when the degree of recovery is high or in applications where a high degree of unrecovered strain remains after recovery about a substrate such as a supply line. A preferred article is a tubular cap which has an open end section having a first expansion ratio, an intermediate section having a second expansion ratio and a closed end section having a third expansion ratio, the second expansion ratio being greater than the first and third expansion ratios. Such a cap may be employed to seal a conduit against ingress of moisture and other contaminants. When a supply line is subsequently to be passed through the conduit the closed end may be removed and the article shrunk to grip the supply line.

Abstract: First and second members are disposed in spaced relationship to each other. The members may be electrically conductive. The first member may be provided with a particular coefficient of thermal expansion which is higher than the coefficient of the second member. A plurality of layers of insulating material are disposed between the first and second members and are hermetically sealed to one another and to the first and second members. Each of the layers of insulating material has a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the particular coefficient. The progressive layers of insulating material from the first member have coefficients of thermal expansion of decreased value. This causes the layers of insulating material to have coefficients of thermal expansion which approach the coefficient of the second member with progressive distances toward the second member.

Abstract: A method of attaching a metal shaft (10) to a ceramic shaft (12) having a first diameter (d.sub.1) is characterized by the following steps. A shaft portion (16) is formed on the ceramic shaft with a second diameter (d.sub.2) less than the first diameter. The shaft portion extends from a free end (18) thereof along a portion of the length of the ceramic shaft to a terminal end (20) thereof. A circular shaped metal lock nut (22) is placed on the shaft portion in an encircling relationship therewith. This lock nut has threads (24) on an outer facing surface thereof and a back end (26) which contacts the terminal end of the shaft portion. A circular shaped expansion sleeve (28) is placed on the shaft portion in an encircling relationship therewith, the expansion sleeve extending from the metal lock nut to the free end of the shaft portion.

Abstract: A fluid directing center support is mounted in a main bore of an automatic transmission by means of a pair of intermediate rings between the main bore and the center support. Each intermediate ring includes an elastomeric body portion which is compressed between the main bore and the center support and exerts on the latter balanced and radially directed forces which centralize the center support in the main bore. In addition, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the elastomeric body portion exceeds the coefficient thermal expansion of the transmission case by an amount sufficient to insure that the intermediate ring will always be maintained in compression regardless of the operating temperature of the transmission.

Abstract: A power transmission having fluid actuated ratio establishing devices has a center support disposed in a cylindrical main bore of the transmission case and a plurality of elastomeric shims around the center support in an annular gap between the latter and the main bore. Each shim has a spacer portion in compression between the center support and the main bore which spacer portions exert balanced radially directed forces on the center support operative to centralize the latter in the main bore and the shims have coefficients of thermal expansion sufficiently exceeding the coefficients of thermal expansion of the case and/or the center support to maintain the spacer portions in compression throughout the operating temperature range of the transmission.

Abstract: A terminal assembly includes a ferrule and a terminal pin disposed in spaced relationship to the ferrule. First layers made from a first ceramic insulating material are disposed in spaced relationship to each other in the space between the terminal pin and the ferrule. The layers are primarily polycrystalline but partially amorphous. Second layers made from a second ceramic insulating material are disposed in spaced relationship to each other in the space between the terminal pin and the ferrule and between the first layers. The second layers are fused to the terminal pin and the ferrule and the first layers. The second layers are primarily amorphous but partially polycrystalline. Layers of a third insulating material having relatively high characteristics of electrical insulation and having a lower melting temperature than the first and second layers may be respectively disposed at the opposite ends of the terminal assembly.

Abstract: A seal between a metal surface and a surface of glass or glass-like ceramic having, in juxtaposition, the metal, gold, an indium-gold alloy, indium, and either glass or a glass-like ceramic.

Abstract: A glass-to-metal compression sealed lead-in structure for electronic devices. The structure is constituted by an outer metal case having a high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a lead-in conductor extending through the opening in the case and having a relatively low CTE, and a glass seal filling the space between the conductor and the case and having a relatively low or intermediate CTE. The conductor is fabricated of a machinable metal whose normal CTE is higher than required, the surface of the metal after the conductor is machined to specification, being treated with a substance that acts to reduce the CTE of the conductor to render it compatible with the CTE of the glass seal.

Abstract: A ferrule is provided with an opening extending through the ferrule and a terminal pin is disposed in the opening in spaced relationship to the ferrule. A plurality of insulating members are disposed on the terminal pin in the opening in a stacked relationship. Each of the insulating members is fused to the terminal pin and the ferrule. Each of the insulating members in the stack has a higher temperature of fusion than the preceding members in the stack. The insulating members in the stack are progressively fused to the ferrule and the terminal pin by the application of progressive temperatures to the terminal pin, the ferrule and the insulating members.The insulating members having the highest temperature of fusion are provided with properties of being able to withstand large forces without any degradation of the fusion with the terminal pin and the ferrule. The insulating members of the reduced temperatures of fusion are able to withstand other types of shock such as sudden changes in temperature.

Abstract: A high speed turbo disc mounting assembly for the reduction of turbo disc failure and the provision for disc migration radially at high speeds comprising a shaft, a bushing mounted on said shaft having an annular flange through which torque pin apertures are provided, and a turbo disc mounted on said bushing such that torque pins aligned in channels at the interface of the disc and bushing provide for rotational engagement of the disc to the bushing without restricting outward migration of the disc or imparting undue stress concentrations to the high dynamic stress level area of said disc.

Abstract: Disclosed are means and method for forming elastic connection between ceramic and metallic structural elements. The means comprises a ceramic structural element; a metallic structural element having thermal and elastic properties different from those of the ceramic structural element; and a connecting element connecting the ceramic and metallic structural elements and comprising an insulating resilient body of ceramic material having a thermal conductivity of between about 0.02 and 0.25 W/cmK at a temperature difference between the ceramic and metallic structural elements of from about 100 to 1500 Centigrade degrees, an elastic modulus of between about 5000 and 150,000 N/mm.sup.2 and being substantially free of plastic deformation.