Abstract: A balancing device including a positionable member associated with a rotating member having an axis, wherein the positionable member has a substantially constant mass, and wherein the positionable member is disposed at a first position about the axis of the rotating member. The balancing device also including an actuation device disposed at a distance from the positionable member, wherein the actuation device is operable for selectively generating a force, and wherein the force is operable for moving the positionable member from the first position to a second position about the axis of the rotating member, thereby balancing the rotating member.

Abstract: A system that includes a magnetically actuated motion control device comprising a housing defining a cavity and including a slot therethrough. A movable member is located within the cavity and is movable relative to the housing. A magnetic field generator located on either the housing or the movable member causes the housing to press against the movable member to develop a friction force.

Abstract: A friction damper with a housing including a cavity. The damper includes a first member disposed in the cavity and movable in the cavity; a second member disposed in the cavity; an intermediate member between the first and second members, the first member being in frictional engagement with the intermediate member; and at least one magnetic field generator mounted to magnetically couple the first and second members thereby maintaining the first member in frictional engagement with the intermediate member and wherein the first member is movable against the intermediate member to generate a damping force.

Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.

Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first substantially fluid-filled chamber and a second substantially-fluid-filled chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber.

Abstract: A method and kit for repairing vehicle door skins by reorienting vehicle hem flanges from a closed orientation to an open orientation to allow removal of a damaged door skin from a door frame and replacing with a new door skin with an open orientation hem flange that is reoriented to a closed orientation to integrate the door skin and door frame with an adhesive. The repair kit includes a first tool for lifting and opening the damaged door skin hem flange to allow removal of the damaged door skin and reuse of the door frame. The tool kit includes a second repair tool for reorientation and closing the new door skin replacement door skin hem flange on the reused door frame with an adhesive to provide a repaired vehicle door with the replacement skin and reused door frame integral as a vehicle door.

Abstract: The invention provides a method/system for measuring torque. The method/system includes providing a first rotating disk having a target pattern and providing a second rotating disk having a target pattern. The method/system includes providing a first set of at least three sensors, comprised of a first disk first sensor, a first disk second sensor, and a first disk third sensor, the first set of at least three sensors for sensing the first rotating disk target pattern with the first set of at least three sensors fixed around and encompassing the first rotating disk. The method/system includes providing a second set of at least three sensors, comprised of a second disk first sensor, a second disk second sensor, and a second disk third sensor, the second set of at least three sensors for sensing the second rotating disk target pattern, with the second set of at least three sensors fixed around and encompassing the second rotating disk.

Abstract: A mount with replaceable load bearing and rebound members is provided. The mount comprises a housing that defines a first chamber and a second chamber; a load bearing member removably located in said first chamber, said load bearing member comprising a load bearing member contact portion; a rebound member removably located in said second chamber, said rebound member having a rebound member contact portion, the contact portions of the load bearing member and rebound member being in abutment when the members are removably located in the chambers; and means for coupling said load bearing member and rebound member.

Abstract: A friction damper a housing including a cavity formed therein; a first member disposed in said cavity and movable in the cavity; a second member disposed in the cavity; an intermediate member between the first and second members, the first member being in frictional engagement with the intermediate member; and at least one magnetic field generator mounted to magnetically couple the first and second members thereby maintaining the first member in frictional engagement with the intermediate member and wherein the first member is movable against the intermediate member to generate a damping force.

Abstract: A method for bonding a material to a first substrate surface that includes providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface and then contacting that surface with a material that undergoes a metathesis reaction to bond the material to the first substrate surface. There are two embodiments of this method—a coating process and an adhesive process. In the coating embodiment, the metathesizable material is contacted with the catalyst on the substrate surface so that it undergoes metathesis polymerization to form the coating. The adhesive process includes (a) providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface, (b) providing a metathesizable material between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface, and (c) contacting the catalyst on the first substrate surface with the metathesizable material so that the metathesizable material undergoes a metathesis reaction and bonds the first substrate surface to the second substrate surface.

Abstract: A system and method for absorbing vehicle body vibrations is described. The mechanical self-tuning vibration absorber system is utilized to absorb a body vibration with a varying frequency. In a particular application the absorber system provides for absorbing varying frequency vibrations of a helicopter aircraft body. The vibration absorber system utilizes asymmetrical damping to tune the resonant frequency of the system.

Abstract: A method for bonding a material to a first substrate surface that includes providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface and then contacting that surface with a material that undergoes a metathesis reaction to bond the material to the first substrate surface. There are two embodiments of this method—a coating process and an adhesive process. In the coating embodiment, the metathesizable material is contacted with the catalyst on the substrate surface so that it undergoes metathesis polymerization to form the coating. The adhesive process includes (a) providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface, (b) providing a metathesizable material between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface, and (c) contacting the catalyst on the first substrate surface with the metathesizable material so that the metathesizable material undergoes a metathesis reaction and bonds the first substrate surface to the second substrate surface.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a frame; a member movable relative to said frame; a damping device interconnected between the frame and the movable member; a controller for activating the damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition; and system for activating the damping device at a predetermined operating condition of the moving member during a loss of power to the apparatus. The damping device may comprise a field controllable damper that includes a volume of field controllable fluid, which may in turn comprise magnetorheological fluid for example. The rheology of the field controllable fluid is effected during the application of the field.

Abstract: A method for bonding a material to a first substrate surface that includes providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface and then contacting that surface with a material that undergoes a metathesis reaction to bond the material to the first substrate surface. There are two embodiments of this method—a coating process and an adhesive process. In the coating embodiment, the metathesizable material is contacted with the catalyst on the substrate surface so that it undergoes metathesis polymerization to form the coating. The adhesive process includes (a) providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface, (b) providing a metathesizable material between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface, and (c) contacting the catalyst on the first substrate surface with the metathesizable material so that the metathesizable material undergoes a metathesis reaction and bonds the first substrate surface to the second substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for bonding a material to a first substrate surface that includes providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface and then contacting that surface with a material that undergoes a metathesis reaction to bond the material to the first substrate surface. There are two embodiments of this method—a coating process and an adhesive process. In the coating embodiment, the metathesizable material is contacted with the catalyst on the substrate surface so that it undergoes metathesis polymerization to form the coating. The adhesive process includes (a) providing a catalyst at the first substrate surface, (b) providing a metathesizable material between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface, and (c) contacting the catalyst on the first substrate surface with the metathesizable material so that the metathesizable material undergoes a metathesis reaction and bonds the first substrate surface to the second substrate surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring rotating shaft shafts and couplings in an aircraft propulsion system is described. The measurement system/method provides for accurate and precise monitoring of a rotating shaft flexible coupling in a fixed wing aircraft vehicle propulsion system. The measuring system/method provides for a high reliability short take off vertical landing fixed wing aircraft in which the vertical propulsion dynamically rotating drive shaft system and couplings are monitored in real time. The vehicular shaft coupling misalignment measuring system utilizes multiple positional sensors to provide highly reliable and precise determination of the dynamic characteristics of the rotating sensor target components of the propulsion system drive shaft. The relative position of the sensors is rigidly fixed externally from the rotating targets with a structural frame.

Abstract: A tool for reorienting a flange member from a first angle of orientation to a second angle of orientation. The tool comprises a support member which includes a guide member; and the tool also comprises a shoe supported by the support member, the shoe comprising a leading portion and a first side portion adjacent the leading portion, the leading portion comprising a leading edge adapted to be located beneath the flange member and a reorienting surface for directing and displacing the flange to an orientation between the first and second angles of orientation, the side portion and guide member defining an orienting gap for orienting the moved flange to the desired second angle of orientation.

Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.

Abstract: A damper assembly including a spherical elastomer bearing member, wherein the spherical elastomer bearing member is operable for accommodating relative motion and/or vibration, and a flat elastomer bearing member, wherein the flat elastomer bearing member is operable for accommodating relative motion and/or vibration. The damper assembly also including a substantially rigid transition shim disposed between the spherical elastomer bearing member and the flat elastomer bearing member, wherein the substantially rigid transition shim is operable for coupling the spherical elastomer bearing member to the flat elastomer bearing member. The damper assembly further including a tension member attached to the substantially rigid transition shim, wherein the tension member is operable for precompressing the spherical elastomer bearing member and increasing the cocking stiffness of the damper assembly.

Abstract: A composite shim is provided having a laminate structure that includes a composite layer having at least one circumferential fiber. The composite layer may be in combination with composite layers with radially oriented fibers, uniaxially oriented fibers, and/or biaxially extending fibers. By employing such laminate structures, the present invention may provide shims that have the desired strength and stiffness characteristics of metallic shims while possessing the beneficial weight characteristics generally associated with composite shims. Laminated bearings containing such composite shims are also provided.