Abstract: A resilient support for a compliant hydrodynamic fluid bearing includes a series of corrugated spring metal strips arranged side-by-side. The corrugations on adjacent strips are displaced axially a distance equal to one-half of the wave lengths of the corrugations so that the peaks on one strip are laterally aligned with the valleys on adjacent strips. This arrangement provides a uniform matrix of support zones for the bearing sheet to minimize localized deflections of the bearing sheet. It produces a bearing sheet profile under hydrodynamic loading which is approximately cylindrical so the supporting hydrodynamic fluid film is more uniform for the generation of greater pressures over a greater area.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating motor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a resilient, compliant support element formed of a series of resilient metal tubular members held in parallel spaced array by a cage. The degree of damping can be selected by filling some or all of the tubes with damping material. The tubular support elements are very strong for their size and weight, and yet produce a support element of only moderate and predictable stiffness.

Abstract: A compliant, hydrodynamic fluid film bearing for supporting a rotating rotor on a stationary mount, includes a bearing sheet supported by a compliant resilient support member formed of two sheets, each having raised resilient elevations in the form of corrugations. One of these sheets is inverted with respect to the other and the corrugations on the two sheets are vertically aligned and face in opposite directions, each corrugation forming one-half of an elongated tubular spring. A metal sheet lies between the two support sheets and all three sheets, and the bearing sheet, are fastened at one end to a pair of spacer blocks. The yield strength of the support member is thus raised above the yield strength of a single support sheet while maintaining low stiffness.

Abstract: A new and improved low emission combustor comprises a plurality of concentric cylindrical shells spaced radially to provide air supply and cooling passages and a primary fuel supply means disposed at the inlet end and a secondary fuel supply means disposed at the outlet end and arranged so that fuel supplied by the primary fuel supply means is less than that required for full load operation and the remainder of the fuel required to full load being supplied as needed by the secondary fuel supply means. Regeneratively heated combustion and cooling air is provided at the inlet and exit ends of the combustion chamber and at various intermediate locations along the length thereof to effect staged combustion and flame cooling.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid journal bearing includes a bearing sleeve having a cylindrical bore which receives a bearing sheet having a radially inwardly facing bearing surface. The bearing sheet is supported by a compliant support element having spaced resilient projections for resiliently supporting the bearing sheet. One end of the support element is welded adjacent to one end of the bearing sheet with an intervening spacer block, and the assembly is fixed in the bearing sleeve. A second block is welded adjacent to the other end of the bearing sheet so that the ends of the bearing sheet extend slightly beyond the blocks. A spring is disposed between the two blocks and is retained in place by the bearing sheet overhangs. The spring exerts a circumferential spreading force on the two blocks and through them on the two ends of the bearing sheet.

Abstract: A controlled carrier current measuring sensor/transducer signal amplifier system comprising a carrier oscillator for providing a carrier voltage oscillatory signal of known frequency and fixed voltage magnitude. A differential amplifier has the carrier voltage oscillatory signal supplied to one of its inputs. A reference impedance and a variable impedance sensor transducer are connected in a series circuit across the output of the differential amplifier and a first feedback signal is fed back to a second input of the differential amplifier with the first feedback signal comprising the sum of the voltage across the reference impedance and the variable impedance sensor transducer. A buffer amplifier has its input connected to the juncture of the reference impedance and the variable impedance sensor/transducer for deriving an output voltage representative of the instantaneous value of the voltage across the variable impedance sensor/transducer.

Abstract: A random vibration generator includes a hollow tabletop for supporting equipment to be subjected to vibration, and a sinusoidal reaction-type vibration machine connected to the tabletop to produce a sinusoidal vibration of adjustable frequency and amplitude. The hollow tabletop is horizontally divided into four sections, each containing a number of projectiles such as heavy balls which roll and bounce about within the compartments in the tabletop, impacting with the floor and ceiling of the compartment and with each other in a random fashion to produce random shocks over a wide band of frequency and amplitude, and subject the equipment to every possible vibration failure mode that might occur in nature.

Abstract: A new capacitance type non-contact displacement and/or vibration measurement instrument sensing head is described together with a novel method of maintaining calibration of the instrument using such sensing head. The invention takes the form of a central probe member having a first guard ring disposed in coaxial, electrically insulated relationship about the central probe member and driven at the same potential and frequency as the probe member. A secondary driven guard ring coaxially surrounds the first guard ring and is electrically isolated from it and is driven at the same alternating current frequency but at a higher voltage of the order of 1.5 to 1 times higher. The additional secondary guard ring, driven at a suitably boosted voltage level and the same frequency as the central probe member, serves to focus the otherwise divergent electric field, thus producing a very significant improvement in the output linearity when operated at relatively large displacements.

Abstract: A compressor of the free-piston resonant type driven by an electrodynamic oscillating motor incorporates means to control the stroke to allow for stable operation over a wide range of operating conditions. The spring-mass system of the compressor which is forced into vibration by the electrodynamic oscillating motor is arranged to have a selectively variable natural resonant frequency generally centered on the power line frequency. Variable area port means responsive to any overstroking are operative to vary the natural frequency of the spring-mass system by varying the stiffness of a gas spring means thereof so as to oppose overstroking and also provide for a maximum stroke limit.

Abstract: The system for removing ions from an ionized liquid of the type employing rotating bipolar electrodes wherein at least one of the electrodes is provided with a surface comprising a plurality of segments of electrically conducting material, each of which segments is electrically insulated from the other and with brush contact means to apply one polarity voltage to a plurality of segments on one side of the electrode and the opposite polarity voltage to a similar plurality of segments on the opposite side of the electrode to provide the voltage polarity difference between the two sides of the electrode to cause ion adsorption from one part of the ionized liquid and ion rejection to another portion of the ionized liquid.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of fluid from an inlet passage to the cylinder of a reciprocating piston engine wherein the valve is opened by a cam against the resistance of a valve closing spring and compressed gas above a plunger connected to the end of the valve stem and slidingly positioned within an enclosed chamber and which valve closing spring and compressed gas provide the forces for effecting rapid closing of the valve.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuated valve for controlling the flow of fluid from an inlet passage to the cylinder of a reciprocating piston machine wherein the valve is opened by the fluid pressure in the cylinder as the piston approaches top dead center and closed by fluid pressure from the cylinder supplied to the top of a plunger connected to the end of the valve stem when the piston is preselected distance below top dead center.

Abstract: A new and improved gas detecting and warning system of the type employing a metal oxide semiconductor gas detector device and which incorporates a quad comparator integrated circuit means having four independent comparator sections. One of the sections is arranged with the gas detector device to provide a digital limit detector operative to produce an output and a warning alarm whenever the voltage developed across a load resistance in series with the gas detector device exceeds a predetermined value. Another comparator section is arranged with an R-C timing circuit to inhibit operation of the warning alarm for a predetermined time after system energization to prevent false alarms during the initial warm up of the gas detector device. The other two comparator sections are arranged to cause intermittent energization of the warning alarm if there is a failure or malfunction of the gas detector device and/or a failure of its associated components.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of fluid from an inlet passage to the cylinder of a reciprocating piston compressor wherein the valve is actuated to the open position by the pressure of the fluid compressed in the cylinder by planned early closing of the discharge valve as the piston approaches its top dead center position; actuation of the inlet valve to the closed position being effected at the desired time by operation of a cam and valve closing spring.

Abstract: Fiber optic displacement/position measuring apparatus having increased working distance and measuring range capability is provided by combining an optical extending sensing head in fixed relationship with the common end of a bifurcated fiber optic bundle. The sensing head includes a lens system which is operative to focus the image of the end face of the fiber optic bundle onto the surface of an object whose displacement is to be determined and to refocus that image back onto the end in an upright relationship.

Abstract: A compressor of the resonant type driven by an electrodynamic linear motor incorporates means to control the stroke and to improve the power factor. The spring-mass system of the compressor which is forced into vibration by the motor is arranged to have a selectively variable resonant frequency generally centered on the power line frequency. Means responsive to any overstroking are operative to vary the natural frequency of the spring-mass system, for example by varying the stiffness of the spring means, so as to oppose further overstroking and maintain a high power factor.