Abstract: The problem of aligning the drive shaft of a pressure clamped pump with the output shaft of a drive motor in a hydraulic apparatus is solved through the use of pressure clamped pump having a housing adapted for installation into a cavity and a drive shaft coincident with the center of the housing. The hydraulic apparatus may include piloting features configured to facilitate alignment of the pump drive shaft with the output shaft of a motor used to drive the pump. The pump may include elements for retaining the drive shaft within the pump, and may also include a larger and less restricted inlet than could be achieved in prior pressure clamped pumps. The pump may include pumping means in the form of a gear pump having a single primary gear driving a single secondary gear. The pumping means may alternatively be a gear pump having a single primary gear driving two or more secondary gears.

Abstract: An improved coolant cleaning method, system, and apparatus, are provided through the use of a filter disk assembly that defines and is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the disk, for removing particulate matter from a fluid flowing through the filter disk assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the filter disk assembly. A coolant cleaning system includes such a filter disk assembly, connected in fluid communication with an apparatus for circulating a flow of fluid through the filter disk assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the filter disk assembly.

Abstract: A method allowing high definition printing of images including photographic prints and computer images onto a variety of natural and man made substrates to create unique art objects and articles of manufacture that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to create. The process can even be utilized to transfer high definition images to such unlikely materials as tree leaves, making it possible to create highly unique art objects, and utilitarian objects such as place marker “leaves” at a dinner table.

Abstract: An improved merchandising method, system and apparatus are provided through the use of product displays having a track for aligning product packages in a linear fashion, and an electronic monitoring and transmitting device in the product displays that detects a linear position of one or more product packages with respect to the tracks and generates a signal representing the number of product packages still remaining on the shelf. The signal also preferably includes an identifier code, which may include a universal product identifier code (UPC) or a serial number of the track, that can be utilized to pinpoint the location of that particular track within the store. The signal may be transmitted wirelessly as a radio frequency signal that can be received by antennas permanently installed within the store and connected to an in-store inventory control system and database.

Abstract: An AC squirrel cage motor runs with a rotor current frequency equal to the slip of the motor times its excitation frequency. It is desirable to reduce the rotor current on start up by means of an increased resistance, and then to run the motor with a reduced resistance once it is started. This invention takes advantage of the skin effect of high frequency currents by increasing rotor end ring resistance during startup. After the motor has started up, and has reached full speed, the rotor frequency is reduced to merely the slip multiplied by the stator frequency. The skin effect on the rotor current is less, and the motor runs with reduced resistance.

Abstract: An improved braking apparatus having a jaw type clutch coupled to an electrical solenoid through a ball spline mechanism provides significantly greater braking capacity in a given volume than other types of braking devices. The ball spline is configured to significantly reduce the internal friction load which the electrical solenoid must overcome to apply or release the brake, resulting in a smaller physical size and current draw of the solenoid. The jaw clutch and ball spline are also configured to reduce or absorb shock loads on various internal components of the braking apparatus when the brake is engaged. By configuring the ball spline and jaw clutch to function as shock absorbers in addition to performing their primary functions, the need for separate elastomeric shock absorbers, etc., is eliminated.

Abstract: An improved single engine military aircraft is provided through the use of an improved secondary power system which incorporates an additional accessory drive, and utilizes improved multi-path system architecture together with optimal distribution of accessories to thereby enhance partial operational flexibility of the secondary power system in both normal and partial failure modes of operation. The additional accessory drive also provides an aircraft in which the engine can be removed with minimal disruption of the EMAD or AMAD and accessories mounted thereon to thereby enhance both initial manufacturability and repairability of the aircraft and secondary power system.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly which positively disconnects failing capacitors is disclosed. This assembly will disconnect electrical power from a capacitor when internal pressure builds up inside the capacitor as a result of an internal short circuit. One or more capacitors are connected electrically into a circuit. Terminals are fixedly connected at each end of the capacitor. The protruding ends of the terminals slidably couple the capacitor to a source of alternating current (AC) power. The normal failure mode for capacitors is to develop internal short circuits. The failed capacitor then heats up rapidly and generates internal pressure. This pressure deforms the end portion of the capacitor. When the end of the capacitor moves in a longitudinal axis of motion, the slidable connection of the terminal is moved to a non-contacting position and the electrical connection is interrupted.

Abstract: In a gas turbine engine having gaseous oxidant delivered to a turbine from a source such as a pressurized bottle via a conduit or duct, a compact annular combustor is provided which offers enhanced performance through incorporation of means for uniformly distributing portions of the oxidant utilized as a diluent, and for convective cooling of engine components.

Abstract: A thermal battery (10) includes a heat source (16) fabricated from a combination of metallic lithium and a predominantly fluorine substituted hydrocarbon (PFSH) material. In some embodiments the thermal battery (10) includes a combination anode/heat source (62) fabricated from metallic lithium and a polymeric or telomeric PFSH material to provide a lithium based anode with integral heating capability for activating the thermal battery (10). In other embodiments, the anode/heat source (62) is fabricated from other light weight materials having high electromotive potential such as sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium, in combination with a predominantly fluorine substituted hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An aircraft is provided that includes one or more engines, an air-driven generator, and a start-circuit for operably connecting an electrical output of the air driven generator for starting one or more of the engines while the aircraft is in flight. Various embodiments also provide apparatus for cross-ship electric starting of multiple engines while the aircraft is in flight or on the ground using: an electrical output of a generator attached to another engine; on-board batteries; an on board auxiliary power unit; or power received from a ground source. A single start-converter is utilized to supply power to AC starter-motors for electric starting of the aircraft's engines. In some embodiments, the engine is soft-started with the air driven generator, by controlling blade pitch in an air driven turbine driving the air driven generator, without the use of the start converter.

Abstract: The problem of verifying functional readiness of a braking apparatus including: a brake plate rotatable about an axis; an armature and a reaction plate disposed on opposite sides of the brake plate; and an actuator for urging the armature to clamp the brake plate between the armature and the reaction plate in a manner generating braking torque acting on the brake plate with respect to the armature and reaction plate for resisting rotation of the brake plate, is solved by providing an integral brake integrity monitoring apparatus. The brake integrity monitoring apparatus includes features for reacting the brake torque directly against one or more calibrated springs, as the brake is applied, to generate a calibrated relative rotation of the armature with respect to the reaction plate. The amount of relative rotation of the armature and/or reaction plate caused by the braking torque acting against a reacting torque generated by the springs provides a direct measurement of braking torque.

Abstract: An air driven turbine having variable pitched blades is provided that includes a pitch change mechanism and associated control circuits for automatically adjusting the pitch of the blades during either rotating or non-rotating operational modes of the air driven turbine. The pitch control mechanism includes a resettable overspeed protection device which is directly actuated by an overspeed condition of the turbine and operates independently from the pitch change mechanism to move the blades to a failsafe, feathered, or coarse pitch, low speed position. The pitch control mechanism utilizes a linear actuator in the form of an acme screw drive. The air driven turbine includes a ball ramp thrust bearing for attaching the blades to a hub of the turbine in such a manner that during rotation of the turbine actuation loads on the pitch change mechanism are reduced.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical device having an integral reflux-type cooler configured to conduct heat generated in a first member of the electro-mechanical device to a heat sink, while not exposing a second member of the device to refrigerant in the reflux cooler is provided. In some embodiments of the invention, the refrigerant is allowed to directly contact electrical windings, or a magnetic core of the electro-magnetic device for maximizing heat transfer. Other embodiments of the invention provide integral phase change material for heat storage capability, and allow flexibility in mounting the condenser of the reflux cooler remotely from the electro-mechanical device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for creating heat by electromagnetic induction between relatively rotating components. In RAT applications, part of the nose cone (34) is formed from electrically conductive material (106) which is in thermally conductive relation to the nose cone exterior. A magnetic field is created by components (60) that are spaced apart from the electrically conductive material and relatively rotatable with respect to that material. The electrically conductive material intersects the magnetic field, at least in part, such that eddy currents are created in the electrically conductive material by relative rotation with respect to the magnetic field. These eddy currents create heat which is conducted to the exterior surface of the RAT nose cone. Preferably, the magnetic field is created by a pair of spaced-apart permanent magnets (60) mounted on a support plate (62) inside the RAT hub (28) and immediately behind the nose cone.

Abstract: A compact gas turbine engine having improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, better starting capability, and longer operational life is provided at low cost through the use of a combustor incorporating tangential fuel injection in conjunction with certain strategically placed and sized oxidant inlet jets. The oxidant inlet jets include deflector jets which deflect a generally circumferentially spiralling flow of gases within the combustor in a manner causing fuel and oxidant to recirculate for a longer period of time within a primary combustion zone, to thereby improve combustion efficiency and reduce undesirable emissions. Apparatus and methods for regulating injection of the fuel and oxidant in or primary, secondary, and dilution zones of the combustor in a manner providing improvements in fuel efficiency, high altitude starting and other advantages are also defined.

Abstract: The problem of providing a flight control panel actuation system, including asymmetry brakes, which will fit into aircraft wings having narrow supercritical air foil shapes, and yet provide a degree of safety with regard to preventing asymmetry which is as good or better than that provided by prior actuation systems is solved by an actuation system which positions an asymmetry brake inboard of an outermost flight control panel actuator within the aircraft wing. The asymmetry brake utilizes a jaw type clutch coupled to an electrical solenoid through a ball spline mechanism to provide significantly greater braking capacity in a given volume than other types of braking devices. The outermost control panel actuator includes an integral no-back to hold that actuator against further movement, should a driveline connection between the asymmetry brake and the actuator be severed.

Abstract: A thermal battery (10) includes a heat source (16)fabricated from a combination of metallic lithium and a predominantly fluorine substituted hydrocarbon (PFSH) material. In some embodiments the thermal battery 10 includes a combination anode/heat source (62) fabricated from metallic lithium and a polymeric or telomeric PFSH material to provide a lithium based anode with integral heating capability for activating the thermal battery (10).

Abstract: A sleeved boiler-reactor provides enhanced nucleate boiling and reduced risk of film-boiling within boiling tubes of the boiler-reactor, in the same manner as prior boiler-reactors of seam-welded construction, without the high fabrication cost incident with seam-welding, through the use of a closely wound helical shaped boiling tube structure constrained by lugs against a sleeve portion of the casing of the boiler-reactor.

Abstract: An improved axial-piston energy converting device is provided by utilizing a thin ceramic wear plate insert, having a typical thickness of only about 0.005 to 0.040 inches in thickness, as a cam surface secured by atmospheric pressure to an underlying support surface of a steel cam plate support structure. Attachment of the wear plate to the cam plate supporting surface is accomplished by polishing both a supporting surface of the cam plate, and a mating surface of the wear plate to a very smooth finish, and wiping a thin film of a fluid such as oil onto one of the polished surfaces prior to placing the wear plate onto the supporting surface. The highly polished, together with the light film of oil, result in a joint that is essentially air tight. Atmospheric pressure acting on the cam surface of the wear plate serves to hold the wear plate tightly in place on the support surface in the same manner that a pair of Johansson blocks are held together if their highly polished surfaces are mated.