Abstract: An electrical circuit protection system provides circuit protection in an electrical power distribution system. The electrical circuit protection system according to one embodiment comprises: an automatic reset circuit breaker; a commutation module electrically connected to the automatic reset circuit breaker; and a controller that sets a state of the commutation module based on detected state of the automatic reset circuit breaker and externally input commands.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses implement a thermal memory effect for a solid state power controller. A solid state power controller trip apparatus with thermal memory according to one embodiment comprises: a trip module including a first capacitor (156) and a counter (174), wherein the first capacitor (156) charges multiple times, when an over current event occurs, and the counter (174) accumulates a count related to the charging of the first capacitor (156) for the multiple times, to detect a trip condition; and a discharging module connected to the trip module, the discharging module including a resistor (166) and a second capacitor (158), wherein an electrical parameter associated with the count decays with time using the resistor (166) and the second capacitor (158).

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the state of charge of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of determining the specific gravity of the battery and measuring an open circuit voltage of the battery at rest. The open circuit voltage at rest can be used to determine the battery state of charge from a correlation function dependent on the battery specific gravity.

Abstract: A two-stage vapor cycle compressor includes a first stage impeller, a second stage impeller situated adjacent to the first stage impeller, an electric motor running on a pair of foil bearings, a thrust disk including two foil bearings and being positioned between the second stage impeller and the electric motor, and a compressor housing enclosing the first and second stage impeller and the electric motor. A refrigerant vapor compressed by the first stage and second stage impeller flows through an internal passageway formed by the compressor housing and cools the foil bearings and the electric motor. The compressor may be a gravity insensitive, small, and lightweight machine that may be easily assembled at low manufacturing costs. The two-stage vapor cycle compressor may be suitable for, but not limited to, applications in vapor compression refrigeration systems, such as air-conditioning systems, for example, in the aircraft and aerospace industries.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus provide intelligent monitoring and maintenance of a system. The method according to one embodiment accesses data relating to functional components of the system; extracts parameter information for functional components of the system, the step of extracting parameter information including performing inferential processing and trend recognition of the data using previous knowledge about the system, and simulating performance of the system using models of the system and previous knowledge about the system; identifies new information about the system present in extracted parameter information; and provides the new information to the step of extracting parameter information, to be used as previous knowledge.

Abstract: Ozone resistant O2/N2 gas separation membranes comprise a polymer membrane and an ozone reacting component, such as an antioxidant. The antioxidant may be included in the support layer of a composite membrane or included in the entire structure of an asymmetric membrane. The antioxidants in the separation membrane reduce oxidation and deterioration of the actual separation layer of the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating voltage and aerospace electrical power systems are implemented. A multi-functional apparatus for regulating voltage, according to one embodiment, comprises: a DC to DC converter (315), wherein the DC to DC converter (315) is controlled to operate in a first direction to receive a DC voltage from a first bus (329) and to output a first regulated DC voltage adjusted to charge a battery (307), wherein the first bus (329) receives power from a second bus (201), and is controlled to operate in a second direction to receive a battery DC voltage from the battery (307) and to output a second regulated DC voltage to the first bus (329) to power a load (231) independently or in combination with the second bus (201).

Abstract: A valve assembly configured to be mounted on a support structure comprises a flowbody having a first port, a second port, and a flow passage there between. A flange is coupled around the flowbody proximate the first port. A sleeve extends into the flowbody through the first port, and a radial lip is coupled to the sleeve proximate the first port. A retaining ring is coupled to the flange and configured to confine the radial lip between the retaining ring and the support structure to secure the sleeve within the flowbody when the valve assembly is mounted on the support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus performs mechanical phase synchronization of multiple AC generators in an electrical power distribution system. The apparatus according to one embodiment comprises a gearbox mechanically coupled to a prime mover, multiple AC generators, each having a rotor driven by mechanical energy from the prime mover supplied via the gearbox to generate AC electrical power, and a mechanical linkage keying orientation of each rotor to the gearbox, thereby mechanically synchronizing phase of the multiple AC generators.

Abstract: A recirculating water extractor includes a swirl vane, a converging nozzle, and two sumps. The recirculating water extractor may be designed to reintroduce uncollected water droplets back into the air stream upstream of both sumps, which may provide additional opportunities for separation. The Coanda effect may be exploited to increase the discharge of water along a surface. Utilizing a converging nozzle may intensify the centrifugal force applied to the air stream rich with entrained water and may move more of entrained water into contact with the wall of the nozzle, which, in turn, may enhance the liquid/vapor separation compared to prior art water extractors. The recirculating water extractor utilizing the Coanda effect and the method for removing entrained water from an air stream may be suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aircraft and aerospace industries, for example, by being included in environmental control systems of aircraft.

Abstract: Testing of an aircraft pressure control system may be performed without use of an altitude chamber. Aircraft cabin configuration date may be modeled and used, along with high resolution positional feedback from a simulated valve, to produce a high resolution electrical signal that may represent a simulated cabin pressure. A voltage-to-pressure transducer may convert the electrical signal to a pneumatic signal. The pneumatic signal may be employed to operate a cabin-pressure controller under test. The controller may operate an outflow valve actuator and an attached potentiometer. The potentiometer may produce a feedback signal and closed-loop testing of the aircraft pressure control system may thus be performed. The outflow valve actuator may be operated without being attached to an outflow valve because a simulated aerodynamic load may be applied to the actuator.

Abstract: A generator may incorporate a positively restrained balance ring. A generator may include a rotor core including a rotor, and a balance ring. The balance ring may include a weight. The balancer may include a plurality of balance holes in the ring, at least one of the plurality of balance holes to receive a weighted insert. A method of balancing a rotor of a generator may include mounting a balance ring adjacent to a rotor core, and adjusting weights to be located at one or more of a plurality of positions equally spaced around the balance ring to balance the rotor.

Abstract: A cooling jacket of an electric motor or generator includes a cylindrical inner sleeve, a cylindrical outer sleeve coaxially surrounding the inner sleeve and forming a circular space between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve, and a passageway extending within the circular space between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. The passageway may be a continuous winding path that may extend axially back and forth along the circumference of said inner sleeve. An embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling jacket that is suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aircraft and aerospace industries, for example in air-conditioning systems. The cooling jacket as in one embodiment of the present invention may be leak proof and water tight, has a compact design, and may be easily assembled and integrated into an electrically driven machine, such as an electrically driven compressor.

Abstract: A motor housing and cooling fin assembly for an electric motor comprises a stator support having a longitudinal base and a series of fin plates protruding radially from the base, the fin plates for directing fluid coolant through the motor, a cylindrical support sleeve comprising a thin wall, the thin wall containing a series of slots for receiving distal ends of the fin plates; and a motor housing having a cylindrical inner wall, the support sleeve positioned between the stator support and the motor housing in an interference fit.

Abstract: A cabin pressure control system (CPCS) software control logic modification may boost the voltage applied to a motor when conditions are sensed indicating a combination of larger than normal cabin pressure and cabin rate error conditions. The motor may be part of an open-loop system for operating a butterfly valve that may regulate outflow from the aircraft cabin. The larger than normal cabin pressure and cabin rate error conditions may be an indication that the outflow valve is not responding in a normal manner, potentially caused by excessive loading to the motor or motor degradation. By boosting the motor voltage during excessive load conditions or with a degraded motor, CPCS performance and robustness may be improved.

Abstract: A rotor mount assembly for an electrical machine, such as a high speed aerospace generator, comprises a spring having a simple annular structure together with an oil squeeze film damper (SFD). The spring is engineered to move the rotor critical speeds outside of the extremes of the operating speed range and the SFD damps out the rotor responses as the speed passes through these points.

Abstract: A power control system may use power semiconductor devices such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT's) in a switching unit to provide motor control. The IGBT's may be cooled with a system that is configured and sized to provide proper cooling at steady-state operating conditions of the switching unit. The IGBT's may be placed in thermal communication with a compartment that may contain phase change material (PCM). When and if the switching unit is operated under transient high load conditions, excess heat may be absorbed by melting of the PCM. When steady state operating conditions are restored the PCM may solidify and release its latent heat to a coolant. The PCM may thus act as a thermal buffer for the cooling system and thus may provide that the cooling system may be minimally sized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for loading equipment into a deployment apparatus and particularly for loading equipment in an aircraft for deployment. The method includes steps for moving a container towards the deployment apparatus in a non-upright orientation, engaging the container with the deployment apparatus, and then moving the container towards an upright orientation.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution system comprises a solid state power controller in communication with an aircraft system main data bus via a gateway module and a condition based maintenance module in communication with the solid state power controller via a communication network distinct from the main data bus. A method of load/feeder health assessment for an electrical power distribution system includes applying a controlled excitation to a load; sampling information from the load/feeder system for the load; characterizing a normal behavior of the load/feeder system for the load; determining if the load characteristics are within the normal behavior profile for the load; and shutting down power to the load if load characteristics are not within the profile when immediate action is indicated or generating a health message for the load when immediate action is not required.

Abstract: A cooling system for an electrical motor or generator includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop, and a heat exchange system. The first cooling loop may extract heat from an iron stack and winding of the electrical motor or generator. The second cooling loop may extract heat from end turns of the stator winding, the rotor, and the bearings independently from and simultaneously to the first cooling loop. At least the first cooling loop may pass through the heat exchange system. A liquid coolant may circulate in the first cooling loop and a compressed gas, such as compressed air or compressed refrigerant in vapor form, may circulate in the second cooling loop. The cooling system and method for an electrical motor or generator may be suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aircraft and aerospace industries, such as driving a cabin air compressor of an aircraft.