Abstract: A hybrid cascading lubrication and cooling system (200, 400) for an electrical machine (102) with nested stages is provided. The electrical machine (102) includes an inner nested stage (444) nested with respect to an outer nested stage (446). An oil pump (222) is coupled to an oil pump inlet tube (226) to draw oil from an oil sump (224), and a cooling core (230) to distribute pumped oil within the electrical machine (102). A rotor member (212) is coupled to the inner nested stage (444) and the outer nested stage (446). The rotor member (212) centrifugally pumps oil from the cooling core (230) through inner radial holes (424) and outer radial holes (436) in the rotor member (212) upon rotation about a central axis (216) of the electrical machine (102).

Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a rotatable output ring with a generally denticulate inner surface region and an output ring axis of rotation; a pair of stationary rings, each with a generally denticulate inner surface region and a stationary ring axis, each located on a different end of the output ring with the stationary ring axes in general alignment with the output ring axis; a generally cylindrical planet comprising distal outer regions that each have outer surfaces for supporting the planet, a generally denticulate central outer surface region that engages the denticulate inner surface region of the output ring, and generally denticulate intermediate outer surface regions that each engage the denticulate inner surface region of a respective one of the stationary rings, and a planet axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the output ring axis; and a pair of generally cylindrical planet carriers, each having a carrier axis of rotation in general alignment with the output ring axis.

Abstract: A resource recovery system includes a capture container located at a desired surface defining a capture volume between the surface and an interior of the capture container. One or more hole-making devices are configured to excavate soil from at least one hole in the surface. One or more energy emitters direct energy toward the excavated soil to heat the excavated soil thereby releasing one or more compounds. The capture container is configured to capture gas and/or liquid compounds released from the excavated soil. A method of resource extraction from soil includes covering a desired surface with a capture container defining a capture volume between the desired surface and an interior of the capture container. Soil is excavated from a hole in the desired surface into the capture volume. The excavated soil is heated via one or more energy emitters thereby releasing one or more compounds into the capture volume.

Abstract: A center-tapped solar array includes a plurality of series-connected solar cells connected between a positive terminal and a negative terminal for generating an output voltage. A center-tapped terminal connected to ground is connected to the plurality of series-connected solar cells at a midpoint between the positive and negative terminals. As a result, the positive terminal of the solar array has a positive voltage relative to ground greater than the center-tapped terminal and the negative terminal has a negative voltage relative to ground less than the center-tapped terminal.

Abstract: A resource recovery system includes a capture container located at a desired surface defining a capture volume between the surface and an interior of the capture container. One or more hole-making devices are located in the capture container to excavate soil from at least one hole in the surface. A heater located in the hole making device heats the excavated soil, releasing one or more compounds from the excavated soil. The capture container is configured to capture gas and/or liquid compounds released from the excavated soil. A method of resource extraction from soil includes covering a desired surface with a capture container defining a capture volume between the desired surface and an interior of the capture container. Soil is excavated from a hole in the desired surface into the capture volume with an auger. The auger heats the excavated soil thereby releasing one or more compounds into the capture volume.

Abstract: A vane pump is provided and includes a liner having an inlet window and a discharge window, the liner being formed to define a cam surface and a rotor carrying a plurality of radially extending vanes which are forced outwardly such that vane tips thereof contact with the cam surface, the rotor having a direction of rotation such that one end of the inlet window is an upstream end and an opposed end is a downstream end, a radius of each of the vane tips being approximately 0.114 inches (0.3 cm) and a profile of the cam surface being defined in accordance with the radius of the vane tips.

Abstract: An electromagnetic control for the landing gear of an aircraft includes a hub to be fixed to a frame of an aircraft landing gear. A rotor rotates with a tire on the aircraft landing gear. Permanent magnetic disks are associated with the rotor, and interspersed with disks on the hub. Some of the disks on the hub are electromagnetic disks supplied with electric power, and some of the plurality of disks on the hub are made of high electric conductivity material.

Abstract: A generator rotor torsional damper system includes a prime mover for generating rotational force, a generator stator, a generator rotor rotatably supported relative to the generator stator and configured to receive a rotational force input from the prime mover, a flywheel rotationally supported relative to the generator rotor by bearings, and an eddy current coupling operably connected between the flywheel and the generator rotor such that rotation of the generator rotor induces rotation of the flywheel in a common rotational direction through engagement by the eddy current coupling.

Abstract: A method of replacing a generator rotor shaft into a generator includes the steps of moving the rotor shaft such that a central portion supports a main winding section of the generator, and such that smaller diameter portions are supported by bearings, and utilizing a wire that extends through slots in the rotor shaft to connect a rectifier assembly to an exciter rotor.

Abstract: Transient overvoltage suppression circuit prevents voltage surges from damaging an attached load. The suppression circuit includes a transistor connected in series with a low-side or return line of the load. A control circuit monitors the voltage on the input line (i.e., high-side) and in response to a detected voltage transient turns the transistor OFF to isolate the load from the transient voltage.

Abstract: A sealing washer assembly includes a main washer with a bottom annular groove for a removable O-ring and a top recess for a sealing washer. A fastener such as a screw or bolt passes through the sealing washer and the main washer, into a hole in a mounting surface. When the fastener is tightened, the main washer is clamped to the mounting surface to create a metal-to-metal seal, the O-ring is deformed to create a seal between the main washer and the mounting surface, and the sealing washer is deformed to create a seal between the fastener and the main washer.

Abstract: A breather assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a static housing for accepting a fluidic mixture of substances, a rotatable separator having one or more fluid inlets and arranged about an axis of rotation, an exhaust outlet defined in the housing and positioned coaxially with the rotatable separator to accept fluidic exhaust from the rotatable separator, and a static diffuser supported by the housing at or near the exhaust outlet downstream from the rotatable separator. A portion of the static diffuser extends within the rotatable separator. The static diffuser includes a flow-straightening structure configured to reduce vortex flows in fluid flows passing through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A power-conversion control system includes an inverter, a cycloconverter, and a sliding mode controller. The inverter is operable to receive a DC voltage input and produce a first AC voltage output having a first frequency. The cycloconverter has a plurality of bidirectional switches, and is operable to receive the first AC voltage and to synthesize a second AC voltage having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency. The sliding mode controller is operable to provide a control signal to command the plurality of bidirectional switches to turn OFF and ON when the first AC voltage is at a zero crossing condition. The sliding mode controller is also operable to selectively adjust the frequency and amplitude of the second AC voltage.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly for a generator includes a terminal block having a base with a first and second transverse surfaces adjoining one another. Spaced apart protrusions extend from the first and second surfaces to provide spaced apart terminal areas overlapping the first and second surface. The terminal areas are configured to receive a cable lug. A terminal stud is provided in each terminal area and extends from the second surface. The first surface is without terminal studs. A cable lug secured to the terminal stud is arranged in the terminal area.

Abstract: A position detecting system for a differential movement system which moves a first surface and a second surface from a fixed surface includes an actuation system to move the second surface relative to the first surface and to allow the second surface to move with the first surface; a sensor connected to the actuation system to detect a parameter of the actuation system related to an expected amount of movement of the second surface to determine the expected amount of movement of the second surface; and a sensor system connected to the second surface and the fixed surface to detect the amount of actual movement of the second surface.

Abstract: A method for no break power transfer in a variable frequency power generating system, the power generating system comprising a first bus connected to a first generator and a second bus connected to a second generator includes configuring a power transfer device to output power that is synchronized to match a voltage and a frequency of the second bus to the second bus; reconfiguring the power transfer device to output power that is synchronized to match a voltage and a frequency of the first bus to the second bus; and closing a tie switch located between the first bus and the second bus.

Abstract: A flutter control system for a turbomachine fan includes a plurality of fan case sensors located at a fan case of the turbomachine and configured to sense passing of blade tips of a fan of the turbomachine. A controller is operably connected to the plurality of fan case sensors. A variable fan area nozzle actuator is operably connected to the controller, such that the variable fan area nozzle actuator urges a change in fan nozzle area in response to data from the plurality of fan case sensors indicating flutter or near flutter conditions. A method of flutter control for a turbomachine fan includes sensing a blade tip passing of a plurality of fan blades. Data from a plurality of fan case sensors is compared to a threshold and a fan exit area is changed based on the comparison to dampen flutter of the plurality of fan blades.

Abstract: A system to provide differential movement between a first surface, a second surface and a fixed surface includes a first surface movable between a first position and a second position; a second surface movable with the first surface and further movable beyond the first surface; a shaft connected to the second surface to move the second surface; and a drive unit connected to the fixed surface to drive the shaft to move the second surface relative to the first surface and to allow the shaft to move through the drive unit when the second surface is being moved by the first surface.

Abstract: An active rectification system includes an active rectifier, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control, and a closed loop vector control. The PWM control portion is configured to control switching of the active rectifier and the closed loop vector control is configured to generate the required duty cycles for the PWM signals that regulate the DC voltage output and force a three-phase current input of the active rectifier to align with a three-phase pole voltage input of the active rectifier.

Abstract: An air turbine starter is provided and includes a rotor including turbine blades, which is rotatable about a rotational axis, a housing including a portion thereof radially surrounding the turbine blades to define a pathway along which fluids flow to interact with the turbine blades and a containment ring affixed to an exterior of the portion of the housing radially surrounding the turbine blades.