Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine that has at least one rotor component proximate a stator that is axially displaceable from the stator in response to pressure of lubrication oil delivered to its lubrication system has a system for changing axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component from the stator to cause a corresponding change in rotor-stator magnetic flux interaction, comprising: a hydraulic pump for generating a flow of lubrication oil; and means for regulating the flow of lubrication oil to the machine to develop a corresponding lubrication oil pressure that controls axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component.

Abstract: A ball bearing for interconnecting a rotor to a stator has a plurality of balls and an inner and outer race. The inner race and the outer race have an interior surface configured to movably engage a portion of the balls, and at least one of the inner race and outer race includes a frustoconical exterior surface.

Abstract: A fluid separator device allows for introducing air entrained in a liquid flow to a centrifugal pump in a manner that will not allow the pump to become gas bound. One example device designed according to this invention includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet downstream of the inlet. An air chamber is positioned on an opposite side of the inlet from the outlet. An air flow passage allows air from the air chamber to be introduced near a rotor assembly input of a centrifugal pump such that relatively small air bubbles are introduced to the liquid flow through the rotor assembly in a manner that prevents the air bubbles from recollecting into a larger bubble that would otherwise interfere with the centrifugal pump operation.

Abstract: An exhaust silencer assembly comprising a casing having an exhaust gas entrance opening, an exhaust gas exit opening, and a cooling air inlet opening, and an acoustic-attenuating porous liner disposed within an interior chamber of the casing, thereby dividing the interior chamber into an inner region located between the exhaust gas entrance opening and the exhaust gas exit opening, and an outer region located between the acoustic-attenuating porous liner and the casing, where the cooling air inlet opening is located at the outer region.

Abstract: A compressed air unit is provided having a motor housing with a main motor housing having a cavity. A motor is arranged within the cavity and a compressor rotor is connected to the motor. A cooling duct is integral with and extends from the main housing body. The cooling duct is in fluid communication with the cavity. An inner housing includes a main inlet housing body providing a compressor inlet for providing fluid to the compressor rotor. An inlet duct is integral with and extends from the main inlet housing body and in fluid communication with the compressor inlet. A transfer tube is interconnected between the cooling and inlet ducts. A source of clean cooling air is provided by providing a reverse flow pickup from the inlet flow boundary layer at the compressor inlet.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating an angular position and an angular velocity of a rotor in a dynamoelectric machine measures an AC current and a potential for each of a plurality of windings coupled to a stator of the dynamoelectric machine, transforms the measured currents and potentials to a stationary frame to produce transformed currents and transformed potentials, and processes the transformed currents and transformed potentials to produce a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal are cross-coupled by being processed to obtain a first extended rotor flux value and a second extended rotor flux value that are each functions of the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal. The first extended rotor flux value and the second extended rotor flux value are applied to a phase lock loop to derive an estimated rotor angular position and an estimated rotor angular velocity for the dynamoelectric machine.

Abstract: An axial-flow pyrospin combustor comprises inner and outer combustor liners and a plurality of pyrospin effusion holes. The inner liner is coaxially mounted inside the outer liner, about a central combustor axis. The pyrospin effusion holes are formed in at least one of the outer combustor liner and the inner combustor liner. Each of the pyrospin effusion holes has a down angle and a back angle, which control a global swirl flow about the central axis, and promote film cooling without detachment.

Abstract: A power inductor assembly includes and multiple coil sections disposed upon a mounting frame. Multiple winding sections each encircle one of the multiple core sections and a portion of the mounting frame. Air gap spacers separate adjacent core sections. The arrangement facilitates removal of thermal energy from the magnetic core. Lamination build direction normal to inductor mounting surface minimizes eddy current losses.

Abstract: Oil system components for a turbine engine are used to provide a vacuum system for a fuel stabilization unit (FSU). A vacuum system pulls oxygen and other contaminants from fuel into a vacuum chamber within the FSU. The vacuum system pumps the discharge through a vacuum outlet in the FSU toward a vacuum pump. Due to the quality of vacuum required, a two-stage vacuum pump is used. A first stage vacuum pump is an oil system scavenge pump for the turbine engine and the second stage vacuum is provided by a second stage vacuum pump. The discharge flows from the vacuum chamber through to the second stage vacuum pump and is then added to the oil supply. The oil and discharge mixture is sent through an oil system de-oiler and a de-aerator to clean the oil supply prior to pumping the oil back through the oil system.

Abstract: A flash real time operating system for embedded applications employing flash memory is capable of storing and accessing individual bytes of data corresponding to a particular logical address in real time. The operating system writes data bytes to sequential physical blocks within the flash memory. Physical blocks written with data bytes corresponding to the same logical address are connected by a linked list, which is dynamically modified to reduce access times required to read and write data to the flash memory. The operating system also monitors the number of physical blocks written with data within each physical sector. When one physical sector reaches its storage capacity, the operating system transfers the physical blocks holding valid data from the old physical sector to a new, previously erased physical sector.

Abstract: A system for reducing compressor noise includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The blades have a nominal geometry characterized by a blade parameter. At least some of the blades are mistuned, such that they differ from the nominal geometry by greater than a manufacturing tolerance in the blade parameter. The blades produce shock waves at a blade passing frequency, and the mistuned blades shift acoustic energy away from the blade passing frequency to multiple lower amplitude tones at other frequencies. The system is configurable to be deployed with an inlet silencer that preferentially absorbs acoustic energy at some of the shifted frequencies.

Abstract: An electric motor control strategy includes using a low resolution position sensor that provides a square wave output signal. The position sensor information is converted into sinusoidal commutation signals for motor control that reduces torque ripple. In one disclosed example, square wave commutation is used at low motor speeds and a controller switches to sinusoidal commutation once a selected threshold speed of the motor is reached. In another disclosed example, sinusoidal commutation is used at all motor speeds with two different techniques for converting the square wave sensor signal into a sinusoidal commutation signal, depending on the motor speed.

Abstract: An active thrust management system varies pressure responsive to changes in rotor assembly thrust to maintain a desired position. The system includes a bearing supporting rotation of a rotor assembly within a pressurizing chamber. The rotor assembly is supported on a cushion of air generated between the bearing and the rotor assembly. Pressure within a cavity adjacent the rotor assembly opposes a thrust force to maintain a desired position of the rotor assembly. Modulating airflow into the pressurizing chamber adjacent the rotor assembly compensates for changes in the thrust generated by the rotor assembly to maintain the desired rotor assembly position.

Abstract: An electric can opener for opening a top of a metal can which includes a housing that has a top end and a front side. A can cutting mechanism is on the front side of the housing proximate the top end of the housing. A hand held jar grip is removably mounted on the top end of the housing and a hand held bottle and package opener tool is removably received within the housing.

Abstract: A system for regulating high speed voltage surges, particularly as a result of lightning strikes, which includes a transistor, an isolated voltage provider, and an array of voltage regulating electrical components, where the isolated voltage provider maintains the transistor in a fully on mode unless a voltage surge occurs. In the case of a voltage surge the array of voltage regulating electrical components switches the transistor to linear mode thus providing protection equal to its rating. A method of determining the voltage rating of individual Zener diodes contained within a Zener diode array consisting of shorting out individual diodes from the array and measuring the total voltage rating, then comparing the total voltage rating of the array with no diodes shorted out to the voltage rating of the array with the one diode shorted out.

Abstract: A controller employed in conjunction with a synchronous generator monitors the output voltage of the generator. The controller employs the monitored output voltage as feedback that is used to control the excitation provided to an exciter field winding. In addition, the controller applies a control loop to the monitored output voltage that detects and modifies voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage to generate a compensated signal that is used to control the excitation to the exciter field winding. In particular, by detecting and modifying voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage, the controller is able to counteract armature reaction voltage ripples caused by unbalanced short-circuit faults, thereby preventing the build-up of voltage on the DC link.

Abstract: A water fill device for a steam iron is provided with a shield in front of the outlet port thereof designed to enhance the appearance of the iron and to provide consumers with increased confidence in the avoidance of water spillage or leakage through the water fill device.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance for heating foodstuff that includes a body having a bottom, a sidewall extending therefrom to define a generally hollow interior and a body rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof. The interior is capable of retaining the foodstuff therein. The body includes a pour spout integrally formed within the sidewall and a heating element in a thermal relationship with the body to heat the foodstuff within the body. A lid is removably mountable to the body rim of the body. The lid is sized and shaped to cover the opening of the body when placed on the body rim.

Abstract: A mixing device for mix foodstuff includes a base housing at least one motor. The mixing device further includes a jar for containing the foodstuff. The mixing device has a first operating configuration wherein the foodstuff is blended within the jar. The mixing device includes at least one travel mug for containing the foodstuff. The mixing device has a second operating configuration wherein the foodstuff is mixed within the at least one travel mug. The jar and the at least one travel mug are separately removably mountable to the base. The at least one travel mug is removably mountable within the jar for storage.