Abstract: A generator comprising a generator housing and a generator drive shaft including a power input shaft coupled to a drive member through a coupling arrangement, whereby in use the drive member is coupled to an output shaft of an associated engine. The coupling arrangement is arranged within the generator housing and comprises first and second coupling members and an insulator member interposed between the first and second coupling members. The coupling arrangement is configured such that the input shaft is electrically insulated from the drive member and, hence, from the engine output shaft, in use.

Abstract: A long-life, low maintenance, bi-directional vane-type water pump has a high degree of symmetry and operates with equal efficiency in either direction. The axial position of the drive shaft is controlled to permit improved lubrication by the pumping fluid of component parts on which the drive shaft is journaled.

Abstract: A structure comprising firstly a differential sensor of linear displacement comprising a body and a core slidably mounted relative to said body, and secondly a rod of a servo-control actuator in which the core is mounted, said rod terminating in an endpiece which has a bore in which the core is received close to its end, said bore and the core having complementary threads which co-operate to hold said core relative to said bore, and means enabling the engagement of the core in said bore to be adjusted, wherein said means comprise an adjustment screw extending through the actuator rod and whose thread co-operates with complementary means carried by the core so that turning movement applied to the adjustment screw by an operator gives rise to axial displacement of the core in the bore of the endpiece.

Abstract: A flexural pivot assembly which reduces the number of component parts to five and reduces the number of operations in the manufacturing process is disclosed. The component parts include two sleeves, one inner flexure, one outer flexure, and one slotted tubular core that may be coated with a suitable bonding material. The core has a slotted end and an unslotted end and includes two pairs of diametrically opposed flexure slots each having substantially the same length as a side of a flexure so that the interlocked flexures can slide into the slotted end of the tubular core until they abut an end of the flexure slots and, at the same time, be positioned flush with the slotted end. The core further includes a pair of diametrically opposed travel slots.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: A starter cutoff control apparatus and method for a starter/generator used on an engine includes a circuit for detecting starter/generator armature current during an engine start operation, comparing the armature current to an armature current setpoint to produce an error signal; using the error signal to produce a field weakening control signal; and a circuit for producing a starter cutoff signal as a function of the field weakening control signal.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: A coupling is disclosed having an interference fit between its diaphragms and the spacer tube wherein the diaphragm bore and the spacer tube shaft end have mating polygonal shapes. In a preferred embodiment, the polygonal shapes are rounded, with rounded edges and comers to eliminate stress points. Localized stress areas are virtually eliminated because of the lack of concavities in the shaft end. The contact area between the diaphragm and the spacer tube thus increase the torque capacity of the coupling and eliminate fretting associated with splined joints. The coupling may be made utilizing either metallic or nonmetallic parts without loss of integrity. A method of assembling and disassembling the joint using thermal processes is also disclosed. The shaft ends are machined with the polygonal shapes and form shoulders with the central area of the shaft to serve as stops when joining the diaphragms to the shaft.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: A brush wear sensor for a dynamoelectric machine having a rotating commutator and brushes which contact the commutator detects movement of the brush a predetermined distance inwardly which indicates excessive wear of the brush. The brush wear sensor is normally electrically isolated from the brush and from the brush holder in which the brush is mounted. When excessive brush wear occurs, the brush wear sensor contacts the spring which moves the brush as it wears and urges the brush into contact with the commutator. The brush wear sensor is then electrically connected to the brush holder and the brush, providing an indication that the brush has moved the predetermined distance inwardly. The brush wear sensor allows the detection of excessive brush wear without disassembling and visually inspecting the brushes.

Abstract: An integral cooling air diffuser for a starter/generator of the type having an air inlet and a cooling fan for blowing cooling air from the air inlet into the starter/generator through the diffuser, the diffuser having a number of aerodynamic vanes for efficiently directing air flow into the starter/generator. In one embodiment the vanes are in the general shape of an aerodynamic air foil.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for connecting a generator to an energized bus includes a circuit for determining voltage differential between the generator voltage and the bus voltage; a circuit for connecting the generator to the bus when the voltage differential reaches a predetermined threshold; a circuit for limiting the generator field current during build-up so that the generator reaches a predetermined speed before the generator is connected to the bus.

Abstract: A system for actively controlling the charging profile of a battery uses a software-based generator control unit to control the charging voltage. The voltage may be initially reduced following battery discharge to prevent large current inrush transients. The voltage may then be raised above a normal charging level to increase the battery charging rate. The control system provides better control over battery charging prevent overheating of the battery and generator and allows the battery to be recharged more quickly.

Abstract: A bearing failure detector for an electrical generator includes a disc located within the bearing assembly near the location of the main bearings. The disc includes an electrically conductive ring encased in an insulation layer. The ring is exposed along inside diameter of the detector disc adjacent to the periphery of the shaft, but the dimensions of the inside diameter of the ring are slightly greater than the normal internal clearance of the main bearings, so that the shaft does not contact the ring unless the bearings are significantly worn. The detector ring is connected to a resistor with a large resistance which is monitored by a control circuit at all times. When the internal clearance of the main bearings has been enlarged by a predetermined amount, the ring contacts the shaft, changing the resistance monitored by the control circuit. This causes the control circuit to provide an indication that the bearings need replacement.

Abstract: A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to be realized in an integrated programmable system configuration.

Abstract: An electric generator of the type that is oil-cooled and generally used in aircraft includes a fluid brake assembly. The fluid brake assembly includes a fluid brake rotor which is generally in the form of a fan or impeller which is connected to the drive shaft of the generator. Under normal conditions with the cooling oil withdrawn from the housing of the generator by the scavenge system, the fluid brake rotor freely turns with the shaft. When the oil scavenge system becomes incapacitated, the generator becomes "flooded" and the fluid brake rotor acts as pump to try to pump the oil, creating a torque load on the drive shaft. This load is preferably greater than the shear strength of the shaft, causing the shaft to shear and disconnecting the generator from the aircraft engine. By shearing the drive shaft, the operation of the main engine is unaffected by the flooding of the generator, and serious failure of the aircraft engine is avoided.

Abstract: Core-type brushes used in dynamoelectric machines, such as electric motors, have cores which are arranged in substantially parallel planes extending at an angle with respect to the direction at which the brushes move toward the commutator as the brushes wear. As the brushes wear, the position of the cores relative to the outer surface of the commutator changes, preventing constant positioning of the cores relative to the commutator surface and reducing or preventing non-uniform commutator wear which occurs when the cores maintain a fixed position with respect to the commutator surface as the brushes wear. This arrangement of the cores eliminates the need to resurface the commutator at brush change, reduces the time required to properly seat the brushes to the commutator and increases commutator and brush life.

Abstract: A fin control actuator for missiles carried on aircraft has a device which locks the fin shaft against aerodynamic loads and prevents the transmission of these loads through the drive train. The fin shaft lock includes a plunger which has a cam having a locking portion for engaging the output shaft and preventing the output shaft from rotating in one direction when the plunger is in the locking position. The cam also has a camming portion for engaging the output shaft and pushing the plunger to the retracted position when the output shaft rotates in the opposite direction. The plunger is urged into the locking position by a spring and is held in the retracted position by a permanent magnet. The fin lock device is reusable and does not consume any power after it is set.

Abstract: A flexible coupling has at least one and more commonly a plurality of diaphragms having a particular profile. The profile has first and second contoured sections. The first contoured section has a radially-inwardly decreasing thickness and extends to near the center of the diaphragm and the second section extends therefrom and has a radially-inwardly increasing thickness such that the bending moment developed by axial deflections is small near the thinnest section or the center of the diaphragm, and the stress levels are minimized throughout the diaphragm. The diaphragm profile as described is analytically optimized to tolerate greater axial deflection and bending before the fatigue and endurance limits of the diaphragm material are reached than has heretofore been the case.

Abstract: A gear train locking device is inserted into an opening in the housing adjacent to the gear to be locked. The device is made in a two-piece assembly to permit the device to be threaded into the opening while maintaining the proper orientation of the engaging slot on the forward end of the device which engages the teeth of the gear. To assist in determining that the proper orientation has been maintained, alignment indicating means, preferably in the form of a notch, are provided in the rearward end of the device. The device allows a gear to be locked without the need of disassembling the actuator or motor in which the gear train is located. With the gear on the input shaft locked, torque can be applied to the output shaft to easily accomplish the tests of gear train performance, minimizing the time and complexity of the tests.