Abstract: A pneumatically actuated ejection rack system for an aircraft includes a storage tank for storing a pressurized gas at or above a first pressure level and a pressure reducer positioned downstream from the storage tank. The pressure reducer is adapted to reduce the pressure level of the pressurized gas so as to receive the pressured gas at the first pressure level and discharge the pressurized gas at a second pressure level lower than the first pressure level, whereby the second pressure level is sufficient to operate a firing mechanism of the ejection rack system.

Abstract: A speed reduction system for decreasing the speed of a moving craft has a craft engaging device, a control mechanism, and a hydraulic energy transfer system adapted to transmit energy from the craft engaging device to the control mechanism. The control mechanism is adapted to actively control release of energy from the hydraulic energy transfer system during the decrease of the speed of the craft. A method of controlling the operation of a valve includes adjusting the valve during the operation of the valve after comparing a condition to a desired condition determined by a profile. A hydraulic valve has a valve member defining passages arranged to balance the force of the fluid pressure acting on the valve member and an actuator connected to the valve member. A valve control system includes a controller and a driver arranged with the controller. The position of the valve is adjusted during a predetermined cycle to control the operation of the valve.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling small flows of gas, such as would be used by a satellite (or microsatellite) for orientation thrusters includes a photoetched silicon body etched to provide one or more particular flow paths, and optionally filters, where the flow path is defined by the silicon body and a sealing glass layer bonded thereto. Flow is controlled through the flow path(s) by heating the body to decrease the gas flow.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing method for revealing surface and through defects in materials and articles. The method comprises filling up defects with a volatile penetrant, applying indicator material to a surface to be tested, removing the indicator material from the surface and registrating defects according to the presence color spots, shapes and dimensions which are functions of shapes and dimensions of real defects. The indicator material comprises a gas-permeable base with applied sulfonephthalein indicator in the range of 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-3 grams per 1 cubic centimeter of the base.

Abstract: A microvalve and microthruster are provided. Both include a housing with an interior in which an armature can travel and abut a valve seat to provide an electromagnetic valve. The armature acts as a valve body that is maintained in a or normally closed position by a permanent magnet, and is opened by interaction with a selectively activatable electromagnet. A microthruster is provided by fashioning the valve discharge as a nozzle, preferably of a material that is permanently and selectively magnetizable, so that the nozzle functions as the permanent magnet and which magnetism can be adjusted to assure proper opening and closing of the valve portion. The valve body is guided without any sliding fit mechanism and is suitable for controlling gas or liquid fluid flows.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow to an approximate constant rate is disclosed. The system includes a housing, a flow control element, a cutout formed in the flow control element, a valve element, and a spring. The housing has an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The ends are arranged and configured to receive piping. The flow control element is operatively positioned within the housing with the flow control element having an upstream end and a downstream end with a cutout formed therein. The fluid flows in the inlet and through the cutout into a larger chamber within the housing before exiting the outlet end of the housing in normal flow. A valve element is disposed within the housing adjacent and upstream of the flow control element. The valve element is positioned within the housing by a spring means which urges the valve element toward the outlet.

Abstract: A valve construction relies upon solenoid-driven axial elongation of an annular magnetostrictive core element for opening displacement of an elongate poppet-valve member that is carried within the annulus of the core element. A first stiffly compliant preload independently urges the poppet-valve member into its seated position of lock-up at valve closure, and a second stiffly compliant preload independently prestresses the annular magnetostrictive core element into a fixed referencing abutment with valve-body structure. The currently preferred material of the core is Terfenol-D, which offers a strong elongation response to inductively coupled excitation. The elongation response is sufficient to serve the purposes of (1) closing a pretravel clearance prior to a flange engagement with the poppet-valve member and (2) also, via the flange engagement, displacing the poppet-valve member out of its normal valve-closing engagement with the valve seat.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing method for revealing surface and through defects in materials and articles. The method comprises filling up defects with a volatile penetrant, applying indicator material to a surface to be tested, removing the indicator material from the surface and registrating defects according to the presence color spots, shapes and dimensions which are functions of shapes and dimensions of real defects. The indicator material comprises a gas-permeable base with applied sulfonephthalein indicator in the range of 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-3 grams per 1 cubic centimeter of the base.

Abstract: In a preferred ball-valve construction, a valve body has spaced inlet and outlet ports on an axis of flow that is controlled by an interposed ball; the ball is rotatable about a body-fixed axis which intersects the axis of flow at the geometric center of the ball. In the closed condition of the valve, an annular valve-seat member associated with one of the ports has circumferentially sealed contact with the ball. The annular valve-seat member is guided for axial displaceability into and out of its engageability with the ball, and actuation of the valve utilized coordination of valve-seat displacement with ball rotation such that valve-seat engagement with the ball is only for the closed condition of the valve, and such that, valve-opening rotation of the ball can occur only while the annular valve-seat member is in axial-clearance relation with the ball. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A valve for fail-safe return to its normally closed condition relies upon solenoid-driven elongation of a magnetostrictive core element, for opening displacement of a valve member, and also relies upon a continuously available, stiffly compliant preload of the valve member into its position of lock-up at valve closure. The currently preferred material of the core is Terfenol-D, which offers a strong elongation response to inductively coupled excitation. The elongation response is sufficient to serve the purposes of driving a poppet-valve member from closed to open position, with a relatively short time constant, as well as to permit a closed condition of the valve wherein the driving end of the core is effectively disconnected from the poppet-valve member, so that the prestressed stiff compliance can alone be operative on the poppet-valve member for fail-safe closure of the valve.

Abstract: A multiple-valve system is transiently electromagnetically actuated by a single electrical winding, for concurrent change of state for each of the multiple valves, and a permanently magnetized portion of involved magnetic circuitry serves to latch both valves in the operative state into which they have been actuated. The preferred embodiment is based on valve-body structure which is a unitary consolidation of plural slabs of magnetic material in alternation with slabs of non-magnetic material. An electromagnetic actuator includes a U-shaped core having pole faces secured to the uppermost slab, in confronting relation with valve members of magnetic material. A first polarized magnetic-latch circuit exists via the U-shaped core, together with the valve members and a magnetized body slab when in valve-open condition. A second polarized magnetic-latch circuit exists via the magnetized slab, the valve members and another magnetic slab, when the system is in valve-closed condition.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a method of making a valve body for a magnetically actuated twin-valve system, wherein the valve body comprises a body block of three relatively thick slabs vertically bonded to each other and to the consolidated height of their combined thicknesses, the first and lower most slab being of non-magnetic material, the second and intermediate slab being of magnetic material, and the third and uppermost slab being of non-magnetic material; the method comprises the steps of (a) inertia-welding said slabs to each other; and (b) machining first and second spaced valve-member guide bores through said second and third slabs and through at least a portion of said first slab, with a valve-seat opening at the otherwise closed lower end of each bore of said first slab and with independent lateral-access inlet-port communication with the respective bores in said first slab.

Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated twin-valve system wherein the respective valves are series-connected within a single housing and in a single generally axial line of fluid flow from an upstream or inlet end to a downstream or outlet end, and wherein an annular electrical winding is operative to concurrently operate both valves for a like change of state in each valve. A generally toroidal configuration of magnetic-core elements is provided by generally cylindrical housing structure which includes annular end-closure elements and wherein the core path is completed by magnetic armature and pole-face features. The annular winding is magnetically coupled to the armatures and is contained within the generally toroidal configuration of magnetic-core elements. Separate springs axially preload the armatures in their valve-closed direction of engagement with annular valve-seat formations along the path of flow.

Abstract: A magnetically linked twin-valve assembly is electromagnetically actuated in response to excitation of a single solenoid winding. Valve-body structure features relatively thick non-magnetic and magnetic slabs which are bonded into a consolidated body block, in laminated alternation, prior to machining the same for dual-valve purposes. Two spaced guide bores through the body block accommodate movement of separate valve members of magnetic material; the upper end of each of these valve members is upwardly exposed in confronting relation with one to the exclusion of the other pole face of the U-shaped core of an electromagnet, whereby a single magnetic circuit, established by the U-shaped core and the valve members, relies upon the middle slab of magnetic material to complete the circuit by magnetically linking both valve members. Inlet and outlet flows of pressure fluid pass through separate chambers formed primarily in the lowermost slab on the respective guide-bore alignments.

Abstract: A magnetic-latching of either of the selected operating positions of a two-position valve utilizes a generally toroidal magnetic circuit that is established by spaced inner and outer annular walls which are connected at their axial ends, with an inlet-port fluid-flow connection at one end to the interior of the inner wall, and with an outlet-port fluid-flow connection from the interior of the inner wall. The inner wall has a gap between axially spaced first and second annular pole faces. A single electrical excitation coil is coupled to the magnet circuit at overlap with the inner annular wall on one side of the gap. A disc-shaped armature is compliantly supported for axially shuttled displacement in the gap in alternating abutment with one to the exclusion of the other of the pole faces.

Abstract: A ball-valve member, which in its valve-closed condition must have circumferentially continuous sealed contact with its seat, is mounted for rotation about an axis which is eccentrically gyrated in the course of limited rotation of an actuating element that is journalled in the valve body. The eccentric throw is selected to be such in relation to the full course of actuating-element rotation that, beginning with a fully-closed condition of the valve, an initial fraction of the course of actuating-element rotation is devoted to achieving the eccentric throw (without rotating the ball), whereby to displace the ball-rotation axis in the axial direction away from seat engagement; the ball surface is thus displaced into axially offset clearance with respect to the seat, before devoting the remaining fraction of actuating-element rotation to the task of rotating the ball to its valve-open position.

Abstract: A valve construction wherein the rotor shaft of a reversible electric motor is axially displaceable between axially spaced elements of a differential-screw system for driven displacement of a valve member. Each of these spaced elements is preferably a ball screw, independently co-operative with upper and lower regions of the rotor shaft, i.e., at the respective upper and lower sides of the rotor carried by the shaft. The valve of the invention and its control and drive system are contained within a housing which fixedly mounts (a) the ball-screw nut of the upper element of the differential-screw system and (b) the stator of the motor, so that motor-driven rotation results in axial displacement of the rotor and its shaft, pursuant to the helical advance lead or pitch of the upper ball-screw nut.

Abstract: A ball-valve member, which in its valve-closed condition must have circumferentially continuous sealed contact with its seat, is mounted for rotation about an axis which is eccentrically displaced in the course of limited rotation of an actuating element that is journalled in the valve body. The eccentric throw is selected to be such in relation to the full course of actuating-element rotation that, beginning with a fully-closed condition of the valve, an initial fraction of the course of actuating-element rotation is devoted to achieving the eccentric throw (without rotating the ball), whereby to displace the ball-rotation axis in the axial direction away from seat engagement; the ball surface is thus displaced into axially offset clearance with respect to the seat, before devoting the remaining fraction of actuating-element rotation to the task of rotating the ball to its valve-open position.

Abstract: A miniaturized check-valve construction utilizes a length of straight cylindrical tubing for its body, wherein the open ends of the tube are the inlet (or upstream) and outlet (or downstream) ports of the valve. The tubular body is locally deformed to fixedly retain an inserted annular valve-seat member at a first axial location of downstream offset from the inlet end of the pipe. The tubular body is also locally deformed, at a second axial location of upstream offset from the outlet end of the pipe, to fixedly retain another annular member which serves to establish a fixed reference for the downstream end of a compression spring which continuously urges a valve member into its valve-closing relation with the valve-seat member. Various modifications are described for the configuration and retention of internal parts of the check-valve assembly.

Abstract: Two opposed poles of a permanently magnetized circuit establish a relatively large air gap. An armature element (15) is displaceably interposed in the gap between these poles. The armature element establishes a first relatively small gap to one of these poles when in a first position of adjacency to the other of these poles, and the armature element establishes a second relatively small gap to the other of said poles when in a second position of adjacency to said one pole. Pole-fringing flux is manifested laterally of that one of the relatively small gaps which uniquely identifies the instantaneous presence of the armature in one of its two positions, and a detector of fringe flux at one of the two gaps (18) provides an indication of the positional status of the armature with respect to the poles.