Abstract: An improved device (10) for moving a load (11) rotationally and/or axially relative to a body (12) broadly comprises: a body; a motor (13) mounted on the body and having an output shaft (14) operatively arranged to move the load rotationally relative to the body; a piston (16) movably mounted on the body and defining therewith a variable volume first chamber (19), the piston being operatively arranged to move the load axially relative to the body; an accumulator (23) charged to a predetermined pressure; a fluid in the first chamber and accumulator; a pump (26) driven by the motor, the pump being operatively arranged to displace fluid from the first chamber to the accumulator; and a valve (28) operatively arranged to selectively permit pressurized fluid in the accumulator to flow into the first chamber to move the piston and load in one direction axially relative to the body.

Abstract: A torque-limiting module (20) is adapted to be mounted on a body (21) at any of a plurality of locations. Each location has a particular mounting geometry that mandates the relative position and orientation of the module relative to the body. The body includes a housing (28) adapted to be mounted on the body, in input shaft (22), an output shaft (29), a coupling (30) between the shafts, a brake (31) arranged to act between the housing and output shaft for braking the shafts when the torque transmitted by the output shaft exceeds a predetermined value, a spring (84) urging the brake to move toward a position at which the output shaft will be released, a cam surface (25) mounted on the body at each of the locations, a cam follower (32) mounted on the module for movement along an axis and engageable with the cam surface at any location, and wherein the module has a variable characteristic, such as torque, that is settable as a function of the position of the cam follower relative to the module.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved standby locking mechanism (20) that is adapted to be used with a ball screw actuator. The actuator has a rotatable screw shaft (21) and has a primary nut (22) mounted on a movable member (23) and threadedly engaging the screw shaft. The standby locking mechanism (20) is also mounted on the member (23) and is operatively arranged to prevent further axial or rotative movement of the screw shaft in the event of a failure of the primary nut. The standby locking mechanism includes a sensing mechanism (30) for sensing a failure of the primary nut, and locking mechanisms (29L, 29R) responsive to the sensing mechanism for selectively locking the screw shaft to the member upon a sensed failure of the primary nut.

Abstract: A redundant control actuation system (100) provides hydraulic logic cross-coupling between physically-separate servoactuators (101A, 101B). Each servoactuator has a control valve (102A, 102B) arranged to provide a hydraulic output in response to a control signal. Each actuator also has a hydraulic actuator (106A, 106B) arranged to move a load in response to the hydraulic output from its associated control valve. Logic valve means (103A, 104A, 105A, 103B, 104B, 105B) are operatively associated with the control valves (102A, 102B) and actuators (106A, 106B). Each logic valve means is supplied with hydraulic and electrical input signals.

Abstract: A redundant control actuation system (100) provides hydraulic logic cross-coupling between physically-separate servoactuators (101A, 101B). Each servoactuator has a control valve (102A, 102B) arranged to provide a hydraulic output in response to a control signal. Each actuator also has a hydraulic actuator (106A, 106B) arranged to move a load in response to the hydraulic output from its associated control valve. Logic valve means (103A, 104A, 105A, 103B, 104B, 105B) are operatively associated with the control valves (102A, 102B) and actuators (106A, 106B). Each logic valve means is supplied with hydraulic and electrical input signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved standby locking mechanism (20) that is adapted to be used with a ball screw actuator. The actuator has a rotatable screw shaft (21) and has a primary nut (22) mounted on a movable member (23) and threadedly engaging the screw shaft. The standby locking mechanism (20) is also mounted on the member (23) and is operatively arranged to prevent further axial or rotative movement of the screw shaft in the event of a failure of the primary nut. The standby locking mechanism includes a sensing mechanism (30) for sensing a failure of the primary nut, and locking mechanisms (29L, 29R) responsive to the sensing mechanism for selectively locking the screw shaft to the member upon a sensed failure of the primary nut.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved limited torque motor (15). In the preferred embodiment, the motor comprises a magnetized rotor (16) mounted for rotational movement relative to a stator (18), the rotor and stator being elongated about an axis x-x, and the stator having coils (19) adapted to be selectively energized by a current to exert a torque on the rotor, and the stator having a centering magnetic configuration (20) at a first axial location (21) and arranged to produce a torque on the rotor as a function of rotor angular displacement (A), and the stator having a driving magnetic configuration (23) at a second axial location (24) and arranged to produce a torque on the rotor as a function of the current. The stator may comprise multiple radial pole pieces (35) and the coil may be wrapped around each of the pole pieces. The centering magnetic configuration may have less pole-pieces than the driving magnetic configuration. The rotor may have a constant magnetic configuration along its axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator (20) for selectively displacing an output member (33) against an opposing load (L) in response to the output (24) of a motor (23). The actuator includes a first transmission mechanism (50) for displacing the output member relative to the motor at a first nominal ratio with respect to the motor output; a second transmission mechanism (60) for displacing the output member relative to the motor at a nominal second ratio with respect to the motor output; a selector (34, 39) for coupling the motor output to the output member only through the first transmission mechanism (50) when the load is less than a predetermined value, and for coupling the motor output to the output member through the first and second transmission mechanisms (50, 60) when the load is greater than the predetermined value. The force exerted by the output member on the load is the sum of the forces transmitted through the first and second transmission mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in apparatus (20) for testing the level of contaminants in a fluid during a test period. The apparatus has a source of pressurized fluid (Ps) to be tested; a fluid sump (R); and a test passage (48) which is substantially free of occluding contaminants at the beginning of the test period and which is adapted to be supplied with a flow of fluid from the source. The passage is so configured and arranged as to be progressively occluded by contaminants in the fluid flow. The apparatus also includes a device (23) defining a variable-volume chamber (47). The volume of said chamber is variable between a minimum value and a maximum value.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved position sensor for a latching solenoid (15). In the preferred embodiment, the solenoid has a permanent magnet (16), a coil (18) adapted to be selectively energized by either a positive or negative current, a first pole-piece (19) and a second pole-piece (20), a first armature (21) positioned between the pole pieces, a first air-gap (22) and a second air-gap (23) between the armature and the first and second pole pieces, respectively, and a first magnetic flux path (24) and second magnetic flux path (25) associated with the first and second pole pieces, respectively, the armature being movable between an alternate first position (26) and second position (28) wherein flux from the magnet will hold the armature in either of the positions, the armature, magnet and air-gaps being so configured and arranged that selective energization of the coil produces a coil flux to cause the armature to move to and latch in one of the positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a two-axis pointing motor (20) having a frame (21) and an armature (22). The armature has an axis (x-x) passing through a point (P). The armature is mounted on the frame for controlled omni-directional pivotal movement of the axis about the point. The motor has a permanent magnet (24) mounted on the armature, and has a plurality of coils (25,25,25,25) mounted on the frame for creating controllable electromagnetic fluxes for urging the armature to pivot about the point. In one aspect, the improvement comprises the coils being positioned such that the entire volume of each of the coils is entirely within an imaginary hemisphere (h) generated about the point. This hemisphere is of arbitrary radius, but encompasses the coils. In another aspect, the improvement comprises the armature having a magnetically-conductive surface (33) which is configured as a segment of a sphere.

Abstract: A method of starting gas turbine engine (17) having a variable-speed motor-driven pump (13) operatively arranged to supply a source of fuel to the engine through at least one combustor nozzle (19) when the engine is operating normally, includes the steps of: providing a calibration orifice (16) sized to simulate the pressure-flow characteristics of the nozzle; initially directing the flow from the pump through the orifice; operating the pump at preselected speeds; measuring the temperature of the flow at each of such speeds; measuring the pressure drop of the flow across the orifice at each of such speeds; calculating the fuel mass flow rate as a function of pump speed and temperature; thereafter redirecting the flow from the orifice to the nozzle; and subsequently controlling the speed of the pump to produce a desired fuel mass flow rate for starting the engine.

Abstract: A driven hinge (20) has fixed and movable hinge sections (21, 28) that are arranged to be selectively rotated relative to one another about an axis (x.sub.1 --x.sub.1) between first and second relative angular positions.

Abstract: A fail-safe ride simulator (10) broadly includes a base (11), a platform (13) mounted for movement relative to the base, an actuation mechanism (14) operatively arranged between the platform and an actuation mechanism operatively arranged between the platform and the base. The actuation mechanism includes a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators (23) acting between the platform and base for causing relative movement therebetween. A fail-safe circuit (34) is operatively arranged to continuously monitor the condition of the actuation mechanism, and to cause the platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to the base in the event of an unsafe condition in the actuation mechanism.

Abstract: A modular vibratory force generator (10) is adapted to be mounted on a helicopter fuselage (11) and operated to selectively apply a controllable vibratory force (F.sub.R) thereto. The improved generator includes a plurality of force-generating modules (12, 12) and a closed-loop servocontroller (13). Each module has a pair of counter-rotating eccentric masses (20, 21) that are arranged to exert a fixed-amplitude variable-phase individual force at spaced locations on the fuselage. These individual forces (F.sub.1, F.sub.2) combine to exert a controllable-amplitude resultant vibratory force (F.sub.R) on the structure. The servocontroller is adapted to be supplied with a single sinusoidal control signal and is operative to cause the frequency and phase of the resultant vibratory force to be identical to the frequency and phase of the control signal and to cause the amplitude of the resultant vibratory force to be proportional to the amplitude of the control signal.

Abstract: A dual concentric poppet valve assembly (44) includes an assembled body (45) having an opening (55) therethrough and having a sealing surface (56) surrounding the opening. A first member (46) is mounted in the body opening for axial movement relative to the body. The first member has a first sealing surface (70) arranged to be moved toward and away from the body sealing surface (56) to define a first variable-area orifice (96) therebetween. The first member has a concentric opening (72) therethrough and has a second sealing surface (71) surrounding the first member opening. A second member (48) is mounted in the first member opening for co-axial movement relative to the first member. The second member has a sealing surface (83) arranged to be moved toward and away from the first member second sealing surface (71) to define a second variable-area orifice (98) therebetween.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved electromagnetic force motor (10) with internal eddy current damping. In the preferred embodiment, the motor is comprised of a body (11), a pair of permanent magnets (15.sub.L, 15.sub.R), an electromagnetic coil (20), and an armature (13). The armature is positioned with respect to the body so as to define two variable-reluctance working air gaps (30, 31) and a constant-reluctance non-working air gap (29). The permanent magnets face one another and are mounted on the body. The body and armature are both adapted to conduct magnetic flux. Each working air gap contains a magnetic flux that is the algebraic sum of a flux attributable to the permanent magnets and a flux attributable to the coil. The non-working air gap contains flux attributable only to the permanent magnets. A current-conducting member (14) is attached to the armature and positioned within the non-working air gap.

Abstract: An improved method of moving a rotary fixture (20) from a first angular position to a second angular position includes the steps of: providing a body (25); mounting the fixture on the body for rotational movement about an axis (x--x); mounting a pin (23) in the spindle (22) of a machine tool; moving the pin so as to engage the fixture at a location eccentric to the axis; and selectively moving the pin relative to the axis from one location to another; thereby to rotate the fixture from the first angular position to the second angular position.

Abstract: A device (20) for providing a uniformly-variable orifice includes an object (21) having an outer surface, a wall (24) surrounding the object in spaced relation to the outer surface and defining an annular orifice therebetween; and deforming means (F.sub.1) for causing at least one of the surface and wall to move perpendicularly and uniformly toward the other of the surface and wall without substantially altering the geometric shape of the annular orifice, whereby the movable member may be moved relative to the other to vary the area of the orifice. In the preferred embodiment, the area of the orifice varies substantially linearly with application of the deforming displacement.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hot gas control valve (20) which is adapted to apportion a gas flow, such as that issuing from a solid propellent gas generator, among a plurality of outlets communicating with rocket thruster nozzles (36). The improved valve has a body (21) and a valve member (22). The body has an inlet (24) communicating with an internal cavity. The cavity is partially bounded by a partially-spherical concave surface (32). The body has a plurality of outlet passages terminating in ports at the concave body surface. The valve member is operatively arranged within the cavity for omni-directional pivotal movement therewithin. The valve member has a surface (40) sealingly engaging the body concave surface and terminating in an edge (41). This valve member edge cooperates with the body ports to form variable-area metering orifices (A, B, C and D) therebetween.