Abstract: An actuator system comprising a shared link arranged to pivot about a first axis relative to a reference structure, a controlled element arranged to pivot about a second axis relative to the reference structure, a first member arranged to pivot about a third axis relative to the shared link and a fourth axis relative to the controlled member, a first actuator arranged to control a first variable distance between the third axis and fourth axis, a second member arranged to pivot about a fifth axis relative to the shared link and a sixth axis relative to the controlled element, a second actuator arranged to control a second variable distance between the fifth axis and the sixth axis, the system configured such that a change in the first variable distance causes rotation of the controlled element about the second axis when the second variable distance is constant and vice versa.

Abstract: A ball-latch mechanism comprising a plunger supported in a housing and linearly movable from a loaded to an extended position, a trigger rotatable from a latched position, which interferes with linear movement of the plunger, to an unlatched position, which permits linear movement of the plunger from the loaded position, a bias element biasing the plunger from the loaded position, a cocking mechanism comprising a lever arm rotatable about a lever axis from a retracted position within the housing, wherein a bearing surface of the lever arm is outside of a range of motion of the plunger, and a cocked position, wherein the bearing surface of the lever arm bears against the plunger and the plunger is in the loaded position, whereby the plunger may be forced to the loaded position by the lever arm by application of torque to a torque receiving surface of the lever arm.

Abstract: A method for verifying and authenticating additive manufactured products utilizing extraterrestrial communication including generating a product geometry file, recording to a distributed transaction register stored on a server network having a plurality of node servers a first transaction reflecting the product geometry file, the first transaction having a first output associated with the first transaction and including a blockchain address, transmitting the first output between a terrestrial transceiver that is communicatively connected to the server network and an extraterrestrial transceiver that is communicatively connected to the terrestrial transceiver, and printing, with a 3D additive printer, a product that utilizes the product geometry file.

Abstract: A method for verifying and authenticating additive manufactured products utilizing extraterrestrial communication including generating a product geometry file, recording to a distributed transaction register stored on a server network having a plurality of node servers a first transaction reflecting the product geometry file, the first transaction having a first output associated with the first transaction and including a blockchain address, transmitting the first output between a terrestrial transceiver that is communicatively connected to the server network and an extraterrestrial transceiver that is communicatively connected to the terrestrial transceiver, and printing, with a 3D additive printer, a product that utilizes the product geometry file.

Abstract: A voltage converter (110, 210) having a first bidirectional voltage line (112, 212), a second bidirectional voltage line (114, 214), a power storage element (L1) arranged between the first bidirectional voltage line and the second bidirectional voltage line, a switch element electronically coupled to the power storage element, a controller (141) for controlling the switch, and the controller configured and arranged to adjust a current flow between the first voltage line and the second voltage line such that a voltage level on the second bidirectional voltage line is substantially maintained at a target DC voltage.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system uses a trained artificial intelligence module as part of a closed-loop control structure for adjusting the initial set of build parameters in-process to improve part quality. The closed-loop control structure includes a slow control loop taking into account in-process build layer images, and may include fast control loop taking into account melt pool monitoring data. The artificial intelligence module is trained using outputs from a plurality of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) tasked with evaluating build layer images captured in-process and images of finished parts captured post-process. The post process images may include two-dimensional images of sectioned finished parts and three-dimensional CAT scan images of finished parts.

Abstract: A method for the verification and authentication of additive manufactured product, comprising the steps of receiving, from a customer, at least one customer requirement for a product, deriving at least one manufacturing requirement and generating a product geometry file for the product, recording, by a first computing device, to a distributed transaction register, a first transaction reflecting certification of the product geometry file, obtaining a first output reflecting the first transaction, printing the product with a 3D printer, recording, by a second computing device, to the distributed transaction register, a second transaction reflecting the printing of the product and the first output, obtaining a second output reflecting the second transaction, embedding within the product a unique code reflecting the second output, whereby the product geometry file and the printing of said product may be verified with the unique code such that the product may be authenticated.

Abstract: A multi-lumen sensing system (10) includes medical tubing (20) having a plurality of lumens (22A, 22B) and at least one secondary passageway (24) extending in an axial direction of the medical tubing, wherein the secondary passageway is between the plurality of lumens. The multi-lumen sensing system may include a sensing receptacle (30) defining a channel (32) in which a lengthwise portion of the medical tubing is received. A plurality of ultrasonic transmitting elements (40T, 42T) may be arranged within the secondary passageway of the medical tubing or as part of the sensing receptacle for transmitting respective ultrasonic signals across the lumens to a corresponding plurality of ultrasonic receiving elements (40R, 42R) of the sensing receptacle. Alternatively, the sensing receptacle may include a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving elements (40, 42, 44) transmitting respective signals across the lumens for return reflection at an interface of the secondary passageway.

Abstract: A stator made from a ribbon of metal having multiple layers of slit metal, and motors made therefrom are described. A ribbon having multiple layers of metal is formed into a stator such as by flattening or pleating the ribbon to form each pole of a stator having a plurality of stator teeth, or poles. The stator formed from the metal ribbon may be configured into any suitable type of motor, such as an axial transverse flu motor. A magnetic flu return may also be made out of metal ribbon.

Abstract: A three-dimensional monolithic diaphragm tank including a first portion having a first inner surface, a second portion having a second inner surface, and a deformable diaphragm extending from a peripheral junction with the first inner surface and the second inner surface. The first inner surface and the diaphragm defining a first chamber. The second inner surface and the diaphragm defining a second chamber. The first portion having an outlet port in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the second portion having an inlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber. The peripheral junction of the diaphragm and the first inner surface including an integral inner fillet having an inner radius.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and loading (VTOL) rotary aircraft or helicopter has eight propellers in a quad propeller arm configuration where each propeller arm has two counter-rotating propellers. Folding propeller arms are designed to allow storage in a single car sized garage. Each propeller may be powered by a three-phase alternating current motor. The main power plant for the aircraft is a gas combustion engine that generates electricity. If the gas engine fails, a battery backup system will safely bring the aircraft down for a controlled landing. The direct current bus is redundant in that even with a gas combustion engine failure the direct current bus battery pack will safely bring down the aircraft. Various embodiments of this invention may also include a landing gear crumple zone designed to soften a hard landing.

Abstract: A device {i.e., a slip-ring or a homopolar motor/generator) (40, 50, 80) is adapted to provide electrical contact between a stator and a rotor (41, 83), and includes: a current-carrying brush-spring (31, 84) mounted on the stator, and having two opposite surfaces; a fibrous brush assembly (35, 69) mounted on the conductor, the brush assembly having a bundle of fibers (36, 71) arranged such that the tips of the fibers will engage the rotor for transferring electrical current between the stator and rotor; a ribbon (33, 85) of superconducting material mounted on each opposite surface of the current-carrying brush-spring and communicating with the stator and the brush assembly; and another ribbon (29, 86) of superconducting material mounted on the rotor.

Abstract: A servovalve comprising a motor, a motor bias mechanism, a first stage valve having a first position, a second stage valve movable with movement of the first valve, a reference member in fluid communication with the second valve, a transfer link acting between the first valve and the reference member, an eccentric drive acting between the motor and transfer link, wherein movement of the motor causes the transfer link to move the first valve, movement of the first valve causes the second valve member to move, movement of the second valve applies on the reference member a pressure differential from a load, the pressure differential on the reference member causes movement of the reference member, and movement of the reference member causes the transfer link to move the first valve back to the first position.

Abstract: An electric motor built for exposure to high pressure fluid includes a unitary metal sleeve that provides a fluid barrier between the rotor and the stator. An overmolded resin encapsulates the stator windings and reinforces the sleeve to minimize deformation of the sleeve under high fluid pressures. The overmolded resin also fixes the positions of insulation displacement connectors connected to the stator windings, thereby avoiding mechanical brackets and fasteners for holding the insulation displacement connectors in position.

Abstract: A power spring passively applies tension to a cable connected to an aircraft refueling boom. The power spring has a first end engaging a fixed arbor and second end engaging a rotatable spooling drum around which a portion of the cable is wound. The power spring biases the drum to rotate in a winding direction to apply tension to the cable, and the power spring stores energy when the drum rotates in an unwinding direction. The power spring may be located inside the drum or outside the drum. The drum may be actively driven by a motor that may be uncoupled from the drum to permit freewheeling rotation of the drum, wherein the power spring continues to apply tension to the cable. The invention eliminates reliance on one or more powered motors for removing unwanted slack in the cable.

Abstract: Ammunition containers are reloadable from within an armored vehicle to supply a remote weapon system mounted externally on the vehicle. The ammunition containers are designed to be fixedly mounted within an internal compartment of a weapon turret. In a first embodiment, at least one guide wall defines a spiral guide path for an ammunition belt, and a rotatable sprocket enables the belt to be loaded into the guide path. In a second embodiment, an ammunition clamp holds a round of ammunition, and the clamp is rotatable to wind the ammunition belt about the clamp's axis of rotation. A third embodiment has a guide sprocket and an adjacent peg to facilitate reloading an ammunition belt in horizontal layers. A fourth embodiment includes a pair of spaced support rails for hanging an ammunition belt in vertical columns, wherein rear ends of the rails may be located outside the container for easier loading.

Abstract: An actuator assembly comprising an output member rotatable about an output axis, first and second actuators each having an axis of rotation, a drive motor and a hold motor, first and second linkages between each of the first and second actuators and the output member, wherein a torque produced by a drive motor is summed through the linkages at the output member when the respective hold motor is restrained from rotating, and wherein the respective hold motor may be selectively released so that it rotates with a failure of the respective drive motor, and wherein one of the first or second actuators may be driven to selectively rotate the output member with a failure of the drive motor of the other of the first or second actuators. The assembly may comprise a third actuator linked to the output member in the same manner as the first and second actuators.

Abstract: A linear motor (15) comprising a stator (16) having an opening (18), a mover (19) disposed in the opening and configured and arranged to reciprocate linearly in an axial direction (x-x) relative to the stator, the stator comprising a first pole section (21) and a second pole section (22) stacked in the axial direction and forming a recess (26) between them for receiving annular windings, the first pole section comprising a first laminate (17a) having a first cross-sectional geometry (29) and a second laminate (17b) having a second cross-sectional geometry (30) different from the first cross-sectional geometry, and the first laminate and the second laminate stacked in the axial direction.

Abstract: A method of assembling a shaft of a magnetic motor comprising the steps of providing a plurality of magnets (210), providing a plurality of pole pieces (212), stacking (S11) said magnets and pole pieces to form a subassembly (202) having an outer surface of a first diameter, providing a precipitation hardenable stainless steel sheet material, forming said stainless steel sheet material into a tube (S20), drawing said tube to form a precision tube having an inner surface of a second diameter (S21), said second diameter being greater than or equal to said first diameter, heat treating said precision tube to form a tubular sleeve of a Rockwell C hardness of at least about 40 and a magnetic permeability of at least about 100 (S22), and inserting said subassembly axially into said sleeve (S30), thereby forming a shaft for a magnetic motor.

Abstract: A vessel (10) containing a fluid (liquid and/or gas) at pressure higher than atmospheric pressure which when evacuated from the vessel (10) lowers the temperature of the vessel and thereby creates a self-generated cold sink capable of absorbing thermal energy to maintain electronics and other temperature sensitive missile components within their operational temperature limits.